UA in the News: December 17, 2009

Next-Generation Air Transportation System to Ultimately Succeed, Computer Scientist Predicts 
PHysOrg.com – Dec. 16
The Next Generation Air Transportation System, known as NextGen, is due for national implementation in stages between now and 2018. “I am predicting ultimate success and a system that will provide a much safer travel environment,” says Dr. David Brown, a University of Alabama professor who has used data mining to help improve FAA safety databases…

Education Budget Cuts to Cause Increase in Mobile Technology Use
PhysOrg.com – Dec. 17
As budget cuts in education continue, we will see more use of mobile technologies in the classroom in 2010, predicts Dr. Vivian Wright, a University of Alabama educator.

Suicides almost double ’08 total
Tuscaloosa News – Dec. 17
… for people who lose their jobs to become depressed, said Lloyda Williamson, a psychiatrist and assistant professor at the University of Alabama. “People’s lives and identities are often based heavily on what they do,” Williamson said. “If they lose their career or job, they are sort of lost. That is frequently a problem.” If financial resources are tight, people are also less likely to recognize that they may have other options, Williamson added. “If they don’t see a way out of their financial situation, they may feel their situation is hopeless when that may not be the case,” she said…

Disdain for poor grammar brings UA student success
Tuscaloosa News – Dec. 17
Sharon Eliza Nichols…author a book called “I Judge You When You Use Poor Grammar.”…the 25-year-old University of Alabama law student…The publisher ordered 15,000 copies of the book for the first printing, and Nichols said 7,500 are scheduled for the next. “It’s amazing, and I was really shocked,” she said. “I know I don’t have 15,000 friends, so it’s not just them who are buying it.”…

UA Student Authors Children’s Book  
WCBI (Columbus, Miss.) – Dec. 15

…University of Alabama sophomore Abigail Hardin….

NFL safety net: an education
TampaBay.com – Dec. 17
Accolades continue to pour in for University of Alabama cornerback and former Robinson High standout Javier Arenas, including being named an Associated Press All-American this week. Yet it’s also worth noting that Arenas earned a degree in public relations in just 3 1/2 years. While he’s projected to be a high-round pick in next year’s NFL draft, Arenas said he went to Alabama to get an education. “You want the degree to be on the safe end because you never know what’s going to happen,” Arenas said Wednesday. “And no matter what happens, someday I’m going to come back to it.”…

Got Handshake? The Silent Communicator
Psychology Today – Dec. 17
…The University of Alabama conducted a revealing study you should know about. Info is power and all that. Notice the positive and negative associations affiliated with a handshake done right or conversely, wrong…