LSU starts off the holiday season with celebration and the lighting of the magnolia tree outside the student union!

Infancy is the most vulnerable time of life. Globally, 2.3 million children died in 2023 in the first 20 days of life, with approximately 6500 newborn deaths every day, according to the World Health Organization. Sibei Xia, an assistant professor in LSU’s Department of Textiles, Apparel Design, and Merchandising, is leading pioneering research aimed at alleviating the stress of new parents. Collaborating with LSU human ecology professor Chuanlan Liu and Ph.D. student Yanbo “Bonnie” Zhang, the team is developing wearable technology that could redefine infant care.Learn more: lsu.edu/blog/2024/12/2-smart-yarn-tech.php

A team from the LSU AgCenter is transforming rice farming to be more sustainable and efficient. Through innovative techniques, they’re helping farmers produce more rice with fewer resources, protecting both the land and Louisiana’s vital agricultural industry.Read more about this groundbreaking research and see how LSU is paving the way for a more resilient future in rice production: https://www.lsu.edu/winning-teams/2024-25/rice-research.php.

LSU held a "Spudding" Ceremony at the PERTT Lab to mark the start of drilling its groundbreaking CO2 sequestration research well, in partnership with Halliburton and ExxonMobil. This unique well will enable LSU students, researchers, and industry experts to advance carbon capture and safety technologies, positioning Louisiana as a leader in low-carbon energy research.https://www.lsu.edu/eng/news/2024/09/lsu-pertt-new-co2-research-well.php

LSU AgCenter researchers are working to make rice farming sustainable and resilient amid climate challenges. Through advanced technology and climate-smart rice varieties, they’re helping farmers manage rising costs, adapt to environmental stress, and increase productivity. With collaborators across four states and a new generation of student researchers, LSU is pioneering solutions for rice farmers in Louisiana and beyond.Learn more: https://www.lsu.edu/winning-teams/2024-25/rice-research.php

LSU hosted the 41st United States Association for Energy Economics North American Conference on November 3-6, 2024. The conference brings together researchers, business leaders, and government representatives to discuss issues at the intersection of energy and the environment.Learn more about the conference: https://www.lsu.edu/ces/conferences/usaee2024/index.php

LSU President William F. Tate IV embarked on the second Scholarship First Bus Tour from October 15-18 with a goal to align LSU's priorities with the state’s needs, demonstrate the many ways its research supports Louisiana’s people and economy, and explore new pathways that drive even greater impact. Powered by A. Wilbert’s Sons, the bus covered nearly 1,000 miles in four days, bringing President Tate and the LSU team around the state for hands-on opportunities to experience some of Louisiana’s leading industries.🚌▶️: https://www.lsu.edu/president/tour/index.php

LSU researchers have developed a device capable of detecting cancerous tissues during surgery with unprecedented speed and accuracy -- 96.1% accuracy, to be exact. This technology could significantly reduce the likelihood of cancer recurrence and improve patient survival rates globally.

Thousands of children in Louisiana struggle with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, which can interfere with their schoolwork and daily lives. Louisiana ranks among the states with the highest number of ADHD diagnoses. For many families, treatment can be expensive, frustrating, and overwhelming for their parents. But LSU Associate Professor of Computer Science David Shepherd’s research may just revolutionize ADHD treatment by using virtual reality, or VR, and noise-canceling headphones to block out distractions and help these children focus. Read more: LSU.edu/blog/2024/10/01vr_adhdresearch_rh.php

The final day of the 2024 Scholarship First tour took LSU President William F. Tate IV to Morgan City to announce the vision for a new $107 million Construction & Advanced Manufacturing Building and a $15 million leadership gift from Art Favre, founder of Performance Contractors and a graduate of the first LSU construction management class in 1972.Next up was some practice shooting at the Bridgeview Shooting Club in Port Allen with the 4-H national championship team, then on to Plaquemine for a precision agriculture demonstration at the A. Wilbert's Sons lab and test facility, followed by a closing reception.🚌▶️: https://www.lsu.edu/blog/2024/10/15bus-tour-day4-dispatches.php