Education (Colleges & Universities)
Here's a look at documents from public, private and community colleges in the U.S.
Featured Stories
Rochester Institute of Technology: Cross-disciplinary Collaborations Lead to Growth for Double-major Students
ROCHESTER, New York, Nov. 21 -- Rochester Institute of Technology issued the following news release:
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Cross-disciplinary collaborations lead to growth for double-major students
Alumni support enables computer science and economics double major students to present research
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Traveling to conferences and presenting research can give undergraduate students a competitive edge. However, the cost of travel and other barriers can make an exciting opportunity feel out of reach.
After Aaron Schwall '22 (computer science and economics) had a positive experience working with Professor Jeffrey Wagner,
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ROCHESTER, New York, Nov. 21 -- Rochester Institute of Technology issued the following news release:
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Cross-disciplinary collaborations lead to growth for double-major students
Alumni support enables computer science and economics double major students to present research
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Traveling to conferences and presenting research can give undergraduate students a competitive edge. However, the cost of travel and other barriers can make an exciting opportunity feel out of reach.
After Aaron Schwall '22 (computer science and economics) had a positive experience working with Professor Jeffrey Wagner,his family felt inspired to nurture the culture of research at RIT. Sam Schwall '87 (industrial engineering), the father of two RIT alumni, contributed funds to the Department of Economics to support more undergraduate, double-major student researchers by covering conference presentation expenses.
"Having dedicated funds that permit students to attend a research conference during their undergraduate years is terrific. We are grateful to the Schwall family for supporting undergraduate economics student and faculty research collaborations," said Wagner.
Most recently, Wagner has co-authored papers with two fourth-year computer science and economics double majors, Ben Bremer and Mitchell Rieder.
Both students' papers began as assignments for Wagner's Environmental Economics course. When Bremer and Rieder expressed interest in co-authoring more in-depth drafts for publication, Wagner was excited about the insights that could result from this type of cross-disciplinary collaboration.
Having Bremer and Rieder present their work alongside him at an industry conference was the natural next step.
"Having a chance to be off campus to see more of the profession and how that world works is beneficial. Every person you can meet has different experiences that you learn from," said Wagner, who had similar experiences as a student. "I know how valuable it is, so I don't miss a chance to put my students in that position."
Bremer traveled with Wagner to present "The Economics of AI in Waste Management" at the 2025 Association of Environmental and Resource Economists' Summer Conference in New Mexico. The pair is set to travel to Tampa Nov. 22-24 to co-present at the annual meeting of the Southern Economic Association.
Rieder co-presented "The Law and Economics of Tradeable Satellite Debris Permit Market Design" with Wagner at the 2025 New York State Economics Association Annual Conference. They will travel to Chicago to present at the Midwest Economics Association Annual Meeting March 20-22, 2026.
Maximizing profits in AI development
Ben Bremer, from Denver, Colo., is grateful to have discovered his passion for economics as a first-year student after interviewing an economics professor for an RIT 365 project. That experience, paired with his own economics coursework, inspired him to pursue a double major.
Bremer and Wagner set out to collaborate on a paper that extends an ongoing conversation in the field of computer science: thinking critically and creatively about artificial intelligence research and development (AI R&D) to maximize profits. One of their biggest findings, Bremer explained, was that AI R&D is unique because of its spillover benefits.
"AI models at their core are trained to recognize patterns and correlations. Even if you develop an AI tool for a very specific purpose, it can still have applications to a completely different, very specific case that our brains might not connect," he said.
At the conference in New Mexico, Bremer enjoyed being immersed in a community of researchers who are passionate about their work. He said a highlight was meeting a professor whose work he and Wagner cited in their paper.
"There are people from all over the country there who will stop and take the time to talk to you because they think your research is interesting. As an undergraduate student, you don't get that opportunity often," he said. "Everyone was very supportive. They loved seeing an undergraduate student step up and co-present."
The trouble with satellite debris
Adding a major in economics opened Mitchell Rieder's eyes to the possible applications of computer science.
"I always loved the logic of the computer science major. But I always struggled with finding a way to apply that logic and understanding to the real world," said Rieder, from Framingham, Mass. "Economics took these numbers off the page and allowed me to apply the logic that I so dearly love to a real-world environment."
For his research with Wagner, Rieder set his sight on the sky and delved into the increasingly precarious topic of satellite debris management. Rieder explained that satellites are an integral part of everyone's lives, allowing people to make phone calls, stream their favorite shows, and more.
But these conveniences come with a cost that is largely invisible to consumers.
"With more satellites going up, the likelihood of two satellites colliding or a satellite becoming not operational has increased," he said. "Unlike when a car accident happens on the freeway, you can't simply move the debris from a satellite out of the line of space-traffic."
Rieder said that his experience writing a formal research paper for publication and preparing for these conference presentations made him a stronger student.
