UA Preview

MONDAY, FEB. 16 – SUNDAY, FEB. 22, 2015

BEST BETS

COMMUNITY COLLEGE COMPLETION RATES, FUNDING CONTINUE TO DECLINE – Degree completion rates at community colleges in most states have declined or remained flat since 2012, and three of four community colleges do not have state operating budget plans to increase degree and certificate completion, according to a new University of Alabama Education Policy Center survey of community college leaders in more than 42 states. Dr. Stephen Katsinas, director of the Education Policy Center at The University of Alabama, will deliver the report, “Federal and State Funding for Higher Education: Progress & Prospects” during “Free Community College Tuition and the Future of Access: A Public Policy Discussion” at 9:40 a.m. Tuesday at Mississippi State University. “State cuts are increasing, too,” Katsinas said. “In 2013-14, 14 predicted state appropriations wouldn’t cover inflation; for 2014-15, the number is 31, making it difficult to raise completions. A new way forward is needed to jump-start degree completion, to make America #1 again in adult degree and certificate completion.” For more information, contact David Miller, UA Media Rrelations, at 205/348-0825 or dcmiller2@ur.ua.edu.

LINTON, THOMAS TO SPEAK AT BLACK HISTORY LECTURE – In observance of African-American Heritage Month, The University of Alabama School of Social Work will present a colloquium Friday, Feb. 20 at noon in room 223 of Little Hall. Guest speakers, Rev. Thomas Linton, longtime minister and community organizer, and Maxie Thomas, a civil rights activist, will discuss “Tuscaloosa’s Civil Rights Heritage.” Linton is the owner of one of Tuscaloosa’s first black barbershops. He was instrumental in organizing the civil rights march in Tuscaloosa during the early 1960s, which became known as Tuscaloosa’s “Bloody Tuesday.” For more information, contact David Miller, UA media relations, at 205/348-0825 or dcmiller2@ur.ua.edu.

UA RESEARCHERS LEAD GULF COAST OIL SPILL STUDY – Two UA biologists are leading a new, three-year, $1.5 million study of the 2010 oil spill’s impact on the northern Gulf of Mexico in an effort to improve responses to future spills. Dr. Behzad Mortazavi, UA associate professor of biological sciences, and Dr. Patricia Sobecky, associate provost for academic affairs and professor of biological sciences, are part of a multidisciplinary team of scientists conducting the research.The study focuses on the role biodiversity – the measurement of the variety of organisms in an environment – played in the northern Gulf of Mexico’s ecological recovery. For more information, contact Chris Bryant, UA Media Relations, 205/348-8323 or cbryant@ur.ua.edu or contact the researchers directly: Dr. Behzad Mortazavi, 251/861-2141 ext. 2189, bmortazavi@ua.edu; Dr. Patricia Sobecky, 205/348-8314, psobecky@ua.edu

AIME TO EXPAND ENTREPRENEURSHIP MENTORING VIA NSF I-CORPS – UA’s ability to foster entrepreneurship and, ultimately, create jobs is strengthened through its recent selection by the National Science Foundation as an Innovation Corps site. With its selection, UA’s  Alabama Innovation and Mentoring of Entrepreneurs Center becomes the only NSF I-Corps site in the state and is one of only three in the Southeast. The selection, which includes $300,000 in grant funding over three-years, will accelerate the commercialization of marketable ideas by UA, enabling scientific discoveries that can benefit society to reach the marketplace more quickly. For more details, contact Chris Bryant, UA Media Relations, 205/348-8323 or cbryant@ur.ua.edu. Contact Dr. Dan Daly, director of AIME, directly at 205/348-3502 or dandaly@ua.edu.

