SIU in the News - August, 2026
Lahiru Jayakody research
International, national and local media along with prestigious industry news outlets reported on research by Lahiru Jayakody and his UBites project of programming yeast to turn plastic and agricultural waste into edible proteins and food ingredients. Jayakody and his research team presented the latest on this project at the American Chemical Society’s fall symposium on Aug. 24. The video and photos in the ACS release are courtesy of University Communications and Marketing. Here is a sampling of the coverage.
Hard to swallow? The future of snacking may be 3D-printed cookies made from upcycled plastic — The Guardian — Aug. 24, 2026
Cookies made from plastic bottles could ease food shortages, feed NASA crews in space — Forbes Online — Aug. 24, 2026
Scientists are using microbes that turn plastic bottles into vanilla cookies — Yahoo News (and various outlets) — Aug. 24, 2026
Engineers 3D-printed edible cookies from plastic — Popular Science/MSN.com — Aug. 24, 2026
Plastic cookies anyone? Lankan-born scientist’s solution kills two birds with one stone — CXO Today — Aug. 25, 2026
These cookies are 3D-printed and made of recycled plastic — CNET — Aug. 25, 2026
µBites — Nutritional biscuits made from plastic waste and agricultural by-products — Vietnam.vn — Aug. 26, 2026
NASA scientists make edible 3D-printed cookies from reusable plastic — Kursiv Uzbekistan — Aug. 25, 2026
Scientists turn plastic bottles into protein-rich cookies — Pravda USA — Aug. 25, 2026
Scientists develop 3D-printed cookies from plastic waste and yeast — ABC News Nepal — Aug. 26, 2026
Plastic-to-food? Scientists create protein-rich cookie using plastic waste — NewsNation Online — Aug. 25, 2026
What are µBites? Researchers turn plastic waste into edible cookies — King5-TV — Aug. 25, 2026
Could this cookie made from waste and plastic help food crisis? — Talker News/The Sacramento Bee (and other outlets) — Aug. 24, 2026
Scientists turned plastic bottles and corn waste into protein-rich cookies — Times of India — Aug. 25, 2026
These microbes could turn plastic and plant waste into ingredients for protein-rich cookies — Discover Magazine — Aug. 24, 2026
Scientists turn plastic waste into edible cookies because that’s the future we deserve — Futurism — Aug. 24, 2026
Engineered yeasts turn PET bottles and crop waste into 3D-printed protein cookies — Food Ingredients First.com — Aug. 25, 2026
Olinda McKaughn, Office of Information Technology, talks about the “Grow With Google” program.
WSIL-TV — Aug. 21, 2026
Elizabeth Donoghue, University Honors Program and president of the Fuller Dome Home Museum, discusses R. Buckminster Fuller's legacy at the close of a four-month Sharp Museum exhibition that was part of the Fuller Futures Festival at SIU in April.
WPSD-TV/Southern Illinoisan — Aug. 23, 2026
“Having Read the Book: The Beatles in Print Media,” an exhibition of Beatles memorabilia in Morris Library's Hall of Presidents and Chancellors is featured.
Southern Illinoisan — Aug. 21, 2026
Jason Wonnell, assistant professor of practice, School of Art and Design, talks about the Fuller Futures exhibition at Sharp Museum.
Heartland News — Aug. 20, 2026
Tena Bennett, assistant vice chancellor for auxiliary services and student affairs, talks about the start of the fall semester.
Heartland News/WSIL-TV — Aug. 17, 2026
Kenneth Mulligan, associate professor, political science, discusses topics including Illinois' gubernatorial race, mid-term elections and current issues, civility in politics, and political movements.
Integrity Point Media Tom Miller podcast — Aug. 18, 2026
The upcoming Saluki Women’s Weekend is highlighted.
Southern Illinoisan (and other outlets) — Aug. 19, 2026
The university's lighting upgrade across campus is highlighted.
