UA Preview

TUESDAY, JAN. 22 – SUNDAY, JAN. 27, 2013

BEST BETS

HOLTKAMP ORGAN CELEBRATES 25^TH ANNIVERSARY – A big pipe organ deserves a big birthday party. So for the 25th anniversary of the Holtkamp organ in the Concert Hall of Moody Music Building, The University of Alabama will present the world premiere of “The Freese Collection,” performed by Dr. Faythe Freese, UA professor of organ. The interdisciplinary performance also will feature the Alabama Repertory Dance Theatre and a NALL art show titled “Violata Pax” (Wounded Peace). The NALL art show and three identical concerts will be at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 23, Thursday, Jan. 24, and Friday, Jan. 25, in the Concert Hall. Tickets are $12 and $18. The Jan. 23 event includes a reception and concert. Tickets for this combined event are $30. Tickets are available at UA’s School of Music website: http://uamusic.tix.com/. The Jan. 25 concert will launch UA’s 2013 Church Music and Organ Conference, also in the Moody Music Building. Contact: Dr Faythe Freese, ffreese@music.ua.edu, 205/348-3329

A PARTICLE UNLIKE ANY OTHER – A UA scientist who is part of an international team credited with the recent discovery of a subatomic particle central in the understanding of matter’s development will discuss the project at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24 in 227 Gallalee Hall. Dr. Conor Henderson, assistant professor of physics and astronomy, will discuss the Higgs-Boson project. Following the talk, the public may use UA telescopes in the observatory atop Gallalee to observe the moon and Jupiter. Hosted by Dr. Ron Buta, professor of astronomy, the 8 p.m. sky viewing, as well as the talk, is open to the public. For more information, contact Chris Bryant in media relations, 205/348-8323 or cbryant@ur.ua.edu

CURRENT COMMENT

POVERTY AWARENESS MONTH – January is “Poverty Awareness Month.” In the state of Alabama – third poorest state in the country – one in four children lives in poverty. A connection exists between poverty and child maltreatment.  “Statistically, as a child, if my parents are poor, I’m much more likely to get abused or neglected. The child may not have enough or the right foods to eat, might not be able to play sports because of cost, or even have a parent read to them. It may not seem like a big deal, but it piles up and has a long-lasting effect on society,” said Dr. Debra Nelson-Gardell, a specialist in childhood emotional trauma and family social work. Nelson-Gardell, also board chairwoman for Tuscaloosa’s One Place, is available to comment on the challenges children in poverty face and the effects on society. For more information, contact David Miller, 205/348-0825 or dcmiller2@ur.ua.edu.

EVENTS

CHEMISTRY OF COLLEGE FOR A DAY – Dozens of high-school students enrolled in chemistry classes at three area schools will soon spend a day doing experiments inside a UA chemistry lab. Approximately 80 students from Central, Northridge and Greene County high schools will get an opportunity to hone their lab skills Jan. 24 inside four labs within UA’s Science and Engineering Complex. The day is coordinated by Dr. Martin Bakker, associate professor of chemistry, to expose these students to fully equipped chemistry labs and opportunities to learn from science experiments they typically do not have opportunity to conduct. Watch for more details, or contact Chris Bryant in media relations for assistance at 205/348-8323 or cbryant@ur.ua.edu. Bakker may be reached at 205/348-9116 or bakker@bama.ua.edu.

LOOKING AHEAD

ESPN’S RECE DAVIS TO SPEAK – ESPN announcer and University of Alabama alumnus Rece Davis will speak at the Ferguson Center Theater from 11 a.m.-noon on Jan. 31. Davis will be speak as part of The University of Alabama Program in Sports Communication’s guest lecturer series and will give a short talk followed by a question-answer time. The event is free and open to the public with seating available on a first-come, first-served basis. For further information about media availability, contact Misty Mathews, 205/348-6416 or mmathews@ua.edu or Dr. Andrew Billings, APSC Director, 205/348-8658 or acbillings@ua.edu. For more information on the APSC, visit www.sportscom.ua.edu.