MavWire 2015 Archive » MavWire — Monday, April 13, 2015

Dr. Xinbao Yu

Civil engineer explores geothermal energy to melt ice

A team of UTA researchers is exploring ways to use geothermal energy to make bridges and overpasses safer during winter weather.

Xinbao Yu, assistant professor of civil engineering, is the lead investigator on a 17-month, $193,000 grant from the Texas Department of Transportation that will determine the feasibility of using geothermal energy to melt ice and snow from Texas roads. Anand Puppala, professor of civil engineering and associate dean of research in the College of Engineering, will work with Dr. Yu.

According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, Texas has more than 52,000 bridges, the most in the United States.

Read more about Yu's de-icing project.

Dr. Seong Jin Koh

Nano-pillar fabrication to lead to more efficient electronics

Seong Jin Koh, associate professor of materials science and engineering, has received a $300,000 National Science Foundation grant to build nanoscale pillars that will lead to more energy-efficient transistors in electronic devices and gadgets.

The pillars could lead to a tenfold reduction in energy consumption of smartphones, laptops, and tablets, which could result in an identical reduction in the frequency of battery charging for those devices.

Read more about Dr. Koh's nanoscale research.

Bob Costas

Bob Costas talks sports tonight at CPC

Tickets are still available to see Bob Costas at the last Maverick Speakers Series event for the 2014-15 season.

An acclaimed sportscaster and 26-time Emmy Award winner, Costas will discuss "Sports in America: Is It Still Only a Game?" at 7:30 p.m. today, Monday, April 13, in College Park Center. 

He has been on air for NBC Sports since the early 1980s, hosting the network's Olympics coverage and Football Night in America.

Preferred seating and free general admission tickets are available at utatickets.com. For VIP tickets, contact Mark LaVelle at mlavelle@uta.edu or 2-5235.

The Maverick Speakers Series provides a forum for today’s brightest minds to examine the people, ideas, actions, and solutions that impact the world around us.

New policy concerns space heaters, small appliances

A new policy—Space Heaters and High-Current Small Appliance Use in UT Arlington Facilities, HOP 5-310—has been added to the Handbook of Operating Procedures.

The policy provides a process for obtaining permission for their use and protocol for their safe use and operation.

Questions? Contact the Office of Facilities Management at 2-3571.

A little Mav music The Main Stage at Main St. Fort Worth Arts Festival sounded off with jazz from UT Arlington musicians Saturday. Alumni and other Maverick fans enjoyed the tunes during the Jazz Brunch in the VIP tent. Those curious about UTA's offerings found answers at the booth, where volunteers provided information and handed out freebies. See more photos.

Change name in MyMav to your preference

During the upgrade of the Identity Management System, you may have noticed the changes in the names that display when you send an email.

The Office of Information Technology has enabled a feature in MyMav that will allow you to update your email display name.

This option in MyMav will update the Global Address Book to show the changes in your name on your email.

However, it will not change the legal name in the HR/Finance System (UT Share). Contact Human Resources for instructions on how to change your legal name.

To update your display name, visit the How to Update Your Display Name webpage. 

Student elections today, Tuesday

Encourage students to vote for Student Congress president, vice president, and senators, Mr. and Ms. UTA, UTA Ambassadors, and Student Service Allocation Committee representatives.

Polls are open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Tuesday, April 13-14, in the University Center Gallery in the E.H. Hereford University Center. Students need to bring their UTA student ID to vote.

Contact Jennifer Fox at jdfox@uta.edu for more information.

UT Press offers 45 percent off, free shipping during spring sale

The University of Texas Press is holding a spring online book sale for all campuses in the UT System.

All titles on the site already are 33 percent off. Faculty, staff, and students will receive a discount of 45 percent off the full retail price.

The sale will run through midnight Friday, April 17, on the UT Press website. To receive 45 percent off and free shipping, use the code UTPS15. 

In for the long run Employees honored with 45-50 years of service to UT Arlington were among those recognized last week at the employee service recognition ceremonies. The 50-year honorees are, from left, front row, Kamisetty Rao, professor of electrical engineering; Abdolhossein Haji-Sheikh, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering; and Allan Saxe, associate professor of political science. Recognized for 45 years are, from left, back row, William Dillon, associate professor of electrical engineering; Roger Walker, professor of computer science and engineering; and Merlynd Nestell, professor of earth and environmental sciences. Other 45-year employees are Luanne Frank, associate professor of English; Paul Paulus, professor of psychology; and Lynn Peterson, senior associate dean of the College of Engineering. Read more in the event program.

Sign up for Involvement Fair

University departments and student organizations may sign up for a table at the upcoming Involvement Fair at New Maverick Orientation for transfer students. The fair starts at 10:45 a.m. Friday, April 17.

The fairs are an opportunity for you to speak with incoming students regarding your organization, program, or service. Visit uta.edu/sao to sign up your group and for detailed information.

Sign-ups for the Involvement Fairs during summer will open Monday, April 27.

New program streamlines book, course material adoption

Learn more about a new suite of technology solutions that can help faculty members with textbook and course material adoption. The UTA Bookstore and Follett offer the program.

Follett Discover enables instructors to explore a vast source of course materials including textbook offerings and more. The book adoption process has been streamlined, eliminating the paperwork and guesswork associated with submitting traditional adoptions. Students benefit from the streamlined access to course materials.

Training sessions are available during open houses 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday, April 21; 2-6 p.m. Thursday, April 23; and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday, April 29. All are in the E.H. Hereford University Center. 

Or watch a training webinar 3-3:30 p.m. Thursday, April 16. Another online session is 4-4:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 22.

Software Carpentry workshop this weekend

Researchers can learn how to use computing skills and techniques to their advantage in a two-day Software Carpentry workshop.

The program is aimed at researchers, including faculty, research-active lecturers, post-doctoral students, graduate students, and promising undergraduates working in labs.

The basics of three important computing frameworks using hands-on exercises are addressed. They are the Unix shell, version control with Git, and statistical analysis in R.

The workshops are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, April 18, and Sunday, April 19. The cost is $40 and includes lunch on both days. Sponsors are the Biology Department, the College of Science, and the Office of Graduate Studies.

Learn more about Software Carpentry. For workshop details and location, email dcard@uta.edu.

Evening at Six Flags fun Friday

Enjoy an evening at Six Flags Over Texas with discount tickets that help Arlington schools. The theme park hosts Education Celebration 6-11 p.m. Friday, April 17, benefiting UTA and AISD through the AISD Education Foundation.

Tickets are only $20 plus tax. Advanced tickets are limited. No tickets will be sold at the gate. Special discounted parking is $10 per car at the gate.

With each ticket, $5 goes directly to the UTA Student Emergency Assistance Fund. See the gift codes on the website. Use the code UTA.

Phone scam continues to target students, demands payment

A telephone scam first reported in October continues to target students and has resulted in nearly $16,000 in fraudulent payments, the UT Arlington Police Department reports.

A caller claims to be from the University, a government agency, or a police department and tries to collect money for unpaid debt. The caller requests payment with the purchase of a gift card or MoneyGram. The caller threatens the individual with arrest and solicits immediate payment for the alleged debts.

The telephone number used has been cloned from a legitimate agency or University office.

University officials, law enforcement, and government officials will not contact you in this manner or threaten arrest for non-payment of debts.

Always be cautious about providing your personal information over the phone especially to individuals who initiate the call. In such cases, always verify the nature of the call and offer to hang up and to call them back at a number they provide. Seek out the organization's official number and contact it directly. If you suspect attempted fraud or fall victim, contact your local law enforcement agency.

If you encounter this or similar scams or have information about them, contact the UT Arlington Police at 2-3381.

Use good judgment and caution when clicking Web or email links or opening attachments. If you receive an email that appears suspicious, send it to security@uta.edu. Do not click on the links or open attachments.

Tuesday, April 14

Customer Service 101 Register online. 9-11 a.m., Room 200, J.D. Wetsel Service Center. Human Resources.

Critical Conditions: Minority Health Panel and Discussion Panelists include alumna Valene Garr; Joniqua Howard, assistant professor of biology; and Rebecca Garner, visiting professor of kinesiology. Free. 5:30-7 p.m., sixth floor parlor, Central Library. UT Arlington Libraries, Center for African American Studies.

Wednesday, April 15

CMAS Distinguished Lecture Vicki Ruiz, chair of Chicano/Latino Studies at the University of California, Irvine and president of the American Historical Association, presents "Why Latino History Matters to U.S. History." 7 p.m., sixth floor parlor, Central Library. Center for Mexican American Studies.

Thursday, April 16

Qualitative Research Networking Alexa Smith-Osborne, associate professor of social work, discusses "The Student Veteran Project and Military Youth Resilience Project." Noon-1 p.m., Room 415, Central Library. Also, Dorothy Kalanzi, visiting assistant professor of sociology and anthropology, "HIV/AIDS Studies and Designs from Previous Research," Thursday, April 30. Qualitative Research Networking.

Friday, April 17

Leadership Skills for Supervisors Register online. 10 a.m.- noon, Room 200, J.D. Wetsel Service Center. Human Resources.

New Answers to Research Questions Erik Hinton, an interactive Web developer and assistant design editor at The New York Times, discusses new approaches to footnoting and citation, rapid sharing of archival research, and the presentation of digital photography and artwork. A workshop for graduate students follows. Free. Noon, Room 108, University Hall. History.

Wednesday, April 22

Cancer Support Network at UTA Faculty and staff who have experienced or are in treatment for cancer can be part of private, respectful support group discussions. Free. 11 a.m.-noon, Room 314, Central Library. Contact Jody Bailey at jbailey@uta.edu or Bruce Bower at bower@uta.edu.

Thursday, April 23

Powerful Presentation Skills Register online.  9-11 a.m., Room 200, J.D. Wetsel Service Center. Human Resources.

Friday, April 24

Walter Prescott Webb Lecture Series "Beyond Attics and Activists: Rethinking Family in Disability History." Rio Grande Ballroom, E.H. Hereford University Center. History, Disability Studies, Office for Students with Disabilities, Women's and Gender Studies, Movin' Mavs Adapted Sports and Recreation.

Coming up

Human Resources Training Register online. Partnering with Your Boss; 9-11 a.m., Tuesday, April 28; Time Management: Keys to Everyday Office Success, 9-11 a.m., Thursday, April 30. All in Room 200, J.D. Wetsel Service Center. Human Resources.

Mathematics Lecture David Eisenbud of the University of California, Berkeley and director of the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute presents “Counting From Infinity: A Non-Technical Account of a Mathematical and Personal Triumph.” Clips of the movie Counting from Infinity: Yitang Zhang and the Twin Prime Conjecture shown. Free. 5-6 p.m., Thursday, April 30, Room 100, Nedderman Hall. Office of the Provost.

(For an expanded list of events, see the UTA calendar.)

MavPlays showcases theatre students' talents MavPlays 2015 theatre festival features iconic works, edgy new talent, and emerging playwrights with artistic vision. Theatre Arts students direct, perform, and, in some cases, write the plays. The Studio Series performances are Trifles and Waiting for Lefty. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 15, and Saturday, April 25, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, April 19. Wrong Turn at Lungfish is 8 p.m. Fridays, April 17 and 24, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, April 26. All are in the Studio Theatre of the Fine Arts Building. The Collected One-Acts are Homebound, Musical Chairs, and Next Time Let's Go Out To Dinner. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Thursday, April 16, Saturday, April 18, and Thursday, April 23, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, April 26. Performances are in Stage 143 of the Fine Arts Building. Tickets are $7 for UTA faculty, staff, students, and seniors and $10 for the public. For tickets, contact the Theatre Arts Box Office at 2-2669 or uta.edu/theatre.

Monday, April 13

MFA Art Exhibit Master of Fine Arts candidates present a culminating exhibition demonstrating excellence in their chosen fields. Morgan Chivers, Gabriel Duran, Brendan Feltrup-Exum, Christine Heimerman, Emily Nicastro, Maryam Rezaei, and Joshua Wilson showcase their work in film/video, glass, intermedia, and visual communication. Hours 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, noon-5 p.m. Saturdays. The Gallery at UTA, Fine Arts Building. Through Saturday, April 25. The Gallery at UTA.

Tuesday, April 14

Baseball Mavericks vs. TCU. Tickets $5-7; $3 students. 6:30 p.m. Clay Gould Ballpark. Athletics.

One Mic Stand Comedy Series: Sheng Wang Comedian Sheng Wang does stand-up comedy. Free. 7 p.m., Bluebonnet Ballroom, E.H. Hereford University Center. EXCEL Campus Activities.

Clavier Piano Recital Piano students perform. Free. 7:30 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music.

Wednesday, April 15

Housing Fair The Shorthorn's Housing Fair brings together apartment communities and housing resources highlighting housing options and how to successfully live on- and off-campus. 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Palo Duro Lounge, E.H. Hereford University Center. The Shorthorn.

Guest Artist Recital Wyeth String Quartet performs. Free. 7:30 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music.

Thursday, April 16

Block Party The Block Party provides an end-of-year celebration for on-campus and commuter students alike. Block Party will host live music and also includes carnival-style treats, games, and activities galore. Free. 5-10 p.m., University Center mall. University Events.

Author Book Signing Author Ben H. Winters reads from his most recent work, World of Trouble, the concluding book in the Last Policeman trilogy. A book signing follows. Free. 7 p.m., Room 100, Nedderman Hall. English.

Third Thursday Game Night Video and board games are available, but you can bring your own to share. Free. 6 p.m., basement, Central Library. UT Arlington Libraries.

Spring Jazz Concert UTA's jazz groups perform. Tickets $9 adults, $5 students and seniors. 7:30 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music.

Friday, April 17

Friends of the Library James Haley discusses his new book Captive Paradise: A History of Hawaii and the history of Hawaii since its discovery in the late 18th century. RSVP. Free. 7:30-10 p.m., sixth floor parlor, Central Library. Friends of the Library.

Baseball Mavericks vs. Troy. Tickets $5-7; $3 students. 6:30 p.m. Clay Gould Ballpark. Also, 2 p.m. Saturday, April 18; 1 p.m. Sunday, April 19. Athletics.

Saturday, April 18

HBO After Dark: Crawford vs. Dulorme Undefeated WBO world lightweight champion Terence Crawford, the BWAA 2014 Fighter of the Year, takes on top contender Thomas Dulorme. Tickets $25-$200. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., College Park Center.

Softball Mavericks vs. Georgia State. Tickets $5-7; $3 students. 1 and 3 p.m. Allan Saxe Field. Also, noon Sunday, April 19. Athletics.

Monday, April 20

Percussion Ensemble Concert Free. 7:30 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music.

Tuesday, April 21

Jazz Combo Concert Free. 7:30 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music.

Wednesday, April 22

Opera Workshop Performance Opera students perform. Free. 7:30 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Also, Thursday, April 23. Music.

Earth Day Celebrating People and Planet. 11 a.m.-1 p.m., University Center mall. Institute for Sustainability and Global Impact.

Thursday, April 23

Small Painting Sale Advanced painting students offer small art. Graduating students offer larger works for sale. 5:30-8 p.m., Room 122, Studio Art Center, 810 S. Davis. Art and Art History.

Take Back the Night Survivors and their supporters share their stories of violence, survival, and recovery. Also, poster making, a march through campus, and candlelight vigil. 6-8 p.m., Library mall. Relationship Violence and Sexual Assault Prevention.

Friday, April 24

Nedderman Society Cookout Faculty and staff celebrated for their contributions to UTA. Free. 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Library mall. Nedderman Society.

Friday Night Film: 'The Wedding Ringer' Rated PG-13. Free, fresh-popped popcorn while supplies last; other concessions for sale. Tickets $1, $1.50 with credit card. 7 p.m., Rosebud Theatre, E.H. Hereford University Center. EXCEL Campus Activities.

Wind Symphony Concert Free. 7:30 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music.

Coming up

Concerts and Recitals Free performances: Symphonic Winds and Symphonic Band Concert, 5 p.m. Sunday, April 26; Faculty Violin Recital: Martha Walvoord, Monday, April 27; String Chamber Ensembles Recital, Tuesday, April 28; Guest Artist Recital: Nick Scales, Friday, May 1. Also, UTA Symphony Orchestra, Saturday, April 25, and UTA Choir Concert, Thursday, April 30; tickets $9 for adults, $5 for students and seniors. All 7:30 p.m. unless noted, Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music.

Baseball Tickets $5-7; $3 students. Mavericks vs. Arkansas-Little Rock. 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 1; 2 p.m. Saturday, May 2; 1 p.m. Sunday, May 3. Also vs. Appalachian State, 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 8; 2 p.m. Saturday, May 9; 1 p.m. Sunday, May 10. All at Clay Gould Ballpark. Athletics.             

Softball Tickets $5-7; $3 students. Mavericks vs. Texas State, 1 and 3 p.m. Saturday, May 2; noon Sunday, May 3. Both at Allan Saxe Field. Athletics. 

BFA Art Exhibit The work of 43 Bachelor of Fine Arts candidates includes painting, drawing, sculpture, glass, printmaking, film/video, photography, digital imaging, and visual communication. Hours 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, noon-5 p.m. Saturdays. Monday, May 4-Saturday, May 16. The Gallery at UTA.

Ongoing

MavsArt The semi-annual UTA community art show features 67 works by 25 artists who are UTA students, faculty, and staff. Through May 15. UT Arlington Libraries, MavsArt.

Juneteenth in Texas: 150 Years of Freedom More than 60 photographs explore issues of Texas African-Americans from Emancipation to the Civil Rights era. Hours 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Through Aug. 9. Sixth floor, Central Library. Center for Greater Southwestern Studies.

Special Collections: !Viva Mexico! A Comic Book History of Mexico A rare look inside the rise of comic books in 20th century Mexico, their literary, cultural, and entertainment value, and influence by the Mexican government. Hours 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Mondays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, sixth floor, Central Library. Through Aug. 8. UT Arlington Libraries Special Collections.

Planetarium The spring schedule features Black Holes, Dynamic Earth, Pink Floyd, Secret of the Cardboard Rocket, and Spacepark 360: Infinity. Planetarium.

(For an expanded list of events, see the UTA calendar.)