University of Alabama trustees to consider construction projects in Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa News – June 12
The University of Alabama System board of trustees is scheduled to consider proposals to begin preliminary planning for a new UA supply store building near Tutwiler Hall and for authorization to name an architect for the renovation of the Bryce Admissions building. The projects were among a series of resolutions approved by the board’s Physical Properties Committee on Thursday. The resolutions go before the full board Friday. The committee approved a resolution to begin preliminary planning for a $5.2 million, 13,281-square-foot retail center at the former site of the Corner Store and existing Bryant Dance Studio. The new building will house the SUPe Store branch relocated from Tutwiler Hall and a new Starbucks. The vacated space in Tutwiler would be converted for use as multipurpose space, according to the proposal. The dance studio will be demolished. The Department of Theatre and Dance is scheduled to eventually move its operations to renovated buildings on the historic Bryce property. UA purchased the Bryce Hospital grounds in 2010 and plans new academic, residential buildings and recreational facilities for the property.
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – June 12
UA to open cybercrime lab
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – June 11
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs granted $60,000 to UA’s criminal justice department and the UA Police Department to start a digital forensics crime lab on campus. “So right now, what is interesting is that almost every type of crime that is committed is going to have some kind of digital evidence associated with it,” said Dr. Kathryn Seigfried-Spellar … Spellar says the new lab will be a game-changer for UA students. “The students will benefit because they are going to get hands on experience.” However, the lab won’t be used only for campus-related or local crimes. “We perceive it being a local task force first, and once it becomes more popular and we solidify contacts with other agencies, we will be receiving cases from other agencies.”
‘Carbon Capture’ One Key to Combating Global Warming
Alabama Public Radio – June 12
The question of how to reduce the pollution that causes global warming is now a hot topic since new carbon limits were announced by the EPA earlier this month. Those proposed rules aim to reduce national carbon emissions from existing power plants 30 percent by the year 2030. In Alabama, the goal is 27 percent. The boom in natural gas could help, as could investments in renewable energy like wind and solar. Another method is what’s called “carbon capture.” Dr. Jason Bara is a university of Alabama assistant professor studying chemical solvents to be used in carbon capture. He says the idea is to use the technology on a coal or natural gas-fired plant. Jason Bara: “and on the back end of it, after the scrubber, the bag house, all the other existing pollution controls, putting in a system by which CO2 is removed from the flue gas, as it’s called. So that way the power plant is really just returning nitrogen, oxygen, and water vapor back to the atmosphere.” Bara says one way to make the process profitable is to sell back the CO2 to oil companies that can use it to make inactive wells usable again. That would make carbon capture less effective in combating climate change but would help in producing more domestic energy. Regardless, companies like Alabama Power are looking into the technology.
High power bills looming
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – June 11
The Environmental Protection Agency is placing regulations on CO2 emissions, which must be met by 2030. This means electric companies like Alabama Power must find ways to reduce greenhouse gasses coal-fired power plants cause. Because coal is such a critical component for Alabama Power, you may see higher power bills in the near future … not all coal is mined for power. University of Alabama Assistant Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering Jason Bara: “There are other uses for coal … you can make chemicals, there’s gasification. Or, it could be exported.”
2014 FIFA World Cup By The Numbers
Wallet Hub – June 9
Are you ready for some football? We obviously know it as soccer, but no matter what you call it, the beautiful game is set to captivate the globe as the 2014 FIFA World Cup kicks off from Brazil June 12. … But will it pay off in the end – for the home nation, the U.S. squad, or the companies fueling this global sporting spectacle? While it’s difficult to say for sure, WalletHub crunched the numbers and asked the experts in order to gain a bit of added insight into the grand event. … John Vincent, University of Alabama: “It depends on several factors, of course. What are sponsors’ expectations and objectives, what is the nature of their sponsorship, what measures are they implementing and what do they value? That said, sponsors, or at least their imagery, will be visible to millions of Americans and literally billions of global consumers, highly involved with arguably the world’s greatest spectacle, sporting or otherwise. Brand awareness will be enhanced; fans of the WC, which are growing in number in the U.S., likely will invest positive attributes in sponsors. Sponsors will be seen as ‘big’ global players, which can make them attractive to many consumers and investors. Whether that transfers to more sales of the sponsors’ goods and services, remains to be seen.”
Patent Issued for Sensor-Less Operation and Detection of CCM and DCM Operation Modes in Synchronous Switching Power Converters
Hispanic Business – June 12
According to news reporting originating from Alexandria, Virginia, by VerticalNews journalists, a patent by the inventor Abu Qahouq, Jaber A. (Tuscaloosa, AL), filed on January 13, 2010, was published online on June 3, 2014. The assignee for this patent, patent number 8742744, is University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa, AL). Reporters obtained the following quote from the background information supplied by the inventors: “Switching power converters with synchronous rectification utilize switching between inductor’s current continuous and discontinuous conduction operation modes (CCM and DCM) in order to achieve improved power efficiency across wide load and input voltage ranges. The inductor current zero crossing is sensed in order to detect the operation modes transition point between CCM and DCM. The challenges associated with this include inductor current zero crossing point sensing accuracy, noise effect near the zero crossing point and the sensing circuitry and power loss.
Girls State concludes at UA
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – June 12 Earlier this evening, Girls State concluded with a banquet in Bryant-Denny Stadium. Girls State is a program sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary that gives girls a chance to learn about and participate in politics and government for a week session during the summer. Girls from all over the state get the chance to interact with their peers while building life skills just before they enter college.
WSFA-NBC (Montgomery) – June 12
WDFX-Fox (Dothan) – June 12
Caitlin Brunell hopes to be a ‘light for someone’ at Miss Alabama 2014
Al.com – June 12
It’s still all sinking in for the newest Miss Alabama Caitlin Brunell. “I haven’t been anywhere consistently for four years for quite some time,” she said. As of Tuesday afternoon, the 22-year-old had only had about 10 hours of sleep since her Saturday night crowning and her schedule is already filling up ahead of the Miss America 2015 competition in Atlantic City in September. But, she says it’s all worth it … Alabama is a home away from home, according to Brunell–especially since she has lived in seven states. “I fell in love with the state of Alabama as soon as I stepped foot on the campus of the University of Alabama and from there just grew a heart for the people and the different cities I was able to represent each year.” The Miss Alabama system also gave her an opportunity to attend her dream school where she majored in dance. “The reason I was able to come to Alabama in the first place was this program because I won scholarship money I was able to attend the University of Alabama,” she said. She said she’s won over $86,000 in scholarship money so far, with $11,000 of her winnings awarded during the Miss Alabama 2014 competition.
UA soccer campers watch World Cup on big screen at soccer stadium
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – June 12
University of Alabama soccer campers took a break to watch the game on the big screen at the soccer stadium. Team USA will face Ghana on Monday. Jurgen Klinsmann, the United States head coach, said that it’s “unrealistic” for Team USA to expect to win the World Cup. Many have been offended by that comment, but Alabama head coach Todd Bramble told us he thinks it will be viewed positively by the players.