University of New Mexico
Recent News About University of New Mexico
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The University of New Mexico is gearing up for its 68th Annual Research Lecture scheduled for Wednesday, March 27 at 5:30 p.m. The event is open to UNM faculty, staff, students, postdocs, and alumni, with a focus on showcasing the achievements of distinguished professor Felisa Smith.Smith, an ARL awardee and a prominent figure in the UNM Department of Biology, specializes in mammalian paleoecology and evolutionary research. Her work delves into the impacts of current and historical climatic changes as well as biodiversity loss on mammals. According to Smith, "Mammalian...
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UNM Vice President for Research Ellen Fisher is set to host the 3rd annual State of Research presentation next month. The event, scheduled for Monday, March 18 at 4 p.m., will feature a Q&A session and will be followed by a reception. All members of the UNM community, including students, staff, faculty, alumni, postdocs, and community members, are encouraged to attend.Speaking about the upcoming presentation, Ellen Fisher expressed her enthusiasm for the progress made in research at UNM, stating, "It’s been a very busy and productive year for all UNM researchers –...
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Osazda Energy, a solar technology startup company founded by Sang M. Han, a department chair and Regents’ professor of chemical and biological engineering at UNM, has been awarded $1.1 million in U.S. Department of Energy Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II funding. The company will be developing a software platform aimed at optimizing the design of photovoltaic modules in the solar energy market.Han expressed his enthusiasm about the funding, stating, “We have been working to improve PV module efficiency, reduce precious metal usage and thus manufacturing...
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The University of New Mexico Foundation has appointed Mary Wolford as the senior director of development for the School of Engineering, effective March 4. Wolford, an experienced fundraising professional, is returning to a familiar role within the university, having previously served as the senior director of development for the School of Engineering from 2012-2014.In a statement, Donna Riley, the Jim and Ellen King Dean of Engineering and Computing, expressed her excitement about working with Wolford, highlighting her past experience in academic fundraising at UNM. Riley...
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Director, writer, producer, and author Brian Levant, known for his successful career in the TV and film industry, has been selected to receive the UNM Alumni Association Lobo Award. Levant, a UNM alumnus, will be honored for his outstanding personal service to the University and his career achievements that reflect positively on UNM.Reflecting on his time at UNM, Levant humorously recalled his initial reasons for choosing the university, stating, “I came to UNM as a freshman in 1970, in part because Playboy magazine declared the school had ‘the best drugs and loosest...
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The Optical Science and Engineering (OSE) Program at The University of New Mexico is gearing up to celebrate its 40th anniversary with a series of events on March 7 and 8. The program, which has graduated over 270 Ph.D.s since its inception in 1983, has become a prominent interdisciplinary program at the University with strong collaborative ties to institutions such as Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos National Laboratories, and the Air Force Research Lab.Among the distinguished speakers scheduled for the anniversary celebration are John Hall, Nobel Laureate of...
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The University of New Mexico is set to host the annual meeting of the Western Positive Psychology Association (WPPA) on March 22-23, bringing together individuals interested in the science of happiness and positive psychology. According to Department of Psychology Associate Professor Bruce Smith, positive psychology focuses on fostering resilience, mindfulness, love, kindness, gratitude, hope, meaning, and purpose in people's lives. Smith, who has been teaching this subject for 19 years at UNM, highlighted the importance of the field in enabling individuals to live their...
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Nobel Laureate John Mather and Tony Hull recently delved into the world of astronomy and the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) on the latest episode of It’s (Probably) Not Rocket Science. Mather, the Webb telescope’s senior project scientist emeritus, and Hull, an adjunct professor in the UNM Department of Physics & Astronomy, discussed the groundbreaking images and early results from the telescope.Mather shed light on the significance of the images captured by the JWST, stating, "The James Webb Space Telescope allows us to see 13.5 billion years into the past and witness...
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Professor of Marketing at the Anderson School of Management, Cathering Roster, emphasized the need for consumers to become part of the solution to societal sustainability challenges by changing their consumption habits. Roster stated, “Marketing is not all about constantly pushing people to acquire things... We simply cannot keep up the pace of consumption that we’ve had in the last several decades without doing significant harm to our environment.”Roster highlighted the shift in mindset towards sustainability in marketing efforts, noting, “Even in consumers' own lives,...
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Nathaniel Sandoval, a student at UNM-Los Alamos (UNM-LA), was recently recognized for his academic achievements by being named to the PTK New Mexico All-State Academic Team. During the State Legislative Session at the Roundhouse, Sandoval, a member of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), was awarded the prestigious scholarship in acknowledgment of his academic excellence, leadership, and service."To receive this scholarship means I can continue to represent our Phi Theta Kappa Charter with excellence and further dedicate myself to my education," expressed Sandoval during the...
