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UGA’s institutional spokesperson steps down after nearly 30 years CAMPUS NEWS
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The University of Georgia Georgia Museum of Art celebrating Mexico in July film series
Vol. 43, No. 1
July 13, 2015
www.columns.uga.edu
schupska@uga.edu
Mike Wooten
College of Engineering researchers Ben Davis, left, and Stephen Higgins are developing a model to assess the fittings called bellows joints in NASA’s new Space Launch System.
Rocket men
UGA engineers help NASA fine-tune new Space Launch System mwooten@uga.edu
Researchers at the UGA College of Engineering are helping NASA determine if a key rocket component can withstand the rigors of the next generation of space flight. The parts in question, bellows expansion joints, serve several functions in rocket propulsion systems including as connectors between fuel and oxidizer lines and the rocket’s engines. While bellows joints have been used on rockets for decades, NASA wants to make sure a flowinduced vibration phenomenon in the joints doesn’t pose a risk for its new Space Launch System. The world’s most powerful rocket, the SLS will launch astronauts into a new era of deep-space exploration, including missions to an asteroid and eventually to Mars.
According to the space agency, four RS-25 engines, previously known as Space Shuttle Main Engines, will muscle the SLS into space on each of its missions. “Bellows joints are specialty pipe fittings that have convolutes, or ridges, that give them the appearance of an old fashioned fireplace bellows or an accordion,” said Ben Davis, an assistant professor in the UGA College of Engineering and a former NASA researcher. “The design of the bellows joint allows it to flex as the engine gimbals, or adjusts, to control the direction of thrust.” The joints also absorb thermal expansions and contractions in piping systems and isolate vibrations from one section of pipe to another, Davis said. Unfortunately, the corrugated design that makes them so useful also makes the joints susceptible to flow-induced vibrations.
Davis, who specializes in research related to structural and flow-induced vibration, and Stephen Higgins, a graduate research assistant, are using a $126,000 grant from NASA to assess the structural integrity of bellows joints that are part of the RS-25’s design. “The liquid fuel and oxygen flowing through the joints, coupled with the vibration of the joints themselves can create eddies, called vortices, at the inner tips of the bellows convolutes,” Davis said. “These vortices interact with the motion of the bellows to create an unwanted high-amplitude vibration that can lead to structural fatigue and potentially catastrophic failure of the bellows joint.” NASA currently uses a 30-yearold computer model based on empirical data to determine the See NASA on page 4
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
A record-breaking number of contributors—63,784 at final count—led UGA to its best fundraising year in history. After all contributions were tallied for the year on June 30, the university received nearly $144.2 million in new gifts and commitments for the 2015 fiscal year, a 14 percent increase over last year’s record total of $126.4 million. “Once again, the University of Georgia community has joined together to provide an unprecedented level of financial support to advance the academic mission of this great institution,” said UGA President Jere W. Morehead. “I am grateful to our generous and loyal alumni and friends for their significant contributions; to the UGA Foundation board of trustees,
to the development team and to the senior leadership across our schools, colleges and other units for their hard work and dedication; and to our outstanding faculty, staff and students, who continue to make UGA the very special place that it is.” The 63,784 donors represent a 12 percent increase over fiscal year 2014, in which 56,897 donors contributed to the institution. “Having established an all-time fundraising record just one year ago—and to exceed that total by a significant margin just 12 months later—is an incredible tribute to our donors who have stepped up and answered the call to support the university,” said Kelly Kerner, vice president for the Division of Development and Alumni Relations. “Words are inadequate to
See FUNDRAISING on page 4
UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF GEORGIA
Brooks Keel named president of Georgia Regents University The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia named Brooks Keel president of Georgia Regents University in Augusta. Keel will assume his new position on July 20. “Brooks Keel brings a proven track record as a strong leader within our university system,” said Board of Regents Chair Neil Pruitt. “We are excited about the future of Georgia Regents University and the positive momentum Brooks will bring for the benefit of our students and our partnership with the Augusta community.” “The selection of Brooks Keel reflects the comprehensive representation the GRU presidential search committee had from our Georgia Regents University stakeholders and
the Augusta community,” said Chancellor Hank Huckaby. “We appreciate Regent Jim Hull, a lifelong Augusta resident, leading the Brooks Keel search process, and we thank the members of the search committee for their commitment.” “I had the great fortune to earn both my undergraduate and graduate degrees in Augusta, and I’m eternally grateful for the fantastic opportunities in research, scholarship leadership they have brought to my life,”
