Periodicals Postage is PAID in Athens, Georgia
Division of Marketing & Communications University of Georgia 286 Oconee Street Suite 200 North Athens, GA 30602-1999
Horticulture professor works to uncover genes that control tomato shape, size RESEARCH NEWS
3
TAO’s ‘Drum Heart’ to be performed March 19 at Performing Arts Center Vol. 45, No. 27
March 5, 2018
news.uga.edu/columns
UGA GUIDE
4&5
Researchers will use $10M grant to create glycoscience road map By Lisa Anderson lisama2@gwu.edu
Dorothy Kozlowski
Candidus was founded by UGA faculty member Marc van Iersel, left, and UGA alumnus Erico Mattos. The company, which is just beginning the Innovation Gateway process, aims to help greenhouse growers maximize the return on their investment by increasing yields and reducing costs.
Launching pad Innovation Gateway transitions technologies into products
By Krista Richmond krichmond@uga.edu
“There’s no easy way to do a startup,” Derek Eberhart said, “but there are a lot more resources, tools and understanding about the process than there used to be.” Eberhart, director of UGA’s Innovation Gateway, leads a team of experts who make the process easier for UGA’s faculty, graduate students and postdocs. The team, including Ian Biggs, senior associate director of startups with Innovation Gateway, focuses on translating technologies into products. So far, more than 675 products based on UGA research have been introduced to the marketplace, including 52 in fiscal year 2017. “The goal of our Innovation Gateway unit is to maximize the impact of UGA research discoveries
and foster economic development through industry partnerships and new venture formation,” said Vice President for Research David Lee. “It combines the university’s intellectual property licensing and startup support function to streamline the path from the laboratory or field to the marketplace, ensuring that UGA research discoveries reach their full potential for public benefit.” “Our push is not to see how many startups we can help create,” Eberhart said, “it’s to help launch companies based on a sustainable value proposition that address a market need.” In essence, Innovation Gateway acts as a facilitator, guiding those interested in taking a new technology to the marketplace to ask the right questions, create a sound business approach and develop an
appropriate plan for testing and bringing products to market. To date, more than 160 companies based on UGA research have been launched. “It is incumbent on us, as part of the research mandate, to move these technologies to where they can best benefit the world,” Biggs said. Innovation Gateway’s impact already can be felt. The startups coming from the program have created more than 1,300 jobs, which creates a more than $128 million annual economic impact. Perhaps even more important, three out of four of those startups have stayed in Georgia. According to Biggs, successful startups go through a four-step process. “The startup pathway is complicated and requires d ifferent See TECHNOLOGY on page 8
Questions asked by genetic researchers are often answered using big data, through revealing larger patterns, trends and other connections. Thanks to a multimillion dollar research project, researchers at the University of Georgia and George Washington University have partnered for a project that soon will use big data to answer questions asked by those studying glycoscience. The National Institutes of Health has jointly awarded a $10 million grant to UGA and
GW to build a glycoscience informatics portal, called GlyGen, necessary for glycoscience to advance. GlyGen also will integrate glycan data with gene and protein data, to allow for more effective analysis. “It is impossible to do meaningful glycobiology research without including information from many different disciplines, including genomics, proteomics, cell biology, developmental biology and biochemistry, to name just a few,” said William York, co-principal investigator, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at UGA’s Franklin College of Arts
See GRANT on page 8
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
State’s top food products make finals of 2018 Flavor of Georgia contest By J. Merritt Melancon jmerritt@uga.edu
Judges selected 33 products to compete in the final round of the University of Georgia’s 2018 Flavor of Georgia Food Product Contest in Atlanta on March 20. The contest is the state’s premier proving ground for small, upstart food companies as well as time-tested products. This year’s finalists represent all corners of the state and the best of Georgia’s diverse culinary heritage. The finalists passed the first round of judging and were selected from a field of 126 products in 11 categories. Finalists will bring their products to Atlanta for the final round of judging, which will be held in conjunction with the Georgia De-
partment of Agriculture’s Agriculture Awareness Week celebration March 19-23. Georgia Commissioner of A g r i c u l t u r e Gary Black has designated March 20 as Flavor of Georgia Day. “Georgia is home to some of the best and most creative minds in the food business, and each year the Flavor of Georgia contest helps to showcase that talent,” said Sharon P. Kane, contest coordinator and economist with the Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development in the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. See CONTEST on page 8
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF GEORGIA
Franklin College marine sciences faculty member Women in STEM Leadership named Regents’ Professor at University of Georgia Summit will be held March 19-20 By Camie Williams camiew@uga.edu
Mary Ann Moran, an internationally renowned researcher whose work has created a better understanding of marine ecosystems and the roles of the ocean microbiome, has been named Regents’ Professor, effective July 1. Moran is a Distinguished Research Professor in the marine sciences department, part of the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, who has served on the UGA faculty since 1993. Regents’ Professorships are bestowed by the University System of Georgia
Board of Regents on faculty members whose scholarship or creative activity is recognized nationally and internationally as innovative and pacesetting. “By asking fundamental questions about the unseen microbes of the oceans, Dr. Moran has revealed insights into global processes that impact life on Earth,” said Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Pamela Whitten. “Her commitment to discovery puts her at the forefront of her field and sets an extraordinary example for students.” Moran’s laboratory investigates the activities of bacteria in
the functioning of marine ecosystems, including how microbes interact with organic matter and how bacteria influence global Mary Ann Moran carbon and sulfur cycles. Moran has pioneered the emerging field of environmental transcriptomics, where researchers are assessing the activity of genes in natural systems to provide a comprehensive view of the diversity of See PROFESSOR on page 8
Faculty and administrators The Four Seasons Hotel, Atlantafrom across campus will be par- Midtown on March 19-20. The ticipating in the upcoming Global conference will bring together Women in STEM Leadership technology executives, educators, Summit, which was founded by entrepreneurs and students from College of Engineering professor some of the nation’s most influenTakoi Hamrita and is now in its tial institutions for two full days second year. of learning, sharing and personal “Our goal is to give women in growth. STEM access to powerful tools, More than 60 speakers from strategies and networks to help organizations including AT&T, them realize their full potential Northrup Grumman, Southern and shatter the glass ceiling in Company, Coca-Cola, Columbia traditionally male dominated University, UGA, Georgia Tech fields,” said Hamrita, chair of this and Mercer University will share year’s summit. their experiences and expertise on Registration is still open for the a range of topics including career summit, which will take place at See SUMMIT on page 8
2 March 5, 2018 columns.uga.edu
Commit to Georgia 2018
Why I Give
Name: Scott Pegan Position: Associate Professor in the College of Pharmacy and Director of the Drug Discovery Robotics Core At UGA: Four years Beneficiary of his gift to the university: College of Pharmacy
Scott Pegan
Why he contributes: “As a faculty member at UGA, I, like many of my colleagues, work late nights and long weekends to make UGA an institute of higher learning that can deliver unparalleled education to its students and scholarship that enlightens society. With tight budgets and limited discretionary funding, regrettably this just isn’t enough in some cases. I give to support student scholarships to directly help students and show fellow benefactors of UGA that I am committed to UGA’s success.” To make your contribution to the Commit to Georgia Campaign, please contact the Office of Annual Giving at 706-542-8119 or visit give.uga.edu.
U. at Buffalo research team develops scanner for heart recognition
Around academe
DAWGS AT THE DOME
A team of researchers, led by Wenyao Xu, assistant professor of computer science and engineering at the University at Buffalo School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, has developed a biometric scanner that verifies a computer user’s identity by recognizing the geometry of their heart, according to a report in The University Network. Biometric scanners use physical features as an alternative to password protection. The most common biometric scanner uses fingerprints for authentication. Retinal scanning is another well-known biometric identification technique. This is the first time a full organ has been used as an identifier. The device, which took Xu and his team three years to develop, uses the size, shape and movement of the heart to make an identification and operates via radar. The device takes eight seconds to record an initial imprint of the user’s heart. After that, the scanner monitors the user to make sure only authorized individuals can access the computer.
Prepare lawn, garden now for spring
News to Use
Many garden tasks can be completed now in preparation for a successful growing season. Consider some of these suggestions from the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. • Test your soil. A soil test provides an analysis of nutrients in the soil and measures the pH of the soil, which impacts the availability of soil nutrients. A written report provides recommendations for the amount of fertilizer needed for a specific crop or lawn. • Order seeds now. You can start seeds for lettuce, tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, lima beans, cucumbers and squash inside, then plant them outside after the chance of frost has passed. Don’t plant seeds outside until then. • Fight lawn weeds. Summer lawn weeds, like crabgrass, dandelions and spurge, can be prevented by pre-emergent herbicides. These herbicides are applied to lawns prior to the germination of weed seeds. They control weeds during the germination process but do not actually prevent germination. Apply these herbicides by March 15. • Compost leaves. If you have a lot of leaves on the ground, shred them and add them to your garden as mulch or work them into the soil to improve the organic matter. Leaves that have not been shredded are best added to your compost pile to provide carbon, or “brown,” material. If they haven’t been shredded, leaves tend to form a mat and don’t break down. • Inspect and repair tools. If handles have started to crack or turn gray, sand them down and apply a coat of marine or outdoor varnish to preserve the life of the handle. Keep tools out of the weather and in a shed or garage in organized spaces. Source: UGA Cooperative Extension
UGA students spend time with state lawmakers
Dorothy Kozlowski
Students from the University of Georgia visited the Georgia state Capitol Feb. 20 for the fifth annual Dawgs at the Dome. The event, a collaboration between the Student Government Association and the Office of Government Relations, allows students to spend a day interacting with state lawmakers and showcases the university’s many contributions to the state. Legislators, staff, lobbyists and alumni joined UGA President Jere W. Morehead and the students in the morning for a breakfast reception.
2018 CHARTER LECTURE
COLLEGE OF FAMILY & CONSUMER SCIENCES
‘Hollywood South’: Panelists FACS celebrates its discuss state’s role as leader first 100 years with gala centennial event in entertainment industry By Krista Richmond
By Cal Powell
Georgia is taking its position as Hollywood’s next big thing in the entertainment industry. The growth of the entertainment industry in the state during the last decade was the subject of this year’s Charter Lecture, “Hollywood South: The New $9.5 Billion Georgia Industry,” held Feb. 26 at the Chapel. “Georgia has done a very good job of being welcoming to the industry,” said Will Packer, executive producer of Straight Outta Compton. The event was part of the Signature Lecture series and is sponsored by the Provost’s Office and the Office of Academic Programs. Moderated by Jeffrey Stepakoff, executive director of the Georgia Film Academy, panelists included Packer; Gale Anne Hurd, executive producer of The Walking Dead; and Lee Thomas, deputy commissioner of the Georgia Film, Music and Digital Entertainment Office of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. “There definitely is a sense of being grateful that the industry is here amongst the crews and production personnel, and that affects your set and affects your end product. I love shooting in Atlanta and in Georgia more than anywhere else,” Packer said. The industry has grown in the last decade from $240 million in 2007 to its current $9.5 billion. Now, there are an average of 30 to 40 productions ongoing at any given time across the state. “What Georgia has done right is to take tax credits and build out the industry,” Hurd said. Packer and Hurd shared how college played a role in how they started in the entertainment industry. Packer’s journey started when he was an electrical engineering student at Florida A&M University who helped a friend make a film about college life. As a student at Stanford University, Hurd took part in a work study program in the United Kingdom and participated in two intensive programs—one in economics and the other in film and broadcasting. They also spoke about getting started in the industry and told students that “it only takes one yes.” Hurd pointed out that it took 99 asks before someone said yes to her first “big” film, Terminator. Packer and Hurd also spoke about life during production, pointing out that it is a massive amount of work and that no production is the same. Each requires compromise and negotiation to create something that resonates with audiences. “The joy of it is that it’s a team sport,” Hurd said, “and if you like working with a team, there is no better industry than the film and television industry because you survive or fail based upon the team that you have around you.” All of the panelists expressed hope that the team would expand within the state and additional specialty areas of the entertainment industry would find a home in Georgia. “It’s a start,” Thomas said. “We’re hoping that we can get writers’ rooms here and get post-production here and have a more indigenous industry here.” “It would have a huge impact, and it would be so good for the people of Georgia to have different career paths in this industry,” Hurd added. “It is absolutely important that what is special about Georgia begins to inform the content at the earliest stages.” “It’s a great community that has embraced the film industry, and I hope that continues,” Packer said.
The College of Family and Consumer Sciences celebrated its first 100 years of offering programming at the University of Georgia at its FACS 100 Gala: A Centennial Celebration Feb. 24 at The Classic Center. The college can trace its origins to February 1918, when a Bachelor of Science degree was offered in the division of home economics within the UGA College of Agriculture, opening the door wider for women at the university. More than 500 people attended the event, where the college recognized its Centennial Honorees and members of the Honor Hall of Recognition. Centennial Honorees were chosen by a nomination process that began in 2017. These individuals embody conviction and commitment to the ideals of the college and through vision and hard work have been instrumental in advancing the college’s ability to serve students through its mission at UGA. The Honor Hall of Recognition, established in 1980, is the highest honor awarded by the college and is designed to give appropriate recognition to those who have made highly significant achievements in the fields of family and consumer sciences, who have impeccable character and commitment, and who have provided outstanding leadership. All honorees were presented with a centennial medallion at the gala and are recognized on the college’s centennial website at http://www.fcs.uga.edu/centennial. “The University of Georgia is proud of your accomplishments, and we are grateful for your contributions to making the world a better place,” UGA President Jere W. Morehead told the attendees. “The future is very bright for the college and for our university. I look forward to everything that we will accomplish together in the next 100 years.” The father-daughter team of Neal and Skye Estroff, both FACS alumni, served as emcees for the event. The gala also marked the unveiling of a special centennial video that included an opening scene from the former home of the college’s first dean, Mary Creswell, the first woman to receive an undergraduate degree from UGA in 1919. FACS Dean Linda Fox also announced the college’s establishment of the FACS Centennial Endowment for Student Success, a fund that will provide support for activities such as student leadership, travel, professional development, experiential learning and other activities that support and enhance the learning experience. Centennial honoree Tammy Gilland closed the event with a challenge to attendees to continue the college’s momentum into its next centennial. “Our college’s next 100 years are our responsibility,” she said. “It’s our time to be brave and persevere. Let’s leave here proud of our past, inspired about our future and committed to being involved in helping future generations learn, grow and contribute.”
krichmond@uga.edu
jcpowell@uga.edu
RESEARCH NEWS
columns.uga.edu March 5, 2018
3
Digest Staff Resources Fair will be held March 14
The university’s first Staff Resources Fair will be held March 14 from 2-6 p.m. in the Grand Hall at the Tate Student Center. The fair will showcase campus resources, benefits and opportunities available to all UGA staff and faculty.
U. of Chicago professor to present Religion and Common Good research seminar
Andrew Davis Tucker
Esther van der Knaap leads a research team studying tomato shape and size and plans to pass along the findings to growers.
Cracking the code Horticulture professor seeks to uncover genes that control tomato shape and sizes
In the world of fruits and vegetables, breeders focus their work on developing plant varieties to market that satisfy consumer demand. At the University of Georgia, horticulture professor Esther van der Knaap leads a team of researchers who are studying variations in tomato shape and size. Their hope is to pass on genetic and molecular findings to breeders, contributing to the tomato industry’s $2 billion impact on the nation’s economy. From the small grape tomatoes preferred in salads to the large beefsteaks perfect for slicing, it’s variety that the market demands. And an understanding of the genetic variations that affect shape and size can have everyday applications in the food retail sector. This understanding is also critical in sustaining the agricultural industry, as mechanical harvesters require firm, square-like tomatoes that easily stay on conveyer belts. What makes the tomato particularly valuable to van der Knaap’s research is the simple way in which its genetic
material is organized, the availability of many varieties and wild species, and the ease of editing its genome. That means her team can more easily identify the specific genes that help determine fruit shape and size.And with UGA’s uniquely robust infrastructure surrounding plant research, van der Knaap has been able to take an even closer look at the fruit’s molecular and cellular underpinnings. “We can look at the size and shape of the tomatoes,” she said, “but we really want to look inside the fruit to study the cellular structures.” This, coupled with van der Knaap’s efforts to understand gene variation, helps breeders understand how early wild tomatoes evolved into different shapes and sizes and how those variations or gene mutations can inform new varieties. This became even more prevalent when a National Science Foundation grant and UGA provided van der Knaap the opportunity to study the modern tomato’s closest wild relative, the currant tomato, and the earliest domesticated types, the cherry tomato.
