blog posts Schedule of films, guests set for Ebertfest 2019 Mar 21, 2019 9:00 am The lineup includes 'Bound,' the first film by the writer-director team that made 'The Matrix,' with co-stars Gina Gershon and Jennifer Tilly coming as guests; 'Sideways,' with Oscar-nominated Virginia Madsen as a guest.... Great Lakes region faces growing climate change-related threats Mar 22, 2019 10:45 am Climate scientists led by Illinois' Don Wuebbles issued a report that foresees a growing trend of wetter winters and springs: more flooding in urban areas, and unpredictable cycles of heat and rainfall could undermine agriculture. Performance artist Autumn Knight launches book tour at Krannert Art Museum Mar 26, 2019 9:15 am Krannert Art Museum has produced a book about performance artist Autumn Knight, who gave her first solo exhibition here in 2017. Knight will return to campus in April for a performance, book conversation. U of I researchers to implement, study a STEM program for middle, high school students Mar 26, 2019 10:15 am A $1.2 million NSF grant will be used to implement a program in partnership with middle schools and high schools across the state of Illinois and study its effectiveness. Youth Literature Festival celebrates diverse voices in literature Mar 29, 2019 9:00 am Seventeen award-winning authors, illustrators, and storytellers are in central Illinois to share their love of books, literacy, and more during Illinois' biennial Youth Literature Festival this weekend. NCSA visualization team co-produces 'Birth of Planet Earth' Mar 29, 2019 9:45 am Birth of Planet Earth, a new 24-minute giant screen science documentary for digital fulldome cinemas, had its global premiere at the Zeiss-Großplanetarium in Berlin this month. 'Quantum Rhapsodies' performance explores role of quantum physics in our universe Apr 4, 2019 10:00 am A new performance that explores the world of quantum physics will feature the music of the Jupiter String Quartet, a fire juggler and a fantastical 'Alice in Quantumland' scene. University Library’s Small Press Fest celebrates small press, DIY publications Apr 5, 2019 10:45 am The Library's Sarah Christensen hopes the festival will develop a community of zine makers, comics artists and other self-published authors. 'Anyone can be an author and write about anything they want.' Key to restoring Chicago's Bronzeville? Asking the kids out to play Apr 15, 2019 11:15 am About 20 Illinois students spent the summer trying to get kids in Chicago’s struggling Bronzeville neighborhood to get outdoors and socialize, an effort led by the Department of African American Studies. Storm sewers need to expand to handle more frequent, heavy rains May 3, 2019 8:30 am As heavy rainstorms become more frequent and stronger than in the past, municipal drainage systems designed from outdated standards often fail, resulting in flooding and financial losses. Historian: Responses to terrorism require reasoning, not outrage Jul 17, 2019 9:00 am It's possible to respond to terrrorism without playing into terrorists’ hands, but it requires a better understanding of their goals and strategies, of how terrorism works, of psychological warfare. Mark Dressman: Teaching on the Navajo Nation Jul 17, 2019 9:30 am 'Living on the Nation was like a foreign country to the (College of Education students). People spoke differently, dressed differently. I loved seeing the looks on their faces as they were discovering things.' Carle Illinois' new clinic will help patients and students Jul 24, 2019 9:30 am Medical students, guided by experienced Carle physicians, will care for patients’ primary care needs at Carle Illinois Clinic. Carle, U of I to purchase 7 Tesla MRI for research, patient care Jul 25, 2019 3:15 pm New machine provides the highest magnetic field imaging strength commercially available in the nation approved by the FDA for brain and knee scans of patients greater than 66 lbs. Researchers call for urban greening to improve mental health Jul 30, 2019 3:45 pm Experts on nature’s effects on human health and well-being describes nature’s ability to improve mental health in much the same way that it improves water quality, sequesters carbon dioxide, and prevents floods. Artificial intelligence could help air travelers save a bundle Aug 1, 2019 8:45 am Researchers are using artificial intelligence to help airlines price services such as checked bags, seat reservations in a way to benefit customers’ budget and privacy, airline industry’s bottom line. NCSA helps NGA create world’s most powerful geospatial system Aug 2, 2019 8:00 am Illinois parterns with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency to produce digital elevation models (DEM) of the entire Earth, among other geospatial research projects, using the Blue Waters supercomputer. Dog down: Effort helps emergency medical staff treat police K-9s Aug 19, 2019 9:30 am New protocols will help emergency medical personnel stabilize, treat and transport law enforcement K-9s injured on the job. Flatlands Dance Film Festival to screen documentary on flamenco dancer, short films Aug 23, 2019 12:00 pm The Flatlands Dance Film Festival will screen the documentary “La Chana” about a Spanish flamenco dancer on its opening night, Aug. 30. Free e-book highlights profound effects of nature on learning Aug 27, 2019 12:00 pm The many ways putting children back in contact with nature could make them more successful in school and in life. Matsuri Festival at Japan House, September 8 Aug 28, 2019 10:45 am Japan House’s Matsuri Festival – an annual festival celebrating Japanese culture – will expand this year to include a recognition of Indian culture. KAM's new installation: Art Since 1948 Sep 4, 2019 9:45 am Slideshow of some of the objects made since 1948 that are featured in Krannert Art Museum's latest installation. Watch: Life Without Illinois Sep 4, 2019 2:00 pm University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 2019 PSA. A glimpse into a terrifying world Without Illinois... Special thanks to the Champaign County Humane Society Ebert Symposium to focus on inclusion in movies and media Sep 9, 2019 2:00 pm The topic grew out of Roger Ebert’s vision of movies as a tool for generating empathy among those of different genders, races, ages, classes. etc. Fostering empathy 'is the most noble thing that good movies can do,' he said. Endangered animals project looks at tigers, habitat loss, climate change Sep 10, 2019 9:45 am Illinois artist Deke Weaver uses stories to reflect wider global concerns. His 'TIGER' performance will incorporate stories of migration due to climate change. Illinois professor studies correlation between education and video games Sep 18, 2019 1:30 pm WICS-TV (Sept. 17) Illinois associate professor Chad Lane is studying ways to use technology to promote science, especially to middle school students. Artists consider nuclear industry's legacy in Krannert Art Museum exhibition Oct 10, 2019 4:00 pm An exhibition opening at Krannert Art Museum this month seeks to make visible the long-term impact of the nuclear industry, particularly issues surrounding radioactive waste. Theatre department opens season with plays addressing injustice, revenge Oct 16, 2019 9:45 am The season opens with two plays at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. 'Gem of the Ocean' will run Oct. 17-19 and Oct. 24-27. 'Titus Andronicus' will run Oct. 24-26 and Oct. 29-Nov. 3. Passes for 22nd 'Ebertfest' on sale Nov. 1 Oct 22, 2019 11:30 am Festival passes cover all screenings during the festival (April 15-18 at the Virginia Theatre), with related talks and panel discussions at other local venues. Education Justice Project earns 2019 Downs Intellectual Freedom Award Nov 13, 2019 2:30 pm 'Education Justice Project has demonstrated its commitment to ensuring that the incarcerated individuals it serves have the fullest access possible to materials that will afford them new opportunities,' wrote nominators. U of I's Lyric Theatre helps create opera addressing disability, technology Dec 6, 2019 3:30 pm A new opera exploring questions of disability, technology and communication is being created with the help of the Lyric Theatre program at Illinois. 'Sensorium Ex' is in the early stages of development. Program for parents aims to help youths with autism successfully transition to adulthood Jan 16, 2020 1:30 pm A new U of I program trains parents of young adults with autism on community services and empowers them to advocate for their child to help them successfully transition to adulthood. U of I urban greening expert to speak at World Economic Forum Jan 16, 2020 2:00 pm Ming Kuo will speak to global leaders next week at the 50th World Economic Forum to make the case that investments in urban greening could improve mental and physical health. Buying a home in Illinois? You'll need the Prairie Research Institute for that Feb 17, 2020 8:45 am For every home sold in Illinois, PRI provides data needed for banks, title companies, insurance companies, and consumers to make informed decisions about home ownership. 