News
Pandemic, election crises mark ‘critical events’ in declining democratic accountability standards, governance scholar writes
Christopher Koliba, University of Kansas public affairs and administration researcher, has published a new study examining how the COVID-19 pandemic response and perpetuation of false claims about the 2020 presidential election were critical events in declining democratic accountability standards. Scholars and others have important work to do in documenting such cases to learn the effects of democratic backsliding, according to Koliba.
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Fri, 12/12/2025
350th Basic Training Class graduates from Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center
Twenty graduating recruits completed 14 weeks of rigorous training with the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center and will now return to their agencies across the state to begin serving their communities.
Thu, 12/11/2025
KU scientist known for discoveries in precision medicine named to National Academy of Inventors
Steven Soper was among the 185 academic inventors named to the 2025 Class of NAI Fellows on Dec. 11. Election as an academy fellow is the highest professional distinction awarded solely to academic inventors.
Thu, 12/11/2025
KU Engineering students extend record in AIAA awards
These wins mark the KU School of Engineering’s 105th and 106th AIAA Design Awards over the past 49 years, more than any other institution in the history of the AIAA.
Thu, 12/11/2025
New ‘History of Music in Czech Lands’ takes innovative approach
A University of Kansas professor of music co-wrote and co-edited a new book that takes a contemporary approach to the multilayered and tangled ethnolinguistic history of the Czech Republic.
Wed, 12/10/2025
Transforming law enforcement training: KLETC author outlines commitment to Kansas communities
The Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center, a division of the University of Kansas, is continuing to evolve its curriculum to meet the needs of modern policing through innovative, competency-based instruction.
Wed, 12/10/2025
New book examines how educational reforms have attempted to fix past problems instead of inventing the future
In "Fix the Past or Invent the Future," education expert Yong Zhao explores how countless attempts and millions of dollars of investment have attempted to fix problems of the past in education instead of finding a new way forward for American schools, and more importantly, each individual.
Wed, 12/10/2025
Resistance to Spanish tribute in colonial Panama reflective of early Black community mobilization
In a new article, Robert Schwaller, a professor of history at the University of Kansas, details the tireless efforts and legal proceedings of the free Black community in 16th century Panama to challenge the tribute imposed by King Philip II of Spain.
Tue, 12/09/2025
Lack of competition leads to more efficient and effective auditing, study finds
In a new working paper, Will Ciconte, assistant professor of finance at the University of Kansas, investigates the relation between audit competition, quality and labor hours, finding that auditors who appear to be operating in less competitive markets are more efficient and more effective.
Tue, 12/09/2025
Modern mixmasters have nothing on Poverty Row movie music mavens
For the first time, a University of Kansas musicologist has traced the sources and remixing of 16,000 musical fragments used to score all 66 serials produced by Republic Pictures.
Mon, 12/08/2025
Study measures behavioral markers of alliance in support groups, viability of machine learning in mental health
A study from the University of Kansas and University of Southern California measured which nonverbal behaviors indicate that people are forming connections in a support group, particularly in virtual groups. The researchers also examined the feasibility of using machine learning in support groups.
Fri, 12/05/2025
International Collections Travel Grants now available through KU Libraries
A new travel grant program will support the use of KU Libraries International Collections and in-person consultation with librarians, with researchers from across the United States and around the globe encouraged to apply online through March 1, 2026.
Thu, 12/04/2025
New elevation maps from Kansas Geological Survey illustrate state’s varied topography
Two new maps from the Kansas Geological Survey tell the story of how geology and other natural features interact to form the unique and varied landscapes found across Kansas and offer a visual illustration that the state is not as flat as people believe.
Wed, 12/03/2025
Four faculty members awarded Research-Intensive Course Grants for Fall 2025
In an effort to supply research opportunities to more students, four University of Kansas faculty members will be working alongside the Center for Undergraduate Research & Fellowships this fall and into the spring. While working with the center, they can redesign portions of their courses to include a larger research or creative component.
Tue, 12/02/2025
KU part of collaborative grant to prepare new generation of special education leaders
The University of Kansas is part of the Collaborative Approaches to Impactful Special Education Leadership program, designed to enroll scholars with teaching experience who want to progress to leadership roles in research, teaching and serving students with disabilities.
Mon, 12/01/2025
KU debaters are top-ranked team in the country
The University of Kansas debate team of Rose Larson, Milwaukee, and Luna Schultz, Houston, ended the fall semester as the top-ranked team in the country, according to the 2025-26 College Policy Debate Rankings.