Her team discovered more fruit size variation than previously anticipated, potentially leading to the uncovering of new gene mutations that were previously unknown. This information is providing insight into how the tomato crop has evolved over the millennia. “It’s a view into history, looking back thousands of generations when we transitioned from a hunter-gather society to an agrarian society,” van der Knaap said. As the team continues its work, the hope is that this knowledge will help breeders around the world better understand how to create seeds that will sustain different agricultural communities. And while van der Knaap’s research directly concerns tomatoes, her findings have implications for the understanding of other plants. Editor’s note: This story is part of the Great Commitments series, which focuses on cutting-edge research happening on UGA campuses. Read more about UGA’s commitment to research that changes lives at greatcommitments.uga.edu.
DIVISION OF DEVELOPMENT AND ALUMNI RELATIONS
Report: Career outcomes rate reaches 96 percent By Danielle Bezila
danielle.bezila@uga.edu
University of Georgia research shows that 96 percent of recent graduates are employed or continuing their education within six months of graduating. UGA’s career outcomes rate for the Class of 2017 is 11 percent higher than the national average. Of those graduates, 63 percent were employed full time, 20 percent were attending graduate school and nearly 12 percent were self-employed, interning full time or were employed part time. “UGA’s high career outcomes rate demonstrates our university’s commitment to providing students with opportunities to learn in and beyond the classroom,” said Scott Williams, executive director of the Career Center. “Combined with our strong academics, the experiential learning requirement provides students with hands-on experiences, such as internships, equipping them with the skills and experiences that make them more competitive in
the job market.” The UGA Class of 2017 was hired by 2,925 unique employers, including Fortune 500 companies, across all 50 states and in 37 countries. Of the fulltime employed graduates, 72 percent accepted employment within Georgia.Top employers for the Class of 2017 include AT&T, Chick-fil-A, IBM, GeorgiaPacific and UPS. “Our state benefits from being home to so many successful companies—companies that want to hire our students,” said Jill Walton, UGA’s executive director of corporate and foundation relations. “UGA is committed to serving our state through educating tomorrow’s leaders.” These graduates are working in all sectors of the economy: 66 percent in business, 24 percent in education, 6 percent in government and 4 percent in nonprofits. “UGA students are pursuing careers in diverse industries, career areas and geographic locations,” Williams said. “We are proud that our students continue to secure positions with top companies,
as well as enter highly selective graduate and professional programs.” The 20 percent of graduates who are continuing their education are attending top graduate schools such as Columbia University, Duke University, Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The career outcomes rate is the percentage of students who are employed, continuing their education or not seeking employment within six months after graduation. The UGA Career Center calculates the career outcomes rate each January by leveraging information from a variety of sources. This year, the Career Center was able to collect data on 88 percent of 2017 graduates, 26 percent higher than the national average, which helps provide a more accurate snapshot of UGA students’ employment status. Outcomes data was collected using the following sources: survey, phone calls, employer reporting, departmental collaboration, LinkedIn and the National Student Clearinghouse.
The religion department in UGA’s Franklin College of Arts and Sciences will present a research seminar in the Religion and the Common Good seminar series March 20 at 7 p.m. in Room 248 of the Miller Learning Center. The seminar, “Augustine on Love, Conflict and the Goods We Hold in Common,” by Richard B. Miller of the University of Chicago Divinity School is open free to the public. Miller is the Laura Spelman Rockefeller Professor of Religious Ethics at the University of Chicago. His research interests include religion and public life, political and social ethics, theory and method in religious thought and ethics, and practical ethics. His 2016 book, Friends and Other Strangers: Studies in Religion, Ethics and Culture, seeks to chart and expand the field of religious ethics by exploring the implications of taking a cultural turn in the humanities and social sciences. With his faculty colleagues in religious ethics, Miller has launched an initiative at the Divinity School—a two-year cycle of readings, “Minor Classics in Ethics,” focusing on recent essays that have revitalized forgotten themes or have posed new questions for moral philosophers and religious ethicists to take up.
Rosa Lane awarded Georgia Poetry Prize
Rosa Lane is the 2017 Georgia Poetry Prize winner. In partnership with the Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia State University and the University of Georgia, the University of Georgia Press established the Georgia Poetry Prize in 2015 as a national competition that celebrates excellence in poetry. The winner of the annual contest receives a cash award of $1,000, a publication contract with the University of Georgia Press and invitations to read excerpts from the work at the three sponsoring institutions. The prize was established through the support of the Georgia and Bruce McEver Fund for the Arts and Environment at the University of Georgia Press. Lane’s collection Chouteau’s Chalk will be published by the UGA Press in February 2019.
Georgia Museum of Art recognizes artist and educator at Black History Month event
The Georgia Museum of Art at the University of Georgia honored artist Freddie Styles and educator Lillian Kincey during its annual Black History Month Dinner and Awards Celebration. Styles received the Larry D. and Brenda A. Thompson Award. It is presented annually to an African-American artist who has made significant but often lesser-known contributions to the visual arts tradition and has roots in or major connections to Georgia. Styles attended Morris Brown College and has been an artist-in-residence at several institutions including Clayton State University, Clark Atlanta University and Spelman College. As a former director of City Gallery East, Styles also worked on various projects that helped promote the arts in Atlanta. Kincey received the Lillian C. Lynch Citation, which is presented to an African-American leader who has contributed to cultural education. Kincey is the founder and director of the Young Designers Sewing Program, which teaches girls in grades 4-12 the elements of sewing and fashion design. She specifically uses sewing as a way to enhance and reinforce vocabulary development, reading and mathematics in addition to communication skills.
PERIODICALS POSTAGE STATEMENT Columns (USPS 020-024) is published weekly during the academic year and
biweekly during the summer for the faculty and staff of the University of Georgia by the Division of Marketing & Communications. Periodicals postage is paid in Athens, Georgia. Postmaster: Send off-campus address changes to Columns, UGA Marketing & Communications, 286 Oconee Street, Suite 200 North, Athens, GA 30602-1999.
For a complete listing of events at the University of Georgia, 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.
UGAGUIDE
EXHIBITIONS
Clinton Hill. Through March 18. Georgia Museum of Art. 706-542-4662. gmoa@uga.edu. Opera in Print: Fin-de-Siecle Posters from the Blum Collection. Through April 22. Georgia Museum of Art. 706-542-4662. gmoa@uga.edu. Crafting History: Textiles, Metals and Ceramics at the University of Georgia. Through April 29. Georgia Museum of Art. 706-542-4662. gmoa@uga.edu. Wrestling Temptation: The Quest to Control Alcohol in Georgia. Through Sept. 21. Special collections libraries. 706-542-7123. jhebbard@uga.edu.
MONDAY, MARCH 5 WORKSHOP “Active Learning on the Fly” will help participants implement active learning activities with little advance preparation. Open to all faculty, post docs and graduate students. 1:25 p.m. 372 Miller Learning Center. 706-542-8802. megan.mittelstadt@uga.edu. WORKSHOP In this second of the two-part workshop, participants will bring drafts of their diversity statement to receive feedback from facilitator and peers. The group also will discuss how the statement is situated within and aligns with the larger teaching portfolio. Please note that all participants must bring a draft of their diversity statement. During the second workshop, participants will receive peer-feedback on their diversity statement and discuss how the statement is situated within the larger teaching portfolio. It is not required to have attended to the first workshop. 2:30 p.m. 372 Miller Learning Center. 706-542-0534. zoe.morris@uga.edu. LECTURE “West Meets East: Commerce Between Ancient Rome and South Asia,” Sethuraman Suresh, India Trust for Art & Cultural Heritage. 5:30 p.m. 214 Miller Learning Center. 706-542-1475. egarriso@uga.edu. PERFORMANCE Mary Poppins. All proceeds support summer missions. $10. 7 p.m. Baptist Collegiate Ministries, 450 S. Lumpkin St. 706-549-2747. PERFORMANCE Celtic fiddlers Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy. $39-$46. 8 p.m. Hodgson Concert Hall, Performing Arts Center. 706-542-4400.
