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Link of the Week:
University to host ribbon-cutting Nov. 12 for KU Conference Center

In a new paper by Panying Rong, associate professor of Speech-Language-Hearing, and her former graduate student, Erin Liston, published in the Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, the researchers found that trying to speak more slowly than normal appears to be an effective strategy for most people with ALS to improve rhythm control and, consequently, make their speech more understandable to others. The ultimate goal of the research is to improve early detection and monitoring of progressive communicative disorders in people with neurodegenerative diseases by understanding subtle changes in rhythm control of speech, then using that knowledge to personalize speech therapy and inform the overall disease diagnosis and prognosis.

It's one of many research initiatives at KU that seek to improve brain health. Read the full story

• Jeffrey Girard (Psychology) and Rami Zeedan (Jewish Studies) have been named recipients of the 2025 Shulenburger Award for Innovation and Advocacy in Scholarly Communication by KU Libraries. Both have long histories of making their own scholarship available on open platforms and stood out for their advocacy and empowerment of others to participate in open initiatives, according to the award committee.

KU’s Hub for Funding & Award Opportunities
KU's Office of Research has just launched this resource, an online platform that will streamline how you discover and apply for internal funding, honorific awards, and limited submission opportunities offered by the Office of Research.

Starting Nov. 1, most internal competitions managed by the Office of Research will be hosted in the Opportunities Hub, which is powered by InfoReady and already adopted on the KU Medical Center campus. We encourage you to bookmark the site and check back regularly for new opportunities.

2026 Research Achievement Awards for Faculty, Staff, and Postdocs
There is a new submission process for these awards. Nominations must be submitted electronically through KU's Hub for Funding & Award Opportunities. The nomination portals for these awards open Nov.1. Nominations for the following awards are due by Dec. 1, 2025:

Higuchi-KU Endowment Research Achievement Award
Late Distinguished Professor Takeru Higuchi and his wife, Aya, partnered with KU Endowment to create four awards that recognize individuals for their accomplishments in research, scholarship and creative activity. Faculty from any Kansas Regents institution are eligible, and your assistance in identifying outstanding candidates is critical. Winners receive $10,000 in support of research activities.

Awards include:
The Balfour Jeffrey Research Award in the field of the Humanities and Social Science
The Olin Petefish Research Award in the field of Basic Sciences
The Dolph Simons Research Award in the field of Biomedical Sciences
The Irvin Youngberg Research Award in the field of Applied Sciences

Steven F. Warren Research Achievement Award
This award honors an outstanding unclassified academic staff researcher on the KU-Lawrence campus. Individuals appointed as full-time, unclassified academic staff researchers in a KU-Lawrence academic department or research center for whom the KU Research Promotion Procedures apply are eligible. The award recipient will receive $10,000 in research funds.

KU Research Achievement Awards
The Postdoctoral Achievement Award and the Staff Achievement Award are intended to recognize the numerous contributions of unclassified professional staff and postdoctoral researchers to the research mission of KU, honoring outstanding individuals who have had a tangible impact on the research labs and projects in which they work. The award recipients (one in each category) will receive $5,000 in research fund.

2025 College Conversation: Innovation & Student Success
Wednesday, Oct. 22, 3 p.m., Kansas Union Ballroom
Join us for this year’s College Conversation! This year's focus on Innovation and Student Success provides an opportunity for faculty and staff to celebrate our achievements, share ideas, and explore new approaches to advancing our mission. Your voice is essential as we continue shaping our strategic direction and building a stronger future for our College. We look forward to your insights and participation in this important dialogue. Mark your calendars and please RSVP here.

Science on Tap: Dr. Lauren Norman (Anthropology)
Wednesday, Oct. 22, 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., Freestate Brewing Company, Beer Hall
Join us at Free State Brewing Company for Science on Tap with Dr. Lauren Norman, Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology, for the talk, The Original Bone Broth: Reconstructing Ancestral Iñupiaq Interactions from Animal Remains. Dr. Norman will examine the lifeways of the ancestral Inupiat people of Alaska. 

2025 Kansas Economic Policy Conference – The Ripple Effect: Water and the Kansas Economy
Thursday, Oct. 23, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Burge Union and livestream
This year’s conference highlights how water plays a role in the Kansas economy. Discussions on urban and rural water systems and policy will feature speakers and representatives from local communities. Conversations will kick off with a keynote presentation from Donna Ginther, director of KU’s Institute for Policy & Social Research, and the conference will conclude with a panel of policymakers discussing the future of water policy and the Kansas economy.

Red Hot Research: Body, Land Memory
Friday, Nov. 14, 4 to 5:30 p.m., Watson Library 3 West
Hosted by The Commons, Red Hot Research brings together scholars from all disciplines, to reveal overlaps and connections across areas of interesting and methodological approaches. The format of these sessions is inspired by Pecha Kucha, which features short, slide-based talks that introduce audiences to a topic. Each installment features researchers, speaking for six minutes each. Audience members are encouraged to connect with the speakers (and each other) during breaks. This series offers researchers at KU a venue for cross-disciplinary partnering and exploration.