Science and Technology

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.

Researchers at the University of Kansas have discovered a human gene, the protein PARP14, plays a role in regulating interferon, part of the body’s innate immune system. Their study, appearing in journal mBio, could guide development of antiviral therapies for several groups of viral infection.

University of Kansas scholar Melinda Adams has found evidence from far-flung global regions about benefits of Indigenous fire sovereignty, ranging from Arizona to Australia. She is the co-author of new work published in PNAS, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.

A researcher at the University of Kansas has produced the most comprehensive and detailed map of air-conditioning usage in the United States. The data could inform energy efficiency decisions and help policymakers identify regions that lack adequate cooling.

Findings from the University of Kansas could offer important context for farmers who want to use beneficial microbes to improve yields. Today, microbial commercialization in agriculture represents an expanding multibillion dollar sector.

Brian Laird, professor of chemistry at the University of Kansas, was named to the prestigious American Physical Society Fellowship Program shortly after learning a researcher he previously worked with won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

The Center for Digital Inclusion and KU partners are co-hosting a science communication workshop designed to strengthen how researchers share their work with the public. The event will take place from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Nov. 14. Registration is now open.

Elaina Sutley, associate professor of civil, environmental & architectural engineering and KU Engineering associate dean for impact & belonging, is the laureate of the 2025 Blavatnik National Award for Young Scientists in the Physical Sciences and Engineering category. She is KU’s first-ever laureate.

University of Kansas researchers join the University of Missouri-Kansas City in a collaboration named one of 15 finalists for the National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engines award.

A recent report from the Institute for Research on Innovation & Science shows more than 7,000 KU research-funded employees leveraged their experience to build careers in all 50 states and the District of Columbia from 2011 to 2023 — and nearly 40% found employment in Kansas.