Tag: NAU

April 11 — NAU will present ‘Electrifying Mexico — Technology and Transformation of a Modern City’

by Community Contributor • January 1, 2024 • Comments Off

Montaño explores the role of electricity in Mexico’s economic and political evolution. She outlines the ways that the coal-deficient country pioneered large-scale hydroelectricity and sought to face the world as a scientifically enlightened “empire of peace.” Montaño documents inventions and adaptations that served local needs while fostering new ideas of time and space, body and self, the national and the foreign. Complicating historical discourses in which Latin Americans merely use technologies developed elsewhere, here Montaño emphasizes a particular national culture of scientific progress and its contributions to a uniquely Mexican modernist political subjectivity.

Oct. 1 — NAU to present the ‘ABRAZOS TOUR — Borderlands / The Line Within’

by Community Contributor • January 1, 2024 • Comments Off

FLAGSTAFF — NAU’s Latin American Studies and the Martin-Springer Institute will present the “ABRAZOS TOUR — Borderlands / The Line Within,” at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1 at NAU’s Liberal Arts Building, Room 136.

This free film screening is for a very powerful new film, with a Q&A at the end with the filmmakers!

From the website (link in comments)

The United States border is not just a geographic location. The border is everywhere. It lies within every undocumented immigrant family with the threat that at any moment they can be captured, incarcerated, deported; their lives destroyed. BORDERLAND | The Line Within not only exposes the profitable business of immigration and its human cost, but weaves together the stories of immigrant heroines and heroes resisting and showing a way forward, intent on building a movement in the shadow of the border industrial complex, recognizing the human rights of all.

Special commencement edition of The NAU Review

by Community Contributor • December 14, 2023 • Comments Off

Meet three members of the Class of 2023

The NAU Review — Understanding homelessness, community engagement hours well spent and story time with President Cruz Rivera

by Community Contributor • December 12, 2023 • Comments Off

The number of unhoused individuals in Arizona jumped almost 25 percent between 2020 and 2022 as safe, affordable housing disappeared throughout the state. This is a thorny, multifaceted issue, and one that health sciences researcher Sara Shuman is tackling as part of a federal effort to better understand and address homelessness throughout the nation. With a focus on health equity, Shuman and her team will document the needs and experiences of people living in encampments and evaluate the strategies used to manage homeless encampments in Yuma, Pima and Maricopa counties.

The NAU Review — A revolution in forestry, getting to know a professor who earned her doctorate and how PA students are closing the healthcare gap

by Community Contributor • December 7, 2023 • Comments Off

Researchers from the Ecological Restoration Institute and School of Forestry are part of a national effort to create consistent and accurate models to predict different aspects of forest health. The National Scale Volume Biomass models are an innovation in forest biometrics introduces advanced models for accurately predicting the size and carbon-storing capacity of American forests, playing a key role in combating climate change and guiding sustainable forest management efforts.

The NAU Review — Capturing conversations, getting to know a PT professor and where to volunteer

by Community Contributor • December 6, 2023 • Comments Off

Capturing language, one conversation at a time

Between school papers, social media, texts, news reports, speeches, blogs and podcasts, Americans record billions of words in a year. But billions more are lost—the language we use in conversation among friends and family, to the grocery clerk or Uber driver and our walking partners. Researchers in the Applied Linguistics program are leading the creation of the largest-ever corpus of American English conversation, which could change what we understand about this most basic register of language.

The NAU Review — A new report lays out the current state of climate change, reserve your tickets for the Presidential Speaker Series and Louie’s Cupboard needs your help

by Community Contributor • November 30, 2023 • Comments Off

Several experts from NAU contributed to the Fifth National Climate Assessment, a report that synthesizes the research and expert opinions of hundreds of scientists from throughout the country. The report breaks down the research by region and topic and addresses land and resource managers, policymakers and the general public, with the goal of educating Americans about how they are experiencing the effects of climate change and the steps we must take to mitigate effects in the future. “It is imperative that our society and our various communities continue to learn and discuss the impacts of climate change on our regional and national communities,” said ITEP director Nikki Cooley, who co-authored a chapter on human health. “The report brings together a large group of people who work every day in their fields that are affected by increasingly disastrous events such fire, flooding, drought and more.”

The NAU Review — Measuring biodiversity, Humans of NAU with a former track athlete and giving back this Giving Tuesday

by Community Contributor • November 28, 2023 • Comments Off

Measuring biodiversity across the U.S.—with space lasers
Diverse ecosystems support the web of life and in the process, provide food, water, medicine and materials for humanity. But the butterfly effect tells us all things are connected. So, when biodiversity loss threatens the foundation upon which we live, what does that mean for the future of Earth and humanity? NAU research professor Chris Hakkenberg is taking a necessary step to finding a solution to biodiversity loss: mapping and measuring biodiversity across the U.S. using NASA’s space-borne lidar.

The NAU Review — NAU cross country concludes best season, results from the Thanksgiving poll and a free telescope viewing

by Community Contributor • November 21, 2023 • Comments Off

Following a historic season, both NAU cross country teams placed second at the NCAA National Championships: the women scored 124 points and the men scored 71 points. Along with being the best team finish in school and conference history, this also is the first time the women have placed three athletes in the top 20. This is the eighth consecutive year that the men finished in the top two at the national meet.

The NAU Review — Meet the Gold Axe Award winners, NAU’s newest Elder Cultural Advisor and the Grand Canyon’s astronomer in residence

by Community Contributor • November 16, 2023 • Comments Off

Honoring our elites
Two students in the Class of 2023 were awarded the President’s Prize, NAU’s highest honor for undergraduates, and more than 20 other students were recognized as Gold Axe winners or Distinguished Seniors at a ceremony Tuesday night. The awards, which recognize excellence in the classroom, in research and in life, are one of the highlights of the year for senior leadership; in a video presentation, President Cruz Rivera said he always appreciates the opportunity to brag about the students and experience the sense of joy and accomplishment felt by the award winners and their families, friends and mentors who have supported them throughout their collegiate career.

The NAU Review — Meet NAU’s elder cultural advisors, find out what’s happening in engineering research and how NAU is contributing to rural resilience

by Community Contributor • November 14, 2023 • Comments Off

(Paul) Long, who is from New Mexico, comes from a line of medicine men and is a medicine man himself. Growing up, his father taught him to be balanced—to know and practice the traditional beliefs and way of life but also to understand western life and education.

The NAU Review — New research opportunities for veterans, big news in for NAU’s research and taking a peek into the library’s Native American collection

by Community Contributor • November 9, 2023 • Comments Off

Breaking barriers for veteran student researchers

The Student Research Opportunity Grant helps military-connected students pursue their research goals. The grant of up to $6,000 was established by the Veterans and Military Service Office and Office of the Vice President for Research with the goal of creating more representation of student veterans in research fields.

The NAU Review — A new microscope, STEM art and November’s Inclusive Insights

by Community Contributor • November 7, 2023 • Comments Off

A whole new world
Most microscopes, common in labs, are limited to magnifications of about 1,500 times. NAU’s newly acquired transmission electron microscope can easily achieve magnifications of up to two million times, giving students and researchers the ability to study samples like never before, opening up their eyes to a world previously unknown.

The NAU Review — Celebrating Native American Heritage Month, honoring our veterans and predicting the future of water based on the past

by Community Contributor • November 6, 2023 • Comments Off

Celebrating ancestry, traditions and impact

NAU, which sits on lands sacred to Native American tribes, will celebrate Native American Heritage Month with a plethora of culture-oriented events which will run through Nov. 30. Events include Stew Fest, a basketball game against SAGU Indian College, meetings with NAU’s Indigenous elders and more. “We are honored to share about our legacy and ways of being with our communities,” said Ann Marie Chischilly, vice president of Native American Initiatives.

The NAU Review — Celebrating Native American Heritage Month, honoring our veterans and predicting the future of water based on the past

by Community Contributor • November 2, 2023 • Comments Off

Variety of Día de Los Muertos continuing this week including — ‘Coco with Cocoa’ on Nov. 1 and other NAU events through Nov. 3, Dia de Los Muertos Celebration in Camp Verde on Nov. 5

by Community Contributor • November 1, 2023 • Comments Off

FLAGSTAFF — In celebration of Dia De Los Muertos, we will be watching the movie Coco, decorating sugar cookies, and drinking hot cocoa.

Date: 11/01/2023

Time: 05:30 pm- 08:00 pm

Location: IMQ Center

Free to all

The NAU Review — Homecoming LumberSNAPS and Diamondbacks, spooky creatures and cross country champs!

by Community Contributor • November 1, 2023 • Comments Off

Lumberjacks of all ages from near and far enjoyed a week full of Homecoming events. From the dedicatee luncheon and the student carnival to the Homecoming parade and football game, take a look back at these Lumberjack memories.

The NAU Review — Living and teaching with a disability, the effects of warmer oceans on fish and Notes from the President

by Community Contributor • October 26, 2023 • Comments Off

Justice Armfield is a guest presenter in Introduction to Disability Studies. From the front of the classroom and in small-group discussions, he talks about living with a disability and how it affects his life—and how it doesn’t. Armfield has Down syndrome, he loves Pink and the Smashing Pumpkins, he enjoys travel and public speaking and he brings a valuable experience to the classroom: “I teach people about what it is like to live with Down syndrome. I want to help people see that a disability is a difference, but not a limitation to living a happy, healthy life with a purpose.”

The NAU Review — Getting dental hygiene experience at the Hopi Health Care center, the surprising effects of fire and a peek at Earth’s most ubiquitous mammal

by Community Contributor • October 24, 2023 • Comments Off

After a pandemic-induced hiatus, the partnership between the Department of Dental Hygiene and the Hopi Health Care Center is back up and running, offering dental hygiene students the opportunity for hands-on learning and dental care to patients on the Hopi Reservation. The program, which began in 2003 and is supported by the John and Sophie Ottens Foundation and Indian Health Services in addition to NAU, is an important experience for the students in becoming culturally competent healthcare providers. For National Dental Hygiene Month in October, learn what it’s like for the students.

The NAU Review — NAU’s logging sports, your guide to Homecoming 2023 and a special edition of Notes from the President

by Community Contributor • October 19, 2023 • Comments Off

The saw must go on

NAU Logging Sports athletic captain Adeline Jones had been preparing with her teammates for the Choptober competition in Colorado for months. She was set to compete in five events—the pole climb, obstacle pole, single buck, Jack-and-Jill and horizontal chop—against athletes from throughout the western U.S. Then, just two weeks before the competition, she had a bouldering accident that left her with the temporary inability to use one of her arms. With nothing to lose, she decided to compete in the single buck event, sawing a wood cookie off a large log with a 5.5-foot saw, one-handed.

The NAU Review — Increasing Indigenous teachers, getting to know the Lumberjack behind Louie and photos from family weekend!

by Community Contributor • October 17, 2023 • Comments Off

How NAU is tackling the teacher shortage in Indigenous communities

In an effort to increase the number of qualified teachers statewide and help Indigenous educators remain in their communities, NAU started Preparing Indigenous Teachers for Arizona Schools—a program that offers a pathway to a bachelor’s or master’s degree to educators who are already in the classroom but are not certified teachers. The program, which recently won a grant from the Office of the Governor, is already seeing success—the first cohort of participants, which graduates in a year, are making connections, getting leadership and teaching experience among Indigenous students and putting to use the culturally responsive content they’re learning.

NAU Review — A metaphorical hike through a national monument, celebrating I Love Yarn day with a craft and Fit it in a Minute with Laura Umphrey

by Community Contributor • October 12, 2023 • Comments Off

In 2009, NAU created the Southwest Virtual Museum, which put artifact exhibits, virtual tours and 3D imaging of the iconic prehistoric sites of northern Arizona online to allow anyone, anywhere to explore the art, history and lifestyles of the many Indigenous cultures of the U.S. Southwest. A grant from the National Park Service is funding the creation of a 3D model and virtual tour of one of the crown jewels of that prehistory—the Island Trail at Walnut Canyon National Monument, including the 9-Room Site, the largest and most intact site open to the public.

The NAU Review — A disability advocate living her best life, how NAU brings counseling to students and how to become a student regent

by Community Contributor • October 10, 2023 • Comments Off

You are valued’

For Allison Stenger, advocacy seems to come naturally—she petitioned her high school to ensure students could use accessible websites, she’s going into psychology to ensure she can help students with disabilities find resources and success, and she even adopted a one-eyed cat. It’s not always easy, though—Stenger is a graduate student living with mental illness who has been the target of discrimination and stigma simply because of who she is. For Disability Pride and Heritage Month, she talks about her advocacy work, how the NAU community has helped in her growth and shares stories of her stubborn, opinionated feline friend.

The NAU Review — Our 2023 Homecoming Dedicatee!, Inclusive Insights and NAU’s role in solutions to housing challenges

by Community Contributor • October 5, 2023 • Comments Off

On a quiet Tuesday morning, something special happened—the Office of Indigenous Student Success staff retreat was abruptly interrupted by a parade of cheering staff, students and media, there to name this year’s Homecoming Dedicatee: Sharon Singer Doctor. The director of Student Life Experience for Indigenous Student Success, Doctor has dedicated more than 29 years to NAU working in various departments on campus. As the Homecoming Dedicatee, she will participate in a number of events throughout the week of Homecoming, starting with a banquet held in her honor.

The NAU Review — What to know about NAU Health, Domestic Violence Awareness Month and getting to know Haida Tafolla

by Community Contributor • October 3, 2023 • Comments Off

On Friday, President Cruz Rivera announced the creation of NAU Health and its flagship project, a new College of Medicine focused on preparing primary care physicians to serve in rural and underserved regions of the state. Part of the Arizona Board of Regents’ AZ Healthy Tomorrow initiative, NAU’s College of Medicine is in direct response to the critical shortage of healthcare providers throughout the state. NARBHA Institute Vice President of NAU Health Julie Baldwin will lead the work, which also includes the creation of a College of Nursing and elevating health professions education in already established programs in the College of Health and Human Services. We know you have questions. Click the links below to learn more.

The NAU Review — Ever wondered what a red worm lizard looks like? + art classes for kids + expanding a legacy of broadcasting at NAU

by Community Contributor • September 28, 2023 • Comments Off

The secrets in a 240M-year-old tree of life

Squamates are among the most successful species on the planet. They’ve been evolving for 240 million years, including the mosasaurs of the Cretaceous Period and the lizards and snakes that populate Arizona—and the entirety of the planet—today, despite the extreme diversity of environments that exist. Biologist Marc Tollis is leading an NSF-funded project to sequence the complete DNA of 100 species in the Squamate order with the goal of uncovering what genes have contributed to their successful evolution.

The NAU Review — A new simulation lab, HR Professionals Day, video about Arizona’s water supply and a look back at NAU history

by Community Contributor • September 26, 2023 • Comments Off

A state-of-the-art simulation lab, including high-fidelity simulation manikins, is giving students in health care programs unparalleled learning experiences in their fields. The lab allows students to mimic patient care before they actually get into internships and work with real patients. The manikins recently were used in an athletic training exercise as well; dressed in football uniforms and set up in the Skydome, student athletic trainers put into practice techniques they may one day use on real players on the sidelines of a sporting events.

The NAU Review — NAU welcomes Flinn Scholar Michael-Anthony Rodriguez to Class of 2027

by Community Contributor • September 19, 2023 • Comments Off

Freshman Michael-Anthony Rodriguez might be a biology teacher. That’s his game plan for now, at least—he’s passionate about education and ensuring students from rural areas have access to the educational experiences that will help them succeed. But he’s at NAU to learn who he is as well, and the prestigious Flinn Scholarship will help him get there.

The NAU Review — ¡UnaNAU! Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, the importance of online education and a step toward carbon neutrality

by Community Contributor • September 15, 2023 • Comments Off

¡UnaNAU! Celebrate Hispanic, Latine
Heritage month

NAU strives to develop a strong, multicultural, driven community that values knowledge gained from many worldviews, combining thousands of efforts, working together to connect us all as OneNAU, or UnaNAU. Explore the events happening at NAU in the next month in celebration of these cultures and experience the richness and heritage of the Hispanic and Latine communities.

Schedule of events:

Sept. 15, 6-8 p.m.

Celebración de NAU: Union Pedway

Sept. 20, 6-8 p.m.

Unidos en Versos: IMQ Center

Sept. 23, Tailgate: 11a.m. / Game: 1p.m.

Hispanic/Latine Heritage Football Game & Tailgate: NAU Skydome

Sept. 27, 6-7:30 p.m.

Lotería Night with Transfer Jacks: IMQ Center

Oct. 5, 9-12 p.m.

Todos a Bailar: Ashurst Auditorium

See the full list of events online.

The NAU Review — Combating the climate crisis, recognizing two exceptional administrators and driving economic mobility

by Community Contributor • September 12, 2023 • Comments Off

ntroducing the Center for Braiding Indigenous Knowledges and Science
The Center for Braiding Indigenous Knowledges and Science (CBIKS)—a five-year, $30 million international Science and Technology Center funded by the National Science Foundation— will focus on connecting Indigenous knowledges with “western” sciences to address some of the more pressing issues affecting people worldwide. The center will work on complex, evolving challenges brought on by climate change, including dire impacts affecting land, water and plant and animal life; the danger posed to irreplaceable archaeological sites, sacred places and cultural heritage; and the challenges of changing food systems, all of which disproportionately affect Indigenous communities.

