MONDAY, MAY 5 – SUNDAY, MAY 11, 2014
BEST BETS
INTERIM CLASSES EXPLORE DETECTION, WEAVING – UA professors are offering a number of thought-provoking, unusual and challenging classes during UA’s May Interim session from Monday, May 5 to Friday, May 23. Classes range from the “Science and Anthropology of Detection” to “Introduction to Weaving.” For more information, visit http://uanews.ua.edu/2014/04/uas-interim-classes-explore-detection-games-forests-weaving/ or contact Richard LeComte, UA Media Relations, at rllecomte@ur.ua.edu or 205/348-3782
MOUNDVILLE MUSEUM TURNS 75 — It’s a birthday celebration, and one you don’t want to miss. UA’s Jones Museum at Moundville Archaeological Park is celebrating its 75th anniversary. To kick off the momentous occasion, the park will hold a series of events and programs commemorating the 75th anniversary, the first to be held Saturday, May 10. The celebration runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and features art, craft and technology demonstrations, as well as dance and storytelling performances. Contact: Kim Eaton, UA Media Relations, 808/640-5912 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu; Betsy Irwin, Moundville Archaeological Park education director, 205/371-8732 or birwin@ua.edu.
UA ENGINEERING PROFESSOR AWARDED NSF CAREER AWARD FOR ROBOTIC PROSTHESIS – The National Science Foundation selected a University of Alabama mechanical engineering professor for a CAREER Award for his research into a robotic prosthesis that could help amputees walk better. The CAREER Award is NSF’s most prestigious recognition of top-performing young scientists beginning their careers. Dr. Xiangrong Shen, assistant professor of mechanical engineering in the UA College of Engineering, was awarded nearly $424,000 to assist his innovative work into biologically-inspired, powered prosthesis that mimic natural joints. For more information, contact Adam Jones, engineering media relations, 205/348-6444 or acjones12@eng.ua.edu.
SMALL CHANGES COULD SAVE STRUCTURES, LIVES DURING TORNADOES, REPORTS UA-INVOLVED STUDY – Surviving a tornado in a wood-frame residential home is enhanced by an intact roof and standing walls, but light-weight garage doors can be the weak link to allowing high winds and pressure changes into a home that can lead to the removal of the roof and collapsed walls, according to a study of damage left behind by a powerful tornado in Moore, Oklahoma, in 2013 by researchers from The University of Alabama and other institutions. For more information visit http://uanews.ua.edu/2014/04/small-changes-could-save-structures-lives-during-tornadoes-reports-ua-involved-study, or contact Adam Jones, engineering media relations, 205/348-6444, or acjones12@eng.ua.edu.
UA EXPERT TIPS
UA MATTERS: PREPARING FOR A NEW SCHOOL YEAR – In August, millions of children will start a new school year. New classes, new routines, new friends and new teachers are part of the excitement of the new school year, but they can also be a source of worry and stress. The University of Alabama’s Dr. Jason Scofield, associate professor of human development and family studies in the College of Human Environmental Sciences, says parents and children can do several things over the summer to help better prepare for a worry-free, stress-free new year, http://uanews.ua.edu/2014/05/ua-matters-preparing-for-a-new-school-year/. Contact: UA Media Relations, 205/348-5320
UA’S HEALTH CORNER PROVIDES PRACTICAL HEALTH TIPS – Dr. Grier Stewart discusses the symptoms of, tests for, and treatment of hypothyroidism in the latest video in UA’s Health Corner, https://vimeo.com/93165631. The video series addresses health topics and provides practical advice and guidance from UA’s expert sources and physicians in the College of Community Health Sciences. A new video topic posts every Wednesday morning. Contact: UA Media Relations, 205/348-5320