UF News and events of possible media interest (Jan. 19)

January 20, 2015

UF News for week of January 19 listed

GAINESVILLE, Fla. --- Here are the releases the University of Florida’s media relations office expects to send this week, subject to change:

Monday, Jan. 19

MLK day

Tuesday, Jan. 20

ANKLE BONES -- Found in the same area of Montana that yielded the massive Tyrannosaurus rex, new ankle bones smaller than a penny provide the first fossil evidence that the oldest primates lived in trees, according to a new paper co-authored by a UF researcher. The study appearing this week in the online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences describes the first bones below the skull of Purgatorius—previously known only by its teeth.

Wednesday, Jan. 21

PADDLING-- A team of University of Florida researchers is calling for an immediate end to paddling students in all state public schools, citing its new study of classroom disciplinary trends that depicts corporal punishment as violent and outdated, and a source of complications such as increased dropout rates and lawsuits. The team’s 33-page research report shows corporal punishment persists in nearly half of Florida school districts, mostly in the state’s rural northern counties, and “it’s the youngest, most impressionable children – elementary school students – who most often are subjected” to paddling.

Thursday, Jan. 22

FOSSIL BATS -- Scientists have long believed a major change in climate after the end of the last ice age caused the extinction of Caribbean bats. But a new study appearing in Scientific Reports this week co-authored by a University of Florida scientist on fossils from the Bahamas shows losses of bat populations occurred much later, about 4,000 years ago, and human-induced habitat changes contributed to their extinction.

PLAQUE –– Inflammation has been implicated as a major culprit in Alzheimer’s, but in a counterintuitive finding, UF researchers report in a new paper that a common anti-inflammatory – aspirin – might also contribute. The study is embargoed and will be published in Neuron, from Cell Press.

Friday, Jan. 23

Open

UF events of possible media interest listed

“Selma” actress Tessa Thompson speaks Jan. 21

As part of Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Week, Tessa Thompson, best known for her roles in “Dear White People” and “Selma,” will discuss the ideals of equality, share her the experiences and how to uphold King’s values. She will speak at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 21 in University Auditorium.

Diversity in Action session Jan. 22

A diversity training program, Diversity in Action, will be held at 6 p.m. Jan. 22 in the Ustler Hall atrium. This skills-based training session will provide students opportunities to improve their dialogue skills, practice empathy and active listening, and provide a space for students to create action plans to promote diversity and inclusion on campus. 

Tales of transformation

The UF School of Theatre + Dance will present “Metamorphoses” at the Constans Theatre from Jan. 23- 29. Tickets range from $13 for students to $17 for non-students. For show times, please visit: http://arts.ufl.edu/in-the-loop/events/metamorphoses/.
Tickets are available through the University Box Office: (352) 392-1653 and at ticketmaster.com.

Writer Mia McKenzie speaks Jan. 27

Also part of UF’s Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, writer Mia McKenzie will speak Jan. 27 at 6 p.m. in the Ustler Hall atrium. McKenzie is best known for her award-winning novel “The Summer We Got Free.”

To learn more about all the events associated with the MLK Celebration, contact Vee Smith, director of the Institute of Black Culture, at 352-294-3560 or VeeS@multicultural.ufl.edu or visit www.multicultural.ufl.edu/programs/mlk_celebration/.

Author David Epstein visiting UF to discuss sports science

David Epstein, New York Times best-selling author, will give a public talk at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 28 at Gannett Auditorium in Weimer Hall. The title of the talk is “Roger vs. Tiger: Why sports science says we’re developing young athletes wrong.”

Epstein is currently an investigative reporter covering energy and environmental issues and sports science for ProPublica.

Environmental reporter to speak at UF Feb. 2

Tampa Bay Times environmental reporter and author Craig Pittman will speak at noon on Monday, Feb. 2. in Smathers Library Room 101. He has covered the environmental beat since 1998.

The lecture is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to bring a lunch.