"Having the humility and self-reflection to recognize where your understanding is lacking, and the drive to increase that understanding, is not something that is easily taught in class," he said. "I've had the privilege of learning how to do so, and how to make sure that the work that I do, if not entirely inscrutable, is strong under a certain level of scrutiny."
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Original text here: https://www.rit.edu/news/cross-disciplinary-collaborations-lead-growth-double-major-students
Missouri State-West Plains: Leatherback Sea Turtle Expedition Travelogue
WEST PLAINS, Missouri, Nov. 21 -- Missouri State University's West Plains Campus issued the following news release:
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Leatherback Sea Turtle Expedition Travelogue
Our turtle census was participating in authentic ongoing research to find Leatherback Sea Turtles in the process of laying eggs in the dead of night.
By Alexandra Graham, Director of Assessment and Accreditation
Every year, Ana Estrella, Department Chair of Natural and Applied Sciences at Missouri State University-West Plains, leads a group of students on a trip to Costa Rica as part of the Education Abroad program. The experience
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WEST PLAINS, Missouri, Nov. 21 -- Missouri State University's West Plains Campus issued the following news release:
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Leatherback Sea Turtle Expedition Travelogue
Our turtle census was participating in authentic ongoing research to find Leatherback Sea Turtles in the process of laying eggs in the dead of night.
By Alexandra Graham, Director of Assessment and Accreditation
Every year, Ana Estrella, Department Chair of Natural and Applied Sciences at Missouri State University-West Plains, leads a group of students on a trip to Costa Rica as part of the Education Abroad program. The experienceis also open to community members.
In May 2025, Alexandra Graham, Director of Assessment and Accreditation, joined the group traveling to Costa Rica for the Leatherback Sea Turtle Expedition. Inspired by her journey, Graham wrote a travelogue detailing her experience. The following is in her own words:
Full disclosure: I didn't ask any questions about what I agreed to when I said yes to chaperoning for The Expedition: Leatherback Sea Turtle and Tropical Ecology from MSU Education Abroad. I said yes and decided to sweat the details later. So I was mightily surprised in April when I went to the planning meeting to find out about the packing list, what we were going to do, how much walking was involved, where we were going to be staying, etc. I'm not going to lie, I seriously wondered if I was going to be able to hack it at age fifty, and if everyone else on the trip was thinking to themselves, "The physical requirements on this trip were explained, why did she come if she can't do it?" Nonetheless, there I was at 3:30 a.m. at Springfield Branson Airport getting ready to go on our adventure.
Arriving in San Jose
Standing in line at customs in San Jose, Costa Rica, we were not the only college study-abroad group. It was clear they were going on a very different trip than us. These other college groups rolled along their matching Louis Vuitton hard-sided luggage, in full makeup and hair, mugging for their cameras:
"We are here in Costa Rica! (whoooo!) We are going to learn so much by going on snorkeling trips, touring a banana plantation, and eating delicious Costa Rican food! We will learn the national anthem to discover a deep appreciation of Costa Rican culture! Pura Vida!"
Then there was us: crunchy, granola, exhausted, all of us wearing our hiking boots, most of us carrying 35-pound camping backpacks and a separate day pack, looking like we were planning to do the 600-mile walk from one coast to the other coast. (Side note, one of our guides leads hiking groups during the regular season from coast to coast. He said it takes about two and a half weeks, and the hike includes going over two mountain ranges.) Once we got through customs, met our guides, and clambered into the 20-person van, we were off to our hotel.
The adventure begins!
The drive through San Jose is...not like the US. Clearly, no city planners laid out a nice, neat square grid of roads, with several lanes anticipating population growth. The most harrowing moment was when we were going up a hill that, I swear to God, was at a 70-degree angle, with trees on both sides encroaching on the road, and the car going down the hill next to us was so close she had to fold in the mirror to be able to pass us. (Also, our driver, Luis, was amazing at navigating traffic and the road conditions. He is as much a driving artist as he is a sculpture artist).
When we got to the hotel, we dropped off our stuff, had our first Costa Rican dinner (fish with rice and beans--so good), and then we met with our guides. At this meeting, we did some baseline activities to provide an idea about what we knew about Costa Rica before we came and surrender our phones for the duration of the trip.
Pacuare Reserve
Our first stop on the trip was to the Pacuare Reserve, which is beautiful and primitive. We did indeed have flushing toilets and cold showers, and we had beds in a bunk house and a kitchen cantina, but that was the end of the amenities. No electricity except for the kitchen generator. It was the kind of hot and humid that I laid still under the mosquito net and felt my pores releasing all the water in my body. In the mornings we woke up to the howler monkeys and the noisy cacophony of birds and insects. During the day, we hiked in the secondary rainforest and observed strawberry dart frogs, spider monkeys, toucans, and all kinds of other flora and fauna. We went to Parismina to learn about ecotourism, and we played all kinds of games to help us bond.
