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News

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New MSU Research Shows Stronger Communication Results in Stronger Construction

When it comes to constructing complex buildings that involve architects, engineers and construction professionals, it’s not just engineering that matters, it’s also how people talk to each other. New interdisciplinary research from Michigan State University found that better team communication and collaboration can dramatically improve the performance of large-scale construction projects.
Gloved hand holding a metal circle

Rooney Searches for Clues to Why Continents Break Apart

Millions of years ago, nearly all of Earth’s continents were fused together in one giant land mass called Pangea. That is, until tectonic forces split them apart in a phenomenon called continental rifting. Tyrone Rooney has spent his career solving the mystery of how rifting works.
A person sits in a lab with lights and cameras extending her arm into a motion-tracking device

Spartans Are Creating Technologies for a Better World

Some of the most impactful technologies often aren’t the ones you see. They seamlessly make their way into our day, making life safer, healthier and more sustainable. At Michigan State University, a top 40 U.S. university for its number of utility patents, Spartan researchers are designing and delivering those very innovations.
Mackinac Bridge with clear skies

Leaders and Partners Gather on Mackinac to Shape Innovation’s Future

Each year, Michigan’s top leaders gather on Mackinac Island for the Detroit Regional Chamber’s Policy Conference to address key issues shaping the state’s future. This year, Michigan State University hosted a panel highlighting how federal research funding fuels breakthroughs, from improving pancreatic cancer survival rates to addressing crises like the Flint Water Crisis.
A close up of raindrops on leaves

May Research at MSU

May is a time of celebration and reflection at MSU. As graduation season ends, we honor students’ achievements and recognize women in leadership. From inspiring faculty to student voices and cultural legacies, these stories reflect the resilience and creativity of the Spartan community.
A person zip lining through the Amazon

Amazon Trees Under Stress: New Research Uncovers How Forest Giants Respond to Light and Heat

The study, led by doctoral candidate Leonardo Ziccardi with professor Scott C Stark in the MSU Department of Forestry, shows how tropical trees act like giant solar antennas—absorbing vast quantities of light energy that must be carefully managed.
Corn field farmland

Too Much of a Good Thing: Consequences of Overplanting Bt Corn in the US

A new study from Michigan State University shows that planting too much genetically modified corn designed to fight off a tough insect — the corn rootworm — especially in the eastern U.S. Corn Belt states may be causing more harm than good.
A cluster of daffodil flowers

ROSE Program Cuts Rates of Postpartum Depression in Half While Saving Money

Nearly 1 in 8 women in the U.S. experience postpartum depression (PPD), which is linked to higher rates of substance abuse, domestic violence, infant mortality, and even suicide. Research shows PPD can be reduced by 50% cost-effectively, but looming NIH funding cuts threaten this progress.
Announcements
Malete and Pfeiffer Named Gwen Norrell Professors
Two Michigan State University professors were named Gwen Norrell Professors, recognizing their work in youth sport and student-athlete well-being. Their research will advance physical, mental and developmental outcomes for young athletes.
Cooley Named Lansing’s Next Poet Laureate
Suban Nur Cooley, assistant professor in the Department of African American and African Studies at Michigan State University, has been named Lansing’s next poet laureate and will serve the greater Lansing region for the 2026-2028 term.
Law School Celebrates 25 Years of the Geoffrey Fieger Trial Practice Institute
The Geoffrey Fieger Trial Practice Institute marks 25 years of hands-on legal training rooted in advocacy and real-world experience. The program continues to shape future trial lawyers through immersive, practice-based learning.
Professor and Alum Earn International Outstanding Publication Award for Second Language Acquisition Research
A Michigan State University professor and alum earned an international award for research on how people learn second languages. Their study supports a widely used model of language skill development.
9 MSU Faculty Named Fellows for AAAS
Nine Michigan State University researchers have been elected 2025 Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, or AAAS, one of the world’s largest and most respected scientific societies.
Limbu Awarded HARP Large-Scale Funding to Advance Global Understanding of Himalayan Indigenous Rhetorics
A Michigan State University professor received major funding to study and preserve Himalayan Indigenous knowledge and oral traditions. The research aims to elevate global understanding of Yakthung culture and its living systems of knowledge.