blog posts Meet the most recent alumnus inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame Nov 20, 2015 3:00 pm William Sparks's invention of butyl rubber was critical to keeping the U.S. and its allies supplied with tires, rafts, boots, and other products during World War II when Japanese warships cut off shipments of natural rubber. Six Illinois faculty members elected AAAS Fellows Nov 22, 2016 10:30 am Six University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign faculty members have been elected 2016 fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Six Illinois researchers named AAAS fellows Nov 23, 2015 10:15 am Six Illinois researchers, including U. of I. President Timothy Killeen, are new Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Illinois chosen for third consecutive year Nov 25, 2016 4:00 pm University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign selected by Military Times in their annual “Best for Vets: Colleges 2017” rankings. Krannert Art Museum to offer short films, panel discussion for World AIDS Day Nov 27, 2018 4:00 pm Krannert Art Museum is screening short films about AIDS activism for World AIDS Day. The films include one by VOCAL (Voices of Community Activists and Leaders). Five ways to use technology to decrease your stress Dec 6, 2022 3:00 pm It’s a stressful time of year with holidays and the end of the semester. Technology can add to that stress, or it can be used to minimize the stress. Shukla, Holscher garner Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research Awards Dec 7, 2017 1:45 pm Shukla was honored in the Nutrition and Healthy Foods category, Holscher in the Nutrition and Healthy Foods category $4.5 million to U of I Extension for school food-service training Dec 9, 2015 3:30 pm The State Board of Education contracted with U of I Extension to develop and conduct in-person and web-based training that supports child nutrition standards and promotes a more appealing cafeteria environment. Looking for holiday cheer? Dial-A-Carol! Dec 9, 2021 8:45 am University Housing’s longest-standing tradition of 61 years, Dial-A-Carol is taking place December 9 – 15, 24/7. You call, our awesome volunteers sing whatever holiday (or non-holiday) tune you’d like! 217-332-1882. Final day for free phone carols Dec 13, 2018 5:45 am For one week only, anyone from anywhere can call us round the clock and request any holiday tune, and we'll do our best to sing it over the phone. For free. Staying on campus? Police offer safety tips for winter break Dec 22, 2017 9:30 am As the school enters its hiatus and many students leave campus, those who stay during the break should take precautions to make sure they stay safe Hittite class offers glimpse of Bronze Age language, technology Jan 2, 2020 10:00 am Illinois students learn to write the ancient language in clay using cuneiform symbols in a Hittite class. Tasty invention from Illinois has its own day on the calendar Jan 4, 2017 2:15 am Illinois chemists helped make instant whipped cream the dessert topping as we know it Illinois Public Media lands veteran public radio host to launch new show Jan 8, 2016 8:45 am Illinois Public Media is launching The 21st, a new hour-long talk show, that will be made available to other public radio stations throughout Illinois for simulcast More Illinois Curiosities Jan 8, 2019 12:00 pm This occasional series uncovers and discovers the fascinating stories behind curiosities in the University's permanent collections Student athletes in LAS manage rigorous training and academic schedules Jan 9, 2018 1:45 pm Athletes in the College of LAS participate in many sports, from diving to football. They also major in everything from psychology to cellular biology. Here's how they manage their time Illinois earns Climate Leadership Award Jan 11, 2019 9:30 am The U of I is the recipient of Second Nature’s Climate Leadership Award, the Boston-based nonprofit announced in partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council Campus bans hoverboards from all facilities Jan 12, 2016 9:00 am Effective Jan. 18, hoverboards will not be allowed in any facilities owned, leased, occupied or controlled by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Jill Ellis, coach with most wins in U.S. soccer history, named 2020 commencement speaker Jan 30, 2020 8:45 am Jill Ellis, who won back-to-back FIFA Women’s World Cups as coach of the U.S. Women’s National Team, will deliver the U of I's commencement address on Saturday, May 16 in Memorial Stadium. Xylitol: Growing in popularity, but deadly for dogs Feb 1, 2017 2:00 pm Xylitol, a sugar alcohol that is toxic to dogs, can be found in many brands of gum, and in other household items, from toothpaste to peanut butter Black Greek Letter Association: Fostering social spaces at Illinois Feb 4, 2016 1:45 pm Registered as student organization in 1972, the BGLA’s mission was “to promote black greek unity of organization” and “to improve the quality of social life on the U of I campus.” Sign up now for the Campus-Community Day of Service Feb 6, 2015 3:30 pm Hundreds of volunteers are needed for the food packaging project as well as a number of other projects being planned to benefit the local community. Several volunteer shifts will be available during the day. Happy Lunar New Year! Feb 8, 2016 11:45 am Lunar New Year is the most significant and widely celebrated holiday for many Asian cultures. It marks the beginning of a new year and is associated with a myriad of cultural traditions. Professor Philip Krein, four other alumni elected to National Academy of Engineering Feb 8, 2016 3:30 pm Philip Krein, Grainger Endowed Emeritus Chair in Electric Machinery and Electromechanics, has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering. Gun Battles, Bootlegging, and Dissent: Crime and Disorder at the U of I Feb 8, 2018 12:30 pm Class fights, hazing rituals, Prohibition-era booze raids, war protests, and racism. History instructor Nathan Tye explores how the campus was shaped by these events New Illinois initiative to embed arts into all aspects of university Feb 8, 2024 4:30 pm 'Arts are not decoration. They are deeply investigative, sophisticated