Hands-on Learning
In the night, we did the turtle census (the service-learning part of the program), which is the primary purpose of the education abroad. Based on the pictures advertising the trip, I thought "turtle census" meant we were counting baby turtles. That's what the pictures show: cute baby turtles making their way to the sea in the sunrise with fresh-faced college students in the background smiling beatifically holding a clipboard.
Maybe that's what the Louis Vuitton crowd's college trips are about. Our turtle census was participating in authentic ongoing research to find Leatherback Sea Turtles in the process of laying eggs in the dead of night. To do this, we had two four-hour shifts: 8-1, 11-3, and we walked eight kilometers in the sand, in the dark (no flashlights because it might confuse the turtles), hoping to stumble on a turtle laying eggs. First of all, Leatherback Sea Turtles are enormous. Like, they're as big as my 6'4" husband, and they're about as strong.
While we were there, the turtle census measured a total of ten turtles in three days. When we found a turtle, the Research Assistant gave us directions to help dig the hole deeper, and assigned one student to be on her belly, arms outstretched, holding an enormous plastic bag in the hole under the turtle's butt, catching the eggs as they dropped. Two other students measured the turtle's neck. Two other students measured the turtle's carapace. Two other students measured the turtle's distance from the water and then from the sand cliffs. Then the research assistant checked if the turtle had already been tagged and added a tag to her rear flipper. A student recorded all the data as part of a huge research project to measure Leatherback Sea Turtle movements and egg laying numbers. The eggs are kept in a hatchery, and when they hatch, they are indeed released to the ocean. I don't know if the research assistants smile beatifically at them or not, but that was going to happen a couple of months after we were gone.
Veragua Rainforest Research and Adventure Park
After Pacuare, we went to Veragua Rainforest Research and Adventure Park, which is in a mature rainforest in the mountains. The amenities here included hot showers and electricity, and Veragua is both a tourist spot and a site for research. Here we did a butterfly census, rode a gondola and hiked to a waterfall, but the most exciting part was seeing all the tree frogs and snakes on our night hikes. I had never even heard of an eyelash pit viper before, but I saw a bunch of them, along with some really great orb weaver spiders.
While we stayed at Veragua, we took a day trip to Cuahita, back on the coast, to snorkel on the coral reefs to see how the building of a new port and climate change affected the coral reefs. The coral was bleached, and I learned a lot about why that happens, but I saw a nurse shark! Getting me back into the boat was a comedy of errors--but everyone was so kind anyway. In the afternoon, we went to a cacao plantation and learned about how chocolate is made. It was fascinating to see the process from cacao growing on the plant to being edible in our hands, and I'm still kicking myself for not bringing home fresh cacao.
Back to San Jose
Our last night, we returned to San Jose to get our phones back. Based on my experience and what I heard from the students, the people most unhappy about the requirement to give up our phones were our parents and significant others. Honestly, it was great to have a full week of not knowing what was going on in the dumpster fire of a news cycle, and I heard a bunch of students say throughout our time how glad they were to be away from the drama of home. One student said, "Phones not being present allowed me to connect with the group much more quickly and painlessly than I had thought." Another student commented, "This turned out to be a highlight of the trip for me. The world we have made is so full of distractions. This trip allowed me to rediscover the simple joys of life and existence."
Opportunities and Obstacles
In terms of the best hits of the trip, most of my highlights involve quiet kindness and connection: out on the beach guarding turtle eggs, everyone's excitement at seeing spider monkeys, seeing the research assistants and kitchen staff dancing to Justin Timberlake's "Rock Your Body."
For students, the data from the post survey was clear: Students rated the value of the program as much more valuable than what they would have received in an on-campus class.
According to students, the most desirable aspects of the program included:
Seeing so many different species of tropical wildlife and rainforest ecosystems.
The research, special trips, and getting to see the different lifestyle.
Getting hands on field work experience.
The program was packed full of a wide range of activities. Gave plenty of opportunities to learn hands-on skills and give insight into the lives of professionals in this field.
The lowlights of the trip were also largely quotidian for me. After a week, even I was tired of rice and beans. I will never take for granted the ability to flush my toilet paper again. In Veragua, I had wet pajamas because they didn't dry as fast as expected. For students, the least desirable aspects of the trip included:
Very primitive living conditions especially in Pacuare Norte; I've never eaten such large volumes of beans and rice in my entire life.
Not knowing what to expect about the places we would stay.
Even though I was exhausted, I wouldn't remove anything from this program. It was all so new and exciting!
The heat, but it's Costa Rica-no changing that.
Student Feedback
To assess this trip, students took a pre-departure survey asking about their competency with other cultures, self-growth, and academic/professional growth. In every single metric, the post survey showed students felt more culturally competent, more self-confident, and had clearer future goals. Student comments included:
We learned about Costa Rican lifestyle, food, communities, and conservation. Something I did not expect to learn about was the environmental and ethical concerns of banana plantations.
