Process developed at Alabama licensed by Colorado company
Tuscaloosa News – Aug. 27
A Colorado-based company has licensed a method of capturing carbon dioxide pioneered by a University of Alabama assistant professor, with the hope of developing the method as a more energy-efficient way of reducing emissions at fossil-fuel power plants. ION Engineering in Boulder, Colo., has licensed a carbon-capture process using imidazole solutions, or solvents, developed by Jason Bara, an assistant professor of chemical and biological engineering at UA. The clean energy company funded Bara’s early work on a more energy-efficient solution through a sponsored research agreement, according to CEO Buz Brown. Bara started working with solvents and carbon capture as a doctoral student at the University of Colorado at Boulder, but said he did not begin working with imidazole, a commercially available organic compound, until after arriving at UA in 2010. “The imidazole stuff just kind of clicked when I was at UA,” he said. “It’s been under my nose the whole time. And it never clicked.”
The Republic (Columbus, Ind.) – Aug. 27
UA journalism professor to be interim dean
GoErie.com (Pa.) – Aug. 26
A University of Alabama journalism professor has been named interim dean of the university’s communications program. The Tuscaloosa News reports ( http://bit.ly/1fdCHHR) Jennifer Greer will take the helm of the College of Communication and Information Sciences on Sept. 1. Greer chairs the school’s journalism department. Greer will replace outgoing Dean Loy Singleton who’s set to retire on Oct. 31. She will work with Singleton until his retirement and then will run the college until a permanent replacement is found. As interim dean, Greer will not be eligible to apply for the position permanently. Greer’s profile on the university’s website says she has led the journalism department since 2007. Singleton, who has been dean since July 2006, announced his retirement plans in June.
Alabama Public Radio – Aug. 26
Culverhouse College of Commerce receives $1 Million gift for scholarships
WPMI (Mobile) – Aug. 26
A million-dollar gift will be used by the University of Alabama to help students avoid using loans. Business Dean Michael Hardin says the fund will focus on gifted undergraduates who would otherwise need loans to cover their college costs. The dean says the college plans to offer three to four scholarships each year. Three students already have been selected as recipients for the fall.
University of Alabama doctoral students to participate in ‘3-Minute Thesis’ competition
Al.com – Aug. 27
The University of Alabama is fielding doctoral student competitors for the ‘3-Minute Thesis’ competition, a program designed teach students to break down their theses into an “elevator pitch.” According to a UA press release, the competition originated in Australia and later spread to the U.S. SEC rivals Auburn University and the University of Georgia currently field teams of their own. David Francko, dean of UA’s Graduate School, said in the release that the competition aims to make students marketable by being able to present an effective summary of their work and research for any audience. “You have 180 seconds to break your thesis down into a concept that anyone can understand,” Francko said. “You have to see the big picture and be able to think backwards to explain your concept. It’s a challenge.” The competition is open to all doctoral students and does not distinguish between fields — an English student and physics student would be judged together, for example.
Nick’s Kids and Habitat For Humanity build 15th house
NBC 13 (Birmingham) – Aug. 26
A Tuscaloosa family is getting a brand new home, and it’s all thanks to the recent success of University of Alabama’s football team. Coach Nick Saban’s non-profit “Nick’s Kids Fund” has partnered with Habitat for Humanity to build the house. It’s the 15th house, which represents the 15 national championships the team has won. The future homeowners are survivors of both Hurricane Katrina and the April 27, 2011 tornado.
Students camp out for Alabama football tickets
Tuscaloosa News – Aug. 27
University of Alabama students wait outside Coleman Coliseum for student ticket pickup early Monday morning in Tuscaloosa. The majority of the students had camped outside the coliseum since 10 p.m. Sunday night to pick up their student tickets for the Virginia Tech game in Atlanta, which will be Saturday. The total student ticket allotment for the Virginia Tech game is 3,150. The first 450 students received lower-level tickets in the Georgia Dome, and the other 2,750 students received upper-level tickets.
NBC 13 (Birmingham) – Aug. 26
UA ROTC enrollment increases
Crimson White – Aug. 27
A few miles from campus in Cottondale, Ala., The University of Alabama’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps performed a land navigation exercise. The temperature was hot and the students were only given a compass, map and protractor to guide them to at least five different checkpoints in the woods. Capt. Jack Benford, assistant professor of military science, said the land navigation exercise builds confidence and trust in the students. “It’s a challenge; it’s creative thinking, and it’s building a base for their leadership as they grow and continue,” Benford said. Army Cadet Maj. Evan Horner, a senior majoring in chemistry, said the biggest benefit of being in the ROTC program is the opportunity to lead soldiers when he graduates.
Rotary House gives residents sense of home
Crimson White – Aug. 27
The building that was once known as The University of Alabama’s “Little United Nations” sits beside Bryant Hall, standing as a melting pot of students from countries all across the world. Now known as the Rotary House, the program was founded by the Rotary Club of Tuscaloosa in 1973 and gives international and UA students a chance to get to know each other under one roof. According to the Housing and Residential Communities website, students are chosen to live in the coed house depending on their level of interest and ability to impact their community. Looking to take on its biggest project ever, the Rotary Club began raising money for the house and eventually reached $70,000. James Shamblin, Rotary Club’s president at the time, said the house was initially formed for two reasons. “At the time, there was a real need for housing on campus, so it met two needs in that it gave beds to students, but it also gave an opportunity for people to understand each other,” Shamblin said. “We remodeled and furnished a fraternity house that was given to us by the University and put UA students and international students together.”
Alabama’s learning institute to hold open house today
Tuscaloosa News – Aug. 27
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Alabama will hold an open house and registration for the fall term from 4-5:30 p.m. today at the Bryant Conference Center, 240 Paul W. Bryant Drive. Light refreshments will be served. OLLI aims to improve the quality of life for senior students through continuing education.