by Mike Lynch

(Sept. 27, 2013) — Homes and other structures that have been built on certain types of shale containing pyrite can suffer severe damages when the shale expands and heaves, according to research conducted at the University of Kentucky.

The problem of pyrite oxidation and shale expansion can be found worldwide, including East-Central Kentucky, where geochemist Warren Anderson of the Kentucky Geological Survey at UK has studied its effects.

A variety of organic and inorganic materials, such as clay, silt, trace metals and iron sulfide minerals, mainly pyrite, are found in the Chattanooga Shale formation across the state. When pyrite is exposed to moisture — during construction, excavation and rain — pyrite and other minerals oxidize and sulfate crystals form, growing to many times their original size. The result can be an acidic

by Keith Hautala

A collaboration between a linguist and a computer scientist at the University of Kentucky has resulted in the publication of a groundbreaking text that affords researchers a new means of assessing the complexity of languages using computer-assisted analysis.

UK linguistics Professor Gregory Stump co-authored "Morphological Typology: From Word to Paradigm," with computer science Professor Raphael Finkel. It is being published by Cambridge University Press as No.138 in its distinguished "Cambridge Studies in Linguistics"

By Bryant Welbourne

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Sept. 25, 2013) ― Forty-nine faculty and administrators from Southeastern Conference universities, including four from the University of Kentucky, have been selected as 2013-14 SEC Academic Leadership Development Program fellows, the SEC announced Tuesday.

The SEC Academic Leadership Development Program (ALDP) is a professional development program that seeks to identify, prepare and advance academic leaders for roles within SEC institutions and beyond.

The UK representatives who were chosen are:

By Grace Liddle

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 25, 2013)  - University of Kentucky Department of Mathematics Professor Carl Lee has won a Mathematical Association of America 2014 Deborah and Franklin Tepper Haimo Award. The award will be presented Jan. 16 at the 2014 Joint Mathematics Meetings Prize Session in Baltimore, Md.

The Haimo

by Keith Hautala

A one-hour documentary exploring the history of one of Lexington's most diverse neighborhoods will have a special advance screening at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25, at the University of Kentucky's William T. Young Library auditorium.

"Davis Bottom: Rare History, Valuable Lives" reveals the fascinating history of a working-class neighborhood established in Lexington after the Civil War. Davis Bottom is one of about a dozen ethnic enclaves settled primarily by African-American families who migrated to Lexington from the 1860s to the 1890s in search of jobs, security and opportunity. 

The documentary is part of the Kentucky Archaeology and Heritage Series, produced by Voyageur Media Group, Inc. for the Kentucky Archaeological Survey and the Kentucky Heritage Council. The series is distributed by Kentucky Educational Television (KET) to

by Sarah Geegan & Grace Liddle

 The College of Arts and Sciences is offering 13 courses that begin in the middle of the fall 2013 semester. For students who may have recently dropped a class or hope to pick up some extra credit hours, these courses provide flexibility after the regular registration period.

Course topics range from the science of what we eat, archaeology and history of ancient Mexico, an introductory course on the city of Lexington, and a study on the culture and economics of local and global food systems.

The "Global Food & Local Agriculture" course explores questions associated with why people eat what they do and what that implies about society. To answer these questions, the class

by Whitney Hale & Jennifer Sciantarelli

The people, lands and livelihood of Inner Mongolia and Kentucky come together in celebration next week in "Living Landscapes," a weeklong festival of international arts and culture.

Presented by the University of Kentucky College of Fine Arts and the UK Confucius Institute in partnership with the Art College of Inner Mongolia University (IMU) and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region International Culture

by Keith Hautala

Kentucky archaeologists are presenting a two-day educational event this weekend for school children and the general public at the Gladie Learning Center, in Kentucky's Red River Gorge. 

Now in its 25th year, the Living Archaeology Weekend (LAW) is Kentucky's largest and longest-running archaeological event. It is also the flagship event for the Commonwealth’s first Kentucky Archaeology Month. Demonstrations will explore the technologies and folkways of Kentucky's first settlers, the Native Americans, as well as the early pioneers who came here more than 200 years ago. Participants will also get an introduction to the science of archaeology and site preservation.

The Friday program, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., is for school groups with prior reservations.

by Whitney Hale

The Kentucky Women Writers Conference will feature best-selling novelist and National Book Award finalist Bonnie Jo Campbell at its keynote event, scheduled for 7 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 21, in Worsham Theatre, located in the University of Kentucky Student Center. Campbell will present a free public address titled "What I Learned from My Mother," followed by a Q-and-A and a book-signing. The writer will also lead two other sessions during the daytime on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 20 and 21, for conference registrants only.

Bonnie Jo Campbell is the author of the best-selling novel 

by Whitney Hale & Grace Liddle

A popular old time music duo and an exceptional Horse Country Musical Mashup are next up in the “Appalachia in the Bluegrass” concert series. On Friday, Sept. 20, banjo player Jimmy McCown and his wife Ada, a guitarist, return to UK for a performance. The following Friday, Sept. 27, the music of Appalachia and Inner Mongolia will be showcased in a concert featuring the Red State Ramblers and the 

by Gail Bennett

 WUKY, the University of Kentucky's NPR station, is partnering with UK Army ROTC to present the Jack Kain Ford Bluegrass Mud Run.  This fun and exciting event will take place on the campus of the University of Kentucky Sept. 21, 2013.  This will be a 5K run starting at Commonwealth Stadium and proceeding through obstacles designed by UK Army ROTC.  These obstacles will be challenging yet fun and definitely get participants MUDDY! 