See PRESIDENT on page 4
Officials mark continued commitment to turfgrass industry with research and education facilities
FACILITIES MANAGEMENT DIVISION Energy-saving efforts save UGA $175,000 during heat wave
By Stephanie Schupska
By Matt Chambers
schupska@uga.edu
More than 200 people gathered June 24 for a groundbreaking ceremony that brought new turfgrass research and education facilities on UGA’s campuses in Griffin, Tifton and Athens one step closer to completion. Local, state, industry and UGA representatives met on the UGA Griffin campus to officially mark the university’s continued commitment to an industry that provides
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Record-breaking year: UGA fundraising hits ‘unprecedented level’ By Stephanie Schupska
By Mike Wooten
UGA GUIDE
87,000 full- and part-time jobs throughout the state. “Turfgrass is one of Georgia’s largest agricultural commodities, and the future of the turfgrass industry—now valued at nearly $8 billion—is very bright,” said UGA President Jere W. Morehead.“At the heart of the industry’s growth and development lies UGA’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Our turfgrass scientists conduct leading research, provide training to industry professionals and prepare students to be leaders
in turfgrass management.” During the 2014 legislative session, Gov. Nathan Deal and the Georgia General Assembly approved $11.5 million for a statewide turfgrass facilities enhancement project. Outdated facilities on UGA’s campuses will be replaced with labs, greenhouses, classrooms and office spaces designed to keep the university at the forefront of turf breeding programs around the nation. “In business, you’re only as
See FACILITIES on page 4
mattdc@uga.edu
Through energy conservation efforts and being mindful of their work environment, members of the campus community saved UGA $175,000 and enough electricity to power 12 average American homes for a year. Last month, as temperatures rose closer to triple digits, the Facilities Management Division sent out a request for UGA faculty, staff and students to be more conscious
of their energy usage on campus. David Spradley, energy services director, said that energy is purchased on an hourly basis using real-time pricing, which can lead to cost spikes during summer. “Usually I only see 15-20 days (of cost spikes) a whole summer,” Spradley said. “But we’ve had 10 days before summer even started.” As a result of the heat wave, an Archnews email was sent June 18 asking campus members to find ways to save energy. Spradley
See ENERGY on page 4
2 July 13, 2015 columns.uga.edu
Digest UGA Foundation allocates funding from budget surplus to enhance academics
At its recent annual meeting, the UGA Foundation’s board of trustees voted unanimously to allocate its nearly $3.3 million budget surplus for the 2015 fiscal year to support several important academic initiatives. This funding is above and beyond approximately $50 million provided annually by the foundation to UGA in support of the institution’s academic mission. The board designated funding from the surplus for existing endowments established by the foundation, including an additional $1 million in needbased scholarships and an additional $500,000 in study-abroad scholarships. The board also allocated funding from the surplus for current support as follows: $200,000 total for Professional School Scholarships in the School of Law, the College of Veterinary Medicine and the College of Pharmacy. “The foundation has consistently exhibited an ability to grow its endowment and to achieve budget surpluses,” said UGA President Jere W. Morehead. “Because of sound investment strategies and superb budget management, the foundation, once again, is able to provide significant additional funding to support the university’s academic mission. I am grateful for the foundation’s dedication to enhancing this great institution.” Within the fiscal year 2015 unrestricted budget of the UGA Foundation, the following already had been designated for endowment support: $500,000 for professorships and $1.5 million for UGA Foundation-funded scholarship endowments (merit- and need-based).
Employees can begin enrolling same-sex spouses for coverage in benefits plans
Beginning July 13, UGA employees can begin enrolling their same-sex spouses for coverage in University System of Georgia benefits plans as USG implements the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision last month to legalize same-sex marriage in all states. For same-sex marriages that occurred June 26 or earlier, the effective date for choices of coverage will be backdated to June 26 or July 1. Those employees have until Sept. 1 to register the change and provide documentation. Employees who married after June 26 will be able to enroll their spouses in the benefits coverage beginning July 13 by following the family status change procedures already in place for the USG benefits plans found at http://www.hr.uga.edu/marriage. Enrollment instructions, coverage information, documentation requirements and FAQs will be available at the University System of Georgia website: http://www.usg.edu/hr/benefits/same_sex_ spouse_coverage_information. For additional information, email USG-benefits@usg.edu.
UGA finishes 14th in Directors’ Cup
UGA’s athletic program finished 14th in the 2014-15 Division I Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup competition. Originated by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics, the annual competition measures the success of athletic programs based on national finishes in each varsity sport. The Bulldogs moved up two spots from last year. The athletic success included women’s swimming and diving team’s national runner-up finish in the NCAA championships, advancement by the women’s tennis team and men’s golf team advancing to the NCAA semifinals, a fifth-place NCAA finish by the women’s track and field. The Bulldogs also produced high national finishes in men’s tennis, track and field, swimming and diving and football as well as women’s gymnastics, softball and women’s indoor track and field.
PERIODICALS POSTAGE STATEMENT
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PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIVISION
UGA’s institutional spokesperson steps down after nearly 30 years at university By Aaron Hale
aahale@uga.edu
When he was a boy in LaGrange, Tom Jackson liked to hang out at the local radio station to watch the announcers work. That childhood fascination led him to a career in radio and television—where he learned how to tell compelling true stories—and eventually prepared him to become the institutional spokesperson for UGA. For nearly 30 years now, Jackson has been telling UGA’s story of academic advancement. On July 31, he will step down as vice president for public affairs to accept a new position as heritage communications executive with the University System of Georgia. “It has been a great privilege to be UGA spokesperson for 27 years,” Jackson said. “It’s a place that I love, it has a great story to tell, and the story has gotten better by quantum leaps.” During times of crisis, it has been Jackson’s baritone voice, with its gentle Southern drawl, to answer reporters’ questions and provide calm in difficult times. But Jackson said his primary role was never that of crisis communicator. Jackson started working at UGA in 1974 shortly after completing his bachelor’s degree at UGA in history. (He eventually would become a “triple Dawg,” earning his Master of Public Administration from the School of Public and International Affairs and his Ph.D. from the Institute of Higher Education.) But he left to work five years in radio in his hometown of LaGrange and eight years as an Atlanta TV reporter before returning to UGA in 1988. Jackson said the transition from TV journalist to institutional spokesperson wasn’t a big change for him. “I approach public relations the same way I approached news reporting,” Jackson said. “You tell the story, and you tell the truth.”
Andrew Davis Tucker
Tom Jackson, UGA’s vice president for public affairs, has accepted a new position as heritage communications executive with the University System of Georgia.
When the truth is disagreeable, Jackson said, you’ve got to fix the problem—not bend the truth. “A lot of what you do in this job is making sure perception and reality are aligned—and that both are good,” he said. In many ways, Jackson has been telling the story about a future UGA—one with national respect and prestige. That future is finally here, and Jackson is ready to begin telling a slightly different story—one that looks to the past rather than the future. In his new job, Jackson will report to Chancellor Hank Huckaby’s office on an array of special projects dealing with heritage communications. “It’s a new concept primarily in corporate communications where you build and enhance your brand on the history of your organization,” he said. “You take advantage of your history and the image that history conveys.” Jackson will work on the next edition the book Historical Development of the University System of Georgia. The
original was written by the late Cameron Fincher, Regents Professor of Higher Education and Psychology at UGA. Jackson will spearhead efforts for the state of Georgia’s observation of the centennial of World War I. He will split time between Athens and Atlanta. One job that won’t change this fall for Jackson will be his role as stadium public address announcer for the UGA Redcoat Marching Band, which he has done for 40 years. As he looks back on his time at UGA, the most important two things to Jackson have been his professional relationships and the sense of purpose that’s come from working toward UGA’s mission. “The University of Georgia is 230 years old and, 230 years from now, the university will still be here doing what it does,” Jackson said. “I hope in some small way I have helped lay a brick or two in that foundation. We all want to make a difference, and in a place like this you can. You can make a difference in people’s lives.”
