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An illustration of a human head with hands grasping bars of a cell from inside.

New book ‘Psychology of Liberty’ examines freedom as allowing humans to be what they were intended to be

Two seated students listen to a standing student giving presentation.

U.S. News & World Report ranks 48 KU graduate programs in top 50 among public schools

An 1800s map of North America sits on a desk, flanked by an old set of binoculars and compass.

Limits of nation’s belief in manifest destiny explored in new ‘Borderlands’ book

In a new book, Andrew Isenberg, Hall Distinguished Professor of American History at the University of Kansas, offers a reconsidered history of manifest destiny that breaks from traditional narratives of U.S. territorial expansion.

Other featured news

An assortment of KU faculty and students in university research settings against a backdrop of a geological formation in Kansas.

KU ranks 37th among US public universities granted utility patents in 2024

The University of Kansas ranked 37th among public institutions in the Top 100 U.S. Universities Granted Utility Patents in 2024, a list published by the National Academy of Inventors. The list showcases universities that play a pivotal role in advancing the innovation ecosystem and driving economic growth in the United States. KU ranked 59th among all universities.
An image of lead-lead collisions at the Large Hadron Collider at 5.02TeV per nucleon pair in the center of mass, recorded by the ALICE detector in Run2 in the year 2018.

52 KU-affiliated scientists recognized for Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics

Fifty-two physicists affiliated with the University of Kansas — both currently and formerly — are on the teams that recently were awarded the Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics for their papers analyzing data from CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the world’s largest and most powerful particle accelerator. The prize recognizes outstanding research papers published between 2015-2024.
An illustration of a human head with hands grasping bars of a cell from inside.

New book ‘Psychology of Liberty’ examines freedom as allowing humans to be what they were intended to be

“The Psychology of Liberty: Reclaiming Everyday Freedom” by Barbara Kerr of the University of Kansas combines the study of anthropology, economics, history, creativity, family studies, evolutionary studies and education to suggest a new concept of freedom: Allowing people to be free to create, play and spend time with their families, as humans did for nearly 200,000 years.
Individual holds another's hand to help their balance.

The Care Board, KU-led site to gather information on care work's role in the economy, now live

The Care Board, a project that gathers information on care work, which often goes unnpaid, done every day in the American economy is now live. The site can help journalists, policymakers, communities, nonprofits and the public better understand the influence care work has on the American economy.

Research

Study highlights role of social workers in addressing marginalized communities bearing brunt of climate disasters

A KU researcher calculated carbon footprints of residents of one of the poorest neighborhoods in Seoul, South Korea. Joonmo Kang found that, despite contributing much less to climate change than other residents, they bore the brunt of the effects. This highlights the vital role of social workers in helping address climate injustice and advocating for equitable solutions, according to researcher.

Podcast dramatizes spiritual bridge between Gandhi, MLK

Darren Canady, University of Kansas professor of English, wrote the six-part, three-hour audio drama that is part of the multimedia “Day of Days” project helmed by executive producer Michael Epstein.
More Research
An image of lead-lead collisions at the Large Hadron Collider at 5.02TeV per nucleon pair in the center of mass, recorded by the ALICE detector in Run2 in the year 2018.

52 KU-affiliated scientists recognized for Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics

Fifty-two physicists affiliated with the University of Kansas — both currently and formerly — are on the teams that recently were awarded the Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics for their papers analyzing data from CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the world’s largest and most powerful particle accelerator. The prize recognizes outstanding research papers published between 2015-2024.
More Research

Kansas Communities

AAI’s Center for Evaluation & Educational Leadership expands school support through business partnerships

The goal of the Center for Evaluation & Educational Leadership (CEEL), a center within the Achievement & Assessment Institute (AAI), is to help school district leaders navigate challenges to foster effective, well-balanced learning environments for students. One of the primary ways Director Bart Swartz accomplishes this is through a network of business partners that can help districts with their needs.

KU Public Management Center announces new director

Kristi Northcutt will direct the center that provides professional education and leadership development programs and events for public service professionals across Kansas and beyond.
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ROTC student in front of war memorial

All KU campuses named 2025-2026 top Military Friendly Schools

All University of Kansas campuses received top rankings among Tier 1 research institutions in the annual “Military Friendly Schools” survey, the longest-running review of college and university investments in serving military-affiliated students.
More Kansas Communities

Economic Development

Record-high research at KU benefits Kansans, fuels state economy

Research and development expenditures spanning all University of Kansas campuses increased to $546.1 million in fiscal year 2024, surpassing the half-billion-dollar mark for the first time in university history. The reverberations of that growth extend far beyond KU to benefit people throughout the Sunflower State and beyond.

