Science news, events and activities

From stories of world-changing research to public events for curious minds, find out what's going on at the College of Science.

All College of Science news

A chickadee with a pink band on its leg stands on a feeder box with a seed in its mouth.
Chickadees with better spatial memory live longer

A research study published in Science shows better spatial memory is linked to longer lifespan in food-caching chickadees

A gloved hand holds a piece of metal with small pieces of copper affixed to it.
Tracking plasma progression in a picosecond

Physicists develop a new method to study high-density plasmas using X-ray Free Electron Lasers

Screenshot of Google Earth which mostly shows the Southern Ocean and small parts of the land around it.
Researchers use observations to remove bias in climate models in Southern Hemisphere

An unexpected cooling trend, followed by warming, threw models off

Julie Loisel smiles in front of a mountainous landscape.
Peatland geographer Julie Loisel funded by NSF CAREER Award

Loisel awarded $816,000 to study peatlands in the tropics

A measuring stick in the foreground. The background, in focus, has two people standing in a slot canyon with water between them and the measuring stick.
Research published in PNAS proposes a new model that predicts river tributary length and spacing

The work may improve scientists’ ability to route water, sediment, and nutrients through river networks

Eight people wearing matching black t-shirts smile for a photo in front of a brick wall. Their t-shirts have a logo that reads "Bell Group" with a beaker.
Moving closer to “one protein, one drug”

Chemistry professor works on compound that could be used to treat diseases from cancer to hepatitis B

Assistant Professor Mark Lescroart.
NSF CAREER Award recipient Mark Lescroart studies mechanisms of attention

$700,000 research project funded to explore neurological disorders and everyday tasks; ‘Perception depends on the goal’

Julie Loisel and Cody Reed stand in the Tahoe Meadows smiling.
Geographer turns peatlands workshop into a “science vacation”

Julie Loisel hosted the workshop at the University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe

Assistant Professor, Ehsan Vahidi, posing in front of a building and trees.
SME Career Development Grant awarded to Metallurgical Engineering Assistant Professor Ehsan Vahidi

The John N. Butler Endowed Professor in Extractive Metallurgy becomes one of three recipients nationally to receive grant in 2024

Andrew Siciliano smiles in front of a brick building and a leafy tree.
Geology student receives Goldwater Scholarship

Andrew Siciliano wants to pursue geochemistry research

A rainbow descends from the top left part of the photo toward downtown Reno.
Ask the Professor: How do rainbows form?

Xiyue Zhang elucidates the physics behind the Pride symbol

A close photo of two people sitting opposite one another. One has a pen and notebook and is taking notes, while the other is gesturing with their hands.
Clinical Psychology Graduate Program ranked 70th in the country

Rankings provided by U.S. News & World Report put the University of Nevada, Reno program in the top 100 in the U.S.

A person's hands reach into a fridge and hold up a brown labeled tag on a white bag.
Banking on Nevada's native seeds

An effort to supply Nevada plant seeds at the local, state and federal levels receives federal funding

A large group of well-dressed people, some seated and some standing, smile for a photo.
Westfall Scholars of spring 2024 celebrate their academic accomplishments

These students earned the highest GPA in their programs

Plastic waste is shown mixed in with a catch of many small fish.
River ‘plastisphere’ serves as home to ecosystem-draining organisms

New research explores the microbial communities that live on plastic waste and how they impact the 2nd most biodiverse river in the world

An aerial view of the San Andreas fault, running diagonally across the image from the top left to the bottom right. Below the fault lie some mountains. The landscape is very brown.
Nature article proposes new way to identify faults that might pose earthquake risk

The researchers found geometric complexity of nearby faults could play a role in the risk of earthquakes

A group talks at a table outside
Hitchcock Center for Chemical Ecology 2024 symposium merges disciplines at the University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe

Smoke from the Caldor Fire over Lake Tahoe.
Lakes across North America are being impacted by wildfire smoke, even when the blaze is nowhere nearby

99% of lakes were impacted by wildfire smoke for at least one day each year between 2019-2021, 89% saw 30 days or more of smoke

Bike rider on lakeside path.
Better bike paths as one solution to heat and climate change-induced traffic congestion around Lake Tahoe

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency approves the 2024 Active Transportation Plan as warming temperatures and congestion continue to impact the region

Andrei Derevianko posing in front of a bookshelf.
Andrei Derevianko elected AAAS Fellow in the field of physics

From being recognized as University of Nevada, Reno Outstanding Researcher to Sara Louise Hartman Endowed Professor, Derevianko is adding another item to his impressive list of accolades

Three women smile for a photo, with the person in the middle holding a wooden plaque with a glass inscription on top.
College of Science 2024 awards

The College of Science student, faculty and staff awards include several University-wide awards and external awards

Glass awards with inscriptions lined up on a table.
Mackay School celebrates another year of excellence

The annual John W. Mackay Banquet took place on April 26

Paul Alan Cox sits in a lab space with bottles of chemicals and pipettes behind him.
Visit Lake Tahoe on May 30 to learn about “The Promise of Chemical Ecology”

Neurodegenerative disease prevention, “blue zones” and environmental conservation to be discussed at the Hitchcock Center for Chemical Ecology keynote presentation

Caldor Fire burn scar
Lake Tahoe Wildfire Summit explores interdisciplinary solutions

University of Nevada, Reno researchers and scholars share their expertise and collaborate on potential wildfire management solutions

University of Nevada, Reno group of award recipients pose for a photo at the NCET Tech Awards evening, May 13, 2024.
President Sandoval honored as NCET’s 2024 Technology Hall of Fame recipient

University leaders, programs and businesses recognized as top contributors to Northern Nevada’s technological community at NCET Dragonfly Energy Technology Awards

Jesus Diaz Sanchez smiles in front of the Mackay Mines building.
Faces of the Pack: Jesus Diaz Sanchez

Diaz Sanchez received an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, will pursue a Ph.D. at MIT

Sabrina Ma wearing a graduation robe and stole
Grads of the Pack: Sabrina Ma

“I am passionate about inspiring others and finding a path to help make a difference”

Paul McFarlane leans against a railing in a museum with various artifacts and a mural with the planets painted on the wall behind him.
Sci-On! Film Festival returns to Fleischmann Planetarium May 1 – 4

The festival will feature a NASA space film, introductions from directors, receptions, refreshments and live music

An audience looks toward Karen Goldberg, who is presenting in front of a screen.
Catalyzing carbon and plastic recycling

Energy Solutions Forum speaker Karen Goldberg spoke about the methods her lab is pursuing to recycle carbon and plastic

An illustration of a cube with two levels, each level containing blue spheres and separated by a wall of black, brown and pink spheres. Three sides of the cube have illustrations: the top has an image of the earth spinning on an axis, one side has a graphic of a black hole being placed on a scale, and another has a three-dimensional representation of space.
Creating quantum sensors - chemistry meets physics

Chemistry professor and colleagues awarded NSF grant to build quantum device

A mountain chickadee perches on a twig.
Mountain chickadees have remarkable memories. A new study explains why

The spatial memory of mountain chickadees is influenced by genetics and may need to evolve with a changing climate

A boy works with a woman to affix a device to a passenger car window. The device looks like a mallet with a long handle.
Reno/Sparks selected to be part of Urban Heat Mapping Campaign

The summer 2024 effort will involve community volunteers and is supported by the National Institutes of Health, NOAA, Climate.gov and Heat Watch

A bee on top of a starburst-looking plant with the desert Nevada landscape blurred in the background.
Ask the Professor: Which bees will my garden attract?

A recently published article outlines the relationship between bee nutrition and flower visits

A portrait of Yajahira Dircio smiling in front of a brick wall.
Making their MARC: Yajahira Dircio

Dircio is one of four students in the second MARC cohort

Somebody wearing a bandana looks into the dense foliage of a rainforest.
Researchers and students gain new insights and make new connections in Panama

Student participants join researchers to support international conservation efforts

A boxy device with piping running in separate directions away from it sits in a marshy area in a basin.
University geothermal research center holds Geothermal Town Hall

The free, public event will share information about geothermal energy production in Nevada

A hand holds a plastic bag with a frog in it up against the light of the sky. There is green foliage in the background.
STEM Sisters in Panamá

Two high school graduates had the research experience of a lifetime

A group of people holding plaques and trophies smiles for a photo.
Mackay Muckers take gold in International Collegiate Mining Competition

Ten students traveled to Montana to show off their traditional mining skills

A composition of a portrait of Jevin West (top left), a photo of Maddie Lohman holding a bird (bottom left), a portrait of Paul Hurtado (bottom right), and the Discover Science Podcast Series identifier which looks like a cross between a microphone and a microscope (top right).
Discover Science Podcast: Jevin West on misinformation in and about science

Graduate student Maddie Lohman and math professor Paul Hurtado are joined by Jevin West

A woman stands in front of an audience with a presentation being projected onto a screen behind her.
Using bacteria to make useful products out of carbon

Executive Vice President of Technology and Manufacturing at LanzaTech speaks at Energy Solutions Forum

A blank puzzle with a piece missing. There is a pink shape where the piece is missing.
Seeking fundamental truths in mathematics

Associate Professor Chris Rogers receives grant to study symmetry and support historically underrepresented research students

Five people standing in a row in front of trees.
University team working on smartphone-based technology that could help doctors diagnose health conditions

Electrical & Biomedical Engineering Associate Professor Xiaoshan Zhu receives NSF grant for project

Nandini Naidu smiles in front of a brick wall.
Making their MARC: Nandini Naidu

Naidu is part of the second cohort in the MARC program

Maryam Sarmazdeh, David Cantu and Ana Bettencourt standing in front of a brick building
University team is studying ways to purify rare earth elements necessary for smart phones and other technological devices

Chemical Engineering Associate Professor David Cantu leads DOE-supported project

Portrait of Jevin West.
What can be done to stop misinformation in and about science?

