UK’s annual Cultural Diversity Festival, which celebrates the diversity of thought, experiences, and culture of our campus community, will take place from February 16 through March 13.

The Cultural Diversity Festival is now accepting event submissions from student organizations, campus units, departments and colleges. 

Submitting your event as part of the CDF will include it on the CDF calendar and promotional efforts throughout the month-long celebration. If your organization is interested in being a part of the festival, complete the event submission form.

"Groups and organizations across campus have events and programs every day that reflect the diversity we embrace on our campus.  This month

By Whitney Harder 

(Feb. 9, 2015) — Since the Deepwater Horizon disaster, also referred to as the BP oil spill, occurred in 2010, scientists have been searching for millions of gallons of unaccounted oil — 11 to 30 percent of the oil estimated to have been spilled — in the Gulf of Mexico. Kevin Yeager, University of Kentucky professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, began his search that same year. After two major oceanographic cruises, and years of data collection and collaboration, Yeager and his research colleagues may have solved the mystery.

In a peer-reviewed manuscript co-authored by Yeager and others from the University of South Florida, Florida State

· "The Silent Woman," the strange, true tale of a painter who lived with an effigy of an ex-lover and coaxes his scullery maid to play along, by Lydia Blaisdell of Austin, Texas;

· "Sisters/Sistahz," the story of identical twin African-American "sisters/sistahz" who must come to terms with their starkly differing views on black womanhood in America, by 

by: Sarah Geegan, Seth Riker

(Feb. 4, 2015) — University of Kentucky Education Abroad will host its Spring Fair from 2-7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5, in the Hub of William T. Young Library.  

"Unlike our fall event, our Spring Fair has a more narrow focus," Seth Riker, education abroad promotion and outreach coordinator, said. "We primarily highlight summer faculty directed programs and intern, research and service abroad programs."  

During the Education Abroad Spring Fair, students can also learn about scholarships, chat with advisors, meet with Education Abroad partner organizations and more. 

"Leading up to my semester abroad, I attended an EA Spring Fair to learn more about the program I was applying for, to talk

by: Whitney Hale

(Feb. 4, 2015) — Celebrate Chinese New Year in the Bluegrass with Hanfu fashion through the dynasties set to a program of Chinese music and dance beginning 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, at University of Kentucky Singletary Center for the Arts Recital Hall. This event is free and open to the public.

Organized by the UK Confucius Institute (UKCI) and Mu Dan Hong Dance Troupe, Lexington’s Chinese classic/folk dance group, the show will transport its audience to ancient China to reveal the development of Chinese fashion over time. The event features a rare opportunity to witness the

by: Clark Bellar

(Feb. 3, 2015) — Lexington has long been a cultural hub of Kentucky, allowing artists from both rural and urban areas a unique opportunity to celebrate their work among a vibrant and diverse community. The first Lexington Old-Time Music Gathering will do just that, bringing an Appalachian experience to Lexington with traditional Appalachian music and art.

The Lexington Old-Time Music Gathering will run Feb. 12-15, with events occurring at different venues throughout Lexington.

Sponsors for the festival include WUKY, the University of Kentucky's community supported radio station, the UK Appalachian Center, part of the 

by: Kathryn Engle

(Feb. 3, 2015) — The University of Kentucky Appalachian Center,Appalachian Studies and the Graduate Appalachian Research Community (GARC) are announcing a call for participation for the 2015 UK Appalachian Research Symposium and Arts Showcase. Invitations are extended to both undergraduate and graduate students of all disciplines who are currently attending an accredited Kentucky university or college, and registration is free for both presenters and attendees

by: Gail Hairston

(Feb. 3, 2015) — University of Kentucky students have a rare opportunity now to get in on the ground floor of a historical and innovative three-year project to record and preserve Kentucky’s Jewish heritage and history for generations to come.

The Jewish Heritage Fund for Excellence Scholars program for undergraduates is made possible by a unique partnership between UK’s interdisciplinary program in Jewish Studies and the Jewish Heritage Fund for Excellence (JHFE).  The JHFE Scholars receive a multi-year scholarship to complete a minor in Jewish Studies at UK. They also have a unique opportunity for research with UK faculty. Of the five scholarships originally created, two

by: Whitney Hale

(Feb. 3, 2015) — As the sesquicentennial of the Civil War draws to a close this year, University of Kentucky Gaines Center for the Humanities will examine the war's impact on history and culture in the years that followed as part of the 2015 Bale Boone Symposium on the "Legacies of the American Civil War" Feb. 4, 10 and 12.

"Legacies of the American Civil War" will bring together national recognized historians and cultural scholars in an exploration of  the war’s impact on American life not simply in the past, but also in the present and future. All the events featured below are free and open to the public.

The 2015 Bale Boone Symposium will open with a keynote lecture presented by

by: Lydia Whitman

(Feb. 2, 2015) — The University of Kentucky College of Arts and Science's Committee on Social Theory will host its 2015 lecture series, “Transnational Lives,” throughout the spring semester. This well-established series, organized around a different topic each year, gives the public access to lectures by four international scholars visiting the university campus to address a particular aspect of social theoretical thought from a variety of disciplinary perspectives. All lectures will be held on Fridays at 2 p.m. and are free to the public.

