UA studies carbon dioxide storage
Tuscaloosa News – June 20
The University of Alabama has been awarded a $4.85 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy for a project to test whether nearby underground reservoirs can store carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide emissions are produced mainly by fossil-fueled power plants. Storing the gas underground, rather than letting it into the atmosphere, is an idea that’s taken off in the past 10 to 15 years, said Peter Clark, UA associate professor of chemical engineering. “This is all tied to the increased awareness of global warming,” Clark said…Clark and the rest of the team will be investigating the possibility of carbon dioxide storage in four underground saline reservoirs near the Alabama Power Gorgas plant…
Could the Gulf Oil Spill Continue for Two Years?
Time.com – June 20
…” “If it went uncontrolled it could certainly leak for two years and certainly longer than that,” Philip Johnson, a professor of petroleum engineering at the University of Alabama told the Guardian.
PoliticsDaily.com – June 19
The Guardian (Great Britain) – June 19
Ban on Gulf drilling has its foes
Birmingham News – June 21
… Paul Johnson, a professor of forensic engineering at the University of Alabama, said a focus on deepwater drilling could distract from the most troubling failure at the Deepwater Horizon — the failure of the blowout preventer, devices in use at all wells, devices that are supposed to be fail-safe…”That’s what I think sets this well apart. That BOP stack has got to work,” Johnson said. “The fact that it didn’t work takes my breath away. It is like flying in an aircraft and finding out there has been no regular maintenance.” Three different devices that would have shut off the flow reportedly were not installed or properly maintained. “This shouldn’t happen again,” Johnson said. “We have a pretty good history of it not happening in the past.” Peter Clark, a professor of chemical engineering at the University of Alabama, agreed. “I think the technology is here today to drill in deepwater safely,” he said. “There were a lot of corners being cut that sort of negated the technology we have.” …”I seriously doubt that this blowout preventer would have ever been allowed in Brazilian waters,” Clark said. “The point is, you can do this stuff safely and avoid problems if you have people out there who know what they are doing and you are willing to spend the money.” Clark said the other obvious deficit is that spill response has not been a priority for the industry. Many of the oil companies did away with research labs in recent decades, Clark said. “There was no one there to ask: ‘If we have a spill, what is going to happen if we use these dispersants?'” Clark said “Nobody spent any money asking questions. People were entirely too focused on the bottom-line.”…
Many library patrons prefer books to gadgets
Florence Times-Daily – June 20
… “Physical books didn’t disappear from libraries with the advent of the audio book, and they aren’t falling off the shelves to make room for Kindles,” said Jamie C. Naidoo, assistant professor in the School of Library and Information Studies at the University of Alabama. “Kindles and other readers will be replaced by a new form of technology that purports to enhance the reading experience, but the physical book is here to stay and will always have an honored space on the hallowed shelves of the public library.”…
Unemployment down, but not by much
Anniston Star – June 19
…“The increase in employment is statistically insignificant,” said James Cover, a professor of economics at the University of Alabama. “I would say that it’s essentially unchanged.”…
Where the Times Square Suspect Is Just a Client
New York Times – June 19
… “There’s often a sense that it’s David versus Goliath,” said David Patton, a former defender who teaches law at the University of Alabama. “It can be a source of frustration, but it also creates an esprit de corps in the office.”…
Recount shows James in third
Montgomery Advertiser – June 19
… David Lanoue, chairman of the political science department at the University of Alabama, said Bentley is likely to benefit from James’ voters if he can motivate them to turn out for a runoff at the height of vacation season. “There was such bad blood between Tim James and Bradley Byrne in the primary, it’s hard to imagine Tim James voters turning out for Bradley Byrne,” he said….
College News
Tuscaloosa News – June 21
The University of Alabama received a nearly $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation to support a fellowship program for underrepresented minority graduate students studying in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The Bridge to the Doctorate program is administered by the Alabama Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation. Applications are being accepted for this fall for 12 fellowships. The program offers a $30,000 annual stipend for two years and covers full tuition and fees. It also offers a mentoring program, conference and research travel opportunities, seminars and workshops and additional research and networking opportunities…
New Miss Tennessee is motivated by service
Jackson (Tenn.) Sun – June 21
Miss Tennessee 2010 Nicole Jordan…The University of Alabama senior has wanted to be Miss Tennessee since she was a little girl. When she was older and learned that she could combine her love of service with performance, she signed up…
Chattanooga (Tenn.) Times Free Press – June 20