BEST BETS
UA RESEARCHERS CREATING DIGITAL EXHIBITION OF BIRMINGHAM ARTIST’S WORK – Using cutting-edge imaging technology and digital curation, a project involving The University of Alabama will allow the work and stories of a well-regarded Southern artist to be preserved digitally for future generations. The mapping and digital documentation of artist Joe Minter’s work will be the first large-scale application of this sophisticated technology to record and preserve an art installation. Minter, a found-object artist in Birmingham, tells the story of his life, and a cultural movement, in a collection he calls “African Village in America” built on nearly 1 acre around his home in Birmingham, Alabama. For more information, contact Adam Jones, UA Strategic Communications, at adam.jones@ua.edu.
RESEARCHERS TO STUDY THE STATE OF BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES IN ALABAMA – A five-year research project will explore the status of Black businesses in Alabama, with the goal of pinpointing specific challenges they face and identifying strategies to help them thrive. Led by UA, the first study of its kind in the state will tap resources from three universities as well as other organizations in Alabama and beyond. It will take a deep dive into identifying hurdles encountered by urban and rural Black businesses in Alabama, and how they differ from those encountered by other businesses, said lead researcher Dr. Lou Marino, Frank Mason Faculty Fellow in Family Business in the UA Culverhouse College of Business and chair of the department of management. For more information, contact Adam Jones, UA Strategic Communications, at adam.jones@ua.edu.
UA CENTER TO SPUR CONVERGENT DRUG INNOVATION, DELIVERY – Drawing upon expertise from across campus, a new center at The University of Alabama will help overcome obstacles keeping drug therapies that show promise in the lab from translating to an effective treatment for patients. The Board of Trustees of The University of Alabama recently approved forming the Center for Convergent Bioscience and Medicine with research dedicated to developing novel therapies for immuno-inflammatory diseases by adopting an integrated approach combining innovative drug delivery strategies with new drug-discovery and drug-repurposing. For more information, contact Adam Jones, UA Strategic Communications, at adam.jones@ua.edu.
THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA ANNOUNCES FREE APP WEEK, OCT. 18-22 – The University of Alabama is waiving application fees for domestic and international prospective students from Monday, Oct. 18, through Friday, Oct. 22. During Free App Week, UA aims to empower prospective students by removing financial barriers that might keep them from applying. For more information, visit the Free App Week website for undergraduates, or the Graduate School’s Free App Week website. To arrange an interview, contact Shane Dorrill, UA Strategic Communications, at shane.dorrill@ua.edu.
UA PROGRAMS WELCOME STUDENTS STUDYING RURAL HEALTH CARE – The University of Alabama College of Community Health Sciences recently welcomed the 2021-2022 class of its Rural Medical Scholars and Rural Community Health Scholars programs for students studying to become rural physicians or considering other health careers. For more information contact Bryant Welbourne, UA Strategic Communications, at bryant.welbourne@ua.edu.
CURRENT COMMENT
CHANGES TO FED-BACKED FLOOD INSURANCE ENCOURAGES DISASTER RESILIENCE – Looming changes to flood insurance will raise rates for some policyholders in Alabama, but, on the whole, the changes are good public policy, said Dr. Lars Powell, director and senior research professional of the Alabama Center for Insurance Information and Research. “The changes match rate to risk so people with a greater chance of having large losses pay higher premiums and vice versa,” Powell said. “It also increases incentives for people and businesses to protect their property from flooding and allows the government to allocate resources toward flood mitigation projects, instead of subsidizing insurance.” About 1,700 flood insurance policyholders will see rate increase greater than $20 next year as part of the changes to the Federal Emergency Management Agency National Flood Insurance Premium rating system known as Risk Rating 2.0, scheduled to go into effect for new policies on Oct. 1. To schedule an interview with Powell, contact him at lars.powell@cba.ua.edu.
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