University of Texas Arlington

Earthquake expert

Glen Mattioli, professor of earth and environmental sciences at UT Arlington, appeared on KTVT/CBS 11 to discuss Tuesday’s 5.8 magnitude earthquake on the East Coast. Mattel said the probability of a similar magnitude quake happening in North Texas is low, but “it’s not zero.”

Grandparenting today

Dr. Mary Lynn Crow, a Fort Worth psychologist and education professor at The University of Texas at Arlington, was quoted in a Fort Worth Star-Telegram article about the importance and the potential pitfalls of children’s close relationship with grandparents. For the roughly one-third of children who grow up in single-parent homes, grandparents can provide another role model and someone else to talk to when they need help, Crow said.

Good news about gaming

The video game website G4 and GamePolitics.com mentioned a study conducted by the Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW), Baylor University and The University of Texas at Arlington, that said playing violent video games lowers the likelihood of committing violent crimes. The theory is simple: Violent people are drawn to violent games; they spend many hours playing them instead of committing violent crimes. UT Arlington's Michael Ward, an economics associate professor, was a co-author of the study.

Student radio up for award

College Broadcasters, Inc. announced on its website that UT Arlington's student-run radio, UTA Radio.com, was among the finalists in the organization's Student Production Awards contest. Dontae Robinson's "Don't Sext," was nominated in the Best PSA category. The winner will be announced in October at CBI's fall convention in Orlando, Florida.