PUBLIC SERVICE AND OUTREACH
OVPI PSO Faculty Fellow works with local New director of communities on technology programs Academic Advising Services named Kopcha iniBy Maegan Snyder mrudd@uga.edu
Theodore Kopcha, an associate professor in the career and information sciences department of UGA’s College of Education, has dedicated most of his career to finding better ways to integrate technology in K-12 and higher education. As a Public Service and Outreach Faculty Fellow, Kopcha has worked for the past year directly with the Archway Partnership, a public service and outreach unit, on designing and implementing various technology programs for K-12 students throughout Georgia specifically focused on science, technology, engineering and math disciplines. Created by the Office of the Vice President for Public Service and Outreach in 2011, the fellows program is designed for tenure-track and tenured professors to enhance their academic courses, conduct community-based research and apply their academic expertise to outreach initiatives. The fellow’s home department receives $15,000, which allows the fellow to work collaboratively with public service faculty in a public service and outreach unit during a given semester. “Through my fellowship, I’ve been able to conduct a large-scale study of the impact of in-classroom professional development on the use of technology integration, which is a major focus of my research,” Kopcha said.
tially spent his time in the fellowship traveling to meetings at Archway communities around the state to learn more about each community’s unique needs. Theodore Kopcha In Hart County, Kopcha provided professional development for teachers interested in using technology to support deeper student thinking. He met with small groups of teachers throughout the semester offering ideas for ways to integrate new technologies into the classroom. In Candler County, he assisted teachers with planning and implementing place-based STEM projects for middle-school students. Each grade level selected a topic of interest within their community then used math, science and engineering to solve the issue. “Throughout my fellowship I also wanted to simply grow a stronger relationship with each community,” Kopcha said. “Change in any community takes time—especially changes like the ones I was trying to achieve, which require a persistence when challenges emerge and a shift in the way students interact with teachers and each other.” As a result of his work, Kopcha has seen great progress throughout the year and hopes to see even more progress in the future.
By Tracy N. Coley tcoley@uga.edu
Judy Iakovou, a veteran academic advisor and prominent leader in the 2014 academic advisor hiring initiative, has been named director of Academic Advising Services at UGA. The director of Academic Advising Services is a new position created as a result of a yearlong review process by the Office of the Provost. Iakovou will provide leadership Judy Iakovou for academic advising initiatives and ongoing support for college-level advising services. The director of Academic Advising Services reports to an associate vice president for instruction in the Office of the Vice President for Instruction. Iakovou has been at UGA since 2001, serving as an academic advisor through the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. Since 2012 she has coordinated Transfer Academic Services for Franklin College. “Judy’s knowledge and experience, compassion and genuine concern for students make her an exceptional advisor, coordinator, colleague and friend,” said Diane Miller, director of the Office of Student Academic Services in the Franklin College.
UGAGUIDE
columns.uga.edu July 13, 2015
For a complete listing of events, check the Master Calendar on the Web (calendar.uga.edu/). The following events are open to the public, unless otherwise specified. Dates, times and locations may change without advance notice.
ADVISORIES
of Anansi the Spider, presented by the Columbia Marionette Theater in the auditorium at 11 a.m. The show will last approximately 30 minutes and features several folk tales narrated by the storyteller Anansi, a classic character in African, Jamaican and Gullah stories. 10 a.m. Georgia Museum of Art. 706-542-4662, hazbrown@uga.edu.
FINLEY STREET CLOSE Portions Finley Street will be closed to through traffic at times during the extension of chilled water lines from the District Energy Plant on Newton Street to serve Russell and Brumby halls. The project will cross Finley Street, resulting in its closure between Baxter Street and Cloverhurst Avenue through July 24. SCIENCE LEARNING CENTER Through July 31, 2016. Construction is underway on the $44.7 million, 122,500-square-foot Science Learning Center. The site is at the southwest corner of D.W. Brooks Mall, bounded by Carlton Street, Pharmacy South and the McPhaul Center parking lot. The facility will encompass 33 instructional labs, two 280-seat lecture halls and two 72-seat classrooms. COLLEGE STATION ROAD The Georgia Department of Transportation is replacing the College Station Road bridges over the North Oconee River through October 2016, building new structures to include two lanes in each direction with bike lanes and sidewalks. A new bridge will be constructed north of the original bridges, and then through a series of traffic shifts, the existing bridges will be replaced. Two lanes will remain open in each direction during peak hours throughout the project. Lane closures are possible 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily and during overnight hours.
EXHIBITIONS Going Back to Athens: A Celebration of the Career of Jack Davis. Through July 24. Hargrett Gallery, special collections libraries. 706-542-7123, hasty@uga.edu. Terra Verte. Through July 31. Jane and Harry Willson Sculpture Garden, Georgia Museum of Art. Lines of Inquiry: Renaissance and Baroque Drawings from the Ceseri Collection. Through Aug. 2. Alonzo and Vallye Dudley Gallery, Georgia Museum of Art. hazbrown@uga.edu. Both Sides: Destruction and Pain in the Civil War. Through Aug. 7. Hargrett Gallery, special collections libraries. 706-542-8079, jclevela@uga.edu. Cooking the Books. Through Aug. 31. Hargrett Gallery, special collections libraries. 706-542-0674, acme@uga.edu. El Taller de Grafica Popular: Vida y Arte. Through Sept. 13. Georgia Museum of Art. 706-542-1817, hazbrown@uga.edu. Art Hazelwood and Ronnie Goodman. Through Sept. 13. 706-542-1817, hazbrown@uga.edu.
TUESDAY, JULY 14 SUMMER TUESDAY TOUR Led by a docent. 2 p.m. Special collections libraries. 706-542-8079, jclevela@uga.edu.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 15 TOUR AT TWO Highlights from the permanent collection. Led by docents. 2 p.m. Georgia Museum of Art. hazbrown@uga.edu.
THURSDAY, JULY 16 SHORT SESSION II MIDTERM, WITHDRAWAL DEADLINE
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TUESDAY, JULY 21
Art museum celebrating Mexico in film series By Callie Ward cward@uga.edu
The Georgia Museum of Art is screening films this July in conjunction with its exhibition El Taller de Grafica Popular: Vida y Arte. The Taller de Grafica Popular was a printmaking collective working in Mexico in the mid-20th century, creating images of revolution, resistance and unity against Nazi and fascist ideas on fliers and posters. The ¡Viva Mexico! film series includes four films on four consecutive Thursdays in July to contextualize the prints in the exhibition, giving visitors a better understanding of the history of Mexico and the work of the printmaking collective within it. All films are free and show at 7 p.m. in the museum’s M. Smith Griffith Auditorium. This film series is sponsored by UGA Parents & Families Association. The Storm That Swept Mexico, a documentary that ventures into the complex historical, political, social and economic forces that caused the Mexican Revolution, will be shown July 16. The Mexican Revolution was the first revolution of the 20th century and the first to be recorded on film. Macario, the first Latin American film to be nominated for an Academy Award in the category of foreign language films, will be screened July 23. Set around the time of the Mexican Revolution, it follows Macario, a poor and hungry peasant who hopes for a good meal on the Day of the Dead. After his wife cooks a turkey, he meets apparitions of the devil, God and Death—each requesting a share of the meal. He refuses all but Death, who in return grants him a bottle of water that heals any illness. Soon, Macario is wealthier than the village doctor, which draws the attention of the feared Inquisition. Prints by collective founder Leopoldo Mendez are featured in the opening credits. This film is in Spanish with English subtitles. Maria Candelaria will be shown July 30. Maria Candelaria was the first Mexican film to be screened at the Cannes International Film Festival and the first Latin American film to receive its Grand Prix (now known as the Palme d’Or). It remains one of the most beloved films in Mexican cinematic history. The film focuses on Maria, a young woman who suffers because her fellow peasants mistakenly believe her to be wicked like her mother was. She stands as a symbol for the innocence, beauty and dignity of the indigenous Mexican people. This film is in Spanish with English subtitles. An Artful Revolution: The Life and Art of the Taller de Grafica Popular was screened July 9. THURSDAY TWILIGHT TOUR Highlights from the permanent collection. Led by docents during Third Thursday. 6 p.m. Georgia Museum of Art. 706-542-4662, hazbrown@uga.edu. VIVA MEXICO FILM SERIES SCREENING The Storm That Swept Mexico. The Mexican Revolution (1910–20) was the first revolution of the 20th century and the first one recorded on film. This documentary examines the immensely complex historical, social, political, economic and cultural forces that generated the conflict, determined its trajectory and influenced its legacy. The revolution changed the course of Mexican history and had a profound impact on relationships between Mexico and the rest of the world. Produced by Ray Telles. Presented in conjunction with the exhibition El Taller de Grafica Popular: Vida y Arte. 7 p.m. Georgia Museum of Art. 706-542-4662, hazbrown@uga.edu. (See story, above).
