Tags: Society

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David Shaffer: A legacy of teaching, research, and giving back

David Shaffer, Josiah Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professor Emeritus in theDepartment of Psychology, has made an indelible mark through his passion for teaching, innovative research, and generous philanthropy. In an April 15, 2025 interview with Rich Slatcher, Gail M. Williamson Distinguished Professor of Psychology, Shaffer shared insights into his journey in psychology, cherished memories from UGA, and the motivations behind his…

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National Academy of Inventors UGA chapter launch

The University of Georgia officially launched its chapter of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) on April 28, with 12 Franklin College faculty among the 31 founding members. The chapter will celebrate innovation and the societal impact of academic inventions at UGA.  Since its founding, NAI has promoted innovation and the societal impact of academic inventions by recognizing and empowering U.S. patent holders, supporting education and…

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Robinson elected to AAAS

University of Georgia Foundation Distinguished Professor of Chemistry Gregory Robinson has been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Robonison joins an illustrious list of 250 members elected in 2025, including renowned figures like CNN news anchor Anderson Cooper, actor and humanitarian Danny Glover, filmmaker Ava DuVernay and World Central Kitchen founder José Andrés. A UGA faculty member since 1995, Robinson has conducted…

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Noted and Quoted, March/April

Franklin faculty led into spring and beyond with news and expertise across the media. A sample of the stories available in media across the globe: Wildfires are burning across the South. Here’s why more could be on the way – Pam Knox, faculty member in the Atmospheric Sciences Program, quoted by the AJC   Lunar sample research could help protect astronauts and uncover origins of water on the moon – research co-authored by professor of…

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Dawgs In the Desert – Morocco Connect Abroad Reflections 

Dawgs make their mark wherever they go, and now their prints are left behind in the golden sands of Morocco. For three first-year students — international affairs major Brady Hawkins, regenerative bioscience major Bram Rosenblatt and music education major Nichole Botsoe — the opportunity to take their studies overseas through the University of Georgia’s recently-introduced Connect Abroad program provided an unforgettable experience.  We…

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Franklin Forward Research Grants

The Franklin College announced the latest round of funding through the Franklin Forward graduate student seed grant program. In the spring 2025 cycle, six projects were funded, with donor support. The six Franklin Forward recipients for spring 2025, and their projects: Carsynn Miller, doctoral student, industrial/Organizational Psychology: Effective Talent Management Strategies for Autistic Employees Sloan Garner, doctoral student,Theatre and…

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Student Q & A: Alexa Bill shows the power of 'and'

Alexa Bill, double major in history and social studies education in the Mary Frances Early College of Education, and triple minor in classics, European studies & historic preservation in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences shows the power of the ampersand with her multiple academic pursuits as well as many interests on and off campus. 1. What advice would you give to high school students who are preparing for the college…

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Franklin College Innovation Initiative 2025 – the next quarter-century

Part 2 of 3 – Research Partnerships and Public Engagement Franklin College has introduced a three-part Innovation Initiative guiding its efforts and focus into the next era of American higher education. The initiative consists of three pillars designed to complement each other and work together: 1) Academic Innovation, 2) Research Partnerships and Public Engagement, and 3) Student Success. In the second of a three-part series of interviews,…

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UGA wins Regents Cup Debate Series

The Georgia Debate Union won the overall team title at this year's Regents Cup Debate Tournament on Thursday, April 17. The Regents Cup was created by Chancellor Sonny Perdue in 2024 to support civil dialogue and debate amongst USG colleges and universities. The competition was hosted by the University System of Georgia at Middle Georgia State University in Macon.    The Georgia Debate Union is housed in the Franklin College of Arts…

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Senior Russian Flagship double-major named a 2025 Truman Scholar

University of Georgia senior Mercedes “Sadie” Bengs is one of 54 undergraduates from 49 colleges and universities across the nation to be selected as a 2025 Truman Scholar, a prestigious award given each year to students who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership potential and commitment to a career in government or the nonprofit sector. Bengs is from Aberdeen, South Dakota, and is studying international affairs in the School of Public and…

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2025 Franklin College Alumni Awards and Donor Celebration

The Franklin College honored donors and alumni April 11 at the annual Franklin College Alumni Awards and Donor Celebration. Philanthropic support for new professorships and expanded Study Away opportunities and scholarships for students, as well as facilities and instructional innovations in the Jill and Marvin Willis Center for Writing and the Layton Design Studio provided a snapshot of an outstanding 2025 and the building blocks for new…

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Special PNAS feature on Global Inequality includes UGA's Birch

A collection of articles in a special feature published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Economic Inequality Over the Very Long Term, released findings of a large, international research team that includes University of Georgia faculty member Jennifer Birch. An expert on the archaeology of Indigenous societies in eastern North America, Birch is co-author on 4 of the eleven articles comprising the April 14 special feature…

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Franklin College Innovation Initiative 2025 – the next quarter-century

Part 1 of 3 - Academic Innovation  Franklin College has introduced a three-part Innovation Initiative guiding its efforts and focus into the next era of American higher education. The initiative consists of three pillars designed to complement each other and work together: 1) Academic Innovation, 2) Research Partnerships and Public Engagement, and 3) Student Success. In the first of a three-part series of interviews, Franklin College Dean…

