Chad Baldwin, Marketing and Communications for the University of Wyoming, called into the Weekday Wake-Up on Wednesday, May 20 for his monthly report. Baldwin discussed a community information guide on nuclear energy and a nuclear science trailer at Wyoming Public Schools. In addition, Baldwin touched on UW-led article highlighting virtual fencing in rangelands, big game movement through housing projects and a $20 million donation to the Tome Scholars to Fellows Program.

(0:00) Good morning, Star Valley, Kemmerer, and Bridger Valley. (0:03) Thanks for starting your day with the weekday wake-up on the SVI Radio Network. (0:08) It is 8.36 this morning on Swift 98 and The Spur, heading into this hour’s guest interview segment.

(0:14) And Chad Baldwin, Marketing and Communications with the University of Wyoming, is with us on the weekday wake-up today. (0:20) Chad, good morning. How’s Laramie? (0:21) Did you get dug out from that big old snowstorm that went through there recently? (0:25) That was a nice little May surprise.

(0:27) Yeah, it’s so interesting, Duke. We didn’t get much of any here in town. (0:32) But, you know, just like 25 miles away there in Centennial, they got two feet.

(0:36) Wow. (0:36) So anyway, the mountains got hit well and, you know, between here and Rollins certainly did. (0:42) But we somehow skirted the really heavy wet stuff.

(0:46) But anyway, the countryside really needed it. We’re very grateful. (0:49) Yeah, absolutely.

Well, let’s talk about what’s happening with the University of Wyoming and across the state of Wyoming. (0:54) Of course, here in Lincoln County, Terra Powers began construction of their nuclear island already just over the last couple of weeks. (1:03) They began excavation work.

(1:04) And so it’s a great segue for what UW is doing with nuclear energy. (1:09) And it sounds like you’re just releasing a community information guide on nuclear energy in the state. (1:14) Tell us what this is.

(1:15) Yeah, Duke, it’s been interesting to watch around the state. (1:19) Of course, we have what’s happening in Lincoln County. (1:21) There have been some proposals for some things in, say, Casper and Gillette related to nuclear and a lot of sort of questions from communities about, you know, particularly the nuclear waste issue.

(1:34) But, you know, just people asking and seeking information. (1:39) And the university, our School of Energy Resources, has done that. (1:42) They’ve released a set of community information guides addressing topics related to nuclear energy in Wyoming.

(1:49) The idea being that, you know, the university is not going to take positions on some of this controversial stuff. (1:55) But when people are seeking information, it’s the university’s job to provide it. (2:00) And so that’s what we’ve done.

(2:03) You know, we also had recently a nuclear energy emerging issue forum here on campus. (2:11) And this is all about informing the people of Wyoming about all aspects of nuclear energy. (2:16) And this is, you know, re-emerging industry in the state.

(2:20) And we want to be right there from the standpoint of workforce development, scientific aspects, and then just the basic information. (2:31) So, Chad, where does someone find this information guide from the university? (2:35) Yeah, so I’m trying to look here on the website here. (2:42) So if you Google for Unison Wyoming School of Energy Resources and then nuclear energy information, it’ll take you to… (2:53) The URL is a little too long for me to give you right here, Duke.

(2:56) But what Wyoming citizens should know about nuclear waste, for example, is one of those guides. (3:03) And so anyway, it’s all on the School of Energy Resources website. (3:08) Perfect.

(3:08) That’s Chad Baldwin this morning with the University of Wyoming. (3:11) You mentioned the forum that was held. (3:13) Tell us more details about that.

(3:14) It involves public schools and everything along those lines, correct? (3:19) Yeah. (3:19) Yeah, so there was one of our partners in all this, and it’s certainly a good thing to be partnered with, is the Idaho National Laboratory, (3:29) which is the site of a lot of nuclear research. (3:32) And they were part of our Nuclear Energy Emerging Issue Forum last month, which included what they call their Nuclear Science Trailer, (3:42) which is a mobile education platform to help people.

(3:46) It’s got hands-on exhibits and interactive demonstrations. (3:48) That was here, and it visited public schools, not only here in Laramie, but also in Rock Springs and Kemmerer as it was headed back to Idaho Falls. (3:58) So, you know, again, just another aspect of the information role that the university is playing on this really important topic.

(4:08) Speaking with Chad Baldwin, University of Wyoming, this morning on the Weekday Wake-Up. (4:11) Chad, let’s switch gears to ranching and agriculture right now. (4:15) This is kind of fascinating, where UW is leading some research in virtual fencing for agriculture and rangelands.