FRIDAY, JULY 17 90 CARLTON: SUMMER The Friends of the Georgia Museum of Art will present a reception featuring the summer exhibitions. To include light refreshments, gallery activities, door prizes and “Ask the Experts.” RSVP
Calendar items are taken from Columns files and from the university’s Master Calendar, maintained by University Public Affairs. Notices are published here as space permits, with priority given to items of multidisciplinary interest. The Master Calendar is available on the Web at calendar.uga.edu/.
to gmoarsvp@uga.edu or 706-542-4199. $5 for nonmembers. 5:30 p.m. Georgia Museum of Art. 706-542-4662, hazbrown@uga.edu.
SATURDAY, JULY 18 EID AL-FITR Islamic religious observance. TRIAL GARDENS OPEN HOUSE 9 a.m. to noon. Trial Gardens. CLASS ON HUMMINGBIRDS “Where Do the Hummingbirds ‘Hide’ at the Botanical Garden?” Participants will learn where the hummingbirds perch and “hide” throughout the garden. $15. 9:30 a.m. Visitor Center’s Classroom 2, State Botanical Garden. 706-542-6156, ckeber@uga.edu. FAMILY DAY Families are invited to check out paintings, puppets and works on paper by artist Ralph Chesse, then create their own scarf marionette puppets in the Michael and Mary Erlanger Studio Classroom. Participants will receive basic puppeteer instruction so they can put on a show back at home. This program will include a performance of The World
SUMMER TUESDAY TOUR Led by a docent. 2 p.m. Special collections libraries. 706-542-8079, jclevela@uga.edu.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 22 TOUR AT TWO: KRESS CONNECTIONS Participants can join Brittany Ranew, Kress Interpretive Fellow, for a special look at works in the Samuel H. Kress Collection and connections to other works in the permanent collection. 2 p.m. Georgia Museum of Art. 706-542-4662, hazbrown@uga.edu.
THURSDAY, JULY 23 VIVA MEXICO FILM SERIES SCREENING Macario, the first Latin American film to be nominated for an Academy Award in the category of foreign language films. Presented in conjunction with the exhibition El Taller de Grafica Popular: Vida y Arte. 7 p.m. Georgia Museum of Art. 706-542-4662, hazbrown@uga.edu. (See story, left).
SATURDAY, JULY 25 CLASS ON PLANTS “All in The Family: Important Plant Families of Georgia.” In this class, participants will learn about some important plant families, recognizing their characteristics in the classroom or garden. The class will give participants the skills to quickly identify the unknown plants that they might run across. $50. 9 a.m. Visitor Center’s Classroom 2, State Botanical Garden. 706-542-6156, ckeber@ uga.edu.
SUNDAY, JULY 26 SPOTLIGHT TOUR Highlights from the permanent collection. Led by docents. 3 p.m. Georgia Museum of Art. 706-542-4662, hazbrown@uga.edu.
COMING UP CLASSES END July 28. For Thru Term and Extended Summer Session. FINAL EXAMS July 29-30. For Extended Summer Session and Thru Term. SHORT SESSION II CLASSES END July 29. SHORT SESSION II FINAL EXAMS July 30. VIVA MEXICO FILM SERIES SCREENING July 30. Maria Candelaria, the first Mexican film to be screened at the Cannes International Film Festival and the first Latin American film to receive its Grand Prix (now known as the Palme d’Or). Presented in conjunction with the exhibition El Taller de Grafica Popular: Vida y Arte. 7 p.m. Georgia Museum of Art. 706-542-4662, hazbrown@uga.edu. (See story, above left).
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Any additional information about the event may be sent directly to Columns. Email is preferred (columns@uga.edu), but materials can be mailed to Columns, News Service, 286 Oconee Street, Suite 200 North, Campus Mail 1999.
NEXT COLUMNS DEADLINES July 15 (for July 27 issue) July 29 (for Aug. 10 issue) Aug. 5 (for Aug. 17 issue)
4 July 13, 2015 columns.uga.edu
FUNDRAISING
from page 1
express the depth of appreciation I have for our alumni and friends who have committed their financial resources to help ensure the University of Georgia maintains an upward trajectory as one of the world’s great institutions of higher education.” Fiscal year 2015 at UGA marks a continuation of significantly increased support from individual donors—no single major gift had a disproportionate impact on the total—and the second year the university has been under
Morehead’s direction. “The university’s development team, support staff and the foundation’s board of trustees all played major roles in this milestone achievement, and I am appreciative of what was truly a team effort,” said Ken Jackson, chair of the University of Georgia Foundation. “Of course, I am most grateful to our donors, who continue to exhibit a great spirit of generosity and a commitment to enhancing the academic mission of the University of Georgia.”
PRESIDENT from page 1
Denise H. Horton
Borlaug Fellow Direba Demisse of Ethiopia visits the UGA Dairy Cattle Farm. Demisse hopes to use modern molecular technologies and develop a cattle-breeding strategy to increase dairy production and improve his country’s food security.
Borlaug Fellows work with UGA researchers to enhance food security By Denise H. Horton
denisehhorton@gmail.com
For the many vegetarians in Southern India, a kind of legume called pulse crops are essential. Not only are they a main source of protein, but these legumes—which include lentils and several types of beans—can grow in poor soil and produce crops even with limited and erratic rainfall. Unfortunately, production levels of these crops have declined over the past 70 years, according to Sushil Yadav, a Borlaug Fellow. Yadav spent four months at the UGA Center for Applied Genetic Technologies working with Zenglu Li learning “metabolic fingerprinting” skills that he’ll take back to India. “Eighty percent of the farms in the Hyderabad area of India are small and marginal,” said Yadav, who is a scientist at the Central Research Institute for Dryland Research. “If we can identify the key genetic regulators for enhancing drought-stress tolerance in these crops, we can stabilize their productivity and increase their availability to a very large vegetarian population in India.” Yadav is one of three international researchers who studied with UGA faculty as part of the Norman E. Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellowship Program. Funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service, the program promotes food security and economic growth by promoting training and collaborative research opportunities to researchers and policymakers from developing or middle-income countries.The College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences’ Office of Global Programs has hosted researchers from Africa, Asia, Europe and South America. “There are a number of benefits for both the individual fellows and mentors,” said Victoria McMaken, associate director of the Office of Global Programs, “but because all of these projects are related to food security,
Bulletin Board Emergency preparedness resources available
The Office of Emergency Preparedness offers training and other resources for employees who want to develop plans for responding to an emergency in their building, classroom or office. OEP staff offers classes on “Conflict De-escalation,” “Planning for Emergencies in the Classroom” and “Plan, Prepare, React: Active Shooter Response Options.” In addition, OEP has the following resources online: a business continuity plan generator, a building emergency action plan generator and an emergency
the University of Georgia, the state of Georgia and the U.S. all benefit from creating longstanding connections with university and research institutions throughout the world.” Direba Demisse of Ethiopia and Reham Fathey Aly of Egypt also studied at UGA as Borlaug Fellows. “Ethiopia has more than 50 million heads of cattle, but milk production is very low. In fact, we have to import milk from other countries,” said Demisse, a researcher at the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research. Demisse hopes to use modern molecular technologies and develop a cattle-breeding strategy to increase dairy production and improve his country’s food security. During his stay, Demisse worked with Ignacy Misztal in the animal and dairy sciences department. Aly, who is at UGA until late July, said she has learned a great deal about integrated pest management that she plans to introduce to her colleagues at the University of Cairo in Giza, Egypt. “Not only will the work I’m learning be useful in the management and mitigation of the peach fruit fly and Mediterranean fruit fly, but I hope to write a project that uses (integrated pest management) for the control of snails, which have become a major pest in Egypt,”said Aly, who is working with Ashfaq Sial in the UGA entomology department. Sial, whose research includes developing new pest management techniques to control spotted wing drosophila in blueberries, is traveling to Egypt later this year to continue his work with Aly. “One of the many benefits of the Borlaug Fellowship is the opportunity for mentors to travel to the fellow’s country,” Sial said. “At this point, Egypt has very little understanding of IPM techniques and relies more on chemical options to control pests.There are a lot of opportunities to establish partnerships with researchers there that could particularly benefit fruit and vegetable growers in both Georgia and parts of Egypt.”
Keel said. “I am honored and humbled to return to Augusta and rejoin Georgia Regents University at this exciting time.” Keel has served as president of Georgia Southern University in Statesboro since January 2010. As president of GSU, Keel has focused on expanding undergraduate and graduate education through research and community experience. He has also worked to raise the national profile of Georgia Southern academically and athletically. Under Keel’s leadership, GSU has launched the Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Information Technology and the Institute for Interdisciplinary STEM
Education. GSU also manages the Herty Advanced Materials Development Center, which was transferred to the institution by the state of Georgia. Prior to joining GSU, Keel served as vice chancellor for research and economic development and professor of biological sciences at Louisiana State University. GRU and UGA have partnered to create a four-year medical education program in Athens. The GRU/UGA Medical Partnership combines the significant instructional and research resources of UGA—the state’s flagship land-grant research university—with the expertise of GRU—Georgia’s only public medical school.