Discover Science lecturer on Feb. 22 will discuss the institution of science

A group of students sitting at graduation. One student's graduation cap is decorated and reads, "I wanted to give up but then I remembered who was watching."
Student Emergency Fund donations doubled until Giving Day

Donations to the College of Science’s student emergency fund will be matched up to $50,000 thanks to generous alumni

A mountain chickadee perched on an evergreen tree branch.
The chickadee in the snowbank

A ‘canary in the coal mine’ for climate change in the Sierra Nevada mountains

Three women work at a booth surrounded by maps, documents and booklets. They are tabling for the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology.
Mackay shines at AEMA 2023

Mackay School faculty and students made an impact at annual conference

A composite image. In the top left corner, a portrait of Colby Pellegrino. In the bottom left corner, an image of a boat on the Colorado River. In the bottom right corner, a portrait of Elizabeth Koebele. In the top right corner, the Discover Science podcast identifier.
Discover Science Podcast: Colby Pellegrino on the water challenges of the Colorado River

Political science professor Elizabeth Koebele is joined by Colby Pellegrino

A black and white photo of Manzanita Lake covered in snow, with buildings surrounding the Quad in the background.
Quarterly Climate Report and Outlook – January through March

Interim Nevada State Climatologist Tom Albright reviews the past three months and what it means for the state

Andrew Zuza smiles, wearing a medal and standing next to another man who is smiling on a stage.
NBMG geoscientist wins Young Scientist Award from GSA

The Donath Medal is awarded to a young scientist for outstanding research

Marc Nichol stands at the front of an audience, presenting a PowerPoint.
Exploring nuclear as an energy solution

Marc Nichol from the Nuclear Energy Institute shares nuclear technology developments

A composite image of portraits of Joe Schwarcz in the upper left corner, Jesus Diaz Sanchez in the bottom left corner, Brian Frost in the bottom right corner, and the Discover Science Podcast Series logo in the upper right corner.
Discover Science Podcast: Joe Schwarcz on the magic of chemistry

Chemistry student Jesus Diaz Sanchez and chemistry professor Brian Frost are joined by Joe Schwarcz

Louisa Hope-Weeks stands at a podium with a large screen behind her.
State of the College of Science

Prep day tradition continues under leadership of Dean Hope-Weeks

A group of 18 people stands in front of the physics building.
Two years on, quantum research project gets renewed funding

The goals of the interdisciplinary project are both scientific and educational

Louisa Hope-Weeks addresses an audience at a podium with her hands clasped. There are glass awards on a table behind her.
College of Science alumni celebrated

Alumni from the College of Science and Mackay School were honored at an event in October

A group of people sit on or stand behind couches and smile for a photo.
Westfall Scholars graduate with top grades in the College of Science

Westfall Scholars honored with a luncheon with faculty mentors, friends and family

Victoria Matthews in graduation attire
Grads of the Pack: Victoria Matthews

"I am a proud advocate and professional mentor in the fields of adolescence and disability."

A compilation of images from the Mineral Processing Lab.
Key labs for lithium and other critical minerals extraction get upgrade

Historical University commitment to mining continues

Sam Stynen
Grads of the Pack: Sam Stynen, NevadaTeach Biology

“I love science, and what better way to share that love with others than through teaching.”

Four women stand at a University of Nevada, Reno booth at a conference.
SACNAS provides opportunities for (old) new ideas in science

A new community for Chicano/Hispanic and Native American STEM students officially arrives on campus

A two panel image shows a rock from two different angles. The rock looks very precarious on the edge of a cliff.
Perfectly precarious positions

Rocks that naturally lay in precarious positions remained upright during an earthquake, surprising seismologists

Six people, five of them men, stand in front of the Mackay statue. All are wearing blue Mackay polos.
Faces of the Pack: Angelica Perez

Breaking barriers

An aerial photo of Lake Mead with a boat on it.
Colorado River expert gives talk Nov. 2

Colby Pellegrino to discuss status of the Colorado River for Discover Science Lecture Series

Photo collage with two images: a head shot of Hamed Ebrahimian and a head shot of Neil Lareau
University researchers studying Lahaina fire; work could help emergency responders in the future

Hamed Ebrahimian, Neil Lareau are part of interdisciplinary team led by the University of Hawai’i.

The path between the Block N and the MIKC with people walking past. The sky has some clouds, and the leaves on the trees are bright orange.
Quarterly Climate Report and Outlook – October through December

Interim Nevada State Climatologist Tom Albright reflects on the wet summer in Nevada and what the next few months might bring

Two people in hard hats sit in front of a computer with seismology data on it.
Great Nevada ShakeOut drill 10/19 at 10:19 a.m.

University takes part in annual earthquake preparedness drill

Aerial drone image of the Lake Tahoe shoreline
University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe researchers present at the 2023 Tahoe Science Conference

Scientists and natural resource managers gather to collaborate on environmental policy

An aerial view of the massive stingray sitting in water atop a green tarp held by people all around the stingray.
Giant freshwater stingray tracked by University project makes it into Guinness Book of World Records

Researchers from the Wonders of the Mekong project tagged the fish when it was caught over a year ago

Six people stand in a lab around a piece of equipment with a gauge and control panel on it. They are all smiling.
Using lithium mining waste to store carbon

Researcher partners with Lithium Americas to find sustainable carbon solutions

Joe Schwarcz, wearing a suit and tie, holds a large apple and smiles as he pretends to bite into it.
Chemist, author and radio host Joe Schwarcz to visit campus

Schwarcz will be kicking off the 13th season of the Discover Science Lecture Series

A large group of people sits on the steps outside of the Davidson Mathematics and Science Center. Some of the students are holding biological models.
Anatomy course provides unique opportunities to work with human cadavers

The Advanced Human Dissection Team is made up of undergraduate students

A woman, illuminated in golden hour light, stands in front of Morrill Hall, with two students in the foreground facing her and speaking with her.
Louisa Hope-Weeks named Dean of the College of Science

Hope-Weeks brings her experience as an associate dean and chemistry professor

Group of three on a boat on a river
NSF Research Traineeship Program to support graduate students in chemical ecology

Students trained to examine interplay of biology and chemistry in NSF-funded program

A south-facing shot of the University Quad, with students lying against trees, walking along the Quad, and throwing a football.
Nevada Drought Update for September 2023

This report brings to a close a three-and-a-half year stretch of having at least one Nevada county under drought watch

The foreground shows where a block of earth collapsed on a ridge. The background shows a community on a hillside, and in the background are snow-capped mountains.
Amidst the rubble, Turkey’s earthquake scars reveal important information

Earthquake geologists on the GEER research team gain greater understanding of the impacts of the February earthquake

Teachers and students in a classroom
$1 Million grant powers collaboration between STEM educators and students

The STEM and Educator Student Partnership supports educators and provides mentorship for undergraduate students

Two men crouch around a device that looks like a projector screen with a frame around it.
University faculty part of XPRIZE team that advances to finalist round in global competition

Team Waponi is one of six teams from around the world to advance to the finals

A rainstorm passes between a mountain range and a marshy area, with sagebrush and a road in the foreground.
Nevada Drought Update for August 2023

Drought still remains in southern Nevada, but has disappeared in most of the state

Overlooking Lake Tahoe on a fairly sunny day with several clouds in the sky.
Quarterly Climate Report and Outlook – July through September

Nevada State Climatologist Steph McAfee shares a report on Nevada’s climate over the past few months, and what to expect in the next quarter

Four photos of students: at the top left, Alexia Carver, at the top right, Kamal Mousavi, at the bottom left, Trisha McLaughlin and at the bottom right, Ash Thompson.
Mackay student team takes second place in national competition

The competition is focused on carbon management

A photo from a high vantage point of Lake Mead. The water levels are low as indicated by the bathtub rings around the lake.
Nevada Drought Update for July 2023

Nevada reservoirs are in good condition across the state; Lake Mead's levels have been rising

A plastic cup floats on the shoreline of Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe has high concentration of microplastics, global research shows

Research published in Nature reveals concentrations of microplastics in 38 lakes with plastic debris from textiles frequently identified

Jimson Huang and Paul Hurtado, an associate professor of math, both holding a single certificate cover.
University’s top student heads to Purdue this fall

Jimson Huang, a dual Engineering-Math major, is the spring 2023 Herz Gold Medal winner

Canadian geese, mallard ducks and a swan swim in Manzanita Lake.
What makes water an important molecule for life?

Water is widely thought to be critical to life. But why is that the case?

A screengrab from a video recording of a Zoom meeting. There are 7 participants in the Zoom meeting on 6 screens. Two men share a screen in the middle.
American Geophysical Union’s Hydrology Section Fellows discuss the future of science

The session took a deep dive into the responsibilities of scientists to diversify the field

Students hold a banner that reads, "Nevada has Pack PRIDE!" at the annual Pride parade in downtown Reno. Many people are dressed in rainbow UNR t-shirts.
How can people who are part of the LGBTQ+ community boost their resilience?

Those who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community can use several techniques to boost their resilience in the face of discrimination

The back of the Mackay statue facing toward the Quad. The grass is green and the trees lining the Quad are fully leafed out. The sky is blue with some scattered clouds.
Nevada Drought Update for June 2023

The wet spring across much of Nevada alleviated drought and may provide a buffer against a rapid return to drought

Presentation in the Prim Library
Hitchcock Center for Chemical Ecology hosts Symposium at the University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe

Interdisciplinary researchers meet in Incline Village to discuss advances in the field of chemical ecology

Nick Memsgern with students
NevadaTeach preparing students to become the teachers of tomorrow

Future STEM educators are learning to incorporate technology into the classroom

Yet-Ming Chiang stands at a podium laughing. There is a window looking toward the Joe Crowley Student Union behind him, and a projected slide presentation next to him.
Speaker discusses how to use renewable energy efficiently at Energy Solutions Forum

Renewable energy’s intermittent nature poses challenges to energy storage

A man and woman set up a camera toward a cliff face.
Faces of the Pack: Jim Hammond

Jim Hammond is an alumnus who graduated with a degree in physics

Several Poggendorff triangles in blue and purple on a gray background. The Poggendorff triangles are two triangles that appear to share an edge.
Psychology professor’s illusion in top ten for Best Illusion Contest

Vote for the illusion Gideon Caplovitz created with his two daughters by May 27

A giant freshwater stingray sits on a green tarp held by a group of people. The fish is over 13 feet long including its tail.
World’s largest freshwater fish tracking provides Wonders of the Mekong researchers with more information about the mysterious species

The giant freshwater stingray faces numerous threats, data gives insight into conservation needs

