UA Preview

MONDAY, JULY 28 – SUNDAY, AUG. 3, 2014

BEST BETS

UA TO HOST SUMMER COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES – The University of Alabama will award diplomas to undergraduates and graduate students from all colleges and schools on Aug. 2 at Coleman Coliseum. Commencement will begin at 9 a.m. There are 1,708 degree candidates. For more information, contact David Miller, UA Media Relations, at 205/348-0825 or dcmiller2@ur.ua.edu.

MYRICK USING BLUETOOTH TECHNOLOGY AT CROSSING POINTS – Three years ago, John Myrick, who will receive his Ed.D in special education and transitional services on Saturday, wanted to enhance the use of video modeling for students at Crossing Points, a transitional program for students with disabilities and partnership between UA and city and county school systems in Tuscaloosa. He began a study using Bluetooth technology to help coach students – many of whom have cognitive disabilities – in social situations, particularly at job sites, to correct negative behaviors. Preliminary student data shows significant improvement, Myrick said. “Research has shown too that our students will often forget what they’ve done wrong, so correcting it down the road is pointless,” Myrick said. “This allows us to correct behavior before it gets ingrained. We’re also seeing them perform in certain settings, and that helps us tailor strategies.” For more information, contact David Miller, UA Media Relations, at 205/348-0825 or dcmiller2@ur.ua.edu.

UA TO HOST MILITARY TRANSITION SUMMITS – UA will host comprehensive summits in 2014 and 2015 on the multiple avenues to help military veterans transition successfully into civilian life. UA received a $25,000 grant from the National Institute of Child and Human Development to coordinate summit meetings during “Service Member to Civilian: A National Summit on Improving Transition” Dec. 1-3 and again in December 2015. The summits will focus on defining the critical next steps in understanding and addressing the reintegration needs of members of the total military force, veterans and their families. “This will attract the top researchers, in partnership with the VA, to look at critical issues in active duty to civilian life,” said Dr. Karl Hamner, assistant dean of scholarly affairs, Capstone College of Nursing and School of Social Work. The UA summit will include expert panels, collaborative sessions with veterans and their families, and a veteran’s job event that will bring in employers to provide sessions for veterans and their spouses. For more information, contact David Miller, UA Media Relations, at 205/348-0825 or dcmiller2@ur.ua.edu.

CURRENT COMMENT

UA PROFESSORS COMMENT ON WHETHER U.S./UN SANCTIONS WILL AFFECT UKRAINE-RUSSIA CRISIS – For assistance in setting up interviews with UA political scientists on the Ukraine-Russia crisis, contact Bobby Mathews, UA Media Relations, 205/348-4956 or bwmathews1@ur.ua.edu. Quotes from UA experts:

“The only way Putin will stop is if the European Union steps up its sanctions. Neither the U.S. nor the United Nations has enough direct involvement with Russia to change what’s going on in Ukraine. However, the EU is reluctant to step in because of the financial cost that serious sanctions with Russia would entail … The longer the conflict drags on, the real fear among Ukrainians right now is of sustained conflict with Russia, because Russia can afford to pay its soldiers, while Ukraine can’t.” – Dr. Mark Nieman, assistant professor of political science, mdnieman@ua.edu. Dr. Nieman has just returned from Ukraine.

“Pressure from the UN and U.S. is unlikely to force Russia from supporting the rebels because it is not strong enough to deter or compel a change in Russian behavior. Sanctions are difficult to employ effectively and at best may induce seemingly more cooperative behavior (e.g. allowing OSCE observers on the border) without any substantive change. Simply put, Russia views itself as a great power and great powers do not succumb to sanctions. Conditions on the ground (e.g. MH 17 downing; unsanctioned rebel activities) are more likely to be a factor guiding Russian actions and as such could cause a weakening of support, facilitating a Ukrainian military defeat of the rebels. More likely, however, is that this conflict will stop when the Ukrainian government and Russia agree on a new status quo in the border area. In either case, the termination of the violence will have little to do with current UN and U.S. efforts.” – Dr. Derrick Frazier, associate professor of political science.

UA EXPERT TIPS

UA MATTERS: COLLEGE PREP TIPS FOR HIGH-SCHOOL SENIORS – In the last of four posts offering tips for preparing for college whether you’re an incoming high-school freshman or senior, The University of Alabama’s admissions office offers suggestions for seniors, http://uanews.ua.edu/2014/07/7-28-ua-matters-college-prep-tips-for-high-school-seniors/. Contact UA Media Relations, 205/348-5320.

EVENTS

UA HOSTS WORKSHOP ON SUSTAINABLE FUELS – Ten nationally-recognized experts in energy will speak as part of a workshop on sustainable fuels at UA.The workshop will focus on research on production, processing and combustion of biofuels and opportunity fuels. It will be Tuesday, July 29 in the South Engineering Research Center. For more information visit http://uanews.ua.edu/2014/07/ua-hosting-workshop-on-sustainable-fuels, or contact Adam Jones, UA engineering media relations, at 205/348-6444 or acjones12@eng.ua.edu.

COMPUTER SCIENCE CAMP ON CAMPUS THIS WEEK – The UA computer science department is hosting a camp this week that teaches high school students concepts of computer science, including programming smartphone applications and robotic programming. Students participating will work with their robots Wednesday and Thursday of this week in 150 Hardaway Hall with the best visual opportunities Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning. For more information, visit http://outreach.cs.ua.edu/camps or contact Adam Jones, UA engineering media relations, at 205/348-6444 or acjones12@eng.ua.edu.