College of Natural and Health Sciences

Birdseye view of the 60th anniversary of the School of Nursing

Celebrating 60 Years of Nursing Education Excellence

December 12, 2022 — For six decades, the University of Northern Colorado’s School of Nursing in the College of Natural and Health Sciences has had a strong history of educating nurses to provide compassionate, courageous and competent care to patients across Colorado and beyond through research and practice.

School of Teacher Education Faculty Member Wins Sears Helgoth Distinguished Teaching Award

August 23, 2022 — University of Northern Colorado School of Teacher Education Professor Suzette Youngs, Ph.D., has been selected as the recipient of the 2022 Sears Helgoth Distinguished Teaching Award.

New Combined Department Widens Resource Umbrella for Students Interested in Wellness

August 9, 2022 — Starting in the fall 2022 semester, the School of Sport and Exercise Science and the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics will combine to form the Department of Kinesiology, Nutrition and Dietetics (KiND) under the College of Natural and Health Sciences.

UNC Nursing Students Provide Care to Those in Need in Weld County

October 27, 2021 — This time, more than ever, has served as a reminder of how important it is to give back to those in need throughout the community, and the University of Northern Colorado’s nursing students are doing just that.

Scott Franklin and students researching in the river pre-COVID

UNC Faculty Provide Expertise, Student Involvement in Local Environmental Efforts

April 9, 2021 — Community involvement runs deep at UNC where campus community members are often involved in volunteering efforts and more. Four UNC faculty members share current efforts that they are involved in as well as how they involve their students:

Health care workers giving the COVID-19 vaccine

COVID-19 Case Investigators on the Frontline: UNC Public Health Students Saving Lives

April 2, 2021 — UNC students in the Master of Public Health program in 2020 had an unique experience earning a graduate degree online during a global pandemic.

UNC Names New Natural and Health Sciences Dean

March 31, 2021 — UNC has announced that Kamel Haddad, Ph.D., will become the next dean of the College of Natural and Health Sciences.

Peter Smoak outside UNCCRI holding a bottle of kefir.

UNC Receives Grant to Study Benefits of Kefir for Cancer Patients

February 26, 2019 — Earlier this year, uBiome awarded a $7,000 grant to researchers at UNC's Cancer Rehabilitation Institute to understand how kefir impacts the microbiome of cancer survivors who underwent chemotherapy and/or radiation treatment.

Nichols presenting in front of Chinese youth athletes in Dec. 2018.

UNC Faculty Member Visits China to Help Get Kids Physically Active

January 31, 2019 — Brett Nichols, Ph.D., UNC instructor of Sport and Exercise Science, spent two weeks of December 2018 in Beijing, China, working with parents and youth athletes to highlight the importance of sport for youth.

Students Give Back Through Bear Tuesday 2018

December 4, 2018 — Thanks to your help, #BearTuesday 2018 was the BEST #BearTuesday yet! This year current UNC students had a special opportunity to get in on the giving. Find out how they decided to use two very special #BearTuesday gifts.

UNC Professor Selected for Antarctic Expedition

August 23, 2018 — Meteorology Professor Cindy Shellito, Ph.D., has been selected to join an international group of 80 female scientists on a three-week expedition to the Antarctic Peninsula. The expedition, departing from Ushuaia, Argentina, Dec. 31, is part of a global initiative called Homeward Bound. The project aims to elevate the status of women in science and empower them to take a leadership role in issues related to climate change and sustainability.

UNC Researchers Discover Toxins in Venom of Snake

August 1, 2018 — A study by University of Northern Colorado Professor Stephen P. Mackessy and his colleagues including graduate research assistants identified two toxins in the venom of a species of snake that affect prey differently.

Professor Gives Update on Hawaii Volcano Eruption in Interview

May 16, 2018 — Last week, volcanologist Steve Anderson, a professor in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Science at UNC, was interviewed by Discovery Channel's Daily Planet magazine about his research on the erupting Hawaii Kilauea volcano.

