Look up while walking through downtown Iowa City and you’ll see the faces of 40 innovative UI student researchers featured in the 2026 Dare to Discover banner campaign, sponsored by the Office of the Vice President for Research. Learn more about these Hawkeyes who dare to create, cure, explore, imagine, and discover.

Because of an Extreme Cold Warning while classes are in session, UI moved to virtual instruction on Friday, Jan. 23. Instructors will hold classes via Zoom or Teams, or in rare circumstances, cancel class and cover material at a future date. University offices and services will remain open in accordance with the UI Policy Manual.

Captions make videos easier to follow for everyone — from people with hearing loss to users watching with the sound off. Find out how to add captions to YouTube videos, enable live transcriptions in Teams meetings, and why you need to review captions for accuracy and clarity.

Four UI researchers are uncovering the ways the body handles excess dietary fat. Their discoveries could lead to new treatments for heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and fatty liver disease. Explore their groundbreaking studies shaping the future of metabolic health.

Three University of Iowa neuroscientists won 2025 Young Investigator Awards from the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation. The awards help promising young scientists launch careers in neuroscience and psychiatry. This year marks the second time Kyle Flippo has received the award, a rare distinction.

Allison Levine, assistant professor in the College of Education, received a $2.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to use AI and virtual reality to help youths with disabilities prepare for careers in STEM fields. The project uses AI-driven virtual environments to help participants practice interpersonal and professional skills in realistic scenarios.

Garry Buettner, professor emeritus in the Department of Radiation Oncology, spent decades researching vitamin C’s cancer-fighting potential — and now that research is helping him. After being diagnosed with cancer in 2023, Buettner worked with UI Health Care colleagues to apply his research to his own treatment. Read more about how his work is helping cancer patients.

When Iowa public schools began teaching cursive writing again in 2024, teachers had few resources to turn to. That’s why Shawn Datchuk, professor of special education, and a team at the Iowa Reading Research Center created a free online tool that includes curriculum, videos, and more. Datchuk says handwriting boosts reading, writing, and learning skills — and pencils are still less expensive than laptops.

The University of Iowa is conducting a review of low-enrollment undergraduate majors to ensure that they align with student demand, workforce needs, and the university’s educational mission.

The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has recognized the University of Iowa with its Community Engagement Classification, reaffirming Iowa’s commitment to community engagement and its leadership connecting education with public service.

More than 200 employees across campus were recognized in December with a high-five thanking them for excellent customer service, positivity in the workplace, and meaningful collaboration. Read some of the recognition shared among colleagues.

A $6.1 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration will enable Cambus to add six new diesel-electric hybrid buses to its fleet. The new buses will increase service reliability and rider comfort, and reduce operational costs.