FACILITIES
from page 1 good as your ability to keep ahead of your competitors. In Georgia, our sod growers and turf professionals are fortunate to have a world-class turfgrass program to keep them ahead of our friends and competitors in other states,” said J. Scott Angle, the college’s dean and director. “Much of the past success of our sod and turf industry is a direct result of the many varieties of turfgrass generated here (in Griffin), in Tifton and also in Athens.” The college has been serving the turfgrass industry for more than 60 years, starting in the 1950s with a warm-season turfgrass breeding program. UGA researchers—known as the Turf Team—continue to develop and evaluate new varieties, searching for those that require less fertilizer and are more drought, disease and pest tolerant.
NASA
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potential stress on bellows joints. But now, the space agency is designing and building new joints outside the available database. “Right now, we don’t have good predictive tools,” Davis said. To better assess the joints’ ability to withstand the flow-induced stress, Davis and Higgins are developing a physics-based predictive model of the vibration phenomenon based on more modern modeling and simulation techniques. “We need to know how these vortices interact with the bellows vibration, and we need to find a way to model what goes on inside the joint,” said Higgins, who is pursuing a master’s degree in engineering at UGA. Higgins has been reviewing data from previous research into the phenomenon and designing a computational model to predict how the joints will perform. He and Davis plan to conduct flow testing later in the project.
In the college, 10 faculty members focus primarily on turf along with an additional eight researchers who have involvement in turf-related projects. “Our state has a huge investment in human capital and machinery and equipment in the (turf) industry, and to come down here to what I feel like, in a lot of cases, is the home of the green industry in our state means so much,” said Rep. Terry England (R-Auburn), chairman of Georgia’s House Appropriations Committee. Turf, he continued, “is just one of those things that gives enjoyment to everybody.” Additional ceremony speakers included Tommy Hopkins, regent of the University System of Georgia, and Ken Morrow, president of Sod Atlanta Inc.
ENERGY from page 1 said lots of little things can make a difference. “We’re not trying to hurt anybody or make them totally change how they work,” he said. “The easiest thing and probably the most convenient thing that people do is turn off lights when they don’t need them. “Lights not only consume energy, but they also put off heat which means the airconditioning systems then have to work harder to cool the building.” Spradley also suggested turning off printers, copy machines or lab equipment that won’t be needed for the next couple of hours. “It’s real simple stuff that we’re asking folks to do,” he said. “We have 9,000 faculty, staff and student workers, so multiplying their energy savings by the thousands of people and it adds up.” After the Archnews message, the campus consumed 123,000 fewer kilowatt hours of electricity.
ABOUT COLUMNS preparedness module. Information about automatic external defibrillators and evacuation chairs for people with disabilities also is available. Call 706-542-5845 or visit prepare. uga.edu for more information.
UGA Day in Atlanta
Faculty, staff and their families along with friends of UGA are invited to UGA Day in Atlanta July 27 at the College Football Hall of Fame. The event features UGA President Jere W. Morehead and UGA head coaches Mark Richt, Mark Fox, Joni Crenshaw and Scott Stricklin, who will share insights about UGA’s upcoming
athletic seasons and the latest news from campus. Attendees will have an opportunity to learn more about the Metro Atlanta chapter of the UGA Alumni Association and how to become more involved. The event is free, but registration is required. Registration is at http://t.uga. edu/1Cx. The deadline to pre-register is July 22. For more information, visit http://t. uga.edu/1Cy or email ugaatl@uga.edu. Bulletin Board is limited to information that may pertain to a majority of faculty and staff members.
Columns is available to the campus community by subscription for an annual fee of $20 (second-class delivery) or $40 (first-class delivery). Faculty and staff members with a disability may call 706-542-8017 for assistance in obtaining this publication in an alternate format. Columns staff can be reached at 706-542-8017 or columns@uga.edu
Editor Juliett Dinkins Art Director Janet Beckley Photo Editor Robert Newcomb Senior Reporter Aaron Hale Reporter Matt Chambers Copy Editor David Bill The University of Georgia is committed to principles of equal opportunity and affirmative action. The University of Georgia is a unit of the University System of Georgia. I
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