New $5 million DoE award supports KU startup’s green hydrogen energy research

With $5 million in support from U.S. Department of Energy, the University of Kansas and Avium, a startup firm founded by researchers from KU’s School of Engineering, aim to make clean hydrogen more affordable.
More Economic Development
An assortment of KU faculty and students in university research settings against a backdrop of a geological formation in Kansas.

KU ranks 37th among US public universities granted utility patents in 2024

The University of Kansas ranked 37th among public institutions in the Top 100 U.S. Universities Granted Utility Patents in 2024, a list published by the National Academy of Inventors. The list showcases universities that play a pivotal role in advancing the innovation ecosystem and driving economic growth in the United States. KU ranked 59th among all universities.
More Economic Development

Student experience and achievement

KU, Haskell students to present research projects at 25th annual symposium

Eleven undergraduates and 13 postbaccalaureate scholars supported by the Office for Advancing Success in Science will present posters of their research at the University of Kansas-Haskell Indian Nations University Student Research Symposium on April 10.

KU debaters recognized as best in nation

University of Kansas debaters John Marshall and Graham Revare received the Rex Copeland Award as the top team in the country over the season at the opening ceremony of the 2025 National Debate Tournament. Brett Bricker won the James J. Unger Award as the coach of the regular season champions.
More Student Experience and Achievement
Person watering plants in greenhouse

Four students receive Kansas Biological Survey Student Research Awards for 2025

The Kansas Biological Survey & Center for Ecological Research at KU has awarded $4,000 in funding this spring for student research to be conducted this year. Four students will receive assistance through the research center’s 2025 Student Research Awards.
More Student Experience and Achievement

Campus news

U.S. News & World Report ranks 48 KU graduate programs in top 50 among public schools

KU has 48 graduate programs in the top 50 among public universities — including 10 programs in the top 10 — in the latest U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate Schools rankings.

KU professor of engineering wins NSF CAREER Award for research into high-performance computing

Hongyang Sun, assistant professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, is the recipient of an NSF Early Career Development award for his efforts to strengthen high-performance computing systems by allowing them to do more work as they continue to expand.
More Campus News
United States and China flags overlapping

US-China relations focus of KU’s Seventh Annual Intelligence & National Security Colloquium

A conversation between former U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and longtime Wall Street Journal journalist Jerry Seib will open a University of Kansas conference April 30-May 1 that seeks to understand China’s long-term geopolitical objectives and how they affect U.S. national security.
More Campus News

Latest news

United States and China flags overlapping

US-China relations focus of KU’s Seventh Annual Intelligence & National Security Colloquium

A conversation between former U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and longtime Wall Street Journal journalist Jerry Seib will open a University of Kansas conference April 30-May 1 that seeks to understand China’s long-term geopolitical objectives and how they affect U.S. national security.
Campanile at sunrise

Paperback release expands reach of Montessori handbook co-edited by CLARA Director Angela Murray

A paperback edition of the Bloomsbury Handbook of Montessori Education, an accessible guide to Montessori education edited by Angela Murray, director of the Achievement & Assessment Institute’s Center for Learner Agency Research and Action (CLARA), and colleagues is now available for purchase.
Molly Han

Molly Han named as Spring 2025 Service-Learning Instructional Mini-Grant Recipient

The Center for Service Learning has recognized Molly Han, doctoral candidate and graduate teaching assistant in the Department of Communication Studies, as a Service-Learning Instructional Mini-Grant recipient for Spring 2025.
An assortment of KU faculty and students in university research settings against a backdrop of a geological formation in Kansas.

KU ranks 37th among US public universities granted utility patents in 2024

The University of Kansas ranked 37th among public institutions in the Top 100 U.S. Universities Granted Utility Patents in 2024, a list published by the National Academy of Inventors. The list showcases universities that play a pivotal role in advancing the innovation ecosystem and driving economic growth in the United States. KU ranked 59th among all universities.
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