I didn't realize how different the transportation would be. It was odd seeing so many motorbikes, roads backed up for miles, and everyone being a relatively aggressive driver, but also seeing no evidence of wrecks or car damage. I expected to learn about the community, conservation, waste management, and overall attitude towards life.
I was not prepared for how much food impacts their day-to-day lives. I also did not expect their infrastructure to look so much like LA. In the city, it was all fences, and in the country, it was all community.
I expected to learn about their food, some bits and pieces of the language, and history regarding their ecotourism and sustainability -- all of which I did learn. What I learned that I didn't expect to was just how much the culture treasures harmony with nature. Though this was conveyed in their unofficial national slogan, I saw it in the art depicting wildlife, the way even urban areas in San Jose were teeming with plant life, and the numerous wildlife crossing signs I saw posted during bus rides.
Like the students, I learned a lot more than just the actual curriculum. Did I learn a lot about mature tropical rainforests and secondary tropical rainforests? Yes. Did I learn a lot about turtles, monkeys, birds, snakes, butterflies, frogs, etc.? Yes. Did I learn a lot about how industry impacts the environment and how Costa Rican culture balances those competing needs? Yes. All classes have a hidden curriculum--the stuff you get on the way to learning the stated purpose of the class. What I learned from the hidden curriculum is I have more physical and emotional grit than I have been expected to produce recently. I learned most people are a lot kinder than I am expecting them to be, and it made me reframe my expectations going forward. I reaffirmed the power of connection, and that's something I want to bring with me wherever I go.
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The deadline to apply for the next Costa Rica Education Abroad opportunity is Dec. 1. The application can be accessed online through the Missouri State University Education Abroad website, International.MissouriState.edu/EducationAbroad. Click on the "Search for a Program," then "MSU Short-Term: The Expedition" links, then follow the directions to apply.
For more information about this opportunity or application procedures, contact Estrella at 417-255-7710 or AnaEstrellaRiollano@MissouriState.edu.
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Original text here: https://news.wp.missouristate.edu/2025/11/20/leatherback-sea-turtle-expedition-travelogue/
Jay Skyler's 50 Years of Diabetes Research at the Miller School of Medicine
MIAMI, Florida, Nov. 21 -- The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine issued the following Q&A with Jay Skyler, professor in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism:
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Dr. Jay Skyler's 50 Years of Diabetes Research at the Miller School of Medicine
By Joey Garcia
Fifty years in any profession is a milestone. For Jay Skyler, M.D., professor in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, it is one he is proud to have achieved.
For the past five decades, Dr. Skyler, who also serves as chief academic officer
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MIAMI, Florida, Nov. 21 -- The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine issued the following Q&A with Jay Skyler, professor in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism:
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Dr. Jay Skyler's 50 Years of Diabetes Research at the Miller School of Medicine
By Joey Garcia
Fifty years in any profession is a milestone. For Jay Skyler, M.D., professor in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, it is one he is proud to have achieved.
For the past five decades, Dr. Skyler, who also serves as chief academic officerand deputy director for clinical research and academic programs at the Diabetes Research Institute, has remained dedicated to a singular challenge: finding a cure for type 1 diabetes. His commitment has resulted in significant research discoveries, numerous accomplishments and many proud milestones. Discover more about his career path and passion for the field in the following interview, which has been lightly edited for clarity.
What inspired you to pursue a career in diabetes medicine?
I became interested in diabetes while I was a medical student. I was grading pictures of the eyes of people with diabetes while my mentors were performing pituitary gland removal surgeries as a desperation measure to prevent rapidly progressive blindness. During rounds, I met some of the patients and discovered many were my own age. I was a 20-year-old medical student at the time.
Witnessing these procedures made me realize that something had to be done to stop diabetes, so such drastic measures wouldn't be necessary. That experience inspired me to pursue a career in the field and I've been dedicated to it ever since.
What led you to come to the University of Miami?
It was an interesting opportunity that was offered to me while I was on the faculty at Duke. Frank Schuler, who worked for the Upjohn Company and was familiar with many institutions in the South, encouraged me to consider positions at several places. I visited Alabama, South Carolina and Miami. Miami attracted me with the chance to help lead an important initiative, so I accepted the offer and have been happy here ever since. I love it.
How does it feel to have 50 years at the Miller School?
Over these 50 years, the school has given me great opportunities to pursue research and see patients, allowing me to stay connected to the real world and maintain the flexibility to pursue my interests. I believe we currently have the best leadership I've seen in all my years here.
One of my first achievements was securing the first grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to conduct immune intervention studies for type 1 diabetes in human beings. Then I led the NIH clinical trials network focused on intervening to try to arrest type 1 diabetes, first at the Diabetes Prevention Trial-Type 1, and later at the Type 1 Diabetes TrialNet Clinical Trials Network, aiming to stop and interdict the disease. I led these efforts for 22 years, and the chairman's office coordinated everything from this very room in the Miller School of Medicine.
