UA Preview

MONDAY, MARCH 9 – SUNDAY, MARCH 22, 2015

The University of Alabama will be closed for spring break Monday, March 16-Friday, March 20. For assistance from Media Relations during that time, please call 205/348-5320 and follow instructions for reaching a staff member.

BEST BETS

WORLD’S PREMIER PHYSICS EXPERIMENT RESUMES, HAS UA TIES – The world’s largest particle accelerator will resume operation later this month near Geneva, Switzerland following a two-year hiatus. Two UA physicists are among the thousands of scientists working on the project designed to both give insight into the early universe and provide a better understanding of some of the fundamental science that surrounds us. It’s the same site that discovered evidence of the so-called “God particle” – scientists prefer the name Higgs boson — that drew international media attention in 2012. Drs. Conor Henderson and Paolo Rumerio, UA assistant professors of physics, won a 3-year, $630,000 research grant from the Department of Energy in May to assist in their contributions to the project. Called the Large Hadron Collider, the particle accelerator is buried 300-feet underground and has a 17-mile circumference. For more information about UA’s role, contact Chris Bryant in media relations, 205/348-8323 or cbryant@ur.ua.edu. Contact Henderson directly at 205/348-5843 or conor.henderson@ua.edu. Rumerio may be reached at 205/348-2565 or pgrumerio@ua.edu.

POLLUTION DAMAGES STREAMS IN WAYS PREVIOUSLY UNKNOWN – Imagine you’re walking by a steam on a crisp, fall afternoon. Colorful leaves and wind-blown twigs peacefully float downstream. This forest matter, as scientists refer to it, doesn’t only add to the stream’s picturesqueness, it’s vital to the aquatic life living there. As this matter naturally decomposes, the carbon it contains is taken up by organisms near the base of the food chain, including microbes and insects. The carbon from this dead matter is a primary fuel that sustains life in the stream. For the first time, research co-authored by a UA scientist and published in Science, shows that excess nutrients, like nitrogen and phosphorous, stimulate this decomposition, cutting in half the time the leaves, twigs and other matter spend in streams. This robs the lower levels of the food chain of its vital energy source with negative repercussions all the way up the chain. Contact Dr. Jon Benstead, UA associate professor of biological sciences and one of the co-authors, directly at 205/348-9034 or jbenstead@ua.edu.  For assistance, contact Chris Bryant in media relations, 205/348-8323 or cbryant@ur.ua.edu

UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP PROMISES CREATIVE LOOKS DURING ANNUAL UA FASHION SHOW – University of Alabama apparel and design students have teamed up with Arts n’ Autism to create a fashion show that is truly one-of-a-kind. The annual T-Time Fashion Show, which is slated for April 14, has added a special category this year. The students with Arts n’ Autism are painting fabric inspired by a book they are currently reading. UA’s apparel and design students will then cut and sew that fabric into garments for the show. Several UA apparel and design students will meet with students at Arts n’ Autism at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 11. Contact: Kim Eaton, UA Media Relations, 205/348-8325 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu

ANNUAL DIVERSITY SYMPOSIUM FEATURES WHITE HOUSE INITIATIVE LEADER— A leader in the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) is headed to UA for the College of Communication & Information Sciences’ sixth annual Discerning Diverse Voices Symposium March 11 at Gorgas Library Room 205. Dr. Ivory Toldson, deputy director of the Initiative and editor of the Journal of Negro Education will present a lecture titled “Debunking the Myths, Breaking the Barriers, and Building the School-to-College Pipeline for Black Males” at 3 p.m. The symposium itself begins at 9 a.m. with a panel of research projects on LGBTQ issues, including a new study of pulpit rhetoric on same-gender couples. Later in the afternoon, nearly a dozen mostly student research projects will be showcased in a poster session on diversity research. Contact: Misty Mathews, UA Media Relations, 205/348-6416, mmathews@ua.edu

CURRENT COMMENT

FCC’S APPROVED INTERNET REGULATION PLAN COULD HAVE LASTING IMPLICATIONS – The Federal Communications Commission’s approval of the Open Internet Order last week puts into play regulations that would prevent Internet service providers from slowing or blocking web traffic, or creating paid fast lanes on the Internet. “What this means is that everyone is guaranteed equal access to the fastest Internet service and prohibits Internet Service Providers from permitting faster Internet access to companies that can pay for this service,” said Dr. Anna McFadden, an associate professor in the College of Human Environmental Sciences Institute for Interactive Technology. “I think we’ll begin to see community broadband providers begin to expand their services and, perhaps, even have hi-speed Internet service from expansion projects like Google’s Fiber project.” For more information, contact Kim Eaton, UA Media Relations, at 205/348-8325 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu.

COMMUNITY COLLEGE COMPLETION RATES, FUNDING CONTINUE TO DECLINE – Degree completion rates at community colleges in most states have declined or remained flat since 2012, and three of four community colleges do not have state operating budget plans to increase degree and certificate completion, according to a new University of Alabama Education Policy Center survey of community college leaders in more than 42 states. “State cuts are increasing, too,” said Dr. Stephen Katsinas, director of the Education Policy Center. “In 2013-14, 14 predicted state appropriations wouldn’t cover inflation; for 2014-15, the number is 31, making it difficult to raise completions. A new way forward is needed to jump-start degree completion, to make America #1 again in adult degree and certificate completion.” For more information, contact David Miller, UA Media Relations, at 205/348-0825 or dcmiller2@ur.ua.edu.

UA EXPERT TIPS

UA MATTERS: HOW CAN PARENTS AND CHILDREN SERVE THEIR COMMUNITY TOGETHER? – “Servers” come in all shapes and sizes. Children serve with an authenticity that is sometimes hard to replicate as they get older. Research shows that participating in service at a young age helps build a lifetime commitment to helping others. The University of Alabama’s Courtney Chapman Thomas, director of community service, offers insight on how parents can serve with their children in this week’s UA Matters. Contact: Kim Eaton, UA Media Relations, 205/348-8325 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu.

UA MATTERS: THE DO’S AND DON’TS OF ONLINE APPAREL SHOPPING – In the past decade, online apparel shopping has seen tremendous growth, with many department stores’ ecommerce sales surpassing those of their largest brick-and-mortar locations and online only retailers, such as Shopbop and Zappos, becoming part of many consumers’ daily internet browsing. Despite this growth, many consumers are still hesitant to shop online. The University of Alabama’s Babs Davis, an instructor in clothing, textiles and interior design, offers some “do’s” and don’ts” for online shopping beginners in UA Matters. Contact: Kim Eaton, UA Media Relations, 205/348-8325 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu.

EVENTS

ANCIENT TECHNOLOGIES FEATURED AT UA’S MOUNDVILLE – The University of Alabama’s Moundville Archaeological Park invites the West Alabama community to explore what it means to live a simple life during the 15^th annual Knap-In and Ancient Arts Meet March 13-14. Stone tools makers, bow makers, basket makers, shell carvers, gourd artists, earth skill experts and potters will gather at Moundville Archaeological Park and demonstrate some of the arts and technologies that were once used by ancient people everywhere. Most also display and sell their pieces. Contact: Kim Eaton, UA Media Relations, 808/640-5912 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu

STARTUP WEEKEND RETURNS TO UA CAMPUS – Early bird registration for Startup Weekend is March 14. UA and Culverhouse College of Commerce students and area residents will once again have the opportunity to bring their business ideas to life as Startup Weekend returns to campus March 27-29. Last year, Brewery Buddy was a winner in the competition. The 54-hour event brings together those with technical backgrounds and business backgrounds to help entrepreneurs find merit to move ideas forward. It will be held at the South Engineering Research Center on the UA campus. Learn more about Startup Weekend Tuscaloosa at Tuscaloosa.up.co or register at Startup Weekend Tuscaloosa. For more information, contact Edith Parten, UA Media Relations, 205/348-8318, eparten@culverhouse.ua.edu.

LOOKING AHEAD

DIVERSITY EXPERT TO SPEAK MARCH 23 – Dr. Damon A. Williams, an expert on diversity who has spoken on more than 250 college campuses, will deliver a talk titled “ Higher Education Diversity and the 21st Century Global Economy: A Perfect Storm” at 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 23, at the Moody Music Building Concert Hall. The event is free and open to the public, but tickets are required. For tickets, email Courtney Fair in the School of Music at clstokes2@ua.edu.. For more information, contact Dr. Scott Bridges of the Ad-Hoc Diversity Education and Leadership Study Group at SBridges@aalan.ua.edu or 205/348-5027 or Richard LeComte, UA Media Relations, at 205/348-3782 or rllecomte@ur.ua.edu.