University Communications » Internal Communications » MavWire » MavWire 10-04-2010

Another planet?: UT Arlington astronomers Dr. Manfred Cuntz and Jason Eberle are exploring the possible existence of a proposed planet.

UT Arlington astronomers take a fresh look at previously suggested planet

Work by a team of UT Arlington astronomers could significantly broaden astrophysicists' search for planets in other solar systems by changing the way they think about the orbiting bodies. If correct, the findings could increase the opportunities for the discovery of new planets in candidate systems.

"On the reality of the suggested planet in the ν Octantis System" by Manfred Cuntz, associate professor of physics, and Jason Eberle, a doctoral candidate, was published Friday in the American Astronomical Society's Astrophysical Journal Letters. In the article, the two scientists explore the possible existence of a proposed planet in a binary star system 69 light years, or 400 trillion miles, from Earth.

Based on six years of data, observers have suggested a planet may exist in the ν Octantis system, a star system visible only from the southern half of the globe, particularly from Antarctica. The observing technique is based on radial velocity variations or RV readings of the orbiting planet's effect on its host star—a slight wobble created by the planet's pull.

"If our theoretical studies turn out to be applicable to the ν Octantis system, they will provide evidence for the first case of a planet in a retrograde orbit in a stellar binary system," Dr. Cuntz says. Previously, retrograde planetary orbits have been detected for planets around single stars in regard to the stellar rotational axis.

See more about Cuntz and Eberle's research.

Outstanding in research: Dr. Erian Armanios received the Outstanding Research Award for his significant impact on the science and technology of composite materials.

Armanios receives research award

Erian Armanios, professor and chair of the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, received the Outstanding Research Award presented by the American Society for Composites at its annual technical conference last week in Dayton, Ohio.

The award recognizes his significant impact on the science and technology of composite materials through his sustained body of innovative research for the past 30 years.

Dr. Armanios served as editor-in-chief of the ASTM Journal of Composite Technology and Research and in 2006 was elected Fellow of the American Society for Composites. He has published more than 100 papers in refereed journals and conference proceedings and has received numerous awards and special recognitions, including two best paper awards and the prestigious Wayne W. Stinchcomb Memorial Award.

His contributions extend to interdisciplinary applications such as the use of piezoelectric actuators for unsteady aerodynamic blowing leading to circulation control for rotor blade applications (for which he was awarded two patents), and the use of fractals to model particulate ceramic matrix composites.

Will you accept the Maverick 2010 Challenge?

Faculty and staff are invited to join in a friendly competition with other UT System institutions in the UT System Physical Activity Challenge, powered by America On The Move. The challenge begins Wednesday, Oct. 6.

In support of the challenge, the UT Arlington Wellness Committee invites you to join in from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 8, on the second-floor walking track in the Maverick Activities Center. There will be information on how you can record and track your activity through America on the Move.

The Maverick 2010 Challenge is your opportunity to make a small step approach to wellness and fitness by increasing the amount of steps you walk by per day by 2010 steps. Why 2010? America on the Move is suggesting challenge goals of 2000 extra steps per day and we all know Mavericks take the extra steps to success.

At the conclusion of the six-week challenge, participation among UT institutions will be counted, and the winner will receive the coveted UT System Living Well Traveling Trophy. Giveaways and wellness resources will be available at the event. Information about the challenge and steps to join are available on the UT Arlington Wellness Program website.

Blank screen: Alfredo Jaar's Lament of the Images installation includes an enormous blank screen that emanates a white glare. Jaar says the work serves as a visual allegory of humanity's capacity to witness reality but be withdrawn from it at the same time.

Artist brings view of war, world to campus

Internationally renowned artist Alfredo Jaar will offer insight into his award-winning work during a special presentation at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 5, in Room 204 of the Architecture Building.

Jaar's appearance is a Festival of Ideas event supported by the College of Liberal Arts. Support also comes from the Department of Art and Art History and the Department of Architecture. During his visit, Jaar will meet with undergraduate and graduate students from art and architecture programs.

"Alfredo's work reaches beyond aesthetics and other formal concerns of art or the art market," says Stephen Lapthisophon, visiting assistant professor of art and art history. "He addresses issues of conscience, our shared social responsibility and culture. His role as a public intellectual asks viewers and our students to examine the role of artists in society and to see why and how we make culture today."

