Two students in a lab with pipettes

WHERE CURIOSITY DRIVES IMPACT

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. 

LAS News
Alma Mater
LAS students awarded Fulbright grants
 Nine University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign students and recent graduates were offered Fulbright grants to pursue international education, research and teaching experiences around the globe this coming year.Seven of the awardees have accepted grants from the ...
podcast screen
Sharing 'Qisasna'
 “Qisasna” means “our stories” in Arabic. A program by that name in Aden, Yemen, connects young adults with peers around the world to create podcast episodes sharing their experiences...
Berenbaum
What have decades of eradication efforts taught us about the New World screwworm?
 The value of basic science into insect biology is no more evident than when a crisis arises involving a devastating insect pest like the New World screwworm, says entomology professor and department head May Berenbaum. In...
Gaines
What effects could insider trading have on prediction markets?
 Brian J. Gaines is a professor of political science and the Honorable W. Russell Arrington Professor in State Politics at the U of I System’s Institute of Government and Public Affairs. Gaines spoke with News...
painting of Odysseus and Polyphemus
How does the film ‘The Odyssey’ compare with Homer’s epic poem?
 Filmmaker Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster film “The Odyssey” opened July 17, and the nearly three-hour-long interpretation of Homer’s epic poem was the top movie viewed that weekend. Nolan’s film garnered overwhelmingly positive reviews and already is projected to be an Oscar favorite....
Gene Robinson
Honey bees’ sense of smell changes from larval to adult life stages, study finds
 Honey bee larvae lack the sophisticated olfactory capabilities of adult honey bees, a new study finds. Scientists point to this temporary loss-of-function as a side effect of the nurse bees’ heroic level of brood care, calling it a consequence of social evolution.The new findings are detailed...
Various puncture tools on animals and insects
From cactus thorns to dinosaur teeth: Study analyzes biological puncture tool performance
 Nature has invented countless types of pointy appendages, and scientists have long sought to explain what makes these structures so effective at puncturing other things. A new study models the key physical characteristics of puncturing tools to reflect their diversity in nature, finding that...
presentation in a conference hall
Faculty gather for workshop on research impact
 The College of LAS and the Center for Social and Behavioral Science hosted a one-day, multi-session workshop titled “Designing Competitive Broader Impacts: Strategy, Evaluation, and Communication.” U of I faculty and research professionals across social and behavioral sciences, natural...

Read more news

 

```twig
99.6%
of Illinois students take a class in LAS
```twig
70+
majors offered within LAS
```twig
33%
of campus' tenure-track faculty members work in LAS
```twig
180,000
network of LAS alumni
```twig
Full profile
Learn more about LAS
Students walking on the Main Quad

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.
A graduate hugging a friend by the Alma Mater

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.