2025-05-13
- A recent study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution reveals how certain birds have independently developed similar nesting behaviors, offering fresh insights into evolution and animal behavior. Notably, the research features contributions from Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior alumni Abbigail Turner. The study focused on "cavity-nesting" songbirds—a species that build nests in...
2025-04-30 - The American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) has honored Dr. Amy Marshall-Colón, Associate Professor of Plant Biology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, with the 2025 Excellence in Education Award. This prestigious award recognizes...
2025-04-24 - CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Scientists developed a machine-learning tool that can teach itself, with minimal external guidance, to differentiate between aerial images of flowering and nonflowering grasses — an advance that will greatly increase the pace of agricultural field research, they say. The work was conducted using images of thousands of varieties of Miscanthus grasses, each of which has...
2025-04-16 - Dr. Rose Marks, Assistant Professor in the Department of Plant Biology has spearheaded a landmark international collaboration to chart the future of desiccation tolerance research. The resulting paper, “Life on the Dry Side: A Roadmap to Understanding Desiccation Tolerance and Accelerating Translational Applications,” was published...
2025-04-12 - The Graduate College and the Media Commons of the University Library recently announced the winners of the 2025 Image of Research competition. This annual competition underscores the extraordinary creativity and intellectual diversity of our graduate students.3RD PRIZEThe Melting Arctic: A Fleeting Beautyby Lijia Guo from Plant Biology "As...
2025-04-10 - The Beckman Institute recognized two community members during its annual April celebration of Arnold Beckman’s birth.Microscopist and Outreach Specialist T Josek won the Staff Spirit and Dedication Award; Professor...
2025-04-10 - In a recent WCIA news segment addressing the alarming rise in bee mortality rates in Central Illinois, SIB Entomology Professor Adam Dolezal provided his insights into the multifaceted challenges facing bee populations. During his interview, Dolezal highlighted that factors such as pathogens, pesticide exposure, and inadequate nutrition are primary contributors to bee health decline. He...
2025-04-09 - There’s a lot to talk about after a study abroad trip in Panama, but for plant biology professor Jim Dalling, one of the most memorable experiences is riding on a construction crane 50 meters above the forest floor. Gliding across the surface of the forest canopy, they’re inches away from a hidden world of flying tropical birds, sun...
2025-04-08 - As people look to reduce their water use for environmental and ecological reasons, rain barrels have gained popularity for catching rainwater that can be stored and used for irrigation. These green infrastructure tools can conserve hundreds of gallons of water per year and reduce stormwater runoff. However, as a source of standing water, improperly maintained rain barrels may also be comfortable...
2025-04-07 - Growing up on an arable and livestock farm in Northumberland, the northernmost county in England, Tracy Lawson's childhood experience sparked a lifelong fascination with plants, setting the stage for her impressive career as a leading biologist.Now, as a globally recognized expert in plant biology, Lawson has recently joined the plant biology faculty University of...
2025-04-02 - The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign each year presents Campus Awards for Excellence in Instruction to exceptional faculty and staff members, graduate teaching assistants and advisors campuswide. This year’s recipients are being honored at a ceremony on April 15. Awardees are cited for sustained excellence and innovation in undergraduate and graduate teaching, undergraduate and...
2025-03-31 - We are thrilled to announce that five graduate students from the School of Integrative Biology (SIB) have been named semifinalists in this year’s Image of Research competition! Each year, this exhibition showcases the stunning diversity and creativity of graduate student research. We invite you to explore the online exhibition and cast your votes for your three SIB favorite entries. Your votes...
2025-03-24 - A team from the University of Illinois has determined that improving a key component of soybean photosynthesis is unlikely to come from traditional breeding methods, and that gene editing is likely the key to unlocking soybean potential.“There’s not a huge amount of room to improve the light-harvesting efficiency of soybean photosynthesis at a cellular level...
2025-03-20 - CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Campylobacter infections are the most common foodborne illnesses in the U.S., sickening an estimated 1.5 million people each year. A new study examined records of Campylobacter jejuni infections from 10 states, plotting regional, age-related, and drug-...
2025-03-17 - A new research initiative is investigating how maize and rice use light, water, and nutrients more efficiently, with the goal of developing higher-yield, more resilient crops. The Strategic Interventions for Sustainable Yield Increase in Maize and Rice (SUYIMAR) project, backed by Gates Agricultural Innovations (Gates Ag One), brings together...