Skip to main content Skip to navigation
CAS in the Media Arts and Sciences Media Headlines

WSU Vancouver project opens access to virtual museum

A virtual museum and library of more than 2,500 digital literary works from around the world, called The NEXT, is available for anyone to view at the-next.eliterature.org. Created by WSU Vancouver’s Creative Media and Digital Culture program with staff and faculty of the Electronic Literature Lab, The NEXT was created for the international arts group called the Electronic Literature Organization.

Launched on May 24, “the museum responds to the growing need for open-access, travel-free cultural and research experiences for today’s public and scholars, making its archives accessible for the next generation of readers,” a news release noted.

Visitors can interact with collections of more than 50 videos, 4,000 images, 3D models and interactive GIFs. In April, the project was awarded second place in the Podium Competition of WSU Vancouver’s Research Showcase.

The latest exhibit called “Trans(creation): A Celebration of the Art of Agusto de Campos” is on display at the website through Dec. 30.

Find out more

The Columbian

 

Endangered frog species released into Columbia National Wildlife Refuge

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) released hundreds of an endangered frog species into the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge last week.

Native to the Pacific Northwest, the northern leopard frog used to be all over North America. Over time, their numbers have rapidly diminished in parts of Washington, Oregon and western Canada.

Erica Crespi.
Crespi

“The Washington state population of northern leopard frogs has a unique genetic variation relative to the rest of the species range, and they are part of the natural diversity of amphibians of the region,” said Erica Crespi, WSU associate professor of biology.

“We are working to keep them here!”

WDFW first collected northern leopard frog eggs back in the spring of 2021. After several months of growing in the Oregon Zoo and Northwest Trek, the frogs were ready to be released.

Find out more

Northwest Trek
Q13 Fox
KUOW
KXLY
OPB

WSU Pullman community invited to attend Convocation Aug. 20

WSU Pullman Faculty and staff are invited to attend this year’s University Convocation Friday, Aug. 20.

The official kick-off of the 2021-2022 academic year begins at 10 a.m. inside Beasley Coliseum. New Cougs will be introduced to academic and community leaders before they launch into their fall semesters. For many sophomores, it’ll be the first time they’ve been on the Pullman campus after spending their first year learning at a distance.

Melissa Parkhurst.
Parkhurst

This year’s keynote speakers are Melissa Parkhurst, an associate professor in the School of Music and Isabelle Busch, a sophomore majoring in biological sciences.

Attendees who are not fully vaccinated must wear a mask while inside Beasley Coliseum. Those who are fully vaccinated are encouraged to wear a mask as well.

Find out more

WSU Insider

Professor Julie Kmec to chair sociology

Julie Kmec
Kmec

An expert in work organizations and workplace diversity, Professor Julie Kmec will serve as chair of the Department of Sociology at Washington State University, effective Aug. 15, 2021.

“Bringing a wealth of skills and experience in teaching, research and leadership to her new post, Dr. Kmec is well equipped to build upon the sociology department’s long history of examining and engaging the challenges of our increasingly diverse and international society,” said Todd Butler, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

“Since the pandemic allowed us to reflect on our academic values, work habits and workloads, my vision for the department centers on utilizing these collective reflections to support and advance student engagement, graduate mentoring and faculty life,” Kmec said. She further envisions strengthening and expanding intra-departmental research collaborations and enabling more graduate and undergraduate students to be exposed to a wider range of career options.

Kmec succeeds Monica Johnson, who will return to the sociology faculty after four years as department chair.

Find out more

WSU Insider

The missing lynx

Canada lynx aren’t known for dumpster diving in the suburbs or poaching cattle off the range. They have yet to be filmed chasing a biker down a trail. Instead, lynx tend to give wide berth to humans, preferring isolated forested areas filled with snow and their favorite prey, snowshoe hare.

Daniel Thornton.
Thornton

Since lynx won’t come to us, a research team led by Washington State University wildlife biologist Dan Thornton has been bringing cameras to them. Last year, the researchers published results of a massive project to place camera traps across more than 4,300 square miles of northeastern Washington. They found lynx present on only about 20 percent of their potential habitat.

“Because lynx are so endangered in the state, they are impacted by changes that are happening every year,” Thornton said. “If we have a monitoring program in place, we can look at the effects of any management practices we might implement. This is really important for a species that’s on the edge. It’s such a dynamic landscape with both fire and changes to snowpack. We want this type of continuous data, so we can examine those changes.”

Find out more

WSU Insider