infostations

West Virginia University College of Creative Arts today (Feb. 4) launched a statewide musical talent competition in an effort to promote the arts in the Mountain State.

Students in the John Chambers College of Business and Economics at West Virginia University now have one place to get supplemental tutoring for intensive classes, help in writing and speaking skills that will bolster achievement and assistance in getting ready for the job they want.

A field trip to Namibia to study volcanic rocks led to an unexpected discovery by West Virginia University geologists Graham Andrews and Sarah Brown. While exploring the desert country in southern Africa, they stumbled upon a peculiar land formation—flat desert scattered with hundreds of long, steep hills. They quickly realized the bumpy landscape was shaped by drumlins, a type of hill often found in places once covered in glaciers, an abnormal characteristic for desert landscapes.

West Virginia will see bitterly cold weather in the next couple of days. Temperatures will dip to single digits with negative wind chill factors predicted in some areas. West Virginia University officials urge students, faculty and staff to be prepared to avoid the dangers of frostbite and hypothermia. These conditions can occur in a matter of minutes.

Merry Ann Nehlen, 82, wife of Hall of Fame coach Don Nehlen, passed away peacefully at home Jan. 28 surrounded by family following a long battle with Alzheimer's disease.

Karissa Bjorkgren, a second-year student in the Master of Social Work and Master of Public Administration programs at West Virginia University, is dedicated to addressing mental health in rural communities. A native of Franklin, Bjorkgren has experienced first-hand how infrequently rural communities in West Virginia address mental health concerns. She hopes her research will help overcome this disparity.

Jordon Masters, founder of Micro Genesis, has spent the last two-and-a-half years prototyping equipment, developing a custom network of sensor technology and building his own software tools, all to help him – and eventually other small producers – quickly and consistently grow a variety of unique, petite leafy crops year-round, including microgreens, baby greens, herbs and newly added, romaine lettuce.

Yanfang (Fanny) Ye, assistant professor of computer science and electrical engineering at West Virginia University, has been awarded a grant from the National Institute of Justice in support of her work to develop novel artificial intelligence techniques to combat the opioid epidemic and trafficking. The award comes with about $1 million in funding over a three-year period.

Recognizing the continuing partial government shutdown – and the resulting missed paychecks for some federal employees – may be threatening students’ ability to meet financial obligations, West Virginia University has joined many other institutions offering assistance to those affected.

A large searchlight strategically placed in front of the Mountainlair each Friday and Saturday night draws attention to a re-energized WVUp All Night, West Virginia University’s alcohol-free weekend program, where students can watch movies, create a craft and win money.