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The NAU Review — Who wants to be a park ranger? What’s weird about quantum computing? Who appreciates bats?

by Community Contributor • April 19, 2022 • Comments Off

April 19, 2022

The NAU Review. The official news source for Northern Arizona University.

James Jensen sitting on a log in the woods

NAU’s soon-to-be Ranger James

James Jensen received a bachelor’s in political science, then quickly got a sales job that left him feeling unsatisfied and unfulfilled. After spending a week last summer backpacking through Glacier National Park, he decided it was time for a change; he wanted to pursue something he truly enjoyed—the outdoors. Northern Arizona University’s accelerated Park Ranger Training Program is one of only six in the country. In just 16 short weeks, students earn a certificate that opens the metaphorical door to working in state and national parks throughout the U.S. This week, Jensen and his cohort will graduate. Thanks to this program, he will soon get to work his dream job in his favorite place on Earth.

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Bat-tastic beasts and where to find them (Hint: Here!)

Who appreciates bats? You do! These little flying mammals eat pesky insects like mosquitoes and are an important part of many ecosystems worldwide. For Bat Appreciation Day, revisit a 2017 story about the research Faith Walker and Carol Chambers are doing on these cute—yes, cute—little critters.

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Special Olympics soccer team in front of a goal

Supporting the Special Olympics

The Epsilon Tau chapter of the Kappa Alpha Order hosted a series of events to raise money for the Special Olympics of Arizona. Mac Shattuck, president of the fraternity, speaks about the importance of raising money for the Special Olympics and how giving back to the community is a top priority for KA.

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Using the ‘weird’ in quantum computing to answer hard questions

The world of quantum computing can be intimidating. It is at the intersection of so many disciplines like medicine and cybersecurity with large implications for our future as a civilization—but this only deepened the interest of Ph.D. students Jaime Diaz and Taylor Begay-Wilson. After a seminar delivered by IBM, these two students took what they learned to the next level.

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