A large group of people sit and stand for a photo outside of the Joe Crowley Student Union Ballrooms.
Westfall Scholars graduate at the top of their class

The spring 2023 graduates include future urban planners, doctors, physicists and more

Tristan Morrice leans against a wall next to a plaque that reads, "The Edward Morrice Mineral Processing Laboratory."
Freshman recognizes his grandfather’s contributions to the University

Tristan Morrice uses the Edward Morrice Mineral Processing Laboratory

A table tent listing sponsors of the Mackay School. There is a fork and plate in the foreground.
Mackay Banquet celebrates excellence in Mackay community

The annual banquet was held on April 28

(From left to right) Robert Quinn; Meghan Trowbridge; Megan Beckham; Jessie Ross; Mandi Collins, Glenn Waddell, Jr.; Melanie Duckworth; Colly Fisher and Nick Nemsgern
NevadaTeach incorporates culturally relevant teaching practices throughout program

Master teachers present at UTeach Institute professional development event

A group of around 30 people stand in a classroom with tables in front of them.
Using carbon dioxide to recover more critical minerals

Chu receives $3.3M DOE ARPA-E grant to study mineral processing of rare earth minerals

A portrait of Ilya Zaliapin smiling outside of the Davidson Mathematics and Science Center.
Remembering Dr. Ilya Zaliapin

Dr. Ilya Zaliapin, a professor of mathematics, passed away on May 2, 2023

Arial shot of the University campus with a blue sky and sparse white clouds in the background.
Foundation Outstanding Letter of Appointment Teaching Award and Exceptional Letter of Appointment Instructional Faculty College/School Awards announced for spring 2023

Awardees are recognized for their exemplary service to students and their individual achievements

Mackay Mines from a low angle showing off the spring blooms.
Nevada Drought Update for May 2023

Only a small portion of the state is still in drought, and Lake Mead levels are forecasted to improve. Fire risk in northwestern Nevada is likely to be higher than normal by July.

The Mackay Muckers Women's Team sits on a pile of dirt in front of a mining cart. They are all covered in dirt.
Mackay Muckers Women’s Team strikes gold

The team won first place at the 45th International Collegiate Mining Competition

Karla Hernandez and Tom Kidd in the lab wearing lab coats and smiling. Kidd is holding a rack of tubes and syringes, and Hernandez is holding a lab notebook.
University alumna and current administrator publishes Hirschsprung disease research

Director of Hispanic/Latinx Community Relations publishes research in developmental genetics

An aerial shot of the Fleischmann Planetarium.
Sci-On! International Film Festival returns to the Planetarium May 1 - 6

The annual science and science fiction film festival to feature a visit from time travel expert

Person holding up a picture of Cave Rock at Cave Rock at Lake Tahoe.
Land, Water, Place: An Art and Science Collaborative

Scholars, curators, academics and students will present interactive discussions focused on our complex relationships with land, water and place

A man in a black long-sleeved t-shirt presents at the front of a room full of people. He is pointing a clicker at a screen.
Talks on the future of geothermal energy in Nevada at the Energy Solutions Forum

Jack Norbeck spoke about Fervo Energy's project with Google using geothermal energy in Northern Nevada

Audience in the Full-Dome Theater in 1963 watching the blue sky and clouds projected on the ceiling at the Fleischmann Planetarium.
Explore science for free at Museum of Natural History, Keck Museum and Fleischmann Planetarium April 23-24

The museums are hosting guests as part of the Northern Nevada Science and Technology Festival

Aaron Konig kneels on a riverbank preparing scientific samples.
Society for Freshwater Science announces Aaron Koning as recipient of Career Award

Global Water Center researcher pursues conservation solutions that sustain aquatic diversity and human needs

A view of Manzanita Lake, with blooming trees in the foreground.
Quarterly Climate Report and Outlook - April through June

Nevada State Climatologist Steph McAfee provides an outlook and report for climate and weather

A woman wearing blue scrubs and white gloves holds a leopard kitten.
Former Smithsonian Institution Under Secretary for Science closes out 12th season of Discover Science

Eva Pell will share what she learned while serving in the role and how she became a children’s book author

"I think the deep message of our work is that every voice matters."

Cultural evolution and its applications explored in new PNAS publication

Foundation Professor of Psychology Steven C. Hayes collaborates on new research highlighting the value of prosocial behavior at the individual and group level

Two women work side by side in a lab. The younger woman is looking at the other woman. Both are wearing lab coats.
Biology professor seeks to understand amphibian resilience

McMinn Research Professor Jamie Voyles works to bring diverse voices into pathogen science

A man stands in front of a crowded room pointing to a screen with two bar graphs on it.
Discussions on making solar energy efficient and accessible at Energy Solutions Forum

NREL Senior Research Fellow Joey Luther studies new types of semiconductors and their properties

Zeb Hogan with payara
Monster Fish exhibition opens at Discovery Museum

Associate Research Professor Zeb Hogan's work to find, study and protect freshwater megafish featured

Jim Faulds hands Senator Catherine Cortez Masto an award. The award is a block of wood with a plaque and a piece of a gold-colored rock on it. They are both dressed formally and are smiling for the photo, being taken in an office.
Mackay School professor presents award to Senator Cortez Masto

Senator Cortez Masto received the AASG’s Pick and Gavel award

Five women stand at the base of a flight of stairs. Three women stand in the front, two in the back.
Researchers work to identify new diagnostic tools for schizophrenia

All-female team of psychology researchers studying how low-cost biomarkers can be used in diagnostics

A photo of the Truckee River reaching the tops of the riverbanks. There is snow on the ground all around the river.
Nevada Drought Update for March 2023

State Climatologist shares a quarterly update about Nevada’s ongoing drought

A man in front of a screen speaks to an audience.
Energy Solutions Forum speaker works on processes to take carbon out of the air

Christopher Jones says we need to transition to renewable energy as well as implement direct air capture

Six women stand at the end of a hallway smiling. A woman in the middle wearing a cardigan is looking to her right and smiling.
For Interim Dean of the College of Science Katherine McCall, the people make the place

The interim dean has long worked to ensure everyone has access to STEM education

The sun takes up much of the left side of the image, but a large stream of plasma that looks like fire is extending out toward the right side of the photo.
How many states of matter are there?

Physics professor shares his thoughts on a surprisingly difficult question

Headshot of Ana de Bettencourt-Dias.
Ana de Bettencourt-Dias named AAAS Fellow

de Bettencourt-Dias is one of four newly elected Fellows at the University

Lee Dyer smiles on top of a mountain.
Lee Dyer named AAAS Fellow

Dyer is one of four newly elected Fellows at the University

A large mining haul truck drives toward the left of the photo. There are large mountains in the background.
Making autonomous mining safer

Researchers developing software to simulate autonomous mining operations

A man sits in a laboratory next to a metal device.
Nobel laureate physicist visits University on March 2

Discover Science Lecture Series brings renowned physicist to campus

Thomas White, wearing a dark blue button-up collared shirt, smiles on the Quad.
Using massive lasers to understand planetary physics

Clemons-Magee Endowed Professor in Physics Thomas White seeks to understand the internal workings of planets beyond Earth

Caitleen Navarro smiles in front of the Quad wearing a Circle K nametag.
BS-DMD student awarded scholarship for dental school

Caitleen Navarro’s standout experiences rewarded

fish release on Mekong River
University expedition highlights long-term research on the Mekong River

International collaborations with the Global Water Center contribute to successful conservation efforts

A speaker stands in front of a seated audience
An optimistic view of climate solutions based on an energy transition

The first speaker of the Energy Solutions Forum, Chris Field, gave an introduction on climate change-related problems and possible solutions. More speakers are coming these following weeks.

A dog wearing a sweatshirt with a person's hand coming out of the sleeves looks as if it's writing in a notebook. There is a fireplace with stockings handing in the background.
Science Saves the World (and Santa's syrup recipe) in winning video for College of Science Video Competition

Lexi Timpone won first place for her science-themed video, three videos also recognized

A cyclists on a street with cars
League of American Bicyclists invites University Bicycle Working Group members to National Bike Summit

Support from the national bicyclist organization continues after the Reno-Sparks area was selected as one of five communities nationwide to host a Bicycle Friendly Community Workshop.

hedgerow along farmland
Connecting habitat in the Central Valley could help save California’s pollinators

University of Nevada, Reno teams with Xerces Society in study of agricultural fields, urban interface

Students and faculty pose in a the hall of a conference center.
University of Nevada, Reno students to attend United States Hispanic Leadership Institute

National conference allows students to interact with most influential Hispanic leaders in the country

Discover Science compilation image of hosts and Sarah Hörst
Discover Science Podcast: Sarah Hörst on life as we do not know it

Atmospheric chemist and a leading researcher of Saturn's largest moon, Titan, talks with physics and astronomy alum Donna dePolo and astrobiology professor Carlos Marsical

A false-color satellite image shows a fractal-like coastal landmass with a river emptying into the ocean. The land is shown in red and the water is shown in blue.
How trees help a statistics professor understand rivers and earthquakes

McMinn Professor Ilya Zaliapin uses statistical methods for hierarchies to understand natural phenomena

A brown lizard sits on a rock covered in lichen with large green foliage in the background.
Changes in lizards’ microbiomes attributed to drought

Recent study on Panamanian lizards generates more questions on role of the microbiome

Two people feed a chickadee by hand
Feeding Mountain Chickadees at Chickadee Ridge is okay, research says

Chickadee Cognition Lab showed supplemental feeding of the wild birds had no negative impacts when proper food is used

Jesus Diaz Sanchez smiles outside of the Mackay Mines building.
Making their MARC: Jesus Diaz Sanchez

First MARC Nevada cohort includes chemistry major Jesus Diaz Sanchez

Ants swarm around a black device secured to an acacia tree. The tree has long, sharp spines and green leaves.
New ecological methods elucidate relationships between ants and their host plants

Kenyan ants and the trees they live with threatened by invasive ant species

Seven people wearing casual business attire standing on the steps outside of the William Pennington Engineering Building.
‘Edge to Edge’ project aims to help communities better handle wildfires, other natural disasters

University researchers will gather and analyze weather data in Tahoe Basin for public distribution

Daniel Trugman smiles in a selfie on a mountaintop. He is wearing a green beanie.
Assistant professor wins prestigious Seismology Society of America award

Daniel Trugman joined the University in 2022

At the University graduation on the Quad, a student's cap is in focus, reading "I flew now, to the stars"
Notes from the 2022 State of the College of Science address

College successes, dean search launch and University Strategic Plan were subject of the annual State of the College presentation by Dean Katherine McCall

Two colorful quilts hang on a wall. They depict mountainous Nevada landscapes at sunset.
New Keck Museum Exhibit opens to the public

New exhibit explores climate through art, utilizes previously closed space

A person wearing gloves holds a rock in their hand. The rock is dark gray on the exterior, but the interior is cut and is a shiny bronze color.
How do I know if I found a meteorite?

Geologist explains differences between meteorites and meteor-wrongs

Daniel Trugman
Daniel Trugman Honored with Charles F. Richter Early Career Award

Nevada Seismological Laboratory professor receives prestigious award honoring outstanding contributions to the Seismological Society of America

Campus accessibility research sheds light on how to create more accessible spaces

Student researcher Lea Gifford suggests ways in which the Wolf Pack can help make spaces across campus more accessible

Scanned mud core samples
Centuries-long drought in the Great Basin shown to be a recurring pattern

A multi-centennial drought termed the Late Holocene Dry Period could serve as a map for future climate projections, Indigenous human responses a model for resilience and adaptability

Broken tree limb
Can my tree be saved?

International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) certified arborists respond to questions about weather-damaged trees and how to respond when limbs break or trees fall

A person with a black cap with white electrodes and black cables running out of the cap sits in front of a computer. Her head is resting on a device meant to keep her head still, and she is looking at a computer screen with a blue background and a pink circle with vertical blue lines in it.
The link between memory and motor systems

Researchers attempt to better understand our mental landscape and actions we take to interact with it

An aerial view of the McDermitt Caldera shows a visible depression in the landscape in the shape of a lightbulb.
How lithium-rich ores are made

Philipp Ruprecht aims to identify how and when lithium deposits are enriched

Seven people stand in front of three Mackay School posters. There are three people in the front row and four in the back, all are smiling.
Mackay students shine at annual mining meeting

Three student posters won awards at the American Exploration & Mining Association Annual Meeting

scott tyler at antarctic
Biden appoints College of Science’s Scott Tyler to nuclear waste panel

Brings extensive experience in hydrological sciences to DOE’s review board

Water runs down a valley through a dam, where pelicans are sitting at the base.
Nevada State Climatologist Steph McAfee provides some insight about our state of water

Nevada has been experiencing drought after drought

In a large room, a circular device three stories tall with wires and panels all over it sits with scaffolding around it to access various parts of the machine.
Why is the most recent fusion breakthrough so exciting?

Experts from the University community weigh in on what makes the fusion news out of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory so groundbreaking

Kimberly Giannantonio smiles, wearing a scarf, as she stands in front of the University Quad.
Making their MARC: Kimberly Giannantonio

First cohort of MARC Nevada students includes chemistry student Kimberly Giannantonio

Researchers working in barn-like building that houses ichthyosaur fossils
Probable ichthyosaur birthing grounds revealed in Nevada with the help of undergraduate researcher

Research in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution provides a new explanation for why so many of the extinct marine reptiles died in the same location in central Nevada

A photo of downtown Reno facing south with a clear sunset.
How can Reno become a greener city?

Reno faces challenges as a growing city in the era of climate change. Faculty in the College of Science are focused on solutions.

A honeybee crawls on a long, tubular red flower on a stalk of flowers.
Pollinators endangered by pesticides interacting with nectar

Bees pollinating plants and consuming plant nectar impacted by neonicotinoids

Man wearing blue collared UNR College of Science shirt. Background is the Knowledge Center and a blue sky.
Faces of the Pack: Alejandro Robles

Senior spotlight from the College of Science

Ying Yang wearing a patterned blazer smiles in her headshot.
NSF CAREER Award will sponsor lifelike materials development

Ying Yang plans to design polymers that mimic living cells

Lauren Sankovitch surrounded by Marvel Universe books and objects on display
The power of science (fiction)

Graduate student Lauren Sankovitch brings a MARVELous background of experience to the Department of Geological Sciences and Engineering

Eight students bundled up for winter weather raise their arms up and throw snow in the air in front of the Davidson Mathematics and Science Center.
College of Science Departmental Giving Challenge

Will your department's name be on the plaque next year?

A butterfly with blue wings sits on a blue flower with a blurred background.
EntoGEM identifies the gaps in insect decline data

Postdoc Eliza Grames works to aggregate data for insect decline synthesis

Jonathan Taasan smiles, wearing glasses and a black coat and standing in front of the Mackay School of Mines building.
Making their MARC: Jonathan Taasan

First MARC Nevada cohort includes biomedical engineering major Jonathan Taasan

Four people sit on the ground surrounded by jackets and cooking items. They are all facing the camera and smiling, dressed warmly.
How to cook chicken on a volcano

Six years of research leads to new theories (and new cooking methods) at the Puyehue Cordón Caulle volcano

A group of people stand and sit, all dressed nicely and facing the camera. Some are wearing medals.
Westfall Scholars luncheon celebrates another cohort of successful students

The event brought together students, faculty, family, friends and former and current College of Science deans

A headshot of Christine Johnson.
Christine Johnson appointed to Advisory Committee on Reconciliation in Place Names

Department of Geography professor will use her professional experience to help remedy past erasures

A woman and a man stand smiling in bright sunlight.
Professors Emeriti Jerry and Jeanne Johnson give back to support students of science

A generous donation will support a legacy of mathematicians and scientists

A screengrab from Zoom shows three women in the top left corner, a woman on another screen in the top right corner, and a woman at the bottom in another screen.
Interdisciplinary team studies impact of housing on Latino health in Washoe County

A Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grant helps geographers, health scientists and community leaders identify areas of need

A representative of Siemens and the University's neuroscience imaging director confer as an fMRI is conducted.
A major milestone in neuroscience research and teaching excellence

$5.3 million, NIH COBRE ‘Phase 3’ award will further advance the mission and impact of the University’s Center for Integrative Neuroscience

A collage features photos of 6 people, including three women in the top row, two women and a man in the bottom row.
Forever a Westfall Scholar

Westfall Scholar alumni sustain their undergraduate success

Discover Science compilation image of hosts and Andrew Revkin
Discover Science Podcast: Andrew Revkin on the state of journalism in the era of climate change

Graduate student Shelby Herbert leads a discussion between the renowned science journalist and professors Sudeep Chandra and Zeb Hogan.

A microscopic image shows two large grains of pollen that look like spiky yellow balls on a butterfly leg, which is a straight line horizontally with grooves in it.
Museum collections shed light on butterfly adaptations over time

Research looking at preserved butterflies reveals the complex story in a grain of pollen

A person stands in a clearing holding a large drill. Another person stands nearby with a notebook under their arm. They are standing in a mountainous area with the ocean visible in the background.
Eroding rocks can put carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. What does that mean for the climate?

Graduate student Mara Nutt looks for answers in the Santa Ynez Mountains

Four men stand in front of a large blue machine.
Plasma physics researchers each awarded Department of Energy grant

The grants will be used in two different areas of plasma physics research

Two lithium-ion batteries, one leaning on the other, sit against a white background.
Lithium battery recycling event on Nov. 16

Recycle your lithium and rechargeable batteries and devices at the Joe

A NASA artist's rendering of Titan shows a dust storm on a reddish-orange planet, with Saturn shown in the moon's "sky".
Planetary scientist to visit University: “I want to find the weird things”

Sarah M. Hörst’s Discover Science lecture on Dec. 1

Alligator lizard prepares to attack a black widow spider.
Black widow vs. alligator lizard: who wins?

Researchers from the University of Nevada, Reno found a lizard species that is not affected by the spider's deadly toxin.

A woman wearing a blue rain jacket stands next to a large rock face. She is surrounded by mosses and trees.
Nick Zentner Field Trip to the Cascades with Professor Stacia Gordon makes an impact on YouTube

Mackay School of Earth Sciences and Engineering Professor Stacia Gordon hits the road for another YouTube cameo

A student wearing a Nevada t-shirt leans against a bookshelf in the Knowledge Center with a book in his hands, reading.
Recommended Fall Reads: A well-researched book list

The books featured here were written or edited by faculty, alumni or students in the College of Science

A group of seven people wearing orange high-visibility vests and white hard hats stand next to a massive mining vehicle tire.
Immersive virtual reality used in metallurgical engineering education

Researchers from four distinct disciplines, engineers from Nevada Gold Mines, Kinross, and McClelland Laboratories and University Libraries will bring a new learning tool to students

A woman and a man shake hands in front of another woman holding a glass award.
Celebrating the 2022 College of Science Distinguished Alumni

Among the awardees are Las Vegas’s city planner, a globe-trotting fish biologist, a psychologist providing culturally sensitive services and more

Q&D Construction worker in open trench
Aging infrastructure in rural Nevada sees alumni-led improvements

Yerington nears the completion of a USDA-funded project to remove and replace the rural Nevada city's 100-year-old sewer and water systems.

JCSU building with trees
University taking part in Great Nevada ShakeOut public earthquake drill 10/20 at 10:20 a.m.

Campus community encouraged to be earthquake aware and to Drop, Cover and Hold-on

People walk around the wooden and glass cases holding rock specimens in the Keck Museum. The photo is taken from above.
Explore Earth Science Week with the College of Science

Earth Science Week this year is celebrated from Oct. 9-15

A woman wearing a mauve shirt smiles, with brick buildings and large trees over green grass in the background.
Pinocchio illusion inspires research into effects of aging

Wilson Award winner Amy Morris tackles questions related to proprioception

A girl with blonde hair stands along a pathway lined with tall oak trees. She is smiling and wearing jeans and a black sweater.
Making their MARC: Lauren Carriere

First cohort of MARC Nevada students includes microbiology and immunology student Lauren Carreire

adjusting instruments on tower on Antarctic ice shelf
Thwaites Glacier under threat from warming sea temperatures – College of Science scientists use fiber-optics to study ice-shelf melting

Chris Kratt travels to Antarctic to set up temperature sensing devices and retrieve data

A mountainous landscape shows a canyon carved by a river.
How old are the Sierra Nevada mountains, really?

