Education (Colleges & Universities)
Here's a look at documents from public, private and community colleges in the U.S.
Featured Stories
Virginia Tech: Betting on Geopolitics - Economist Explains Risks of Prediction Markets
BLACKSBURG, Virginia, March 7 -- Virginia Tech issued the following news:
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Betting on geopolitics? Economist explains risks of prediction markets
Prediction markets, like Kalshi and Polymarket, allow users the opportunity to bet on just about any real-world event, from the trivial to the monumental, including major geopolitical conflicts and elections here at home.
Economist David Bieri explains how these markets work, why they appeal to a distinctly American economic mindset, and the risks that they pose for both users and broader structures.
From the growth of day trading to the widespread
... Show Full Article
BLACKSBURG, Virginia, March 7 -- Virginia Tech issued the following news:
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Betting on geopolitics? Economist explains risks of prediction markets
Prediction markets, like Kalshi and Polymarket, allow users the opportunity to bet on just about any real-world event, from the trivial to the monumental, including major geopolitical conflicts and elections here at home.
Economist David Bieri explains how these markets work, why they appeal to a distinctly American economic mindset, and the risks that they pose for both users and broader structures.
From the growth of day trading to the widespreaduse of smartphones, technology has lowered the threshold for everyday Americans to tap into markets that were previously accessible only to high-level specialists or required a lot of effort to participate in. Combined with the growing popularity of the "investor mindset," Bieri says these changes have helped create the current landscape.
"It's part of the gamification and digitization of financial markets, which turn everything now," said Bieri. "There's been a reduction of friction for participating in risky things that could get you killed, or lose your money if you do them underground. Now everyone can do them. We're at a unique junction where technology meets that mindset."
But unlike purchasing a stock, there is no investment in anything. Instead, participants are relying solely on their ability to predict an outcome. For Bieri, that's a fundamental shift, one he sees tied to the cultural fascination with being rich as an achievement in and of itself, and the ability to "make money in your sleep."
"Now everybody can take part in these markets just to make money, not because they're invested in anything else," he said. "There's no real skin in the game -- no stake in a company, no ownership of an asset, no productive activity underneath the wager. That's a textbook moral hazard: when you strip away any connection to underlying value, the only thing left is the bet itself. And that's where the platform owners are the ones getting rich."
Prediction markets make their money by taking a small cut of every transaction. According to Bieri, this creates a fundamental misalignment: the platforms have no commercial incentive to police insider trading and every incentive to encourage more action, more contracts, and bigger bets.
"These platforms have seen large bets placed by newly-created accounts shortly before major geopolitical events, like the U.S. strikes on Iran and the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, raising questions about whether traders may have acted on privileged information," Bieri said.
The death of Iran's leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has provided perhaps these markets' sternest test so far. Kalshi is refusing to pay out "winners" in the $54 million market on bets that he would be "out as Supreme Leader" by a certain date. The platform froze the market, saying the site doesn't allow transactions directly tied to death.
For Bieri, this example illustrates the broader challenge of regulation struggling to keep up with these platforms.
"The issue of the regulatory state limping behind the frontier is exactly what fuels innovation," he said. "The history of a fragmented regulatory system in the U.S. compounds the problem, as different regulatory agencies fight for domain over spaces. But the whole regulation of FinTech companies is still unresolved."
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About Bieri
David Bieri is an associate professor in the School of Public and International Affairs and an associate professor of economics at Virginia Tech. Bieri has been covered by outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, TIME, Newsweek, CNN, and Marketplace, among many others. He previously worked in investment banking and served in senior roles in central banking. View Bieri's full bio.
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Interview
To schedule an interview, contact Noah Frank in the media relations office at nafrank@vt.edu or 805-453-2556.
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Original text here: https://news.vt.edu/articles/2026/03/Prediction-markets-geopolitics-economist-betting-expert.html
Tropical Shipping Gift Supports Supply Chain Management Program at FAU
BOCA RATON, Florida, March 7 -- Florida Atlantic University, a component of the state university system in Florida, issued the following news:
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Tropical Shipping Gift Supports Supply Chain Management Program at FAU
By Kristine Gobbo
Florida Atlantic University's College of Business and Tropical Shipping recently celebrated the naming of the Tropical Shipping Study Room at the Schmidt Family Complex, Boca Raton campus. The event recognized a gift made by Tropical Shipping to support the College of Business' Supply Chain Management Program.
