In 2004, The University of Alabama launched a new phase in the growth of its research programs. Setting the goal of creating a campuswide culture of excellence in scholarly activity, the University has embarked on a program to transform UA into one of the top 50 research institutions of higher education in the nation.
A University of Alabama accounting professor said there are at least four areas of U.S. tax code that need attention and are likely to be considered next year when tax reform takes center stage.
Nearly a half-dozen states will follow California’s lead and promote stem-cell research in 2005, while a new technology that could eventually make the entire debate moot will continue developing in the months ahead, predicts a University of Alabama biologist.
The Federal Communications Commission and Congress are likely to take steps to curtail press freedom in 2005, a University of Alabama communication expert predicts.
A 2005 economy strong enough to keep housing prices firm, tempered by the potential impact of the growing federal deficit will combine for a good housing market, but not one as strong as 2004, predicts a real estate expert at The University of Alabama.
While Alabama is not a premier destination state for Hispanic migrants, the state has not yet peaked in its potential to absorb additional Hispanic residents, and the Hispanic population in Alabama will continue to grow throughout the decade, according to Annette Watters, manager of the Alabama State Data Center at The University of Alabama.
The price of oil in 2005 will be volatile, says a University of Alabama engineering professor. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, known as OPEC, recently announced a one-million barrel a day cutback in production, which, if enforced, should keep the price above the old target price of about $25 a barrel, according to Dr. Peter Clark, associate professor of chemical and biological engineering at UA.
Every year brings the possibility of the next flu epidemic, or even pandemic, regardless of whether or not a flu vaccine is available, according to a University of Alabama epidemiologist.
The most popular food trends for the upcoming year will be convenience (heat-and-eat) meals, fresh and healthy foods, and larger nutrition bars that serve as meal replacement items, predicts Dr. Ralph Lane, University of Alabama professor of human nutrition.
Proponents of tax cuts should be pleased as additional tax reductions, possibly including a radical shift toward a flat-tax-style income tax, will be proposed in coming months, predicts a University of Alabama professor of political science.