Researchers in the Department of Geological Sciences and Engineering weigh in on a hotly debated topic in tectonics and geomorphology: the age of the Sierra Nevada mountain range

Chanchanok Sudta wearing a bright blue jacket stands in a jungle surrounded by foliage, smiling.
Grad student plans outreach program in Thailand

Earthwatch award helps student bring her caterpillar research home

Sudeep Chandra on boat
Leading Tahoe researcher Sudeep Chandra first speaker for Talks@Tahoe

Inaugural talk to be held at University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe

giant salmon carp
Feared extinct, the ‘Mekong Ghost’ fish resurfaces

Adult giant salmon carp documented in the Mekong River for first time in 18 years

Isabel Peñaloza Araujo poses for the camera. She has dark hair, wears glasses and a blue Mackay polo, smiling.
Faces of the Pack: Isabel Peñaloza Araujo

As a first-generation Latina in mining, Isabel Peñaloza Araujo feels proud of her accomplishments, especially as an international student in the U.S. She is well on her way to accomplishing plenty more

A house’s porch stands unsupported by the ground that used to lie beneath it.
Yellowstone flooding response includes geotechnical surveys

Assistant geological engineering professor Michael Gardner visited the sites of flooding in Yellowstone National Park to determine how geostructure integrity was compromised

A man in a black suit and turquoise bolo tie smiles in front of a cast of a mammoth skeleton.
Alumnus becomes director of Nevada State Museum

Joshua Bonde ‘03 (biology) brings expertise and personal experiences to revitalize museum

Students sit in a classroom. Some of them are eating nachos.
Golden Scholars Program provides guidance and support

For first-generation college students in the College of Science, a support system has reemerged

Colorful hot air balloons fill up and begin to ascend behind a white picket fence with blue skies in the background.
How do hot air balloons fly?

Atmospheric scientist Pat Arnott shares how hot air balloons ascend into the Reno skies

monarch caterpillar on milkweed leaf
Store-bought milkweed plants can expose monarch caterpillars to harmful pesticides

Researchers found pesticide-contaminated plants in nurseries in 15 states

A group of students stands, looking upward at a drone against a clear blue sky. There are trees at the right and left edges of the photo.
ScienceFIT welcomes a new cohort of future scientists

The weeklong bootcamp helps incoming freshmen prepare for their first semester of college.

Eleven people stand, ten of whom are wearing graduation regalia, and smile on the steps outside of the Pennington Student Achievement Center.
Biology Peer Instruction Program propels students to success

The Biology Peer Instruction Program provides leadership and teaching opportunities to undergraduates. Those experiences follow them through their lives.

Green, computer-generated fractal art on a purple background, with a signature on the bottom.
Math as art

Many mathematicians in the College of Science work in pure mathematics, but the field often blurs the lines between math and art.

A man stands on a causeway that is flooding.
Climate journalist asks, “Sustain what?”

Andrew Revkin, an award-winning environmental and sustainability journalist, will bring some of the insights he’s gained in his 34 years of reporting experience to the University on September 8. Revkin’s lecture will kick off the 12th season of the Discover Science Lecture Series.

Four images in a grid. Top left shows a man standing on a flooded causeway. Top right shows a man leaning over equipment with tubes and lenses. Bottom left shows a woman sitting at a laboratory bench. Bottom right shows a woman standing at a podium.
Discover Science Lecture Series opens its 12th season

This season's lineup includes a range of disciplines. Registration for the first lecture on September 8 is now open.

Two side-by-side images. The left image is of a man standing with a woman and a young girl, the right image is of a man and woman sitting on a fake pumpkin.
Philanthropy under 30

Two young alums give back to the University.

Collage of the individual photos of the University's seven CAREER Awardees for 2022.
7 faculty members receive CAREER Awards in support of early-career success

With the latest round of this prestigious NSF award, the University’s community of faculty-recipients grows

Six people stand in two rows on brick stairs. They are standing in front of a brick building with white columns.
Making their MARC: the MARC program recruits its first cohort of students

New program aims to diversify fields of biomedical research and practice.

A man stands at a microphone in front of a crowd of people sitting in chairs on the University Quad, with several seated people holding instruments beside him. He is standing in front of brick buildings and large trees on a sunny day.
String Theory meets music theory at Artown on the Quad

Theoretical physics inspires harmony on the University Quad

A male and a female stand on an ice sheet, posing with a LGBTQ+ Pride flag.
Exploring ice and expanding access

Hydrogeology student Drake McCrimmon found space to be himself while doing science on the Greenland ice sheet.

Students gather around a black workbench with their hands folded. The workbench has beakers and plastic tubes with bees and blue and yellow paper strips in them. The beakers have sucrose and water labels on them.
Kids explore frogs, bees and science at the University

Students in Northern Nevada got the opportunity to learn from graduate students and professors at the Daugherty Summer Science Exploration program.

Nicole Choma receiving a Regents' award.
Environmental science student-researcher wins Regents’ award for notable accomplishments

Nicole Choma reflects on how experiences in undergraduate research, marching band and other scholarly activities have enhanced her college journey

A man wearing a hat and sunglasses stands on red rocks in front of a rock arch.
Paving the Wolf Pack Way: Garrett Vice ‘08

Paving the Wolf Pack Way is a series of stories showcasing Wolf Pack Way alumni from the College of Science.

giant stingray tag and release
World’s largest freshwater fish found, released in the Cambodian Mekong River by Global Water Center team

International team now tracking the 661-pound giant freshwater stingray's movements to better understand, protect the species and key freshwater habitats

A large group of nicely-dressed people sit and stand, smiling.
Westfall Scholars for Spring 2022 headed for success

Many of the students plan to continue their education, while others start work upon graduating.

Award recipients
Regents, University and College-level awards highlight College of Science achievements

A jetty of rocks spits out to the left with the clear turquoise waters of Lake Tahoe in the foreground and alpine mountains in the background.
State geologists gather in the Sierras for annual meeting

The 2022 meeting is being hosted by the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology.

A crowd of people blurred in the foreground watch a presentation by a woman standing on a stage.
Celebrating award-winning students in the College of Science

This year, seven students won awards from the Board of Regents or the University.

A collage of individual photos of the 2022 NSF Graduate Research Fellows attending University of Nevada, Reno
Banner year for NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program awards

An all-time high of 13 student-awardees affiliated with the University of Nevada, Reno receive the prestigious NSF fellowship

Wind turbines
Sustainable resource management research the focus of new open-access journal

Metallurgical Engineering professor Ehsan Vahidi to serve as associate editor of Frontiers in Sustainable Resource Management

Attendees at the Mackay Banquet pose for a photo
Mackay School honors exceptional students and industry partners

The Mackay School honored donors, alumni, faculty and staff with a focus on celebrating the successes of students at the 2022 Mackay Banquet.

Discover Science Podcast with Harrison Schmitt
Discover Science podcast: Harrison Schmitt on his trip to the Moon

Apollo 17 astronaut Harrison Schmitt discusses what it was like to be on the Moon's surface, what we're still learning from the samples brought back to Earth and what the future of lunar exploration looks like

de Bettencourt-Dias wears a black shirt with a necklace and smiles in front of a gray background.
Ana de Bettencourt-Dias named Foundation Professor

de Bettencourt-Dias has a lengthy list of contributions to her field, as well as invaluable service to the University and its students.

Two women and a man stand, with the woman in the middle and the man holding plaques. They stand in front of a screen that says "College of Science" on the top line and "Live a life of discovery" on the bottom line in italics. The Nevada Block N is above the words.
Linda Hayes recognized with Distinguished Faculty Award

The psychology professor, who has worked at the University for 32 years, received the award in her final year before retirement.

Melissa Harmon smiles, wearing a blue top under a black blazer.
Paving the Wolf Pack Way: Melissa Harmon

Paving the Wolf Pack Way is a series of stories showcasing Wolf Pack Way alumni from the College of Science.

Kizzmekia Corbett, Christopher Sanchez and Melanie Duckworth in a collage with the Discover Science podcast identifier.
Discover Science podcast: Kizzmekia Corbett on going where you are loved

Scientific Lead in the development of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine discusses her research and work, the importance of good mentorship, and finding her place in science.

The "Weclome to Nevada" sign posted along a highway in eastern Nevada.
Lucas Ingvoldstad named USDA Director of Rural Development in Nevada

Alumnus of the Department of Geography’s Land Use Planning Master’s program aims to address climate change and invest in climate-smart infrastructure in rural Nevada

team ready to release stingray
Recent expedition and monster fish rescue highlight Mekong River's global significance

Deep pools in Mekong River may be home to world's largest freshwater fish

Heavy smoke filled the skies above Lake Tahoe during the Caldor Fire in 2021
Nevada receives $20 million National Science Foundation research award for fire science

NSF EPSCoR investment will increase capacity for wildland fire research, education, and workforce development

Lyndsay Munro and presenting party in her classroom
Caring in chemistry: Lyndsay Munro wins Tibbitts

Tibbitts winner known for her enthusiasm for her subject matter

Steve Hayes at his desk
Professor Steven Hayes receives 2022 NSHE Career Distinguished Researcher Award

Internationally renowned for development of ACT, evidenced based form of psychotherapy

Illustration of an astronaut on Mars.
Fleischmann Planetarium hosts the seventh annual Sci-On! Film Festival

View and vote on short science and science fiction films in the Planetarium's full-dome theater May 4-6

An overhead view of a child sitting on the floor reading a book.
New program aims to improve access to support for children with autism in Kenya

The course will be available to University students this fall

Funding in flight: Making climate change prediction models more accurate

Researchers from the Department of Geography are making use of new drone technology with support from the Global Climate Change Foundation.

Alexis Palma shakes faculty mentor's hand.
Undergraduate researcher and McNair Scholar reflects on impressive academic journey

Experience in Undergraduate Research and McNair Scholars Program leads to NSF graduate fellowship award for CABNR student

Nine women in white lab coats smile for a photo on the green University quad.
NSHE Regents' Mid-Career Researcher Award goes to dedicated biologist

Jamie Voyles will be celebrated with her colleagues at the University's Honor the Best event

Diana Moss smiles, wearing a blue top.
Paving the Wolf Pack Way: Diana Moss

Paving the Wolf Pack Way is a series of stories showcasing Wolf Pack Way alumni from the College of Science.

