Experts use technology to find artifacts
Tuscaloosa News – Aug. 31
For his project at Moundville, University of Alabama anthropology professor John Blitz threw out all traditional methods of excavation. Blitz partnered with archaeology consultant Chet Walker and is using a magnetometer to locate remains that date back to the 1200s….Blitz said the magnetometer is able to indicate remains using computer-generated technology without disturbing the archaeological site. As the magnetometer is dragged across the soil, its sensors measure anomalies in the intensity and direction of the earth’s magnetic field as a result of human activity that may have changed the magnetic properties of the ground. “What’s so revolutionary about this is that it finds things that are invisible. We can go right to certain spots without having to disturb the soil,” Blitz said. “It’s a wonderful way of getting a good idea of where people were living and looking for remains that have not been examined before.”…
Hope appointed assistant VP for research
Crimson White – Aug. 31
Cynthia Hope has been named the new UA assistant vice president for research. Hope, previously the director of the office for sponsored programs within the office for Research, said she is excited about the prospects her new position will offer. “I think the University is in a great position,” Hope said. “Being a predominantly undergraduate institution, we have a lot of the qualities that those institutions don’t have that make part of being a university exciting. You really get to see the way research impacts the instruction mission and not just from a theoretical standpoint, you see it in action.”…
UA iTunes U up and running
Crimson White – Aug. 31
Recently, the University became part of iTunes U, a program used to provide educational and informational content that is usually limited to students, joining more than 200 colleges and universities in the iTunes U program…Rachel Shuttlesworth, lead coordinator for iTunes U at the UA’s Office of Information Technology, said the information is available in either video or audio format and can occasionally be downloaded in a PDF format. The content may be viewed through iTunes or downloaded to the student’s computers.
Dad’s Garage improvises at Ferguson
Crimson White – Aug. 31
…For no charge, UA students can watch Dad’s Garage flirt with failure at the Ferguson Center Theatre 7 p.m. Monday…He compared the show to ABC Family’s “Whose Line is it Anyway?” and its series of games…
Letter to the Editor: UA students shine at Echols
Tuscaloosa News – Aug. 31
Dear Editor: I would like to thank Alabama Action for the work they completed at Echols Middle School. They are freshman students in the Honors’ College at the University of Alabama. They came to Tuscaloosa one week early to participate in this service project. Eighty college students invaded our building during the first week of school and it was wonderful. They painted the library, upper gym, health classroom and computer lab, landscaped a courtyard and added mosaics to some hall windows. During fourth period each day, they led our sixth-graders in lessons concerning goals and good decision-making. Our students had a ‘buddy’ who helped them make the transition to middle school. I cannot fully express how much we appreciate all they did for us in one week. It was awesome! Nancy Terry, principal, Echols Middle School
Zip car comes to UA
FOX6 (Birmingham) – Aug. 28
There’s a new way for people to get to and fro on the University of Alabama campus. It’s called a “Zip Car.”…