Gifts and grants is a roundup of research grants obtained by University of Iowa faculty, staff, and students that spans the spectrum of disciplines—from science and social science to the art and that humanities—that will be published in Iowa Now on a regular basis.

See a roundup of recent University of Iowa activities, research, public engagement, and campus life in Iowa Now Minute 4/11/2014.

University staff, faculty, students, and alumni are accomplishing great things every day. See who's making news with awards, publications, promotion and tenure, and more.

Four University of Iowa undergraduate students and 20 UI graduate students have received Stanley Awards for International Research to conduct research abroad or pursue learning activities in international studies that are not available on the UI campus.

Moved by heartbreaking headlines, University of Iowa faculty and researchers join the national movement against bullying.

The discovery of an enzyme that regulates the ability of cells to burn energy will not necessarily lead to weight-control treatments for humans: "One cannot be assured that this will be a totally healthy thing to do," says Charles Brenner, biochemistry and internal medicine professor.

Using a screening method that previously identified a compound in apple peel as a muscle-boosting agent, a team of University of Iowa scientists has now discovered that tomatidine, a compound from green tomatoes, is even more potent for building muscle and protecting against muscle atrophy.

Advanced patient simulators help University of Iowa College of Nursing students master clinical skills, but they can't replace the human element needed to learn consultation and teaching. That's where community volunteers come in.

Update 4/9 9:09 a.m.-Postponed. UI Facilities Management Landscape Services staff intend to conduct a prairie burn Wednesday, April 9, starting at 8:30 a.m., weather permitting. The prairie burn will occur adjacent to Hawkins Drive and west of the Ronald McDonald House.

UI graduate student Andrew Nelson examined the effectiveness of several methods of measuring radium levels in flowback water, including gamma-ray spectroscopy, emanation techniques, and EPA method 903.0.

Members of the media are invited to cover a field trip that will bring an estimated 60 middle school students from Columbus Junction, Iowa, to participate in interactive sessions on campus through the University of Iowa College of Education's Project HOPE (Healthcare, Occupations, Preparation, and Exploration).

The Public Policy Center at the University of Iowa is marking its 25th year by holding a series of policy discussions, called "What If?" At each forum, researchers will examine different hypothetical scenarios and their unintended consequences, and present relevant research. The sessions, open to the media and the public, are held each Tuesday evening from April 8 to April 29 in the Iowa City...