News Archive - 2015

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Changing Students' Lives

A commentary essay in the CHE uses a course on 'philosophical anthropology' as a jump off point to discuss the importance of letting students discover their interests and excitement about learning: When I was an undergraduate at Antioch College in the early ’80s, I took a course in philosophical anthropology. I’m still not entirely sure what "philosophical anthropology" means, but it was the best course I ever had. It did more to prepare me for…

orchestra in concert
2nd Thursday Scholarship Concert Series

On Sept. 10 at 7:30 p.m. in Hodgson Concert Hall, the UGA Symphony Orchestra will open the 2015­-2016 Second Thursday Scholarship Concert Series. The monthly event offers a terrific opportunity to enjoy the very best in performances by Hugh Hodgson School of Music faculty and students AND the series is an important way to support scholarships for these very same students. Take a look at the schedule and get your tickets for the season today:…

Cy Twombly paintings in gallery
BURNAWAY - Twombly - West

BURNAWAY is an Atlanta-based nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide coverage of the arts in and from Atlanta and the South, to support vibrant creative communities in the region. The Emerging Art Writers Mentorship Program seeks to develop the voices of new art writers. Linnea West is a participant in the program who is pursuing a master’s in art history at the Dodd and who wrote an essay on Cy…

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Targeting Empathy

Researchers in the department of psychology analyzing borderline personality disorder (BPD) have contributed something very interesting in conceptualizing the disorder's connections to empathy: "Our results showed that people with BPD traits had reduced activity in brain regions that support empathy," said the study's lead author Brian Haas, an assistant professor in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences psychology department. "This…

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NASA Research on Sea Level Rise in Greenland

A NASA Interdisciplinary sciences project by UGA faculty lead by Thomas Mote and including Patricia Yager and Renato Castelao collected data this summer at the top of the world: On Greenland’s ice sheet, a vast icy landscape crisscrossed by turquoise rivers and dotted with melt water lakes, a small cluster of orange camping tents popped up in late July. The camp, home for a week to a team of researchers, sat by a large, fast-flowing river. Just…

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2015-2016 University Theatre season

University Theatre has announced its 2015-2016 season, which includes a Tony award-winning musical, Machiavellian machinations, two comedies – one classic and one darkly contemporary, a New Play Festival, and award-winning dramas based on historical events. While it may be easy to get used to fantastic-season-after-fantastic-season from University Theatre, these productions require a tremendous amount work and resources to offer our…

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Informatics Institute takes shape

On the heels of news from over the summer on the UGA informatics initiative, proposals and new positions have been approved at the university level that moves UGA a few more steps in that direction: [UGA] is building upon its established strengths in the interdisciplinary field of informatics by creating the Georgia Informatics Institute for Research and Education. Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Pamela Whitten has charged…

actors on the stage
Outstanding performance by a theatre department at a leading university

The Suzi Bass Awards, celebrating professional theatre in Atlanta, announced its nominations for 2015 and UGA department of theatre and films studies faculty and alumni are well represented: Outstanding Featured Actor in Play---Dane Troy, My Children My Africa, Theatrical Outfit Outstanding Theatre for Young Audience Performance-- Ensemble---(featured JL Reed)---Courage, Alliance Theatre Outstanding Ensemble of a Musical  ---(featured Ben…

professor with students
Focus on the Faculty: Paula Lemons

Associate professor of biochemistry and molecular biology Paula Lemons uses findings from her research on science education to design curricula for her classes and tailor her interactions with students to enhance their learning outcomes: What are your favorite courses and why? My favorite course is “Introductory Biochemistry” (BCMB 3100). I started teaching BCMB 3100 a few years ago, and moving to this course allowed me to prioritize changing…

enzyme digram of cardiolipin
Soil bacterium research sheds new light on Alzheimer's, Parkinson's

In a prime example of basic bacterial research informing human disease research, microbiologists have identified a potential mechanism for neurodegenerative diseases: A role for the protein HSD10 had been suspected in patients with Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, but no direct connection had previously been established. This new breakthrough suggests that HSD10 reduces oxidative stress, promotes cell repair and prevents…