“Missing Voices: Diversifying the News,” a collaborative social hackathon focusing on improving the lack of diversity in newsrooms and news coverage, will begin on Friday (Oct. 26) at West Virginia University. The event joins students from WVU’s Reed College of Media, Brigham Young University and Morgan State University—three schools separated by race, religion and geography but united in a commitment to bridge those divides.
As temperatures across the Mountain State drop, many insect pests seek shelter indoors, including one common visitor – the brown marmorated stink bug. Though it is a nuisance to homeowners, according to West Virginia University Extension Service insect expert Daniel Frank, this pest won’t harm you and is easily managed with a few simple control methods.
Female involvement in West Virginia’s agriculture industry continues to expand, and each year, West Virginia University Extension Service serves this growing population through the West Virginia Women in Agriculture Conference.
Although frequent rain may be good for growing grass, it can also mute the expected brilliant hues of trees as the season changes. According to two West Virginia University experts, heavy precipitation and warmer temperatures are responsible for the lack of colors seen this fall.
The Thursday (Oct. 18) lecture will detail Paul Cassak’s work on a phenomenon called magnetic reconnection, which drives solar flares in the Sun’s atmosphere, leads to auroral light displays and space weather at Earth and spoils confinement in fusion devices.
The West Virginia University Collegiate Horsemen’s Association will host Halloween with the Horses from 5-7 p.m. Oct. 27, at the J.W. Ruby Research Farm in Reedsville. Families and children of all ages are invited to visit the farm, meet the horses that make up WVU’s teaching herd, and trick-or-treat their way through the barn. The horses will be dressed in costume - and kids are encouraged to do the same.
WVU’s Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources will host hundreds of elementary, middle and high school teams from across the state and region for the 31st annual Pumpkin Drop. The competition aims to teach engineering concepts by designing an enclosure with the ability to protect pumpkins from damage when dropped from the roof of a building.
As the second hurricane in a month makes landfall along the U.S. coast, West Virginia University experts are available to discuss how climate, sea level and land-use changes affect flooding in coastal watersheds, as well as the vulnerability and resilience of communities devastated by large-scale disasters.
This event will teach attendees about verification and fact checking, safety and security, data journalism and journalism ethics. Hear from visiting professor Mike Reilly, a former LA Times reporter, and Samantha Sunne, who runs a journalism tech group called Hacks/Hackers.
WVU President Gordon Gee will deliver a State of the University address Monday (Oct. 8) at 3:15 p.m. at the Ruby Grand Hall, Erickson Alumni Center.