"Tropical Shipping is happy to join with FAU's
... Show Full Article
BOCA RATON, Florida, March 7 -- Florida Atlantic University, a component of the state university system in Florida, issued the following news:
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Tropical Shipping Gift Supports Supply Chain Management Program at FAU
By Kristine Gobbo
Florida Atlantic University's College of Business and Tropical Shipping recently celebrated the naming of the Tropical Shipping Study Room at the Schmidt Family Complex, Boca Raton campus. The event recognized a gift made by Tropical Shipping to support the College of Business' Supply Chain Management Program.
"Tropical Shipping is happy to join with FAU'sCollege of Business in its efforts to educate and train the next generation of business leaders," said Tim Martin, president and CEO of Tropical Shipping. "By bringing our experience and expertise in supply chain management to programming at FAU, we hope to support and guide these students as they develop their career goals."
The funding will also sponsor the Tropical Shipping Speaker Series, a three-year lecture series that will bring business experts on campus to speak and engage with students. Expanding program offerings and experiential learning in collaboration with local businesses is a focus of the college. These activities provide career building experiences for students, helping to develop a skilled pipeline of graduates entering the workforce to fulfill the needs of the dynamic South Florida business industry and beyond.
The Supply Chain Management Program prepares students with knowledge and skills to succeed in a career in supply chain management, a key element of the trade, retail, manufacturing and service sectors worldwide. The college offers a master's in supply chain management, professional master's in supply chain management, and Certificate in Supply Management (CPSM(R)) for working professionals.
"We are pleased to enter this partnership with Tropical Shipping," said Daniel Gropper, Ph.D., dean of the College of Business. "Connecting with industry leaders in the community benefits the companies and our students. It provides students with educational experiences and networking opportunities that improve their career trajectories, and it helps the companies identify talented students - together, this supports our local economy."
Tropical Shipping has been a trusted cargo and freight carrier for the Caribbean, the Bahamas and South America for more than 63 years. With corporate offices in Riviera Beach, Florida, more than 1,500 employees, and 31 port locations, Tropical Shipping offers comprehensive freight services including Less than Container Load (LCL), Full Container Load (FCL), refrigerated cargo, and inland transportation. Tropical Shipping maintains frequent, dependable sailing schedules and full-service solutions for businesses and consumers across the region.
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Original text here: https://www.fau.edu/newsdesk/articles/tropical-shipping-gift-supports-supply-chain-management-program-at-fau-college-of-business.php
South Dakota Students Announced as Regional Winners of the 2026 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
VERMILLION, South Dakota, March 7 -- The University of South Dakota issued the following news:
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South Dakota Students Announced as Regional Winners of the 2026 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
The University of South Dakota's Department of English, an affiliate partner of the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, has announced the regional award winners of the 2026 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards.
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Presented by the nonprofit organization the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are the country's longest-running and most prestigious scholarship and recognition
... Show Full Article
VERMILLION, South Dakota, March 7 -- The University of South Dakota issued the following news:
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South Dakota Students Announced as Regional Winners of the 2026 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
The University of South Dakota's Department of English, an affiliate partner of the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, has announced the regional award winners of the 2026 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards.
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Presented by the nonprofit organization the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are the country's longest-running and most prestigious scholarship and recognitionprogram for creative students in grades 7-12. Forty-one creative teens from South Dakota received regional honors and nominations in the categories of Gold Keys, Silver Keys, Honorable Mentions and American Voices.
In celebration of this year's regional award winners, a reception and ceremony will be held on Sunday, March 8, at 1 p.m. in Farber Hall on USD's main campus in Vermillion, South Dakota.
Since the program's founding in 1923, the awards have fostered the creativity and talent of millions of students and include a distinguished list of alumni such as Tschabalala Self, Stephen King, Kay WalkingStick, Amanda Gorman, Charles White, Joyce Carol Oates and Andy Warhol, all of whom received recognition in the Awards when they were teens.
For Gold Key works of art and writing in the awards' 28 categories--including architecture, painting, flash fiction, poetry, printmaking, science fiction and fantasy and more--the opportunities for recognition will continue when the works are considered for national honors. This includes a wealth of additional opportunities, such as scholarships and inclusion in the National Exhibition and Scholastic Awards Traveling Exhibition, the annual anthology of award-winning teen writing and the annual catalogue of award-winning teen art. Poets who win national awards are considered for the National Student Poets Program, the nation's highest honor for young poets presenting original work.
National awards will be announced on March 25, 2026.
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Original text here: https://www.usd.edu/academics/colleges-and-schools/college-of-arts-sciences/south-dakotan-arts-and-sciences/south-dakota-students-announced-as-regional-winners-of-the-2026-scholastic-art-and-writing-awards
Ole Miss Online Programs Earn National Recognition From U.S. News
OXFORD, Mississippi, March 7 -- The University of Mississippi issued the following news:
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Ole Miss Online Programs Earn National Recognition From U.S. News
Business and education programs stand out in national evaluation of nearly 1,800 online degrees
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U.S. News & World Report has recognized four University of Mississippi online programs in business and education as among the nation's best.
The publication evaluated and ranked some 1,780 online degree programs based on overall academic quality. The Ole Miss online programs included in the survey, along with their placement among the
... Show Full Article
OXFORD, Mississippi, March 7 -- The University of Mississippi issued the following news:
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Ole Miss Online Programs Earn National Recognition From U.S. News
Business and education programs stand out in national evaluation of nearly 1,800 online degrees
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U.S. News & World Report has recognized four University of Mississippi online programs in business and education as among the nation's best.
The publication evaluated and ranked some 1,780 online degree programs based on overall academic quality. The Ole Miss online programs included in the survey, along with their placement among thenation's public universities, are:
* Undergraduate business, No. 12
* Master's in business administration, No. 25
* Master's in business administration for military veterans, No. 22
* Graduate education, No. 75.
The MBA program also outranks those offered at all other Mississippi institutions of higher learning.
"Our online degrees are not separate from our campus experience; they are an extension of it," said April Murphy, director of academic outreach. "The same accomplished faculty who teach on-campus also lead our online programs, ensuring students receive the same expertise, rigor and commitment to excellence."
The publication evaluated programs on engagement, services and technologies, faculty credentials and training, and peer assessments from high-ranking academic officials.
"I am thrilled that the dedication of James Flanders and the UM business school faculty has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report, ranking our online general business program among the top 15 in the nation," said Rich Gentry, chair and professor of management.
"This achievement reflects years of intentional effort to build a program that meets the evolving demands of today's workforce while remaining accessible and dependable for our students."
John Campbell, of Houston, Texas, has experienced that dedication while earning his MBA online from Ole Miss. He joined the MBA program while his son was studying biomedical engineering at the university and completed it in May 2025.
Enrolling in the program was one of the best decisions of his life, Campbell said.
"Each class provided a lens through which I look at business, relationships and life," he said. "Coming from a technology background, most of this material was new to me. The program afforded me the knowledge and confidence to start a business with my wife."
Campbell credited the professors of the program as supportive and engaging.
"They demonstrate passion for the curriculum and treat the online class environment similar to in-person with their interactions both within the coursework and their availability throughout the day," he said.
"They care about your success in the 'classroom' but even more so about your success in your career and life."
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Original text here: https://olemiss.edu/news/2026/03/ole-miss-online-programs-earn-national-recognition-from-u.s-news/index.html
Michigan Medicine: How Covered is IVF in the United States?
ANN ARBOR, Michigan, March 7 -- Michigan Medicine, the academic medical center of the University of Michigan, issued the following news release:
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How Covered is IVF in the United States?
IVF insurance coverage varies greatly among larger employers
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Analysis of in vitro fertilization policy plans offers a better picture of what kind of access patients actually have. Read the full article here (https://www.michiganmedicine.org/health-lab/ivf-insurance-coverage-varies-greatly-among-larger-employers).
Transcript
Host:
Welcome to Health Lab, your destination for news and stories about
... Show Full Article
ANN ARBOR, Michigan, March 7 -- Michigan Medicine, the academic medical center of the University of Michigan, issued the following news release:
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How Covered is IVF in the United States?
IVF insurance coverage varies greatly among larger employers
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Analysis of in vitro fertilization policy plans offers a better picture of what kind of access patients actually have. Read the full article here (https://www.michiganmedicine.org/health-lab/ivf-insurance-coverage-varies-greatly-among-larger-employers).
Transcript
Host:
Welcome to Health Lab, your destination for news and stories aboutthe future of healthcare.
Today: IVF insurance coverage varies greatly among larger employers. An analysis of in vitro fertilization policy plans offers a better picture of what kind of access patients actually have.
With President Trump's executive order to expand access to families for in vitro fertilization, or IVF, the federal government has been giving special attention to insurance coverage of this important infertility treatment.