The NAU Review — How NAU is bolstering Arizona’s utilities, meet ASNAU President Maria Emilia Machelor and registering your Homecoming parade float

by Community Contributor • September 6, 2023 • Comments Off

Humans of NAU
with Maria Emilia Machelor

Machelor found ASNAU as a freshman. Now a senior—and president—she talks about how she got involved (and how you can too!), how travel continues to define her life and what she has in common with the blue macaw.
Read the Q&A

The NAU Review — NAU students plant a flag in Belize, Notes from the President and Camp Chit-Chat

by Community Contributor • August 31, 2023 • Comments Off

This summer, a dozen NAU students went to Belize to do research. It’s called Jungle Boot Camp, and Jut Wynne takes a group down every summer. But this group was special. A well-worn flag joined the group—it’s the flag of the Explorers Club, which has gone to the top and bottom of the world, into space and all over, marking expeditions that contribute to our knowledge of the world in which we live. Learn more about the research Wynne and his students conducted in this tiny Central American country that is rich in biodiversity.

The NAU Review — Welcome back, Jacks! Meet the new VP of inclusive excellence and discover some surprising good news about biodiversity

by Community Contributor • August 29, 2023 • Comments Off

President Cruz Rivera welcomed students to campus in his annual first-day-of-class video message yesterday, and although Monday was the first day of school at NAU throughout Arizona and online, the Flagstaff campus has been humming with activity for a week as students moved into residence halls, got to know their classmates at Welcome Week activities, went to their first sporting events and donned blue and gold T-shirts for the Class of 2027’s Letters photo. It’s an especially exciting time at NAU, as the implementation of Access2Excellence has contributed to the most diverse, most accomplished and most Arizonan class NAU has ever welcomed. Take a look at the numbers for this class of Lumberjacks and find yourself and your friends in photos.

The NAU Review — Recapping the University Convocation, an inside look at the diamond industry, space research and why we should be concerned for future rainforests

by Community Contributor • August 23, 2023 • Comments Off

In the annual University Convocation, President Cruz Rivera reflected on NAU’s long history of championing student access and success, welcomed new faculty to campus, shared highlights from last year and set some big goals for the future, anchored by a bold challenge to structure and prioritize work across the university to improve retention, persistence and graduation to facilitate students’ academic momentum. Students should also keep an eye on the course catalog for the spring—Cruz Rivera announced that he’d be teaching a class.

The NAU Review — An all-out effort to respond to wildfires, getting to know SAC president McKenzie McLoughlin and Lumberjack night at the Diamondbacks

by Community Contributor • August 16, 2023 • Comments Off

NAU gets $5M grant to fund new wildfire initiative

The Arizona Wildfire Initiative is an all-hands-on-deck effort to deal with wildfires through a multipronged approach: more and better trained forest and fire managers; intentional forest management to reduce the risk of destructive wildfires; ensuring people on the ground have the knowledge they need to handle the increasing number and severity of wildfires as the West dries out and heats up; and building fire-resilient communities throughout Arizona. This innovative project is funded by the Office of the Governor.

NAU conducting bilingual survey on wildfire, post-fire flooding information

by Community Contributor • August 14, 2023 • Comments Off

FLAGSTAFF — Northern Arizona University is conducting a study to better understand the Greater Flagstaff-area residents’ experiences and opinions of wildfire and/or post-fire flooding information. We are trying to reach as many community members as possible to understand similarities and differences experienced by different neighborhoods, demographics, and home ownerships (e.g., renter, homeowner) to inform future wildfire and flooding information and serve the diversity of people who live in the Flagstaff area.

The NAU Review — ‘Lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic’ and more news, events

by Community Contributor • August 2, 2023 • Comments Off

To combat pathogens like Zika, Ebola or the virus that causes COVID-19, we have to know how they work. One of the most effective ways of figuring that out is genomic sequencing, which allows scientists to break down the pathogen’s DNA or RNA. During the pandemic, use of this tool increased exponentially, with it playing a critical role in everything from tracking the virus’ movement to developing effective vaccines. In an essay published this week, biologists Jason Ladner and Jason Sahl argue that scientists, public health officials and policymakers worldwide must build on this momentum so society is better prepared for the next pandemic.

