News
Wed, 12/10/2025
Students Help Lay Groundwork for Environmental Restoration Project
"Renewing the Blue Provides Real-World Experience for Field Ecology Class." This article appeared in the November 10th, 2025 KUEC News and Events
Wed, 11/12/2025
‘Prairie Prophecy’ documentary shares life, vision of KU alumnus Wes Jackson
A free screening of the documentary “Prairie Prophecy” on Nov. 21 will share the work of innovative scientist, farmer and co-founder of The Land Institute Wes Jackson. A panel discussion with University of Kansas scholars will follow the screening.
Fri, 10/10/2025
Two Views of the Wakarusa: Science Meets Art in the Field
Robert Hagen, recipient of the 2025 Excellence in Conservation and Environmental Education Award, reflects on the power of interdisciplinary learning in his blog post on the KACEE website, highlighting a KU field experience that blended ecological science with artistic expression.
Fri, 09/12/2025
Geologic map for Jewell County now available
The Kansas Geological Survey has released a new full-color geologic map of Jewell County, where an ancient inland sea left rocks rich in fossils, time and erosion created a striking landscape, and excavations reveal evidence of prehistoric people.
Thu, 08/28/2025
KU Environmental Studies Interns Advance Blue River Restoration with Soil and Vegetation Surveys in Kansas City
KU Environmental Studies interns conducted soil and vegetation surveys for the Renewing the Blue project along Kansas City’s Blue River. Led by KU faculty, the team used custom methods to support restoration of 240 acres of riparian habitat, aiming to strengthen green infrastructure and urban tree canopy through an ARPA-funded initiative.
Tue, 08/26/2025
Environmental Studies junior, Keri Barnes, is one of 26 KU undergraduate students selected for 2025 Millennium Fellowship
Out of 60,396 applicants from more than 7,500 institutions worldwide, 26 University of Kansas students have been selected for the 2025 Millennium Fellowship, a leadership development program overseen by the Millennium Campus Network in partnership with United Nations Academic Impact.
Wed, 07/16/2025
Dr. Kelly Kindscher is one of six KU professors awarded Big 12 Faculty Fellowships for 2025-2026 academic year
Six KU faculty members have been selected to participate in the Big 12 Faculty Fellowship over the summer and the upcoming academic year. These scholars will visit and collaborate with faculty and students across the Big 12 Conference.
Tue, 07/08/2025
Megan Kaminski in the news again for the Lawrence Transit Poet Laureate program
Our own Megan Kaminski, community poet and KU professor, leads the Lawrence Transit Poet Laureate program, which features poetry on electric buses. She will conduct a "Ride and Write" workshop on July 29, 2025, to inspire submissions for the 2026 theme "Routes to Belonging." Kaminski's efforts aim to foster community connection and reflection through poetry during daily commutes. Submissions are due by November 3, 2025, and can be in any language spoken in the community.
Wed, 04/02/2025
Global Climate Teach-in to bring together perspectives related to climate change, offers opportunities to build community
For the fourth year, KU is participating in the Worldwide Climate Education Week, led by Bard College. Five events offer opportunities to come together in different settings around education about the climate crisis.
Thu, 03/27/2025
KACEE Recognizes Bob Hagen for Two Decades of Leadership in Field-Based Learning
Environmental Studies faculty member awarded 2025 Excellence in Conservation and Environmental Education award.
Fri, 02/28/2025
Megan Kaminski is one of three fellows joining the Office of Faculty Affairs to support and expand programming initiatives
Three program fellows from the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences have joined the Office of Faculty Affairs to support and expand programming initiatives.
Fri, 01/17/2025
Environmental Studies Faculty and Alumni Contribute to Museum Exhibit on Water’s Impact
Scott Schulte, Associate Professor of Practice for the Environmental Studies Program, and Ian Fannin-Hughes, a PSM graduate and adjunct faculty member, collaborated with Heartland Conservation Alliance partners to create Ripples: Water, Community, and You. Now on display at the Johnson County Museum, the exhibit explores the region's water history, including how past decisions shaped today's landscapes—such as the choice that preserved Edwards Campus by avoiding a reservoir project.
Mon, 11/25/2024
A Bountiful Season on the Prairie
Dr. Kelly Kindscher is featured in the latest edition of KU Giving Magazine talking about the latest edition of his book, “Edible Wild Plants of the Prairie: An Ethnobotanical Guide."
Thu, 10/24/2024
Open Access Week
"(Open reviews and open publishing) makes it a process where everybody is visible, everybody is part of that work of getting that research out into the world ... Open Access can be really powerful at any stage of your career."
