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MONDAY, MAY 13 – SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2013

BEST BETS

IN THE BLACK BELT – UA’s University Fellows Experience is partnering with the community of Marion, Ala., in Perry County May 8-23 to implement projects based on expressed needs from the community.  Addressing issues of systemic poverty, the students will engage with a wide cross-section of the population, the community’s organizations and businesses. The group consists of 28 students, eight student leaders and three staff members. The experience, now in its fifth year, will consist of 15 projects varying in scope and objectives. A media event surrounding the University Fellows’ efforts to repair the historic Lincoln Normal School in Marion will be from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday, May 21, at the site of the school.For details and directions, contact Richard LeComte, UA media relations, at rllecomte@ur.ua.edu, 205/348-3782.

UA LUNABOTICS TEAM TO DEFEND ITS TITLE – After winning first place in last year’s NASA Lunabotics Mining Competition, a team of UA students called Alabama Lunabotics will return to the competition May 20 at Kennedy Space Center. For more information visit  http://uanews.ua.edu/2013/05/ua-lunabotics-team-to-defend-titleor contact: Adam Jones, UA media relations, 205/348-6444 or acjones12@eng.ua.edu.

WEDDINGS, POTTERY DRAW INTERIM STUDENTS – UA Interim Term, a three-week term that continues through May 24, offers students the chance to enroll in classes offering innovative learning opportunities that range from the fine arts to wedding planning. For example, in the class titled Event Plan Wedding Coordinator, taught by Kim Boyle (kboyle@ches.ua.edu), students will plan and execute a mock wedding by the third week of Interim. In Raku, taught by Daniel B. Livingston (dblivingston@ua.edu), students will engage in the spectacular process of creating and firing raku pottery. In Scientific Glassblowing, taught by Rick Smith (rick.smith@ua.edu), students will learn about the fine art of creating glass objects. Other classes include Hitchcock,a film class taught by Dr Matthew Payne (mtpayne@ua.edu);Machiavelli & Sherlock Holmes, A Meeting of the Minds, taught by Dr. Barbara Godorecci(bgodorec@ml.as.ua.edu);and Food Writing, taught by Chip Brantley (chip.brantley@gmail.com).Contact: Richard LeComte, UA media relations, 205/348-3782,rllecomte@ur.ua.edu

UA NURSING STUDENTS SHARING, LEARNING OUTSIDE CLASSROOM – Some University of Alabama nursing students will step outside the four walls of a lecture hall this summer and experience medicine in a challenging way. Students had the opportunity this year to enroll in two study abroad nursing courses – one to Asia and another to Bolivia — and many jumped at the chance. The courses were developed through a collaborative effort between the Capstone College of Nursing, UA Study Abroad and e3Partners, a faith-based organization that coordinates medical mission trips around the world. For more information or a list of contacts, contact Kim Eaton, UA media relations, at 205/348-8325 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu.

POLITICAL SCIENTIST RECEIVES GRANT –The National Science Foundation awarded a $236,000 grant to Dr. Douglas M. Gibler, professor of political science and College of Arts and Sciences Leadership Board fellow at UA, to collect and code data about armed conflict between nations. The project will collect incident-level Militarized Interstate Dispute data from conflicts between states from 1816 to 2001. Using primary and secondary sources from the past 200 years to reconstruct the events of threats, displays or uses of force for analysis, the project will develop an accurate record of the military bargaining that takes place when states are in conflict. Contact Gibler at dmgibler@bama.ua.edu or 205/348-3808.

EVENTS

MOUNDVILLE SATURDAY IN THE PARK FEATURES BIRDING PROGRAM –Visitors will learn how to make a gourd bird house during the spring birding program Saturday, May 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at UA’s Moundville Archaeological Park.  Bird identification checklists and other educational material will be available for those interested in learning how to bird watch. Also, Becky Collier with 4H in Columbiana, will give hourly presentations featuring live birds of prey, including hawks, owls and a bald eagle. The presentations will be at 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m. Park entrance fees will apply. Contact: Kim Eaton, UA media relations, 205/348-8325 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu

SUMMERTIDE THEATRE –SummerTide Theatre, the professional summer theatre of UA, will present “Jubilee – Songs of and about Alabama” from Friday, May 31, through Friday, June 28, at the George C. Meyer Performing Arts Center, 2022 W. Second Street in Gulf Shores. The production marks the 10th anniversary of the SummerTide theatre program. Paying homage to the musical heritage of Alabama, “Jubilee” compiles songs ranging from blues and country to rock and gospel. Performances are at 8 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Tickets are available at SummerTide.org or by calling the UA box office at 205/348-3400. Tickets prices are $20 for adults and $15 for children younger than 12.