Community Edition - Jan. 8, 2023
A look back at 2022 shows a community that leaned into national and international events. Buffs finally got to resume one of the campus's most joyous traditions in person: commencement. The community rallied together around Marshall Fire survivors; adopted a land acknowledgement; set itself on the global stage on climate change and human rights; and much more.
In Focus
10 stories of exploration and discovery you may have missed in 2022
Kick back with a blanket and a mug of hot cocoa to remember a year of groundbreaking science at CU Boulder—and reflect on what lies in store for 2023.
One Year Later
Healing from the embers of the Marshall Fire
The one-year anniversary of the Marshall Fire may bring up strong reminders and memories. Professional counselor Stanley Ly gives advice on what to do about anniversary reactions, helping children cope and more.
‘To save our pets, we need to know our neighbors.’ Lessons from the Marshall Fire
A new CU Boulder study estimates more than 1,000 house pets perished in the Marshall Fire. With the one-year anniversary approaching, the study authors encourage guardians to have a pet evacuation plan in place. They're also helping to develop a new pet rescue app.
Homes that survived the Marshall Fire harbored another disaster inside—here’s what we’ve learned
Although the people who lived in still-standing homes after the Marshall Fire were spared the loss of everything they owned, when they returned, they found another disaster. CU experts Joost de Gouw, Michael Hannigan and Colleen Reid share on The Conversation.
Ongoing CU research explores impacts, solutions after Marshall Fire
The Marshall Fire spurred researchers—many of them personally affected by the fire—to pivot and apply their expertise to the aftermath. One year later, dozens of ongoing research projects continue to explore the science behind what happened that day, the widespread impacts on people, pets and the environment and how we can mitigate future catastrophes amid a changing climate.
Research in Your Backyard
The scientific reasons you should resolve to start gardening
The first-ever randomized controlled trial of community gardening shows it boosts fiber intake and physical activity while decreasing stress and anxiety. It could even reduce risk of cancer and chronic illness. And that’s all in the first season of getting your hands dirty.
Compromised oil and gas wells pose risks to groundwater in Weld County
When gas leaks into and contaminates a household water well near an oil and gas drilling site, there is always a question of where it came from. Is it from a failure in the drilling or did the gas migrate naturally? New research from CU Boulder could help definitively answer that question.