Jaar has created more than 60 "public interventions" around the world, art installations that often incorporate photography and cover socio-political issues and regional wars. His work has been showcased in Venice, São Paulo, Sydney, Istanbul, Johannesburg, and Moscow.

Tickets are limited. Contact the Department of Art and Art History at 2-2891 for information.

Routine warning system test set for Wednesday

UT Arlington conducts the monthly test of its Outdoor Warning System at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 6. The test, held the first Wednesday of every month, will not be conducted in the event of bad weather.

Heard campus-wide through strategically placed loudspeakers, the test includes electronic chimes and is followed by the test announcement. At the conclusion of the test, an announcement will be broadcast to resume normal operations.

The City of Arlington's outdoor weather warning system has 51 sirens that alert people who are outdoors to seek shelter. Weather permitting, the city's system is tested on the first Wednesday of every month at 1 p.m.

Chemistry at the fair Kevin Schug, assistant professor of chemistry, explains an experiment to observers last week in the UT Arlington booth at the State Fair of Texas. Dr. Schug and his students gave out thousands of goodie bags of take-home experiments for all ages to fairgoers. The booth was provided through a National Science Foundation grant for Diversity in Science in the United States or DISCUS. Click on the photo for a demonstration.

Voter registration ends today; forms available at University Center

Faculty and staff are urged to encourage students to register to vote. And if you haven't registered yourself, now is your chance.

Voter registration applications must be postmarked by today, Monday, Oct. 4. Forms are available in the Student Congress office, Suite B150, on the lower level of the E.H. Hereford University Center. Students living on campus, in a residence hall or apartment, can register at their campus address.

UT Arlington is an early voting polling site, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 25-28 in the Palo Duro Lounge of the University Center.

For more information, contact Jennifer Fox, Student Congress external relations director, at sc-extr@uta.edu.

Office of the Provost hosts teaching circles for all faculty members

Faculty members who want to join one of the teaching circles hosted by the Office of the Provost should return a completed form to Linda Wilson, assistant provost, by Tuesday, Oct. 12.

Teaching circles are small groups of faculty that meet four times throughout the academic year for informal discussions about a common theme or issue related to teaching and learning. The circles allow faculty to share experiences and offer support to each other. Both full- and part-time faculty are invited to participate.

Circle topics this year include

• promoting critical thinking in students,

• teaching what you don't know,

• strategies for supporting student success and retention,

• incorporating service learning into your curriculum

• developing a new faculty discussion group for tenure-track faculty who started at UT Arlington in fall 2008 or later

For more information, contact Wilson at 2-3838 or l.wilson@uta.edu.

Howdy, pardner Health Services support specialist Mavis Ard, right, provides some western hospitality for Gaius Franklin, application supports services specialist for Graduate Studies, during Wednesday's open house. A western theme was created throughout the facility as Health Services was renamed Maverick Express for the day.

Latest resource materials available through New Faculty Orientation

Faculty are invited to check out the online resources available at New Faculty Orientation: Resource Materials. The materials are compiled every year to assist new faculty in their transition to UT Arlington.

The website includes information about teaching and research resources, the history and governance structure of the institution, library services, information technology, academic integrity, students with disabilities, and more. Although designed for new faculty, everyone is invited to explore the website for information to assist them in their career at UT Arlington.

The New Faculty Orientation is presented by the Office of the Provost. For more information, contact Linda Wilson at l.wilson@uta.edu.

Login To Blackboard Now

Blackboard, UT Arlington's new online Learning Management System, is scheduled to go live this spring. Log in now and you will see your spring 2011 sections if you are listed as an instructor in MyMav. Check the Blackboard Semester Checklist for other important new information and register for training in preparation for the spring.

Do you have courses in WebCT? Learn about WebCT to Blackboard course conversion options.

Mavs Book Club discusses 'The Known World'

The Known World by Edward P. Jones is the Mavs Book Club selection of the month. The club will meet at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 14, in the basement of the Central Library. Meet and greet begins at 5 p.m.

This fictional story looks at a real phenomenon—African Americans owning other African Americans as slaves.

The book club is open to all faculty, staff, and students. For more information, contact Diane Shepelwich at dianec@uta.edu.

Dining Services seeking feedback through online survey

Dining Services is conducting a survey to better understand the University community's dining preferences and satisfaction level. All faculty, staff, and students are eligible to take the survey. At the end of the survey, you can choose to participate in a drawing for a Sony blu-ray disc player with wi-fi or a $50 Visa gift card. The drawing is optional, so you may choose to withhold your personal information and remain anonymous. All responses will remain confidential.

