by: Gail Hairston

(Jan. 22, 2015) — Brandie Cobb is a survivor, but more importantly she is also a “thriver.”

A wealth of pain, heartache and hope go into that phrase “survivor of abuse.” But when an individual goes beyond coping to excelling, it is cause for celebration and recognition. Cobb, a University of Kentucky junior, is that kind of individual.

UK and others have chosen to applaud and reward the determination and courage Cobb so modestly displays. The UK Office for Policy Studies on Violence Against Women awarded Cobb its first Verizon Wireless Women’s Empowerment Scholarship in 2013. Also, Cobb was recently inducted into the National Society of Collegiate Scholars for her “commitment to the ideals of scholarship, leadership and service.”

“I want to

by: Whitney Hale

(Jan. 22, 2015) — A friendship with novelist and new University of Kentucky faculty member Hannah Pittard led to Ann Beattie becoming keynote speaker for the 2015 Kentucky Women Writers Conference. The conference, which runs Sept. 11-12, will follow the publication of Beattie’s next book, "The State We’re In: Maine Stories," in August.

"Ann Beattie is a living legend whom we’ve always wanted to bring to the conference. Professor Pittard’s arrival in Lexington and her experience as Beattie’s student at the University of Virginia made this the perfect year to host Ann,” Conference

by: Gail Hariston

(Jan. 22, 2015) — Global events have been happening at a rate few of us can track much less comprehend. Populism and right wing politics in Europe and Latin America could be such issues for many.

Several University of Kentucky programs, including the International Studies Program and the Department of Sociology in the College of Arts and Sciences and University Press of Kentucky, have organized two events just for those of us trying to keep up with global politics.

The first event ‒ “The State of the Right in Europe and Latin America” ‒.is scheduled at

by: Whitney Harder

(Jan. 21, 2015) — Six University of Kentucky educators were recently named recipients of the UK Alumni Association 2015 Great Teacher Award.

The recipients are:

by: Whitney Hale

(Jan. 21, 2015) — University of Kentucky Confucius Institute and thePatterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce will present a lecture by Craig A. Harton positive and negative dynamics of China-U.S. relations. The talk, which will explore aspects of energy and climate, regional security, trade and rule of law, will begin 2:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23, in the William T. Young Library Auditorium. The lecture is free and open to the public.

"Dr. Hart has over a decade of experience working with China both as an attorney advising on energy infrastructure projects and teaching at

By Sarah Schuetze

When preparing a meal, a standard cooking time can be shortened by increasing heat or pressure.  How do you begin to condense the “cook time” of a college semester? 

Fifteen weeks of class sessions, assignments, readings, discussions, projects, and tests…Sometimes it doesn’t feel long enough to fit everything in. However, UK Linguistics professor Mark Lauersdorf and visiting professor Joachim Scharloth collaborated on designing a compressed course comprised of just five days.

Instead of heat and pressure, Lauersdorf and Scharloth used intensive student interaction and a condensed schedule to serve up a

by Whitney Hale

(Jan. 16, 2015) – In celebration of the University of Kentucky sesquicentennial, UK Special Collections Research Center is releasing the diary entries of former student Virginia Clay McClure. The diary chronicles the day-to-day activities of McClure's junior and senior years at the State University of Kentucky (now UK) from 1910-1912. McClure's 19th and 20th diary entries, dated Jan. 16 and 18, 1911, chronicle hijinks between friends and a game between faculty and the institution's varsity basketball team.  

Jan. 16th, 1911.  Lillian, Addie, Bess, Marion, Lillie, Maria, Pauline, Susan, and I met to see “Madam Sherry” on general admission. I had taken Edna’s coat away from her on the campus that afternoon, and Pauline wore it back to the 

by Jenny Wells

(Jan. 16, 2015) — The University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER) hosted an Energy Fair on campus last month for 271 fourth and fifth graders from Russell Cave, Yates and Cassidy Elementary Schools in Lexington. The fair provided the students with opportunities to meet scientists, learn about different forms of energy, participate in hands-on experiments, and even tour UK's campus. 

In addition to CAER, represenatives from the UK Chapter of the Society of Mining Engineers, Fayette County Public Schools Energy and Sustainability, Bluegrass Community and Technical College, Kentucky Geological Survey, and Bluegrass Energy provided interactive stations for the students.

"The Energy Fair trip was a tremendous success," said Josh Radner, a science

by Gail Hairston

(Jan. 16, 2015) — The theme for Lexington’s 2015 celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day is MLK Today: The Courage to Change.

The day, Monday, Jan. 19, begins with the Freedom March lineup at 9 a.m. in the corridor outside Heritage Hall, downtown Lexington Center. Those participating in the Freedom March will depart Heritage Hall at 10 a.m., and return in time for the kickoff to the commemorative program at 11 a.m.

Lexington is always eager to learn who the MLK Day commemorative program’s keynote speaker will be. And the event planners rarely disappoint.

This year, Susan L. Taylor, the visionary leader and former chief editor of Essence magazine, will present the keynote address.

At Essence

by Gail Hairston

(Jan. 15, 2015) — As Martin Luther King Jr. Day approaches, the University of Kentucky Martin Luther King Center is pursuing distinctive ways to highlight King’s legacy. Through Monday, Jan. 19, the center is offering a variety of events and opportunities that honor King’s dream and convey how important it is to keep his dream alive. King strived to eradicate social injustice, violence and racism, and the campus wants to celebrate that dream.

The film “Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.” was shown Wednesday. For this year’s celebration of King’s actual birthday, Jan. 15, the center is celebrating and reflecting on the civil rights leader’s famous “I Have a Dream Speech.” The event begins Thursday with a silent march at the King Center at 5 p.m. A vigil and program

by Derrick Meads

(Jan. 12, 2015) — UK’s Global Health Initiative is hosting a lecture about the success of Cuba’s health care system in spite of its economy.

The lecture, titled “The Curious Case of Cuba,” will take place from noon to 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23, in the Chandler Hospital, Pavilion A Auditorium.

According to Dr. C. William Keck who will be giving the lecture, 1.3 billion people live, and die, without health care.

“Most are in developing countries, but many are in industrialized nations,” said Keck. “Proving that political will, not wealth, is the key to transforming this devastating picture.The lecture will focus on the nature of the Cuban national health system, the forces that sustain it and the promise it holds as a model for others to

Burton H Davis, an adjuct faculty member in the Department of Chemistry and an Associate Director at UK's Center for Applied Energy Research was honored recently by West Virginia’s Governor Earl Ray Tomblin with the “Distinguished West Virginian Award.” The Governor applauded Dr. Davis while declaring that the award represents the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a person from West Virginia for outstanding achievement and meritorious service. Senator Joe Manchin was also present during the celebration as well as Jeff Herholdt, Director of the West Virginia Division of Energy.

by Kathy Johnson

(Jan. 9, 2015) — WUKY's "UK Perspectives" focuses on the people and programs of the University of Kentucky and is hosted by WUKY General Manager Tom Godell. This week News Director Alan Lytle guest hosts and visits with UK President Eli Capilouto about the new "Rooted in our Communities" Appalachian initiative recently launched by the university. 

To listen to the podcas interview ferom which "UK Perspectives" is produced, click here. 

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

by Eli Capilouto

"I gleaned the remains of my life, turned toward the hills that give me help, give me shelter, hold the sky where it belongs."

                                                                                                                                                                             - Jane Hicks

Over the next

By Whitney Harder

(Dec. 19, 2014) – The first two years of doctoral study in science and technology fields are critical to student success — particularly for underrepresented populations.

Reflecting the University of Kentucky's growing leadership in ensuring more diversity in graduate studies, President Eli Capilouto Friday announced that the university's Department of Mathematics, within the College of Arts and Sciences, has been awarded a $559,626 National Science Foundation grant to fund the new Graduate Scholars in Mathematics program. The funding will be dispersed through July 2019.

The program will support incoming mathematics graduate students at UK, including first-

by Whitney Harder

(Dec. 18, 2014) — Thirteen University of Kentucky students took home top honors at the Kentucky Academy of Science 100th Annual Meeting in November, where hundreds of undergraduate and graduate students from Kentucky colleges and universities participated in research competitions.

Winners included graduate and undergraduates from the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, College of Arts and Sciences, Gatton College of Business and Economics, College of Health Sciences and College of Public Health.

by Jenny Wells

(Dec. 17, 2014) — The University of Kentucky Office for Undergraduate Research has presented 17 students with the Oswald Research and Creativity Program awards.

"There is so much high quality research being done by UK undergraduate students," said Diane Snow, director of the Office for Undergraduate Research. "We're very grateful for funding through the Oswald Awards to be able to recognize and reward these exceptional individuals!"

Established in 1964 by then-UK President John Oswald, the Oswald Research and Creativity Program encourages research and creative activities by undergraduate students at UK. The objectives of the program are to stimulate creative work by undergraduate students and to recognize individuals who

UK College of Arts and Sciences' video with Jeff Babbitt. A transcript of this video can be found in the document attached to this article. 

by Whitney Harder and Brian Connors Manke

(Dec. 16, 2014) — When University of Kentucky faculty need a piece of specialty glasswork designed, like laboratory instruments, they rely on the only scientific glassblower on campus. Jeff Babbitt has been running the Department of Chemistry's Glass Shop for almost 25 years now, providing unique skills and quick service to the UK community.

Babbitt does a variety of things — from simple repairs to the construction of complicated vacuum line systems

by: Gail Hairston

(Dec. 16, 2014) —At Kentucky’s recent 28th Annual Equal Employment Opportunity Conference, the Commonwealth’s Personnel Cabinet Secretary Tim Longmeyer and Arthur Lucas, executive director of the state Office of Diversity and Equality, presented the annual Charles W. Anderson Laureate Award to Gerald L. Smith, associate professor of history in the University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences.

Anderson Laureates, the highest honor bestowed by the Kentucky Personnel Cabinet, are given to individuals recognized for significant contributions to equal