UA to help expand computer science education
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – Nov. 1
These teachers were at the University of Alabama for the 2017 Alabama Teachers Computer Science Summit, learning about how to bring a new advanced placement computer science course into classrooms. Statistics show computer science related jobs are growing at twice the rate of all other jobs, and the teachers say the principles also apply to lots of fields. One teacher said she loves seeing her student’s excitement when they learn something new or fix a problem.
Rural Health: Homegrown Doctors
Alabama Public Radio – Nov. 1
All year long the APR news team has been looking at rural health across the state. One of the major problems is that rural residents lack access to medical care. A big reason for this is a lack of doctors. However, there is an effort underway to try to address the issue. The University of Alabama has something called the rural medical scholars program and it is bringing the next generation of doctors who will be practicing in rural Alabama.
New Research: Insomnia Is Largely a State of Mind
Inc. – Nov. 1
What does it mean to say someone has insomnia? Most of us see this as a dead simple question – insomnia means you struggle to get to sleep or stay asleep and end up getting way less sleep than you need …The research by University of Alabama psychologist Kenneth Lichstein examined data from 20 previous sleep studies to see how closely correlated bad sleep is with complaints of insomnia. The short answer is that these two things overlap surprisingly little. Tons of people who have objectively bad sleep as measured by surveys, brain waves, and sleep diaries actually don’t feel troubled about their sleep at all. They don’t think of themselves as insomniacs in the least.
At 94, Shirley Jones steps down from job on UA event staff
Tuscaloosa News – Nov. 1
Shirley Jones was born on October 15, 1923. She is 94 years old. She stands all of, maybe, 5-feet, and has the kind of smile that melts hearts. No one is a stranger. She greets a newcomer, and everyone she knows, with a hug. And, her son, Frank Jones, declares without prejudice, that Shirley is his best worker, in a sea of good workers. Her work? Event security. Shirley Jones was in her 80s when she began, yes, began, what would become, she said, the best job she ever undertook. For nearly a decade, Shirley has worked on the event staff for University of Alabama home football games at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
New Miss University of Alabama promotes service opportunities
Crimson White – Nov. 1
A new Miss University of Alabama was crowned last week, and she plans for her reign to be more meaningful than just a title. Riley Kate Lancaster, a sophomore majoring in public relations on the pre-law track, is the newest Miss University of Alabama. She is a Tuscaloosa native and a pageant veteran, having previously won the titles of Miss Northeast Alabama and Miss Tuscaloosa, as well as the title of Miss North Alabama’s Outstanding Teen.
On the Campus
Lancaster Bee (Pennsylvania) – Nov. 1
Corey Luksch of Lancaster is working at the construction firm Brasfield & Gorrie during the fall 2017 semester as part of a hands-on educational experience through the University of Alabama’s Cooperative Education Program.
Federal grant to fight human trafficking awarded to School of Social Work
Crimson White – Nov. 1
There are an estimated 20 million slaves in the world today, according to the International Labour Organization. Of those 20 million, about half are children, forced into a life of abuse, hard labor or sexual exploitation. For The University of Alabama’s School of Social Work, human trafficking is an issue that must be addressed, and they recently received more than $1 million to do just that. The United States Department of Justice has teamed up with the School of Social Work to help save children from human trafficking, awarding them a $1.35 million grant to connect law enforcement, prosecutors and treatment facilities to better serve human trafficking victims.
Demonetisation and its Discontents Oct 17
Book Link – Nov. 1
I had planned to write on demonetisation for the November issue (as it will be the one-year anniversary of this landmark announcement), but my fellow professor and renowned economist Raghuram Rajan forced me into a corner when he released his book I do what I do, which drew public attention back to demonetisation.
UA’s Center for Service and Leadership holds poverty simulation
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Nov. 1
The University of Alabama’s center for service and leadership hosted a “poverty seminar” Wednesday night to show students what living in poverty for a month would be like. The center’s mission is to bring awareness to social issues so students can know what’s out in the surrounding community.
UA students collect donations to help Tim Tebow Foundation
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Nov. 1
A social campaign run by University of Alabama students is collecting donations to help the Tim Tebow foundation. The money collected will go to the foundation’s second annual Night to Shine event this coming February. Night to Shine is a prom held for young people with special needs and disabilities.
Health Matters: Long Acting, Reversible Contraception
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Nov. 1
Planning for proper spacing of pregnancy or perhaps avoiding unwanted pregnancies is a critical medical consideration. There are excellent reversible methods now available called LARC or long acting reversible contraception that everyone needs to become aware of. We’re happy to be having this conversation today with Dr. Kristy Graettinger one of our obstetrician-gynecologist at university medical center.