New use for shrimp shells explored
Clarion Ledger (Jackson, Miss.) – July 30
University of Alabama chemist Robin Rogers imagines a future where shrimp shells could become more than a smelly seafood byproduct. “I believe in what I would call a chitin economy. I personally believe, if properly developed, the material you can develop from chitin and the markets you could sell them in would make the shrimp shell worth more than the meat,” said Rogers, an owner and founder of 525 Solutions, a startup company housed in UA’s Alabama Innovation and Mentoring of Entrepreneurs center on campus. The company, which is exploring a host of applications for chitin extracted from the shells, received roughly $1.5 million from U.S. Department of Energy to fund its research of a chitin-based absorbent material for use in a process to extract uranium from the ocean. The company previously proved the concept of using the chitin-based material for the application.
Gadsden Times – July 30
Athens News-Courier – July 30
WVU wins robotics competition
Hawaii Tribune-Herald – July 30
The Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems on Tuesday announced the winners of its first space mining competition. West Virginia University took first place in the Best in Mining category. Iowa State University placed second and University of New Hampshire placed third. Iowa State University took first place in Best in Design/Innovation category. University of Alabama placed second and Kapiolani Community College placed third. In the Best in Operations category, West Virginia University took first place, University of Alabama placed second and University of New Hampshire placed third.
Pacific Business Journal – July 30
Alabama Commerce Secretary Canfield: State economic development plan is working
Al.com – July 30
Alabama Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield said since the state adopted the Accelerate Alabama economic development plan two years ago, more than 38,000 jobs have come to the state through recruitment or expansion and companies have invested more than $9.8 billion in state operations. Speaking to the Economic Development Association of Alabama at its 2014 Summer Conference, Canfield said the state is making gains in economic development due to the professionalism and teamwork of the state, local and private sector economic developers. … The University of Alabama’s economic development efforts had a visible presence at the conference with displays in the exhibitors’ area. Joe Bonner is a former Alabama representative in Congress and is now the vice chancellor of government relations and economic development with the University of Alabama System. “I hope you will take me up on this sincere offer if the University of Alabama System can be of any help to you as you work to improve our state, don’t hesitate to call,” Bonner told the economic developers at the conference.
University of Alabama, College of Continuing Studies Offering New World Education.net Certificate Courses
ABC 6 (Providence, RI) – July 30
The University of Alabama, Office of Professional Development and Community Engagement College of Continuing Studies now offers new online culinary and fitness courses, provided by World Education.net. Last spring, the school partnered with World Education.net to provide its students with a broad range of online certificate courses for first-time job seekers, as well as individuals interested in switching careers, or obtaining advanced skills and certificates within their current fields. Associate Dean, of Professional Development and Community Engagement, College of Continuing Studies Leroy Hurt says, Online training has long been a significant skill-building tool for working adults and their employers, all of whom need training anywhere and anytime. World Education.net will help us take this capability to a higher level through valuable services like career counseling and externships.
City Spy: Royal London’s Salmon mounts a challenge for Goodwood glory
London Evening Standard – July 30
Once known for her love of boxing, Royal London brand director Clare Salmon, pictured, is swapping the ring for the reins tomorrow when she makes her horse-racing debut in the Magnolia Cup at Glorious Goodwood. … Best-known for overseeing the Prudential’s Man From The Pru ad campaign, starring then chief executive Sir Peter Davis, Salmon recently caused a stir by rebranding meeting rooms at the mutual life assurer’s City headquarters to celebrate quirky Britishness – such as the Mud Wrestling, Jam Roly Poly and Custard rooms. Let’s hope she has an adequate protection plan in place before saddling up. “IS your chief executive good-looking enough?” asks Observe, headhunting firm Odgers Berndtson’s client magazine. It cites a study by University of Alabama academics Douglas Cook and Shawn Mobbs, who found that attractive executives are associated with higher annual returns, and more pleasant facial features increase an executive’s chances of becoming the boss.
Alabama Governor’s Rejection of Medicaid Expansion Will Add to Economic Hardships, Opponents Say
RHReality Check – July 30
Alabama’s failure to expand Medicaid has hampered Alabama’s economy, said officials from the health-care and business communities at the Economic Development Association of Alabama’s summer 2014 conference. … According to the Alabama Hospital Association’s study, expanding Medicaid in the state would create 30,700 new jobs over the next six years. Conducted by the University of Alabama’s Center for Business and Economic Research, the study also found that if all eligible individuals enrolled in an expansion the number of new jobs could reach more than 51,000. A study by health-care economists at the University of Alabama at Birmingham also found that the expansion would provide the state nearly $1 billion in tax revenue and provide Medicaid coverage for 300,000 more state residents.
Guilt may spoil restorative effects of entertainment
Fox News – July 30
People who play video games or watch television to unwind after a hard day may end up feeling worse about themselves, not better, says a new study. Although enjoying something pleasurable can restore “vitality” after a draining bout of demanding work, researchers found that users of entertainment media will get less benefit if they see the activity as procrastination rather than rest. The spent state following a period of self-control to complete a difficult job is known as ego-depletion, according to the study authors, and people in that condition are likely to crave pleasurable foods and easy, mindless entertainment … These feelings of guilt were associated with fewer positive effects of media use and reduced recovery and vitality after media use, the authors write. “I thought the study added a new layer of understanding to the research that has come before, so I really think it’s important work,” said Elliot Panek from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, who was not involved in the study. “I think the new wrinkle that this study provides is context, so playing a video game isn’t inherently bad – it’s not necessary going to make you feel good or bad,” said Panek, adding that it depends on what you’ve been doing and how you’ve been feeling that day before you engage in using entertainment media.
Author will speak at Fayette Civic Center
Anniston Star – July 30
The Fayette Arts Council along with community sponsors welcome author Rick Bragg to Fayette for a book signing/ speaking event on Aug. 16 at the Fayette Civic Center. … Rick Bragg learned to tell stories by listening to his family, the people of the foothills of the Appalachians. The stories he heard, of deprivation, sacrifice, love, violence and family, form the backbone of all three of his memoirs, the critically acclaimed and best-selling All Over But The Shoutin’’, Ava’s Man, and The Prince of Frogtown, and his most recent work, The Most They Ever Had. Bragg was born and raised in the country outside Jacksonville After a brief but influential stint at Jacksonville State University, he worked at several newspapers from The Jacksonville News to The New York Times. … He is the Clarence Cason Professor of Writing in the College of Communications and Information Sciences at The University of Alabama.
LOCAL Q&A: Jessie Jones: Communications specialist, T-Town native
Tuscaloosa News – July 30
Jessie Jones is a native of Tuscaloosa and is a communication specialist at the University of Alabama. Jones says she and her husband never plan on moving farther than 20 miles from Bryant-Denny Stadium because the university truly is her home. Jones is the daughter of recently retired University of Alabama gymnastics coach Sarah Patterson. Q: What do you do? Tell us about your job and how you became involved in it. A: I’m a communications specialist in UA’s Division of Student Affairs. I get to do everything from magazine writing and editing to social media … it always keeps me on my toes!