Luckily, James Dupree, M.D., M.P.H., and Anna Kirkland, J.D., Ph.D., have been working on, and researching, this topic for years.
"The World Health Organization and the American Society of Reproductive Medicine state that infertility is a disease," Dupree explained.
"Much like patients should have access to medicines that treat diabetes and blood pressure, I believe strongly patients should have access to IVF," explained Dupree, a urologist who sees firsthand how patients struggle to pay for these types of fertility treatments; a single round of IVF treatment can range anywhere from $15,000 to $20,000, without a guarantee of a successful pregnancy.
Dupree and Kirkland's recent data, published in the Journal of Assisted Reproductive Genetics, revealed more on the current state of employer insurance plans for IVF.
"One of our previous papers found that patients were willing to pay $5,000 per cycle of IVF, so we started looking at IVF coverage policies at self-insured employers that are able to design their own insurance coverage policies," said Kirkland.
State mandates have begun to pass around the country to try to bring IVF costs for patients down instead of having it be an entirely out-of-pocket cost for those who can afford it.
But it's not that simple, as their findings showed.
"Those state IVF coverage mandates don't apply to every employer, however, and the employers that are exempt, called self-insured employers, in our study, didn't offer any more IVF coverage than the national average," said Kirkland.
"The policy and legal landscape for IVF coverage is highly fragmented," she explained.
More about the paper:
Only 15 states and Washington, DC, have passed a law that mandate private insurance coverage of IVF, but each mandate is significantly different.
For instance, Hawaii states that a couple must be infertile for five years before receiving IVF insurance coverage, while Utah offers up to $4,000 towards IVF-related medicines and procedures.
"So, there's coverage, but not great coverage and not the same across the board," said Dupree.
Their team decided to break this down further, in states with mandates for IVF coverage, by looking at self-insured companies that don't have to follow the mandates.
Self-insured companies tend to be larger employers, like the University of Michigan, for example, who bear the risk of paying claims for their employees and their dependents out of their own funds.
These companies have to follow federal laws, but not state laws, regarding insurance coverage, and current federal law doesn't include an IVF coverage mandate.
The other kind of employer people can use is a fully insured one, which means an insurance company bears the risk of an employer's plan for its employees, and is paid a set amount by that employer.
These employer plans need to abide by state mandates.
And that's important, says Kirkland, because only 34% of people get insurance from these fully-insured companies, whereas 66% of people get insurance from self-insured employers.
"So what we did in the research is looked at self-insured employers who were headquartered in one of those states with the IVF coverage mandates. We wondered if being in a mandate state would pressure them to match coverage. What we found was that those self-insured employers are not offering any more IVF coverage than the national average in those states," she added.
"Their coverage is low when you compare it to the fully-insured companies in those states that must follow the mandates and offer coverage about 100% of the time. The self-insured employers only provided IVF coverage about 40% of the time."
An additional finding in their study was that, among self-insured companies that offered coverage, the details of the coverage varied widely.
"We found examples of companies covering IVF, but they only cover $5,000 to $10,000, which usually won't even cover one IVF attempt. And then we found others that cover 5 to 6 cycles of IVF."
Coverage by self-insured companies varied by business sector.
Educational service companies, manufacturers, finance and insurance companies were very likely to offer IVF benefits, but industries like health care services, hotel and hospitality companies were less so.
In general, non-union employer plans offered IVF coverage more commonly than union plans did.
So, what's next?
Dupree and Kirkland's team plans to focus on expanding their review across the country.
They hope to put together prototypes of ideal benefit coverage plans that could be used in a meaningful way as the government examines what IVF coverage is available and what could be available in the future.
For now, Dupree emphasizes the need for employees to understand their insurance plan's IVF benefits before they may actually need to use it.
"You need to really read the details about the IVF coverage, not just hear that it's 'covered'. You may not care about it in that moment, but then when it does matter to you, it really matters."
A reminder that all Health Lab content including health news, best practices and research insights are for informational purposes only, and are not a substitute for professional medical guidance. Always seek the advice of a health care provider for questions about your health and treatment options.
For more on this story and for others like it, visit michiganmedicine.org/health-lab where you can also subscribe to our Health Lab newsletters to receive the latest in health, wellness and medical research information to your inbox each week. Health Lab is a part of the Michigan Medicine Podcast Network, and is produced by the Michigan Medicine Department of Communication. You can subscribe to Health Lab wherever you listen to podcasts.