(4:27) Tell us about this. (4:29) Yeah, another example, Duke, of where we’re not necessarily advocating for things, just providing information. (4:35) So yes, members of our faculty, and this is in the Hobbs School of Environment and Natural Resources, (4:42) and also in our College of Agriculture, looking at what’s happening.

(4:47) And there are ranches in Wyoming that have gone to this. (4:50) Maybe the best example that’s gotten a lot of attention is the Pitchfork Ranch in Park County, (4:55) where they’re using, they put these collars on these animals, and you use the GPS-enabled collars. (5:03) And then you have defined boundaries.

(5:06) So it basically takes the place of fencing. (5:10) And you can adjust these for different grazing areas and areas in near real time. (5:17) You can exclude animals from sensitive areas during critical periods and move herds with precision.

(5:22) That traditional fencing makes maybe really difficult or even impossible. (5:27) And so this is a new technology that’s being deployed in parts of Wyoming in the ag industry. (5:36) And our goal, the goal of this research is to make information available to producers (5:42) who decide they might want to, in case they want to take a look at it, if it improves their operations or just what.

(5:49) Yeah, that’s quite fascinating, actually. (5:51) So it’s like a dog collar, but for cows, right? (5:54) I mean, is that kind of what I’m getting here? (5:56) Yeah, absolutely. (5:57) Yeah, that’s probably a little fancier, because these are GPS collars, (6:03) and it’s maybe a little more fancy than those that you put on your dog and zap them when they get too far away, (6:08) you know, when you’re hunting or something like that.

(6:11) Maybe a little more sophisticated than that. (6:13) Sure, sure. (6:14) Chad Baldwin, University of Wyoming, this morning of the Weekday Wake-Up.

(6:17) And Chad, also some research being done when it comes to migration of big game. (6:22) And as Wyoming continues to grow and see a few more developments popping up, (6:27) there’s some more research being done there. (6:30) Yeah, yeah.

(6:31) And, Duke, I’m going to kind of the same song here on this. (6:35) It’s an important issue that’s unfolding in Wyoming, (6:38) and the university wants to provide helpful information for people. (6:41) So, this study looks at how big game animals interact with residential development, (6:48) and how much space, say, between homes is maybe optimal for big game migrations to be able to continue, (6:57) how animals interact with, you know, housing developments.

(7:02) We’re talking here, you know, and they look primarily at what’s happening in the Jackson and Cody areas for this. (7:09) But just looking at some broad patterns and different species, like mule deer and elk and moose and antelope, (7:17) you know, what is the best way to approach residential development? (7:23) And, you know, as we know, Duke, you know, we have amazing big game animals in Wyoming. (7:31) Wildlife is one of the reasons many of us like to be here, live here.

(7:35) We also know that some residential growth is probably desired. (7:39) We don’t want to just, you know, we’re not looking for a population boom like, say, we’re seeing in the Boise area. (7:45) But, you know, some growth is going to be important for our economy, for our future.

(7:50) And what’s the best way to preserve, to have this growth and preserve all the things we hold dear, (7:55) which includes open space and wildlife in Wyoming? (7:58) And so, that’s what this research is about. (8:00) Well, Chad, we’ll conclude with this today. (8:02) Commencement, of course, has taken place, and the class of 2026 has graduated.

(8:07) But kind of a pretty cool announcement made at the commencement, a donation to the tune of $20 million to the University of Wyoming. (8:16) Yeah, that was awesome. (8:18) So, our commencement speaker, Duke, was Carol Tomei.

(8:20) She’s the CEO of UPS. (8:23) She’s an alum of the University of Wyoming, a proud alum, and was our commencement speaker. (8:28) And during her speech, she announced that she and her husband have pledged $20 million.

(8:34) This is on top of some other donations and gifts they’ve made before. (8:38) But huge, one of the biggest gifts we’ve ever gotten at UW. (8:43) And it’s to support their Tomei Scholars Program, which is a scholarship program for students who want to study in the environment and natural resources field.

(8:53) And now it’s also going to be extended to our business area. (8:57) So, we’re talking, like, 100 or so full-ride scholarships for students are going to come through this, probably. (9:05) Because it’s an endowment, right? (9:07) And it spins off revenue every year, investment income, and that’s what we’ll fund this.

(9:13) So, a really big deal for the university and very grateful to the Tomeis for this commitment. (9:19) Yeah, that’s fantastic. (9:20) That’s Chad Baldwin this morning from the University of Wyoming with the monthly report.

(9:24) Chad, as always, appreciate your time. (9:25) Thank you so much. (9:27) Thank you, Duke.

(9:28) It’s all part of the weekday wake-up this morning on SVI Radio.