U.A. Student Attending Climate Conference in Peru
Alabama Public Radio – Nov. 25
A University of Alabama student is heading to Lima, Peru next month for a United Nations conference on climate change. Catherine King is a chemical engineering major with a focus on green chemistry. She’s one of 8 students across the country the American Chemical Society selected to attend the conference. King says the issue of climate change has become too politicized. Catherine King: “Actually the United States is one of the only countries who’s still debating whether it exists at all. A lot of places have accepted it. And I don’t think it should be a political debate. I think it’s kind of a problem that it is.” King’s interest in climate change has grown since being selected. So has her perspective on the debate over what to do about it. King: “The thing that I think a lot of people think is that people who are talking about climate change want us to stop using fossil fuels or something, and nobody wants that. Everyone knows there’s no way we could do that and nobody expects that. I think it’s just kind of like a push towards renewable energy and just better, more efficient means that aren’t so harmful.”
The Farmer’s Alchemist
Business Alabama – Nov. 24
There’s oil in them there … corn cobs? A Tuscaloosa-based company certainly thinks so. Inventure Renewables has created a process to take basic waste biomass, such as agriculture residue and wood chips, and convert it into biofuel to produce ethanol. This patented process, which the company calls Mixed Super Critical Fluid (MSCF) technology, can be used for the production of fuel, plastics and other products, according to company founder Rusty Sutterlin. “There is a lot of waste out there that is just being burned or not having any value being added to it,” says Sutterlin, a native of Birmingham who has a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Missouri. “We can use simple chemistries to turn that waste into higher-value products.” Sutterlin began working on this process in 2008, when he rented out 60 square feet of space at the University of Alabama’s technology incubator. With the help of a Small Business Innovation Research grant and money from investors, Sutterlin’s company quickly grew. In 2013, Inventure Renewables left the incubator — becoming the first graduate of the facility — and moved into a 35,000-square-foot building. The company now has approximately $15 million in capital and 25 employees.
Ear sensor tracks your diet
Tech Alabama – Nov. 24
A University of Alabama professor is developing a sensor to help your doctor track your diet. Associate professor of electrical and computer engineering Dr. Edward Sazonov is working with an Automatic Ingestion Monitor (AIM). This device has the potential to automatically detect and capture images of food intake. It also has built in sensors which feel certain jaw motions to determine whether you are eating or drinking. Sazonov says the goal is to have this device help fight obesity. “Eventually we will be able to provide real-time feedback aimed at reducing someone’s caloric intake and shifting the energy balance toward weight loss and maintenance,” Sazonov says. Sazonov is the lead on a five year $1.8 million grant from the National Institute of Health to test the sensor’s accuracy. The study involves testing the AIM’s accuracy against an alternative method. The information provided by the AIM could be used to develop better weight loss strategies. It could also provide an objective method of assessing pharmacological and behavioral eating disorder interventions.
WAAY (Huntsville) – Nov. 24
UA study says crashes have been increasing around Thanksgiving
ABC 33/40 (Birmingham) – Nov. 24
Thanksgiving travel can be a dangerous time on interstates – more people are driving, plus deer, alcohol, and bad weather, are common causes of accidents this time of year. A recent University of Alabama study shows that crashes have been increasing during the seven-day holiday period. Your best safety tip, buckle up.
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Nov. 24
University of Alabama graduation rate leads SEC
Tuscaloosa News – Nov. 24
The University of Alabama Athletics Department led the SEC in graduation success rate from 2004-07, according to figures released by the NCAA. “We are extremely proud to lead the Southeastern Conference in this vital area,” UA Director of Athletics Bill Battle said in a news release. “This is just another example of the balance between academic and athletic excellence that we strive for every day.” The rate measures graduation rates at Division I schools and includes student-athletes who transfer. The rate allows schools to subtract student-athletes who leave before graduation, as long as they would have been academically eligible to compete had they remained. The rate was developed after school university presidents said they wanted graduation numbers that reflected the mobility among college students. Overall, UA’s graduation success rate was measured at 91. The average rate for all NCAA Division I student-athletes was 82.
Out-of-State Freshmen learn why Iron Bowl is so important / Economic Impact of games on Tuscaloosa
CBS 42 (Birmingham) – Nov. 24
People who’ve spent any time in Alabama know about the importance of the Iron Bowl and winning it. What about the students who move to Alabama from another state? Let’s just say it doesn’t take them long to understand it’s a really big deal. The passion, the rivalry, Alabama and Auburn, there is nothing like the Iron Bowl. “I think it’s going to be wild. Yeah, it’s going to be crazy packed.” Many people don’t realize that nearly half of the students at the University of Alabama aren’t from Alabama. An astounding 62 percent of this year’s freshmen are from out of state, so, this means, thousands of students will experience their first showdown between the Tide and the Tigers … The students are ready for the game, but what about the city? We’re joined now by Leigh Garner. Leigh, we’ve heard it costs Tuscaloosa around a million dollars each football season to make the game day atmosphere happen. True, but this game alone should have an $18 million dollar economic impact.
UA, Auburn University face off in local food drive competition
Crimson White – Nov. 25
Since their first game in 1893, The University of Alabama and Auburn University’s rivalry has been deeply set in the culture of the state of Alabama. Many believe there are negative aspects of this matchup that have taken over what is meant to be a sportsmanlike competition, the tensions of a light-hearted game often ramping up for an all-out brawl. … Some people and organizations have taken notice of these negative aspects and have begun working to improve relations between the two universities. Twenty percent of families in the nine counties of West Alabama live under the poverty line, including 17,806 children. The Beat Auburn, Beat Hunger food drive competition began in 1994 as an attempt to eliminate hunger in West Alabama by challenging UA and AU to see who can collect more cans of non-perishable food for the West Alabama Food Bank. The competition traditionally begins in October, and students and faculty members continue to donate cans until the Iron Bowl at the end of November. Since 1994, the two universities have collected over 3 million pounds of food for Alabamians.
UA’s School of Music to take part in Holidays on the River
NBC 13 (Birmingham) – Nov. 24
Along with ice skating, the City of Tuscaloosa is offering additional free events at the Transportation Museum like a sneak peek of the Nutcracker Ballet, winter crafts with the Tuscaloosa Public Library, music from the University of Alabama community music school brass ensemble, the Tuscaloosa news sing-along, visits with Santa along with carriage rides.
Staying on the college grid
University Business – Nov. 24
Managing course scheduling involves more than just cracking a complex logistical code each semester. It’s also a potential bane or boon to the operating budget. Course scheduling is tied integrally to two of an institution’s most expensive resources—facilities and faculty. An inefficiently-managed schedule featuring too many under-enrolled classes can lead to wasted space and unnecessary spending on instructional costs. Those costs accumulate when an institution needs to hire adjunct faculty or when full-time faculty have teaching overloads—that is, take on classes over and above their contracted amount … Another way to fill seats is cracking down on off-grid scheduling patterns. For Michael George, registrar at the University of Alabama, enforcing standardized class times is a top priority. The school enforces an 85 percent seat-fill rate, using data pulled from an Ad Astra scheduling tool, before a section can be placed in a room. The next step, George says, is attending to the front end of the process: the university is implementing CourseLeaf Section Scheduler software to help enforce policies before classes are officially placed on the schedule, while departments are still building their class times.
German student discusses culture, food
Crimson White – Nov. 25
Twenty-one-year-old Sonia Loewy has lived in Munich, Germany, for almost her entire life. She lived in the Czech Republic for a year and a half before coming to the U.S. and is now a senior at The University of Alabama majoring in international management. Sonia arrived to the U.S. in August and said she is very happy with her move and especially loves the Southern hospitality Alabama has shown her. Why did you come to America and choose the University? I loved the people and loved everyone’s attitude. All the people are so relaxed, and there is such a wide variety of people and culture here. I chose Alabama because it was a partner school of The University of Munich, so it was much easier to communicate details and transfer everything that way. I specifically chose Alabama because I had heard of the nice Southern culture, nice weather, and that the people were very nice and fun. What’s the most different from your home country? The entire culture is so different. I immediately made friends in like a week, and that doesn’t really happen in Germany. Everyone is just so nice and positive. School is also very different. Classes here are much easier here because the professors actually care. In Germany, education is free so people don’t try as hard. The classes in Germany are also huge. There are never less than 100 people in your class. Everyone talks and doesn’t respect the professor. Here the professors actually care and take several grades, but in Germany you only have one grade, which is the final to determine if you pass the class or not.