News from the Chronicles - June 2012

millet stalk
Genetics a key to better biofuels

In the public realm at least, biofuels have been on a bit of a roller coaster ride over the last 12-15 years, as their promise becomes mired in politics and regional agriculture issues. But in research labs across the country and at UGA, scientists have held steady. A newly published genetic sequence and map of foxtail millet, a close relative of switchgrass and an important food crop in Asia, is giving scientists working to increase biofuel…


School of Music student places second in international competition

Simon Wildman, a second year Doctoral student at the Hugh Hodgson School of Music, was recently awarded Second Prize at the International Instrumental Competition in Markneukirchen, Germany. The competition is held for tuba once every four years, rotating among other orchestral instruments, and is considered to be one of the most prestigious international solo competitions for many orchestral instruments. The field of competitors began…


Outer boroughs

One benefit, and there are many, of pulling together content for unit-level newsletters and soliciting news from faculty directly is that I find out about things they are doing that might normally escape (my) attention - professional activity that doesn't rise to the level of press releases, but a host of exhibitions, lectures, interviews and other work. There is a lot of this and it's too-often elusive at the college-level. But much of it is…


Study abroad blogging

It's the medium of the internet age, but still one we don't take enough advantage of: blogging. A funny argument to make on a blog, sure; but here I'm thinking specifically of a weblog as a kind of informational travelogue for students when they study abroad. Not only can you share photos and written descriptions of your experiences with family, friends and colleagues; a blog helps us all piece together and understand the story of what it is you…


Kannan receives NSF Career award

 


Trethewey named U.S. Poet Laureate

Franklin alumna and 2007 Pulitzer Prize winner Natasha Trethewey has been named the 19th Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry, the Library of Congress announced. Trethewey, 46, who has been the Poet Laureate of Mississippi since January, says that she’s excited and nervous and that “the position of the laureate is one where you can really do significant things.” One role of the poet is to record “across time and space what speaks to us about an…


Broadening diversity by strengthening the sciences

The reality of underrepresentation of various ethnicities in particular fields, whether it is biology or linguistics, is an effective way of framing diversity issues. But outside of its sociological ramifications, making any field more-representative has the added bonus of funneling more people and building more expertise in those fields, and expanding the volume of expertise is an important indirect benefit. This is not to downplay the…


Franklin College: Framework for the Future

  From Interim Dean Hugh Ruppersburg:    Dear members of the Franklin College community, I am pleased to share with you the outcome of our year-long strategic planning initiative:  "Franklin College:  Framework for the Future" (framework.franklin.uga.edu).  As the front page indicates, this plan offers a statement of shared values and aspirations that emerged from discussions throughout the college community, and…


Boren Scholars earn study abroad opportunities

Five UGA undergraduates werenamed 2012-13 NSEP Boren Scholars for study abroad - three of them from the Franklin College: Five University of Georgia undergraduates-a record number-will be spending the next academic year participating in language study abroad programs thanks to the National Security Education Program David L. Boren Undergraduate Scholarship. The UGA Boren Scholars are juniors Tia Ayele of Stone Mountain, Malena Lopez-Sotelo of…


Atmospheric Sciences

The Franklin College is home to so many academic departments that we probably don't spend enough pixels talking about the many institutes, centers and programs also at the heart of student and faculty activity. I will attempt at least a partial remedy with periodic spotlights of our programs. Today: Atmospheric Sciences. The University of Georgia’s Atmospheric Sciences Program addresses the needs of students interested in studying meteorology…

Arts

Health

Earth

Society

Human Nature

International

 

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