Viral proteins join forces to lower plants’ defense ‘shields’
New research into how viral proteins interact and can be disabled holds promise to help plants defend themselves against viruses—and ultimately prevent crop losses.
Campus & Community
School of Hospitality Business Management hosts week of hospitality events
The school will kick off its annual Hospitality Week Tuesday, March 8, featuring a lineup of events open to the public, including the Bellhop and celebration of new inductees into the SHBM Hall of Fame.
WSU’s nuclear reactor pool gets a new coat
The tank that holds the research nuclear reactor will soon be coated with a new, flexible epoxy lining without the reactor ever having to leave its watery home on the Pullman campus.
Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Natalie Diaz to give reading Feb. 9
Diaz’s poem, “American Arithmetic,” is featured in this year’s common reading book, “Tales of Two Americas: Stories of Inequality in a Divided Nation.” She will give a reading at 6 p.m. via YouTube Live.
Honoring the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr.
Washington State University is hosting programs and activities throughout the month and in to early February.
Science & Technology
Murdock grant funds digital infrastructure
A research team has received an MJ Murdock Charitable Trust grant to develop a market-ready wireless receiver for data communications systems.
High protein diets could harm polar bears, shorten lifespans
A high protein diet appears linked to kidney disease and shortened lifespans for captive polar bears, a relationship similarly suspected in humans, according to a paper led by a WSU wildlife biologist.
Undergraduate researchers tackle important questions in sciences, humanities
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions, relieving chronic pain, understanding protest behavior, and conserving wildlife are among the goals of eight faculty-mentored undergraduate research projects.
3D printing for materials innovation
WSU researchers provide a roadmap for industry and academics to use 3D printing to design new alloys.
Trending News
Comedian Betty White named honorary WSU alumna
University leaders look ahead to in‑person Spring 2022 semester
Benefits & Training
Employee Assistance Program: ‘Strategies for Stress Management’
This is a special offering from the Washington State Employee Assistance Program. We all experience stress from time to time. Some of it is “good” and some we call “bad”. Most of us could benefit from adopting effective strategies for managing the stress that comes our way. During this presentation, we will: Explore what stress […]
Pre-retirement seminar
Are you considering retiring? Join a pre-retirement seminar to assist you in your planning. Topics include: Retiree Medical, Dental, and Life Insurance Enrollment Processes; Medicare and Social Security; Voluntary Employee’s Benefit Association Medical Expense Plan (VEBA MEP); Annual Leave Payment; Voluntary Investment Programs; Retirement Income, and; Retirement Supplementation for WSURP participants. These seminars are open […]
University Affairs
Regents name planned indoor sports complex after generous supporters
The Washington State University Board of Regents unanimously voted to name the Pullman campus’ long-awaited indoor sports complex in honor of donors Scott and Lisa Taylor.
Hentges to chair WSU’s neuroscience program
Shane Hentges has been a professor for the past 14 years at Colorado State University. She takes over for Steve Simasko, who has chaired the program since 2008.
WSU announces modified operations for spring semester
While WSU remains committed to a robust in-person experience this fall, some temporary changes to operations are being made in the interest of public health.
WSU Board of Regents hosts first meetings of the year Jan. 20–21
Committee meetings as well as Friday’s Board of Regents meeting will be broadcast online for those wishing to observe the proceedings.
Arts & Culture
Art in the Library exhibit features digital artwork of third‑year vet student
Winnie Mefford’s digital art portraits offer her friends and classmates another perspective of their pets and a chance to remember them.
WSU Schnitzer Museum announces ‘Indie Folk: New Art and Sounds from the Pacific Northwest’
The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art at Washington State University reopens Tuesday, Jan. 18 for the spring semester with the new exhibition.
WSU art featured in new Spokane sports complex
The installation consists of 11 pod‑like pieces made of salvaged Western cedar. On the inside, the pods are painted different colors and illuminated with LED lights in the evening.
Student-created identity stories air on community radio and online
From humorous to tender and scary to profound, the collected stories provide intimate glimpses into people’s actual lives and reflect that nonfiction doesn’t have to be dry or presented as documentary to be effective.
Politics & Society
WSU’s cannabis research center names new leaders
The new director of the Center for Cannabis Policy, Research, and Outreach, David Gang, and the new assistant director, Tracy Klein, have complementary expertise in plant biochemistry and human health.
Outreach program aims to recruit future physicians
A Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine mentorship program intended to inspire students to enter health sciences careers will enroll 155 new junior and high school students from Stevens County this year.
Air pollution from wildfires, rising heat affected 68% of U.S. West
Large wildfires and severe heat events are happening more often at the same time, worsening air pollution across the western U.S., a study led by WSU researchers has found.
