NAU News — NAU researchers launch first large-scale study of tooth decay among minority preschoolers

	NAU researchers launch first large-scale study of tooth decay among minority preschoolers With funding through the Southwest Health Equity Research Collaborative, Northern Arizona University researchers are partnering with the University of Hawai’i to investigate biological, socioeconomic factors driving early childhood caries.
	SRP funding groundbreaking NAU research into forest health, increasing diversity in STEM The five-year partnership between NAU and the Phoenix-based Salt River Project funds research focusing on applied research activities related to SRP’s core businesses of power and water. Graduate and undergraduate students join NAU researchers in these projects.
	Three NAU graduate students awarded NASA’s prestigious FINESST grants Doctoral astronomy students Anthony Maue, Ari Koeppel and Anna Engle each received a FINESST grant. Only 34 proposals were selected nationally; NAU tied with the University of Arizona for the highest number of selections in the country.
	A tale of two understories: How mosses and climate are shaping the fate of nitrogen in the boreal Biology professor Michelle Mack is a senior author on the study, which demonstrates the invisible connections between trees and the dynamic understory of mosses and microbes that help govern their growth. Ecoss coordinator Victor Leshyk created the cover art for this month’s New Phytologist issue.
	Diversifying STEM: Assistant professor receives NSF grant to study transfer pathways from community colleges to Ph.D. programs The NSF awarded assistant professor of educational leadership Jennifer Blaney a grant to investigate community college student transfer pathways to graduate school programs in computing, with a primary goal of diversifying academia.
	‘Venture Into the Unknown’: NAU Theatre takes its 2020-21 season online From classic comedies like “Clue” to the fantasy role-playing performance of “She Kills Monsters,” though this year’s theatre productions will be in a virtual format, they will still bring laughs and provide a much needed escape.