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UA In the News — Dec. 21-Jan. 2

20 Experts Predict The Most Significant Weather And Climate Advances Of The Next Decade
Forbes – Dec. 30

We seem to be at the edge of a transition from an idea about humans dominating nature and controlling the natural world to the notion that human life is dependent on a holistic understanding of the natural world. I think the weather and climate enterprise will make breakthroughs in ways to engage communities in using science to inform crucial decision-making and transform us into an environmentally resilient and wise nation. Of course, it will take the expertise of all of us – physical and social scientists, policy and resource experts, economists and artists, teachers and families- to make this transition successful. Dr. Susan Jasko, Senior Research Scientist, University of Alabama

UA Engineers help find site to drill for Antarctica’s ancient ice
ABC 33/40 – Dec. 27
Engineering researchers from The University of Alabama are using a unique radar to help find the location of, and recovery some of the oldest ice buried in Antarctica. They are part of an international effort to better understand the earth’s climate history.

Alabama researchers help drill for ancient ice
Al.com – Dec. 26

University of Alabama researchers played a role in developing radar that will help recover some of the oldest ice buried in Antarctica, part of an international effort to better understand the Earth’s climate history. “With active participation of UA students, our team developed very complex, high-sensitivity remote sensing radars in less than a year and successfully mapped deep layers no other group has been able to accomplish,” said Siva Prasad Gogineni, a professor of engineering and director of the UA Remote Sensing Center.
The Tuscaloosa News
Yellowhammer – Dec. 22

Social Work receives $3.2M grant to address state’s opioid overdoses
Fox 6 – Dec. 26
The University of Alabama is getting a grant to help first epidemic in less populated areas of our state. (Project freedom” will focus on 14 counties with have high opioid overdose rates, and low resources. First responders will be trained on how to respond to those overdoses.
NBC (Montgomery)
Alabama News Center – Dec. 23

UA sculpture professor influences future generations
The Tuscaloosa News – Dec. 25

The ceramics foundry on the University of Alabama campus is the hottest place to be most days as UA faculty and students use fire to sculpt and cast various works of art. For Craig Wedderspoon, professor of sculpture at UA, the foundry is a second home where he not only molds countless masterpieces, but influences future generations of artists by helping them hone their craft.

Thanksgiving, Christmas have different causes for car crashes
NBC (Montgomery) – Dec. 24
The results of a University of Alabama study on crashes during the holidays is out, specifically looking at the difference between crashes around Christmas and new year’s, compared to thanksgiving. The center of advanced public safety compiled crash information from around the state over the past 15 years. The number of crashes and fatalities were about the same, but the reasons for many of those crashes were different.
ABC (Meridian, Miss.)
Fox 6
WAFF 48
…and many more

Two UA Legends Make Forbes’ Most Powerful Women List
Fox 6 – Dec. 24
Two University of Alabama grads have cracked Forbes 2019 list of the world’s one-hundred most powerful women. Marillyn Hewson, chairman, president and CEO of Lockheed Martin ranks 10th. This is her second year in the top ten.
Business Alabama – Dec. 30
The Tuscaloosa News – Dec. 23
Alabama Newscenter – Dec. 29

Realizing the Dream events in Tuscaloosa will honor MLK
The Tuscaloosa News – Dec. 23
Realizing the Dream events will be held in January in Tuscaloosa honoring the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Award-winning journalist Laura Ling and Grammy-nominated gospel artist Jonathan McReynolds will be part of a program in Tuscaloosa honoring the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. The 2020 Realizing the Dream Legacy banquet, featuring Ling as the speaker, will be held at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 17 in the Sellers Auditorium at the Bryant Conference Center, 240 Paul W. Bryant Drive. Banquet tickets cost $30 per person or $250 for a table of 10. Dress is semiformal.

Trump May Be Acquitted in a Senate Impeachment Trial. That’s Not the Same as Being Exonerated
TIME – Dec. 23

Vance is distinguished professor of the practice of law at the University of Alabama, a former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama and an NBC News and MSNBC legal analyst. Imagine this scenario in a courtroom: The prosecutor and defense lawyer speak to the judge in advance of a trial for an attempted bank robbery. The indictment, voted on by the grand jury, recites that the defendant tried to rob the bank by demanding money from a teller and threatening her if she didn’t give it to him. But the crime was interrupted by others in the bank who saw it in progress and the defendant wasn’t able to finish the robbery.

CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER JOHN LEWIS’ STAGE 4 PANCREATIC CANCER DIAGNOSIS PROMPTS OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT
Newsweek – Dec. 29

Former President Bill Clinton and freshman Congresswoman Ilhan Omar were among the many public figures that offered their support to civil rights icon and Democratic Congressman John Lewis, after his office announced on Sunday that he was being treated for stage four pancreatic cancer. “Prayers for Representative Lewis who led this country in the fight to acknowledge black people were entitled to voting rights & the same civil rights as all Americans,” University of Alabama professor Joyce Alene tweeted. “We need his leadership now more than ever.”

Walk through 200 years of Alabama history at Bicentennial Park
Al.com – Jan. 1

Alabama’s bicentennial celebration, commemorating 200 years of statehood, officially wrapped up on Dec. 14. But the extensive effort to recognize the milestone produced some long-range assets, including the establishment of the Bicentennial Park atop Dexter Avenue in Montgomery, facing the State Capitol. Tuscaloosa artist Caleb O’Connor created the sculptures. University of Alabama art professor Craig Wedderspoon oversaw the casting of the sculptures into bronze. Jonathan Cumberland, an assistant professor of art at Alabama, did the graphic design work on the text panels.

6 tips for a healthy start to the new year
Alabama Newscenter – Dec. 31

New year. New me. The start of a new year encourages many of us to reflect on the past and make resolutions to become better versions of ourselves moving forward. Some of the most popular resolutions year in and year out involve changing our eating habits to a lifestyle approach, rather than the latest diet fad. Suzanne Henson, a registered dietitian at UA Medical Center, has been a dietitian for 20 years and says January is always a busy month.
The Tuscaloosa News – Dec. 26

New astronauts graduate | One of these 13 may walk on moon, Mars
AJC – Dec. 26

Thirteen astronauts who may be the next humans to walk on the moon or even make the historic journey to Mars have been chosen as NASA’s newest astronauts. Bob Hines, a U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, attended high school in Mountaintop, Pennsylvania, but considers Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, his hometown. He has a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from Boston University and a master’s degree in flight test engineering from the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards AFB. Hines served as a developmental test pilot on all models of the F-15 while earning a master’s in aerospace engineering from the University of Alabama. He deployed in support of Operations End.

EXTENDING ‘HEALTHSPAN’: BRAIN SCIENTISTS TAP INTO THE SECRETS OF LIVING WELL LONGER
Bonner County Daily Bee – Jan. 2

Retired state employees Vickey Benford, 63, and Joan Caldwell, 61, are Golden Rollers, a group of the over-50 set that gets out on assorted bikes — including trikes for adults they call “three wheels of awesome” — for an hour of trail riding and camaraderie. “I love to exercise, and I like to stay fit,” said Caldwell, who tried out a recumbent bike, a low-impact option that can be easier on the back. “It keeps me young.” Some of the Acts communities are participating in a two-year study about memory improvement supervised by a researcher at the University of Alabama.
Columbia Basin Herald
News Medical Life Sciences
Kaiser Health News
The Daily Times
…and many more

‘Alabama Counts’: How one Republican state bucks national trends and boosts Census awareness
Al.com – Jan. 2

Riders on homespun floats tossed candy to kids, Santa Claus made a grand appearance, and high school bands blared out festive tunes during the annual Foley Christmas parade. And, perhaps for the first time in the parade’s 56-year history, a float promoting the U.S. Census was part of the festivities. “If Alabama spends $1.2 million, the sum is dwarfed by how many billions of federal dollars the state will receive if an accurate total results rather than a significant undercount,” said Gerald Webster, a professor of political geography at the University of Wyoming and a former geography professor at the University of Alabama. “Hence, if the money is spent wisely and results in more cooperation by the residents of Alabama, it is money well spent.”

Another blast rocks Austin, but police say it‘s unrelated to other bombings
Valliant News – Jan. 1
Investigators pursuing a suspected serial bomber in the Texas capital faced new threats along with the promise of valuable new leads as their attention shifted Tuesday to a FedEx shipping centre near San Antonio where a package exploded and the discovery of another, unexploded bomb near Austin‘s airport. A criminologist at the University of Alabama said if a single perpetrator is behind the blasts, changing the means of delivery increases the bomber‘s chance of getting caught.