Mav Talk: Mind/Emotion Wellness Day

Screenings are available for stress, anxiety, depression, eating and sleeping problems, ADHD, and alcohol and relationship concerns. Free. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 5, Palo Duro Lounge, E.H. Hereford University Center. Counseling Services, Mental Health Services.

Real Issues/Real Talk: Identify Theft

The primary target for identity theft is the person who thinks it can't happen to them. This presentation will offer two different perspectives—law enforcement and information technology—on ways you can protect and prevent identity theft from happening to you. Speakers are Rick Gomez of the UT Arlington Police Department and Sean Lanham of the Office of Information Technology. Space is limited. Register online. Free. Noon-1 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 5, Carlisle Room, E.H. Hereford University Center.

Mindful Moments

Take a break from stress with Mindful Moments. Mindfulness draws on one's internal resources to cultivate awareness and to practice being present in each moment of our lives. Free. 12:15-12:45 p.m., Wednesdays, Room 235, Business Building. Health Services, Marie Bannister, 2-2771.

Introduction to Adobe InDesign

Explore the basics of Adobe's desktop publishing software. Learn how to work with images, text, and document formats to create exciting custom page layouts. Register online. 10 a.m.-noon., Thursday, Oct. 7, Room B29, Digital Media Studio, Central Library.

Employment Information

Check out employment opportunities at uta.edu/jobs. Have questions? Call Human Resources/Employment Services at 2-3461 or TDD 2-8139, or e-mail employment@uta.edu. The University of Texas at Arlington is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.

Monday, Oct. 4

Architecture Lecture Series Phoenix architect Will Bruder is guest speaker. Free. 4 p.m., Room 204, Architecture Building. Robert Rummel-Hudson, rhudson@uta.edu, 2-2314.

Tuesday, Oct. 5

Festival of Ideas: Alfredo Jaar Alfredo Jaar is an artist, architect, and filmmaker. Free ticket through Art and Art History or Architecture. 6 p.m., Room 204, Architecture Building. mdulock@uta.edu, 2-2891.

Wednesday, Oct. 6

Engineering Sustainment: Support after the Sale Neal McCollom, director of Integrated Sustainment Engineering at Lockheed Martin, provides an engineer's perspective on performance-based logistics and why it is critical for an engineering design effort. Light breakfast provided. Free for students and first-time guests; $5 others. Register online. 7-8 a.m., Room 601, Nedderman Hall. College of Engineering and the Arlington Technology Association, 2-3682.

Focus on Faculty: Bart Weiss Bart Weiss, professor of art and art history, discusses history through film, from documentary to dramatic perspectives. Free. Noon-1:30 p.m., sixth floor parlor, Central Library. Tommie Wingfield, wingfield@uta.edu, 2-2658.

Architecture Lecture Series Corvin Matei is guest speaker. Free. 4-5:30 p.m., Room 204, Architecture Building. rhudson@uta.edu, 2-2314.

Thursday, Oct. 7

Susan G. Komen On the Go Trailer Stop by the Komen On the Go pink trailer for a virtual, interactive tour through breast cancer awareness and prevention with information and freebies. Free. 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 7, Central Library mall. Health Services, 2-2771.

CReWMaN Symposium: Emerging Trends in Mobile, Sensor, and Social Networks The Center for Research in Wireless Mobility and Networking (CReWMaN) celebrates its 10th anniversary by hosting a series of lectures by recognized authorities in wireless communications. Events also scheduled Friday. See schedule. Free. 8 a.m.-8 p.m., Room 601, Nedderman Hall. Dr. Sajal Das, das@uta.edu.

Character and Competence: Hallmarks of a Professional Col. Sean T. Hannah, director of the Center for the Army Profession and Ethic, at the United States Military Academy speaks on leadership and management. Free. 7 p.m. Lone Star Auditorium, Maverick Activities Center. Goolsby Leadership Academy, 2-3869.

Sunday, Oct. 10

Tapped In conjunction with Kick the Bottle project, this documentary aims at convincing the public to switch from bottled water to tap water. Free. 2:30 p.m., Lone Star Auditorium, Maverick Activities Center. Environmental Society of UT Arlington and the League of Women Voters, sarahste@uta.edu.