🎙️Shannon O'Lear,
Fri, 09/27/2024
KU Kudos: Faculty and staff achievements, September 2024
It's time to celebrate Jayhawk colleagues' achievements: KU News Service staff accepted submissions and combed websites, social media and newsletters for recent external honors and awards for current faculty and staff at the Lawrence, Edwards and Medical Center campuses and affiliates.
Wed, 09/18/2024
Fall equinox tour of KU medicinal garden planned Sept. 22
The public is invited to the fall semiannual tour of the University of Kansas Native Medicinal Plant Research Garden at 6 p.m. Sept. 22 on the autumnal equinox.
Mon, 09/16/2024
Shannon
The University of Kansas is proud to announce 16 faculty members from the Lawrence and KU Medical Center campuses as recipients of KU’s annual teaching awards.
Tue, 08/13/2024
Poet and Professor Megan Kaminski Leads City of Lawrence’s Transit Poet Laureate Program
Megan Kaminski, a poet and professor, will lead the Ride and Write Workshop for Lawrence’s Transit Poet Laureate program on Aug. 30. She aims to inspire participants to connect with their community through poetry while riding an electric bus. Selected poems will be featured on city buses.
Wed, 05/08/2024
University plans summer makeover for Potter Lake
This summer, Potter Lake is getting a makeover for its 113th birthday. A major project will begin in May to dredge the lake, rebuild portions of the original edge wall, and improve the spillway and sediment basin. Part of the work will be to collect turtles, frogs and reptiles and relocate them to a pond in KU’s West District.
Fri, 03/29/2024
HLC: Professor, librarian co-teach students to create open access podcast
KU continues efforts for reaffirmation of accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission, whose peer review team will visit in 2025. Criterion 3 focuses on teaching and learning, particularly in quality, and level of resources and support. One such example of Criterion 3 in action is Environmental Geopolitics, a class where students learn to communicate their research through podcasting and publishing their work.
Fri, 02/09/2024
University announces 2024 Truman scholarship nominees
Three outstanding University Honors students have been selected as the KU nominees for Harry S. Truman Scholarships. The prestigious national awards, which provide up to $30,000 for graduate study, are given to college juniors for leadership in public service.
Tue, 01/23/2024
55 students receive Undergraduate Research Awards for spring 2024
UGRA recipients are awarded a $1,000 scholarship as they work on mentored research and creative projects. Students apply for UGRAs by writing a four-page research proposal under the guidance of a mentor. Faculty reviewers evaluate the applications based on the merit of the applicant’s proposal and a recommendation from the mentor.
Wed, 11/29/2023
KU professor leads students in prescribed burn at Lecompton prairie (Opens in new window)
About three dozen students and community members gathered Wednesday morning to place Good Fire and spend time in community on the land. ...
Fri, 01/27/2023
New immersive learning program will explore the culture, environment and diversity of Kansas
Wed, 08/17/2022
Nine KU students receive Undergraduate Research Awards for fall
LAWRENCE — This fall, nine University of Kansas students will receive an Undergraduate Research Award (UGRA). UGRA recipients are awarded a $1,000 scholarship as they work on mentored research and creative projects. ...
Thu, 07/07/2022
University of Kansas names five new distinguished professors
LAWRENCE – Five University of Kansas professors have joined elite company by being named distinguished professors. Sharon Billings and Marta Caminero-Santangelo received the designation of University Distinguished Professor, while Jie Han, Peter Ukpokodu and Lisa Wolf-Wendel received the designation of Roy A. Roberts Distinguished Professor. ...
Thu, 06/16/2022
Take a solstice garden tour with the KU community (Opens in new window)
Kelly Kindscher, scientist with the Kansas Biological Survey & Center for Ecological Research, will offer an informal tour of the KU Native Medicinal Plant Garden at this special event.
Mon, 05/10/2021
Students win awards at online Undergraduate Research Symposium
LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas Center for Undergraduate Research has announced the winners of its 24th annual Undergraduate Research Symposium. The event took place online this year and went live April 24. Over 190 students shared their undergraduate research and creative projects that they have been working on throughout...
Thu, 04/22/2021
Pacific Northwest’s ‘forest gardens’ were deliberately planted by Indigenous people (Opens in new window)
For decades, First Nations people in British Columbia knew their ancestral homes—villages forcibly emptied in the late 1800s—were great places to forage for traditional foods like hazelnuts, crabapples, cranberries, and hawthorn. A new study reveals that isolated patches of fruit trees and berry bushes in the region’s hemlock and cedar...
Wed, 04/21/2021
Two students selected for Beckman Scholars Program
LAWRENCE — University of Kansas students Claire Dopp and Sarah Noga have been selected to participate in the 2021 Beckman Scholars Program. ...