10 ways the U of I is helping kids and families across the state Feb 19, 2020 12:00 pm From providing free trainings for teachers, to assisting military familes with children to regulating neglect and abuse cases, Illinois ensures the safety and wellbeing of kids across the state. Author makes case for politics to those who've lost faith Mar 4, 2020 11:15 am Communication professor Ned O’Gorman says politics is a necessity, not an option. But in a new book, he holds out hope that we know from everyday experience how to do politics that aren’t fundamentally 'us versus them.' Veterinarians: Dogs, too, can experience hearing loss Mar 5, 2020 9:00 am Dog owners and K-9 handlers ought to keep this in mind when adopting or caring for dogs, and when bringing them into noisy environments. Ebert Film Fest will get creepy with 'Hereditary' and Hitchcock Mar 5, 2020 12:15 pm The horror genre will get its due at the 22nd annual Roger Ebert’s Film Festival, with at least two films from the genre – one recent and one classic. 'Ebertfest' runs April 15-18 at the Virginia Theatre in Champaign. Veterinary infectious disease expert weighs in on coronavirus threat Mar 9, 2020 8:00 am Influenza, SARS and COVID-19 are all readily transmitted from animals to humans. 'Most of what we think are the major human pathogens probably started in animals,' says a U of I expert in zoonotic diseases. Watch: Business Dean Emeritus Larry DeBrock talks economic impact of COVID-19 Apr 1, 2020 1:30 pm In this recording of a recent webinar, Gies College of Business Dean Emeritus Larry DeBrock talks about the still-evolving, unprecedented economic impact of the novel coronavirus outbreak. How to foster children’s learning while sheltering at home Apr 6, 2020 8:45 am 'A big challenge for families in sheltering at home is that their established routines no longer exist. So, one of the first things for families is to create new routines.' Illinois veterinary experts help ID coronavirus in Bronx Zoo tiger Apr 6, 2020 11:15 am Vet Med faculty helped in the rapid identification of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 in humans, as the cause of a respiratory illness affecting big cats at the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo. Illinois RapidVent: Prototype of an emergency ventilator Apr 8, 2020 1:45 pm The Illinois RapidVent emergency ventilator was developed in less than a week and has performed as well as commercial devices in focused testing; additional tests ongoing. IGPA reports on potential impact of COVID-19 on state finances Apr 9, 2020 4:15 pm Hit to revenues expected to be worse than the Great Recession U of I, Carle Health, state join in effort to increase COVID testing Apr 20, 2020 2:15 pm Professor Chris Brooke recruited colleagues to help, sparking a campuswide effort now underway to dramatically increase COVID-19 testing in the local community and the state of Illinois. Archaeological predictive model helps Illinoisans balance growth with preservation May 26, 2020 11:45 am The Illinois State Archaeological Survey offers a GIS-based tool that draws on more than a century of data to predict the probability of encountering an archaeological site in any 2-acre section of Illinois. CyberGIS Center produces platform to track and help prevent COVID-19 Jun 24, 2020 11:15 am The CyberGIS Center at U. of I. has teamed with the state of Illinois to produce a system of interactive maps, charts, and animations to better help understand and prevent the spread of COVID-19. Carbon capture collaborations lead clean energy drive in Illinois Jul 2, 2020 9:45 am U of I's Prairie Research Institute is collaborating with three Illinois power plants to implement sophisticated technologies that remove carbon from air emissions (carbon capture). Community Engaged Scholars group launches to meet community needs during COVID-19 Jul 9, 2020 12:45 pm We CU Community Engaged Scholars—a 10-week summer scholars program matching Illinois students with community-based projects—is meeting the needs of the community and providing learning opportunities. U of I receives $2.6 million NSF grant to improve high school physics courses Jul 13, 2020 3:30 pm The Illinois Physics and Secondary Schools (IPaSS) program will provide students across the state with the highest quality high school physics experience, and prepare them to succeed in STEM fields in college.