By Victoria Dekle

Salamanders, one of the oldest lineages of extant animals, are beloved by biology Ph.D. student, Paul Hime. Some of Hime’s research subjects, however, may not be on the top of everyone’s cute animal list. Take, for instance, the North American hellbender salamander – an aquatic amphibian, largely unchanged since before the age of dinosaurs, that can grow over two feet long. “They’re in the water. They’re slimy. They’re big,” Hime said with a grin.

These large and nearly endangered amphibians live in many of Kentucky’s cool rivers and Hime is working with his laboratory director and adviser, David Weisrock, to study the hellbenders in their native environments and to assess species boundaries in this group.

By Allison Elliot-Shannon 



(Oct. 2, 2013) — The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has launched the Juvenile Justice Translational Research on Interventions for Adolescents in the Legal System (JJ-TRIALS). Seven research centers, including the University of Kentucky Center on Drug and Alcohol Research (CDAR), will work together to determine how juvenile justice programs can effectively adopt science-based prevention and treatment services for drug abuse and HIV.

According to recent estimates, approximately half of all teens who enter the juvenile justice system need treatment for substance use disorders. The remaining half would benefit from a drug abuse prevention intervention.

Many evidence-based interventions targeting adolescent substance abuse and HIV

by Allison Elliot-Shannon, Allison Perry

(Sept. 30, 2013) — Manasi Malik has just begun her junior year at the University of Kentucky, but the 19-year-old biology major has already been published as a lead author on a paper in a prestigious scientific journal.

A native of Massachusetts, Malik came to UK with the intention to become involved in research, and has found success working in the lab of Alzheimer's disease researcher Steve Estus of the UK Sanders-Brown Center on Aging. Malik's paper, written in conjunction with Estus and other researchers, is titled "CD33 Alzheimer's Risk-Altering Polymorphism, CD33 Expression, and Exon 2 Splicing," and 

by Allison Elliot-Shannon, Mallory Powell, Allison Perry



(Sept. 27, 2013) -- The "Triple Crown" is a term reserved for the greatest accomplishment in thoroughbred racing -- winning the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes. It's a feat that has been achieved only 11 times in history.

The University of Kentucky recently accomplished the equivalent of “triple crown” in the academic medical world, becoming only the 22nd medical center in the country to have a National Cancer Institute (NCI) designation (at the Markey Cancer Center), a federally funded Alzheimer's Disease Center (ADC, at the UK Sanders-Brown Center on Aging), and a Clinical and Translational Science Awards grant (at the Center for Clinical and Translational Science ).

With the new NCI designation and the existing ADC and CCTS federally-funded programs, UK joins

by Victoria Dekle

(Sept. 27, 2013)  — It was an excellent summer for the Department of English as six faculty members published books in highly-regarded presses. “The English Department had an exceptional summer, but hardly an unprecedented one,” said Professor and Chairman of the English Department, Jeff Clymer. “Faculty from all areas of our department – Creative Writing, Literary Studies and Linguistics – routinely publish in the most prominent and visible presses.”

And these scholars use their knowledge and research skills to the benefit of their students. “We push our research directly into our courses,” said Clymer. “As professors at a large university, it’s the fusion of our teaching and research that we find especially exciting.”

Mark

by Guy Spriggs

(Sept. 27, 2013)  — For almost a decade, UK philosophy professor Natalie Nenadic worked with feminist pioneer Catharine MacKinnon to coordinate a legal response to the sexual atrocities committed in the Bosnian genocide. Her efforts were integral in world recognition of such atrocities and their criminalization under international law.

After being awarded a grant from the American Association of University Women (AAUW), however, Nenadic is returning to her original research on understanding today’s proliferation of pornography and sexual violence and the role of technology in this development.

The AAUW grant won by Nenadic assessed not only the quality

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

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 Award is presented to honor college or university professors who have had influence beyond the school where they instruct and whohave been widely recognized as successful

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 Association, "Living Landscapes," running Sept. 22

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 Horse Head Fiddle Ensemble of Inner Mongolia. Both free public concerts will take place at 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