This Mud Run serves to promote a physically fit lifestyle, but it is appropriate for all levels of ability from pro-athlete or pro-couch potato! Participants are encouraged to have fun and even dress in their favorite or most bizarre costume.

Registration is open at 

by Sarah Geegan & Breanna Shelton

The College of Arts and Sciences is kicking off its fourth year in its Passport to the World Initiative: "¡Viva México!" will be a year-long celebration of art, culture and history of Mexico and what makes it unique. Join in the kickoff from noon-2 p.m.today, Tuesday, Sept. 17, on the Student Center patio for free food, free T-shirts, music and games. 

History Professor Francie Chassen-Lopez, and anthropology Professor 

by Sarah Geegan

The College of Arts and Sciences will induct new members into its Hall of Fame Oct. 11, 2013, to join the ranks of the current 32 alumni and 8 emeritus faculty A&S Hall of Fame members.

The ceremony, taking place at 3:30 p.m. in the Singletary Center for the Arts, will follow an academic theme; the inductees will wear formal academic regalia and receive medallions with the UK A&S seal. All members of the campus community are welcome to attend.

>>View the photos from the event

"This is an exciting opportunity and an honor for us to celebrate the success of our

by Sarah Geegan

Students of the 21st century are digital natives; they have never experienced the world without the Internet, they're fluent in social media and they navigate disparate streams of information to solve problems through advancing technology.

It is at this intersection of academic, social and technological networks that A&S Wired Residential College provides students with a 21st century educational experience.

A&S Wired is part of the University of Kentucky's Living Learning Program (LLP), a growing initiative that involves partnerships between the Office of Residence Life and various academic and non-academic units

by Sarah Geegan 

UK Confucius Institute Director Huajing Maske describes the UK Faculty China Short-Term Teaching Program as "groundbreaking" for several reasons.

First of all, the numbers are groundbreaking. The program, which provides teaching stints by embedding American professors in the departments of partner universities in China, involved faculty members from several non-China institutions. In the program's inaugural year, UK's 29 faculty at Shanghai University represented nearly half of the overall faculty cohort.

"It was quite impressive to see how strong the UK numbers were among the faculty participating in the short-term teaching program," Maske said. "UK was by far

by Whitney Hale

This Sunday, the University of Kentucky community will tune in to the Miss America Pageant to see if one of its own will be crowned. Vocal performance and political science senior Jenna Day is currently competing in preliminary competitions for the coveted title in Atlantic City, N.J. The pageant finals will air live 9 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 15, on ABC.

In addition to watching Day compete for the crown, Big Blue Nation can vote for Day to be selected as America's Choice in the pageant. Individuals can vote for only one contestant's video via the Miss America website at 

"The Passions of Eugene Gladstone O'Neill," a new play by Jo Morello, directed by Kathi E.B. Ellis, will receive its world premiere at LexArts’s Downtown Arts Center in seven performances, Sept. 13-22. 

"The Passions of Eugene Gladstone O'Neill" won the biennial Prize for Women Playwrights from the Kentucky Women Writers Conference, which carries a $500 cash award and a fully staged theatrical production by Balagula Theatre in Lexington. While the play is being produced by the co-

by Whitney Hale

The non-workshop experience at the 2013 Kentucky Women Writers Conference, being held Sept. 20-22, will be anchored by two outstanding presenters, publishing consultant and author Peggy DeKay and award-winning poet Paisley Rekdal.

Peggy DeKay, author of "Self-Publishing for Virgins: The first-time author’s guide to self-publishing," will teach two seminars on self-publishing and e-book opportunities for emerging and established writers, delving into case studies of poets, novelists, and essayists

by Sarah Geegan

Two University of Kentucky graduates will join the Peace Corps this year to pursue service opportunities across the world. Gwendolyn Schaefer and Olivia Brown will leave the U.S. for 27 months to volunteer in developing countries as part of the program.

Schaefer, who had the idea to apply for the Corps after meeting a returned Peace Corps volunteer, recognized her strong desire to serve others after participating in two education abroad programs and traveling throughout the Middle East during her undergraduate career. 

“I knew that I wanted to take a break after graduation that would allow me to spend some time giving back to others and honing in on my interests for a

by Jenny Wells

Last week, the University of Kentucky Chellgren Center for Undergraduate Excellence honored its newest class of Chellgren Fellows.  Benefactor Paul Chellgren and his wife Deborah, along with Chellgren Endowed Chair Philipp Kraemer, UK Provost Christine Riordan, and UK President Eli Capilouto, recognized and congratulated the students on being named Fellows.

The Chellgren Fellows Program is for students with exceptional academic potential and aspirations, who are eager to participate in a special learning community designed to cultivate extraordinary achievement. Outstanding faculty members from across campus serve as individual mentors for the Fellows.

The