UTA In The News — Monday, January 22, 2018
Robotics Living Lab
Robots are being created to help with tasks like disinfecting hospital rooms or alerting patients when it’s time to take medications, Xconomy.com reported. A study at UTA’s Emotional Robotics Living Lab is even exploring how human-robot connection can help fight depression. Julienne Greer, an assistant professor of theatre at UTA, serves as the director of the lab, which was launched in November.
Pipe research
A UTA expert in pipe technology is investigating whether steam sealing of repaired pipes releases a noxious fume to determine if the process is dangerous to people, Phys.org, Facts of the Week and Techsite reported.
Water studies
Shale wells are swallowing twice as much water as they did a few years ago — around 10 million gallons each, or about 15 Olympic-sized swimming pools, the San Antonio Express-News reported. The article mentioned UTA’s Collaborative Laboratories for Environmental Analysis and Remediation or CLEAR Lab that was hired to study the water in natural gas drilling.
Survey course methods
Desiree Henderson, a UTA associate professor of English, draws upon the work of Larry Michaelsen to incorporate team-based learning in her American-literature survey course, a Chronicle of Higher Education column said in a compilation of how the survey course is being reinvented at various universities. In Henderson’s class, students work in permanent teams throughout the semester.
Government shutdown
Allan Saxe, UTA associate professor of political science, offered his expert opinion that the federal government shutdown doesn’t have much of an impact on everyday people on KRLD 1080 AM and KMOX 1120 AM in St. Louis. Saxe added that the longer the shutdown lasts, the more of an impact it will have. Saxe also gave historical perspective about government shutdowns that occurred under Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama in a San Antonio Express-News story. Saxe believes Congress will provide a short-term fix to the budget which will not end the immigration debate.
Pro-life, pro-choice stances
A poll which showed even political independents trend toward a pro-life stance would make it difficult for any candidate labeled as pro-choice to win a statewide office, Rebecca Deen, chair and associate professor of the UTA Political Science Department, said in a San Antonio Express-News story. She added that on the face of it, a Democratic candidate who isn’t a choice supporter will not likely get the Democratic nomination.
Workshop attendee
Jaehoon Yu, UTA physics professor, attended a UTA workshop about science education, computer engineering, bioengineering and other topics, The Korea Daily reported.
Gaming adding to innovation
Competitive gaming has taken hold at UTA where the university's Esports Club has experienced great success in national competitions, Dallas Innovates reported. The story said gaming is driving innovation in North Texas.
Food advocate
Michael Pollan, best-selling author and sustainable food advocate, is the next speaker in the Maverick Speakers Series, PublicNow and Arlington-tx.gov reported.
Cartoonist exhibit
The sixth floor of the UTA Library is featuring the work of Star-Telegram editorial page cartoonist Etta Hulme. For a time, Hulme was the only female editorial cartoonist working for a major metropolitan paper.