College Biologist Earns $2.7 Million in NSF Funding for Green Algae Research From the April 2013 Desktop News | Dr. Juan Lopez-Bautista, an associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, has built a career studying algae. He is now the principal investigator in a $2.76 million National Science Foundation research project designed to discover and describe various types of green algae. Lopez and his research team hope to develop a comprehensive understanding of these microscopic organisms, including how scientists believe they fit […]
Category: Research
News about Research
Can Information Beat Chronic Pain?
Psychologists Say Improving Health Literacy Can Help Patients Treat, Manage Pain From the April 2013 Desktop News | Chronic pain can be managed by developing alternative ways of thinking and perceiving it through cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). But in the health care system patients with a low literacy or educational level experience a disadvantage in learning and using these techniques. Dr. Beverly E. Thorn, chair of the Department of Psychology, will work to make this type of treatment more accessible as the leader […]
Clam Shells Tell Ancient Story
Geologist Researches Climate-Induced Downfall of Advanced Civilization From the April 2013 Desktop News | Analyses of clam shells used in ancient funeral ceremonies offer additional evidence as to how climate change may have contributed to the gradual collapse of an early South American civilization, according to Dr. Fred Andrus, an associate professor in the Department of Geological Sciences. His research, which was published online in the scientific journal Geology, indicates El Niño, a temporary, cyclical change in the Pacific Ocean’s circulation, and an […]
Scientists Hold Diversity Conference
UA Chemistry Department to Host STEM Diversity Awareness Conference The University of Alabama’s chemistry department will host a day-long symposium featuring research contributions of faculty who are traditionally underrepresented in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The Saturday, April 27, symposium will be held from 10 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. in 1093 Shelby Hall. The event’s goal is to “to increase the appreciation of diversity, to encourage students from diverse backgrounds to pursue education in fields in which […]
Violence Unchained
History professor’s new book tells true story of pre-Civil War violence Django Unchained’s recent Oscar success has again put a spotlight on the film’s controversial subject matter, which depicts slavery in the pre-Civil War South with a high level of graphic violence. History professor Dr. Joshua Rothman says that while the violence in the film was obviously designed to shock and entertain, it’s not an unfair depiction of the era. “The notion that a single person, white or black, could […]
Psychology to Host “Through the Doors” Event Highlighting Diversity in Psychology
From the March 2013 Desktop News | The Department of Psychology will host a student poster presentation on March 15 as part of “Through the Doors,” the year-long commemoration of The University of Alabama’s 50th anniversary of desegregation. The event’s title, “Integration now, integration tomorrow, integration forever,” hearkens back to former Alabama Governor George Wallace’s infamous quote. The event celebrates ways in which the inclusion of African Americans and other diverse groups has enhanced the field of psychology. The event will be held […]
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Sellbom Receives Early-Career Award
Professor receives prestigious honor for his contributions to forensic psychology Psychopaths fascinate the American entertainment industry. Films like Silence of the Lambs, A Clockwork Orange, The Dark Knight, No Country for Old Men, and, of course, American Psycho allowed audiences to peer into the inner workings of the psychopathic mind (or at least Hollywood’s interpretation of said mind) from a safe distance. These striking portrayals of individuals able to commit violent crimes without the smallest semblance of remorse mesmerized audiences. […]
Lankford Publishes Widely-Praised Book on Suicide Terrorism, Weighs in on Recent Shootings
A recently published book on suicide terrorism by Dr. Adam Lankford, assistant professor in the Department of Criminal Justice, has brought national attention to Lankford’s research in the area. The Myth of Martyrdom: What Really Drives Suicide Bombers, Rampage Shooters, and Other Self-Destructive Killers, has been hailed a “book to watch for” by The New Yorker and praised by Nature, Scientific American Mind, Foreign Policy, and a number of individual experts in the field. According to Lankford, conventional wisdom suggests […]
Chemistry Professor’s Discovery Still Has Impact 20 Years Later
Dr. Anthony J. Arduengo, a professor in the Department of Chemistry, made a discovery more than 20 years ago that changed the way chemists understand highly reactive substances known as carbenes. As he continues his research, Arduengo’s breakthrough continues to influence some of the most cutting edge research being done today. Chemists once viewed carbenes as highly reactive, transient species that were important intermediates in some reactions. Prior to Arduengo’s discovery of an isolable carbine known as N-heterocyclic (NHC), scientists […]
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Sobecky Honored for Contributions to Environmental Microbiology
Biology professor Dr. Patty Sobecki was recognized recently for her contributions to microbiology.Dr. Patty Sobecky, professor and chair of the Department of Biological Sciences, was recently awarded the James C. Freeley Award from the Southeastern Branch of the American Society for Microbiology in recognition of her contributions to environmental microbiology. Environmental biology is the study of the composition and physiology of microbial communities in a specific environment, and is just one of the specialized areas of biology that is represented […]
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