MONDAY, NOV. 9 – SUNDAY, NOV. 15, 2015
BEST BETS
UA STUDY: FALL, HOLIDAYS DANGEROUS TIME FOR YOUNG DRIVERS – The last three months of the year can be treacherous for all drivers, but young drivers are involved in considerably more crashes during that time than the rest of the year, according to a recent study of traffic data by UA’s Center for Advanced Public Safety. For more information, contact Adam Jones, UA engineering media relations, at 205/348-6444 or acjones12@eng.ua.edu, or Rhonda Stricklin, associate director of CAPS, at 205/348-0991 or rstricklin@cs.ua.edu.
SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK TO BEGIN VETERANS’ NEEDS ASSESSMENT IN SOUTH ALABAMA – More than 64,000 military veterans live in South Alabama. Many live in rural communities, and their needs, from mental health care to housing, are multi-faceted. The UA School of Social Work has partnered with the Community Foundation of South Alabama to conduct a needs assessment of military veterans in the southern region of the state. “In a state with such a disproportionately strong veteran presence, there’s a great need and a great potential for engaging veterans and their families more effectively,” said Dr. David Albright, UA social work professor and principal investigator of the study. “The state of Alabama is positioned to be a leader. In order to strengthen existing initiatives, it’s important to ID the needs and gaps in Alabama communities.” Albright said he hopes to extend the study to a statewide level, which would make Alabama the first to conduct a veterans’ needs assessment at that level. For more information, contact David Miller, UA Media Relations, at 205/348-0825 or dcmiller2@ur.ua.edu.
BUILDING TALLER, STURDIER WOOD BUILDINGS THE GOAL OF UA RESEARCH – UA researchers are leading an effort that could lead to the construction of taller and studier wood-framed buildings in earthquake-prone areas. For more information, contact Adam Jones, UA Engineering Media Relations, at 205/348-6444 or acjones12@eng.ua.edu.
ALABAMA BUSINESS HALL OF FAME — The Culverhouse College of Commerce will induct seven business executives from the state into the annual Alabama Business Hall of Fame Thursday, Nov. 12. A formal induction ceremony will be at the Hyatt Regency at the Galleria to honor the inductees: Samuel Ginn, Palo Alto, California; William C. Hulsey, Birmingham; J. Smith Lanier II, Lanett; James C. Lee III, Birmingham; Marvin L. Mann, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida; Alma Gates Scroggins, Atlanta; and Mike Warren, Birmingham. Contact Edith Parten, in media relations, eparten@culverhouse.ua.edu or 205/348-8318 for more information.
HOPES OF CHANGING HEALTH OUTCOMES ONE COMMUNITY AT A TIME — One UA researcher is encouraging communities to take responsibility for their own health — and she’s giving them the tools to do just that. Dr. Debra Whisenant, assistant professor in the Capstone College of Nursing, has received a grant to launch a health promotion program in multiple communities in Jefferson, Walker and Blount Counties. The first community health screening will be Nov. 21 at Rock Creek Church of Christ in Warrior. Contact Whisenant directly at 205/348-6317 or dpwhisenant@ua.edu. For assistance, contact Kim Eaton in media relations, 205/348-8325 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu.
RENOWNED WOODTURNER, ARTIST TO SPEAK AT ‘VISITNG ARTIST’ EVENT – Mark Sfirri, a world-class artist and woodworker who is a scholar, educator and historian of art and craft, will deliver a lecture about Wharton Esherick and the influence of Fairhope on his artistic career to Osher Lifelong Learning Institute members at 3 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, at the Bryant Conference Center. Sfirri also will lead a woodturning workshop in Birmingham Saturday, Nov. 14. Both events, sponsored by UA’s College of Continuing Studies and the department of art history, are open and free to the public. The events are part of UA’s first “Visiting Artist” event. Sfirri teaches conceptual art and woodturning at Bucks County Community College in Newtown, Penn. For more information, contact Kevin Lake, Continuing Studies, at 205/348-4632 or ktlake@ua.edu. For assistance, contact media relations, 205/348-5320.