Analysis: No systematic agency bias in Washington State Patrol traffic stops
WSU researchers analyzed data on more than 7 million trooper contacts over a five‑year period, including more than 3.4 million traffic stops, 47,000 calls for service, and 175,000 collisions.
Health & Medicine
How does COVID‑19 affect our household pets?
As the COVID‑19 omicron variant continues to spread, some pet owners may be wondering how the virus will affect their favorite furry friend. The fictional feline Dr. Universe discusses the topic in this recent piece.
Respiratory viruses that hijack immune mechanisms may have Achilles’ heel
One viral protein could provide information to deter pneumonia causing the body’s exaggerated inflammatory response to respiratory viruses, including the virus that causes COVID‑19.
Workplace adjustments could be the answer to nurses’ burnout
New WSU research shows following mandatory nurse-to-patient ratios, increased nurse autonomy, and the end of mandatory overtime are all potential solutions to addressing burnout.
WSU partnership addresses vaccine hesitancy
Faculty from the Murrow College of Communication, WSU Extension, and the College of Education will lead engagement efforts to reduce vaccine hesitancy in rural and underserved communities with a nationwide initiative.
Veterinary Medicine
Grants to improve animal disease detection
The grants will help WSU scientists at Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory implement a new notification system that will alert local, state, and federal agencies of testing results more efficiently and quickly.
WSU to offer reproductive medicine and surgery for dogs and cats
A new specialty service at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital will help ensure certain genetic disorders aren’t passed onto future generations of animals.
Aspen’s Fund to make giant impact for pets
The death of their beloved cat Aspen inspired Tim Ma and Melissa Greenough to establish a new fund at WSU to help pet owners pay for treatments for their animals they otherwise couldn’t afford.
Students continue emergency care for wildlife
As the demand for WSU’s care for client-owned animals continues to increase, veterinary students will now be on call at all hours to intake wildlife.
Food & Agriculture
Viral proteins join forces to lower plants’ defense ‘shields’
New research into how viral proteins interact and can be disabled holds promise to help plants defend themselves against viruses—and ultimately prevent crop losses.
Hazelnut shells get new life as strong, sustainable panels
Scientist Vikram Yadama has found a new way to upcyle leftover hazelnut shells into durable panels for cabinets, tables, and other products.
Block grant to support affordable testing to fight Little Cherry Disease
The new three‑year, $530,000 grant will help to expand testing capacity at WSU’s Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab in Pullman.
Bee center filling up, honey extractor moves in
Honey will soon be made at WSU’s Honey Bee & Pollinator Research, Extension, and Education Facility in Othello after a large equipment move.
Business & Economics
School of Hospitality Business Management hosts week of hospitality events
The school will kick off its annual Hospitality Week Tuesday, March 8, featuring a lineup of events open to the public, including the Bellhop and celebration of new inductees into the SHBM Hall of Fame.
Not everybody hates looking at themselves on Zoom
People low in the trait of public self-consciousness tended to have more positive attitudes toward virtual meetings the more often their own faces were visible to them, according to a WSU study.
Masks level playing field for hospitality workers
While attractive hospitality workers typically earn higher customer service scores than their peers, wearing face masks—a practice widely adopted during the COVID‑19 pandemic—levels the playing field, a new study says.
WSU Tri‑Cities launches new Entrepreneurs in Residence program
Through the program, students will have the option to meet with entrepreneurs to receive free advice and coaching as well as networking connections to industry for potential partnerships.
Reports & Updates
WSU experiencing anticipated surge in COVID‑19 cases
We are asking each of you to do your part to help keep our communities healthy.
A message from Kirk and Noel Schulz
Spring is a time to move forward with important changes, including those arising as part of the continued growth and evolution of WSU as a statewide system.
Thank you, Cougs!
Congratulations on a successful fall 2021 semester.
Light posting ahead for WSU Insider
The last day for regular daily posting to the website for the remainder of the year—including WSU Announcements—will be Friday, Dec. 17, ahead of the holiday and reduced operations schedule the following week.
Awards & Achievements
WSU Global Campus ranked among nation’s best online degrees
Four additional online WSU programs also made the annual rankings by U.S. News & World Report.
Two WSU students receive State Department scholarships for study abroad
Zenna Glaser and Claudia B. Jacobo have been awarded the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, which is designed to help American students gain proficiency in diverse languages.
WSU graduate student wins Science Coalition student video challenge
Soil sciences graduate student Molly McIlquham took first place in the graduate student category of The Science Coalition’s third‑annual Fund It Forward Student Video Challenge.
Nursing student selected for mountain rescue team at Olympics
Longtime ski patroller and soon-to-be Coug nurse Daniel Voltz will leave for China on Jan. 20 to be part of the Mountain Rescue Service for the XXIV Olympic Winter Games in Beijing.