Spray improves plants’ cold tolerance
Innovations Report – July 10
Studies indicate a spray-on formula increases plants’ tolerance of cold temperatures by several degrees. The spray, which is not yet commercially available, can improve plants’ cold tolerance between 2.2 and 9.4 degrees Fahrenheit, depending upon the species, according to Dr. David Francko, a professor of botany who co-developed the spray and who serves as dean of The University of Alabama graduate school and assistant vice president for academic affairs…
The Engineer (United Kingdom)
High cost of driving ignites online classes boom
New York Times – July 11
…Distance education is no silver bullet that can alone solve the challenges posed for higher education by rising gasoline prices, officials warned. For one thing, many students, especially in rural areas, lack the high-speed Internet connections on which online courses depend. “The infrastructure doesn’t exist to give all rural students clear online access,” said Stephen G. Katsinas, a professor at the University of Alabama… “Rural America is where the digital divide is most dramatic.”…
Field trip
American Journalism Review– June/July 2008
…”One key is to get [the students] to basically learn how to ‘work on the fly.’ So much of what they do in our other courses is in a bubble,” associate professor Kim Bissell of the University of Alabama wrote in an e-mail interview. Alabama started its program in 2005 and has offered trips to Switzerland and Italy…
GOP, playing catch up in Alabama races, awaits Tuesday’s runoffs
CQPolitics.com – July 11
…The potential for a surge in black turnout behind Democrat Barack Obama’s bid to become the nation’s first African-American element is a wild card in the 3rd District contest. “If African-American voters come out in numbers that overcome our previous voting models, then that could certainly make a Democrat competitive,” said David Lanoue, professor and chairman of the political science department at the University of Alabama. But Lanoue also noted, “Incumbents are tough to beat during even the toughest of years.” Rogers showed that in 2006, a rough year for Republicans nationally, when he won with 59 percent of the vote and a 21-point margin over his under funded Democratic opponent…
UA flag finds new home in Alabama
Montgomery Advertiser – July 11
The University of Alabama flag that greeted millions of hungry troops in a dining facility in Kuwait has been retired — a new one, signed by football coach Nick Saban and Crimson Tide players, has taken its place. An Army general from Alabama has teamed with a past president of the university’s athletic letter winners’ club and they’re hoping the old flag, which was signed by troops in Kuwait, will receive a place of honor in the athletic department…Marlaire said he’s trying to schedule a date to present the flag to Saban and athletic director Mal Moore. He hopes that Pair, who will return to Kuwait soon, will be able to come back to make the presentation…
Students use pasta, paper in engineering challenge
Tuscaloosa News – July 11
…Hipps’ team, nicknamed “Half-N-Half,” didn’t win the Student Introduction to Engineering (SITE) program’s spaghetti-newspaper bridge design competition, but they said they learned a lot about engineering while at the camp. “SITE is a weeklong program where high school juniors and seniors from around the nation come here to take math, English, computer science and design engineering classes,” said Michael Hallman, design/engineering instructor forUA’s College of Engineering SITE summer program.
Hallman said that in addition to taking classes, students in the program participated in panel discussions about engineering, toured business where engineering is used and experienced leisure activities, such as bowling and going to the movies…
Antoine Caldwell to write weekly online column
Tuscaloosa News – July 11
University of Alabama center Antoine Caldwell is one of 22 players who will write a weekly column this fall for Sporting News Today, a digital daily sports publication. Caldwell’s columns will cover topics from each week’s upcoming game to life as a student-athlete…Caldwell earned his degree from Alabama in less than three years and was a 2007 team captain. He enters fall camp as a starter for the fourth straight season and has been named to the Rimington Watch List in each of the last three years. The Rimington Award is given out annually to college football’s top center…
Opinion: Alabama kids need more help
Huntsville Times – July 11
In light of the recent press given to the state’s failure of Alabama’s children, it should be recognized that the Legislature’s increased funding for Pre-K programs deserves tremendous applause…A study conducted by the University of Alabama in May 2007 calculates the total economic impact of child abuse and neglect in Alabama is over $520 million annually. Prevention programs reduce social, emotional, and health care costs to Alabama’s children and families, as well as reduce the real financial costs associated with intervention…