MONDAY, NOV. 12 – SUNDAY, NOV. 18
RESEARCH
UA RESEARCH AWARDS ARE LARGEST IN ITS HISTORY — UA had a record year in sponsored funding for fiscal year 2018, reaching almost $100 million through external grants and contracts for research, instruction, service and fellowship. The total includes $62 million in research awards, the highest in the University’s history and a 23 percent increase over the previous record year. Research awards have grown by 85 percent over the last five years, reflecting a strategic emphasis on increased productivity for research scholarship and creative activities that impact economic and societal development. For more information, contact Deidre Stalnaker, UA director of communications, at 205-348-8718 or deidre.stalnaker@ua.edu
GOING TO GRANDMAS FOR THANKSGIVING? DRIVE SAFELY IF ARRIVING EARLY – More than half of all vehicle crashes during the week of Thanksgiving last year occurred in the three days before the holiday, according to a recent study of state traffic data by UA researchers. For more information, contact Adam Jones, UA communications, at 205-348-4328 or adam.jones@ua.edu.
BEST BETS
PORTIONS OF STOLEN ARTIFACTS RETURNED TO MOUNDVILLE — Some of the artifacts stolen from UA’s Moundville Archaeological Park nearly 40 years ago have been recovered and will be displayed for interested media today (Nov. 12) at the Jones Archaeological Museum in Moundville. A media availability is open to interested news reporters at 11 a.m. For more information, contact Shane Dorrill, at 205-348-8319 or shane.dorrill@ua.edu. Background on the theft is available here.
BEAT AUBURN, BEAT HUNGER ENDS – The student-led Beat Auburn, Beat Hunger food drive ends Thursday, Nov 15. An event to announce the total donations and the winner of the annual competition with the Beat Bama drive at Auburn will begin at 11:30 Friday, Nov. 16, at the West Alabama Food Bank, 3160 McFarland Blvd. in Northport. The media are invited to attend the announcement. For more information, contact Richard LeComte, UA communications, at 205/348-3782 or Richard.lecomte@ua.edu.
RIVER PITCH SEEKS COMMUNITY, STUDENT ENTREPRENEURS – Those with ideas for new products, services or businesses are invited to the Tuscaloosa River Market Nov. 14 to participate in the 2018 River Pitch Business Idea Competition. The competition allows community members and students to pitch their ideas to judges for a chance to win one of eight $1,000 prizes. Participants also receive feedback on their ideas and potentially meet experts in entrepreneurship to help develop their ideas into businesses. For more information, contact Zach Thomas, director of marketing and communications, Culverhouse College of Business, at 205-348-8318 or zthomas@culverhouse.ua.edu. For interviews, contact Dr. Theresa Welbourne, executive director of the Alabama Entrepreneurship Institute and the EDGE Entrepreneurship Center, at twelbourne@cba.ua.edu.
STUDENTS TO TRANSFORM SUV INTO AUTONOMOUS HYBRID FOR NATIONAL COMPETITION – UA is one of 12 schools selected nationwide to participate in the cross-disciplinary, national EcoCAR Mobility Challenge. Graduate and undergraduate students from the engineering, business and communication colleges will put their minds together to create, plan and communicate the transformation of a 2019 Chevy Blazer into a hybrid, autonomous vehicle. For more information, contact Adam Jones, UA communications, at 205-348-4328 or adam.jones@ua.edu.
MAKING NEWS
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LOOKING AHEAD
UA, AUBURN STUDENTS TO MARCH 150 MILES FOR VETERANS – Student veterans from UA and Auburn University will participate in the Iron Bowl Ruck March, a 150-mile journey, to raise awareness of veteran suicides and to provide donations to the Bill Nichols State Veterans Home in Alexander City. It begins Wednesday, Nov. 21, at 8 a.m. at Jordan Hare Stadium in Auburn and ends Saturday, Nov. 24, at 9 a.m. in Tuscaloosa at the Campus Veterans Student Parking Lot on the Clara Verner Tower property. Members of the UA Campus Veterans Association and the Auburn Student Veterans Association will carry 22-pound packs to coincide with the Mission 22 suicide prevention campaign. Packs contain items needed by the Veterans Home. For interviews, contact Kody Pemberton, president, UA Campus Veterans Association, at 618-841-5556 or kdpermberton@crimson.ua.edu or Kyle Venable, president, Auburn Student Veterans Association, at 337-258-2013 or kjv0007@auburn.edu. For more information, contact Shane Dorrill at 205-348-8319 or shane.dorrill@ua.edu.