MONDAY, FEB. 24 – SUNDAY, MARCH 1
RESEARCH
SOUTHWEST A HOTSPOT FOR FLASH FLOOD CONSEQUENCES, RESEARCH SHOWS — The worst region for flash floods in the continental United States is likely the Southwest, according to a recent analysis of flash floods by UA. Using hydrologic data along with socio-economic information, researchers at the UA Center for Complex Hydrosystems, led by center director Dr. Hamid Moradkhani, mapped the hotspots for flash floods. They found the most severe effects from flash floods occur in a string of counties along the U.S.-Mexico border from Texas to California, including areas much further north in New Mexico, Arizona and even Nevada, according to the study published in Scientific Reports. Watch for a news release with more details. For assistance, contact Adam Jones in UA communications at 205-348-4328 or adam.jones@ua.edu.
BEST BETS
CYBER SECURITY EDUCATION GETS BOOST – With a new bachelor’s degree and a prestigious national scholarship program now offered on campus, UA is accelerating its efforts to prepare students for the growing field of cyber security. The initiatives will not only enhance the experience of interested students, but they will improve sectors such as military and defense industries critical to the state’s economy. For more details, contact Adam Jones in UA communications at 205-348-4328 or adam.jones@ua.edu.
UA BLACK HISTORY MONTH: ‘AFRICAN AMERICANS AND THE VOTE’ — This year celebrates the 150th anniversary of both the 15th Amendment, which gave black men and other disenfranchised Americans the right to vote, and women getting the right to vote. In celebration of those anniversaries, and looking toward the 2020 presidential election, UA’S Black History Month celebration is themed “African Americans and The Vote.” For a full list of events, which are free unless otherwise noted, see the calendar. For more information, contact Jamon Smith in UA communications at jamon.smith@ua.edu or 205-348-4956.
CURRENT COMMENT
SCHOOL CALENDARS INFLUENCE STUDENT SUCCESS – A legislative bill would allow the state of Alabama to mandate summer break from Memorial Day to Labor Day. “Time in school is time dedicated to the fulfillment of the chief learning objectives in the school curriculum,” said Dr. Peter Hlebowitsh, dean of UA’s College of Education. “Less time in school will inevitably mean less opportunity to learn whatever the school is teaching. This may not be much of an issue for students who come from families and communities that can fill the space away from school with enriching experiences. There is, in fact, something to be said for having more independent time to, say, read or to otherwise pursue a variety of social, intellectual, vocational and civic interests. The problem, of course, is that the summer can also be filled with experiences that may not be educational or that could even prove to be miseducational. This should be the main concern for those who aim to shorten the length of the school year.” To arrange a potential interview with Hlebowitsh, contact Bryant Welbourne in UA communications at bryant.welbourne@ua.edu or 205-348-8325.
LOOKING AHEAD
LAW SCHOOL SYMPOSIUM ON CIVIL ASSET FORFEITURE – UA’s School of Law is hosting a symposium from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Friday, March 6, in the Bedsole Moot Court Room. The symposium, Timbs v. Indiana One Year Later: The Future of Civil Asset Forfeiture, will explore the consequences of the U.S. Supreme Court case. This symposium will feature three panel discussions with prominent law professors and practitioners and a keynote address from Wesley Hottot, the senior attorney at the Institute for Justice, who argued the Timbs case before the U.S. Supreme Court. For more information, contact Monique Fields, manager of communications in the law school, at 205-348-5195 or mfields@law.ua.edu.
2020 ALABAMA WRITERS HALL OF FAME TO INDUCT 7 — Seven distinguished authors will be inducted March 9 into the 2020 Alabama Writers Hall of Fame at UA’s Bryant Conference Center. This year’s inductees include Mark Childress, Faye Gibbons, Carolyn Haines, Honorée Fanonne Jeffers and Michael Knight. Authors Ralph Ellison and Zelda Fitzgerald will be inducted posthumously. A reception will be held in the authors’ honor at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 7 p.m. The induction ceremony will immediately follow dinner. For more information, contact Jamon Smith in UA communications at jamon.smith@ua.edu or 205-348-4956.
SEE A LIST OF CAMPUS EVENTS AT https://www.ua.edu/events/.
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VISIT THE UA NEWS CENTER FOR STORY IDEAS AT https://www.ua.edu/news/.