Zeb Hogan with giant stingray in river
Earth Day expedition to search unexplored deepest pools of Mekong River

International effort led by USAID Cooperative Project, Wonders of the Mekong, to launch April 22

Three portraits of podcast participants and the Discover Science podcast identifier.
Discover Science podcast: Ken Ono and "The Man Who Knew Infinity"

Renowned number theorist Dr. Ken Ono shares his deep connection to the life and work of Srinivasa Ramanujan in the latest episode of the Discover Science podcast.

Kizzmekia Corbett, wearing a white lab coat, smiles and leans over a bannister.
COVID-19 Vaccine developer Kizzmekia Corbett to visit University for Discover Science lecture April 28

The scientific lead for the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine research team was named a TIME Magazine Hero of the Year. Registration for her lecture is now open.

Elizabeth Pringle smiles, wearing a blue shirt.
NSF CAREER Award recipient studies how plants respond to drought

Elizabeth Pringle will study how plant chemistry changes in response to drought in the Great Basin.

Children play-growl at a taxidermy mountain lion.
Museum of Natural History welcomes CFRC class of four-year-olds

The Museum uses interactive experiences to teach visitors about the natural world.

Chemistry Department Graduate Teaching Assistant, Md Azizul Islam, helps Organic Chemistry students Bailey Fasick and Kamryn Montegna analyze a sample of a material they synthesized using an infrared spectrometer.
University awarded for outstanding comprehensive safety program

Dedicated teamwork and resource-efficient initiatives secured the American Chemical Society award for the second time

Truckee River
Gloomy water supply outlook in Nevada prompts new collaborative effort

College of Science researcher leading one-year project to address urban and rural water issues

A black and white portrait of Elizabeth Racao Durfee
The Elizabeth Racao Durfee Hallway

College of Science Interim Dean Katherine McCall named a hallway in the Davidson Mathematics and Science Center after her great aunt.

Eli Everest (right) leans over with a man to her right to tag a fish.
World Water Day 2022: Faculty around the globe work to protect water resources

The Global Water Center is made up of faculty from all over the University community. Learn about their work to better understand and protect our most precious resource.

releasing Mekong giant catfish into lake
World’s largest, most endangered freshwater fishes released in Cambodian lake

Tagging and release of Mekong giant catfish, giant barb and river catfish highlight the immense value of biodiversity and ecosystems in the region

Astronaut and flag in the foreground with Earth in the background far away.
Apollo 17 astronaut, scientist and moonwalker Harrison Schmitt visits University March 31

The Discover Science Lecture Series continues with a visit from Apollo 17 astronaut and scientist Harrison Schmitt who stepped off the Moon's surface on December 19 during the last lunar visit.

Josh Hallas, wearing a plaid shirt, holds a garter snake with a shelf holding terrariums behind him.
Guide to garter snakes

As flowers start to bloom and the weather warms, garter snakes begin to emerge from their hibernations.

Lake Mead low water
Southern Nevada water supply faces Colorado River restrictions

Creative strategies needed to address long-term shortages, say three University of Nevada, Reno professors

A University student demonstrates how nerves control movement.
Brain Awareness Week extends through the year

Professional chapters, students and University clubs reach out to the community with brain science.

Lisa LeMond smiles, wearing a black jacket over a floral print shirt.
Paving the Wolf Pack Way: Lisa LeMond

Celebrating Mayo Clinic cardiologist alumna on International Women's Day

Nick Zentner (left panel) wears headphones in front of a chalkboard. Stacia Gordon is sitting in the right panel.
YouTube becomes SciComm avenue for geological sciences professor

Stacia Gordon has been featured in several videos on CWU Professor Nick Zentner's YouTube channel.

A screengrab from the movie shows the actors playing Hardy (left) and Ramanujan (right) as they walk at Trinity College.
Why does "The Man Who Knew Infinity" matter?

Mathematician Ken Ono will present his Discover Science lecture answering this question on March 10, following a screening of the movie “The Man Who Knew Infinity.”

A bright green caterpillar with red spots marking an "X" across its back sits on a leaf.
Caterpillar range is correlated with their eating habits

Researchers asked whether caterpillars that aren't picky about what they eat occupy larger habitats.

Seven women stand and smile in front of a screen with birds on it.
Young women in science

The STEM Sisters is a program associate biology professor Jamie Voyles started to encourage girls to explore the possibility of a STEM career.

Anne Nolin snowshoeing
Anne Nolin talks climate change, wildfire and snowpack on CNN International

Protect Our Winters group featured in "Winter Sports are on Thin Ice"

Kyra Morgan sits at a table with a microphone in front of her.
Paving the Wolf Pack Way: Kyra Morgan '10 and '16

Paving the Wolf Pack Way is a series of stories showcasing Wolf Pack Way alumni from the College of Science.

The principle investigators of the project stand in a line, smiling in front of the Effie Mona Mack building.
DoE Center aims to design new molecules to improve quantum sciences

Researchers in the Department of Chemistry were awarded $2.5 million to study molecular magnetism.

Students walk past the Leifson Physics building on a sunny day.
What is quantum computing?

Physics professor Timur Tscherbul explains some of the intricacies of quantum computing.

Two students wearing lab coats and goggles on their foreheads stand talking in front of a wooden door.
Curiosity wins at the College of Science

The annual competition selected the top three videos, along with two honorable mentions and a most-engaged watch party to win prizes.

Brown (left) and Vahidi are wearing goggles and are in focus in the background, with lab equipment out of focus in the foreground.
Mission Support and Test Services supports undergraduate research

Student researchers studied security in a variety of fields.

Jon DeBoer kneels, holding a brown lizard out in front of him.
New lizard defense mechanism observed

Two graduate students in the geography program spotted a new behavior in a lizard species.

A view of the Earth's horizon from space, with a smoke cloud hanging over part of the atmosphere.
What were some of the atmospheric effects of the Tongan volcano eruption?

Atmospheric scientist Neil Lareau explains the global impacts of the Tongan volcano eruption.

Hyung K. Shin holds a black and white photo in front of him featuring several men around a table.
How to drive in snow and other lessons

Associate Dean Vincent Catalano reflects on colleague Hyung Kyu Shin's 60 years of ongoing research and support.

Aerial photo of the Gayepare research Station in the Amazon jungle on the banks of the Nushino River.
Indigenous Knowledge could inform sustainability efforts in the Amazon

From wind turbines to a pepper plant: a multi-disciplinary team of University and Indigenous Amazonian researchers work to untangle a complex web of interactions

Faculty mentor and student present their research.
What makes a successful undergraduate mentor?

In honor of National Mentoring Month, six faculty members reflect on what it means to be an impactful mentor to undergraduate researchers

Rick Kraus smiles, wearing a blue shirt in the foreground with green foliage in the background.
Paving the Wolf Pack Way: Rick Kraus '07

Paving the Wolf Pack Way is a series of stories showcasing Wolf Pack Way alumni from the College of Science.

Construction workers erect concrete building frames.
Building greener buildings

Mackay School of Earth Sciences and Engineering professor finds ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the building sector, up to 9.4 gigatons of carbon dioxide through 2050

A vial of bright yellow crystalline vulpinic acid sits on a lab bench next to various fuzzy lichens.
NASA grant funds research for sunscreen on Mars

High radiation on Mars is one of the many reasons the Red Planet seems inhospitable. Two chemistry professors from the University are using solutions from early Earth to solve that problem on Mars.

Brian Huynh, wearing a white work helmet and a reflective vest, stands smiling with his arms crossed in the foreground of a mine site.
Paving the Wolf Pack Way: Brian Huynh '18

Paving the Wolf Pack Way is a series of stories showcasing Wolf Pack Way alumni from the College of Science.

People sit and stand in two rows, smiling for a photo.
Westfall Scholars honored at biannual event

The lunch banquet celebrated the students who graduated at the top of their class in each department in the College of Science.

A girl with dark hair, a white shirt and a floral print skirt walks along a beach near a pier.
The pieces of a puzzle

Alumna Lily Liu reflects on her time as an undergraduate in the College of Science and how she found a role as a peer mentor.

Two people each stand in front of a booth display for CREG and the Mackay School.
AEMA 2021 annual meeting sees prominent Mackay School presence

Students, faculty and alumni participated in many aspects of this year's AEMA conference

quad at morril hall
University of Nevada, Reno receives grants from Nevada Humanities for 2022

Museum, history, indigenous peoples, documentary projects benefit community

A cross section is highlighted with a dark red, with brighter red spots lined up along the center of the cross section horizontally.
NIH grant-funded research to look at how the brain processes visual stimuli

Researcher Jennifer Hoy hopes to better understand how the brain identifies stimuli as positive or negative, and the behaviors that follow.

A child's hands are shown playing with wooden toys.
Spectrum Learning Center opens on campus to serve community

The center opened early last month to provide services for young children with learning disabilities.

mountain chickadee on a branch
Scientists find genetic link to individual differences in spatial memory in Mountain Chickadees

High elevation field lab yields mountains of research data

A baby Lahontan Cutthroat Trout swims in its new tank with colorful pebbles and a log in the background.
The College of Science Museum Complex welcomes guest for three unique museum experiences

New exhibits and updates have reinvigorated the Museum of Natural History, the Keck Museum and the Fleischmann Planetarium, all now open to the public after extended closures related to the ongoing pandemic

post-fire revegetation in Oregon Cascades
Snow cover critical for revegetation following forest fires

College of Science study finds climate change a factor in decrease of snowpack in the Western United States

Planetarium Director Paul McFarlane stands on the left and is surrounded by space-related exhibits.
Fleischmann Planetarium: a gateway to science

Reflecting on its rich history and looking toward the future, the Fleischmann Planetarium as it finds its new home in the College of Science

Yareli Navarro Chavez in a lab holding a vial.
Faces of the Pack: Yareli Navarro Chavez finds first-generation opportunities through Undergraduate Research

Pack Research Experience Program and TRIO STEM Scholars offer mentorship and sense of belonging to sophomore pre-med student

Profile image of Luke Miers riding mountain bike during competition
Faces of the Pack: Luke Miers

University freshman Luke Miers represented the USA at the Snowshoe MTB World Cup

Astronauts perform various tasks on the lunar surface next to rovers.
Nevada Gold Mines Professor Pengbo Chu connects with industry, plans for lunar mining project

Chu will use the professorship to establish connections with the mining industry, support his other research and expand opportunities for students.

Christopher Barile stands in his lab while a postdoctoral fellow works at the lab bench behind him.
Recyling CO2 and the chemistry of climate change

Christopher Barile's research aims to create a new renewable energy source by recycling carbon dioxide in the atmosphere into useful fuels.

Cover of Nevada Geology calendar
Dramatic Nevada scenery featured in 2022 Nevada Geology photo calendar

Funds raised support University of Nevada, Reno’s Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology

Students on the quad in autumn.
College of Science celebrates 2021 distinguished alumni

Alumni from the College of Science and the Mackay School of Earth Sciences and Engineering were commended at last night's annual event.

Surface rupture of Monte Cristo earthquake
University taking part in Great Nevada ShakeOut public earthquake drill

Campus community encouraged to be earthquake aware and to Drop, Cover and Hold-on

Three people talking in a circle
Finding ways to make the behavior-analytic services that Latinx people deserve

Detailing the actions individuals and organizations can take to make more equitable healthcare

Autumn Harry hikes atop a mountain peak wearing a backpacking pack.
Reclaiming the land, remapping history

Through research and mapping, geography graduate student and member of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Autumn Harry recognizes Indigenous place names to honor her Numu (Northern Paiute) homelands.

House and building debris from flooding in Europe
Devastating floods in Europe bring geoengineers to study impact on infrastructure

Michael Gardner visited Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium as part of a reconnaissance team to see how geo-structures performed with severe flooding.

smoke over lake tahoe
Fire tornado prediction tools to be developed for public safety during extreme wildfires

Researchers at University of Nevada, Reno and DRI launch new citizen science project to gather ashfall data

Photo of the Truckee River in fall.
Earth Science Week guided tour explores water in western Nevada

Tour western Nevada’s hydrologic cycle and rapidly evolving landscapes with the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Saturday, October 16

Group photo of DICE Center members
Proporcionando asistencia culturalmente sensible y basada en evidencia científica a la comunidad Latina

La Profesora Asociada Lorraine Benuto capacita a los estudiantes para brindar servicios psicológicos en español

Group photo of DICE Center members
Providing culturally sensitive, evidence-based care to the Latinx community

Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology Lorraine Benuto trains students to deliver psychological services in Spanish

Overview of the Zebra Pulsed Power Lab
University of Nevada, Reno high energy density plasma group gets three grants

College of Science professors study fourth state of matter

Aerial photograph of Caldor Fire encroaching on Lake Tahoe
Caldor Fire impact on Lake Tahoe’s clarity, ecology studied amidst ongoing wildfire season

As extended smoke and ash continue to impact the Lake Tahoe Basin, researchers hope to better understand if and how the iconic alpine lake can recover.

little green frog
Team to study frogs' ability to withstand disease and its application to humans and other living systems

NSF funds $12.5 million for institute to study resilience to infectious disease

Portrait of Yinghan Chen
Psychometrics and statistical computing research funded by NSF

Assistant Professor Yinghan Chen's research will advance statistical methods for estimation in the design of educational assessment, psychiatric diagnosis techniques

(Left) Headshot of Jena Casas. Top-right: wildland firefighters trudge through challenging terrain in Desolation Wilderness while working on the Caldor Fire. Bottom-right: A hand-made sign for the firefighters on the Caldor Fire reads "Thank you firefighters. You kick ash!".
How can I support wildland firefighters?

From handwritten letters to donating hot meals, postdoctoral fellow and clinical psychology Ph.D. Jena Casas offers advice on how you can support wildland firefighters this challenging fire season.

A volunteer and postdoc researcher conduct field testing in a mountain meadow.
A Nevada first: University-based Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit established

Nevada becomes 39th state to create multi-agency unit to serve research and conservation of wildlife, fisheries and habitats

Sudeep Chandra, wearing a red coat, sits in a boat with Ganzorig Batsaikhan, who is wearing a purple hat.
Building a global community

International researcher and professor of biology Sudeep Chandra is named new director of the Ozmen Institute for Global Studies.

Psychology professors Trixie and Allen Gardner with Washoe the chimp
Groundbreaking researcher Gardner dies at age 91

Psychology professor Allen Gardner and his wife Trixie earned worldwide acclaim teaching Washoe the chimpanzee American Sign Language

thermal image of south lake tahoe
Thermal cameras installed by ALERTWildfire to help firefighters see through Caldor Fire smoke

University of Nevada, Reno and DigitalPath technicians deploy latest technology onto mountaintop camera platform

President Joe Biden greets Kizzmekia Corbett, an immunologist with the Vaccine Research Center at the National Institutes of Health during a visit at the Viral Pathogenesis Laboratory at the National Institutes of Health on Thursday, February 11, 2021 in Bethesda, Maryland.
Discover Science Lecture Series kicks off

The College of Science welcomes an astronaut, leading COVID-19 vaccine developer and more for its 2021/2022 season

Photo collage of three portraits and the "Discover Science" podcast logo.
COVID-19: Thinking back and looking forward

Members of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology discuss the COVID-19 vaccine technology, hesitancy, distribution and more for the Discover Science podcast

Portrait of Ana de Bettencourt-Dias
Chemistry professor named 2021 American Chemical Society Fellow

Ana de Bettencourt-Dias, the Susan Magee and Gary Clemons Professor of Chemistry, is the only chemist in Northern Nevada to date to have received the honor of being named an ACS fellow

algae bloom at Lake Tahoe beach
Algal blooms an emerging threat to clear lakes worldwide

University of Nevada, Reno part of comprehensive study

A hand holds an iPhone taking a. photo of a flower.
Summer Nevada Nature Blitz

Take photos of the organisms you see anywhere in Nevada, post them to iNaturalist, and experts will help you identify which species you observed!

Thin section of brecciated quartz appears on a black background. Colors in the image appear as silvery, blue tones with flecks of black throughout
Collaboration key in University Libraries new “Thin Sections” collection

Community Collection available for browsing online, featured in new Libraries exhibit

two researchers installing seismometer in ground
University of Nevada, Reno scientists and engineers collaborating on seismic survey for earthquakes

Unraveling the sub-surface geology of the Truckee Meadows using fiber-optics

Group of teachers at the Nevada PITS event in 2019
NevadaTeach and Nevada Gold Mines partner to bring mining curriculum to rural communities

Rural Nevada teachers get support in offering earth sciences curriculum

wildfire smoke on lake tahoe
Wildfire smoke alters lake ecosystems on regional scale

University of Nevada, Reno Global Water Center researchers studied impacts of six major 2018 wildfires

Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology David Alvarez Ponce holds a molecule model.
Mammals with small populations do not exhibit larger genomes

Department of Biology paper tests the Drift-Barrier hypothesis to determine why genomes of species vary so much in size

Confocal image of neurons
Journal of Neuroscience cover story features University neuroscience research

Assistant Professor Simon Pieraut’s paper was featured in the May 26 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience

Collage of the individual photos of the University's 7 CAREER awardees in 2021
Most ever CAREER Awards received by University faculty

8 awardees representing 4 colleges/school receive NSF’s prestigious award in support of early-career success and continued development

A student wearing a mask holds up a gold and green graduation tassel which hangs around her neck.
Class of 2021 exceeds the Senior Class fundraising goal at the Go for the Gold event

College of Science event encourages student philanthropy as they become young alumni

Portrait of Trivedi Nikhil
Mackay School alumnus elected to the National Academy of Engineers

Dr. Nikhil C. Trivedi, '70 Metallurgical Engineering M.S., is awarded one of the highest professional honors accorded an engineer.

Portrait of Lorraine Benuto
Lorraine Benuto missioned around providing culturally sensitive evidence based care to the Latinx community and other underserved populations

Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology Lorraine Benuto receives this year's Inclusion, Equity and Diversity Leadership Award

Photo of Blaize Abuntori with his arms crossed, standing in front of a brick wall posing for a photo.
Blaize Abuntori acts on a simple idea, makes a big impact

Statistics and data science master's student receives the Cavanaugh Community Volunteer Award for launching the Reno Burrito Project

Portrait of Anna Panorska
Anna Panorska takes a holistic approach to graduate advising

Professor of Mathematics and Statistics Anna Panorska has received the University’s Graduate Academic Advisor Award

Jacob Molina poses for a photo at the quad.
Goldwater Scholar Jacob Molina continues pursuit of "innate" passion for physics

Molina's research focuses on plasma and condensed matter physics under the mentorship of Assistant Professor Thomas White

Scott Mensing
Every class 'should be the best class I’ve ever had'

The University’s Distinguished Faculty award tops Scott Mensing’s decorated career

Herz Gold Medalist Lily Liu
Lily Liu selected as Spring 2021 Herz Gold Medalist

Biology major and dual chemistry, business administration minor, moves on to medical school

Elizabeth Leger opens a drawer containing boxed bird eggs
Elizabeth Leger’s exceptional career “shows no sign of slowing”

Professor of Biology and Director of the Museum of Natural History named Foundation Professor for extraordinary record of achievement

Headshot of Pamela Sandstrom
Pamela Sandstrom pairs mentorship with collaboration to engage her students in learning

Teaching Associate Professor of Biology receives the Regents' Teaching Award

Student Jayde Powell builds on a family legacy of community service and engagement

College of Science student receives the Sam Lieberman Regents' Award for Student Scholarship

Portrait of Jena Casas
Jena Casas' evolving research focuses on filling the need for behavioral health services in Nevada

Doctoral student in clinical psychology receives the Sam Lieberman Regents' Award for Student Scholarship

Headshot of Jennifer Hollander on top of a background image of the Davison Math and Science Center
Jennifer Hollander helps students build a love for learning

Teaching Associate Professor Jennifer Hollander receives the Paul and Judy Bible Teaching Excellence Award

moon drops film actor
Sci-On! Film Festival brings science and science fiction short films to Reno

Festival offers in-person and online passes May 4-9 for films from around the world

Amy Altick poses for a photo in front of the quad on the balcony of Morrill Hall.
Amy Altick asks "What did your brain do for you today?"