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The University of New Mexico is becoming a hub of Truman Scholar recognition. UNM senior Jesus Sanchez, is one of 191 Truman Scholar finalists selected from this year’s pool of 709 nominations across over 285 institutions. Sanchez is scheduled to interview in March.“The Truman Scholarship is a highly competitive award that selects students with the potential to become change agents,” Honors College Scholarship Coordinator Kiyoko Simmons said. “Jesus has demonstrated leadership and service aimed at enhancing the college experience for students by addressing basic needs...
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Applications are now open for the 2024 Women in STEM Awards at the University of New Mexico. The awards, now in their ninth year, are a collaborative effort between Advance at UNM, the Office of Academic Affairs, and the Vice President for Research."We know that Women in STEM awardees from the past eight years have gone on to do some amazing research on a range of topics," said Advance Director Julia Fulghum. "We are eager to see the proposals of this year’s applicants and encourage submissions from across campus. Please contact us if you want to know if your idea...
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The University of New Mexico College of Fine Arts recently awarded Mikaila Dart, a talented alumna, with the Reggie Behl Drawing Award, providing her with a $1,000 grant to support her exceptional drawing skills. Dart, who submitted her artwork into the competition with hopes of validation and recognition, expressed her excitement upon receiving the award, stating, “I was very excited hearing a ‘yes’ and hearing it from the faculty at UNM that I look up to and that I've been learning from. It was like a boost of confidence that told me this is a valid thing that I'm doing,...
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The Child Health Grand Challenge team at The University of New Mexico has been granted a $300,000 award from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation to conduct a two-year study on child maltreatment incidence. Led by principal investigators Rebecca Girardet and Gabriel Sanchez, the team aims to identify cultural practices that may act as protective factors in reducing negative outcomes related to child maltreatment.Girardet highlighted the importance of the study, stating, "New Mexico is making strides in implementing strategies that hold promise for preventing child maltreatment......
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The Black Student Union (BSU) at the University of New Mexico is commemorating its 55th anniversary this year, with celebrations starting during Black History Month and leading up to the official anniversary in December. Reflecting on the history and significance of BSU, African American Student Services (AASS) and UNM alumnus Brandi Stone highlighted the importance of the organization's advocacy and community-building efforts, stating, "My team now has also been so awesome, and I'm just really proud of them in addition to our students and everyone who's just leaning in and...
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An interdisciplinary team of Indigenous and western scientists has been honored with the 2024 Newcomb Cleveland Prize from the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) for their research on the evolution of domestic horses. The team's study, titled "Early Dispersal of Domestic Horses in the Great Plains and Northern Rockies," published in spring 2023, has garnered significant recognition in the scientific community.Lead author of the research, Will Taylor, a UNM Anthropology graduate and assistant professor at the University of Colorado, Boulder,...
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A team of researchers from The University of New Mexico’s Museum of Southwestern Biology (MSB) have made a concerning discovery regarding the levels of chemical contamination in wildlife at Holloman Air Force Base. The study, recently published in Environmental Research, revealed that various wild birds and mammals at the base are heavily contaminated with 'forever chemicals' known as per and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).Lead author of the study, MSB Director and Professor of Biology Christopher Witt, highlighted the severity of the situation, stating, "Across 23...
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University of New Mexico alumna Emma Hotz has been named a Luce Scholar, the first student from UNM to receive this prestigious honor. The Luce Scholars Program, established by the Henry Luce Foundation, aims to deepen understanding of Asia among American leaders by providing stipends, language training, and professional placements in Asia for selected scholars each year.Expressing her gratitude, Hotz stated, "I am truly humbled to be named a Luce Scholar and to represent the University of New Mexico and the State of New Mexico! Being the first UNM student to have...
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The University of New Mexico's Lobo Launch team is on an upward trajectory with three rocket projects, led by retired U.S. Air Force colonel Fernando “Doc” Aguilar. Aguilar, with over 30 years of experience in space launch, oversees a group of 22 seniors in mechanical engineering as they delve into the intricacies of rocket science for their capstone design project.Aguilar explained the rigorous process the students undergo, stating, “Lobo Launch currently consists of three distinct rocket programs, each managed by seven students, one being the overall program manager.”...
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Professor of Marketing and consumer psychology at the Anderson School of Management Catherine Roster has delved into the realm of decluttering research for nearly two decades. Through her studies, Roster offers valuable insights and tips on how individuals can maintain a clutter-free lifestyle.Roster's research not only explores the reasons behind why people acquire and cling onto possessions but also delves into the emotional repercussions of decluttering. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the connection between our possessions and our overall well-being and...