MONDAY, MAY 7 – SUNDAY, MAY 13
RESEARCH
IMPROVING FOOD’S FLAVOR – Dr. Lingyan Kong, a UA researcher, was recently awarded a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture to research and improve flavor and increase its stability. Kong believes his approach, for which he’s seeking a patent, can also help mask unpleasant tastes and odors in foods, as well as medications. For more information, contact Bryant Welbourne, UA Strategic Communications, at 205-348-8325 or bryant.welbourne@ua.edu.
BEST BETS
NASA ROBOTICS TEAM READY FOR CONTEST – A team of students from the UA College of Engineering is preparing this week to win four championships in a row at a NASA-sponsored competition. Alabama Astrobotics built a robot that can dig and collect simulated Martian soil and will compete early next week in Florida. For more information, contact Adam Jones, UA media relations, at 205/348-4328 or adam.jones@ua.edu.
YERBY NAMED 2019 BUFORD PEACE AWARD WINNER – Dr. Lea G. Yerby, UA assistant professor in the department of community medicine and population health, will receive the Lahoma Adams Buford Peace Award Monday, May 7 at 4:30 p.m. at Cypress Inn Pavilion in Tuscaloosa. The Buford Peace Award is given annually to a faculty member at UA who, in his or her teaching, research, professional practice and personal life, has demonstrated exceptional levels of involvement in mediating human disputes, helping overcome prejudice, promoting justice and establishing peace. Yerby’s research focuses on rural health disparities and health care quality outcomes in Medicaid populations. For more information, contact David Miller, UA Strategic Communications, at 205/348-0825 or david.c.miller@ua.edu.
‘ALL OF US’ RESEARCH JOURNEY COMES TO CAMPUS – UA’s College of Community Health Sciences will kick off its participation in the national All of Us Research Program, a landmark effort to advance individualized care, prevention and treatment for people of all backgrounds Thursday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the parking lot of the University Medical Center. The All of Us Journey is a mobile, interactive exhibit where visitors can explore the All of Us Research Program that is part of the National Institutes of Health’s effort to advance research into precision medicine, which is an emerging approach to disease treatment and prevention that considers differences in people’s lifestyles, environments and biological makeup. For more information, contact Bryant Welbourne, UA Strategic Communications, at 205-348-8325 or bryant.welbourne@ua.edu.
GO JUMP IN A LAKE … OR WALK OR RUN — All Alabamians are encouraged to get outside and walk, run, hike, bike, swim, paddle, ride, or roll with family and friends at the state’s parks, nature preserves and rivers through the 100 Alabama Miles Challenge. The new statewide public program, presented by UA’s Center for Economic Development and partnering organizations, starts Saturday, May 12 with kick-off events in several cities and towns throughout the state and at all 17 Alabama State Parks. Contact Brian Rushing in UA’s Center for Economic Development, brian.rushing@ua.edu or 205-915-5402 for interviews. For assistance, contact Zach Thomas, at 205-348-8318 or zthomas@cba.ua.edu.
MAKING NEWS
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