UA Preview

MONDAY, FEB. 2 – SUNDAY, FEB. 8, 2015

BEST BETS

AIME TO EXPAND ENTREPRENEURSHIP MENTORING VIA NSF I-CORPS – UA’s ability to foster entrepreneurship and, ultimately, create jobs is strengthened through its recent selection by the National Science Foundation as an Innovation Corps site. With its selection, UA’s  Alabama Innovation and Mentoring of Entrepreneurs Center becomes the only NSF I-Corps site in the state and is one of only three in the Southeast. The selection, which includes $300,000 in grant funding over three-years, will accelerate the commercialization of marketable ideas by UA, enabling scientific discoveries that can benefit society to reach the marketplace more quickly. Watch for a news release with more details, or contact Chris Bryant, UA Media Relations, 205/348-8323 or cbryant@ur.ua.edu. Contact Dr. Dan Daly, director of AIME, directly at 205/348-3502 or dandaly@ua.edu.

UA PROFESSOR LEADING COMPUTER-SCIENCE WORKSHOP FOR TUSCALOOSA TEACHERS – Dr. Jeff Gray, professor of computer science at The University of Alabama, is leading a workshop for teachers in the Tuscaloosa area that introduces computer science to elementary-school classrooms. The workshop will be Wednesday, Feb. 4, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Tuscaloosa Career and Technology Academy. The workshops are sponsored by Code.org, a non-profit that aims to introduce computer science education in secondary and primary schools. For more information, contact Adam Jones, UA Engineering Media Relations, at 205/348-6444 or acjones12@eng.ua.edu.

CURRENT COMMENT

NATIONWIDE STRIKES OUT WITH SUPER BOWL AD – The Super Bowl is traditionally one of the biggest advertising days of the year. During and after the 2015 event, social media lit up with mentions of Nationwide Insurance’s advertisement centered around accidental childhood deaths. Susy Daria, an instructor in UA’s department of advertising and public relations, said the attention is not necessarily a positive in this instance. “According to Amobee, an online analytics company, there were over 230,000 social mentions. Nearly two-thirds of those were negative. In terms of getting people to pay attention to the message, Ogilvy & Mather’s ad (for Nationwide) obviously worked. But the risk is evident. Many people were put off and voiced their disapproval. It instantly became fodder for circulating memes.” Contact: Misty Mathews, UA Media Relations, 205/348-6416 or mmathews@ua.edu.

UA EXPERT TIPS

UA MATTERS: HAPPY (ATYPICAL) VALENTINE’S DAY – More so than other holidays, Valentine’s Day can be an opportunity to show a special person how interesting and thoughtful you are, but it also puts a fair amount of pressure on us to rise to an occasion if we’re coupled or feel a sense of absence if we’re not. UA’s Dr. Christopher Lynn, an assistant professor of anthropology in the College of Arts and Sciences, points out that Valentine’s Day can be viewed another way in this week’s UA Matters. Contact: Kim Eaton, UA Media Relations, 808/640-5912 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu

UA MATTERS: DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GOOD AND BAD DEBT – We live in a world where debt is a regular occurrence, and managing debt effectively to build a strong credit history is important for all consumers. UA’s Dr. Melissa Wilmarth, an instructor in consumer sciences in the College of Human Environmental Sciences, explains the difference between the good and bad debt in this week’s UA Matters. Contact: Kim Eaton, UA Media Relations, 808/640-5912 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu

EVENTS

UA MUSEUM KICKS OFF ITS SPRING CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS – Exploring insects, learning about trees, discovering weather and diving into physics are just a few things West Alabama children will have an opportunity to learn as the Alabama Museum of Natural History on The University of Alabama campus kicks off its spring children’s programs. Museum Monday runs the first Monday of every month (first one is Feb. 2), Explorer Wednesday runs the first Wednesday of the month (first is Feb. 4) and Growing Up Wild Preschool runs the first Friday of the month (first is Feb. 6). For more information, contact Kim Eaton, UA Media Relations, at 808/640-5912 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu.

BONE MARROW REGISTRATION – The University of Alabama’s Alpha Epsilon Delta Pre-health Honors Society and Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity will host Saving America’s Marrow for a donor registration event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 4, in the Ferguson Student Center and the University Recreation Center on campus. Contact: Richard LeComte, UA Media Relations, rllecomte@ur.ua.edu, 205/348-3782.

SET SAIL DURING HANDS-ON EVENT AT UA MUSEUM – The fourth annual Hands-on Family Night at the Alabama Museum of Natural History takes place from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7. A collaborative effort between UA’s Graduate School, the Graduate Student Association, Graduate Parent Support and Alabama Museum of Natural History, the pirate-themed event features exhibits by graduate students in different departments, as well as music, food and door prizes. It is open to students, faculty, staff and community members, and it is free. Contact: Kim Eaton, UA Media Relations, 808/640-5912 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu

UA STUDENTS LEARNING TO TAKE LEADERSHIP TO THE NEXT LEVEL – A handful of exceptional University of Alabama students with a thirst for knowledge have an opportunity to put their skills to the test during the annual Crenshaw Leadership Academy. Prior to the Feb. 13 event, students are provided a topic to research; this year’s topic is sustainability. Each group must find a research angle that fits their department/major and put together a project that will be presented at the retreat workshop. The student groups are currently working on their projects and are available for interviews. Contact: Kim Eaton, UA Media Relations, 808/640-5912 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu