MONDAY, FEB. 13 – SUNDAY, FEB. 19
BEST BETS
NURSING SETS UP MOCK HOSPITAL FOR STUDENT EXERCISE – UA’s Capstone College of Nursing students will participate in a mock hospital simulation exercise Feb. 15 and 16. The “hospital” will include a regular hospital unit and an ICU. Nursing 473 senior leadership students will be forced to prioritize, delegate and make decisions about patients. Lower-level students, who will pose as patients, are charged with reviewing a case study of their medical issue and presenting a realistic picture of their problem to the nurse. The simulation takes place from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 3:30 p.m. on the second floor labs of CCN. For more information, contact Kim Eaton, UA media relations, 205/348-8325 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu.
DANCING FOR DOLLARS: MARATHON’S FUNDRAISING EXCEEDS LAST YEAR’S BY NEARLY $130,000 — UA’s Dance Marathon 2017 raised $340,001.17 in a yearlong fundraising campaign. The total was revealed Feb. 11 at the end of a 12-hour, no-sitting dance marathon celebration. The goal of UADM is to increase awareness and raise funds for children and families being treated at Children’s of Alabama in Birmingham. For more information, contact Kim Eaton, UA media relations, 205/348-8325 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu.
OCEAN FLOOR REVEALS HISTORIC ICE SHEET MELTING; CLUES TO FUTURE –“Warm” seawater near western Antarctica flowed along the underside of a massive ice shelf some 2,000 years ago, melting it and greatly diminishing its size, says a UA scientist who researches the impacts of historic climate change. Dr. Rebecca Totten Minzoni, UA professor of geological sciences, says this example of past ocean-driven melting, the first documented evidence of such melting of the Cosgrove Ice Shelf, is concerning for present day. “This can help us predict what is going to happen in modern glacial systems,” Minzoni said. The prehistoric melting occurred despite cooling air temperatures and advance of several ice shelves to the north. The present day melting of major glacial systems farther south could contribute significantly to sea level rise over the next hundred years, scientists say. Minzoni was part of a team that collected and analyzed sediment beneath the Amundsen Sea. By studying the samples, including analysis of some of the fossils contained therein, scientists can determine the approximate time period and environmental conditions when these sediments settled to the ocean floor. Minzoni is the lead author of research findings under review for scientific publication. For more information, contact Minzoni at 205/348-6050 or rminzoni@ua.edu. For assistance, contact Chris Bryant in media relations, 205/348-8323 or chris.bryant@ua.edu.
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY RESEARCHER TO SPEAK AT ANNUAL AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY COLLOQUIUM – Dr. Desmond Patton, assistant professor of social work at Columbia University, will hold a discussion with area youth and a colloquium for the UA and Tuscaloosa communities Feb. 16 and 17 at the Bryant Conference Center. Patton, whose research of teen violence in neighborhoods and through social media has been featured on NPR, will host “A Teen Talk with Dr. Patton” Thursday, Feb. 16 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Bryant Conference Center. He’ll host “Innovating Gang Violence Prevention with Qualitative Analysis and National Language Processing at 11:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 17, at the Bryant Conference Center. For more information, contact David Miller, UA media relations, at 205/348-0825 or david.c.miller@ua.edu.
AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH — UA’s Crossroads invites the campus and community to participate in events throughout February during African American History Month. The theme this year is “Crisis in Black Education.” Events include a selection of artwork from the Paul R. Jones Collection and a roundtable titled “Challenges in Education: From Preschool to Graduate School.” Events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. For details, contact UA’s Crossroads at 205-348-6930. For a schedule, go here. For assistance, contact Richard LeComte in media relations, rllecome@ur.ua.edu, 205/348-3782.
