Idaho's Land-Grant University

Ethical development and use of AI leads to structured approach to ingenuity BY Jodi Walker Art by Noah Kroese September 1, 2026 Vandals don’t do anything halfway. Determination drives them to push boundaries, lead innovation and, as President Scott Green likes to say, “punch above our weight.” Even before the recent wave of artificial intelligence breakthroughs dominated headlines, University of Idaho leadership invested in systems that positioned the university to fully embrace AI capability.

MOSCOW, Idaho — Along came a spider, bringing acclaim to the Vandals. A University of Idaho research team has discovered a previously unknown species of spider, which they believe lives only in an isolated pocket of moist, coniferous forest in the mountains of the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests of north-central Idaho. They’ve named the nickel-sized, dark-colored spider Hexura vandal, honoring U of I’s mascot.

Learn online with University of Idaho Take the next step toward your goals with flexible online learning through University of Idaho. U of I’s online offerings make it possible to earn a degree, build new skills or complete credit-bearing courses without putting your life on hold. Our flexible online programs and courses deliver the same high-quality education as our on-campus experience, giving you the freedom to learn when and where it works best for you.

See hands-on learning in action College should take you places. Vandal Explorers take you behind the scenes with University of Idaho students as they learn, research and grow beyond the classroom. Follow undergraduate and graduate students into the field, the workplace and communities around the world as they conduct research, complete internships, study abroad and gain the hands-on experiences that prepare them for successful careers.

MOSCOW, Idaho — Nematodes are omnipresent in Idaho soils and can cause millions in annual losses to individual farming operations, yet they often go undetected and overlooked. Erika Consoli will help bring solutions to Idaho producers as the inaugural holder of the Saad Hafez Presidential Endowed Chair for Nematology, at University of Idaho's Parma Research and Extension Center.

Cody Harrison, a Navy veteran with three degrees, prepares to tackle legal questions surrounding small modular reactors Cody Harrison turned his vision into a career path at University of Idaho Law School. BY David Jackson Photos by Melissa Hartley, Mark VanderSys August 18, 2026 It makes sense that Cody Harrison ’26 would build a career related to nuclear energy.

Former wildland firefighter and doctoral student Phinehas Lampman of Pierce, Idaho, and Leda Kobziar, professor of wildland science, equip a drone as part of their fire research in this 2021 photo. BY Ralph Bartholdt Photos by  Melissa Hartley August 17, 2026 In his seven years as a wildland firefighter in North Idaho, Phinehas Lampman recognized the importance of predicting fire behavior in real time.

A new internship model combines AI training with hands-on industry experience BY Todd Mordhorst Photos by Garrett Britton August 17, 2026 As interns at Profit Recovery Partners (PRP) this summer, Aaron Guevara and Syed Sakib set out to eliminate time-consuming tasks for their colleagues. A University of Idaho bootcamp equipped them to meet the challenge of streamlining PRP’s paperwork-processing system.

Alexis Means observes a herd of bighorn sheep from afar to collect data on their feeding behavior. BY Annalise Mitchell Photos by Alexis Means, Greg Latta, Amber Hawes and Grace Ruble July 29, 2026 Mentorship Matters For the College of Natural Resources (CNR), faculty mentorship allows students to gain valuable insight into the scientific process and make career-building connections within the various industries of natural resources.

MOSCOW, Idaho — New research provides the strongest evidence to date that ringtails — secretive, cat-sized omnivores with raccoon-like tails — have expanded their range into southern Idaho and may now be a resident species in the state.