UNC Professors Earn Prestigious National Audiology Awards

April 25, 2018 —

UNC Scientist: Female Birds Sing, Too; Help Her Record More Instances

March 14, 2018 — When North American ornithologists hear a bird singing, they’re likely to assume it’s a male. But in many species, the females sing too — and a new commentary co-authored by University of Northern Colorado’s Lauryn Benedict argues that a better understanding of these unappreciated female songs could lead to advances in many aspects of bird biology. Benedict and co-author Karan Odom of Cornell University urge their colleagues to spread the word that female birds sing, to share resources, and to disseminate their findings. You don’t need to be a professional ornithologist in order to help expand knowledge of female song, either — Odom has created a website where any birdwatcher can upload their observations.

UNC grad students place dosimeters on sugar mill workers to measure sound levels

UNC Group Joins Multi-University Effort to Establish Hearing Conservation Program in Guatemala

January 10, 2018 — A group of faculty and students led by University of Northern Colorado Professor Deanna Meinke implemented a hearing conservation program at a sugar mill in Guatemala last month.

UNC Researcher’s Winning Bat Photo Takes Internet by Storm

October 10, 2017 — A stunning image of a bat fetus produced by University of Northern Colorado Professor Rick Adams is circulating widely online after placing 15th out of 2,000 entries submitted from 88 countries in Nikon’s annual Small World contest.

Jolene exhibit at Musical Instrument Museum

In Photos: Installation of Exhibit at Musical Instrument Museum

August 28, 2017 — See photos of the mockup exhibit co-produced by UNC Audiology & Speech-Language Sciences professors Don Finan and Deanna Meinke for the Musical Instrument Museum, which boasts a collection of 6,500 instruments including those from a host of legendary artists including Elvis Presley and John Lennon.

Watch: UNC Student Detector Takes Flight During Eclipse

August 22, 2017 — A device created by UNC students to measure particles in the upper atmosphere went up in a NASA weather balloon during Monday's solar eclipse. Watch the launch, captured in video above by Assistant Professor Charles Kuehn, that took place in Camp Guernsey in southeastern Wyoming.

UNC Student Project Selected to be Aboard NASA Balloon During Solar Eclipse

August 14, 2017 — A unique project conceived and designed by UNC Physics and Astronomy students will be aboard a NASA high-altitude balloon that will be launched during the solar eclipse Aug. 21.

Listen Up: Arizona Musical Instrument Museum to Feature UNC Faculty Exhibit

August 7, 2017 — An exhibit being developed by University of Northern Colorado faculty will take up permanent residence in the same museum that displays instruments from the likes of Elvis Presley and John Lennon.

UNC Information About the Solar Eclipse Aug. 21

August 3, 2017 — In Greeley, a nearly three-hour partial eclipse is expected to take place between the hours of 10:23 a.m. and 1:14 p.m. (peak at 11:47 a.m.) on Monday, Aug. 21 — UNC's first day of fall classes. As the date approaches, here's important information about the eclipse and how to view the rare spectacle, weather permitting, on campus.

UNC Biology Class, BLM Partner to Protect Endangered Plants

July 25, 2017 — University of Northern Colorado students last week worked alongside Bureau of Land Management botanist Carol Dawson to collect data aimed at protecting two endangered plants: Osterhout's Milkvetch and Fenland's Beardtongue.

Expert: Activity Dips, Weight Creeps up in Summer

July 14, 2017 — The summer slide isn’t limited to academics, according to a nationally-known expert who delivered a keynote presentation Friday on childhood obesity at UNC’s Physical Activity Leadership Academy.

Study Led by UNC Researcher Shows Post-Exercise Benefits of Dairy Supplement for Cancer Survivors

July 13, 2017 — "Kefir may be a great way for cancer survivors to enjoy a post-exercise dairy drink in the future," said lead investigator Laura K. Stewart, Ph.D., associate professor at the University of Northern Colorado, School of Sport and Exercise Science.