MONDAY, JULY 18 – SUNDAY, JULY 24, 2016
BEST BETS
EDUCATION EXPERT TO DETAIL POTENTIAL PELL FUNDING INCREASE AT ROTARY MEETING – There’s a chance UA students, if eligible, could see an increase in summer 2017 Pell Grant monies. Dr. Steve Katsinas, director of the Education Policy Center at UA, has led the Mississippi and Alabama Education Policy Fellows in its initiative to reinstate year-round Pell funding in the U.S., with particular emphasis on community colleges. The bill recently passed the Senate in early June and will be discussed and voted upon in Congress later this year. Katsinas will speak about current and pending legislation of Pell Grant funding at the Rotary Club meeting, Tuesday, July 19 at 11:30 a.m. at Indian Hills Country Club. Reporters can dine free of charge. For more information, contact David Miller, UA Media Relations, 205/348-0825 or dcmiller2@ur.ua.edu.
PUBLIC ARCHAEOLOGY DAYS TO BE HELD AT OLD CAHAWBA — The Alabama Historical Commission and UA’s Office of Archaeological Research invite the public to participate in three days of investigation, presentations and discovery of the mysterious town of Old Cahawba during Old Cahawba Public Archaeology Days. The three-day event, which runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 21 through 23 at Old Cahawba Archaeological Park in Orrville, includes daily excavations at Old Cahawba’s State House lot, daily tours of Old Cahawba, a series of daily lectures and an artifact display and children’s craft tables July 23. For more information, contact Kim Eaton, UA media relations, 808/640-5912 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu; Matthew Gage, director, UA Office of Archaeological Research, mdgage@ua.edu; or Dr. Virgil Beasley, cultural resources investigator, Office of Archaeological Research, vrbeasle@ua.edu.
UA TO HOST STEM-ENTREPRENEURSHIP CAMP — About 40 students from eight area high schools will have the opportunity to improve their knowledge and application of science, technology, engineering, and math while developing their entrepreneurship skills at UA. The STEM Entrepreneurship Academy Camp began Sunday, July 17 and ends Friday, July 22. Campers will be challenged to think logically, creatively and productively through clear communication, biomimicry (imitating nature to solve complex human problems) and generating and testing hypotheses. Camp activities will also emphasize finding one’s STEM “type,” producing competitive product prototypes and collecting data to test prototypes. For more information, contact Ed Mullins, Center for Community Based Partnerships, at lemullins13@gmail.com, 205/246-3334 or David Miller, media relations, 205/348-0825 or dcmiller2@ur.ua.edu.
UA, YMCA TEAM TO DELIVER SUMMER READING PROGRAM – As teachers and parents try to stem summer learning loss, staff members of the Benjamin Barnes YMCA and faculty and graduate students from the UA College of Education are continuing the Y’s Reader Program, a daily educational component of the Y’s summer camp schedules for children ages 4 to 14. The younger campers are exposed to new literacy and social and emotional skills to increase readiness, while older ages gain practice and exposure to different reading materials. Middle-schoolers have formed a book club. Children from across 16 schools in Tuscaloosa County are participating. For more information, contact, David Miller, UA Media Relations, at 205/348-0825 or dcmiller2@ur.ua.edu.
CONSERVATIVES LESS INTERESTED IN EMPIRICAL DATA, RESEARCH INDICATES – It’s widely accepted that partisan news and commentary help shape political opinions, but what about scientific studies? Dr. Alexa Tullett, UA assistant professor of psychology, recently completed a study in which conservatives and liberals in the Deep South and on the West Coast were given the chance to view findings from studies about the justness of the world, efficacy of safety nets and the value of social media. Tullett didn’t offer the results of those studies or the origin to participants, just the opportunity to view the novel data. She found conservatives were far less interested in the data than liberals, an implication that political divisiveness is partly driven because people rely on different methods of persuasion. “They disagree about the value of scientific evidence, and if you’re relying on different types of evidence, you’re less likely to come to an agreement,” Tullett said. For more information, contact David Miller, UA media relations, at 205/348-0825 or dcmiller2@ur.ua.edu.
PICKENS COUNTY PARTNERSHIP AIMS TO IMPROVE HEALTH, EDUCATION – UA has teamed with Pickens County to provide learning opportunities for students while improving the health and well-being of the rural county of nearly 20,000. The University of Alabama-Pickens County Partnership seeks to provide sustainable health care for the county and “real world” training for UA students in medicine, nursing, social work, psychology, health education and other disciplines. For more information, contact Kim Eaton, UA media relations, 808-640-5912, kkeaton@ur.ua.edu, or Brett Jaillet, assistant director of communications, College of Community Health Sciences, 205/348-2041, bjaillet@cchs.ua.edu.
WOMEN NEEDED FOR RESEARCH STUDY — Women ages 55-69 are needed for a research study to evaluate the taste, texture and other sensory characteristics of different watermelon-flavored beverages. Women in this age group without any food allergies are eligible to participate. Participants will come to the Food Lab in Doster Hall at UA to taste test the beverages and complete a computerized sensory evaluation. The visit will take approximately a half hour to complete. Interested participants can make a testing appointment by phoning, toll-free, 1-844-348-7057. Contact: Kim Eaton, UA Media Relations, 808/640-5912 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu.
HIGH-SCHOOLERS TO CONCLUDE SOCIAL WORK CAMP WITH AWARDS LUNCHEON – More than 20 youth from across the Southeast will leave UA and the Tuscaloosa area better prepared for a career in social work. The National Social Work Enrichment Program has visited UA each summer since 2011. Each year, between 15-20 students learn about social work careers from UA faculty and at job sites in the Tuscaloosa area. The program will host an awards luncheon at 11 a.m. Friday, July 22 at the Hotel Capstone at UA. Over the last five weeks, students have lived in UA dorms, completed service projects and earned stipends by working for United Way agencies. For more information, contact David Miller, UA Media Relations, at 205/348-0825 or dcmiller2@ur.ua.edu.
CURRENT COMMENT
PROFESSOR AVAILABLE TO COMMENT ON POLITICAL CONVENTION, VICE PRESIDENTIAL PICKS – With vice presidential picks a hot topic and both the Republican and Democratic national conventions taking place within the month, Dr. Stephen Borrelli, a UA political science professor, is ready to help analyze the scene. He’s available for commentary about the conventions and both Trump and Hillary Clinton’s potential – and actual – vice president selections: Dr. Stephen Borrelli will be available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 18-21. He can be reached at sborrell@bama.ua.edu or at 205-348-3812. On-camera interviews may be scheduled for his office at 341 ten Hoor Hall. For assistance, contact Jamon Smith, UA media relations, at jamon.smith@ua.edu or 205/348-4956.
UA EXPERT TIPS
UA MATTERS: JUICING AND SMOOTHIE CONSIDERATIONS — Trendy diets during hot weather are all the rage, especially when it comes to the various juicing and smoothie programs that are being advertised on the market today. Though promoted as an easy and refreshing way to lose weight and consume more vitamins and minerals, it is important to consult with your physician or other healthcare provider before starting any kind of juicing or smoothie program. UA’s Sheena Quizon Gregg shares how to incorporate a juicing or smoothie regiment as part of your regular dietary intake. For assistance, contact Kim Eaton, UA media relations, at 808/640-5912 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu.