BEST BETS
COMPUTER SCIENCE CAMP ON CAMPUS THIS WEEK – The UA computer science department is hosting a camp this week that teaches middle school students concepts of computer science, including programming smartphone applications and robotic programming. Students participating will work with their robots Thursday morning of this week in 150 Hardaway Hall. 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.
ADMINISTRATOR ELECTED CHAIR OF FEDERAL PARTNERSHIP – Members of a national initiative designed to reduce administrative burdens associated with federal research grants and contracts elected a UA administrator as its chair in results announced last week. The Federal Demonstration Partnership, a cooperative initiative among 10 federal agencies and 119 institutional recipients of federal research funding, elected Cindy Hope, UA assistant vice president for research and director of the Office for Sponsored Programs, as its chair for the initial three years of its next emphasis, known as Phase VI. The number of institutional members will increase to 155 in this new phase. Watch for a news release or contact Chris Bryant, UA Media Relations, 205/348-8323, cbryant@ur.ua.edu for more information.
UA EXPERT TIPS
BACK TO SCHOOL –Want to help your k-12 student excel in literacy courses this year? The University of Alabama’s Dr. Shannon Henderson, assistant professor of literacy education, can provide tips for parents to help their children comprehend texts and accelerate their progress. Henderson has led professional development sessions for reading teachers and successful service projects in area schools, such as a k-2 tutoring program at Holt Elementary School in the spring. Henderson is available Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. Contact David Miller in UA Media Relations at 205/348-0825 or dcmiller2@ur.ua.edu.
RESTABLISHING A ROUTINE – Amy Walker, a parent resource specialist within UA’s Child Development Resources, can answer questions related to preparing your child for the back-to-school routine. Contact Walker directly at 205/348-0181 or awalker@ches.ua.edu. For assistance, contact Chris Bryant in UA Media Relations, 205/348-8323 or cbryant@ur.ua.edu.
UA MATTERS: TIPS FOR EFFECTIVE POTTY TRAINING – Do you ever feel like your toddler may end up going to college in diapers? The University of Alabama’s Dr. Laura Bloom, assistant professor in the College of Human Environmental Sciences’ department of human development and family studies, provides some helpful tips to make it through this sometimes difficult and challenging stage. Bloom is available for phone and email interviews this week. Contact UA Media Relations at 205/348-5320 for details on reaching Bloom.
CURRENT COMMENT
UA PROFESSORS COMMENT ON THE 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 recently 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.