‘Actual Mileage May Vary’
As gas prices hover near the $3 a gallon mark, drivers are tempted to try and squeeze every inch of travel possible from each drop of gasoline.
STEM
Building a Better Plastic
An effort led by a University of Alabama chemist has demonstrated a new way to dissolve and use cellulose – found in the cell walls of trees and other plants – in producing environmentally friendly materials that UA researchers say have potential for the automotive, packaging and textile industries.
Aiming High… and Deep
A University of Alabama engineering professor and his student team are researching ways to improve projectiles’ ability to penetrate sand, soil and other targets in an effort to assist American troops.
Innovative Classes and Research Give UA Chemistry Professor Two Achievement Awards
A University of Alabama chemistry class will explore different bacteria, including ones that eat sulfur and rock, through funding supplied by a National Science Foundation Award. Dr. Kevin Redding, associate professor of chemistry in the College of Arts and Sciences, recently was awarded the NSF CAREER Award and the Robin Hill Award for his groundbreaking photosynthesis research.
Math Learning Enters the Computer Age
In January 2003, Greensboro East High School became the first of three high schools in Alabama to begin teaching mathematics with computers and one-on-one tutoring when it opened its Math Technology Learning Center (MTLC), a facility modeled after UA’s own Math Technology Learning Center in Tutwiler Hall.
Improving Computer Chips, Unraveling Epilepsy Mysteries
The National Science Foundation has awarded two University of Alabama faculty with CAREER Awards, NSF’s most prestigious awards for top-performing scientists and engineers who are early in their careers.
Truck with Prototype Fuel Cell Visits UA
A heavy-duty highway tractor truck equipped with a first-of-its-kind fuel-cell auxiliary power unit (APU), which is designed to reduce diesel fuel consumption and emissions, recently made a stop at the UA College of Engineering.
UA Researchers Develop New Method to Stabilize Older Buildings
Dr. Andrew Graettinger, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, and Dr. Philip Johnson, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, have developed a method of drilling long, straight, small holes in typical building materials without compromising the strength of the structure. This new method will be used for building stabilization, especially in areas that are considered earthquake zones.
UA Computer Scientists Develop New Law Enforcement Search Engine
Arrests, routine traffic stops and other daily law enforcement duties can be dangerous for police officers, but now they are becoming a little safer, faster and more accurate thanks to a new system developed by UA computer scientists.
Following Their Lead
While the number of women scientists and engineers has certainly increased since the late 1970s, when Dr. Margaret Johnson was an undergraduate student, it has been a slow change.