Wednesday, Oct. 13

Institute of Urban Studies Speaker Series Rebecca Rasor of the Trinity River Project discusses the revitalization of Dallas through the public works project. Free. 6 p.m., Room 204, Architecture Building. Marjorie Dick, marjorie@uta.edu, 2-3301.

(For an expanded list of events, see the UT Arlington Calendar.)

Library to host three cartographic conferences The Central Library will be the focus of all things cartographic this month as three major map events convene Friday-Wednesday, Oct. 8-13: the Seventh Biennial Virginia Garrett Lectures on the History of Cartography, the fall meeting of the Texas Map Society, and the International Cartographic Association's Commission on the History of Cartography. The theme of the Garrett Lectures on Friday is Charting the Cartography of Companies: Company Mapping, 1600-1900. The Garrett lecture series and accompanying exhibit in the Library's Special Collections will focus on maps and how they reflected and shaped the histories of chartered companies. The Texas Map Society's regular fall meeting begins Saturday. The International Cartographic Association's Commission on the History of Cartography holds its third International Symposium on the History of Cartography with a series of lectures Oct. 11-13. The conferences are open to all cartographers, geographers, historians, map collectors, academicians, and lay persons interested in the history of cartography. Register online for any of the events.

Tuesday, Oct. 5

National Night Out Join the UT Arlington Police Department for "Let's Give Campus Crime a Going-Away Party." Activities include free hot dogs and soft drinks to the first 200 attendees, Randy Reynolds and the RAD self-defense team with a demo booth, Peggy Morales and the emergency management booth, crime prevention, police department sky tower, and police cars. Free. 6-9 p.m. Central Library mall. Ron Cook, 2-3902.

Wednesday, Oct. 6

$2 Movie: Robin Hood Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett star. Rated PG-13. 5:30 p.m.; also 5:30 p.m. Friday, 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Planetarium. 2-1183.

Don't Get Busted BBQ Student Legal Services provides tips on how to handle police encounters. The video Busted: The Citizen's Guide to Surviving Police Encounters is followed by a Q&A session with Keisha A. Ware, attorney for students, and a UT Arlington Police representative. Free. Reservations online. 7 p.m., Room 133, Maverick Activities Center. Legal Services, 2-4191.

Flamenco Showcase Daniel de Cordoba Bailes Espanoles perform as part of Hispanic Heritage Month. Free. 7 p.m., Rosebud Theatre, E.H. Hereford University Center. Multicultural Affairs, 2-2099.

Volleyball Mavericks vs. Texas State. $6. 7 p.m., Texas Hall. Athletics, 2-2261.

Thursday, Oct. 7

Gallery 76102: flats and rounds Opening reception for artist Nicholas Wood, whose work manifests itself in hybrid forms with its relationship to painting, drawing, and sculpture. 6-8 p.m. Gallery 76102, Fort Worth Center, 1401 Jones St., Fort Worth.

Bed Races One of the oldest traditions on campus, the Bed Races teams four bed pushers and one rider and may consist of faculty, staff, or students. Prizes for fastest team and original costumes. The annual pillow fight happens, too. Free. 7 p.m. Maverick Stadium. EXCEL Campus Activities and Campus Recreation, Brian Joyce, 2-2963 or bjoyce@uta.edu.

Symphony Orchestra Concert The UTA Symphony Orchestra performs Brahms, Dvorak, and Haydn's Trumpet Concerto with Rick Bogard of the UTA music faculty as the trumpet soloist. $5. 7:30 p.m. Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music, 2-3471.

Friday, Oct. 8

Vista Wind Quintet Recital The Vista Wind Quintet performs Brazilian music. Free. 7:30 p.m. Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music, 2-3471.

Saturday, Oct. 9

Volleyball Mavericks vs. Central Arkansas. $6. 2 p.m., Texas Hall. Athletics, 2-2261.

Ongoing

Planetarium Programs See the newest show SpacePark 360. Planetarium schedule. 2-1183.

Private Collections II See Dallas and Fort Worth art collectors' private treasures. Free. Gallery hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays and noon-5 p.m. Saturdays. Through Oct. 16. The Gallery at UTA, Fine Arts Building.

Downtown Farmers Market Arlington's downtown farmers market features locally grown produce and locally made baked goods, arts, and crafts. Co-sponsored by UT Arlington Dining Services. 8 a.m.-1 p.m., Fridays-Saturdays, 215 E. Front St.

(For an expanded list of events, see the UT Arlington Calendar.)