Often maligned and largely misunderstood throughout history, bats have more recently been recognized for the important role they play in ecosystems all over the world, pollinating flowers, dispersing seeds and controlling pests by eating insects.
But many North American species are now threatened by white-nose syndrome (WNS), a deadly fungal disease affecting millions of bats, primarily in the eastern US. The Ecology and… Read more
Biologists and ecologists monitor wildlife to learn more about their behaviors, but tracking small creatures can be challenging, time-consuming and costly. Through a National Science Foundation grant, a multidisciplinary team at Northern Arizona University—led by Michael Shafer, associate professor of mechanical engineering; Carol Chambers, professor of wildlife ecology; and Paul Flikkema, professor of electrical engineering—has developed technology… Read more
As the climate changes, extreme weather and flooding are intensifying and occurring more frequently worldwide. Scientists believe that by studying warming events in Earth’s past, they can better understand how the current warming trend is triggering other changes to the environment.
As part of a large, multidisciplinary study involving eight institutions and a multimillion-dollar National Science Foundation… Read more
For many Americans, having 24/7 access to fast, easy, affordable Internet connectivity is a ubiquitous part of daily life. Because Internet providers are not financially motivated to invest in the infrastructure required to provide access in remote, rural regions, however—especially for thousands of Indigenous people living on Tribal lands in the U.S. and Canada—Internet connectivity… Read more
Nov. 26, 2018
Indigenous people have the lowest rate of university enrollment and graduation rates of any group in the United States—and in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields, they represent only 0.5 percent of students nationwide. Professionals in STEM careers are underrepresented as well—Native Americans make up only 0.4 percent of the engineering workforce, according to the… Read more
This summer, associate professor Chad Woodruff and his colleagues concluded another successful Neuroscience of Compassion Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program. Sponsored by Northern Arizona University’s College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and Department of Psychological Sciences, the program trains eight students each summer how to conduct research into the cortical, physiological and psychosocial underpinnings of compassionate… Read more