News Archive - 2015

people outside with statue
Fulbright foreign language teachers on campus

"Teaching here has two benefits for us. First of all, it really helps us become better teachers by experiencing the diversity of a different culture," Toraby said. "It also gives us the opportunity to improve our English and learn about the culture of the United States from our interactions with the students here."  These visitors are a welcome addition to campus, bringing a wealth of cultural experience from around the world to our…

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"Oh, don't try me": Pavlić on the politics of style and Serena Williams

Professor of English and creative writing Ed Pavlić presents a wonderful meditation on Serena Williams today on Africa Is A Country: If craft—as opposed to mechanical technique—bears some similarity to style—as opposed to the vanity of surfaces, of disguises—then, possibly, it, too, exists in an inverse relationship to “make believe.” We’ll come back to the “make believe” connection at the end. For now, let’s imagine that to develop a craft…

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Alumna among 'Underground Astronauts' to Homo naledi cave

The startling discovery in a South African cave announced this week was the result of some very dangerous, underground work. The derring-do - discovery of Homo naledi, a close ancestor of humans - came courtesy of a fossil excavation team that included UGA anthropology alumna Hannah Morris: Spelunking in a dark, labyrinthine cave is a tough ask at the best of times. Add fossil excavation through an 18-centimetre wide gap into the…

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The New South: People of the New America

The screening and public discussion are sponsored in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Library Association. Hinojosa's visit kicks off community events organized by LACSI and UGA Libraries to coincide with National Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs Sept. 15 through Oct. 15. During the observance, the importance of Latinos in Georgia's social, economic and political fabric as well as the challenges…

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Dodd Galleries lectures and exhibitions

A lot of great work and many opportunities to engage visiting artists as well as the work of our students. Gallery director Dr. Katie Geha and her assistants are doing yeoman's work to bring the school and the university community the very best in visual art experiences. Great job. See you in the galleries this week.

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Amazing student Leighton Rowell: potential for happiness

What we mean when we talk about the university experience being about more than training for a career or simply finding a job is given perfect voice in the words of Amazing Student Leighton Rowell: As an intern for the local newspaper during my senior year of high school, I wrote an op-ed about my search for the perfect college. “My number one criterion is potential for happiness,” I wrote. Four years later and a senior once more, I couldn’t be…

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New method for calculating Urban Heat Island intensity

The urban heat island effect describes how the spatial configuration of cities, the materials in them (such as asphalt), lack of vegetation and waste heat can modify temperature. A new study from reseachers in the department of geography using a new method for calculating urban heat island intensities clarifies the conflict on whether urban density or sprawl amplify these effects more: It also provides a ranking of the top urban heat…

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NASA and Cube-sats

NASA’s CubeSat Launch initiative (CSLI) provides opportunities for small satellite payloads to fly on rockets planned for upcoming launches. These CubeSats are flown as auxiliary payloads on previously planned missions. CubeSats are a class of research spacecraft called nanosatellites. The cube-shaped satellites are approximately four inches long, have a volume of about one quart and weigh about 3 pounds. A lecture on the program will be held…

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Women's Leadership Fellows

"The Women's Leadership Fellows Program seeks to identify and develop emerging leaders in higher education," said Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Pamela Whitten. "We have talented faculty members throughout our campuses, and I am confident that we will have a strong applicant pool for this innovative program. Nominations by deans and other senior administrators are welcome, as are self-nominations. Application materials…

hands, hymnal, child's legs
Native American hymn singing, AIR Talks

Events connected to the Return From Exile exhibition continue this week on campus and at the Lyndon House Arts Center. Tonight at 6 pm Native American filmmaker and friend of the blog Sterlin Harjo returns to Athens to show his new film, This May Be The Last Time: Tracing a heartfelt journey, award-winning filmmaker Sterlin Harjo interweaves the tale of a mysterious death in 1962 with the rich history of the powerful hymns that have united…