Researchers look to butterflies to improve flight
Phys.org – Oct. 24
A better understanding of the aerodynamic properties of butterfly wings may lead to improved human-made flight, according to research at The University of Alabama recently funded by the National Science Foundation. Dr. Amy Lang, associate professor of aerospace engineering and mechanics, was awarded approximately $280,000 by NSF to study the tiny scales on butterfly wings that help lift the insect despite its low speed during flight. Lang, who also works with shark scales, uses bio-inspired engineering to help improve the movement of flow over wings, for instance, specifically by altering the boundary where the air interacts with the moving surface, such as a butterfly wing. “The butterfly scales are beautifully arranged on the wing, and how the scales are arranged is where the aerodynamic benefit comes in,” Lang said.
NBC 13 (Birmingham) – Oct. 29
ABC 8 (Montgomery) – Oct. 29
CBS 12 (Chattanooga, Tenn.) – Oct. 28
Amateurs critical for Galaxy Zoo 2
Tuscaloosa News – Oct. 27
Galaxy Zoo 2 is an astronomy project founded on the ability of the human brain to spot patterns and the willingness of thousands of online volunteers to lend their brainpower to the categorization of hundreds of thousands of galaxies by their physical features. The crowd-sourcing allowed researchers to process an immense volume of data, too great for one person, with the added benefit of consistent results based on 50-60 reviews of each image. “What we want to do is take advantage of the fact that people have very complicated recognition abilities, which are not at all trivial to replicate in software,” said UA astronomy professor William Keel, part of the team of professional astronomers associated with the project. No expertise is needed to participate. Volunteers sign up and undergo a brief tutorial before beginning to sift through the images of galaxies, Keel said.
Public can provide feedback for University of Alabama police
Tuscaloosa News – Oct. 29
The public is invited to offer feedback on UAPD during a public information session on Nov. 5 at 2 p.m. in the Bryant-Denny Stadium recruiting room, according to a release from UA. The session is part of an on-site visit by a team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc., which will arrive Nov. 3 to examine all aspects of UAPD’s policy and procedures, management, operations and support services, according to the release. The team will report its findings to CALEA for a final determination of accreditation status. UAPD undergoes re-accreditation by CALEA every three years, said Chris Bryant of UA Media Relations. The independent agency has provided UAPD accreditation since 1998. Anyone unable to attend the public session on Nov. 5 can call 205-347-0534 on Nov. 4 from 4-6 p.m. to leave feedback by phone.
Al.com – Oct. 29
Groups Offer Guidance on Biometric Health Screenings
Society for Human Resource Management – Oct. 25
Three national health organizations have published guidance for worksite wellness programs that use risk assessments and biometric screenings to collect health information from employees. The Health Enhancement Research Organization (HERO), the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, and the Care Continuum Alliance collaborated on a joint consensus statement titled “Biometric Health Screening for Employers,” published in the October 2013 issue of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. With the increasing popularity of employer wellness programs, the inclusion of biometric screenings is on the rise. According to a Kaiser Family Foundation report, more than 55 percent of large U.S. employers offered an onsite biometric screening in 2012…“Biometric screenings, combined with a review of the results with a health educator and personal goal setting, can enhance an individual’s knowledge of their health status as well as possible health conditions and issues,” said Rebecca Kelly, director of health promotion and wellness at The University of Alabama and one of the authors of the consensus statement, in a media release. “It is a tool to enhance the understanding of health while providing the motivation and monitoring needed to improve health.”
Author, city planner Jeff Speck to appear at lecture and workshop in Tuscaloosa
Al.com – Oct. 28
Author Jeff Speck will appear at a lecture and workshop in Tuscaloosa Nov. 4-5 at the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center in downtown Tuscaloosa. The University of Alabama Honors College and Center for Ethics & Social Responsibility will host the event. Speck, a city planner and architectural designer, is the author of “Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time.” He is an active international advocate for smart growth and sustainable design. The lecture will take place Monday, Nov. 4 at 6:30 p.m. at the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center in downtown Tuscaloosa.
Crimson White – Oct. 29
UA sororities to sponsor trick-or-treating
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Oct. 28
The University of Alabama Panhellenic Association will host the annual sorority row trick-or-treat. Children from the Tuscaloosa area, ages 12 and younger, are invited to dress up in Halloween costumes and visit the lawns of the campus sorority houses on Magnolia and Colonial drives for candy and exciting activities. All the fun kicks off tomorrow night from 6 to 8 p.m.
The ghost of UA
CBS 42 (Birmingham) – Oct. 28
Halloween is right around the corner, and it wouldn’t be complete without a good ghost story. The tour begins in Smith Hall and explores five different locations around the Quad that are said to be haunted. These locations include Gorgas Library, Little Round House, Gorgas House and the roped-off bricks known to be the ruins of Madison Hall. The spooky fun is tomorrow from 6 until 8 p.m., and it’s free.
Blood drive draws organizations closer
Crimson White – Oct. 29
The Student Government Association, in cooperation with Beat Auburn Beat Hunger and the Red Cross, will hold a blood drive in the Ferguson Center Ballroom on Tuesday and Wednesday between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Parker Graham, SGA vice president of external affairs, has been coordinating the event since the beginning of the school year. Unlike previous blood drives, this one also allows BABH a chance to collect for the West Alabama Food Bank. “Both the Red Cross and BABH have a common goal in mind: to simply help people,” Graham said. “By partnering, they are able to effectively raise more non-perishable food items by gathering blood donations. The Sam’s Club of Tuscaloosa donates one food item for every donation of blood given during the blood drive.” This drive’s goal is to collect 270 pints of blood, 43 more than their record-setting August drive, which collected 30 percent more than last fall’s drive.
UA’s Medicaid study: Expansion would create 30,000 Alabama jobs
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – Oct. 28
Gov. Bentley has called Alabama’s current Medicaid system broken and he wants to reform before committing additional state funding to it. However, a recent study by The University of Alabama claims the expansion would have a dramatic impact on the state, citing the state would have a $2.8 billion increase in overall business activity.