Remote island caves reveal clues to world’s climate
MSNBC.com – Sept. 28
…Paul Aharon, a geologist at the University of Alabama, started coming to do fieldwork on the island, which lies about 1,500 miles (2,400 kilometers) northeast of New Zealand, in 1997 for a completely different project. “I was working on a project examining sediment cores, trying to reconstruct sea level variation over the past 20 million years. That’s when I noticed the caves,” Aharon told OurAmazingPlanet. Aharon recognized the potential of stalagmites in the caves to provide clues on Earth’s past climate…This summer, Aharon returned to Niue with his students to take stalagmites from the caves to study back at his lab in Alabama…
NOAA to build water center
Crimson White – Sept. 28
The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration will build a new national water center on the campus of the University of Alabama, according to a press release…The $18,881,500 award will create a one of a kind facility that will combine hydrological forecasting operations and research under one roof to support field operations, improve joint agency coordination and address emerging stakeholder needs, the press release stated. The Water Center will be a national facility that will serve the entire nation, said Vice President for Research and Vice Provost Joe Benson. “The facility will take advantage of the research expertise in water and water resources that exist in the universities within the state and will provide the nation with a seamless suite of consistent water resource monitoring and forecasting information,” Benson said. “The Center will make Tuscaloosa a focal point for water science in the nation.”… “The presence of the National Water Center in Tuscaloosa will allow UA faculty and students to work with federal scientists to address issues of mutual interest,” Benson said. “These could include both the scientific and socio-economic aspects of issues such as flood forecasting, water quality, water availability, etc. From the standpoint of the community, the Center, when fully staffed, will bring up to 200 professionals to Tuscaloosa, which will have a positive impact on the local economy.”
Storm spotter training draws a crowd in Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa News – Sept. 28
On the five-month anniversary of the April 27 tornado, more than 100 people gathered Tuesday night inside the Paul W. Bryant Conference Center for the National Weather Service’s fall storm spotter training program. The event was hosted by the service’s office in Calera in coordination with the Tuscaloosa Count Emergency Management Agency and the University of Alabama office of Emergency Preparedness. Jim Stefkovich, the meteorologist in charge at the Calera office, said the National Weather Service holds these kinds of events all over the state, but he knew Tuscaloosa would be a very attentive site in the wake of the April 27 tornado…
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – Sept. 27
CBS 42 (Birmingham) – Sept. 27
ABC 33/40 (Birmingham) – Sept. 27
NBC 13 (Birmingham) – Sept. 27
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Sept. 27
Troy Davis case brings attention to death penalty
Crimson White – Sept. 28
…“I think it’s controversial because it’s final,” said political science professor Joseph Smith. “If we find out later that, in fact, we executed the wrong person, there’s no way to remedy that at all. Whereas if you put someone in jail for life and later on find out you did it to the wrong person, you can let them out and they can live what’s left of their life in freedom.”…Richard Fording, chair of the political science department, said the actual use of death penalties has decreased because of the challenges and the cases of those defendants who were exonerated. However, Fording said there is still an overwhelming majority of support for the death penalty nationwide, although that support has softened in recent years because of the questions that are raised in high profile cases like Davis’. “I think you do see disagreements about how extensive the support of the death penalty is,” he said…
University of Alabama: Steppenwolf musicians to present free lecture, performance
Columbus (Ga.) Ledger-Enquirer – Sept. 28
Musicians John Kay and Michael Wilk of the rock band Steppenwolf will give a free lecture and performance Oct. 10 at the University of Alabama. It is a non-ticketed event and is open to the public. The performance is at the school’s Moody Music Building in Tuscaloosa, Ala. will be at 7:30 p.m. CDT. according to a news release. The talk and performance will feature Kay and Wilk playing a mix of songs from Kay’s solo efforts as well as the Steppenwolf songs. The production will feature a full-motion video presentation that illustrates the songs.
Alabama gymnastics team delivers toys, supplies in visit to Tuscaloosa elementary school
Al.com – Sept. 28
The University of Alabama gymnastics team visited University Place Elementary Tuesday afternoon with a delivery of school supplies and toys for students, many of whom were affected by the April 27 tornado…
NBC 13 (Birmingham) – Sept. 27
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Sept. 27
Group acclimates Indians to UA
Crimson White – Sept. 28
…Kadari, a graduate student in the mechanical engineering program, said he came to the University in 2009 after learning about its top program in aerospace engineering. After being accepted, he contacted the Indian Association via email after locating their website online. They quickly replied and assured him that he would be taken care of…Besides helping newcomers find accommodations, the association celebrates Indian culture with festivals such as Diwali and Indian Independence Day, Mehta said…