The NAU Review — Meet NAU’s Fulbright Scholar, Humans of NAU with Patty Diaz and a new faculty fellowship

by Community Contributor • July 26, 2023 • Comments Off

Faculty fellowship supports Hispanic community

The Dr. Richard D. Young Hispanic & Emerging Communities Faculty Fellowship will advance NAU’s designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and support research on the emerging Hispanic community in Arizona.
Read the story

The NAU Review — ASA space laser answers mystery, health equity for Indigenous people, NAU volunteers and student wins Boren scholarship

by Community Contributor • July 19, 2023 • Comments Off

NASA space laser reveals rainforest mystery

We know less about the rainforest canopy, where most of the world’s species live than we do about the surface of Mars or the bottom of the ocean. However, that is about to change thanks to GEDI—a laser aboard the International Space Station that has provided a detailed structure of the world’s rainforests for the first time. Christopher Doughty and researchers throughout the world are using the 3D map to understand the amounts of biomass and carbon forests store and how much they lose when disturbed—vital information for understanding Earth’s carbon cycle and how it is changing.

The NAU Review — Meet NAU’s 2023 Udall Scholar and the Dorrance Scholars cohort and science writer Melissa Sevigny talks about her new book

by Community Contributor • July 12, 2023 • Comments Off

Rebekah McNiel, a business management and modern languages double major, received the prestigious Udall Scholarship for Native American Initiatives in 2023. McNiel, a member of the Honors College, is passionate about change through education and Native American leadership. With long-term goals to positively impact the Navajo Nation, McNiel is committed to learning from other cultures and studying sustainable business practices. Her remarkable journey, from reconnecting with her Navajo heritage to engaging in community service and pursuing transformative experiences abroad, has shaped her character and perspective.

The NAU Review — he problem with invasive species, getting to know our PBC librarian and a gathering of world-renowned astronomers

by Community Contributor • June 29, 2023 • Comments Off

NAU has been awarded a grant by the Department of Defense to conduct a five-year research project on the impact of invasive species on threatened and endangered plants. Principal investigator Clare Aslan and her team aim to understand the effects of invasive species on ecosystem structure and function, focusing on the Pöhakuloa Training Area in Hawaii. By identifying critical factors and developing control measures that will help resource managers in their conservation efforts, the project seeks to support the conservation efforts of endangered species and enhance our understanding of species persistence in threatened environments.

The NAU Review — Celebrating Juneteenth, Climb to Conquer Cancer, student’s Carnegie Hall premiere, summer concert series and Notes from the President

by Community Contributor • June 14, 2023 • Comments Off

Celebrating Juneteenth

Last year, 158 years after Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed all enslaved people, President Joe Biden deemed that day a national holiday, allowing the freedom of all U.S. citizens to officially be celebrated. This weekend, join in on a variety of events that honor the past, present and the hope for a more inclusive future.

The NAU Review — Happy Pride, Lumberjacks! Learn about the role of trees and arctic ground squirrels in climate change and upcoming roadwork on campus

by Community Contributor • June 7, 2023 • Comments Off

As the Arctic warms, arctic ground squirrels changing hibernation patterns

A unique long-term study, which NAU professor Loren Buck started more than two decades ago while doing his Ph.D. research in Alaska, helps us understand biological responses to climate shifts through the hibernation patterns of a cute little rodent. In the course of the 25-year study, researchers found that the female and male squirrels developed different hibernation periods over that time. The females “rise and shine” a little earlier in response to warming, which could have both positive and negative ripple effects throughout the food web in these ecosystems.

The NAU Review — An astronomical role model, two grad students step into game-changing research opportunities and True Blue Fridays are here!

by Community Contributor • May 18, 2023 • Comments Off

Malik Bossett discovered his love of science and astronomy all on his own and at an early age. As one of only a few people of color in his high school astronomy club, he realized his passion for science reached far beyond the stars, and he wanted to be the astronomy figure he never had—a Black one. He hopes to introduce kids of color to STEM fields at an early age and continue to diversify a notoriously white field of study.

The NAU Review — Recognize NAU’s Class of 2023 and more of its exceptional members in this commencement edition

by Community Contributor • May 11, 2023 • Comments Off

NAU will celebrate more than 5,200 graduates in four ceremonies May 12-13. The honorary doctorate recipients and commencement speakers are Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Arturo A. Massol-Deyá, executive director of Casa Pueblo; Ty White, the 2023 Arizona Education Foundation Teacher of the Year; and David P. Franke, a principal at Franke & Company. Check out the NAU Commencement website for information about traffic and parking, the clear bag policy and the new bot who can answer your questions this weekend.

The NAU Review — Grad becomes advocacy leader, scouts cook at NAU, a circuitous journey to graduation, extraterrestrial geology, Grad excited for medical school and elevating excellence

by Community Contributor • May 9, 2023 • Comments Off

Jessica Muniz was inspired by her upbringing to pursue a career allowing her to help others. From immigrating to the U.S. at the age of five to organizing awareness fairs for the LGBTQ+ community, Muniz learned that having access to all types of resources can make a significant impact on someone’s life. Now, Muniz is set to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in social work and pursue a master’s at Arizona State University.

The NAU Review — Grad becomes sustainability star, FUSD middle schoolers visit NAU, an epic journey to graduation and NAU’s first In Memoriam

by Community Contributor • May 4, 2023 • Comments Off

Sophia Swainson was working as a server when she got a text message that changed her life—a job posting for a student worker position at NAU’s Office of Sustainability. It was a big change, but she took it and never looked back. As she prepares to graduate, she’s looking at jobs in the sustainability nonprofit sector, confident that the perseverance that got her through the challenges of college will help her as she takes on conservation.

The NAU Review — How dog fostering affected one grad’s future, a system that tracks tree stress and a graduate prepares for a career in inclusion

by Community Contributor • May 2, 2023 • Comments Off

Senior Trevor Geiger is a passionate animal lover who has fostered four dogs through High Country Humane Society. Despite challenges, he persevered with patience and empathy, successfully helping dogs find furever homes while pursuing his studies in biology and chemistry. He finds joy in seeing the progress and transformation of dogs in his care, and his heartwarming experiences with fostering have brought him happiness even when it meant later nights and earlier mornings. For National Pet Foster Care Month, learn more about Geiger’s dedication to animals and his future strengthening the human-animal bond as a veterinarian.

The NAU Review — Discover the Undergrad Symposium, learn about the creator of ‘Lost World’ and how climate warming alters forests’ memory

by Community Contributor • April 25, 2023 • Comments Off

Every year, hundreds of undergraduate students in all disciplines become researchers—either joining a professor’s lab or creating their own research project, including getting their own funding. That work culminates at the Undergrad Symposium, a daylong event in which students present their research to the NAU and Flagstaff communities. Experience the 15th annual symposium on Friday at the High Country Conference Center. All events are free and open to the public.

The NAU Review — Celebrating Earth Day and Autism Awareness Month, a mission to Mars’ moons and everything you didn’t know about Eid al Fitr

by Community Contributor • April 20, 2023 • Comments Off

A resilient forest needs a little less tension
We know how hard winter was for us. How was it for the trees? How do our forests and their complicated, interconnected, life-giving ecosystems react to the sun, the wind, the drought, the rain, the cold? For Earth Day, creative writing professor Nicole Walker, who authored Sustainability: A Love Story and dozens of articles and essays on nature, reflects on the complicated relationships that exist in a forest ecosystem and how the smallest processes and organisms keep the largest trees—and all the rest of us—alive.

The NAU Review — octoral student wins NSF fellowship, International Haiku Day, 10 ways to get involved with sustainability and Janine Schipper answers our questions

by Community Contributor • April 18, 2023 • Comments Off

Anna Baker has always known she wanted to be a scientist. She came to NAU in 2021 to earn her doctorate in planetary science and dove into new research on Mars’ windblown sand dunes, which may hold clues to the planet’s past and present and help pave the way for more exploration of Earth’s closest neighbor. But it wasn’t just her passion for science that earned her the Graduate Research Fellowship Program award—her commitment to improving inclusivity and accessibility in STEM fields, particularly making field research accessible to people with disabilities, is an important part of her work.

The NAU Review — How a Chinese American student embraces her heritage, a record-breaking Giving Day and getting to know our GSG president

by Community Contributor • April 13, 2023 • Comments Off

Growing up in a mostly white community, Cate Cameron was almost a teenager before she truly felt curious about her Chinese heritage; not until she was around people with similar backgrounds did she feel comfortable exploring her roots as an adopted Chinese American. That journey continued in Flagstaff; during her four years at NAU, she found a community and learned more about her birth culture. In honor of Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, which NAU celebrates in April, Cameron talks about how she first explored and then embraced her Chinese heritage through Chinese language classes, the Chinese Culture Club at NAU and spending a year studying abroad in Hong Kong.

The NAU Review — NAU’s new recycling program, Notes from the President and a look at the People’s Art Project

by Community Contributor • April 6, 2023 • Comments Off

Introducing the 4 Rs of recycling: Recycle right, reap rewards

NAU is revamping its sustainability efforts with a new recycling program intended to increase recycling rates while decreasing landfill waste. The bin system is getting an upgrade, making it easier for everyone to know where to put which materials. Funding from the Green Fund, including new waste sensors, will allow the team to track how much waste is generated on campus to analyze and ensure effectiveness. The team hopes to encourage everyone to recycle correctly and reduce our environmental footprint. This program will enable us to do our part and be recycling superheroes!

The NAU Review — Celebrating Asian and Pacific Islander heritage, Living Library inspires empathy, protection from Earth’s microbes and easy DIY

by Community Contributor • April 4, 2023 • Comments Off

Celebrating Asian and Pacific Islander heritage
Join the NAU community in celebrating API Heritage Month! Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is typically celebrated in May to commemorate the achievements and contributions of people of Asian and Pacific Islander descent in the United States. However, in order to students a chance to participate, NAU celebrates API Heritage Month during the month of April. Learn about different cultures, try new foods and enjoy traditional dances and songs. Join the festivities, gain a cultural understanding and show your support for the vibrant API community!

The NAU Review — Protecting global supply chains, a marathoner’s Olympic dreams and a modern twist on Mozart

by Community Contributor • March 30, 2023 • Comments Off

We all remember the empty shelves that marked the early days of the pandemic and the high fuel prices that accompanied the war in Ukraine. Access to food, water, energy and other supply chains is critical for the U.S. economy and the well-being of the American people, yet the infrastructure that keeps the supply chain moving is at risk—not only from world events but also from hackers or terrorists. NAU is building on its FEW-Viewtechnology, a groundbreaking project that maps the entire U.S. supply chain, to reduce these risks through data science and technology.

The NAU Review — Celebrating HSI and inclusion work, Indigenous Youth Media Workshop and Rima Brusi answers our questions

by Community Contributor • March 24, 2023 • Comments Off

Creating inclusive spaces: policing and education at NAU
Luis A. Fernandez, professor and chair of the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, is also the Hispanic-Serving Institution Advisor to the Provost at NAU currently researching the impact of the Black Lives Matter movement on policing and how to create a more balanced approach to community safety while working to support Latinx students and increase their access to education. Fernandez aims to create inclusive spaces that promote safety, inclusivity and opportunity for all students.

NAU announces Hispanic Serving Institute Updates and coming events March 22, 24, 31

by Community Contributor • March 17, 2023 • Comments Off

ENCUENTRO NAU: A Symposium, a Teach-in, and a Celebration of Latinidad! will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 22 at the Du Bois Center.

We will have a full day of panels in the Du Bois Center (with a light breakfast and lunch provided). NAU President Cruz Rivera will kick off the day at 9 a.m.

Click here to see the schedule

The NAU Review — Our women influencers, Pi day reflections, using degrees to help those in need and an All-Steinway School designation

by Community Contributor • March 9, 2023 • Comments Off

The women who shaped us
March 8 is International Women’s Day, and it has been a global celebration since 1911, recognizing the many contributions women have made to society. To honor the day, The NAU Review asked the women of NAU to reflect on a historical female figure who inspired them. From trailblazers like Ruth Bader Ginsburg and visionary writers like Octavia Butler to other figures with whom you may not be familiar—this is a list you don’t want to miss. And despite their different influences, these historical figures all have one thing in common—they fully embody and represent the month’s themes, whether it be environmental consciousness, cultural influences, equal representation, self-identity or equity. Their stories remind us that we’re all in this together, fighting for gender equality and celebrating the countless ways women have shaped our world.

Read the story

The NAU Review — Research using NASA’s ECOSTRESS, tracking indigenous plants and Arizona’s new flat tax explained

by Community Contributor • March 7, 2023 • Comments Off

NAU has received a $600,000 grant from NASA for a three-year project led by Teki Sankey to study the impact of forest restoration treatments on drought resilience in Arizona’s forests using NASA’s ECOSTRESS satellite. The team of researchers will focus on Arizona’s forests including Ponderosa pines and will validate their findings with field measurements of canopy and soil moisture. The project aims to determine if forest treatments result in water benefits for the entire ecosystem and will advance the development of satellite-based remote sensing methods for rapid detection of drought stress in vegetation.

The NAU Review — DART=success!, Hip Hop National Champions, expanding nursing and celebrating Women’s History Month

by Community Contributor • March 2, 2023 • Comments Off

Remember DART, NASA’s attempt to redirect an asteroid? Results are in. It worked.
After ramming a spacecraft into a small asteroid last fall, researchers knew almost immediately that the mission had worked—that the impact changed the asteroid’s orbit. A new study authored by Cristina Thomas found that the orbit changed by a whopping 33 minutes, suggesting that the momentum of the ejected material was a significant contributor to the change. The study is published in Nature alongside three other articles detailing findings from this groundbreaking NASA mission.

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