Despite longwall mining being an efficient way of extracting coal, it produces dangerous methane gas that has the potential to lead to explosions in underground mines. Researchers from West Virginia University are combatting this issue by developing an improved methane monitoring network to increase the safety of longwall mines.
A $25 million gift to West Virginia University from Intuit executive Brad Smith and his wife, Alys, will fund innovative new programs to ignite West Virginia’s economy, develop world-class recreational infrastructure and expand outdoor educational opportunities.
Though it makes up roughly 70 percent of the universe, dark energy is one of the greatest cosmological discoveries that is the least understood among scientists. A new project led by West Virginia University researcher Kevin Bandura will help scientists understand the nature of dark energy by mapping out the distribution of matter throughout the universe.
A three-year collaborative project to develop a new low-cost process to convert the natural gas that is commonly flared at industrial sites could benefit a number of industrial sectors including the carbon fiber industry, carbon composite, electronics, electrical arc steel making, polymer additives and many others, all while having a positive effect on the economy and environment.
Three West Virginia University alumni will teach English abroad next year after being awarded the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship, allowing them to develop cross-cultural competency, as well as skills to further their career goals.
West Virginia University engineer Arvind Thiruvengadam, an assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering in the Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, said the uncertainty in maintenance and labor costs for heavy-duty vehicles like 18-wheelers prevents fleets from considering changing gears to alternative fuels.
“We Are Stronger Together,” a special fundraising initiative launched by the WVU Foundation, is providing nearly $80,000 in scholarship support for students in need. Contributions to the ongoing effort assist WVU students affected by the pandemic with tuition, room and board, and other educational expenses
With the target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from natural gas production sites, engineers at West Virginia University are developing new technology that will not only harness the gas but improve gas consumption.
Three students pursuing doctoral degrees at West Virginia University are receiving funding through the Ruby Scholars Graduate Fellows Program. Jared Beard, Evan Cramer and Kinsey Reed are this year’s Ruby Fellows.
As faculty and instructors begin to reimagine and restructure their course delivery in the wake of COVID-19, the West Virginia University Teaching and Learning Commons’ Fall Hybrid Teaching Institute stands ready to assist. Through course planning, contingency preparedness and one-on-one assistance, the TLC is sharing its most reliable tools and strategies for a successful Fall semester.