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UGA research team finds that existing drug could treat aggressive brain cancer RESEARCH NEWS
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Lidia Bastianich, pioneer of farm-centric Italian cuisine, to speak at UGA Vol. 47, No. 9
September 23, 2019
www.columns.uga.edu
UGA GUIDE
4&5
Innovation District moves forward with schedule of events By Ashley Crain
AshleyCrain@uga.edu
Last summer, Tony Dang served as a content creation intern with a real estate company in Greece.
World view
UGA expands access to study abroad opportunities for minority students By Camie Williams camiew@uga.edu
Tony Dang is a student at the University of Georgia, but his academic experience spans the globe: he taught English in Peru, interned in Greece and studied in Australia and New Zealand. “I never thought about studying abroad before starting college, but my experiences abroad have shaped me more than I could have ever imagined,” Dang said. “I have met some truly incredible people and have learned more from them than I can in any classroom. Every experience has been extremely unique, and I have finished every trip a better person. I now would like to have an international career and have a desire to pay my fortunes forward in the future to minority students like me.”
Since UGA became one of the largest public universities to ensure that all undergraduates engage in a meaningful experiential learning opportunity in 2016, the Office of Global Engagement has expanded study abroad offerings to provide rigorous learning opportunities in a diverse array of fields. Through a new U.S. Department of State grant, the office is working to ensure that students of every background understand the advantages of study abroad and have access to it. “There are so many opportunities for minority students, but there’s also a lack of awareness,” Dang said. “Making minority students aware of the resources available to them is the first step. Showing them that they are deserving of the opportunity and not to give up with a single rejection email is the next.”
Study abroad activities, which are available in more than 75 countries to UGA students, provide numerous benefits, including improving intercultural understanding, college performance and career preparation. Notably, students in the University System of Georgia, which includes UGA, boast an average 18% higher fouryear graduation rate if they participate in a study abroad opportunity, according to study funded by the U.S. Department of Education. In that study, researchers found that the four-year graduation rate for African American students who participate in study abroad is 31% higher than their peers, yet they do not participate in study abroad as often as white students. “Study abroad contributes to the academic success and personal
See ABROAD on page 8
HONORS PROGRAM
12 UGA students, alumni receive Fulbright offers By Stephanie Schupska schupska@uga.edu
The University of Georgia once again hit double digits in the number of international travel-study grants offered to its students and recent alumni through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. With 12 students selected, this marks the sixth straight year—and 10th time in the past 11 years—that UGA has received 10 or more offers. Of the 12, nine were able to take advantage of the opportunity. Four received academic and arts grants, and five will be teaching English. The Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers research, study and teaching opportunities in more than 140 countries to recent college
graduates and graduate students. As the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, it is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the U.S. and countries worldwide. “ We a r e p r o u d o f t h e 12 students who received offers and are excited for the nine who are able to participate,” said Maria de Rocher, assistant director of the Honors Program and chair of the Fulbright selection committee at UGA. “It has been a tremendous honor to get to know all of these students, each representing such different academic interests and backgrounds but all of whom are clearly devoted to serving as cultural ambassadors and increasing our
understanding of the wider world.” Four UGA students and alumni received Fulbright academic and arts grants. They are listed below with their study concentrations, host countries and UGA degree information. Andrew Bonanno of Tivoli, New York, is a Ph.D. student in anthropology. He will spend his Fulbright year in Sierra Leone studying land tenure change and economic well-being. Clémence Kopeikin of Le Mesnil Saint Denis, France (and recently Alpharetta), graduated in August 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in international affairs. She will work in Uberlandia, Brazil, to understand women’s perceptions of See FULBRIGHT on page 8
UGA’s Innovation District initiative is moving full steam ahead. Several programs and event series are planned on campus this fall, all aimed at fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, creativity and collaboration among faculty, students and local entrepreneurs. The UGA Innovation District Seminar Series will kick off with the first of three seminars on Oct. 2, followed by additional seminars on Nov. 6 and Dec. 4. The first seminar, “Innovation District Partner Showcase,” will
feature leaders from various entities involved in the Innovation District initiative, including the Office of the President, Innovation Gateway, Student Entrepreneurship Program, New Media Institute, Small Business Development Center, Athensmade and other partners. For more information about the series and to register for the first seminar, visit https://t.uga.edu/5fA. Ian Biggs, who directs the startup program in Innovation Gateway and serves as a member of UGA’s Innovation District launch team, is leading the planning and implementation for the fall event schedule. See INNOVATION on page 8
OFFICE OF RESEARCH
Partnership expands the use of antibodies developed at UGA By Ashley Crain
AshleyCrain@uga.edu
The University of Georgia is partnering with U.K.-based recombinant reagent specialist Absolute Antibody to expand uses of research antibodies developed at UGA for therapeutic and medical applications. The partnership will enable the quick transfer of UGA-developed antibodies to Absolute Antibody for the development of numerous products to supply the research and diagnostic communities, according to Derek Eberhart, associate vice president for research and executive director of Innovation Gateway, UGA’s technology commercialization office. Example applications of these UGA antibodies include such things from infectious disease
studies to thyroid function regulation, but their potential will expand through Absolute Antibody’s reengineering process. “This collaboration not only increases the commercial availability of antibodies developed by UGA researchers, but also Absolute Antibody’s ability to reformat the antibodies into a recombinant form will enable scientists to use these reagents in new applications,” Eberhart said. “This is a partnership that will benefit the research community, as well as UGA, and will strengthen the position of our antibodies portfolio in the research reagents market.” The partnership will open up several new possibilities for researchers, allowing easier and more effective experimentation, starting with six antibodies developed at
See ANTIBODIES on page 8
COLLEGE OF ENVIRONMENT AND DESIGN
Former director-general of UNESCO to give HGOR Lecture By Melissa Tufts mtufts@uga.edu
The College of Environment and Design is hosting Irina Bokova, former director-general of UNESCO, for its 2019 HGOR Endowed Lecture. Bokova, a native of Bulgaria, will discuss “Preserving Global Heritage in Times of War and Conflict” on Oct. 1 at 5 p.m. in the Chapel. Open free to the public, the lecture will be preceded by a reception at 3:30 p.m. in the Jackson Street Building. “We are honored to have Irina Bokova visit the UGA campus and
address our community on this timely and complex issue,” said Sonia Hirt, dean of the College of Environment and Design, Irina Bokova who is also originally from Bulgaria. “I believe her lecture will appeal to a broad audience, and I want to personally encourage everyone to attend our reception for her as well as the lecture.”
See LECTURE on page 8