practices. I want that to be recognized, acknowledged and engaged with,' says Cynthia Oliver, who was named the special advisor to the chancellor for arts integration. Extension kicks off $4.5 million school lunchroom program Feb 15, 2016 1:00 pm New federal nutrition standards call for increased promotion of healthy fare such as fruits and vegetables in schools and will be the focus of the U. of I. Extension’s new school lunchroom makeover program. Wilkin named interim provost Feb 15, 2017 9:00 am John Wilkin, currently the Dean of Libraries and university librarian, will begin in the new role Feb. 18 pending the review and approval of the Board of Trustees. IPRH’s ‘Cell Phone Slam!’ to present variety of views on cellphones Feb 16, 2016 6:30 am Twelve participants will each have six minutes to answer the question, “What do you see when you see a cellphone?” Illinois graphic design professor fights human trafficking with app, education Feb 19, 2018 9:45 am Illinois graphic design professor Lisa Mercer created Operation Compass, an app that allows users to anonymously report suspected cases of human trafficking Book highlights University of Illinois’ 150 years of innovation Feb 21, 2017 9:00 am Central Illinois in 1867 was not an obvious place to plant a university that would change the world. Yet almost from the start, Illinois Industrial University – now the University of Illinois – was an “Engine of Innovation,” Composer Renee Baker to premiere new score for historic silent film Feb 21, 2019 11:30 am The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music will screen two historic silent films with new scores by composer Renee Baker in recognition of Black History Month. Carle Illinois College of Medicine granted provisional accreditation Feb 22, 2021 9:00 am Provisional accreditation affirms that a medical school meets nationally accepted standards of educational quality and can move forward with plans to build a sustainable medical education program. Illinois professor uses big data to research history of gender in fiction Feb 27, 2018 8:00 am Number of women writing works of fiction dropped dramatically from the mid-19th century to the mid-20th century. Female characters in works of fiction declined as well Krannert Art Museum to unveil rare panoramic painting Mar 2, 2016 11:45 am The painting – which dates to the 1870s and comprises three rolls of muslin, which are 525 feet long in total and seven feet high – is one of fewer than two dozen surviving examples in the world of moving panoramas. Interested in Einstein, warp drives? Help kick off NCSA's 30th anniversary Mar 2, 2016 11:45 am Join us in celebrating NCSA’s 30th anniversary at Spurlock Museum, 600 S. Gregory, Urbana, on March 3. Andrew Singer named interim director of Siebel Center for Design Mar 7, 2017 9:00 am Singer is currently the Fox Family Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering and director of the College of Engineering’s Technology Entrepreneur Center. Signing Day for Business students was a success Mar 11, 2016 8:30 pm Choosing a major is a MAJOR deal, and the College of Business celebrated that decision by hosting its first ever College of Business Signing Day! Isabelle Huppert, Norman Lear coming to ‘Ebertfest’ Mar 17, 2017 5:45 am Oscar nominee Isabelle Huppert and TV legend Norman Lear are coming to this year’s “Ebertfest,” along with two films, the first announced in this year’s lineup. Altgeld Tower closed for repairs, carillon on autopilot Mar 20, 2017 8:00 am Altgeld Tower bells is closed for repairs for an undetermined length of time. Its carillon bells are limited to an automated quarter-hour timekeeping function. Full schedule and additional guests announced for 2016 ‘Ebertfest’ Mar 23, 2016 12:30 pm The remaining films have been announced, along with the schedule and additional guests, for this year’s Roger Ebert’s Film Festival hosted by Chaz Ebert, also known as “Ebertfest,” coming April 13-17. Counting on sheep to deliver hands-on education Mar 24, 2016 12:15 pm “When it comes to teaching animal reproduction... the ewes present a more practical model than do other species in terms of safety, economics, and hands-on opportunities,” says Dr. Chelsey Ramirez. Boneyard Creek Community Day, April 13 Mar 29, 2019 4:15 pm Have you registered to help? Litter looks bad and attract more litter. It clogs storm drains causing local flooding and ends up in receiving streams harming aquatic life. ‘Being There,’ ‘Pleasantville’ and Cole Porter biopic among final slate for ‘Ebertfest’ Mar 30, 2017 2:30 pm Organizers have filled out the slate of films and schedule for this year’s Roger Ebert’s Film Festival hosted by Chaz Ebert, coming April 19-23 to downtown Champaign. Geography professor awarded Guggenheim Fellowship Apr 2, 2018 9:00 am Geography professor Jesse Ribot studies the politics of resource access, subnational democracy and climate-related vulnerability Sexual Assault Awareness Month: Resources for the campus community Apr 3, 2017 8:00 am We at Illinois recognize that deciding to report sexual misconduct and choosing how to proceed are difficult decisions. Here are some helpful resources Artists at Krannert Art Museum want you to use your ears as well as your eyes Apr 3, 2018 4:45 am Artists Basel Abbas and Ruanne Abou-Rahme will talk about the importance of sound in their work, including an exhibition currently at Krannert Art Museum Environmental scientist escapes Cameroon conflict as part of U of I Scholars at Risk program Apr 3, 2024 10:00 am 'It’s not a good feeling when guys with guns say you will die if you don’t comply. Mostly they will keep you until they get the ransom money. There are so many groups fighting that the next week another group can catch you, and then another. It’s crazy.' Check out the many planned events Apr 5, 2016 1:00 pm International Week seeks to raise awareness about the breadth of international education, activities, and resources available to the Illinois campus and local community. Washington University expert on religion, politics to give Thulin Lecture in Religion Apr 5, 2018 8:45 am Professor R. Marie Griffith will talk about political and religious disagreements surrounding sex