Can you share some of the research achievements at the Miller School that you are most proud of?
I first was recognized for the use of patient self-monitoring of blood glucose and developing and "algorithms" for patient adjustment of insulin doses. This led to the concept of intensive insulin therapy. We used this approach to allow pregnant women with diabetes to have pregnancies which went to term, rather than being delivered several weeks early.
We also reported the first use of a monoclonal antibody to try to alter the course of type 1 diabetes. Here at UM, I was honored to receive the first annual Dean's Senior Clinical Research Award in 1999, the Provost's Award for Scholarly Activity in 2003 and the Faculty Senate Distinguished Faculty Scholar Award in 2015.
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"My heart is truly in this work. People ask why I haven't retired after 50 years. I want to eradicate this disease before I do."
- Dr. Jay Skyler
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What would you be doing if you were not a professor?
If I weren't a professor, I'd still be doing diabetes research in industry. I've worked with many companies to develop major diabetes treatments, served on boards of directors for MiniMed(TM) insulin pumps, Amylin Pharmaceuticals (the first GLP-1 therapies) and Dexcom (continuous glucose monitoring). Over my career, I've consulted for more than 250 companies. Academy-industry partnerships are essential for progress and UM's policy allowing faculty to work on external projects has helped me contribute to patient care advancements.
What is the best piece of advice that you have ever received?
To pursue what your heart tells you to do. My heart is truly in this work. People ask why I haven't retired after 50 years. I want to eradicate this disease before I do.
How are you continuing your work in type 1 diabetes?
One major accomplishment in the clinical trials network I led for the NIH was a study called "TN-10" (TrialNet 10), which tested a monoclonal antibody to see if we could delay progression from stage 2 to full-blown stage 3 type 1 diabetes. We succeeded and that treatment became the first FDA-approved disease-modifying therapy for type 1 diabetes.
We are now studying additional treatments with the potential to be approved as disease-modifying therapies. I believe the field is moving beyond just insulin replacement toward disease modification, possibly stopping the disease entirely. At the DRI, we are also working on ways to replace damaged beta cells, potentially using stem cells and other methods, with the goal of eradicating diabetes completely.
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Original text here: https://news.med.miami.edu/dr-jay-skylers-50-years-of-diabetes-research-at-the-miller-school-of-medicine/
Field Study Trip Gives SWOSU Biology Students Insight Into Oklahoma Prairie Ecology
WEATHERFORD, Oklahoma, Nov. 21 -- Southwestern Oklahoma State University issued the following news release:
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Field Study Trip Gives SWOSU Biology Students Insight into Oklahoma Prairie Ecology
Students from Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) visited the Four Canyon Preserve for a full day of field observations and ecological study. The visit provided hands-on experience with Oklahoma's native mixed-grass prairie and the conservation work required to protect it.
The trip was organized by Dr. Rickey Cothran and led by SWOSU faculty members Dr. Cothran, Dr. Renan Bosque, and Dr.
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WEATHERFORD, Oklahoma, Nov. 21 -- Southwestern Oklahoma State University issued the following news release:
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Field Study Trip Gives SWOSU Biology Students Insight into Oklahoma Prairie Ecology
Students from Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) visited the Four Canyon Preserve for a full day of field observations and ecological study. The visit provided hands-on experience with Oklahoma's native mixed-grass prairie and the conservation work required to protect it.
The trip was organized by Dr. Rickey Cothran and led by SWOSU faculty members Dr. Cothran, Dr. Renan Bosque, and Dr.Vijay Somalinga. They were joined by Chris Hise, a former SWOSU student who now serves as the Preserve Manager and Associate Director of Conservation. His guidance throughout the day offered students a detailed look at the site's ecological features and long-term restoration efforts.
Four Canyon Preserve, located in western Oklahoma and managed by The Nature Conservancy, protects some of the last remaining stretches of native mixed-grass prairie in the region. Much of this habitat has been lost over time due to agriculture and development, and the preserve now plays an important role in maintaining and restoring these rare ecosystems. Its landscape includes rugged canyonlands, exposed redbed geology, and a variety of plant and wildlife communities that reflect the diversity of the prairie.
During the visit, students examined plant communities, identified wildlife signs, and discussed ecological processes that shape the prairie landscape. The day's activities helped link classroom learning to real-world fieldwork in biology, ecology, and natural resource management. Faculty emphasized how field experiences like this strengthen students' understanding of conservation work and the challenges involved in protecting native ecosystems.
The outing also highlighted the long-term partnership between SWOSU faculty and the preserve. Students were able to see examples of active land-management practices, including restoration strategies that support prairie health and biodiversity. These opportunities support SWOSU's commitment to providing learning environments that prepare students for careers in scientific and environmental fields.
