by Gail Hairston

Latino and Hispanic students, faculty and staff will have the opportunity to come together to build relationships and network with each other at the next event of the University of Kentucky 2012 Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month (H/LHM) Celebration. Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month is observed Sept. 15-Oct. 15.

The celebration is a collaboration between UK students, staff, faculty and the community with the consolidated and supported efforts cultivated by Latin American Studies, Hispanic Studies, and Fine Arts.

The entire community is invited to the next event, a Latino/Hispanic Student and Faculty Mixer, sponsored by the H/LHM Core Planning Team. The free event is slated from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 27, at the UK Martin Luther King Jr. Cultural Center, 133 Student Center. For more information, contact Kairise Conwell,

by Allison Elliot

A study by a team of University of Kentucky researchers has shed new light on the potential habit-forming properties of the popular pain medication tramadol, in research funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.  The paper is slated to appear in an upcoming edition of the academic journal Psychopharmacology.

Prescription pain killer abuse is a major public health problem in the U.S. In 2010, more individuals over the age of 12 reported nonmedical use of prescription pain relievers in the past month than use of cocaine, methamphetamine or heroin.

"Prescription pain pill abuse is a real problem in Kentucky. We have lots of overdoses. We held a summit here in

by Sarah Geegan 

Three University of Kentucky faculty have lead the effort in establishing an important statewide initiative in the field of physiology. Robin Cooper from the Department of Biology, along with Michael Reid and Francisco H. Andrade, both from the Department of Physiology, have brought together physiologists from across the Commonwealth to form the Kentucky Chapter of the American Physiological Society (APS).

The APS is an

by Sarah Geegan 

The University of Kentucky has become one of only 20 universities in the United States to offer a Ph.D. in a rapidly expanding academic field — gender and women's studies.

Professor and director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Gender and Women's Studies, Ellen Riggle, said, "As we see in the media every day, gender is at the core of politics and economics, language and performance. It is a hot topic among academics, and it impacts everyone. Its immediate relevance in our lives invokes interest among students and professors."

Because of the increasing number of both undergraduate and master's programs in gender and women's studies, Riggle said that these programs need faculty trained in

by Jenny Wells and Alicia Gregory 

Through the National Institute of Environmental Health Science's Superfund Research Program (SRP), University of Kentucky students are discovering ways to improve human health and diseases caused by chemical exposures near hazardous waste sites.

Kentucky has more than 200 hazardous waste sites on the active list for control, cleanup or monitoring under the federal Superfund program. The UK SRP focuses on the health impacts of exposure to different chlorinated organic compounds, such as polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, and trichloroethylene (TCE), both of which are prevalent at Superfund sites in Kentucky and nationwide. PCBs are a class of hazardous chemicals used in coatings for electronics, sealants, adhesives, paint and

Matt Wilson's GIS Workshop at the University of Kentucky builds connections to the community through partnerships with non-profit organizations such as Seedleaf and the Central Kentucky Council for Peace and Justice.

by Kathy Johnson

WUKY's "UK Perspectives" focuses on the people and programs of the University of Kentucky and is hosted by WUKY General Manager Tom Godell.  Today's program features two UK students who excel in both the classroom and on the field. Freshman soccer midfielder Cailin Harris and sophomore decathlete Daniel Buckles are also in the UK Honors Program.

To listen to the podcast interview, from which "UK Perspectives" is produced, click here.

"UK Perspectives" airs at 8:35 a.m. and 5:45 p.m. each Friday on WUKY 91.3, UK's NPR station.

by Whitney Hale

As the University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences continues stamping its world-travel passport after its successes with the Year of South Africa and Year of China, UK Libraries is joining them as they focus on Russia and the former Soviet Republics. UK students, faculty, staff, and the Lexington community are all invited to "Reimagine Russia’s Realms" with year-long events throughout 2012-13 beginning with a kick-off event 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 27.

The kick-off will feature a presentation by subject librarian Gordon Hogg on the history of UK Libraries’ Scott Soviet Collection, which will include an

by Keith Hautala

The University of Kentucky has been named a 2013 Military Friendly School by Victory Media, publisher of G.I. Jobs magazine. This is the fourth consecutive year that UK has earned this recognition.  

"We are very proud to once again be designated a Military Friendly School," said Anthony Dotson, coordinator of the UK Veterans Resource Center. "The University of Kentucky has made a commitment to serving those who have served our country, and this designation reflects how we live up to that commitment."

The 2013 Military Friendly Schools list honors the top 15 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools in the country that are doing the most to embrace America’s military service members, veterans, and spouses as students and ensure their success on campus.

