Two startups with University of Alabama ties advance in Alabama Launchpad competition
Tuscaloosa News – Jan. 24
Two companies with University of Alabama affiliations are among seven startups selected to advance to the next phase of the latest round of the Alabama Launchpad Start-Up Competition. The Economic Development Partnership of Alabama Foundation announced Friday Bidsters LLC and Child Safety Pass, both Tuscaloosa based, were among the companies selected to compete to proceed to the finale of the competition, which is designed to help startups advance their ideas from concepts to reality, on March 21 in Birmingham. The two were among 12 companies competing in a proof of commercial relevance stage in Birmingham Friday. The companies are competing for a share of as much as $100,000 in award money. The other startups to advance include Complexity Engine of Madison, Healthfundit of Birmingham, Paperless PCS LLC of Vestavia Hills, Suture Health Inc. of Birmingham, and Thermoelectric Generation for Aviation Applications of Birmingham.
A lesson in 3-D: Printing technology demonstrated at Science Sunday
Tuscaloosa News – Jan. 26
Fossilized fish bones sat beside plastic shark teeth, printed by modern 3-D printers Sunday in Smith Hall on the University of Alabama campus. The UA Museum of Natural History hosted the first Science Sunday of the year to demonstrate 3-D printing technology for the public. The free event also featured fossil displays, a guest lecture and the unveiling of a skull from Xiphactinus audax, a late-Cretaceous predatory fish. Allie Sorlie, education outreach coordinator for the museum, said the event was designed as a fun, family-friendly program. “This Science Sunday was all about 3-D printing and how it can be used in paleontology,” Sorlie said. “We had crafts, coloring and other activities for kids, including making a Xiphactinus kite.”
Crimson White – Jan. 27
University of Alabama to host high school physics meet Jan. 31
Tuscaloosa News – Jan. 26
The University of Alabama’s annual high school physics contest scheduled for Jan. 31 will offer students the chance to compete for scholarships and bragging rights during the 38th edition of the competition. The daylong event, sponsored by UA’s department of physics and astronomy, is expected to attract hundreds of students from multiple states for individual and team physics competitions, according to UA. The event also includes programs for teachers and opportunities to experience UA campus life. Student competitors on campus Thursday will have a chance to hear a 7 p.m. talk by Dawn Williams, UA associate professor of physics, on her research using a sensor array buried in the Antarctic ice, and afterward, weather permitting, use UA’s reflector telescope to view the moon and other celestial objects.
University of Alabama School of Music to join Yale, Julliard, UAB as an “All Steinway School”
Al.com – Jan. 27
Piano students at the University of Alabama’s School of Music will soon make music exclusively on Steinway Pianos, joining more than 150 conservatories and universities around the world who share the distinction of “All Steinway Schools”. According to a UA press release, the School’s existing pianos will be replaced with the legendary Steinway models in the coming months. “This ‘Steinway Initiative’ will publicly recognize and rank our keyboard department among the finest programs in the nation,” said Skip Snead, chair of the School of Music in the College of Arts and Sciences. The legendary American and German piano manufacturer has partnered with American universities since the 19th century, with the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Ohio holding the first “All Steinway School” designation. Today, prestigious American institutions like Yale and the Julliard School, in addition to international conservatories in Europe, Asia and Africa, share the distinction.
University remembers Nagy El-Kaddah
Crimson White – Jan. 27
Longtime University of Alabama professor Nagy El-Kaddah passed away Jan. 20, 2014. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Attiat, and his two children, Ahmed and Dahlia. “Dr. El-Kaddah will be truly missed by the faculty, staff, students and alumni of the department of metallurgical and materials engineering,” said Viola Acoff, head of the metallurgical and materials engineering department. “He dedicated his life to providing quality education to students for nearly 30 years.” El-Kaddah, a professor of metallurgical and materials engineering, came to the University 28 years ago. El-Kaddah received his bachelor’s degree in metallurgical engineering from Cairo University in Egypt and received his Ph.D. in metallurgical engineering in 1976 from London University in England. Before coming to the University, he taught at Cairo University and was a visiting scientist and research associate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In 1982, he won the Egyptian State Incentive Prize for outstanding contributions to engineering.