UA’s FREE SONIC FRONTIERS CONCERT FEATURES JAZZ LEGEND VINNY GOLIA – Legendary Los Angeles jazz musician Vinny Golia will headline the third concert in UA’s Sonic Frontiers concert series Feb. 14 at 7:30 p.m. The free concert will be held at UA’s Moody Concert Hall. In addition to Golia’s solo performance, the concert will feature performances by the UA School of Music’s Jazz Ensemble, who will play a set of Golia’s large ensemble music. Chris Kozak, UA associate professor of music and director of jazz studies, will direct the ensemble. Other performers are Dr. Andrew Raffo Dewar, a UA associate professor who will play soprano saxophone, and Joe Berry, an undergraduate student, who will play drums. For more information, contact Jamon Smith, UA media relations, 205/348-4956, or jamon.smith@ua.edu
TAKE A JOURNEY IN SCIENCE — UA’s Rodgers Library for Science and Engineering is hosting its fourth annual Take a Journey in Science program, which features “lightning” talks from University experts about high-interest topics in science and nursing. The goal of the program is to acquaint UA students, faculty, staff and the Tuscaloosa-area community with innovative research in science, engineering and nursing. The four-part series kicks off with a talk on “The Elusive Evidence of Volcanic Lightning” by Dr. Kimberly Genareau Feb. 14. The second event in the series is “Breast Cancer Awareness and Survival: A Personal Journey through Research” by Dr. Mary Ann Kelley Feb. 21. The third event is “Castles Made of Sand: Sand Transport and Why it Matters” by Dr. Douglas Sherman Feb. 28. The final event is “Why do Males Exist? Can Hermaphroditic Fish Provide Us with Insight” by Dr. Ryan Earley March 7. All four events in the series start at 2 p.m. and end at 2:15 p.m. They will all be held at the Rodgers Library. For more information, contact Jamon Smith, UA media relations, 205/348-4956, or jamon.smith@ua.edu
UA TO HOST REGIONAL SCIENCE OLYMPIAD – More than 600 middle and high school students are expected to participate in the 2017 Regional Science Olympiad competition at UA Saturday, Feb. 18, beginning at 9 a.m. For more information, contact Adam Jones, UA media relations, 205/348-6444 or adam.jones@ua.edu.
ADDICTION AND TEENS ADDRESSED AT MINI MED SCHOOL – Dr. Sara Phillips, a pediatrician at University Medical Center and assistant professor of pediatrics in UA’s College of Community Health Sciences, will present “Addiction and Teens” at noon Thursday, Feb. 16, as part of a lecture series for UA’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, or OLLI, program. While physical and behavioral changes in teenagers can be due to the expected changes they go through in their adolescent years, if they go through dramatic changes it could be an indication of possible addiction. Studies show there are millions of teens in the U.S. who abuse or dabble with substance use in one way or another. Phillips will explore the warning signs of addiction for teens, the impact on teens’ health and the impact of addiction on their still developing brains. The presentation will take place in the Bryant Conference Center’s Lackey Room. For more information, contact Kim Eaton, UA media relations, 205/348-8325 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu.
LOOKING AHEAD
UA TO BREAK GROUND ON NEW ADAPTED ATHLETICS FACILITY – UA will continue its pioneering position in adapted athletics when it breaks ground on its new multi-use facility for its adapted athletics programs, Thursday, Feb. 23 at the UA Rec Center. Media are invited to attend a news briefing, which will begin at 2 p.m. A shovel-turn ceremony will immediately follow. Coaches and UA administrators will attend. The UA system Board of Trustees approved the project in February 2016. For more information, contact David Miller, UA media relations at 205/348-0825 or david.c.miller@ua.edu.
FASHION SHOW PROMOTES POSITIVE BODY IMAGE – The Fashion Rocks and So Does My Body Fashion Show is making a comeback after a three-year hiatus. Coordinated by the Body Appreciation Week planning committee and UA’s Office of Health Promotion and Wellness, the fashion show started in 2006 as a way to engage more students in the events of Body Appreciation Week/National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. The show is slated for 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23, in the Ferguson Center Ballroom; it is free to attend. For more information, contact Kim Eaton, UA media relations, 205/348-8325 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu.
LULLABY CONCERT EXPOSES CHILDREN TO VARIOUS MUSIC GENRES — UA’s Child Development Resources invites parents and children to its second annual lullaby concert from 5:15 to 6:15 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23, at the Child Development Research Center. The free community event provides opportunities for children and families to experience the arts in a relaxed, fun, family focused way. For more information, contact Kim Eaton, UA media relations, 205/348-8325 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu.