News from the Chronicles - November 2024

photo of man, clipping hedge in stadium
Ancestry of Sanford Stadium hedges goes into the lab

In a terrific story combining genome analysis, a love for the hedges and UGA history— a Franklin College faculty member and his students found that the same family of hedges have stood tall for nearly 100 years: Plant biology professor and hedges researcher James Leebens-Mack decided to sequence the genome of the Sanford Stadium hedges. His goal was to combine service-learning with his own areas of research, comparative genome biology and the…

photo of hands writing,. drawing in journal
Students journey across America through UGA's Interdisciplinary Field Program

From Sapelo Island, Georgia to Yosemite National Park in California, UGA’s Interdisciplinary Field Program mixes geology, ecology, and anthropology into a 60-day road trip across America: They travel through 20 states and to 23 national parks and monuments—including the Grand Canyon, Muir Woods, Mount Saint Helens, and Yellowstone National Park—and log nearly 12,000 miles on the road, and then tack on another 100 miles or so hiking on foot.…

colorful cell rendering on blue field
UGA researchers unveil the development of a novel quantum computing algorithm

A new quantum algorithm developed by University of Georgia statisticians addresses one of the most complex challenges in single-cell analysis, signaling significant impact in both the fields of computational biology and quantum computing. While traditional approaches struggle to handle the immense amount of data generated from measuring both RNA and protein expression in individual cells, the new quantum algorithm enables analysis of data…

photo of vitamins, salmon steak, broccoli, spinach
Fish oil supplements bring a variety of health benefits

A new UGA study suggests the far-reaching benefits omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids may extend to lowering the risks of developing a variety of cancers: The study relied on data from a United Kingdom-based study of over 250,000 people who were followed for more than a decade. Of those participants, almost 30,000 developed some form of cancer during the study period. Some earlier research drew connections between levels of fatty acids and risk of…

photo of man, outdoors, building in background
UGA's Dorsey selected to receive Simons Foundation Pivot Fellowship

University of Georgia faculty member Alan T. Dorsey is one of eight 2024 Simons Foundation Pivot Fellows. The program supports researchers who have a strong track record of success and achievement in their current field, as well as a deep interest, curiosity and drive to make contributions to a new discipline. Professor of physics in the UGA Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, Dorsey serves as associate chief information officer for…

photo of people working on film set, outdoors, day
MFA Film program ranked in Top 50

The UGA Master of Fine Arts in Film, Television and Digital Media was named to the list of Top 50 Film Schools across the country by The Wrap, a leading publication in the media and entertainment industry. This is the first time the UGA MFA Film program, launched in 2020 as a joint program between the Franklin College and the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, has been named to a national list and it debuted at No. 43: “It is…

photo of woman dancing
Dance student learning all the right steps

The elegant choreography to owning a dance studio involves learning the right steps and how to put them to work. At UGA, students can refine their moves on stage and gain the skills to succeed in business.   Bethany Barner, a second-year student from Pike County GA, is a Cora Nunnally Miller Scholar in the Fine Arts, majoring in dance in the Franklin College and advertising in Grady College. She chose dance and advertising to equip herself…

photo of person working match problems on paper with pencil
Math-letes in Action: Students across Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina compete for UGA’s Annual High School Math Tournament’s Title

On Oct. 26, UGA’s campus buzzed with excitement as nearly 400 students and math coaches gathered for the university’s annual High School Math Tournament. First launched over two decades ago by Professor Emeritus Ted Shifrin and Professor Valery Alexeev, the event has become a high point for budding mathematicians from Georgia, South Carolina and Alabama. With help from over 60 faculty, staff and student volunteers, the event ran smoothly,…

photo of man, chalkboard with letters and numerals in background
Pollack named 2025 AMS Fellow

University of Georgia faculty member Paul Pollack is one of forty-one mathematicians from around the world named Fellows of the American Mathematical Society (AMS) for 2025, the program's thirteenth year. AMS members designated as Fellows of the AMS have made outstanding contributions to the creation, exposition, advancement, communication, and utilization of mathematics.  Pollack, professor in the Franklin College of Arts…

photo of kayaker on river
Art in the Field: UGA students explore mining and ecology in Georgia

Mines in Southeast Georgia can conjure many images — swamps, pits, pines, machinery. A band of artists may not be at the top of this list. Nevertheless, University of Georgia Professor of Art Michael Marshall and 14 students were invited to don hardhats and visit the Chemours Mission Mine in the Altamaha River Basin this past September to contemplate the setting through different eyes and tell a greater story of this region.  …

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