UA’S FAMILY MEDICINE RESIDENCY CELEBRATES 40TH ANNIVERSARY — The Family Medicine Residency, one of the oldest and largest family medicine residencies in the United States, was founded in 1974 and, to date, has graduated 450 family medicine physicians. More than half of those graduates are practicing in 46 of Alabama’s 67 counties, and 48 percent are practicing in a rural area of the state. UA’s College of Community Health Sciences is hosting a reunion weekend Nov. 13 through 15 to celebrate the 40th anniversary. Several residency alumni, as well as the College’s dean, are available for interviews. For more information, contact Kim Eaton in media relations, 205/348-8325 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu.
CORNELL PROFESSOR TO DELIVER ANNUAL BASOWITZ LECTURE – Dr. Thomas Gilovich, professor of psychology at Cornell University, will discuss the “Enemies of Gratitude” during the annual Harold Basowitz Memorial Lecture at UA. Gilovich specializes in the study of everyday judgment and reasoning. He will deliver the lecture at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, in room 118 of Bibb Graves Hall. For more information, contact David Miller, UA media relations, at 205/348-0825 or dcmiller2@ur.ua.edu.
CURRENT COMMENT
HOLIDAY SHOPPING INS AND OUTS — What do retailers have up their sleeves to attract shoppers this holiday season, and what kind of deals can you get? Kristy Reynolds, a professor in UA’s Culverhouse College of Commerce, has an inside look at what shoppers can expect this holiday season. Contact: Edith Parten, eparten@Culverhouse.ua.edu, 205/348-8318. Source: Kristy Reynolds, kreynold@culverhouse.ua.edu
IS THANKSGIVING DAY TURKEY MAKING YOU TIRED? — With more than 9 million Americans taking prescription sleep aids, public health professionals are evaluating a variety of natural methods to help people get better sleep. The role nutrition plays in promoting better sleep has gained more attention lately, and with Thanksgiving approaching many people wonder if the extra turkey plays a role in inducing the traditional Thanksgiving Day afternoon nap. Turkey contains tryptophan, an amino acid responsible for helping to manage our sleep cycle. However, eating turkey on its own is probably not causing people to feel sleepy. “One of the main reasons we feel sleepy after a Thanksgiving feast is we are eating carbohydrate-rich foods like mashed potatoes and stuffing along with our turkey,” said Dr. Adam Knowlden, assistant professor of health science at UA. “The sleep-inducing amino acid found in turkey has a much easier time being processed when combined with carbohydrate-rich foods. There may be other factors contributing as well such as lower stress due to time off work.” For more information, contact Knowlden at aknowlden@ches.ua.edu or Kim Eaton, UA media relations, at 205/348-8325 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu.
UA EXPERT TIPS
UA MATTERS: AVOIDING COLDS AND FLU — Celebrating fall and looking forward to the holiday season is exciting for most of us, but with all the fun we may be visited by some unwelcomed guests and share unwanted gifts — colds and flu. UA Dr. Debra Whisenant provides several recommendations to decrease your risk of colds and flu and also to prevent the spread of both to others in this week’s UA Matters. Contact: Kim Eaton, UA media relations, at 205/348-8325 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu.
UA MATTERS: WAYS TO HELP ELDERLY PARENTS MAINTAIN PSYCHOLOGICAL PROWESS — As your parents age, their risk of loss of independence and physical health problems increases, while their potential quality of life decreases, all as a result of decreased psychological prowess. Some changes in psychological prowess can be noticed as early as 60. UA’s Dr. Justin White offers tips on how you can encourage your aging parent and help them remain cognitively sharp. White is available for interviews via phone, email and Skype (he’ s in New Mexico). Contact: Kim Eaton, UA Media Relations, 205/348-8325 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu.
LOOKING AHEAD
FASHION FOR LIFE – UA apparel design students will have an opportunity to showcase who they are as a designer during the seventh annual Fashion for Life. Senior apparel design students in the College of Human Environmental Sciences will showcase their final collection at 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22, in the Ferguson Center ballroom. Contact: Kim Eaton, UA Media Relations, 205/348-8325 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu.