Tags: Society

photo of five people taking a selfie
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…

photo of people speaking in front of posters, ballroom
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…

photo of woman, outdoors, day
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…

photo of woman with poster
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,…

headshot photo of man
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…

photo of person holding cellphone with graphic overlay
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…

photo of arch, building in background, day
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…

photo of woman in red coat, ice-coverd sea in background
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…

photo ofo woman with microscope, lab coat, gloves
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…

headshot photo of woman, outdoors
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,…

photo of woman, black screen in background
UGA's Hall named National Geographic Explorer

University of Georgia faculty member Cassandra Hall has been named a National Geographic Explorer, a National Geographic Society program that recognizes groundbreaking scientists, conservationists, educators, and storytellers. This year, 20 were selected from among 3000 applicants.  National Geographic Explorers are exceptional individuals in their fields who receive funding and support from the Society to illuminate and protect our…

photo of six people in a room with laptop and projection screen, table
UGA joins leading institutions in NextGenAI consortium

The University of Georgia is one of the founding partners in NextGenAI, a first-of-its-kind consortium with 15 leading research institutions dedicated to using AI to accelerate research breakthroughs and transform education. OpenAI, known for its generative AI technologies including ChatGPT, is committing $50 million in research grants, access to OpenAI’s tools and compute funding through the consortium. The initiative will support the discovery…

screenshot photo of woman with weather graphic in background
In today's weather: Franklin alumna brings the forecast

Leigh Spann (BS '01) served as the morning meteorologist for WFLA, Tampa Bay’s NBC affiliate, for the last 17 years. Over that time, she and her community weathered sunny days and severe storms like Hurricane Milton, which packed 100+ MPH winds and a possible storm surge of more than 15 feet: A storm like Milton could wipe out large portions of a metro area that numbers 3 million residents. “I try to keep that thought in my head when I’m talking…

photo of two people in a small boat in water, snow-capped land in background
UGA faculty experts aboard Nat Geo vessel in Antarctica

On February 1, 2025, UGA faculty members Patricia Medeiros and Renato Castelao took part in a National Geographic-Lindblad Expedition to the Antarctic Peninsula as part of their Visiting Scientist Program. Medeiros and Castelao, both professors in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences department of marine sciences, boarded the National Geographic Endurance in Ushuaia, Argentina, bound for the White Continent, along with…

photo of man in office, with bookshelves, desk
Pridemore named UGA Marienthal Professor

University of Georgia faculty member William Pridemore has been named the inaugural Marienthal Professor in Sociology in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. The professorship was approved by the Georgia Board of Regents in fall 2024. Pridemore is currently Franklin Professor and head of the UGA department of sociology in the Franklin College. A Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and of the…

graphic with spark, black text on white
Seven distinguished alumni recognized with 2025 awards

The 2025 Franklin College of Arts and Sciences Alumni Award winners highlight leaders in their industries, creating new ways of conducting business, collaborating on innovations, maintaining their curious nature and making an impact in their communities and around the world. This January we introduced the Franklin Spark - characteristics that unite us across the arts and sciences. These traits are undeniably ambitious, exceptionally curious…

photo of woman with winter hat and microphone
UGA music minor Laila Carter shows her spark on Today

A first-year UGA student with big musical dreams got a chance to showcase her singing Tuesday morning during a surprise moment on The Today Show. She did not disappoint: Laila Carter, a journalism and political science major minoring in music who attended North Oconee High School, was on the TODAY plaza on spring break with other members of UGA when host Craig Melvin asked for her. Carter told Melvin that she wanted to one day be on Broadway, '…

photo of woman in office, with windows, day
Janet Westpheling, 1951-2025

Longtime professor in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences’ genetics department, Janet (Jan) Westpheling passed away Feb. 16 after an extended illness.  Westpheling's UGA legacy will be honored through a Foundation Fellowship fund: “Jan was a dear friend and an extraordinary member of the UGA faculty,” said President Jere W. Morehead. “She was a devoted mentor to many students, a responsible and dedicated University leader, and a…

photo of four people seated with name tags, audience
How I Got the Job: Franklin Math Alumni share insights at Industrial Math Day 2025

This spring, four UGA Department of Mathematics alumni returned to campus for Industrial Mathematics Day to share insightful advice with undergraduate students at the event’s panel. Returning alumni include: Patrick Akande (PhD Mathematics `24), Jack Beasley (BS Mathematics `23, MS Business Analytics `24), Annabelle Marshall (BS Mathematics `23) and Bria Ross-Butler (BS Mathematics `23).  Jack Beasley received his B.S. in Mathematics at UGA…

photo of man speaking at podium
Franklin alumnus Artis Stevens shares wisdom on the importance of mentorship

In 1985, the Holmes-Hunter Lecture Series was established in conjunction with the University of Georgia to honor Dr. Hamilton Holmes and Charlayne Hunter-Gault, the first Black students to enroll at UGA. The lecture is given by a distinguished scholar or public figure who exemplifies excellence. This year’s keynote speaker was Artis Stevens, President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and a Franklin College alumnus. He earned a…

headshot photo of man, outdoors, day
Herod named Regents' Professor

Two University of Georgia faculty members, including Franklin College professor Andrew Herod, have been named Regents’ Professors in recognition of their innovative and pace-setting research. The honor is the highest professorial recognition bestowed by the University System of Georgia Board of Regents. The university’s 2025 Regents’ Professors are Andrew Herod, Distinguished Research Professor in the department of geography in the Franklin…

photo of five people with laptop computers
UGA Hacks Turns X: School of Computing’s 48 Hour Annual Coding Event

Earlier in February, UGA’s School of Computing club, UGAHacks, hosted the 10th annual Hackathon. The Hackathon took place over 48 hours beginning Feb. 8 in the Zell B. Miller Learning Center.  This year’s theme was Rock n’ Roll and hackers were encouraged to think outside of the box and embrace the spirit of innovation in unconventional ways. The event showed the community of driven individuals here at UGA as there were 12 sponsors, over…

photo of woman, with capitals and bannister, trees, in background, day
Kudos, February 2025

From individual achievement and career success to community impact, Franklin College faculty, students, staff and alumni were recognized for excellence. Tapping into their Franklin spark, these individuals demonstrated their ambition, curiosity, creativity, and innovative spirit. Congratulations to:  Community UGA boosts Georgia’s economy by $8.4 billion – UGA Today The Athens Wellbeing Project transforms data into change – R&B UGA tops…

photo of two people parasailing
Noted and Quoted, February 2025

The benefits of vacations, global dust and the Georgia Museum of Natural History headline the top February features of work and engagement from our faculty colleagues and outstanding alumni. Did we mention vacation? Those stories plus few more: The best thing you can do for your well-being on vacation, according to science — and the worst – research led by Ryan Grant, doctoral student in the department of psychology, reported by the New York…
Subscribe to Society