For more information about SWOSU Biology, visit https://www.swosu.edu/biological-sciences/index.php.
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About Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) was founded in 1901 and offers over 100 undergraduate and graduate programs across three locations in Weatherford, Sayre, and Yukon. The university serves over 5,000 scholars and prides itself on affordability, small class sizes, and over 200 faculty and staff committed to helping students achieve their academic and personal goals.
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Original text here: https://www.swosu.edu/news/?p=field-study-trip-gives-swosu-students-insight-into-oklahoma-prairie-ecology
California State University Monterey Bay: Mechatronics Engineering Celebrates Program-changing Equipment Donation
SEASIDE, California, Nov. 21 -- California State University Monterey Bay campus issued the following news:
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Mechatronics engineering celebrates program-changing equipment donation
Keysight Technologies has donated $100,000 of equipment for CSUMB's mechatronics lab.
By Caitlin Fillmore
Cal State Monterey Bay's mechatronics engineering program - now in its second year - celebrated a ribbon-cutting and lab dedication on Wednesday, Nov. 19, in recognition of a $100,000 equipment donation from Keysight Technologies, an S&P 500 technology company.
"This is the first major donation for our
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SEASIDE, California, Nov. 21 -- California State University Monterey Bay campus issued the following news:
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Mechatronics engineering celebrates program-changing equipment donation
Keysight Technologies has donated $100,000 of equipment for CSUMB's mechatronics lab.
By Caitlin Fillmore
Cal State Monterey Bay's mechatronics engineering program - now in its second year - celebrated a ribbon-cutting and lab dedication on Wednesday, Nov. 19, in recognition of a $100,000 equipment donation from Keysight Technologies, an S&P 500 technology company.
"This is the first major donation for ournascent engineering program," said Luis Cabrales, chair of mechatronics engineering. "It is very rewarding to see [Keysight Technologies] supporting our new program. They are world leaders in what they do."
Keysight's donation to the year-old, 100-student mechatronics engineering program included such equipment as 14 power supplies, eight oscilloscopes and eight digital multimeters.
Keysight Technologies leverages mechatronics to give its clients "the ability to do things that required people to take risks," said Doug Baney, corporate director of education for Keysight. By combining mechanical engineering, electrical circuits and automation, Keysight can map out big ideas - how realistic it is to go to Mars, explore the deep ocean or help people walk again - as well as small ideas, such as if a car's new window design will result in puddles splashing up into the interior.
Part of Keysight's mission is to connect with mechatronics programs in its community. The company has made more than 100 donations to mechatronics programs in the U.S. After Cabrales reached out last year to inquire about buying Keysight equipment, the Santa Clara-based tech company decided to explore a deeper partnership.
"It all happened very organically," Cabrales said. "CSUMB has provided resources to launch this program and make it successful. I believe Keysight representatives saw the potential of our program."
"The equipment in front of you is what you will see in the industry," Baney said during the ribbon-cutting. "You'll be able to go in with confidence and do the job," he added, addressing the students in the crowd of about 30 people attending the event..
Before this donation, the mechatronics engineering lab was virtually empty, Cabrales said. Part of the ribbon-cutting, attended by representatives from mechatronics, employers, community members and Hartnell and CSUMB students, was the renaming of the lab as the Keysight Mechatronics Lab.
Cabrales said the equipment will be used in classes where students practice electronic testing, such as electrical circuits, signals and systems, mechatronics, control and embedded systems. He also plans for the equipment to be used for senior design projects, the annual farm robotics challenge, faculty research projects and more.
Nadia Allaf, a mechatronics technician for the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, attended the ribbon-cutting. Allaf, who had to splice together mechanical engineering and robotics classes, and a mechatronics concentration to achieve her degree in 2020, said it was "really exciting" to see an investment in a mechatronics degree in her community and workforce.
"Not many schools have mechatronics as a major," said Allaf, who uses robotics to collect "environmental DNA" from the ocean. "To get exposed to this kind of technology can open students' eyes to a different field that can be good for the world."
For Allaf, mechatronics speaks to the way modern worksites actually function. Having a formal education in mechanical, electrical and software engineering makes a graduate valuable in today's workforce.
"It's hard to have one engineering [focus]," she said. "There's always crossover on the worksite."
The mechatronics engineering degree will see its first two graduates receive their degrees in Spring 2026. Two female transfer students joined the program for its first year in fall 2024.
"We are very excited with everything that is going on with our engineering program," Cabrales said. "The program is on the path to becoming a very successful, well-established program where students get a great educational experience."
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Original text here: https://csumb.edu/news/news-listing/2025/q4/mechatronics-engineering-celebrates-program-changing-equipment-donation/
CSUSB to Host First National Conference on Accelerated Workforce Development in Emerging Technologies Next April
SAN BERNARDINO, California, Nov. 21 -- California State University San Bernardino campus issued the following news:
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CSUSB to host first national conference on accelerated workforce development in emerging technologies next April
"The Defining the Future conference is designed to introduce students to the wide array of jobs in a variety of fields where they can leverage their interests and their experiences to move from campus to careers," said Ryan Keating, co-organizer of the conference, which will take place April 15-16.
