Research

Featured research news

Woman wearing bathing suit and sunglasses, sitting in stock tank full of water.

Large-format photographer gets below the surface in new KC group show

An all-seeing eye overlooks silhouettes of citizens in artwork implying a totalitarian government.

Embrace of authoritarianism in US fueled by culture wars more than economy, study finds

Colorful straight lines transform into a shapeless mess, representing order into chaos.

Groundbreaking contributions to effects of chaos and bifurcation in economics chronicled in new book

In a new book, William Barnett, the Oswald Distinguished Professor of Macroeconomics at the University of Kansas, provides a unified presentation of his contributions to the literature on chaos, economic bifurcation and nonlinear dynamics. The span of the book’s research begins in 1988 with Barnett’s initial finding of chaos in economic data.

Science and Technology

Groundwater levels fall across western, south-central Kansas

Preliminary groundwater level measurements compiled by the Kansas Geological Survey show an overall decline of almost a foot across the High Plains aquifer region in western Kansas in 2024. All areas in western and south-central Kansas experienced declines in water levels.

Research yields eco-friendly way to separate, recycle refrigerants tied to climate crisis

Investigators based at the University of Kansas report using membranes — amorphous fluorinated polymers — that efficiently isolate complex refrigerant mixtures. Solutions for dealing responsibly with complex gases in existing equipment destined for landfills around the world are badly needed, according to researchers.
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Photo of edge device to be used by students.

Program will train high schoolers to write code and develop microelectronics for artificial intelligence

Researchers at the University of Kansas, along with the University of Florida and the University of North Texas, will partner with regional high schools to engage about 500 students and 25 teachers in real-world projects to build interest in artificial intelligence technology as a career path.
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Health and Well-Being

Autism Across the Life Span conference returns to KU Edwards Campus on March 14

The Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training (KCART) will offer a one-day conference that brings together members of the autism community with researchers, clinicians, educators and students at the KU Edwards Campus on March 14.

Jayhawk Athletic Performance Lab teams up with KU Football to elevate pro day training

The Jayhawk Athletic Performance Laboratory (JAPL), a sport performance-based research center housed under the Achievement & Assessment Institute, is collaborating with the KU Football team to help players better prepare for the NFL Combine and Big 12 Pro Day through technology and data analysis.
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Photo collage of Walter Dodds, Hans Coetzee, Dave Tell, and Hartmut Jaeschke

KU, Kansas State faculty receive Higuchi-KU Endowment research achievement awards

Four faculty members at two Kansas universities were named recipients of the Higuchi-KU Endowment Research Achievement Awards, the state higher education system’s most prestigious recognition for scholarly excellence.
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Teaching, Learning and Behavior

KU researchers developing AI-boosted program to help teach writing skills to students with disabilities

A KU research team is developing and expanding Project AI-Score, a system that uses artificial intelligence technology to help instructors more efficiently teach writing to students with disabilities.

KU research team develops virtual reality, AI-boosted system to help students with autism improve social skills

A KU research team has secured funding to boost systems called iKNOW and VOISS to help students with autism spectrum disorder improve social skills in a school setting.
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Photo of edge device to be used by students.

Program will train high schoolers to write code and develop microelectronics for artificial intelligence

Researchers at the University of Kansas, along with the University of Florida and the University of North Texas, will partner with regional high schools to engage about 500 students and 25 teachers in real-world projects to build interest in artificial intelligence technology as a career path.
More Teaching, Learning and Behavior

Arts, Architecture and Humanities

Artist Stephen T. Johnson extends family’s legacy in new, three-generation show

Stephen T. Johnson, lecturer in the School of Architecture and Design, carries on his family’s artistic legacy in a new “three-generation” show opening Feb. 28 at the Cider Gallery in Lawrence.

KU, Kansas State faculty receive Higuchi-KU Endowment research achievement awards

Four faculty members at two Kansas universities were named recipients of the Higuchi-KU Endowment Research Achievement Awards, the state higher education system’s most prestigious recognition for scholarly excellence.
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Woman wearing bathing suit and sunglasses, sitting in stock tank full of water.

Large-format photographer gets below the surface in new KC group show

Elise Kirk, KU associate professor of photography, is showing work in "Strange and Familiar Places,” on display through July 20 at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
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Business, Economics and Innovation

Not all financial analysts impeded by sleep disruptions, study finds

In a new study focusing on financial markets, William Bazley, assistant professor of finance at the University of Kansas, finds that sleep disruptions following spring daylight saving time clock shifts may negatively affect the forecast quality of the professional analysts — but it depends on their level of experience.

Health effects of trauma linked to performance at work

In a new paper, Elizabeth Embry, assistant professor of entrepreneurship at the University of Kansas, offers a theory linking health effects of trauma to performance outcomes at work, suggesting how managerial awareness of trauma manifestations is a necessary step toward workplaces becoming supportive or healing.
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Colorful straight lines transform into a shapeless mess, representing order into chaos.

Groundbreaking contributions to effects of chaos and bifurcation in economics chronicled in new book

In a new book, William Barnett, the Oswald Distinguished Professor of Macroeconomics at the University of Kansas, provides a unified presentation of his contributions to the literature on chaos, economic bifurcation and nonlinear dynamics. The span of the book’s research begins in 1988 with Barnett’s initial finding of chaos in economic data.
More Business, Economics and Innovation

Law, Politics and Society

Researcher urges emphasis on democratic accountability standards in public administration education

Given changes in democracy around the world, the field of public administration education should reevaluate its accreditation standards to examine what democratic accountability standards are to better educate the next generation of public servants, a KU professor argues in a new article.

US businesses reluctant to take political action despite tariff costs, study finds

In a new study, Jack Zhang, assistant professor of political science at the University of Kansas, presented business managers with information about the input costs of new tariffs to their bottom line and invited them to take political action to express support or opposition to these tariffs. The findings suggest this information did not significantly increase managers’ propensity to take any political or social action.
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An all-seeing eye overlooks silhouettes of citizens in artwork implying a totalitarian government.

Embrace of authoritarianism in US fueled by culture wars more than economy, study finds

In a new book chapter, David Norman Smith, professor of sociology at the University of Kansas, examines Donald Trump’s intention to be a dictator “on day one” of his second term in office. He scrutinizes Trump’s assertion that many individuals “like” such talk of a dictatorship and finds that this is fueled more by the culture wars than the economy.
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