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MORGANTOWN, W.Va.—When Alec Neu arrived at West Virginia University as a journalism major in 2013, he never expected to end up at NASA. Now, with a degree in journalism and work experience in Greece under his belt, Neu has his sights set on the sky as he returns to WVU for a second degree. Neu, a physics major, spent the summer at NASA conducting heliophysics research, which is all about how the sun affects the solar system. He was part of a team developing a new method for predicting coronal mass ejections’ effects on Earth, or large blasting events on the sun that release light and energy.

An unexpected path to discovery

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When Alec Neu arrived at West Virginia University as a journalism major in 2013, he never expected to end up at NASA. 

2019 Ruby Fellows

WVU names 2019 class of Ruby Fellows

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Seven students pursuing doctoral degrees at  West Virginia University are receiving funding through the Ruby Scholars Graduate Fellows Program. Lauryn Alexander, Heather Baldwin, Elaine Christman, John Hansen, Emily Hughes, Alyssa Stonebraker and Nicholas Winch have been named to the eighth class of fellows. 

Researchers at West Virginia University are helping universities nationwide overcome barriers to STEM faculty careers for women and underrepresented minorities. While there have been increases in the diversity of faculty positions, the share of women and underrepresented minority faculty is considerably less than their share in the U.S. population or in the number of undergraduate students enrolled in science, technology, engineering and math, according to the National Science Foundation. To address these challenges, ADVANCE Center Director Kasi Jackson and Center for Women’s and Gender Studies Director Sharon Bird are leading a research team in evaluating colleges and universities nationwide to make recommendations for equity reform and organizational change.

WVU project forges pathways for underrepresented faculty

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Researchers at West Virginia University are helping universities nationwide overcome barriers to STEM faculty careers for women and underrepresented minorities.

While marriage equality continues to be a big win for the LGBTQ movement since its passage in the U.S. in 2015, many activists are concerned about what’s next. Researchers from West Virginia University and the University of Kansas have spent the intervening years studying the young adults comprising the next generation of LGBTQ activists to understand their aspirations for the movement’s future.

WVU study investigates rural LGBTQ youth’s motivations for participating in activism

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While marriage equality continues to be a big win for the LGBTQ movement since its passage in the U.S. in 2015, many activists are concerned about what’s next.

The National Science Foundation has formally decided to keep open the Green Bank Observatory, a partner of West Virginia University and a key site for the University’s astronomy research. On Friday (July 26), the NSF signed a “Record of Decision” for the observatory, located in Green Bank in Pocahontas County, which acknowledges that the facility will remain open with respect to a plan that sees reduced funding from the federal agency but formed partnerships with new stakeholders. In recent years, the NSF have discussed divesting the facility.

Green Bank Observatory, site for breakthrough WVU research and teaching, to remain open

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The National Science Foundation has formally decided to keep open the Green Bank Observatory, a partner of West Virginia University and a key site for the University’s astronomy research.

WVU prepares rural students for STEM majors through new summer camp

WVU prepares rural students for STEM majors through new summer camp

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Nine first-year students arrived at West Virginia University last week to get a head start on their college experiences.

The Department of Physics and Astronomy at West Virginia University received a $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to fund the new Center for Kinetic Experiment, Theory and Integrated Computation (KINETIC) Physics.

WVU physicists receive $2 million for new plasma physics center

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The Department of Physics and Astronomy at West Virginia University received a $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to fund the new Center for Kinetic Experiment, Theory and Integrated Computation Physics.

This summer West Virginia 4-H campers learned about the first people to inhabit what is today the Mountain State. West Virginia University’s Native American Studies Program partnered with WVU Extension Service to host a Native American Eastern Woodland cultural expert at county 4-H camps in June.

West Virginia 4-H youth experience Eastern Woodland Indian traditions

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This summer West Virginia 4-H campers learned about the first people to inhabit what is today the Mountain State. 

How do we make ethical decisions? Some schools of thought in philosophy propose following a system of morals or beliefs. Existentialism, on the other hand, suggests every person has the freedom—and responsibility—to choose the most ethical way to live. This spirit steered all 15 presentations at the inaugural International Summer Conference in Continental Ethics, hosted at West Virginia University from June 19 to 22, 2019, and sponsored jointly by WVU’s Department of Philosophy and the Emmanuel Levinas Centre at the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences in Kaunas, Lithuania.

A philosophy that puts ethics into everyone's hands

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How do we make ethical decisions? 

As new West Virginia University Provost Maryanne Reed steps into her role this week, she has announced several appointments in the Office of the Provost that speak to her commitment to establishing a dynamic leadership team that proactively addresses critical institutional needs. Effective immediately, Reed said, Melissa Latimer will serve as associate provost for faculty development and culture, a new position designed to support and develop faculty and to prepare them for leadership roles. Evan Widders will serve as associate provost for undergraduate education and will lead both retention efforts and the development of new academic programs. Lou Slimak will serve as assistant provost for curriculum, assessment and accreditation.

WVU provost announces strategic leadership roles to better serve faculty and students

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As new  West Virginia University Provost Maryanne Reed steps into her role this week, she has announced several appointments in the  Office of the Provost that speak to her commitment to establishing a dynamic leadership team that proactively addresses critical institutional needs.