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Cal State San Bernardino will host Defining the Future, the
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SAN BERNARDINO, California, Nov. 21 -- California State University San Bernardino campus issued the following news:
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CSUSB to host first national conference on accelerated workforce development in emerging technologies next April
"The Defining the Future conference is designed to introduce students to the wide array of jobs in a variety of fields where they can leverage their interests and their experiences to move from campus to careers," said Ryan Keating, co-organizer of the conference, which will take place April 15-16.
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Cal State San Bernardino will host Defining the Future, thenation's first conference dedicated to accelerated workforce development in emerging technologies, in the spring.
Registration is now open for the conference set for April 15-16, and the event will run simultaneously with the university's Meeting of the Minds student research showcase, which features more than 300 student researchers each year.
"It's increasingly clear that new and emerging technologies are here to stay and tech jobs will make up more than 90 percent of the employment sector in the next 10 years," said Ryan Keating, co-organizer of the conference. "The Defining the Future conference is designed to introduce students to the wide array of jobs in a variety of fields where they can leverage their interests and their experiences to move from campus to careers." Keating is a CSUSB professor of history, director of CSUSB's Office of Student Research and executive director of the Applied Innovation and Economic Development Center.
The conference is open to professionals, researchers, innovators, students and anyone interested in technology, business innovation, sustainability and future trends shaping industries and society.
It is the result of a collaboration between the Office of Academic Research, led by Timothy Akers, chief research officer, associate provost and co-organizer of the conference, and the Office of Student Research.
Akers is a nationally recognized expert in public health, criminology and quantum literacy. He founded the National Quantum Literacy Network, a nonprofit organization advancing quantum AI technologies for workforce development. He has served on national advisory committees for the White House and U.S. Department of Energy, and his innovations in quantum education, patented medical technologies and advocacy for technical and community-based learning have made him a leading force in preparing the nation's future quantum AI workforce.
Together, Keating and Akers saw an opportunity to link what students learn on campus with the skills employers are demanding in these new industries. "When Dr. Akers came to CSUSB, he brought his experience in quantum literacy and emerging tech spaces," Keating said. The goal is to prepare students not just for today's workforce, but for the workspace that awaits them in the future, Keating added.
"We spend a great deal of time educating our students, teaching them to be critical thinkers, critical readers, critical writers and strong academicians," he said. "But we need to bridge that with forward thinking about what jobs will look like five years from now, 10 years from now, 20 years from now, so that students are not only prepared to make an impact now but also be on the cutting edge as industries change."
Keating said that for many CSUSB students -- eight out of 10 of whom are the first in their families to attend college -- events like this answer an important question: Do I really need college?
"This conference shows them that their university experience is relevant, practical and powerful," he said. "It shows there's a pipeline of careers waiting for them."
The three-day event will feature industry presentations, hands-on workshops, exhibits and a recruitment fair connecting students with leading companies in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, semiconductor manufacturing and other emerging fields.
"All students can attend for free," Keating said. "They'll hear from industry experts, see the kinds of products companies are developing, and talk directly with recruiters."
At the same time, hundreds of CSUSB students will present their own research posters and talks during the Meeting of the Minds showcase. "It's going to be a space of convergence where ideas meet opportunity, where networks are created and pipelines are developed," Keating said.
He added that the university's strong research culture gives students a head start. "Every year, more than 3,000 students take part in Office of Student Research activities," he said. "They learn both hard and soft skills -- teamwork, data analysis, communication -- but they're not always taught how to showcase those skills to employers. This conference will help them do exactly that."
Beyond student development, Keating said Defining the Future will advance public-private partnerships and regional economic growth. "Public-private partnerships play a vital role in advancing university research and innovation by connecting academia with industry expertise and resources," he said. "Faculty will have structured opportunities to meet industry partners, build collaborations and pursue external grants."
The conference also highlights CSUSB's leadership in turning the Inland Empire into a hub for innovation. "We're 'open for business' with regards to our desire and willingness to collaborate with private sector partners, and our long-term vision of changing the Inland Empire into a hub for innovation and new technologies," Keating said.
"We know that our students are really exceptional. We also know that more than 85 percent of our students stay within 100 miles of the university. We want to let companies know that by investing in this region, they're going to invest in access to a workforce that is highly skilled, highly competent and invested in the success of their communities."
Conference organizers hope Defining the Future will become an annual event. "We don't want this to be a one-time thing. We're excited about our university becoming a model for what can be accomplished by building out public-private partnerships by melding the power and the vision of the private sector with the excellent research that the faculty and students on our campus are engaged in," said Keating.
For more about the conference, visit the Defining the Future website (https://www.definingthefuture.org/).