‘Ready or Not’ to showcase song and dance talent of Alabama freshmen
Al.com – Jan. 24
University of Alabama theatre & dance department freshmen students will share their talents this weekend in the Freshman Showcase where they’ll perform scenes and songs on campus. The Freshman Showcase, called “Ready or Not,” will take place tonight and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in the Allen Bales Theatre, on the side of Rowand-Johnson Hall. “We are in our fifth year of this performance experience for freshmen,” said Allison Hetzel, associate professor of voice and acting, according to a UA release. “The show consists of songs and scenes, so a variety of work is displayed including a large group song and dance number.” The showcase features students who are in their first year as musical theater or acting students. The pieces allow the students to demonstrate the acting and singing techniques they have learned in their time on campus so far. “The experience has been marvelous,” said Daniel Hulsizer, a freshman musical theater student. “It’s amazing to show and perform what our awesome professors have helped us achieve. UA theatre and dance is a family that I’m very thankful to be a part of.” Tickets for the showcase are general admission and will be available at the door. The tickets are free, but seating is limited.
Program takes students to Sea Lab
Crimson White – Jan. 27
Dauphin Island, a barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico, is host to Dauphin Island Sea Lab, which offers summer courses to students at 22 colleges and universities across the state in courses ranging from “Dolphins and Whales” to “Marine Aquaculture.” Julie Olson, professor of biological sciences, said students who have a passion for marine sciences need to have a hands-on experience with it, as attending a university four hours from the beach couldn’t do it justice. “We have a degree program in marine science, and it’s only a dual degree program,” Olson said. “The second majors are biology, chemistry and geology. For the marine sciences program, I really don’t feel like we can do it justice trying to teach classes on the main campus when we’re four hours away from the coast.” Olson said students are required to take 16 hours of marine science coursework during the summer at DISL. She said it is possible to take all 16 hours in one summer. “What’s nice about this program is that it’s not just for marine sciences students, but any of our biology students can also take classes down at the sea lab,” Olson said. “The classes there count as upper-level biology electives.”
State unemployment drops
Alexander City Outlook – Jan. 24
The state’s job market continue to strengthen in December, as the unemployment rate improved to a five-year low of 6.1 percent. In Tallapoosa County, the rate increased slightly to 7.2 percent, but still beats the 7.5 percent jobless rate of a year earlier, according to the Alabama Department of Labor. Gov. Robert Bentley celebrated the improvement and the expansion of jobs seen statewide. “There are 59,400 more jobs today in Alabama than there were in January of 2011, with the greatest job growth coming from the manufacturing sector,” Bentley said in a statement Friday. “There are (more than) 40,000 new, future jobs coming to Alabama.” … But Bentley noted further jobs are on the way. “We’re announcing new, well-paying jobs in six locations across the state this month alone,” Bentley said in his statement. “The University of Alabama’s Center for Business and Economic Research just last week released its economic forecast which predicts greater growth and an estimated 25,000 jobs to be added in 2014. This is all great news for Alabamians who need a well-paying job, but I won’t be satisfied until every person who wants a job can get a job in this state.”
Tuscaloosa News – Jan. 24
Dothan Eagle – Jan. 24
Snyder weighs how to pay $350M to help DIA, pension funds
Detroit News – Jan. 27
Gov. Rick Snyder’s administration is considering whether to borrow $350 million to pump into Detroit’s pension funds or set aside $17.5 million in annual payments for the next 20 years from the state’s tobacco lawsuit settlement fund. Issuing the bonds to borrow the money up front would infuse Detroit’s two pension funds with the entire sum that could grow by $65 million at a modest 7 percent investment return over two decades. In an interview Friday, Snyder said he’s undecided whether to borrow the money or get lawmakers to earmark an annual payout to Detroit’s pensions, shielding the financial pledge from the Legislature’s annual appropriations process … But a bond could lead to a larger long-term financial commitment to the state through lending costs, and some financial experts question the wisdom of borrowing money to pump up a pension fund … “That’s just transferring risk from Detroit to the state of Michigan,” said Robert Brooks, a professor of finance at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. “I’ve never thought it was a good idea if you’re running a pension fund to go out and borrow money.”