Committee director Marion Rust said these are among “the most exciting intellectual opportunities available to the UK community.”

by: Whitney Hale, Mack McCormick

(Feb. 2, 2015) — Last week, the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning in downtown Lexington held the third annual induction of the Kentucky Writer’s Hall of Fame. The writers recognized in this class include alumni and two former faculty members of the University of Kentucky, as well as the subject of a recent book by University Press of Kentucky.

Created in 2013, the Kentucky Writer's Hall of Fame recognizes Kentucky writers whose work reflects the character and culture of our Commonwealth, and educates Kentuckians about the state’s rich literary heritage.

This year’s inductees have been described as "eloquent, inspirational and

by: Jenny Wells

(Jan. 30, 2015) — The University of Kentucky Chellgren Center for Undergraduate Excellence will give students an opportunity to learn about unique educational programs this week. Open to first-year students with a 3.5 GPA or above, this information session will help students learn more about the Chellgren Student Fellows Program, Phi Beta Kappa, and the Chellgren Student Outreach Team.

The session will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 4, in Room 200 of the Funkhouser building. Free pizza will be provided.

by: Gail Hairston

(Feb. 2, 2015) — Today, the University of Kentucky Martin Luther King Center continues its tradition of sponsoring a month of events in recognition of Black History Month.

February will include such popular events as the Apollo, an opportunity for UK students to present their theatrical talents; a sampling of soul food; a rap battle; and a King Center and Late Night Film Series presentation of “Dear White People” and a conversation with director Justin Simien.

“The Martin Luther King Center is proud to provide the university community with a strong calendar of events to celebrate Black History Month. The events run the gamut – from rap battles to soul food to black Latino history to the ever-popular Apollo. We are especially honored to offer a screening of “Dear White People” followed by a chat with the film’s director Justin

by: Whitney Hale

(Feb. 2, 2015) — The University of Kentucky Special Collections and Research Center (SCRC) is presenting a new exhibition on LGBTQ members of the African-American community in the Commonwealth. "A Pictorial History of African American Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, and Queer Persons in Kentucky," the 2015 Black History Month Exhibit, brings visibility to a history that has not been well represented within most special collections and archives. This exhibition is free and open to the public.

The exhibition's display of images comes from photo collections at UK SCRC and from generous loans by individuals and organizations in the general public. The earliest image is the text of the more than century old Kentucky Court of Appeals case, 

by: Yan Wang

(Jan. 29, 2015) — Nine multi-disciplinary student teams gathered on Saturday, Jan. 24, in the  University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy to compete in the first Global Health Case Competition.

This competition, hosted by the Global Health Initiative, aims to provide advance research and educational programs for students to improve the health of people throughout the world.

Each student team collaborated and presented strategies that they believed would contribute to reducing the health and socio-economic burdens of tobacco in Gujarat, India.

Dr. Perry Pugno, one of the four judges, said this competition helps students realize the importance of collaborative teamwork to solving health issues.

“The reality, in the future, is that health issues are going to become more and more important to the

by: Patsy Carruthers, Lee Bessette, Kathi Kern

(Jan. 28, 2015) — An opening reception is set for Jan. 30 to celebrate the Faculty Media Depot and its services for University of Kentucky faculty. UK Analytics and Technologies’ Academic Technology Group (ATG) and the Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching (CELT) are bringing together technology and pedagogy in the depot, nestled away in the Science Library, located in the M.I. King Library.

The opening reception for the Faculty Media Depot will take place from 9 to11 a.m. Friday, Jan.30, with the official opening and ribbon

by: Gail Haiston

(Jan. 28, 2015) — Today, a unique group of University of Kentucky professors and Pulitzer Prize-winning political cartoonist Joel Pett are leading a discussion of the recent terrorist attacks in Paris.

The public forum, organized by faculty members of the College of Arts and Sciences’ Program of French and Francophone Studies, is slated at 3-4:15 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28, in the east end of the Student Center, Room 211.

The discussion will focus on the recent deadly attacks on the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and a Parisian kosher market, as well as provide context for the social and political debates that continue to emerge in the wake of the attacks.

Pett, political cartoonist for the Lexington Herald Leader since1984, is a

By Sarah Schuetze

Despite differences in subject matter and methods, students in disciplines like biology and English have some common ground: they are part of the College of Arts and Sciences. Recently, this common ground connected two University of Kentucky alumni who graduated over 30 years apart.

Bob Burke graduated from UK with a degree in sociology in 1970 and Casey Robinson with a degree in Mathematical Economics in 2014. Their shared ties to A&S led to a valuable opportunity for Robinson, made possible by Burke. On a sunny day last spring, Robinson and Burke met for lunch

by: Shane Tedder, Whitney Harder, Mariah Rhodes

(Jan. 27, 2015) — "Green Talks," a new weekly talk show on WRFL 88.1, is focusing on student-funded sustainability efforts at the University of Kentucky. With efforts ranging from bottle filling stations and outdoor recycling bins to keynote speakers and funding assistance for research, travel and symposia, there is a lot to talk about. Listen to the show from 4-4:30 p.m. every Wednesday.

Funding for these initiatives comes from a mandatory student fee called the Environmental Stewardship Fee, which was initiated in 2009. Each full-time UK student pays $3.25 per semester into the fund, which generates approximately