TUESDAY, MARCH 6 WORKSHOP “Assessing for Growth: Alternative Grading Scales and Strategies.” 2 p.m. 372 Miller Learning Center. 706-583-0067. megan.mittelstadt@uga.edu. TUESDAY TOUR AT TWO Guided tour of the exhibit galleries of the Walter J. Brown Media Archives and Peabody Awards Collection, the Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library and the Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies. Participants should meet in the rotunda on the second floor of the special collections libraries. 2 p.m. 706-542-8079. jclevela@uga.edu. ECOLOGY SEMINAR Speaker: George Matsumoto, senior education and research specialist at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute. A reception will follow at 4:30 p.m. in the ecology building lobby. This event is sponsored by the Ecology Graduate Student Organization. 3:30 p.m. Auditorium, ecology building. 706-542-7247. bethgav@uga.edu. WORKSHOP “Plants of the Desert: Growing Cacti and Succulents,” Kevin Tarner, succulent enthusiast and professional horticulturist. Preregistration is required. $45. 5:30 p.m. Visitor Center, Classroom 2, State Botanical Garden. 706-542-6156. cscamero@uga.edu. SOFTBALL vs. Georgia Tech. 6 p.m. Jack Turner Stadium. HUGH HODGSON FACULTY SERIES Joshua Bynum, associate professor of trombone. $12. 8 p.m. Ramsey Concert Hall, Performing Arts Center. 706-542-4752. (See story, far right).
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7
TOUR AT TWO For this special Women’s History Month tour, Ashley Callahan, Annelies Mondi and Mary Hallam Pearse, the three co-curators of Crafting History: Textiles, Metals and Ceramics at the University of Georgia, will lead a tour featuring works by female artists in the exhibition. 2 p.m. Georgia Museum of Art. 706-542-4662. hazbrown@uga.edu. MEN’S TENNIS vs. Ohio State. 2:30 p.m. Dan Magill Tennis Complex. ELEANOR FERGUSON VINCENT LECTURE James Rose, who practiced landscape design during much of the middle of the last century, was expelled from Harvard in 1937 for refusing to design in the Beaux-Arts style. He is the subject of a new book by Dean Cardasis, published in 2017 by the Library of American Landscape History and the University of Georgia Press, who will give the Eleanor Ferguson Vincent Lecture. The lecture is sponsored by the Eleanor Ferguson Vincent fund at the College of Environment and Design. The lecture accompanies an exhibit about Rose and his work in the Circle Gallery, also in the Jackson Street Building. 5 p.m. 123 Jackson Street Building. 706-542-8292. SOFTBALL vs. Western Carolina. 5 p.m. Jack Turner Stadium. PANEL DISCUSSION Food For All emphasizes the food justice issues within Athens for UGA students. To highlight that goal, a panel will discuss different avenues for food access in Athens as well as what students can do to increase healthy food alternatives within the community. 6 p.m. 248 Miller Learning Center. 562-677-4396. esj22455@uga.edu. MEETING The photo share group meets to share digital images of mostly outdoor photography. For more information, email Don Hunter at caverdon24@gmail.com, Larry Petroff at lpetroff@charter.net or Becky Akin at bc.akin@charter.net. 6:30 p.m. Visitor Center & Conservatory, Children’s Classroom, State Botanical Garden. CINECITTA 10: TENTH ANNUAL ITALIAN FILM FESTIVAL The third film of the series, Caterina va in citta, will be shown in Italian with English subtitles. 7 p.m. 150 Miller Learning Center. brcooper@uga.edu.
THURSDAY, MARCH 8 CONCERT UGA Symphony Orchestra. 8 p.m. Hugh Hodgson Concert Hall, Performing Arts Center. 706-542-4752. LEXOGEN SEMINAR “RNA-Seq Experiment Pipeline.” 12:30 p.m. 128 Center for Applied Genetic Technologies. PERFORMANCE The UGA Opera Theatre will present a concert of selections from a variety of French operas in conjunction with the exhibition Opera in Print: Fin-de-siecle Posters from the Blum Collection. Followed by an exhibition tour led by Abigail Kosberg, graduate intern for the Pierre Daura Center. 5:30 p.m. M. Smith Griffith Auditorium, Georgia Museum of Art. 706-542-4662. hazbrown@uga.edu.
FRIDAY, MARCH 9 MORNING MINDFULNESS Enjoy free guided mindfulness meditation sessions in the Georgia Museum of Art’s galleries every other Friday during the school year. Reservations are encouraged; please contact 706-542-0448 or sagekincaid@uga.edu. Funded in part by the Hemera Foundation. 9:30 a.m. Georgia Museum of Art. BASEBALL vs. Toledo. $5-$8. 6 p.m. Foley Field.
SATURDAY, MARCH 10 CLASS “Bird Sense: Wild Intelligence.” $35. 9 a.m. Visitor Center & Conservatory, adult classroom, State Botanical Garden. 706-542-6156. ckeber@uga.edu. FAMILY DAY: THE MATERIALS OF CRAFT Discover works from UGA’s studio craft history since the 1920s in the exhibition Crafting History: Textiles, Metals and Ceramics
Performing Arts Center to present Aspen String Trio By Bobby Tyler btyler@uga.edu
The UGA Performing Arts Center will present the Aspen String Trio on March 20 at 8 p.m. in Ramsey Concert Hall. The program will include Mozart’s Divertimento in E-flat Major and Dvorak’s String Sextet in A Major. Aspen String Trio members violinist David Perry, violist Victoria Chiang and cellist Mike Mermagen are summer faculty colleagues at the Aspen Festival and School. They have been playing together for more than 20 years. For their Athens concert, they will be joined by violinist Michael Heald, violist Maggie Snyder and cellist David Starkweather from UGA’s Hodgson School of Music. The Aspen String Trio’s recent engagements include the Los Angeles Music Guild and the National Gallery of Art as well as residencies in Texas, Georgia, the Carolinas, Alabama, Delaware, Washington and Colorado. For six seasons, AST was ensemble-inresidence at the University of Baltimore.
Tickets for the concert are $39 and can be purchased at the Performing Arts Center box office, online at pac.uga.edu or by calling 706-542-4400. The concert will be recorded for broadcast on American Public Media’s Performance Today, the most popular classical music program in the country. The Performing Arts Center is at 230 River Road on the UGA main campus in Athens.
Calendar items are taken from Columns files and from the university’s Master Calendar, maintained by Marketing & Communications. Notices are published here as space permits, with priority given to items of multidisciplinary interest. The Master Calendar is available at calendar.uga.edu/.
4&5
TAO to bring new ‘Drum Heart’ to UGA March 19 By Bobby Tyler btyler@uga.edu
TAO, the Japanese drumming sensation, is coming to the UGA Performing Arts Center March 19. The company’s all-new production, Drum Heart, will take the stage at 8 p.m. in Hodgson Concert Hall. TAO’s high-energy performances showcasing the ancient art of Japanese drumming have transfixed audiences worldwide. The troupe’s newest show combines highly physical, large-scale drumming with contemporary costumes, precise choreography and innovative visuals. TAO was invited to perform at the Vancouver Olympics in 2010; the company then embarked on its first North American tour, visiting 44 cities with 50 sold-out shows throughout the U.S. Since then, TAO has performed in 500 cities in more than 24 countries to a total audience of seven million. Tickets for TAO: Drum Heart are $39 to $46. They can be purchased at the Performing Arts Center box office, online at pac.uga.edu or by calling 706-542-4400. UGA students can purchase tickets for $6 with a valid UGA ID, limit one ticket per student. The Performing Arts Center is located at 230 River Road on the UGA main campus in Athens.
TAO’s newest show combines highly physical, large-scale drumming with contemporary costumes, precise choreography and innovative visuals.
at the University of Georgia, then head to the Michael and Mary Erlanger Studio Classroom to craft a masterpiece. 10 a.m. Georgia Museum of Art. 706-542-4662. hazbrown@uga.edu. WOMEN’S TENNIS vs. Tennessee. Noon. Dan Magill Tennis Complex.
TWILIGHT TOUR Tour, led by docents, of highlights from the permanent collection. 7 p.m. Georgia Museum of Art. 706-542-4662. hazbrown@uga.edu.
FRIDAY, MARCH 16
SOFTBALL vs. Arkansas. 1 p.m. Jack Turner Stadium. BASEBALL vs. Toledo. $5-$8. 2 p.m. Foley Field. GYMNASTICS vs. Boise State. $6, youth; $10, adults. 4 p.m. Stegeman Coliseum.
CLASS Join Brie Arthur as she presents a photographic tale of the camellia. Please register by March 9 at botgarden.uga.edu. Sponsored by the Friends of the Garden and the Garden Club of Georgia. A selection of Arthur’s camellias and the Southern flame azalea, the State Botanical Garden’s signature anniversary plant, will be for sale. $25; $20 for Friends of the Garden. 10 a.m. Garden Club of Georgia, Terrace Room, State Botanical Garden. 706-542-6138. lpbryant@uga.edu. WOMEN’S TENNIS vs. Florida. 5 p.m. Dan Magill Tennis Complex.
SUNDAY, MARCH 11 BASEBALL vs. Toledo. $5-$8. 1 p.m. Foley Field.
SOFTBALL VS FLORIDA vs. Florida. 6 p.m. Jack Turner Stadium.
MEN’S TENNIS vs. Texas A&M. 1 p.m. Dan Magill Tennis Complex.
SATURDAY, MARCH 17
CONCERT The Classic City Band performs the music of Russian composers. 3 p.m. Hodgson Hall, Performing Arts Center. admin@classiccityband.org. SOFTBALL vs. Arkansas. 6 p.m. Jack Turner Stadium.
MONDAY, MARCH 12 STUDENT SPRING BREAK Through March 16. UGA offices open. SPRING BREAK MINI-CAMP Send children on a naturalist adventure. Each day will be filled with activities that connect youth to the natural wonders that surround us. They will explore the gardens, trails and streams by using their senses and playing games. For ages 5-11. Bring a sack lunch and a water bottle. $100 per camper. 9 a.m. Through March 14. Visitor Center, Classroom 2, State Botanical Garden. 706-583-0894. bwboone@uga.edu. SOFTBALL vs. Arkansas. 7 p.m. Jack Turner Stadium.
CLASS In “Soils of the Georgia Piedmont and Beyond,” participants will learn the history of Georgia Piedmont soils and general soil ecology and biology. 9 a.m. Upper parking lot, State Botanical Garden. 706-542-6156. cscamero@uga.edu. WORKSHOP In “Foraging for Food and Medicine,” participants will learn about foraging and seasonal medicinal herbs (cultivated and growing wild) that can add nutrition and flavor to salads and pestos. Advance registration is required. $40; $35 students. 9 a.m. UGArden. 678-205-7680. njfuller@uga.edu. SOFTBALL vs. Florida. 2 p.m. Jack Turner Stadium.
SUNDAY, MARCH 18 WOMEN’S TENNIS vs. South Carolina. 1 p.m. Dan Magill Tennis Complex. SOFTBALL vs. Florida. 2 p.m. Jack Turner Stadium.
TUESDAY, MARCH 13
MONDAY, MARCH 19
BASEBALL vs. Kennesaw State. $5-$8. 5 p.m. Foley Field.
WITHDRAWAL DEADLINE For spring semester.
GARDEN TRAVELS TALK Mercedes and John Dewey traveled to Italy for the first time, visiting Rome, Florence, Lucca and the five towns of Cinque Terre on the Ligurian coast. The talk also will include their account of a mountain-side pesto making class. There will be a social starting at 6:30 p.m., and the talk will begin at 7 p.m. 706-542-6014. connicot@uga.edu.
PERFORMANCE The performers of TAO: Drum Heart create an energetic and unforgettable production. $39-$46. 8 p.m. Hodgson Concert Hall, Performing Arts Center. 706-542-4400. (See story, above.)
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14
The Aspen String Trio will perform music by Mozart and Dvorak at its March 20 concert.
columns.uga.edu March 5, 2018
ARTFUL CONVERSATION Join Sage Kincaid, assistant curator of education, for a closer look and conversation on Homer Dodge Martin’s painting “The Old Mill.” 2 p.m. Georgia Museum of Art. 706-542-4662. hazbrown@uga.edu. SOFTBALL vs. Bucknell. 6 p.m. Jack Turner Stadium.
THURSDAY, MARCH 15 FREE FACULTY/STAFF GOLF CLINICS March 15 and 22. 6 p.m. UGA Golf Course. (See Bulletin Board, page 8).
COMING UP DISCUSSION March 20. Benjamin Zawacki, a Bangkok-based human rights researcher and advocate, will present his recentlypublished book on Thailand’s evolving foreign relations and their geo-political implications in Southeast Asia. Joining Zawacki in discussion is Ari Levine, University of Georgia history professor and expert in China. 11:45 a.m. Larry Walker Room, Dean Rusk Hall. 706-542-7875. hardweare@uga.edu. LECTURE March 20. “Soft-Psy Strategy: U.S. Media Intervention in the Middle East,” Matt Sienkiewicz, associate professor of communication and international studies at Boston College. Part of the Department of Communication Studies Colloquium Series. Sponsored by the Willson Center and Peabody Media Center. 12:30 p.m. 502 Caldwell Hall.
TO SUBMIT A LISTING FOR THE MASTER CALENDAR AND COLUMNS Post event information first to the Master Calendar website (calendar.uga.edu/). Listings for Columns are taken from the Master Calendar 12 days before the publication date. Events not posted by then may not be printed in Columns.
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, Marketing & Communications, 286 Oconee Street, Suite 200 North, Campus Mail 1999.
Josh Bynum takes the Ramsey Hall stage as part of the Faculty Artist Series on March 6.
Faculty Artist Series features trombonist Josh Bynum By Camille Hayes ceh822@uga.edu
The Faculty Artists Series continues March 6 with Brass Area Chair Josh Bynum on trombone and Anatoly Sheludyakov on piano. The concert will be held at 8 p.m. in Ramsey Hall. The concert features predominantly American composers and has a mix of styles that pay tribute to the classical and jazz traditions of the trombone. Audiences can expect to hear everything from Moon River to a mashup of American blues and Arabic drones, and everything in between. “My program has a balance of music originally written for trombone and songs that I’ve ‘borrowed,’ ” Bynum said. An associate professor of trombone at UGA’s Hugh Hodgson School of Music, Bynum is no stranger to universities, having received degrees from Temple University, the University of Iowa and Jacksonville State. Among other accolades, Bynum was the featured artist for the 2017 International Trombone Festival held at the University of Iowa. Outside of academia, Bynum plays trombone with the Georgia Brass Quintet and the MOD[ular] Contemporary Chamber Ensemble. He also regularly performs with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, the Symphony Orchestra of Augusta and the IRIS Orchestra. He also is first call substitute with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Bynum has recorded two releases with the ASO and his solo CD, Catalyst, features previously unrecorded works for trombone. Bynum has performed with various UGA bands along the way, such as the Hodgson Wind Ensemble for the state premiere performance for John Mackey’s Harvest: Trombone Concerto in 2010 and Dana Wilson’s Trombone Concerto in 2017. Working with other UGA musicians has been part of Bynum’s performance history, so it’s no surprise that he brought in UGA resident accompanist Sheludyakov to play with him for this concert. “It’s always such an amazing experience to collaborate with Anatoly Sheludyakov, who is undoubtedly one of the finest musicians I know,” said Bynum of the pianist. Tickets for the concert are $12 for adults and $6 for students. They can be purchased online at pac.uga.edu or by phone at 706-542-4400. For those unable to attend the performance, the concert will be streamed at music.uga.edu/streaming. For more information, visit music.uga.edu.
