Human trafficking at major events

January 23, 2017

The Super Bowl, which this year takes place on Feb. 5 in Houston, is likely to refocus attention on the association of human trafficking with major sporting and other large events. The FBI said Thursday it is, as in past years, preparing to combat human trafficking that may surface in connection with the Super Bowl. […]


Law and philosophy at Sundance Film Festival

January 23, 2017

Leslie Francis, a professor at the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law, will be reporting from the Sundance Film Festival from the lens of her academic expertise in law and philosophy. She’ll attend about 25 films at the festival from Jan.19-29, where she’ll pen reviews for Philosophy Talk, a blog and weekly radio show based […]


U researchers win UTAG grants

January 21, 2017

University of Utah researchers have won six of the 20 University Technology Acceleration Grants (UTAG), a program that provides crucial funds to accelerate university-developed technologies from the idea stage to the market. The group is the first round of UTAG winners, funded by the Utah Science Technology and Research (USTAR) initiative. Among the U’s winners […]


Air quality experts: Student air quality projects

January 9, 2017

Emerson Andrews emerson.andrews@utah.edu 801-581-7510 The student-funded Sustainable Campus Initiative Fund (SCIF) has been a catalyst for many student-led projects concerned with air quality, and each effort comes with its own approach, methods and goals. The University Air Quality Monitoring center used SCIF funding to capture and share real-time air quality data with the hopes of better […]


Air quality experts: Economics

January 9, 2017

Eric Sjoberg (Economics) eric.sjoberg@economics.utah.edu Eric Sjoberg is an assistant professor of economics. Sjoberg and graduate student Derek Hackmann published a study in the journal Air Quality, Atmosphere and Health in June 2016 that found cumulative exposure to fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) during the first trimester of pregnancy reduces gestational age and increases the risk […]


Air quality experts: Science and Engineering

January 9, 2017

Kerry Kelly (Chemical Engineering) Kerry.Kelly@utah.edu 801-587-7601 Kerry Kelly is associate director of the Program for Air Quality, Health, and Society and a research assistant professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Institute for Clean and Secure Energy at the University of Utah. She is also a professional engineer and member of the State Air […]


Air quality experts: Health Sciences

January 9, 2017

Robert Paine (Pulmonary Medicine) Robert.Paine@hsc.utah.edu 801-581-7806 Robert Paine is a pulmonary scientist with over 20 years of federal support for his basic and clinical research activities. He serves as director of the Program for Air Quality, Health and Society and can speak to many issues related to poor air quality and effects on health. He is currently […]


Avalanche safety

December 16, 2016

Avalanches pose significant threats to skiers, snowboarders, snowmobilers and snowshoers. Avalanches have killed 114 people in Utah since the winter of 1939, including 50 since 2000. According to Nate Furman, assistant professor in the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, most of these accidents are avoidable if outdoor enthusiasts make decisions to reduce their exposure […]


Climate among Earth scientists

December 16, 2016

The 2016 Fall Meeting of the American Geophysical Union, held this past week in San Francisco, was the largest gathering of earth scientists since the November election. Concerned about the future of climate research and government scientific funding, attendees heard from current Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and California governor Jerry Brown, and participated […]


Holiday lights + Inversion = An astronomer’s worst nightmare

December 16, 2016

Holiday lights may bring festive cheer for neighborhoods, but they also bring increased levels of light pollution. Salt Lake City already has a light pollution problem and unlike normal city nights in which businesses and homes flip the switch around midnight, Christmas lights shine bright colors from thousands of points skyward all night long. Additionally, […]