Mon, 12/01/2025
Bales Choral Society will host public concert
The Bales Choral Society at the University of Kansas will present its fall semester concert at 7 p.m. Dec. 6 at St. Lawrence Catholic Center. John Rutter’s “Gloria” highlights the program, which also features Rutter’s “Shepherd’s Pipe Carol” and Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto 3rd movement.
Mon, 12/01/2025
NIH grant supports KU study of DNA-protein cross-links
Identifying toxic DNA-protein cross-links (DPCs) and the cellular pathways to repair them are the goals of research underway by University of Kansas researcher Luke Erber, assistant professor of medicinal chemistry, and his lab team. The research is being funded by a $1.8 million grant recently announced by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, a unit of the National Institutes of Health.
Mon, 12/01/2025
School of Pharmacy researcher publishes work on social isolation, drug abuse
School of Pharmacy researcher and associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology Zijun Wang was recently published in Nature Communications. Her research delves into social isolation and how it impacts mental health and substance abuse disorders and potentially discovering drug therapies to intervene.
Tue, 11/25/2025
Military aircraft to fly over Lawrence prior to Nov. 28 football game
Military aircraft will fly over Lawrence prior to the Friday, Nov. 28, football game between the University of Kansas and the University of Utah. This is Senior Day for the Jayhawks at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.
Mon, 11/24/2025
Strong incentives may lead to even more employee burnout, research finds
In a new article, Rob Waiser, an assistant professor of marketing at the University of Kansas, examines how firms should account for effects like fatigue and burnout when designing incentive compensation for their employees.
Mon, 11/24/2025
University hosts inaugural gathering of AAAS Fellows
KU AAAS fellows met with university leaders and research administrators to discuss future research potential and strengthen collaborations across campuses.
Mon, 11/24/2025
KU advances tools and supports to improve postschool outcomes for students with disabilities with $1.8M federal grant
Continued funding for this work will "ensure that all of our shareholders, whether that be state-level personnel, local-level personnel, and/or students and youth with disabilities and their families, can really digest the work,” according to the primary investigator, Valerie Mazzotti, who is an affiliated researcher at the KU Center on Disabilities and KU distinguished professor of special education.
Mon, 11/24/2025
Research challenges idea that gene PTPN22 boosts production of interferons
A new paper from the University of Kansas overturns the idea that a “risk gene” carried by millions of people worldwide influences production of Type 1 interferon, a workhorse of the immune system.
Fri, 11/21/2025
New KU initiative uses cutting-edge sports technology to help Kansas high school athletes train smarter
A new initiative led by the Jayhawk Athletic Performance Laboratory helps Kansas high school athletes train smarter, stay healthier and sets the stage for groundbreaking sports science research.
Wed, 11/19/2025
In new exhibition, Elise Kirk’s photos imply that we all live in ‘New Town’
A photographer and University of Kansas professor's long, deep study of a New York City waterway results in a body of work that blurs some detail, yet draws the audience into shared emotions. Elise Kirk's series “New Town” opens Nov. 19 at Washington University’s Weitman Gallery.
Wed, 11/19/2025
New KU partnership dedicated to engaged fatherhood, family, financial stability
Researchers in the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare have secured a grant to implement the Family Opportunity, Resilience, Grit, Engagement (FORGE) partnership in five northeast Kansas counties to promote healthy relationships, engaged fatherhood and family and financial stability.
Wed, 11/19/2025
KU Engineering will host 69th Annual Asphalt Paving Conference
On Dec. 4, the Department of Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering within the University of Kansas School of Engineering will host experts in the field of asphalt paving engineering for a one-day conference exploring the latest developments in the field.
Tue, 11/18/2025
KU debaters win prestigious Wake Forest tournament
The University of Kanas debate team of Rose Larson, Milwaukee, and Luna Schultz, Houston, won the 69th Franklin R. Shirley Classic Debate Tournament hosted by Wake Forest University, which took place Nov. 15-17. The Wake Forest event is a major national tournament that is the culmination of the policy debate season for the fall semester.
Tue, 11/18/2025
Researchers at KU launch new Kansas Flood Mapping Dashboard
The Kansas Flood Mapping Dashboard uses stream gauge data from the National Weather Service and the U.S. Geological Survey, among other sources, along with the terrain-based FLDPLN (“Floodplain”) model developed at the University of Kansas. The tool will aid emergency managers across the state as well as the public.
Tue, 11/18/2025
Capitol Federal Foundation names KU Business banking certificate program
A gift from the Capitol Federal Foundation of Topeka will name the University of Kansas School of Business’ newly launched certificate program to the True Blue Certificate in Banking