NEXT COLUMNS DEADLINES March 7 (for March 19 issue) March 14 (for March 26 issue) March 21 (for April 2 issue)
6 March 5, 2018 columns.uga.edu
Mary Ellen Brooks was presented with the Georgia Historical Records Advisory Council Lifetime Achievement Award during the 15th annual GHRAC Archives Awards ceremony at the Georgia Archives. For nearly 40 years, Brooks has cared for the historical, literary and artistic treasures of Georgia’s heritage that are housed in the University of Georgia Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library. During the 15 years she served as director of the Hargrett (1992-2008), Mary Ellen Brooks Brooks acquired 532 manuscript collections, approximately 20 percent of Hargrett’s holdings; built up Hargrett’s collection of Fine Printing, Small Press books and other works related to the book arts, making it the fifth largest in the country; curated more than 100 exhibitions of Hargrett material on campus and elsewhere in the state to generate visibility, appreciation and use of the Hargrett holdings; and established the Georgia Writers Hall of Fame. Brooks is now director emerita of the library. Ron Courson, the UGA Athletic Association’s senior associate athletic director for sports medicine, was inducted into the Georgia Athletic Trainers Association Hall of Fame during the organization’s conference in Macon. Courson’s induction represents the highest honor given by the association. Courson has coordinated sports medicine efforts at UGA since 1995. Courson has served as the president of the SEC Sports Medicine Committee, chairman of the College and University Athletic Trainers’ Committee of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association and as a member of the NCAA Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports Committee. He received the Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer award in 2005 from the National Athletic Trainers’ Association and was inducted into the Southeast Athletic Trainers’ Association Hall of Fame in 2011 and the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Hall of Fame in 2013. Courson is active in research and education in the field of sports medicine, having authored the textbook Athletic Training Emergency Care, a number of professional papers and text chapters. He presents frequently at regional and national sports medicine meetings. Michael W.W. Adams, Distinguished Research Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in UGA’s Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, is co-recipient of the 2018 DuPont Industrial Biosciences Award in Applied and Environmental Microbiology from the American Society for Microbiology. He shares the award with Robert Kelly of North Carolina State University. They were recognized for their groundbreaking use and genetic manipulation of microorganisms that grow in extreme environments, such as ultra-hot geothermal vents, for practical applications including the generation of biofuels with reduced carbon footprint. The award will be presented this summer at ASM’s annual meeting in Atlanta. The DuPont Industrial Biosciences Award, given annually since 1977, recognizes distinguished achievement in research and development in applied (nonclinical) and environmental microbiology. Past recipients include members of the National Academy of Sciences and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute as well as MacArthur Fellows. DuPont Biosciences is a worldwide organization with focus areas in bioactives, biomaterials and biorefineries. Kudos recognizes special contributions of staff, faculty and administrators in teaching, research and service. News items are limited to election into office of state, regional, national and international societies; major awards and prizes; and similarly notable accomplishments.
CAMPUS CLOSEUP
Dorothy Kozlowski
Brenda Keen will retire March 30 as business manager of The Georgia Review, just shy of her 30th anniversary at UGA.
‘Georgia Review’ business manager turning to last page of UGA career By Jim Lichtenwalter
james.lichtenwal25@uga.edu
Brenda Keen is excited. The longtime business manager of the University of Georgia’s quarterly literary journal is in the homestretch of her career at UGA. March 30, a few months shy of her 30th anniversary, will be Keen’s last day. Keen’s career at UGA began in 1989, when she started working in the Carl Vinson Institute of Government. In 1999, she transitioned into her current role at The Georgia Review. “I wear about 500 hats each day,” she said with a laugh. “I handle anything in the department that has to do with business.” In her position, Keen oversees the magazine’s check and purchase requests, handles reprint permissions, ensures the issues get copyrighted and—her favorite task—pays the magazine’s contributors and writers. Throughout her time at UGA, Keen has been heavily involved with the university’s Staff Council. “Staff Council is an advisory group to the president,” Keen said. “We take issues that are of concern to classified staff members and talk to the administration about them. I think it’s important for staff to have a voice inside UGA.” While currently a representative from the Academic Affairs Staff
Representative Group, Keen has held a variety of positions on the council, including secretary, coordinator and parliamentarian. Keen also was elected president of the organization and served in that role for one term. One of the accomplishments of which she is most proud from her term as president was the appointment of Bob Ratajczak to the parking committee that helped staff members get first access to lower-cost parking spaces. “I was very gratified that people would trust me in that position,” she said. Currently, Keen serves on the Staff Council’s Executive Committee, which meets with UGA President Jere W. Morehead once a year. The council, in partnership with the Staff Representative Group in the Division of Finance & Administration, is in the midst of planning a Staff Resources Fair (see Digest, page 3). The event will highlight some of the perks UGA employees have access to but might not know about. Keen said the fair will take place March 14 from 2-6 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom of the Tate Student Center. During her free time, Keen is heavily involved in the Winterville community. She has lived in the small city outside Athens since 1999 and holds many positions within the community. In fact, the reason she’s retiring is so she can focus more on her civic involvement. “I don’t have time to work,” she said.
FACTS Brenda Keen
Business Manager The Georgia Review At UGA: 29 years
In November, Keen was elected to the Winterville City Council, a position she will hold for four years. “I wanted to have more input in my town,” she said. “The people with the votes are the ones that get to decide policies and expenditures. So, I put my name in the running and got elected.” The city’s government is comprised of four council members and the town’s mayor, Dodd Ferrelle. Additionally, Keen is the treasurer of the Friends of the Winterville Library, a member of the Winterville Community Garden steering committee and is on the Winterville Arts Council. “It really is a charming small town,” she said. Keen suspects that all her civic obligations will keep her busy during retirement. “I really love being able to socialize with the amazing people who live in Winterville,” Keen said. “It’s fun working for that community, and I think civic engagement is very important.”
DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS
Student Government Association honors 10 faculty By Don Reagin
dreagin@uga.edu
The University of Georgia Student Government Association recognized the work of 10 faculty members at its annual Professor Recognition Banquet Feb. 21 at the Tate Student Center. Faculty members, their disciplines and schools and colleges are: • Jennifer Atkinson, risk management and insurance, Terry College of Business. • Leah Carmichael, international affairs, School of Public and International Affairs. • Christy Desmet, English, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. • Nick Fuhrman, agricultural leadership, education and communication,
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. • Gary Terrance Green, natural resources, recreation and tourism, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources. • Melissa Landers-Potts, human development and family science, College of Family and Consumer Sciences. • Hatidza Mulic, art, Lamar Dodd School of Art. • Tim Samples, legal studies, Terry College of Business. • Sarah Shannon, sociology, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. • Michael F. Yoder, environmental, civil, agricultural and mechanical engineering, College of Engineering. The faculty members were selected from nominations submitted by
students. From the initial pool of nominations, members of SGA’s Cabinet selected the honorees based on numerous criteria, including clear articulation of impact and evidence of dedication to the education of UGA students within and beyond the classroom. “At the ceremony, we have the privilege of honoring professors who go the extra mile for their students, both inside and outside of the classroom,” said Cameron Keen, SGA president. “Each professor nominated greatly impacts the lives of their students every day, and we are truly grateful for their significant contributions.” The Student Government Association is a registered student organization within UGA’s Division of Student Affairs.
7
OFFICE OF RESEARCH
columns.uga.edu March 5, 2018
UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF GEORGIA
SPIA professor receives Regents’ teaching award Photo courtesy of Cogito Creative
By Tracy N. Coley
Derek Eberhart, left, Georgia Bio committee member and director of the University of Georgia’s Innovation Gateway, is pictured with UGA faculty members Dennis Kyle, Ted Ross, Steven Stice and Bradley Phillips at the 2018 Georgia Bio Awards dinner in Atlanta.
Special recognition
UGA receives life sciences industry awards from Georgia Bio By Allyson Mann tiny@uga.edu
The University of Georgia was well represented at the Georgia Bio Awards, with five awards recognizing programs either at or affiliated with the university. The awards were presented by Georgia Bio, the association for Georgia’s life sciences industry, at its 2018 annual awards dinner Feb. 15 in Atlanta. This year, two UGA units—the Center for Vaccines and Immunology and the Center for Tropical & Emerging Global Diseases—received awards, as did ArunA Biomedical, a biotechnology company that grew out of faculty research. The university also is affiliated with two additional award winners, the Georgia Clinical & Translational Science Alliance and the National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center for Cell Manufacturing Technologies. Georgia Bio members include pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device companies; medical centers; universities and research institutes; government groups; and other business organizations involved in the development of life sciencesrelated products and services. “Improving human health and welfare is a vitally important part of UGA’s land-grant mission in the 21st century, and we have worked hard to expand our capabilities in this regard,” said UGA Vice President for Research David Lee. “It is gratifying to receive these awards from Georgia Bio, as they testify to the impact of our programs and the success of the faculty responsible for them.” Ted M. Ross accepted the Phoenix Award, which was presented jointly to the Center for Vaccines and Immunology and Sanofi Pasteur. Sponsored by the Metro Atlanta Chamber, the award celebrates the best in industry and academic collaboration. Recipients have forged academic and industry relationships that drive translation and lead to new treatments and cures. Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar of Infectious Diseases, Ross also is director of the Center for Vaccines and Immunology, which is dedicated to improving human and animal health through new and improved vaccine technologies. Two Deals of the Year Awards were presented in recognition
of financial or commercial transactions that are significant to the development of Georgia’s life sciences industry. The first was awarded to the Georgia Clinical & Translational Science Alliance, or Georgia CTSA, a team comprising UGA, Emory University, the Morehouse School of Medicine and the Georgia Institute of Technology that will train new investigators and develop the infrastructure for accelerating research-based improvements in clinical care and outcomes for the benefit of Georgia citizens. Bradley Phillips, the Millikan-Reeve Professor of Pharmacy and director of the Clinical and Translational Research Unit, is UGA’s principal investigator for Georgia CTSA, which received a $51 million National Institutes of Health statewide grant. The second Deals of the Year Award was presented to the National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center for Cell Manufacturing Technologies, or CMaT, which received a $20 million grant. CMaT is a federally funded consortium based at the Georgia Institute of Technology. It is designed to lower the cost and improve the reliability and safety of advanced cell therapies for chronic diseases like heart disease and cancer. The UGA lead for CMaT is Steven Stice, director of the Regenerative Bioscience Center, Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar and D.W. Brooks Distinguished Professor in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Stice also accepted an Innovation Award for ArunA Biomedical, a biotechnology company he founded. ArunA Biomedical are experts in the design and scaling of a new class of cell-free biologic therapeutics and neural-specific drug delivery systems to treat central nervous system injury and neurodegenerative disorders. The Innovation Award honors those who are forging new ground by thinking outside traditional paradigms to create unique technology. The Center for Tropical & Emerging Global Diseases received a Community Award, presented to those whose contributions to Georgia’s life sciences community are worthy of special recognition. Directed by Dennis Kyle, CTEGD is one of the largest international centers of research focused on diseases of poverty common to undeveloped and poor regions of the world. CTEGD researchers work on diseases that afflict hundreds of millions of people around the globe.
WEEKLY READER
tcoley@uga.edu
Audrey Haynes, Josiah Meigs Teaching Professor and associate professor of political science in UGA’s School of Public and International Affairs, has been selected as the recipient of the 2018 Regents’ Teaching Excellence Award for online teaching for the University System of Georgia. Haynes, a longtime advocate for engaging students inside and outside the classroom, was chosen from numerous outstanding nomination portfolios across the state and received the award in recognition of Audrey Haynes continuing to expand and improve her online introductory political science course. Haynes, a 2014 Online Learning Faculty Fellow, pioneered the online introductory American government course POLS 1101E, a college-wide requirement for all UGA students. The course also is considered a gateway class for students interested in government, politics and public affairs.Through the Online Learning fellowship, Haynes expanded her knowledge of online course design and delivery for a media-rich, student-focused experience.Her high-demand course provides access for up to 300 students each semester who might otherwise have to wait for an opening in the traditional, face-to-face class. “Whether online or in person, Dr. Haynes demonstrates a deep commitment to ensuring that students are actively engaged in the learning process,” said Provost Pamela Whitten.“Her passion for the subjects she teaches is infectious, and students leave her courses with a deeper understanding of electoral politics and American government.” Recipients of the USG award are faculty who “are strongly committed to quality online teaching and learning, as evidenced by teaching and scholarly activities designed to advance the quality of online teaching and learning.” Current full-time faculty and academic staff who teach a minimum of 12 credit hours of fully online instruction at one of the USG institutions across the fall, spring and summer semesters are eligible for the award. Each institution may nominate one faculty member for the award. UGA coordinates nominations out of the Center for Teaching and Learning. Haynes has taught at UGA since 1999 and is frequently called upon for her expertise in political candidate communication strategy and the news media, particularly with presidential nomination campaigns. She is also director of the new applied politics track of the Public Affairs Professional Certificate Program. “This wonderful award is shared with the administration who has supported the online learning initiatives, the support network that we have at UGA for teaching and learning, and in large part, our students, who aren’t afraid to try something different and love learning as much as we love teaching,” said Haynes, who was recognized March 2 at the Regents’ Scholarship Gala in Atlanta.
CYBERSIGHTS
ABOUT COLUMNS
Book analyzes essays on nature writing William Summer founded the renowned Pomaria Nursery, which thrived from the 1840s to the 1870s in central South Carolina and became the center of a bustling town that today bears its name. The nursery grew into one of the most important American nurseries of the antebellum period, offering varieties of fruit trees and ornamentals to gardeners throughout the South. Summer also published catalogs containing well selected and thoroughly tested varieties of plants and assisted his brother, Adam, in publishing several agricultural journals throughout the 1850s and up until 1862. In Taking Root, James Everett Kibler Taking Root: The Nature Jr., who retired in 2009 as a professor Writing of William and of English at UGA, collects for the first Adam Summer of Pomaria Edited by James Everett Kibler Jr. time the nature writing of William and Adam Summer, two of America’s earliest University of South Carolina Press environmental authors. Hardcover and ebook: $39.99 Written over a span of two decades, their essays offer an impressive environmental ethic. A sampling of their more than 600 articles appears in this volume.
Columns is available to the 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 Communications Coordinator Krista Richmond Art Director Jackie Baxter Roberts
Financial aid office redevelops website
http://ofsa.uga.edu
The Office of Student Financial Aid recently updated its website to the new OmniUpdate content management system. In partnership with EITS, the site features a cleaner list of announcements on the home page
and a more vivid, UGA-branded color palette. While the structure of the site remains the same, users should be aware that page URLs may have changed in the transition and should update bookmarked pages.
Photo Editor Dorothy Kozlowski Writers Kellyn Amodeo Leigh Beeson 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.
8 March 5, 2018 columns.uga.edu PROFESSOR
from page 1
coastal microbial communities. “Dr. Moran’s work is inspirational,” Virginia Armbrust, the Lowell and Frankie Wakefield Professor and director of the School of Oceanography at the University of Washington, wrote in a nomination letter. “It has transformed our view of the microbial world and the impact of these microscopic organisms on global scale processes.” Moran’s research is supported by grants totaling $6.7 million, including awards from the National Science Foundation, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and the Simons Foundation. She has served as principal investigator or co-principal investigator for grants totaling $16.7 million over the past decade, and the results of her research have been reported in more than 160 refereed journal publications. David Karl, the Victor and Peggy Brandstrom Pavel Professor of Microbial Oceanography at the University of Hawaii, described Moran’s extensive portfolio of published research articles as a “tour de force in the field of microbial ecology. “Her body of work on sulfur cycling constitutes the foundation for all future research in this discipline and is well read, well appreciated and well cited,” Karl wrote in a nomination letter, adding that her work has been cited more than 1,000 times per year since 2012, placing her citations among the top of her field. “The ocean microbiome will likely emerge as a major scientific
SUMMIT
CONTEST from page 1 c hallenge for the next decade, and Moran is pre-positioned as an articulate spokesperson and effective leader.” In addition to holding the title of Distinguished Research Professor, Moran is a recipient of the UGA Creative Research Medal and has been recognized for her impact on students by the UGA Career Center. She is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and of the American Academy of Microbiology. She was named as a Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation Investigator in Marine Microbiology and a Simons Foundation Investigator in Life Sciences. She also is a recipient of the D.C. White Research and Mentoring Award from the American Society for Microbiology. “Professor Moran is an internationally recognized leader in the areas of oceanography, marine biogeochemistry, microbial ecology and environmental genomics. Her research has led to paradigm shifts in these fields, and the implications of her work are of global significance,” Daniela Di Iorio, professor and head of the marine sciences department, and Distinguished Research Professor James T. Hollibaugh wrote in a joint nomination letter. The Regents’ Professorship includes a $10,000 salary increase and is granted for an initial period of three years, which may be renewed. No more than one Regents’ Professorship is given in any year at UGA.
from page 1
advancement, innovation, financial health, effective communication, leadership, entrepreneurship and STEM advocacy. This year’s summit theme is focused on designing the future; it encourages women to realize their full potential, deepen their impact on their communities and work together to level the playing field for women in STEM locally and globally. Hamrita will deliver the opening and closing remarks at the summit, and additional UGA speakers and panelists include Ian Biggs, senior associate director for startups at Innovation Gateway; Karen Burg, Harbor Lights Chair in Small Animal Studies; Tim Burg, director of the Office of STEM Education; Crystal Leach, director of industry collaborations; Jenna Jambeck, associate professor in the College of Engineering; and Elena Karahanna, the Edmund Rast Professor of Business.