Flu season: H1N1 flu strain predominately affecting younger, healthier age groups this year
Crimson White – Jan. 27
This year, a familiar virus has shown up in the labs of the Alabama Department of Public Health. Sherri Davidson, an epidemiologist for ADPH, monitors the spread of influenza virus in Alabama by taking flu specimens and identifying which strain they carry. The familiar virus she’s been seeing is H1N1, which has previously made headlines as a pandemic in 2009. That in itself is neither unusual nor particularly dangerous – H1N1 has been around before with predictable consequences. What is unusual is that H1N1 is all she’s been seeing. “The most unique thing about this year is that so far we’ve only seen one strain circulating,” she said … Elizabeth Cockrum, a UA professor of pediatrics, said while college students are generally a healthy population, less than desirable immunization rates allow college campuses to become hotbeds for the virus. “[Any] environment where large numbers of individuals are housed or grouped together increases an person’s chances of acquiring the virus from others,” Cockrum said. “This would include places such as dorms, large classroom, student centers and gyms – any place where large numbers of students would congregate.”
THE PORT RAIL: Learn a little something about teaching
Tuscaloosa News – Jan. 25
As we start a new teaching semester, I thought I’d revisit what it’s all about. You may still be thinking reading, ’riting and ’rithmetic. But, let’s get up to date. Do you know what a “learning outcomes and assessment matrix” is? I didn’t until a few years ago when I got curious about all these terms floating around the world of teaching I inhabited for most of my career. How about this one? Teaching is no longer about teaching. We teachers now inhabit “learning-centered” environments where teachers are largely “facilitators” to the learning process. How about “outcome-based” education? That, as near as I can figure it, is a test score one receives. How about this principle driving education these days: Outcome-based education assumes that all students can master tasks and materials if given enough time. That sounds Pavlovian to me, like teaching lab animals to press the bar for food on certain cues. They will, indeed, all learn. (Larry Clayton is a retired professor of history at the University of Alabama. Readers can contact him at larryclayton7@gmail.com.)
Cyber-bullying, parental obligations among topics to be discussed at Saturday’s seminar for parents, students
Tuscaloosa News – Jan. 23
A Saturday seminar will feature discussions on a range of topics of interest to parents and students, from how to deal with online bullies to how to teach respect for authority figures. The Tuscaloosa Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. and DELTA Inc., along with the Tuscaloosa City Schools, will host the event, “Empowering Parents and Students on Rights and Responsibilities.” “We will discuss cyber-bullying and social media and the importance of parents getting involved with school programs,” said Samyra Snoddy, a member of Delta Sigma Theta and one of the event’s organizers … Scheduled speakers include Tuscaloosa Police Chief Steve Anderson, University of Alabama associate professor Karen Baynes-Dunning and Tuscaloosa Assistant City Attorney Chris England.
UA Dance Marathon hosts Chipotle fundraiser
Crimson White – Jan. 27
Last Tuesday, both UA and Auburn Dance Marathon sponsored a fundraiser at Chipotle resteraunt in both Tuscaloosa and Auburn, Ala. Chipotle donated 50 percent of all profits that night to each organization. The event was created as the result of UA Dance Marathon recruitment chair Rachel Coleman’s collaboration with Auburn Dance Marathon at Better Relations Day. “The line wrapped around the inside of the restaurant, and people were waiting about 30 minutes to order,” Coleman said. It was only one of many UADM fundraisers planned for the year, but this one was specifically designed to defeat Auburn during Rivalry Week. “For the past couple of years, we have been talking with Auburn about the possibility of playing on the rivalry to help each of our dance marathon programs,” UADM president Katlyn Klootwyk said … In addition to Chipotle Night, UADM is also sponsoring Koins for Kids, a campaign to allow professors and students to donate to children around the country. This initiative will be implemented at various colleges throughout the semester.