News Archive - 2012


The Impact of Drought

Lee Shearer of the Athens Banner Herald reports on research by Franklin faculty on the recent drought:   But measured by its impact on people in the four counties served by the Bear Creek Reservoir, and how much it depleted water in area rivers, it was the worst on record, they say in an article published this month in the Journal of the American Water Resources Association. “The smoking gun is pointing at population increases,” said one of…


Babb named Director of IAAS

Professor of English and African American studies Valerie Babb has been named director of the Institute for African American Studies in the Franklin College: “The IAAS is one of UGA’s premier units for engaging in the contemporary exchange of ideas across disciplines,” said Hugh Ruppersburg, interim dean of the Franklin College. “Dr. Babb’s scholarship in American literature and culture will be a vital contribution to the intellectual history…


Rosenbaum mural at the Russell Library, part 2

This video is from my second of three planned visits with Art Rosenbaum as he works to complete his mural at the new special collections library.


Armitage features Gothic ghosts

University Theatre will present "Armitage", a tale of murder, mystery and love, at the Seney Stovall Chapel Feb. 7-12 at 8 p.m., with an additional performance at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday Feb. 12. Set in the Midwestern town of Armitage in the 19th century, the play relates the story of the Pendragon family. "The audiences gradually piece together the family's shocking secret from the bitterly divided perspectives of its various members, including the…

Charles Darwin
Renowned paleontologist's lecture headlines Darwin Days

Franklin faculty and guest speakers continue the important work of bringing science to the public. World-renowned paleontologist Jack Horner, author of How to Build a Dinosaur, will discuss how he and his colleagues are developing the technology to create a real dinosaur at a lecture that is part of the annual Darwin Days celebration at the University of Georgia.  Horner, who advised Steven Spielberg on Jurassic Park and is Regents…


On grammatical precision

To think clearly is to write clearly is to speak clearly. When it comes to the faltering standards of English language usage and practice, the evidence abounds and can seem overwhelming. All who engage as teachers, and at any level, really have their work cut out for them. All writers and speakers everywhere take their places on the front lines of this struggle simultaneously as well, providing examples for better and often worse. The importance…

Pirates of Penzance Opera Poster
Pirates of Penzance

“This is a tremendous opportunity for families and music lovers of all ages to discover the joy of Gilbert and Sullivan,” said Frederick Burchinal, the Wyatt and Margaret Anderson Professor of the Arts in the Hugh Hodgson School of Music and director of the opera program. “The Pirates of Penzance is light and fun, written and presented in English, and these performances feature many of the university’s most talented singers.”  The Opera…


Tree of Life

Evolutionary biology is the 10-meter spring board for some of the greatest questions in science and epidemiology. How do species arise? How do genes diversify and acquire new functions? How do pathogens evolve and how does that information lead to new and better understanding of diseases? The study of evolutionary relationships is called Phylogeny, and one of the world's foremost experts in phylogeny is David Hillis, who will visit the…

Head and back, with green circle
Thomas Dozol, Works on Paper

The Lamar Dodd School of Art presents an exhibition by visual artist Thomas Dozol, in the Plaza Gallery through Feb. 22. Here's an interview with Dozol I did before the show, talking about the inspiration and influences behind the work.     An opening reception will be held Friday, Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. at the art school. The reception is free and the public is invited to attend.

female silhouettes
Minding the Gender Wage Gap

Gender disparities and under-representation continue to plague American boardrooms as well governmnent at every level. Only 22% of all state-wide elective executive office positions are currently held by women. Ninety-two of the 276 members who have ever served in the United States Congress are current Members - 75 in the house and 17 in the Senate. Equal compensation for equal work is one of the cornerstones of building a meritocracy where the…