Provost Pamela Whitten will moderate a discussion on higher education leadership with panelists Michelle Garfield Cook, vice provost for diversity and inclusion and strategic university Initiatives; Sarah Covert, associate provost for faculty affairs; and Lisa Nolan, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine. “Promoting the increased representation of women in STEM fields is essential for the ability of our state and nation to remain competitive in the global economy,” Whitten said. “Dr. Hamrita has organized an extraordinary leadership development event that will inform and inspire individuals while addressing an issue of urgent importance, and I am delighted that so many UGA faculty members are participating.” To register for the Global Women in STEM Leadership Summit, visit http:// www.wielead.org.
Bulletin Board Lilly Fellows deadline
The Center for Teaching and Learning is accepting applications until March 6 at 5 p.m. for the 20182020 Lilly Teaching Fellows program. Faculty in their first, second or third year of a tenure-track position at UGA are eligible to apply. Information and application materials are at http://bit.ly/2Cmr7RH.
Columns publication break
Columns will not be published March 12 because of spring break. Regular weekly publication will resume March 19. Send announcements for that issue to columns@uga. edu by 5 p.m. on March 7.
Free golf clinics
Staff at the University of Georgia Golf Course will host free golf clinics for UGA staff and faculty March 15 and 22 from 6-7 p.m. The clinics are open to golfers of all skill levels. Each session will include long- and shortgame instruction. To reserve a space, email Clint Udell, PGA golf instructor, at cudell96@uga.edu and let him
know if you would like to borrow golf clubs for the clinic.
Flu vaccine study participants Researchers at UGA and the Oak Ridge Associated Universities are conducting a study to understand how adults think about adult vaccines and to get their reactions to vaccine education materials. For more information, call 706-713-2721 or email ctru@uga.edu.
TEDxUGA registration
Registration for TEDxUGA 2018: Connect is now open. The sixth annual celebration of ideas worth spreading will be held March 22 from 7-10 p.m. at The Classic Center. Individuals may register for $20 or $30 with a T-shirt. For more information, visit TEDxUGA.com/register. Additional details will be shared with registrants via email. Bulletin Board is limited to information that may pertain to a majority of faculty and staff members.
A food business development specialist, Kane and her center colleagues have organized the annual contest since 2007. “The legacy of excellence and camaraderie that our Flavor of Georgia finalists and winners have achieved continues to be remarkable,” she said. “It is a competition, but it’s also a family. Over the years, contestants have built collaborations and networks that continue to support and enhance food entrepreneurship in Georgia, from the coast to the mountains. It’s not just great food, it’s economic development.” Judges for the final round of the contest
TECHNOLOGY
from page 1
skills during different phases,” Biggs said. “We help startups work out what their needs are and connect them with the people or resources they need to move forward.” That help can come from other areas around the university, including Alumni Association members serving as mentors as well as law students providing legal advice. The first step is fully generating a startup idea. Then, there is an evaluation process, and Innovation Gateway provides the tools to help those with ideas evaluate their prospects. As part of this stage, participants go through the National Science Foundation’s Innovation Corps program to help the ideas move toward commercialization. UGA was named an I-Corps Site last year, and the corresponding program is headed by Biggs. It is during this stage that participants establish exactly what their idea is, what it will do and who their customers are. During the development phase, participants often work with the Georgia Research Alliance for initial seed grants. Innovation Gateway also offers office and lab space for additional research and development. In the last phase, companies learn how to scale up their business, which can include the product production process and building the right team of employees. Candidus is just starting its Innovation Gateway path. The company was started by Erico Mattos, who received his doctorate in crop and soil sciences from UGA in 2013, and Marc van Iersel, the Dooley Professor of Horticulture in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. The goal of Candidus is to help greenhouse growers maximize their return on investment by increasing yields and reducing costs. The company is developing products to control when and how much light is provided in greenhouses by supplemental lighting strategies. The technology takes into account weather conditions along with a specific crop’s light requirements and physiology. Candidus’ technology creates predictability for growers by providing consistent lighting, which yields stronger, healthier crops. Candidus is in Innovation Gateway’s development phase and is ready to apply for GRA’s Phase 3 grant. Mattos and van Iersel also are gathering focus group feedback and defining their customer base. According to Mattos and van Iersel, the assistance Innovation Gateway provided through grants and mentorship will help them go from a startup to a mature company. “Without them, I’m not sure any of
GRANT
will include food brokers, grocery buyers and other food industry experts. They evaluate entries by category based on their Georgia theme, commercial appeal, taste, innovation and market potential. Contestants will provide samples to judges and pitch their products in a Shark Tank-style presentation. Finalists will be named in each category, and a grand prize winner and People’s Choice Award winner will be named. More information about the contest is at www.flavorofga.com. Follow the contest on Twitter @FlavorofGA or on Instagram at www.instagram.com/flavorofga.
this would have happened,” van Iersel said. “Without Innovation Gateway, this would have just been a really cool idea and a bunch of academic papers.” “They provide support from Day 1,” Mattos added. Rick Shimkets, president and CEO of Abeome, also is familiar with the support Innovation Gateway offers. “There is no better way to go in Georgia than to work in an incubator,” Shimkets said. “You really need this kind of resource.” Abeome is a “graduate” of Innovation Gateway and recently moved into its own building in Bogart. The company focuses on developing therapeutic monoclonal antibodies to treat a variety of human diseases. Innovation Gateway helped Abeome go from technology to business by assisting with GRA and Small Business Innovation Research grants, mitigating costs for lab equipment, developing business plans, fostering key relationships and providing lab and office space. Now, Abeome is poised to scale up its business. In fact, applying the lessons learned through Innovation Gateway, Abeome’s new building provides opportunity for expansion. In addition to helping start new companies, Innovation Gateway also assists with traditional technology transfer, or the licensing of UGA-developed technology to an industry partner for product development. The licensing program works with researchers to identify technologies with commercial potential, protect intellectual property and identify possible paths to the marketplace. UGA has ranked among the top 10 U.S. universities in licensing deal flow for 10 consecutive years. UGA’s diverse research enterprise produces a rich pipeline of licensing and startup company opportunities. The top market sectors in 2017 included biotechnology, agriculture, software, pharmaceuticals and scientific services. Expanding technology transfer is among the areas of focus for the Presidential Innovation District Task Force, announced by President Jere W. Morehead during his 2018 State of the University in January. The task force was formed to develop a strategic, long-term vision for an innovation district at UGA that can—among other goals—connect the university’s creative endeavors with the broader entrepreneurial landscape. Eberhart is part of the task force, led by Lee and Griff Doyle, vice president for government relations.
from page 1
and Sciences and a member of the university’s Complex Carbohydrate Research Center. Currently, understanding the roles that glycans play in diseases such as cancer involves extensive literature-based research and manual collection of data from disparate databases and websites. GlyGen will simplify this process by providing scientists with a road map that shows key relationships among diverse kinds of information, allowing them to quickly find and retrieve the most current knowledge available and make rapid progress in their glycobiology research. “Post-translational modifications along with genomics play an important role in health and disease,” said Raja Mazumder, co-principal investigator and associate professor of biochemistry and molecular medicine at the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences. “Using just g enomics
research for discovery limits scientific advancement—we may not be able to find mutations to explain the prevalence or rate of incidence of a particular disease. For that, we need to understand glycosylation, and we need the resources and tools to support this discipline.” York, Mazumder and their research teams are working closely with researchers from the U.S., Asia, Europe and Australia to build GlyGen. This will allow them to leverage work that already has been done in the field and receive input to make sure GlyGen is accessible to researchers without a glycoscience background. The project, “Computational and Informatics Tools for Research in Glycosciences,” will be funded through 2022. The project description is available at http://bit.ly/2FdzfVm.