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 As the #HeartofKU, the College i

 

Do aliens exist on Mars? Possibly. But how do humans actually go about answering that question? One option is to examine rocks to understand the types of  life-forms, like squishy things, that roamed the earth billions of years ago. That's what Alison Olcott does in her role as associate professor of paleobiogeochemistry in the Department of Geology at the University of Kansas. And while playing on Google Maps one day, Alison found that the rocks she needed to study are found not far from KU, in the Gypsum Hills of Kansas. Who knew Kansas and Mars were so similar!

By Joel Mathis

On August 7th, seven Jayhawks and their professors and mentors waved the wheat with smiles to match the sun's rays in the Tanzanian Southern Highlands, hundreds of miles from the coastal metropolis of Dar es Salaam. Spotting a landscape familiar to Kansans, the group paused for a quick photo on the edge of a wheat field just outside the town of Mufindi. Rolling hills surrounded the group as they reflected on the life-changing experiences of the past week.

Valentine’s Day is here, love is in the air. Pick-up a glossy magazine, flick a few pages and very quickly, you will find a celebrity sharing their relationship advice with you. Turn on the television, and dating shows like “The Bachelor” will show you the trials and tribulations of finding love in the modern world. Should celebrities and reality TV be shaping our ideas about something as important as love? Researchers across the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences at KU also have a lot to say about love and relationships. So this Valentine’s Day, we've put together a relationship advice column based on recent research. Unlike “The Bachelor,” our researchers propose complex and multi-faceted understandings of love that avoid clichés and a single path to a successful relationship.* *Warning: this advice does not come with relationship success guaranteed.

The College of Liberal Arts & Sciences is the heart of KU. We educate the most students, produce the most research and collaborate all across KU. As the destination for more than half of KU undergraduate students, we are in a unique position to prepare a broad population of Jayhawks to enter their careers with a blend of intellectual curiosity and hands-on skills. KU is known as one of the top research universities worldwide. This distinction offers experiences students can find at few other institutions. Imagine, as a young student, working in close collaboration on cutting-edge research with experienced and renowned scholars who invite you to join their research project or advise you on your own research questions.

 

Famed writer and one-time Lawrence resident Langston Hughes, born in Joplin, Mo., is celebrated throughout the University of Kansas and the city. To help us celebrate his birthday and kick off Black History Month, we spoke to professors across campus to tell us what we should know about Hughes’ significant and broad career and the lasting impact his work had on American culture … in a nutshell.

He grew up in Lawrence, Kansas

Jayhawks love their traditions. They unite our community, connect us to our past, and capture the values that will propel us to greatness. But did you know that several of the most famous KU traditions were born out of the creativity of College faculty and alumni? From the Rock Chalk Chant to good luck charms, here's some of the reasons why the College is known as the historical heart of KU.

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Rock Chalk Chant

Scholars across the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences at KU turn up every single day determined to make discoveries that will uplift society. They question the status quo, experiment with new ideas and products, and propose solutions that address the challenges we all face. From discovering a new species, to recommending the best ways to find love, to exploring the potential impact of real-life death stars, check out just a few of the many KU discoveries from the spring of 2017 in our highlights reel below.