University of Wyoming Coverage Brings Research and Economic Momentum to Laramie

University of Wyoming scholars and offices were prominently cited across multiple outlets on January 5, 2026, drawing attention to research and initiatives with direct implications for Albany County. Coverage ranged from energy markets and ecological research to economic impact studies and philanthropic support for Indigenous education.

UW economist Rob Godby was cited in reporting about a recent uptick in global coal demand, attributing the increase to a sudden surge that power generation infrastructure has not yet caught up with, while also discussing coal’s longer-term decline. That dual framing is significant for Laramie, where energy-sector employment and municipal revenues are tied to market cycles and where longer-term transitions could reshape local labor and tax bases.

Botanist Daniel Laughlin’s work on tree responses after the 2020 Mullen Fire was highlighted in a story noting that up to 35 percent of Wyoming’s high country has become “ghost forest.” Laughlin’s Medicine Bow Mountain Experimental Garden Array moves species outside their historical ranges to track survival and adaptability, research that informs local forest management, wildfire recovery planning and recreational land stewardship in Albany County.

UW research on Yellowstone cutthroat trout in the Teton River flagged potential insufficiency in fish passage at Felt Dam, a finding picked up by regional media that may influence cross-border fisheries management and conservation priorities that affect Wyoming anglers and conservation groups.

Economic and community-focused releases also received attention. UW’s Center for Business and Economic Development produced an impact study for a proposed dinosaur museum in Greybull that concluded the project could attract travelers and generate tax revenue in its first year, illustrating how university economic analysis can guide tourism and development decisions across the state. Locally, UW announced an estate gift from Diana Ohman that will support the Native American Summer Institute, and the Early Care and Education Center marked its 20th anniversary in its current facility, news carried by regional outlets and relevant to Albany County families and workforce development.

Leadership and academic news included the appointment of Soheil Saraji as head of UW’s Department of Energy and Petroleum Engineering, signaling ongoing investment in energy education that feeds local talent pipelines.

The cluster of coverage reinforces UW’s economic and policy influence for Albany County: research attracts attention and funding, drives visitor and business activity, and provides data policymakers can use for land, water and labor planning. For more information, contact the Institutional Communications Department, Bureau of Mines Building, 1000 E. University Ave., Laramie, WY, or email cbaldwin@uwyo.edu.