MONDAY, OCT. 30 – SUNDAY, NOV. 5
This week at The University of Alabama: UA, ALDOT lay groundwork for future self-driving vehicles – Researcher exploring potential lunar habitats for humans – Beat Auburn, Beat Hunger effort ongoing – Presentation of funds to help state’s children.
RESEARCH
UA, ALDOT LAY GROUNDWORK FOR FUTURE SELF-DRIVING VEHICLES – Advanced technology used to make traveling safer and more efficient is the focus of a new project led by UA and the Alabama Department of Transportation. Tuscaloosa is the first city in Alabama to install the technology that will collect data for research used to decrease travel time, reduce vehicle crashes and lay the groundwork for future self-driving vehicles. The project involves installing infrastructure components, known as dedicated short-range communication radios, or DSRC radios, into 85 traffic signals throughout Tuscaloosa and Northport. The first 50 units are scheduled to be implemented this fall. Contact Alana Norris communications specialist, College of Engineering, 205-348-6444 or anorris@eng.ua.edu.
UA REASEARCHER ON TEAM EXPLORING POTENTIAL LUNAR HABITATS FOR HUMANS — An engineering researcher at The University of Alabama is part of a project garnering international attention to potential sites for future habitats on the moon. For more information, contact Adam Jones, UA communications, 205-348-4328 or adam.jones@ua.edu.
BEST BETS
SYMPOSIUM CELEBRATES 500TH ANNIVERSARY OF PROTESTANT REFORMATION — Several UA departments will present a symposium celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation Monday, Oct. 30, a half century after Martin Luther originally nailed his 95 theses to the doors of a Roman Catholic church. The event, “The Protestant Reformation 1517-2017: 500 Years of Faith, History, and the Arts,” will be held in the Moody Music Building Concert Hall and is free and open to the public. An opening reception and curated book exhibit will begin at 5 p.m., while presentations and performances will start at 6 p.m. For more information, contact Dr. Kirk Summers, director of UA’s classics program, at 205-348-2503 or ksummers@ua.edu. For assistance, contact Stephanie Kirkland, College of Arts and Sciences, 205-348-8663 or stephanie.kirkland@ua.edu.
BEAT AUBURN, BEAT HUNGER – The annual food drive to benefit the West Alabama Food Bank is underway. For more details, contact Richard LeComte, communications, richard.lecomte@ua.edu or 205-348-3782 or go to the Facebook page here.
PRESENTATION OF GRANT FUNDS TO HELP STATE’S CHILDREN SET FOR NOV. 2 – The Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention is awarding $1,134,400 to 7th Congressional District organizations that focus on solving the problem of child maltreatment before it occurs. A check presentation will take place at 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 2, at the Child Development Research Center on the UA campus. Child Development Resources, a part of UA’s College of Human Environmental Sciences, administers the Parenting Assistance Line and Baby TALK or Teaching Activities for Learning and Knowledge. Among those attending the presentation will be prevention partners that work with families and children, State Rep. Bill Poole, State Sen. Bobby Singleton and Judge Bob Armstrong. For more information, contact Leslie Guy, 205-348-2235, lguy@ches.ua.edu or Tabitha Brown, 205-348-7429.
EVENTS
AUTHOR MARGARET ATWOOD TO PRESENT LECTURE NOV. 14 — Margaret Atwood, award-winning author of “The Handmaid’s Tale” and other works, will present a lecture at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 14, at the Bama Theatre as part of the Writers Series in UA’s program in creative writing. The lecture is free and open to the public, but tickets are required. Tickets may be claimed online via Brown Paper Tickets beginning at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 31. For more information, contact John Estes, department of English, at ugcw@ua.edu. For assistance, contact Stephanie Kirkland, College of Arts and Sciences, 205-348-8663 or stephanie.kirkland@ua.edu.
ALLELE SERIES TO HOST SHOWING OF ‘SPEAKING EVOLUTION’ — The Alabama Lectures on Life’s Evolution, or ALLELE, series will host a showing of “Discovering Alabama’s” newest production, “Speaking Evolution,” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9, in room 2011 of North Lawn Hall. The program explores how the science of evolution is communicated to the general public. Narrated by NPR national correspondent Debbie Elliot, “Speaking Evolution” asks several prominent scientists about how the teaching of evolution could be changed in order to better explain it. For more information, contact Roger Reid, rereid@ua.edu. For further assistance, contact Stephanie Kirkland, College of Arts and Sciences, 205-348-8663 or stephanie.kirkland@ua.edu.
LOOKING AHEAD
RIVER PITCH EVENT TO SPARK TUSCALOOSA ENTREPRENEURSHIP — Do you have a new business idea worth sharing? Can you “pitch” it in three minutes or less? If so, come to the Tuscaloosa River Market on Tuesday, Nov. 14 from 5-9 p.m. and take part in the 2017 River Pitch Business Idea Competition. It allows students and community members to pitch business ideas to judges for chances to win one of eight $1,000 prizes. Participants also receive feedback on their ideas and potentially meet experts in entrepreneurship. River Pitch is a joint effort of the Alabama Entrepreneurship Institute and the EDGE Entrepreneurship Center, both of which are extensions of the UA’s Culverhouse College of Commerce, the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama and the city of Tuscaloosa. Registration, which is required to pitch business ideas, is available on the AEI’s website at www.culverhouse.ua.edu/aei. For more information, contact Dr. Theresa Welbourne or Tommie Syx at 205-722-5179 or aei@cba.ua.edu or Zach Thomas at rzthomas@cba.ua.edu or 205-348-8318.
BOOK DISCUSSION — Chip Cooper and Julio Larramendi, photographers and artists-in-residence at UA’s Honors College, will discuss their recent book, “Campesinos: Inside the Soul of Cuba,’ at the Tuscaloosa RiverMarket from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 12. Cooper and Larramendi traveled throughout Cuba for three years to photograph the campesinos — people living in the countryside. They will describe their journey through Cuba during their presentation. Details: Alicia R. Browne, director of College Relations, Honors College, 205-348-5557, abrowne@ua.edu.
THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE – The UA theatre and dance department presents the partly improvised musical about a spelling bee from Monday, Nov. 6, to Sunday, Nov. 12 in the Allen Bales Theatre on the UA campus. Six spellers, one championship — the stakes are high as these quirky adolescents spell their way to the top. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $10. For more information and tickets, go to https://theatre.ua.edu/season/2017-2018/. Details – Richard LeComte, media relations, rllecomte@ur.ua.edu, 205/348-3782.