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Franklin's Sloka Sudhin awarded Goldwater Scholarship

Sloka Sudhin is one of three University of Georgia students among the 441 undergraduates from across the nation to be recognized as Barry Goldwater Scholars this spring. They have earned the highest undergraduate award of its type for the fields of mathematics, engineering and natural sciences. Sudhin, a Foundation Fellow and Stamps Scholar from Marietta, Georgia, is majoring in data science and applied mathematics in the Franklin College of…

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Tom Schulman, "Dead Poets Society" screenwriter, visits UGA Department of Religion

Greeted by a round of applause from a class full of students, "Dead Poets Society" screenwriter and Academy Award winner Tom Schulman visited UGA on April 10. Schulman was interviewed by religion professor and department head Derrick Lemons about his process writing the film and his experiences in the movie industry as a part of Lemons’ Anthropology of American Religion course. Students watched the film to prepare for Schulman’s visit, which…

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Franklin students present their research at CURO Symposium

As visitors descended the escalator of the Classic Center and walked through the doors of the Grand Hall, they encountered hundreds of hardworking students eager to present their research. An atmosphere of education and engagement filled the air.  On April 7 and 8, undergraduate students from UGA came together to present at the annual Center for Undergraduate Research (CURO) Symposium with a record-breaking number of 723 presentations…

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UGA's Roberts Thompson receives Society for American Archeology Award

University of Georgia faculty member Amanda Roberts Thompson has been selected to receive the 2025 Award for Excellence in Curation and Collections Management from the Society of American Archeology. The 2025 SAA awards will be presented April 25 at the SAA 90th Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado. This Award for Excellence in Curation and Collections Management is given annually to recognize excellence in curation and collections…

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Psi Chi convention showcases student research in psychology

This spring, the University of Georgia Franklin College of Arts and Sciences hosted the annual Psi Chi (International Honor Society for Psychology) Convention, an event showcasing undergraduate psychology students’ research. Organized by the Franklin College Department of Psychology, the convention reflected the department's commitment to academic rigor, collaboration, and exploration in psychology. The event featured a range of student…

Facilitating Learning and Optimal Wellness Laboratory
Franklin College Multidisciplinary Seed Projects Program funds six research projects

For the second consecutive year, the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences Multidisciplinary Seed Grant Program has funded two new tracks of collaborative research projects: Rapid Interdisciplinary Proposals (RIP) and Innovation in Interdisciplinary Instruction (I-Cubed). The seed grant program responds to the need for new paradigms that shape future research, life-long learning, public discourse, service, and dynamic entrepreneurship. $50,…

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Ron Simons, 1946-2025

Ron Simons, Ph.D., Regents' Professor in the department of sociology in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences at UGA passed away on Monday, March 31, 2025. Simons had a long and fruitful collaboration with the Center for Family Research (CFR) over the years, and is leaving behind a profound legacy through his contributions to the field and support of other scholars’ work. CFR’s director, Steven Beach, Ph.D., says, Simons “was a…

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Research improves AI for smartphones

As Machine Learning tools become increasingly commonplace, their ubiquity is accompanied by a growing need to use the tools on mobile devices. From the application side, the endless possibilities go well beyond common speech or image recognition. And the growing computational capacity of smartphones creates necessary room for improved hand-held AI. Researchers at the University of Georgia have recently developed an innovative software framework…

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Four Franklin College faculty members named AAAS Fellows

In honor of their extraordinary achievements leading to scientific advancement, Five University of Georgia faculty – four from the Franklin College – have been named Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, bringing the university’s total membership in the exclusive group to 50. Franklin's new Fellows are Thomas Mote, Robert Schmitz, Michael Terns and Zheng-Hua Ye. Melissa Mitchum of the College of Agricultural and…

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UGA's Bik selected for National Academy of Sciences Kavli Fellows program

The National Academy of Sciences selected University of Georgia faculty member Holly Bik as one of eighty-seven of the nation’s brightest young scientists from industry, academia, and government to take part in the National Academy of Sciences’ U.S. and international Kavli Frontiers of Science symposia for 2025. Bik attended the three-day "Kavli Frontiers of Science 2025” conference at the beginning of March, which brought together scientists…

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Alumna Spanish minor builds expertise to make a difference

Ashley Galanti, a Ph.D. candidate in biomedical engineering in the UGA College of Engineering is working to create a device that can detect early signs of seizures and alert users in advance. Her journey into research and entrepreneurship wasn’t sparked by academic ambition alone but rather by living with her mom and brother affected by epilepsy. A challenging part of epilepsy is the unpredictability of seizures. Knowing when one is coming can…

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Fiction vs. fact: philosophy lecture broadens the cultural distinctions

How do we define fiction? Can these definitions be applied across time and culture? Do we even need an all-encompassing definition of fiction? Hannah Kim, assistant professor of philosophy at the University of Arizona, explored these questions from a transhistorical and transcultural perspective in her lecture “Fiction without Mimesis: A Comparative Philosophy of Fiction” as part of the Kleiner Lecture series at UGA.  On February 27,…
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