Dr. Altick receives the Outstanding Outreach and Engagement Faculty Award for her work with the Society for Neuroscience

Compilation image of a striped dress that sparked debate on the internet over it's color.
Calibrating Vision, a Discover Science at Home lecture

Foundation Professor and Director of the University’s Center for Integrative Neuroscience Michael Webster discusses the complex adaptations of our visual senses in his March 11 Discover Science virtual lecture.

Tom Bell stands in front of a whiteboard.
Chemistry professor named Outstanding Researcher of the Year

Professor Thomas Bell receives prestigious award for his numerous scientific accomplishments.

Portrait of Christopher Barile.
Christopher Barile employs electrochemistry, inorganic chemistry, and materials chemistry in the fight against climate change

Barile receives the University of Nevada, Reno Foundation Early Career Innovator Award

Mackay Mines building on campus.
Energy Resource Governance Initiative (ERGI) Academy to facilitate global governance of energy resource minerals

Mackay School of Earth Sciences and Engineering will bring delegates from around the world for hands-on trainings in energy resource minerals governance related topics.

Man in an underground mine wears a face covering.
Knock-on effects of COVID-19 on the mining industry

Kinross Term Assistant Professor in Mining Engineering Javad Sattarvand comments on the challenges overcome by the Nevada mining industry over the past year.

mountain chickadee standing in snow
Mountain chickadees resist age-related cognitive declines

University of Nevada, Reno long-standing research yields new data

A sepia-toned photo shows the Mars landscape with a hill and rocky features.
Is there life on Mars?

Professor and Chair of the Department of Geological Sciences and Engineering and member of the Mars Exploration Rover Team answers questions about roving on Mars.

James Church sits at his desk in his campus office.
University professor’s invention from over a century ago continues to be impactful today

In 1908, James Church’s interest in snow and the mountains led to the invention of the snow sampler, a device that greatly advanced the development of snow science

Portrait of Thomas White
NSF CAREER Award recipient Thomas White explores the most extreme states of matter in the Universe

Assistant professor of physics receives funding to include undergraduate students in cutting edge physics research

Chris Barile in his lab
NSF CAREER award recipient Christopher Barile explores chemical reactions central to renewable energy and environmental technologies

Assistant Professor of Chemistry Christopher Barile's research aims to create processes for recycling carbon dioxide and nitrogen

Female student next to Mackay Statue
College of Science Student Emergency Fund supports students impacted by the pandemic

Students receive financial assistance for everything from tuition to groceries.

Chris Halsch on Castle Peak
Fewer butterflies seen across the warming, drying landscapes of the American West

University of Nevada, Reno leads collaborative study on insect declines

High-Resolution Still Image of Perseverance's Landing
Roving Mars: From Sojourner to Perseverance

Foundation Professor and planetary scientist Wendy Calvin will discuss the evolution of Mars rovers in her March 11 Discover Science virtual lecture.

Graham Kent visiting the site of the 2020 Valley Fire in Southern California
Research technology transforms how first responders fight fires

Video highlights technology and thought-leadership behind ALERTWildfire, developed through the Nevada Seismological Laboratory

Davidson Math and Science Building on the University of Nevada, Reno campus at dusk.
Jeff Thompson, longtime College of Science dean, named Acting Provost

Katherine McCall, associate dean, assumes acting College of Science dean position

researchers at Eg River Mongolia
Macrosystems biology: science journal explores new knowledge in ecological frontier

University of Nevada, Reno conducts international rivers study based on new approaches in science

Chris with butterfly
Climate change is a stressor of insect populations around the world

University of Nevada, Reno leads study on insect declines

Woman points at brain scans.
Nevada ENDURE seeks to improve diversity in neuroscience

New program aims to raise interest and opportunities in neuroscience research for individuals who are typically underrepresented in the field.

The FYRE Robotics team of students, ages 13-18, builds a robot in the Makerspace of the Innevation Center.
Workforce development downtown: K-12 Robotics Center|University of Nevada, Reno

Southside Studio becomes home to robotics-based education and competition teams, strengthening the path to degrees and careers

Cynthia Lancaster sits at a desk on a video call with her mentee, Erick Herrera
Gain professional and academic experience through paid undergraduate research programs

With the help of a mentor, undergraduate students can apply for paid research opportunities

Lahontan Dam low water
Scientists keep watch on climate and weather as drought grips Nevada

Interdisciplinary approach from University of Nevada, Reno Extension keeps people informed and involved

Mick Hitchcock addresses students in The Center located in the University's Joe Crowley Student Union.
New, donor-supported equipment and infrastructure will advance research

Philanthropist and scientist Mick Hitchcock, Ph.D. continues to support scientific progress and research capacity

Video screenshot showing a cartoon illustration of a skeleton.
'Anyone can be a (mad) scientist' and other College of Science video competition winners announced

Students take home cash prizes for short videos depicting life as science students in annual competition.

Microscopic image of marine plankton.
Marine Plankton face threat of extinction as planet warms

Census of marine plankton fossils reveals inability to adapt to large shifts in climate

Sean Casey, pictured here with Lisa LeMond at the 2019 College of Science and Mackay School Distinguished Alumni of the Year event.
Mayo Clinic Cardiologist and alumna Lisa LeMond gives time, hope comfort when hearts fail

The College of Science recognizes exceptional alumna Lisa LeMond.

Two students pose for a photo at a club fair to promote the new MAPS club on campus last spring.
Minority Association of Pre-Medical Students (MAPS) chapter launched at the University of Nevada, Reno

Students launch a new club aimed at increasing diversity in the field of medicine

Morrill Hall on the south end of the University of Nevada, Reno
University honors Fall 2020 Senior Scholar recipients

University of Nevada, Reno and the Nevada Alumni Association recognize 9 graduates with top grade-point average

Freshwater fish
Study in Thailand identifies benefits of community-based freshwater fish reserves

Results of research published in science journal Nature could help freshwater fisheries worldwide

desert mountains
Geology-themed 2021 calendar available from College of Science

Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology compiles scenic photos, Nevada facts in annual calendar

Carr Fire vortex
Wildfire plume dynamics: Discover Science at Home series Nov. 19

College of Science public event moves online, high-intensity wildfires subject of third talk

brains on display
Taissa Lytchenko receives international neuroscience society award

Graduate student recognized for Cognitive Brain Sciences outreach and education for community

msueum exhibit prep
Tales from the Crypt: Discover Science at Home series Oct. 22

College of Science public event moves online, Museum of Natural History focus of second talk

volcanic rocks in Hot Springs Mountains
Explore Nevada’s Hot Springs Mountains in virtual Earth Science Week field trip

University of Nevada, Reno’s Bureau of Mines and Geology event Sat., Oct. 17

earthquake damage Wells, Nevada
University taking part in Great Nevada ShakeOut public earthquake drill (2020)

Campus community encouraged to be earthquake aware and to Drop, Cover and Hold-on

Bridget Ayling sampling water
Geothermal energy exploration to get boost from University research

College of Science awarded $10 million DOE grant to develop comprehensive ‘toolkit’ for industry

geothermal pool
Discover Science at Home Speaker Series debuts Sept. 24

College of Science public series moves online, geothermal energy first topic

Blaize and his team handing out burritos downtown
Burritos bridge the gap in Reno communities

University graduate student Blaize Abuntori teams up with Colleges to aid homeless

Staheli Meyer sits at a table with a young child in the foreground and binders on the table between them.
The Early Childhood Autism Program leaves a legacy of changed lives

The Department of Psychology's Early Childhood Autism Program has served patients, families, students and program founder Patrick Ghezzi.

Laboratory training manager presents a certificate to teaching assistant in the lab, while both wear Personal Protective Equipment
Celebrating what goes RIGHT in chemistry-lab safety

EH&S safety program to recognize the role of teaching assistants and students receives national award

Lab technician's gloved hands holds an instrument putting a chemical substance into a vial.
Working to protect the public’s health

EPA awards $800,000 to the School of Community Health Sciences for research into the distribution of chemicals within the body

UV Vessel works at night to kill invasive aquatic plants
Vessel equipped with ultraviolet light attacks invasive aquatic plants at Tahoe

Public-private partnership project shows favorable results

white sturgeon in the fraser river
Global decline of migratory fish, Nevada fish migration affected by dams, development

College of Science’s Zeb Hogan co-author of comprehensive global report

James Simmons holds a Lahontan Cutthroat Trout at Summit Lake
Lahontan Cutthroat Trout thrive at Paiute’s Summit Lake in far northern Nevada

University collaborates with tribe to protect the longest self-sustaining population of trout

Kyra Morgan and Paul Hurtado stand on the quad wearing masks.
Taking on COVID-19 with math and stats

Professor of Mathematics and Statistics Paul Hurtado and Nevada State Biostatistician and College of Science alumna Kyra Morgan talk COVID-19 and how they’re using numbers to make sense of it all.

Grid of three podcast participant headshots along with the Discover Science Podcast Series logo.
Exploring the relationship between space, race and STEM attainment on the Discover Science podcast

Dr. William F. Tate IV speaks with the College of Science about his research revealing the uneven contours of the education pipeline.

Leopard Laser array
Scientists develop numerical capability of laser-driven x-ray imaging

College of Science experiments validate numerical modeling method for variety of uses

Undergraduate Research awardee Cesar Piedra stands in front of his sculptural project: a white animal figure with a textured paper surface.
Research-based work of 58 undergraduate students highlighted at symposium

Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium pivots to virtual with project presentations from a variety of disciplines, from STEM to the social sciences, arts and humanities

Student sampling milkweed plants
Milkweed, only food source for monarch caterpillars, ubiquitously contaminated

Harmful pesticides found in Western Monarch breeding ground

Professor Geoff Blewitt sits alongside a GPS station on a mountain that overlooks the valley of Reno and Sparks, Nev.
Using worldwide GPS data to study changes in Earth’s crust, from the Ice Age to today

The University’s 2020 Outstanding Researcher award recognizes the amazing discoveries, scientific contributions and career of Geoff Blewitt

University of Nevada, Reno chemical biologist Yftah Tal-Gan
Department of Chemistry’s Yftah Tal-Gan receives the 2020 Foundation Early Career Innovator Award

In his first five years, the chemical biologist has led important research on bacterial communication and raised the bar for grant funding

Mick Hitchcock speaks to a room full of University students.