House prices up, supply down in Calhoun County as year ends
The Anniston Star – Dec. 31

House prices in Calhoun County rose in 2019, and the supply of available homes is shrinking due to a strong real-estate market. … according to numbers from the Alabama Center for Real Estate at the University of Alabama. But 2018 was a strong year for…

Stunned stargazers are claiming to have seen a ‘train’ of UFOs dashing across the night sky only to discover they are Elon Musk’s Starlink satellites
Daily Mail – Dec. 31

A ‘train of satellites’ launched by SpaceX that were spotted over the UK have been described as ‘UFO-like’ by stargazers living in rural areas of the country. The Elon Musk owned company launched the first 60 of its ‘Starlink constellation’ of internet satellites in May 2019, with another 60 sent to space in November. The trail of lights, in a perfectly straight line, is particularly prominent in areas away from light pollution, including rural Shropshire, Staffordshire and Worcestershire. ‘Love an alien invasion on Christmas.’ University of Alabama astronomer Bill Keel told the AFP that the sighting of the first Starlink satellite train had experts trying to extrapolate what effect artificial constellations of such steady brightness might have as they grow in number.
News Cabal

Astronomers slam high-speed global internet plans as new satellites will ‘get in the way’ science – Herald Planets
Trending News – Dec. 30
Astronomers have dubbed plans for a high-speed global internet a ‘tragedy’ as the thousands of new satellites required will get in the way of key scientific observations. Next week will see SpaceX’s Starlink begin a drive to place 60 new satellites at a time into orbit every few weeks — aiming for around 1,500 by the end of 2020. University of Alabama astronomer Bill Keel told the AFP that the sighting of the first Starlink satellite train had experts trying to extrapolate what effect artificial constellations of such steady brightness might have as they grow in number.

Honda Manufacturing of Alabama enjoys banner year in 2019
Anniston Star – Dec. 28

In 2019, Honda Manufacturing of Alabama become the first automaker in the state to reach 5 million units produced, including minivans, sports utility vehicles, pickup trucks and V-6 engines. …by the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Alabama on behalf of the Economic Development Partnership of…
Al.com – Dec. 23

Best of Alabama Newscenter 2019: Weather
Alabama Newscenter – Dec. 28

With the start of 2020, it’s a good time to look back on some of the good things that happened in 2019. Alabama NewsCenter has tallied the results in each grouping of stories to see which ones you responded to the most, and we’re sharing your five favorites along with a story (or stories) we wanted to make sure you didn’t miss. Many also helped Vickie Edwards replace the home she lost in the 2011 Tuscaloosa tornado. University of Alabama researchers are using lessons learned from that storm and others to find new ways to communicate severe weather alerts.

Construction boom in Tuscaloosa
NBC 13 (Birmingham) – Dec. 27
Just drive down University Boulevard or Paul W. Bryant Drive near the stadium, and you’ll see one high-rise apartment building after another going up. Councilman Lee Busby says there is one thing major to credit with the growth and that is, The University of Alabama. You guessed it. Ironically there is work going on Bryant-Denny Stadium right now.

Driverless shuttles gain steam in Michigan
grbj – Dec. 27
After Michiganders tested the first wave of driverless buses, the greatest gripe was the lack of music. “There’s this clear trend where people were not commenting on the autonomy at all,” said Kelly Bartlett, the Michigan Department of Transportation’s policy adviser for autonomous vehicles. “One of the main reactions people had was ‘you should add music.’” Indeed, a 2019 study from the University of Alabama found 65% of people who rode in a driverless vehicle said there should be fewer restrictions on autonomous vehicle testing, whereas 76% of the pedestrians who haven’t interacted said the current regulations were necessary.

NASA airborne campaign catches the drift of snow water
Phys.org – Dec. 24

It’s the most wonderful time of the year—the time NASA’s SnowEx campaign hits the skies and ground of the world’s snowy places, measuring snow properties to understand how much water is contained by each winter’s snowfall. SnowEx includes partners from universities, private institutions and other government agencies who bring additional expertise and instruments—such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s airborne gamma instrument and the University of Alabama’s FMCW radar. These instruments cannot be used in space, but they will help the snow science community advance their understanding of snow across various conditions.
Terra Daily

Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Google Pay: How They Stack Up
Yahoo! Finance – Dec. 23
You probably use your phone for just about everything — texting, gaming, shopping — but what about as a replacement for your wallet? Mobile payment apps such as Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Google Pay allow you to use your debit or credit card in stores and online without ever having to pick up a piece of plastic. You can also use Apple Pay on a few college campuses, including the University of Alabama and Duke University. Finally, it’s possible to make donations to many charities using Apple Pay, such as the American Red Cross and Save the Children.

‘Harriet’: The Real-Life Inspirations Behind the Characters
Hollywood Reporter – Dec. 23

In an email to Slate, Joshua Rothman, chair of the University of Alabama’s History department, said black slave catchers most likely didn’t work in the South, but were more likely to be found in border states or in the North.

FISHERMEN CRY FOUL AS CHINA BIDS TO FIX DROUGHT-HIT LAKE
Malaysia News – Dec. 23

As residents fled invading Japanese troops 80 years ago, the coins were packed into boxes and sent down the river on rafts, with many sinking without trace. They are now being unearthed as the water in the Poyang recedes to its lowest level in decades, providing a small income for fishermen like Fan facing an uncertain future. But the primary cause of problems is the two decades of intensive sand mining in the Poyang, said David Shankman, professor at the University of Alabama, who studies the lake.
Head Topics

Top Weather Stories of the Decade: 2011
CBS News (West Palm Beach, Fla.) – Dec. 23
As the decade comes to a close, the CBS 12 StormTrac Weather Team wants to take some time and look back at some of the top weather and climate stories of the past 10 years. Each day leading up to 2020, we will be taking an in-depth look at the weather stories that captivated the world for a year. Today, we take a look back at 2011. Also within this same event was a large multiple-vortex wedge tornado that swept through Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, Alabama. This storm was rated an EF4 tornado by the National Weather Service and it claimed 64 lives and injured roughly 1,500 people. The storm prompted the University of Alabama to close its campus during the course of the storm itself, and while the university didn’t suffer any damage, off-campus housing did. It forced the school to cancel final exams for the semester and spring commencement was postponed until August 6th.

JAC Gas Turbine Chosen by PowerSouth to Power Economic Growth in Alabama and Florida
Oil & Gas 360 – Dec. 22

Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems (MHPS) announced today that PowerSouth has ordered an M501JAC gas turbine power train to power the Lowman Energy Center located in Leroy, Alabama. This new 640 MW combined cycle power plant will replace three aging coal-fired units with a combined output of 556 MW. New Advanced Class Gas Turbines like the ones at the Lowman Energy Center have improved fuel efficiency and have 65% less CO2 emissions than coal units of the same output. The award also includes a long-term service agreement. According to the Economic Outlook Update from the Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) at the University of Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Business Alabama.
Market Screener
BizWire Express
…and many more

The Race To Create Half-Life 3
Gamer Informer – Dec. 22

Half-Life is one of the most revered franchises in the world. Not only did it establish Valve as a premier developer, it redefined player expectations for first-person storytelling, world building, and enemy A.I. Half-Life 2 and its episodic follow-ups continued to push the FPS genre into bold new directions until Half-Life 2: Episode Two released in 2007. After Episode 2’s cliffhanger ending, fans couldn’t wait to experience the climax of Gordon Freeman’s epic struggle against the totalitarian, multidimensional aliens known as the Combine. By day, David Mason is a student studying digital animation at The University of Alabama. By night, he assists with programming, sound design, texture art, and modeling as part of Keep Away From Fire’s development community. Mason has been a part of the Half-Life modding community since he was in junior high, so when he was offered the chance to become a design lead on Keep Away From Fire’s effort to develop Half-Life 3 in Source, he jumped at the chance.

University of Alabama Clay Shooting Team
WVUA – Dec. 21
For a club team of clay shooters at The University of Alabamathey spend Sunday afternoons on the range learning from experienced volunteer coaches. University of Alabama professors Chandra Clark and Michael Bruce introduces us to them.

University of Alabama Museums
WVUA – Dec. 20
Just a short walk across the quad and you the historic Gorgas House. The Gorgas House museum was built in 1829 and it is the oldest building on the campus. So, it actually, it’s interesting, it sort of pre-dates the opening of The University of Alabama in 1831. So, it is very tied and connected to the history of The University of Alabama. So, when you go in the Gorgas House museum you get a sense of what life was like back in those days when the university first started.

Tattoos broadcast enhanced immunity, stamina, UA study finds
Fox 6 – Dec. 20
Researchers at The University of Alabama say they could provide health benefits. The stress of getting a tattoo a seems to prepare your body to be more vigilant according to UA cultural medical anthropologist Dr. Christopher Lynn. He combined his interest in tattoos and health outcomes to see if they make people healthier. He traveled to American Samoa in 2017 to study people there.