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MONDAY, MAY 19 – SUNDAY, MAY 25, 2014

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GALLERY IN THE BLACK BELT – UA’s Honors College will host a gallery opening Thursday, May 22, in Marion as part of its 57 Miles partnership with Perry County. The gallery will feature the exhibit “The Black Belt: Photography of Chip Cooper.” Cooper serves as artist-in-residence at the Honors College. The exhibit will feature works drawn from Cooper’s travels across the Black Belt. The gallery opening will be from 4 to 6 p.m.  in the Smith Building, 301 Washington St. in Marion. After the opening, groups may visit the gallery by first contacting the Perry County Chamber of Commerce at 334/683-9622. The event is free and open to the public. Contact: Chris Joiner, Honors College, chris.joiner@ua.edu or 850/698-9175.

UA START-UP COMPANY READY TO SERVE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY – Bidsters, a company supported by The University of Alabama, will open for business June 6, the culmination of years of hard work by a recent engineering graduate. Bidsters plans to be an online interactive database that businesses in the construction industry can use to manage and advertise both sides of the project bidding process. For more information visit http://uanews.ua.edu/2014/05/ua-start-up-company-ready-to-serve-construction-industry, or contact Adam Jones, engineering media relations, 205/348-6444, acjones12@eng.ua.edu.

INTERIM CLASSES EXPLORE DETECTION, WEAVING – UA professors are offering a number of thought-provoking, unusual and challenging classes during UA’s May Interim session which continues through 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 in UA Media Relations at rllecomte@ur.ua.edu or 205/348-3782

ENGINEERING PROFESSOR AWARDED NSF CAREER AWARD FOR ROBOTIC PROSTHESIS –  The National Science Foundation selected a UA 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.

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. UA’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