CURRENT COMMENT

LAW ENFORCEMENT NEEDS ADDED DIMENSION TO MAKE MORE OF AN IMPACT IN COMBATTING DEEP WEB – The conviction of Silk Road founder and developer Ross Ulbricht last week was a symbolic triumph for federal authorities, but it’s unlikely to deter people from selling and buying illegal and bootleg goods on “The Dark Web,” said Dr. Diana Dolliver, UA assistant professor of criminal justice. Dolliver said law enforcement agencies are using reactive measures, picking off site by site, mostly at the retail level. “They need to switch into a more proactive role (for instance, creating criminal profiles, looking at macro-level trends and being more strategic about it),” Dolliver said. “The prevention point is more for consumers related to stolen data – with the Anthem hack, that stolen data is already being requested by Evolution users and sold online to the highest bidders. My point being that law enforcement will never be able to seize enough sites to stop these kinds of illegal activities, so as much as we can prevent the credit card/ID theft on our end, the more that will be able to make an impact.” For more information, contact David Miller, UA Media Relations, at 205/348-0825 or dcmiller2@ur.ua.edu. Dolliver can also be reached directly at 205/348-2062 or dldolliver@ua.edu.

UA EXPERT TIPS

UA MATTERS: PAYING FOR YOUR CHILD’S EDUCATION — Providing funds to pay for a child’s college education is one of the largest expenses that parents face. The University of Alabama’s Dr. Robert McLeod, professor of finance in the Culverhouse College of Commerce, offers suggestions to reduce the burden of student debt in this week’s UA Matters. Contact: Kim Eaton, UA Media Relations, 808/640-5912 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu

UA MATTERS: DO ADULTS NEED BOOSTER SHOTS? — When we think of vaccinations, the image of children getting their shots at a health clinic comes to mind, but there are many reasons adults need to think about vaccinations, as well. UA’s Angela Hammond, a nurse practitioner, reminds us that it is as important for adults to be up-to-date on vaccinations as it is for children in this week’s UA Matters. Contact: Kim Eaton, UA Media Relations, 808/640-5912 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu

EVENTS

UA TO HOST REGIONAL SCIENCE OLYMPIAD – More than 400 students are expected to participate in the 2015 regional Science Olympiad competition at The University of Alabama Saturday, Feb. 21, beginning at 9 a.m. Events scheduled for the students include competitions in air trajectory, entomology, experimental design, fossils, disease detectives and more. Contact: Adam Jones, UA Engineering Media Relations, 205/348-6444 or acjones12@eng.ua.edu.

UA’S NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM HOSTS SCIENCE SUNDAY – The Alabama Museum of Natural History on The University of Alabama’s campus hosts Science Sunday from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22. “The Wise Man” is a family friendly, free event that will explore the intricacies of human learning and how it’s evolved over the years. Contact: Kim Eaton, UA Media Relations, 808/640-5912 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu

LOOKING AHEAD

EVENTS PLANNED FOR NATIONAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK – UA’s Culverhouse College of Commerce and the Alabama Entrepreneurship Institute will celebrate National Entrepreneurship Week Feb. 23-27. Culverhouse and AEI will celebrate with events during the week beginning with a kick-off on the Quad Monday, Feb. 23. The “What’s Your Big Idea?” event on Monday will begin a week’s worth of open events, speakers and time in the classroom to help students develop and perfect their own startup business ideas. For more information, contact Tommie Syx of the Alabama Entrepreneurship Institute at tsyx@culverhouse.ua.edu.

UA’S MOUNDVILLE PARK RESUMES SATURDAY IN THE PARK PROGRAMS – The University of Alabama’s Moundville Archaeological Park resumes its Saturday in the Park program on Feb. 28. Saturday in the Park is a series of demonstrations and presentations related to Native Americans, archaeology, natural history, sustainable gardening and more. Most programs, which run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., have a hands-on activity for children. Contact: Kim Eaton, UA Media Relations, 808/640-5912 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu

ANCIENT TECHNOLOGIES FEATURED AT UA’S MOUNDVILLE – The University of Alabama’s Moundville Archaeological Park invites the West Alabama community to explore what it means to live a simple life during the 15^th annual Knap-In and Ancient Arts Meet March 13-14. Stone tools makers, bow makers, basket makers, shell carvers, gourd artists, earth skill experts and potters will gather at Moundville Archaeological Park and demonstrate some of the arts and technologies that were once used by ancient people everywhere. Most also display and sell their pieces. Contact: Kim Eaton, UA Media Relations, 808/640-5912 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu