Research & Academics
Throwing shade since 1899
NAU’s Flagstaff mountain campus is home to an estimated 5,000 to 6,000 trees. We all love them—so shouldn’t we learn more about them? With help from state grant funds, Lumberjack researchers are working on a campuswide tree inventory this summer. The project won’t just help NAU take better care of its trees—it’ll also provide student research opportunities for years to come and will help the university achieve its sustainability goals. 
Research & Academics
How robots are making first steps happen
Robotic exoskeletons are the future of helping people with certain disabilities perform daily tasks, but they can be prohibitively difficult and expensive to develop. Mechanical engineering associate professor Zach Lerner, whose research has focused on developing this technology, led a team that created OpenExo, an open-source exoskeleton framework, which will open doors for researchers globally to help speed up life-changing robotic discoveries. 
Humans of NAU
Humans of NAU: River Olsen
River Olsen never really thought of herself as the leading or speaking-up type, so no one was more surprised than she was when she joined the Staff Advisory Council (SAC). Fast forward a few years, and she’s just started her year as SAC president. Read about the circuitous life path that got her there and what SAC can do for you. Research & Academics
How plants build the microbiome they need to survive in a tough environment
Did you know that under the right conditions, plants can handpick helpful microbes and weed out the bad ones, making them better able to survive in challenging environments? New research from the School of Earth and Sustainability documents this discovery, called functional team selection, which could reshape sustainable agriculture and deepen our understanding of how living systems adapt to a changing world. Throwing shade since 1899
NAU’s Flagstaff mountain campus is home to an estimated 5,000 to 6,000 trees. We all love them—so shouldn’t we learn more about them? With help from state grant funds, Lumberjack researchers are working on a campuswide tree inventory this summer. The project won’t just help NAU take better care of its trees—it’ll also provide student research opportunities for years to come and will help the university achieve its sustainability goals. How robots are making first steps happen
Robotic exoskeletons are the future of helping people with certain disabilities perform daily tasks, but they can be prohibitively difficult and expensive to develop. Mechanical engineering associate professor Zach Lerner, whose research has focused on developing this technology, led a team that created OpenExo, an open-source exoskeleton framework, which will open doors for researchers globally to help speed up life-changing robotic discoveries. Campus & Community
How to embrace plants, the land and your neighbors
A new digital exhibition co-created by NAU faculty members, students and volunteers explores how getting to know native plants could improve our community’s resilience against climate change, waning biodiversity and even loneliness. The exhibit, available for anyone to view online, complements an in-person plant exhibit at the Museum of Northern Arizona. 
Lumberjacks excel at 2025 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
This year, nine athletes traveled to Eugene, Oregon, to take on the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Read about the first-time competitors, prestigious All-American honors and record-breaking runs that made this four-day contest one to remember. 
Creative minds come together at the Young Authors Camp
Building new worlds, creating mini-zines and sharing ideas is part of what’s to come at this year’s Young Authors Camp. Young minds will discover the power of words using poetry, fiction and creative writing while meeting friends and playing games. This camp, open to incoming sixth- to 12th-graders, will be led in collaboration with NAU’s English education graduate students, who will gain hands-on experience in the classroom while shaping the minds of tomorrow. 
