News
Study reveals common mutation linked to autoimmune diseases may protect people from viral infections
New research from the University of Kansas shows a “risk gene” linked to higher odds of developing autoimmune diseases such as diabetes or lupus may also provide a survival advantage fighting viral infections like coronavirus.
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Tue, 04/22/2025
Partisan politics proved most significant factor for speed of corporate shutdowns during pandemic, study shows
In a new study, Shradha Bindal, assistant professor of finance at the University of Kansas, investigates the speed with which U.S. firms shut down their headquarters because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It finds that the political orientation of the firms and their CEOs proved the most significant factor.
Tue, 04/22/2025
Hybrid research symposium planned for Undergraduate Research Week
The Center for Undergraduate Research at the University of Kansas is hosting online and in-person research presentations through April 25 to celebrate Undergraduate Research Week, featuring the work of more than 150 Jayhawks.
Mon, 04/21/2025
Award-winning filmmaker Shalini Kantayya, creator of ‘Coded Bias’ and ‘TikTok, Boom,’ to offer virtual event
The Commons and the Institute for Information Sciences (I2s) will host a virtual talk April 30 by filmmaker Shalini Kantayya as a keynote talk in the Navigating Our Worlds Series. This event is presented in collaboration with University Honors Program and its Common Cause initiative.
Mon, 04/21/2025
Study shows addressing working memory can help students with math difficulty improve word problem-solving skills
A study led by the University of Kansas addressed whether using interventions designed to improve working memory can help students solve math word problems. The study found that in working with more than 200 students with and without math difficulties, working memory plays a key role in word problemsolving and that interventions designed to improve it helped both students with and without math difficulties.
Fri, 04/18/2025
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.
Fri, 04/18/2025
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.
Fri, 04/18/2025
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.
Thu, 04/17/2025
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.
Thu, 04/17/2025
School of Social Welfare to host panel, networking event to celebrate launch of new center
The School of Social Welfare will host a panel presentation and networking opportunity April 23 that will celebrate the launch of the school’s new Center for the Advancement of Healthcare for Everyone (CAHE).
Thu, 04/17/2025
Fifth annual KU Professional Selling Program/King’s Hawaiian Sales Competition sees continued record participation
The KU School of Business Professional Selling program marked a new milestone with the fifth annual KU Professional Selling Program/King’s Hawaiian Sales Competition April 4-5 at Capitol Federal Hall. A record 14 new and returning teams from across the country participated at the event.
Wed, 04/16/2025
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.
Wed, 04/16/2025
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.
Wed, 04/16/2025
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.
Tue, 04/15/2025
KU chemistry professor receives NSF CAREER Award for carbon dioxide research
Manar Shoshani, assistant professor of chemistry at KU, received a five-year grant from the National Science Foundation totaling more than $769,000 to further his research on converting carbon dioxide selectively so it can be used to develop valuable products for the energy sector and agrichemical and pharmaceutical industries, among other areas.
Tue, 04/15/2025
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.
Mon, 04/14/2025
Audio-Reader Network, University Press of Kansas to partner on audiobooks
The Audio-Reader Network, a public service organization affiliated with Kansas Public Radio, has entered into an audiobook publishing partnership with the University Press of Kansas. The first audiobook to be produced in the partnership will be a memoir, “Whirlwind,” written and narrated by Bill Kurtis, publishing in September.
Mon, 04/14/2025
KU Engineering students take home several awards at concrete canoe, steel bridge competitions
KU Department of Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering student groups took home several awards at the 2025 ASCE Symposium earlier this month. The KU ASCE chapter, the Concrete Canoe program, is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and the Steel Bridge program also traveled to Lincoln, Nebraska, to take part in competitions.
Mon, 04/14/2025
Bedford Falls Foundation commits $1.6 million to support KU School of Nursing scholarships
The gift from the Washington, D.C.-based donor advised fund will total $1.6 million, with $1.5 million dedicated to nursing scholarships for students seeking a bachelor’s degree in nursing at KU and $100,000 for a discretionary fund to use for students who may experience emergencies.
Fri, 04/11/2025
Spring 2025 Big Event at KU serves 130 Lawrence job sites
The Big Event at KU spring event drew 966 student, faculty and staff volunteers April 5 to serve 130 job sites around Lawrence. The Jayhawks created an estimated economic impact of $129,405 for the surrounding community.
Fri, 04/11/2025
KU undergraduates Kyra Schrock and Ian Shire receive Courtwright Awards
Two University of Kansas students who earned Undergraduate Research Awards are the recipients of the Courtwright Award for Undergraduate Research Excellence for spring 2025 through KU’s Center for Undergraduate Research & Fellowships.
Fri, 04/11/2025
KU British Parliamentary debate team enjoys successful season
This was the first year that University of Kansas students competed in a full season of British Parliamentary debate. The team of Alex Brake and Stevie Silverman recently reached the finals of the honors division at the British Parliamentary Yaatly Online Debate League Debate Championship.
Thu, 04/10/2025
Kelly Battese honored with KU Pharmacy Distinguished Service Award
Rear Admiral Kelly Battese of the U.S. Public Health Service and Indian Health Service (IHS) has been selected as the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy 2025 Distinguished Service Award recipient. Battese will be recognized Friday evening April 11 in a ceremony at the Pharmacy Building on West Campus.
Thu, 04/10/2025
KU students place at the Sixth Midwest Korean Speech Contest
The contest is one of the largest Korean language competitions in the region, aimed at promoting Korean language and culture among college students. The competition is open to students enrolled in a Korean language course at a Midwestern higher education institution.
Wed, 04/09/2025
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.
Wed, 04/09/2025
KU School of Business to honor 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient
The University of Kansas School of Business will recognize Diane Yetter with its 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award.
Wed, 04/09/2025
Junior from Shawnee is KU’s 80th Barry M. Goldwater Scholar
The only students eligible for nomination are sophomore- and junior-level students with outstanding academic records, significant research experience and high potential for careers in mathematics, the natural sciences or engineering. Alexa Magstadt is majoring in molecular, cellular & developmental biology and minoring in Spanish.
Wed, 04/09/2025
KU announces recipients of University Scholarly Achievement Awards
The annual award recognizes significant research or scholarly achievement across the Lawrence and KU Medical Center campuses and is recognizing midcareer faculty members.
Wed, 04/09/2025
Two KU juniors to compete for Astronaut Scholarships
Two outstanding University of Kansas undergraduates are representing KU in the Astronaut Scholarship program. The six surviving members of the Mercury 7 mission founded the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF) in 1984 to encourage students to pursue scientific endeavors to keep the U.S. on the leading edge of technology.
Tue, 04/08/2025
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.
Tue, 04/08/2025
KU Debate Team is national runner-up at National Debate Tournament
This marked KU Debate’s ninth appearance in the final round and 22nd time reaching the Final Four in the national tournament, which ended at 2 a.m. April 8.