Stories

America’s first-ever museum dedicated exclusively to the environment could find a home in Fort Worth thanks to local community leaders in research, science, and education, as well as established business owners and entrepreneurs. Professor Becky Johnson is an EcoPlex advisory council member. She teaches several courses focused on the environment at TCU, and she believes that Fort Worth is already leading the change when it comes to water treatment and recycling programs.

A team of Texas horned lizard conservationists reached a major milestone this month with the successful release of the 1,000th captive-born reptile. Working to restore their decimated numbers, the Fort Worth Zoo partnered with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and TCU on reintroduction methodologies.

Led by the Institute of Behavioral Research director, Kevin Knight, a study team will conduct outcome research of the Federal Bureau of Prison’s (BOP) programs to assess their impact on post-release recidivism and societal adjustment. Over the next five years, the findings and recommendations will be provided to the BOP regarding potential strategies to improve the overall delivery and effectiveness of their programs.

A $410,000 grant was awarded to associate professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, Anton Naumov, for research into near-infrared emissive nanomaterials that can be utilized for bioimaging and drug delivery applications. Naumov says that the complexity of cancer conditions needs to be addressed with therapeutic strategies performing multiple functions: drug delivery, molecular imaging tracing drug delivery pathways, and biological sensing of cancer environments.

The Atatiana Project held a summer camp at TCU in July where children with limited or no computer access would receive a free laptop to utilize for furthering their education. Emily Herzig, an instructor in the Department of Mathematics, partnered with Curt Larsen, professor of professional practice in the College of Science & Engineering, in the camp effort, helping students assemble a computer from a kit and teaching them how to program and use it.

The International Astronomical Union (IAU) Small Body Nomenclature Working Group recently released its latest bulletin of asteroid names, and Associate Professor Rhiannon Mayne, Ph.D., was notified that she made the list. Asteroid 27529 (Rhiannonmayne = 2000 HJ64) is roughly 2.8 km in diameter and is located in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

Matt Chumchal, Ph.D., was bestowed the Advisor of the Year award from the Texas Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (TAAHP) in February recognizing his exemplary efforts within the Pre-Health Professions Institute. TAAHP connects Texas health professions advisors to each other and to the professional schools that students seek to enter.

Associate professor of chemistry, Kayla Green, Ph.D., received a $240,000 award from The Welch Foundation in June. As one of the nation’s largest private funding sources for fundamental chemical research at universities, colleges, and other education institutions in Texas, The Welch Foundation granted funding of more than $23 million for 2021.