KBSI-TV — Aug. 18, 2026
Brent Pease, director, Roadside Ecology Center, discusses a 10-year, $40 million agreement with the Illinois Department of Transportation that aims to mitigate and minimize the impact of transportation projects on wildlife in the region.
WSIL-TV — Aug. 13, 2026
The Impact Report from the SIU Foundation includes a look at preparations for the fall semester, the upcoming Saluki Women’s Weekend, a leadership book honoring the late SIU alum William “Will” Bushelle, the Able Flight wing pinning ceremony, School of Automotive professor Sean Boyle, research into neurodevelopmental disorders at the SIU School of Medicine, the SIU Foundation’s record-breaking fundraising year, and more.
WSIU-TV — Aug. 13, 2026
John Jackson, visiting professor, Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, discusses topics including state education funding, and data centers in Illinois. Jackson’s comments start at 1:05 and 15:25.
WSIU-TV — Aug. 13, 2026
Steve Gariepy, experiential education specialist, STEM Education Research Center, talks about the Perseid meteor shower and Aug. 12 star party.
Heartland News/WSIL-TV — Aug. 11, 2026
Jeff Wilson, senior associate athletics director for external affairs, talks about 15th annual Saluki FanFest on Wednesday, Aug. 19, at Saluki Stadium and the upcoming SIU fall sports season.
WSIL-TV — Aug. 12, 2026
Move-in day for SIU students
Local and regional media covered SIU’s campus move-in day.
Freshmen begin moving in on SIU campus — Southern Illinoisan — Aug. 12, 2026
New SIU students brave heat for move-in day — Heartland News — Aug. 12, 2026
SIU welcomes class of 2030 as enrollment numbers rise — WPSD-TV — Aug. 12, 2026
Total solar eclipse
International, national and local media highlighted the involvement of SIU Carbondale faculty, staff and students involved in the Aug. 12 total solar eclipse.
SIU Carbondale students, professors watch total solar eclipse from Spain for NASA project — KSDK-TV — Aug. 12, 2026
SIU Carbondale students, professors watch total solar eclipse from Spain for NASA project — Europe Says.com — Aug. 13, 2026
Student livestream brings eclipse coverage to the world — WSIU Radio — Aug. 12, 2026
2026 Total Solar Eclipse: Live updates and countdown to totality — Newsy Today — Aug. 12, 2026
SIU students and staff prepared for eclipse research in Spain — WSIU Radio — Aug. 11, 2026
Tena Bennett, assistant vice chancellor for auxiliary enterprises and student affairs, talks about move-in day and welcome-to-campus activities for students during Weeks of Welcome and Saluki Startup.
WSIL-TV — Aug. 5, 2026
Undergraduate admissions Registration Rally is highlighted.
Heartland News — Aug. 6, 2026
Steve Gariepy, experiential education specialist, STEM Education Research Center, talks about the Perseid meteor shower and Aug. 12 star party.
Heartland News — Aug. 11, 2026
The appointment of Linda L. Baker as Paul Simon Public Policy Institute interim director is highlighted.
St. Louis American — Aug. 11, 2026
Scott Hamilton-Brehm, associate professor in biological sciences, talks about the discovery of a new microbe, SIUC-1.
Heartland News — Aug. 3, 2026
Bob Baer, associate scientist in the School of Physics and Applied Physics, talks about an Aug. 12 livestream total solar eclipse.
Space.com/Yahoo News — Aug. 4, 2026
SIU Carbondale’s Agricultural Robotics Club’s second-place finish at American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers’ Robotics Student Design Competition in July is highlighted.
FarmWeek Now.com — Aug. 5, 2026
SIU in the News highlights selected media coverage featuring the work and contributions of the university and members of the SIU community. Contact Pete Rosenbery, University Communications and Marketing, prosen@siu.edu, 618-453-1439, to add or remove faculty and staff from the internal distribution list.
