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Since our AGN-201 was disassembled for a research project, we took the opportunity to recreate a piece of nuclear energy history!
Using Mary Lou Dunzik-Gougar and Chad Pope, professors of nuclear engineering, as models, we recreated this 1950s photo. The original was taken in February 1957 by Nat Farban at the Aerojet Nucleonics facility in California, and a photo from the series appeared in an issue of LIFE magazine later that same month.
Aerojet Nucleonics was marketing the AGN-201 reactors for use in education, research, medical diagnosis, and other purposes at a cost of $95,000-nearly $1.1 million in 2025 dollars. At one point, more than 40 of the reactors were in use, but today, only two remain in operation in the United States, including the one located here at ISU.
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Tapanila Interviewed by Smithsonian Magazine
Leif Tapanila, director of the Idaho Museum of Natural History and professor of geosciences, spoke with Smithsonian Magazine for a feature on prehistoric whorl-toothed sharks.
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It was our pleasure to recently host Simon Pimblott, laboratory fellow and Nuclear Science and Technology Directorate chief scientist at Idaho National Laboratory, for a visit and tour.
Here, he’s taking a look at a couple of labs at the Engineering Research Center.
| | | Congrats to Civil Engineering student Arpan Adhikari on earning a scholarship from the American Concrete Institute's Intermountain Chapter! | |  | Over the holiday break, Computer Science student Quinton Smith stopped by his old stomping grounds at White Pine STEM Academy to chat with students. He talked about what interests him about the field and his 10-week internship with NASA, during which he used satellite imagery to map the distribution of the invasive plant species buffelgrass in Saguaro National Park and surrounding areas. | | |
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REMINDER: Volunteers Needed for Bengal STEM Day
We’re looking for volunteers to help with the College’s 2026 installment of Bengal STEM Day on Thursday, February 12, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
We need volunteers to help with setup prior to the event, take lunch tickets, man the information booth, and serve as roving helpers. Volunteers will receive a Bengal STEM Day shirt and lunch.
If you are interested in volunteering, please complete this Google Form. If you have any questions, please reach out to Logan McDougall at loganmcdougall@isu.edu or (208) 282-4361.
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Students Sought for Instagram Collaboration with Graduate School
We're looking for graduate students to participate in video shoots with the Graduate School that will be posted on Instagram.
The videos will be short-form, and the students need to be willing to speak about their studies/research. If you know of a student who may be a good fit, have them email Remy Boomer, marketing intern with the Graduate School, at remyboomer@isu.edu.
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Research and Creative Works Symposium Insider Sessions Scheduled
The Graduate School will be hosting a series of Insider Sessions in January and February for students interested in presenting at the 2026 Research and Creative Works Symposium. The sessions will cover best practices and what to expect from presenting at the event scheduled for March 18.
The Research and Creative Works Symposium is an opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students from all disciplines and degree levels to present their scholarly or creative works, in progress or completed, for a chance to win cash prizes in both poster and oral presentation categories. In-person and online presentation options are available.
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RFPs Sought for Proposal Readiness and Enhancement Program Grants
The Office for Research is pleased to announce a new internal funding opportunity, the Proposal Readiness and Enhancement Program (PREP) Grant.
This internal grant is designed to help PIs develop and submit highly competitive external research proposals by providing funding for a variety of pre-award expenses. Allowable expenses can include classes or workshops for the PI that are designed to enhance grantsmanship, graphic design support for proposals, obtaining external peer reviewers for proposals, addressing reviewer comments, and more.
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The College of Science and Engineering Dean's Excellence Fund is intended to support students in their journey through ISU. The Dean's Office is particularly interested in providing financial assistance to students who might not be able to enroll in or complete the semester because of short-term financial hardships. Students seeking such support should be in good academic standing.
If you know of a student who is in need of short-term support, please have them complete this form.
| | | | Last fall, we launched a comprehensive and inclusive process with our University community to address budget challenges resulting from statewide budget holdbacks and ongoing funding reductions. Our overall intent is to secure the future of Idaho State University. We began with a listening phase where we asked for your input through listening sessions and a feedback survey. This process generated a large number of suggestions and opportunities and led to the creation of a Bold Path Forward. Together. | | |
A phishing scam where students are offered an internship has been reported by students and faculty.
In the email, which appears to be from a faculty member or the Office for Research at Idaho State, students are asked to email a resume and other personal information. The email looks realistic, with actual mailing addresses.
If you or your students receive this email, please look at the sender. Emails from ISU will not be from a gmail.com account, and internship opportunities will not be communicated in this manner. The phone number listed is not an Idaho number.
| | Jazz Festival to Feature Sheela Bringi’s Bird Clan | The Idaho State University School of Performing Arts will host its annual Jazz Fest on February 13 and 14, bringing together hundreds of regional high school musicians, ISU students, and internationally recognized guest artists for two days of clinics, collaboration, and live performance.
This year’s festival features Sheela Bringi’s Bird Clan, an Indian-American fusion ensemble based in Denver. Bringi’s music blends traditional Indian instruments and vocal styles with contemporary jazz, creating a vibrant and innovative sound. Over the two-day festival, she and her band will work closely with fifteen high school jazz ensembles from across the region, as well as students in ISU’s Commercial Music Program. | | | February 16 | Presidents' Day holiday (no classes) | | February 23 | Early 8-week course grading opens | | March 2 | Mid-term week | | March 9 | Late 8-week courses begin | | March 10 | Early 8-week course grading closes at 5:00 pm | | March 23 | Spring Break (no classes) | | | Upcoming Events in the College of Science and Engineering | | |
Department/Program
Biological Sciences
Event
Seminar
Kirt Onthank
Details
Thurs Jan 29
4 pm
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Department/Program
ALL
Event
Bengal STEM Day
Details
Thurs Feb 12
4 pm
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Department/Program
Biological Sciences
Event
Seminar: BSRC Grant Workshop
Kristin Lane and Anirban Chakraborty
Idaho State University
Details
Thurs Feb 19
4 pm
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Help Us Share Your Accomplishments!
Our College’s outstanding faculty, staff, and students achieve many notable research and professional accomplishments. In addition, our departments regularly have newsworthy advancements. We want to make sure those stories are shared publicly. Here are a few ways you can provide a news tip to help get the word out:
Use this Story Submission Form to send your news tip to the Office of Marketing and Communications.
Send an email to Logan McDougall (loganmcdougall@isu.edu) with a brief description of the news to be shared.
You are always welcome to create a draft story, submit it via the Story Submission Form, or send it to Logan. The Office of Marketing and Communications and Logan will coordinate to get the story finalized and distributed to the media outlets/platforms that best tell the story.
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