WHERE CURIOSITY DRIVES IMPACT

Title

Change begins with curiosity.

From exploring new ideas to solving the world’s biggest issues, LAS empowers thinkers and doers to transform curiosity into measurable impact.

We believe that education is more than lectures and textbooks. It’s about cultivating minds that question, explore, and act with purpose. And we know that when curiosity meets opportunity, innovation follows—and the impossible becomes possible.

Explore where curiosity drives impact

LAS News

What does the current fight over dispersal of food stamps tell us about food as a political weapon?

Millions of Americans may not receive federal food assistance this month. The Trump administration initially said it would not fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program during the government shutdown, which began in October. After two federal judges said the refusal to provide the...

Student speaks to attendees at Dragon Expo

Using fantasy to promote science

Disease swept across the planes, threatening the dragons of Faerûn. Blue lab coat blowing in the wind, Adrien Seabloom poured over a diagram of dragon species, locations, and possible sources of the disease. He and his trusty lab assistants, a pair of rats peeking out of a pouch, were looking...

Huimin Zhao, a professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, stands in front of computer towers.

New AI tool helps match enzymes to substrates

A new artificial intelligence-powered tool can help researchers determine how well an enzyme fits with a desired target, helping them find the best enzyme and substrate combination for applications from catalysis to medicine to manufacturing.Led by Huimin Zhao, a professor of...

2026 Dean’s Distinguished Lecture speaker announced

Psychology and neuroscience professor Kara Federmeier will deliver the 2026 Dean’s Distinguished Lecture at Alice Campbell Alumni Center 4 p.m. March 4, 2026.The...

College names recipients in Study in a Second Discipline Program

The College of Liberal Arts & Sciences has awarded funding to several faculty members through the Study in a Second Discipline Program, which gives professors time and support to push beyond their primary...

From left: Derek Fultz, James Robert Frame, Candace Penn Frame, and Shaowen Wang

Alumni support the upgrade of an important laboratory

In a discipline devoted to spaces, one of the most significant transformations came recently in Davenport Hall where a little-used room was converted to a new, state-of-the art geospatial laboratory thanks in large part to a generous donation from Candace Penn (BS, ’72, ...

Is unintentional bias changeable?

In a new paper, psychology professor Benedek Kurdi proposes a fresh approach to confronting implicit, or unintentional, bias in diverse organizations. He spoke with News Bureau life sciences editor Diana Yates about the problems associated with...

Illinois wind patterns show signs of change, study finds

Winds across Illinois are beginning to still. A new study led by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign researchers has found that average wind speeds across the state have declined over the past three decades—and that the prevailing wind direction is slowly shifting southward. The findings...

Ready to discover your impact?

The application for Undergraduate admissions is now open. Apply to LAS today to see where your curiosity can take you.

Apply

99.6%

of Illinois students take a class in LAS

70+

majors offered within LAS

33%

of campus' tenure-track faculty members work in LAS

180,000

network of LAS alumni

Full profile

Learn more about LAS

Heather's graphic for LAS Merch Store; images of crewneck t-shirt, mug, tote bag, notebook, and sweatpants

LAS Store

Get your LAS-branded gear at our online pop-up store, open through November 23rd!

Shop here

Title

New students: Start your LAS journey

Fuel your curiosity, explore big ideas, and discover what drives you. Designed for new students, LAS First-Year Experience will help you connect, grow, and step confidently into college life.

Learn more

Title

Make your mark

When you support the College of LAS, you play a crucial role in shaping the success of thousands of students and faculty.

Join us in creating a powerful network of influential thinkers and proven achievers—and help us seek a better tomorrow, today.

Give now