URBANA, Ill. – The Weed Science Society of America last week recognized Adam Davis, head and professor in the Department of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois, with a Fellow award, the society’s highest honor. The award recognizes Davis’s outstanding contributions to the field of weed science, particularly his use of ecological and quantitative principles to inform effective weed management.

URBANA, Ill. – Tour greenhouses, stick your hand inside of a cow, simulate the aging process, explore invasive species of the Great Lakes, learn how ice cream arrives in your bowl, and why popcorn pops at Explore ACES on March 8!  This one-day, interactive event is located on the campus of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) at the University of Illinois.

URBANA, Ill. — Sustainability leadership, research, education, and practices will remain at the forefront of University of Illinois priorities, thanks in part to significant endowments from Stuart L. and Nancy J. Levenick of Naples, Florida.

Mr. Levenick, a U of I alumnus who captained the 1975 Illini football team and received a B.S. in forestry in 1976, and his wife have designated this major endowment in two parts:

URBANA, Ill. – Cancer: The word alone evokes dread, anxiety, and fear. Accordingly, many women living with the disease and undergoing treatment experience chronic stress and depression. Scientists have demonstrated, in studies with rodents and humans, that stress can exacerbate cancer’s progression, but it wasn’t clear how.

A new study, published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation, establishes that the stress hormone epinephrine sets off a cascade of biochemical reactions that favor breast cancer growth and spread.

Jill Leahy, Jay Haning’s sister, describes her brother as a passionate farmer, a dedicated employee with an unmatched work ethic, a wise agribusiness man, a loyal, funny and generous friend; and a lover of life, laughter, and all things John Deere. A College of ACES endowed scholarship established by Jay’s family and friends honors him for all of these traits.

URBANA, Ill. – Adding soy flour to school lunches in Ghana provides a cost-efficient way of increasing the protein level, according to a new study co-authored by a University of Illinois researcher.

Soy is known to be a low-cost protein source, says Peter Goldsmith, professor of agricultural and consumer economics at the U of I. “But the thesis that soy is a good ingredient in a national school lunch program had yet to be proven, though everyone assumed it.”

URBANA, Ill. – At the southern tip of the Himalayas, farmers in the Kangra region of India’s Himachal Pradesh graze cattle among rolling hills and forests. The forests, under management by the state or farmer cooperatives, are thriving. But a new University of Illinois study shows, unlike state-managed forests, farmer cooperatives directly benefit both forest health and farmers.

To increase student and faculty engagement in France, the Office of International Programs in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) hosted a delegation from the Consulate General of France’s Chicago office on January 24.

The delegation met with faculty and staff from ACES and the University of Illinois, including representatives from education abroad and international centers, to make personal connections that will facilitate additional student and faculty exchanges.   

The visiting delegation included:

URBANA, Ill. –The Autism Program at the University of Illinois will partner with Illinois Career Services and the Division of Disability Resources and Educational Services at U of I to host a professional development training seminar aimed at helping adult individuals with Asperger’s Syndrome and autism in finding employment that works for them.

The seminar is set for Wednesday, March 13, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the iHotel and Conference Center in Champaign.