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Original text here: https://www.csusb.edu/inside/article/593104/csusb-host-first-national-conference-accelerated-workforce-development
Binghamton University: Research - Cockroaches Gather in Groups to Keep From Drying Out
BINGHAMTON, New York, Nov. 21 (TNSjou) -- Binghamton University issued the following news:
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Research: Cockroaches gather in groups to keep from drying out
An experiment by Binghamton biology undergrads gives insight into the behavior of Madagascar hissing cockroaches
By Jennifer Micale
When conditions get too dry, Madagascar hissing cockroaches like to cuddle.
Technically, the term is aggregation. Under certain conditions, the large insects gather in groups, with many participants in physical contact with one another. According to recent research from Binghamton University's Biological
... Show Full Article
BINGHAMTON, New York, Nov. 21 (TNSjou) -- Binghamton University issued the following news:
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Research: Cockroaches gather in groups to keep from drying out
An experiment by Binghamton biology undergrads gives insight into the behavior of Madagascar hissing cockroaches
By Jennifer Micale
When conditions get too dry, Madagascar hissing cockroaches like to cuddle.
Technically, the term is aggregation. Under certain conditions, the large insects gather in groups, with many participants in physical contact with one another. According to recent research from Binghamton University's BiologicalSciences program, this strategy may prevent the cockroaches from drying out.
"The main takeaway from our study is that Madagascar hissing cockroaches actively adjust their social behavior based on humidity, showing that even large adult insects rely on behavioral plasticity to cope with environmental stressors," explained Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences Lindsey Swierk.
"Plastic Behavioral Responses to Ambient Relative Humidity Influence Aggregation in a Large Gregarious Insect" recently appeared in the journal Ethology. The first four co-authors -- Alison Kryger, Kayla Huang, Kayhan Tabrizifard and Justin Yang -- were students in Swierk's fall Animal Behavior 2024 undergraduate course. The course has an associated laboratory in which students form research groups, conduct experiments, and analyze and write up their results in the style of a scientific manuscript.
"The students' research projects are generally outstanding -- and many of these student groups are motivated to submit their research for publication following the end of the course," said Swierk, the paper's senior author.
This is the fourth student group from Swierk's Animal Behavior class to have their work published in a peer-reviewed journal since 2022; another paper from a different group is currently undergoing peer review. The paper's fifth author, Alexandra Martin, PhD '25, is a recent graduate of Swierk's lab and offered guidance to the undergraduates on experimental design and data interpretation.
Adjusting to climate change
Madagascar hissing cockroaches are around 2 to 3 inches long and widely used in educational settings. Surprisingly, many aspects of their natural history aren't well understood, Swierk said.
In their native Madagascar, these insects form large social groups. The African island experiences both a wet season and a dry season, and Swierk's Animal Behavior students found that the roaches' tendency to aggregate is connected with those swings in humidity.
When the humidity is low, cockroaches in the experiment were significantly more likely to gather into groups, with more of them in physical contact with one another. Aggregation was less common under high humidity, and groups that did form included fewer individuals, the researchers discovered.
"In general, insects can lose water pretty quickly because of their high surface area to volume ratios, and so humidity really affects their abilities to retain moisture," Swierk explained. "Our research shows that even larger adult insects, that may in theory be more resistant to low humidity than smaller or larval insects, still use aggregation as a flexible behavioral adaptation to reduce the risk of water loss."
When the air is dry, insects lose water through their cuticle and through breathing. Physiological adaptations can help them fend off desiccation, including a layer of hydrocarbons on their exoskeletons and changes in metabolic rates. Aggregation is another such strategy, which has been previously observed in small insects and insect larvae.
By grouping together, the cockroaches create a type of micro-climate that increases humidity in their immediate area. But this strategy comes with costs; aggregation could increase social competition or make the insects easier prey for other animals.
Hissing cockroaches, who dwell on the forest floor, play an important role in the environment as decomposers and prey for other animals. Changes in their behavior could end up influencing the larger ecosystem, which is already experiencing the impact of climate change; Madagascar's dry seasons are becoming longer and more severe, with the humidity in some regions dropping to very low levels, Swierk said.
"Because we now know that these cockroaches adjust their aggregation behavior in response to humidity, more frequent or extreme dry periods could push them to aggregate more often to conserve water, which could potentially affect their foraging, reproduction, or broader ecological roles as decomposers," she said.
Most likely, humidity is only one of many factors that influence aggregation among Madagascar cockroaches. Whether the hissing cockroach findings apply more widely to other large insect species remains to be seen.
"Our study suggests that such aggregation behavior under low humidity levels could more generally apply to larger insects, as well as small or larval insects, but of course this will also depend on species' natural history and social behaviors," Swierk said.
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Original text here: https://www.binghamton.edu/news/story/5929/research-cockroaches-gather-in-groups-to-keep-from-drying-out
