Tags: Earth

Two theories of planet formation have long-dominated astronomy - the first theory, “core accretion,” posits that planets grow slowly from particles of dust ultimately forming pebbles, then boulders, which coalesce to form planets over tens of millions of years.  The second theory – “gravitational instability,” in which planets form quickly from direct collapse of gas and dust, requiring hundreds to thousands of years instead – received new…
The awards, scholarships, and achievements by Franklin College students, alumni, faculty, and staff don't stop for summer. Congratulations to the members of our community whose individual honors bring great distinction to the college and the University of Georgia. A glimpse of the excellence that shined through the summer months: Jordyn Faucette, a senior philosophy, English, and political science major, was one of 19 students across the nation…
As campus winds into fall semester, Franklin College faculty have been working all summer – sharing, expertise, informed opinion and new research findings in media around the world. From cosmic rays to hurricanes to workaholism, a sample of the stories we saw this summer: John Knox, professor geography and associate director of the atmospheric sciences program, comments on how Project 2025 would impact the National Weather Service – AJC Dawdling…
Welcome to all students - new students, transfer students, graduate students – everyone who is new to campus – and our returning students. We are glad you are part of the UGA community! Make the most of your opportunities. Make new friends! Join a club, attend a performance AND and an art exhibition AND a lecture on a subject outside of your field. It's all here! Contact your advisor and remember to get some rest. Have a great semester!
Fourth-year students in the Franklin College department of geography and atmospheric sciences program Shania Green and Jada Lamar have been selected to receive 2024 American Meteorological Society Senior Named Scholarships. The national scholarships range from $1,000 to $26,000 and help further the education of outstanding graduate and undergraduate students pursuing a career in the atmospheric and related oceanic or hydrologic sciences.…
Three Franklin College scholars are among five UGA faculty selected to receive 2024 Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) foundation awards from the National Science Foundation for their research and potential as academic role models. Our colleagues in Research Communications share the details: The awardees are assistant professors Melanie Reber (Franklin College of Arts and Sciences Department of Chemistry), Christopher Newton (…
Nicholas Foukal, physical oceanographer most recently at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), has joined the Skidaway Institute of Oceanography faculty. Foukal will begin his role as an assistant professor on August 1, 2024. “I am excited to join the faculty at Skidaway and get started,” said Foukal. “In many ways, I will be continuing what I began at WHOI and will keep the positive momentum going that I had built there on the…
Ryan Smith, academic advisor for Geography and Art in the UGA Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, has been selected as a recipient of the NACADA Outstanding New Advisor Award. Smith received the UGA Outstanding New Advisor Award in spring 2024, which made him UGA’s nominee for the global NACADA award. His award will be presented in a ceremony at the NACADA Annual Conference this October. Established in 1983, the NACADA Global Awards…
Supported by a National Science Foundation grant, marine sciences faculty member Samantha Joye led an interdisciplinary team in Spring 2024—composed of researchers from Montana State University, University of Texas at Austin, and University of Wisconsin—to the Gulf of California aboard the research vessel Atlantis, a U.S. Navy ship operated by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Our colleagues in UGA Research Communications share a terrific…
Strengthening the faculty across disciplines and tenure-track lines, the Center for Teaching and Learning Fellows for Transformative Teaching bring together experienced faculty from across UGA to explore and engage in conversations about advanced teaching practices. CTL announced its 2024-25 Fellows, which include four from the Franklin College: Charles Byrd,Franklin College of Arts & Sciences Paula J Davis-Olwell,College of Public Health…
Invited by UGA scientists Adam Greer and Marc Frischer, Johnson High School (Chatham County) principal Derrick Muhammad and four JHS educators spent just over 24 hours onboard the R/V Savannah several dozen miles off the Georgia coast, learning about the process of collecting oceanographic data with the ultimate goal of relaying insights back to their students and using their experience to develop future lesson plans: “For the UGA Skidaway…
Marine sciences faculty member Natalie Cohen has received a multi-year grant from the Simons Foundation to support her phytoplankton research investigations off the Georgia coast: Cohen, assistant professor of marine sciences in the University of Georgia’s Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, has been named a 2024 Simons Early Career Investigator. The three-year grant provides $810,000 to fund her work tracking shifts in phytoplankton…
As responses to climate change move toward adaptive solutions, plant genetics research faculty at the University of Georgia are seeking plant-based solutions. Some of these colleagues – from across campus, within and beyond the Franklin College – conduct studies at the cellular level, while others investigate plants as whole organisms. Still others are exploring how epigenetics shape entire ecosystems. And while a number of UGA geneticists…
How U.S. science and innovation are positioned to respond to rising global competition and shifting priorities for the nation’s economy, security, public health and well-being will be discussed at the first State of the Science address on June 26 in Washington, D.C. The State of the Science address will be followed by a panel discussion of seven eminent leaders from across academia, including J. Marshall Shepherd, associate dean for…
After completing both his Master’s Degree (’95) and PhD (’04) in geography(focusing on geospatial techniques) in the department of geography, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences alumnus and retired U.S Army colonel, Steve Fleming did not have initial intentions to pursue a career in higher education. However, his experiences in the military, combined with the knowledge acquired from his degrees, led him to a career path focused on educating…
Today's THE day! 6,627 undergraduates have met requirements to participate in the university’s spring Commencement ceremonies tonight. This wonderful achievement by these soon-to-be UGA alumni marks an important moment on their journeys and the Franklin College takes great pride in celebrating each and every member of the Class of 2024. Welcome parents, friends, family, and loved ones to celebrate your graduate and all UGA graduates. Your love…
Congratulations to all of our master's and doctoral students on this momentous day! Welcome to campus, parents, friends and loved ones. Live stream of today's event. Ceremony Location:Stegeman Coliseum Stegeman Coliseum Map Master's/Specialists Ceremony:Start Time: 10:00 a.m.Doors Open: 8:00 a.m. Doctoral Ceremony:Start Time: 2:00 p.m.Doors Open: 1:00 p.m.  
Highlights and thanks for a great 2024 academic year from Anna Stenport, Dean of the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
From competitions and professional society inductions to the most prestigious fellowships and scholarships, our colleagues – and students – continued to shine brightly, lighting up Honors season at UGA and beyond. A roundup of just a few of the many awards and accolades: Bob Schmitz, UGA Foundation Professorship in Plant Sciences and Lars G. Ljungdahl Distinguished Investigator in the department of genetics, was honored with the 2024 Charles…
Franklin faculty expertise and research findings – from a new COVID test to the rise of hybrid species and the dangers of bounce houses – appeared in a variety of media around the world during April. A sample of the breath of subject matter and the reach of public scholarship, plus coverage of a theatre alumnus: Black-owned autonomous grocer goes where other stores aren’t – Jerry Shannon, associate professor of geography, quoted by…
The 2024 Generative AI Competition for UGA students took place this spring and the winners were announced this week. In the competition, UGA students and student teams were invited to use AI to create something meaningful to enrich the UGA community/experience.  Eight projects were submitted, ranging in topic from threatened species to schedules. Earlier this month, the top three projects were determined by a panel of faculty judges:…
Study Abroad can introduce life-changing experiences for students – whether visiting foreign countries for the first time or opening new connections to people, places, and potential careers. Franklin College units have historically offered robust Study Away opportunities – the Cortona program and the Classics Study in Rome were both initiated in the 1970s. Integrating travel and study opportunities with on-camous degree programs can be…
Three University of Georgia faculty members – two from the Franklin College – have been named Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the organization announced this week, bringing the university to 45 total members of the exclusive group. Fellows are elected each year by the AAAS Council to recognize achievements that lead to scientific progress. This year, UGA’s new Fellows are Victor Thompson and Marguerite…
The Division of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, take a bow. University of Georgia juniors Elaine “Lainey” Gammon and Sara Logsdon are among 438 undergraduates across the nation to be recognized as Barry Goldwater Scholars in 2024, earning the highest undergraduate award of its type for the fields of mathematics, engineering and natural sciences. Congratulations to these amazing students – and the Franklin faculty who are teaching and…
Hannah Ericson, a doctoral candidate in Genetics, is the Grand Prize Winner at this year’s University of Georgia Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) Competition for her presentation titled “Catalyzing Change: What Helps Department Heads Be Successful?” A Ph.D. candidate studying biology education in the Genetics department in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, Hannah works with Dr. Tessa Andrews studying teaching evaluations at UGA: To promote…