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View link to podcast here: https://open.acast.com/public/streams/5ae17fc367bbd246234ef1f5/episodes/698ce9fffe55e6c6c3666180.mp3
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Original text here: https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-lab-podcast/how-covered-ivf-united-states
MTSU Panel Series to Provide Guidance to Help Those Affected by Violence or Abuse
MURFREESBORO, Tennessee, March 7 -- Middle Tennessee State University issued the following news:
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MTSU panel series to provide guidance to help those affected by violence or abuse
By Nancy DeGennaro
Middle Tennessee State University's annual Family Violence Panels will return this semester, offering practical guidance and community resources to help the community respond effectively to abuse.
Hosted by the Human Development and Family Science program in MTSU's College of Behavioral and Health Sciences, the free panels that are open to the public will be held Mondays at 1:15 p.m. on March
... Show Full Article
MURFREESBORO, Tennessee, March 7 -- Middle Tennessee State University issued the following news:
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MTSU panel series to provide guidance to help those affected by violence or abuse
By Nancy DeGennaro
Middle Tennessee State University's annual Family Violence Panels will return this semester, offering practical guidance and community resources to help the community respond effectively to abuse.
Hosted by the Human Development and Family Science program in MTSU's College of Behavioral and Health Sciences, the free panels that are open to the public will be held Mondays at 1:15 p.m. on March26, April 9 and April 16 in Room 102 of the Academic Classroom Building, 1751 MTSU Blvd. There will also be a virtual option, and a sign language interpreter will be provided. Light refreshments will also be provided.
"These panels are for everybody," said Rebecca Oldham, assistant professor who launched the panels in 2020 for students in her Violence in the Family course, "and anybody in the community is welcome to attend."
The series addresses child abuse, intimate partner violence, sexual assault and elder abuse, bringing together local experts and service providers. Oldham said many people are unprepared when confronted with abuse -- and good intentions can sometimes backfire.
"I think that a lot of people don't know what to do when they come in contact with someone -- be it a child, adult or older adult -- who has potentially been abused," Oldham said. "They're completely unprepared and sometimes can cause more harm than good if they don't know how to respond."
Panel details
* The first panel discussion on March 26 will focus on child abuse. According to statistics from the National Children's Alliance, approximately 1 in 7 children are victims of child abuse or neglect. And the numbers are likely underestimated, as many cases go unreported.
* Intimate partner violence, stalking and sexual assault is the focus of the second panel on April 9. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, approximately 41% of women and 26% of men experienced contact sexual violence, physical violence and/or stalking by an intimate partner at least once during their lifetime.
* Elder abuse will be the topic for the third panel on April 16. Elder abuse -- what Oldham said is the "silent epidemic" -- affects about 1 out of 10 people in the U.S. age 60 and older who live at home.
Following each panel session, a networking reception will be held at 2:45 p.m., with light refreshments served. Each panel is recorded and later posted with reviewed captions to increase accessibility.
Oldham said she especially hopes educators will attend the child abuse panel, noting that teachers are often a first line of defense.
In 2025, nearly 40 Tennesseans lost their lives to domestic violence, according to the Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence, with more than 60,000 reported cases.
Ericka Downing, director of the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Center in Rutherford County, said understanding the dynamics of abuse is critical to helping victims.
"Domestic violence -- also called intimate partner violence -- is a pattern of behaviors used by one partner to maintain power and control over another partner," said Downing, one of the panelists. "It does not discriminate. Anyone of any race, age, sexual orientation, religion or gender can be a victim -- or perpetrator."
When someone discloses abuse, Downing said the response matters.
"We first start by believing, being nonjudgmental and actively listening," Downing said.
Downing cautioned against victim-blaming language.
"They are constantly looking for a safe place to disclose, and your words have power to lift up or destroy," Downing said.
Oldham said knowing about resources before a crisis occurs can make all the difference.
"One of the best ways we can support and empower victims is to know how to respond effectively," Oldham said, "so they can get the care they need and the justice they deserve."
In addition to Downing, more than a dozen panelists will participate, including Dr. Lauren Burge, child abuse pediatrician with UT Health Sciences Center; MTSU Police Detective Tommy Roberts;and Kassie Davis, director of Court Appointed Special Advocates of Rutherford County.
For more information, email rebecca.oldham@mtsu.edu. While an RSVP isn't required, it will help organizers estimate headcount for food ordering. To register for in-person and virtual options and find bios of panelists, visit https://bit.ly/4lfapq0.
