News

Tue, 06/06/2023

Kansas science teachers visit KU Field Station this week

Fri, 06/02/2023

Annual summer tour of KU medicinal garden set for June 21

Thu, 06/01/2023

Manipulating plant microbiomes in the field (Opens in new window)

In this episode of the British Ecological Society's "Applied in 5" podcast, Lydia Groves of the Journal of Applied Ecology interviews Assistant Research Pro. Liz Koziol about her recent article that was shortlisted for the Southwood Prize 2022, which celebrates early career ecologists.

Thu, 05/18/2023

Lawrence High students growing milkweed to help monarchs (Opens in new window)

In this column contributed to the Lawrence Times, Allie Lippe-Mackey, who teaches biology, astronomy and geology at Lawrence High School, describes a daylong school event with Monarch Watch staff, who taught students about monarchs and the role of milkweed in their life cycle.

Thu, 05/11/2023

Native fungi amendment shows promising results in organic crops

LAWRENCE — Can fungi used in restoring native landscapes boost organic crop production, too? ...

Tue, 05/09/2023

A walking labyrinth in Lawrence (Opens in new window)

Eminent American artist Janine Antoni’s “here-ing” labyrinth at the KU Field Station aims to foster listening, wholeness and healing of the body and the land.

Mon, 05/01/2023

Six students receive Kansas Biological Survey Student Research Awards for 2023

LAWRENCE — The Kansas Biological Survey & Center for Ecological Research at the University of Kansas has awarded $6,500 in funding this spring for student research to be conducted this year. The research center’s 2023 Student Research Awards are providing six graduate students with funding in support of their ecological...

Mon, 04/24/2023

Cloned saltwater creatures hatched from decades-old eggs turn out to be new species (Opens in new window)

Associate Research Professor Christopher Rogers and international colleagues "unraveled" the mystery of two “undescribed” groups of brine shrimp Kazakhstan and Tibet and discovered a new species in the process. (Photo: Alireza Asem)

Fri, 04/14/2023

Haskell, University of Kansas work to bring underrepresented communities into lab sciences (Opens in new window)

This story about student research through KU’s Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) leads with the work of Dori Summers, of the Baer Ecology Lab, on native grasses used in restoration of plowed land.

Tue, 04/11/2023

When a Kansas county wants people to plant milkweed but a city makes them rip it out (Opens in new window)

Across the Midwest, some city codes threaten people with fines for having milkweed on their property. But experts say many places have dropped those rules to support monarchs with urban and suburban butterfly gardens.

Fri, 04/07/2023

Kansas Biological Survey to host public forums about native grazing lands

LAWRENCE — In April, the Kansas Biological Survey & Center for Ecological Research will host two free public forums in Douglas County about native grazing lands. The first forum will be held at 6:30 p.m. April 20 at Worden Cornerstone Church west of Baldwin City. The second forum will take...

Wed, 04/05/2023

KU scientist named a fellow of Ecological Society of America

Tue, 03/14/2023

Plant Health 101: How To Improve Crops Using Genomics & Genetics (Opens in new window)

In this episode of Finding Genius, Maggie Wagner, an assistant scientist at our research center and an assistant professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, discusses plant genetics and microbiome science, including her research on the genetic basis of plants' interactions with their environment in both natural and agricultural systems.

Wed, 02/01/2023

All over the map: KU project highlights "incredible variety" of Kansas environment

This article, published in the "Rock Chalk Review" section of the Winter 2023 issue (paper and online to subscribers) of Kansas Alumni Magazine, is a version of the Nov. 16, 2022, KU News release on the Mapping Kansas Ecosystems website developed by Dana Peterson and Jennifer Moody.

Thu, 01/26/2023

Monarch butterfly numbers plummet despite recovery last winter, but 1 year never tells the whole story (Opens in new window)

The number of monarch butterflies that have survived the migration to Mexico this fall appears to have plummeted.

Fri, 01/20/2023

Experts in ecosystem resilience, ground-penetrating radar and social systems receive KU research achievement awards

Thu, 12/08/2022

Keystone pipeline spills in Kansas, dirtying creek and causing oil prices to spike (Opens in new window)

Comments by one of our scientists added to coverage of the spill: more specific info is needed to understand the effect of oil in local waters. ...

Fri, 12/02/2022

Couple establishes professorship in support of Monarch Watch with $1.4M gift, encourages others to support the cause

LAWRENCE — With a desire to find more time for writing and experiments, Orley “Chip” Taylor, University of Kansas professor emeritus of ecology & evolutionary biology, says it’s time to step aside — but not before making sure Monarch Watch, the program he founded in 1992, is well-positioned for the...

Tue, 11/29/2022

Kansas scientists are testing jacuzzi-like water jets to save a reservoir (Opens in new window)

All Things Considered aired this version of a recent Kansas News Service story on silted-in reservoirs, water injection dredging at Tuttle Creek, and concerns about the plan. ...

Fri, 11/25/2022

Learning to live with toxic algal blooms in Kansas (Opens in new window)

Toxic blue-green algae threaten cattle and have collectively robbed Kansans of thousands of hours of recreation. They drain millions from lake-based economies when outbreaks close lakes to public access. Drinking water is susceptible to the toxin, too, rendering it smelly and foul-tasting.

Thu, 11/17/2022

The world’s roots are getting shallower (Opens in new window)

Plant roots act as engineers for Earth’s surface, breaking up bedrock, transporting water and nutrients, and stabilizing landscapes. They’re so important that scientists have hypothesized that their evolution, beginning around 415 million years ago, altered landscapes and the course of Earth’s history.

Wed, 11/16/2022

KU researchers launch new Kansas ecosystems online teaching tool

Sat, 11/12/2022

Meet the students working to keep the endangered monarch butterfly population alive (Opens in new window)

After years of declining populations, the monarch butterfly was recently declared endangered. CBS News correspondent Debra Alfarone meets the next generation of activists working to keep the insect population alive. ...

Fri, 11/04/2022

Farm safety (Opens in new window)

With all the dangers that farmers need to be aware of when working on their farms, there are several ways that farming can become a hazardous operation. This episode of Real Ag covers Farm Safety in Kansas through visits with farmers and the Kansas Farm Bureau.

Tue, 11/01/2022

Program helps Native students bridge from Haskell to KU to careers in science

Mon, 10/31/2022

Studying microbes to understand the possibility of life on other planets (Opens in new window)

A team of KU researchers is studying microscopic organisms in extreme environments to see if life is possible beyond Earth. ...

Sun, 10/30/2022

Students plant gardens to aid endangered monarch butterflies (Opens in new window)

CBS News interviews Maryland students maintaining a butterfly garden and Monarch Watch Waystation. ...

Tue, 10/18/2022

What if Jacuzzi-like water jets could save a lake? Scientists will try it in Kansas (Opens in new window)

Reservoirs that feed the Kansas River during times of drought are filling up with mud. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has an idea to slow the process. ...

Fri, 09/30/2022

Bon voyage: Museum assists monarch butterfly populations (Opens in new window)

Monarch butterflies might look delicate, but they’re able to journey from North America to Mexico during autumn, often with the help of scientists and nature enthusiasts. ...