"Inclusion on the 2013 list of Military Friendly Schools shows

International Studies senior Cassie Hardin is spending the next five months is Beijing, China. Luckily for us, she has a video camera and is not afraid to use it! Follow her adventures as she blogs from abroad, and helps A&S celebrate our Year of China initiative.

by Whitney Hale

As part of the Kentucky Women Writers Conference, the seventh Gypsy Poetry Slam returns to Lexington featuring celebrity judge and celebrated poet Tara Betts and hosted by popular local Affrilachian poet Bianca Spriggs. The slam is one several free public evening events celebrating the literary arts presented as part of the 2012 conference.

This year's Gypsy Poetry Slam will feature its largest group of competitors, 11 national and local poets. Winner of the slam will be presented with the Faith A. Smith Poetry Prize, established by Kentucky and Affrilachian poet Frank X Walker in memory of his mother. The Smith

This podcast was produced by Cheyenne Hohman.

The Department of Mathematics is excited to welcome professor Bert Guillou to its faculty!

Professor Guillou joins us this fall researching topology, the mathematical study of surfaces. He is interested in homotopy theory, the study of "transforming" one surface or shape into another, a field with applications in quantum physics, robotics, and even molecular biology.

This podcast is part of a series highlighting the new faculty members who joined the College of Arts and Sciences in the fall 2012 semester.

Produced by Stephen Gordinier.

Interested in learning some useful phrases in the Russian language for free and with no grades involved?  Join the Russian Club at the University of Kentucky for free Russian classes.

Classes will meet at 8 p.m. Thursdays, beginning Sept. 20, in Room 145 of Patterson Officer Tower on the UK campus.  No prior knowledge of Russian is required.  Materials will be provided.  This is a non-credit course being offered to provide a taste of Russian for anyone interested. 

The course coincides with the UK College of Arts and Sciences' Year of Russia.  For more information visit www.facebook.com/FreeRussian.

Philosophy and Modern Life
Lecture Series
View the poster for the Series

Massimo Pigliucci, CUNY-Lehman College
“Answers for Aristotle: How Science and Philosophy Can Lead to
A More Meaningful Life”
Thursday, Sept. 20, 7:30 p.m.  W.T.Y. Library Auditorium
Co-sponsored with the Department of Entomology

Jeffrey Bishop, St. Louis University
“The Challenge of Transhumanism”
Wednesday, Oct. 10, 4:00 p.m.  Student Center 230
Co-sponsored with the Program for Bioethics, U.K.

This podcast was produced by Cheyenne Hohman.

The Department of Psychology is excited to welcome professor Michelle Martel to its faculty!

Professor Martel joins us this fall studying preschool and childhood Disruptive Behavior Disorders (DBD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Her research looks to find developmental pathways to DBD and ADHD by studying not only early markers and traits, but also biological and environmental factors.

This podcast is part of a series highlighting the new faculty members who joined the College of Arts and Sciences in the fall 2012 semester.

Produced by Stephen Gordinier.

This podcast was produced by Cheyenne Hohman.

The Department of Chemistry is excited to welcome professor Chris Richards to its faculty!

Professor Richards joins us this fall to research cell membrane receptors. His research group integrates nanotechnology, neuroscience, and biophysical chemistry, and is developing imaging techniques to investigate how these receptors are involved in the mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases and addiction.

This podcast is part of a series highlighting the new faculty members who joined the College of Arts and Sciences in the fall 2012 semester.

Produced by Stephen Gordinier.

This podcast was produced by Cheyenne Hohman.

The Division of Writing, Rhetoric, and Digital Media is excited to welcome professor Brian McNely to its faculty!

Professor McNely joins us this fall studying how people work and interact. He researches professional writing in digital environments, tracing the writing that people do in order to find out how they get things done, how they make meaning from the work they do, and how they share that meaning with others.

This podcast is part of a series highlighting the new faculty members who joined the College of Arts and Sciences in the fall 2012 semester.

Produced by Stephen Gordinier.

This podcast was produced by Cheyenne Hohman.

The Department of History is excited to welcome professor Amy Murrell Taylor to its faculty!

Professor Taylor joins us this fall to study the history of the American South in the emancipation era, during and after the Civil War. Her research explores how the war and the end of slavery transformed southern society, culture, and identity.

This podcast is part of a series highlighting the new faculty members who joined the College of Arts and Sciences in the fall 2012 semester.

Produced by Stephen Gordinier.

This podcast was produced by Cheyenne Hohman.

The Department of Political Science is excited to welcome professor Abby Córdova to its faculty!

Professor Córdova joins us this fall to continue her research on comparitive politics. She studies the effects of crime, poverty, and economic inequality on the democratic process in Latin America. Her field research has taken her to Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Panama, and Guyana.

This podcast is part of a series highlighting the new faculty members who joined the College of Arts and Sciences in the fall 2012 semester.

Produced by Stephen Gordinier.