Off-campus visitors may purchase a $4/day parking pass through the Parking and Transportation Services' visitor parking permit form.
Event sponsors include Tennessee Success and Innovation Funding, Engage, Department of Human Sciences, Honors College, College of Behavioral and Health Sciences, College of Liberal Arts, CLA Interdisciplinary Studies and Initiatives, Department of Elementary and Special Education, Physician Assistant Studies, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Student Government Association and the Campus Nonviolence Committee (Tina Steward Grant), and the Department of Political and Global Affairs.
-- Nancy DeGennaro, Nancy.DeGennaro@mtsu.edu
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Original text here: https://mtsunews.com/family-violence-panel-2026/
Arcadia University: Dr. Velazco Publishes Two Studies on Frugivorous (Fruit-Eating) Bats
GLENSIDE, Pennsylvania, March 7 -- Arcadia University issued the following news:
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Dr. Velazco Publishes Two New Studies on Frugivorous (Fruit-Eating) Bats
By Natalie Tursi '27
Assistant Professor of Biology Dr. Paul Velazco recently published two new studies, including one with a pair of alumni, on frugivorous, or fruit-eating, bats.
The first appears in the Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. Titled "Phylogeny, biogeography, and classification of frugivorous bats in subtribe Vampyressina (Phyllostomidae: Stenodermatinae), with descriptions of new subgenera," this study
... Show Full Article
GLENSIDE, Pennsylvania, March 7 -- Arcadia University issued the following news:
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Dr. Velazco Publishes Two New Studies on Frugivorous (Fruit-Eating) Bats
By Natalie Tursi '27
Assistant Professor of Biology Dr. Paul Velazco recently published two new studies, including one with a pair of alumni, on frugivorous, or fruit-eating, bats.
The first appears in the Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. Titled "Phylogeny, biogeography, and classification of frugivorous bats in subtribe Vampyressina (Phyllostomidae: Stenodermatinae), with descriptions of new subgenera," this studycombines genetic data with physical traits to closely examine how the Vampyressina bats evolved and spread through Central and South America.
"They are small to medium-sized and have highly specialized skulls and teeth that help them eat a variety of fruits," said Velazco. "These bats are ecologically important because they disperse seeds across forests as they feed, supporting forest regeneration and plant diversity. In other words, they act as mobile gardeners of tropical ecosystems."
Velazco's study closely compared the DNA and physical features of 36 species of bats to build a detailed evolutionary tree of these bats, finding that Vampyressina are monophyletic, meaning that all species in this group descend from a single common ancestor and that group includes all of that ancestor's descendants.
"This is important because it confirms that Vampyressina is a natural evolutionary group, not merely a collection of similar-looking species," explained Velazco. "Scientifically, this matters because it means comparisons within the group are meaningful for studying how traits such as skull shape, body size, and diet evolved."
This evolutionary history also suggests that these bats first evolved in eastern South America before moving to new areas that demanded an evolutionary change in tooth shape, skulls, and body size in order to adapt to eating different kinds of fruit.
"Understanding how species evolved and spread helps identify where diversity originated and which regions or lineages are especially unique," said Velazco. "This information can guide conservation by highlighting areas and species that represent key branches of evolutionary history, helping protect not only species but also the evolutionary processes that created them."
Velazco also partnered with two former students, Faith Hoos '21 and Connor Scholl '24, to publish "Temperature and precipitation seasonality drive morphological divergence in the neotropical bat genus Vampyrodes (Chiroptera Phyllostomidae)," in the journal Mammal Research, examining how climate and geography shape biodiversity.
"Working with students on research at this level means they're not just helping in a lab or running simple exercises; they're contributing to real discoveries that other scientists around the world will read and build on," said Velazco. "They learn how to ask good questions, handle real data, deal with uncertainty, and communicate results clearly. That's a huge step from 'learning about biology' to actually being a biologist."
Using 300 specimens from museums, the team found differences in two closely related bat species, noting that one lived in stable, forested climates, while the other thrives in regions with strong seasons and temperatures.
"These two studies examine the same group of bats from different angles and complement each other well," Velazco said. The first study looks at the big picture. The second study takes a close-up view, comparing two very similar bat species and showing how historical climate and geography shape their morphology. Together, they tell one story: bats diversified because they moved into new places and new conditions, and the climate continues to mold their morphologies and help create new forms of life."
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Original text here: https://www.arcadia.edu/news/dr-velazco-publishes-two-new-studies-on-frugivorous-fruit-eating-bats/
