News Archive - 2021

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UGA students lead breaking coverage of severe weather

When the tree came crashing through their bedroom window, Jasper and Ashley Kent had moved to safety only moments before thanks to a live weather broadcast by University of Georgia student, Will O’Neil. The Midwest transplants had seen severe weather before and thought nothing of the storm brewing outside until Ashley Kent came across O’Neil’s broadcast.  "I wasn't really taking it seriously, but I decided to look at local news and see…

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Sensors eliminate sparking risk in hydrogen vehicles

Hydrogen as a clean, renewable alternative to fossil fuels is part of a sustainable-energy future, and very much already here. However, lingering concerns about flammability have limited widespread use of hydrogen as a power source for electric vehicles. Previous advances have minimized the risk, but new research from the University of Georgia now puts that risk in the rearview mirror. Hydrogen vehicles can refuel much more quickly and go…

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Noted and Quoted, April 2021

From reporting on new research findings from across the college to weighing in on events of the moment, Franklin faculty expertise appeared in a wide variety of international media during April. A sample: The Great Depression led to many of the hobbies we enjoy now. The pandemic created a whole host of new ones – Stephen Mihm, associate professor of history, quoted by CNN Landmark study shows what makes a relationship successful…

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UGA professor awarded Harvard fellowship

Chana Kai Lee, associate professor in the department of history, has been awarded a 2021-22 Warren Center Faculty Fellowship at Harvard University. The Charles Warren Center, Harvard’s research center for United States history, invited applications for a workshop on Slavery and the Universities. The workshop will bring together scholars to systematically reflect on how such research can be elevated by considering how it contributes to…

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Kudos, April-May 2021

Truly an April to remember for the Franklin College and the University of Georgia, with our three new National Academy of Sciences members announced. Details below on those and other extraordinary achievements across the college for faculty, students, staff and alumni. We also want to include a special note of thanks and congratulations to our 14 graduating Franklin College Student Ambassadors – we are honored by your efforts…

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April Town Hall: Facilities Decision Points

More than 100 colleagues attended the Town Hall on Tuesday, April 27, which focused on Facilities Decision Points discussions and feedback. Franklin College associate dean for facilities Michelle Momany provided background on the university-wide Central Space Committee and how that group's deliberations and decisions factor into our plans for a new service model supporting the college’s business needs. These Town Hall discussions, including…

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Tech industry leader honors UGA mentor with scholarship

Inspired by a mentor's wisdom and guidance when he was a computer science major 40 years ago, Greg Lavender (BS ’83), established an endowed undergraduate scholarship  named for Jeffrey W. Smith, associate professor in the department of computer science, as part of the Georgia Commitment Scholarship Program to pay tribute to the impact he made in his life and the lives of other UGA students. Our…

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Franklin IT director focuses on serving and supporting

Columns features our executive director for Franklin IT, and leader extraordinaire, Beth Woods: For Beth Woods and her team, information technology goes beyond coding and servers. In fact, they made sure more than 300 classrooms were ready for both in-person and virtual learning in August. “Everyone came together to find a solution that was cost-effective, that met the needs of faculty and students, and that we could roll out…

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Data Science Industry Day

Industry Day—a celebration of the first Data Science Competition, organized by the statistics department along with data scientists—was held virtually on April 28. Following introductions by Provost Jack Hu and Alan Dorsey, dean of Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, the top undergraduate and graduate data science teams presented their findings from the competition. Industry Day included a panel discussion about careers in data science…

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Alumnus focused on the future of clean water

The experience that opens up the world, the heart and the mind for students across the Franklin College can coalesce and accelerate at any point, once that broad foundation has been established. After graduating from UGA with a bachelor’s degree in English, Jack Hartpence (AB ’15) worked in politics, with think tanks and for campaigns. He used his previous experience with research and data to determine where…