Moundville’s Saturday in the Park series begins
Tuscaloosa News – March 3
Visitors to Moundville Archaeological Park this Saturday can hurl spears and throw stones from slings as the staff kicks off the spring Saturday in the Park series. Weapons expert Bill Skinner, a retired United States Marine, will display and discuss blowguns, spear-flinging atlatls and other Native American weapons and tools this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors can peruse the hands-on display for no charge after paying park admission, which is $6 for college and university students and $8 for adults.
Psychologist to talk about predicting adolescent suicide behavior
Tuscaloosa News – March 3
A visiting psychologist will give a free public talk today at the University of Alabama about his research into adolescent depression and the impact of social stressors on brain chemistry and DNA … Prinstein, the John Van Seters distinguished professor of neuroscience at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, will discuss his research at 2 p.m. in 1093 Shelby Hall. The talk, “Predicting Adolescent Suicidal Behavior,” is part of the UA Center for the Prevention of Youth Behavior Problems speaker series and is open and free to the public.
Black is Beautiful art show opens
Tuscaloosa News – March 3
University of Alabama students have curated an art exhibition that responds to stereotypical portrayals of African-Americans. The exhibit, titled “Black is Beautiful,” opens Friday at the Paul R. Jones Gallery of Art in downtown Tuscaloosa and will be on display until April 29. A reception will be held at the gallery from 5:30–7:30 p.m. Friday, Both the reception and the exhibit are free and open to the public. The gallery is at 2308 Sixth St. in downtown Tuscaloosa.
Quake-resistant wooden towers
Deccan Herald – March 3
Researchers from the University of Alabama, US, led by Dr Thang Dao, Alabama University assistant professor of civil construction and environmental engineering, are probing on how to build taller wood-framed buildings in earthquake-prone areas to facilitate denser urban layouts while keeping people safe. Test structures will be shaken in a giant quake lab to see how they perform. They will combine two existing methods of timber construction in search of a new system that could lead to seismically safe timber towers reaching 12 storeys.
How parents, romantic partners influence student spending
Science Daily – March 3
When college students introduce a new boyfriend or girlfriend to their parents for the first time, Mom and Dad may have lots of questions for the love interest: Where did you grow up? What’s your major? What are your plans after graduation? New research suggests there might be another question worth asking: How do you manage your money? A study co-authored by researchers at the University of Arizona, University of Minnesota, University of Alabama and University of Wisconsin, Madison, suggests that romantic partners have a significant influence on the financial behavior of college students, even beyond that of students’ parents.
Small Dragonfly Makes Record-Breaking Flights Around the World
Newsweek – March 2
Found all over the world, the wandering glider (Pantala flavescens) is aptly named. The dragonfly has truly global reach, and it is found on every continent except Antarctica. To get to all those far-flung corners of the planet, the winged insect (also sometimes called the “globe skimmer”) makes epic migratory flights: They have been seen, for example, traversing the Indian Ocean in the hundreds of thousands on their way from Asia to Africa … John Abbott, a researcher at the University of Alabama who wasn’t involved in the study, says that birds definitely migrate longer distances, but that these dragonflies do clearly fly farther than any other insect, beating out monarch butterflies.
The Scientist – March 3
Montgomery woman elected SGA president at Alabama
Montgomery Advertiser – March 3
University of Alabama students have elected a new president of the Student Government Association. The Tuscaloosa News reports that Lillian Roth, a junior political science major from Montgomery, this week was elected president for 2016-17. Roth received nearly 54 percent of the vote, defeating challengers Patrick Fitzgerald, a junior from Harvest; and Caroline Morrison, a junior from Vestavia Hills.
Washington Times – March 3
Daily Reporter (Greenfield, Ind.) – March 3
CBS 8 (Montgomery) – March 3
NBC 13 (Birmingham) – March 3
UA holds Special Olympics Iron Bowl Basketball Game
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Mar 3
On Saturday there was a special kind of Iron Bowl happening at The University of Alabama recreation center. Special Olympic athletes from both Alabama and Auburn, with and without intellectual disabilities, faced off in a competitive game of unified basketball. For Alabama, their handwork paid off. They defeated Auburn 50-33 and are advancing to the national tournament.