Big Ideas and Bold Moves: The College’s 2025 Recap

Dean Jeff Grabill, whose vision and leadership will guide the College into an era of innovation and collaboration, joined UB in August. 

The first-of-their-kind degree programs that combine the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence with academic disciplines in the College. The seven new AI + X bachelor's degrees and two minors will prepare students for a variety of careers across disciplines. 

The College has more than 1,200 new and transfer undergraduate students to the campus in the fall. The campus provided a warm welcome for the incoming class. 

BioSCape, a multinational research project funded by NASA and co-led by Adam Wilson, associate professor, demonstrated that Earth’s biodiversity can be monitored and measured from space, leading to a better understanding of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. 

The opening of the dedicated space Indigenous Studies home/hub creates a vibrant hub for scholarship, community engagement and cultural exchange. The home/hub is a space for sharing knowledge and fostering dialogue that enriches our academic community.

The newly renovated Delaware, Lackawanna and Western (DL&W) terminal includes a sprawling new mural, “Birds of Buffalo,” spanning nearly 300 feet of the train platform, features 154 species of local birds, drawn from sightings at nearby Tifft Nature Preserve by art professor, Joan Linder. 

Moon rocks from NASA’s Apollo missions arrived  on campus, offering students and researchers a rare opportunity to study pieces of lunar history.

Scientists identified a bacteria strain capable of breaking down PFAS, the persistent “forever chemicals” that threaten ecosystems worldwide.

The Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) program received a prestigious Mellon Foundation grant to support groundbreaking research on immigration. This initiative will foster interdisciplinary collaboration and examine how inclusive immigration practices in a Rust Belt City, like Buffalo, affect democracy and democratic norms.

Researchers found that genes that act like on-off switches, controlling critical cellular processes. This breakthrough could pave the way for new treatments and deepen our understanding of genetic regulation in health and disease.

Research study shows ages 56 to 65 often foster self-transcendence as part of life’s journey, with greater acceptance, reduced regret and deeper satisfaction.

Researchers examined how social media influences climate anxiety, shedding light on the complex relationship between digital platforms and mental health in the era of climate change. This timely study offers insights into how online discourse shapes public perception and emotional responses to environmental challenges.