(Commentary by David Leblang, professor of politics and public policy; students Ankita Satpathy, Alexa Iadarola, Ben Helms and Eric Xu; recent graduate Kelsey Hunt; Rebecca Brough; and Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy research scientist Mahesh Rao) Since taking office, President Trump has shown a firm commitment to reducing the number of immigrants in the United States, in keeping with his campaign promises. Some of his attempts toward this end have run into difficulties, but others have been successful. In particular, by refusing to extend a federal program known as temporary pro...
Both of Charlottesville's hospitals are prepared for the worst-case scenario ahead of the anniversary of the deadly Unite the Right rally. The University of Virginia Health System and Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital will both have extra staff ready to go in case of a mass casualty incident.
Dr. Scott Commins, an associate professor of medicine and pediatrics at the University of North Carolina, is part of the team that first discovered that the Lone Star tick can cause a meat allergy. He did that while working at the University of Virginia with Dr. Thomas A.E. Platts-Mills, the doctor who discovered alpha-gal was the cause of allergic reactions to a cancer drug. Platts-Mills published his first paper on alpha-gal in 2008, and he and Commins published about the link to a meat allergy in 2009, although they say they’ve have heard of cases as far back as the 1970s.
If there is any good news to be had about the super gonorrhea, it’s coming out of Charlottesville and the University of Virginia School of Medicine, where researchers and their collaborators in the United Kingdom have discovered a new way the bacteria that cause gonorrhea resist the body’s immune defenses. Researchers said scientists can use this knowledge to develop vaccines or empower our immune system to take down a sexually transmitted disease that has already conquered most antibiotics.
In a new study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology, scientists examined how pettiness can change the way people perceive one another. Results continuously showed that being petty made people seem less likeable, regardless of whether it was in the interest of others. “Being precise isn’t always a good thing for the quality of relationships,” says study co-author Tami Kim, an assistant professor of marketing at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business. “Sometimes, leaving a little room for error might be a good idea.”
The University of Virginia has added $100 million of strategic funds to support new student scholarships. On Saturday, the Board of Visitors approved a second sum from the university’s strategic investment fund. In 2016, the board approved a similar $100 million investment that was fully matched by donors for new scholarships within 18 months, instead of the expected five years.
IoT in health care is helping specialists reach out to patients in impactful ways. The UVA Health System installs telemedicine toolkits in ambulances for stroke victims, linking field emergency professionals to the UVA emergency room via video. This immediate precaution can save lives and prevent paralysis, speech and vision problems, and permanent disability.
(Commentary) The 2019 “American Evolution” Commemoration will feature highly substantive dialogues on the challenges confronting representative democracies today. In May, UVA and surrounding presidential homes will be the site of the Global Pathfinder Summit, a program that will embed 200 students and young adults – half from the U.S. and half from other countries – in a week-long series of reflections and discussions on civic engagement.
An assistant professor with UVA’s Miller Center who’s an expert on the “alt-right” has launched a podcast series focuses on the events that led up to and occurred on Aug. 12, 2017. Dozens of community members gathered Monday at the Miller Center to hear from host Nicole Hemmer about the making and inspiration behind the six-episode series.
This year patients were able to receive free teeth cleanings and fillings and other dental procedures in a more comfortable, air conditioned environment thanks to our partner (the University of Virginia’s College at Wise).”
Hands-On Learning: “I most enjoyed the diversity of projects we completed for real companies and the opportunity to present our findings to top decision makers at those companies. For example, I presented a mobile app prototype to the Chief Marketing Officer of CarMax, and I presented a machine learning project to the CEO of RentPath. I am very grateful for these rare opportunities to get face-to-face with business leaders.” Brian Alexander Mitchell, University of Virginia (Darden)
(Commentary) A study by Paolo D’Odorico of the University of Virginia has provided some shocking facts. A study has revealed that 454 billion cubic metres of water is grabbed annually by corporations which is equivalent to 5 percent of the water annually used globally.
Barack Obama’s involvement could help drive turnout for Stacey Abrams, who is running in Georgia to become the nation’s first African-American female governor, said Geoffrey Skelley, associate editor of Sabato’s Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia Center for Politics.
Fredericksburg City Public Schools Superintendent David Melton oversees the region’s smallest school system, but collects a larger paycheck than his counterparts in surrounding counties. University of Virginia law professor J.H. Verkerke said the insurance benefit in Melton’s contract is not “incredibly common,” but that employees—typically executives—do have it.
Jalane Schmidt, a local activist and associate professor of religious studies at the University of Virginia, said she had also seen an uptick in everyday civic engagement over the past year, with more people showing up to city meetings on issues like housing.
Jalane Schmidt is a University of Virginia professor who went on the pilgrimage to Montgomery. She said the trip has revealed a lot to her. "By making this pilgrimage we've engaged on a journey of truth-telling," said Schmidt. One of those truths is that the violence of August 12 last year is not unique in Charlottesville.
Ninety-eight community members took a nearly weeklong trip in July to the Equal Justice Initiative’s Legacy Museum and National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Alabama, to deliver soil from the Albemarle County site where John Henry James was murdered in 1898. Jalane Schmidt, a local Black Lives Matter activist and University of Virginia professor who also organized the trip, and UVA staff members DeTeasa Gathers and Patsy Goolsby, spoke on behalf of the 21 UVA staff and faculty who went on the pilgrimage.
“I’ll just say the Minnesota eye bank has been hands down the easiest to work with,” said University of Virginia professor Brad Gelfand, who is studying age-related macular degeneration.
The number of births in Virginia continues declining, reaching the lowest level in years in 2017 — only 100,248. A decade before, births had numbered 108,884. Demographers Savannah Quick and Shonel Sen at the Demographics Research Group at the University of Virginia attribute the overall dip in fertility decline to a dramatic decline for 15- to 19-year-olds and 20- to 24-year-olds and a slight increase for 30- to 34-year-olds and 35- to 39-year-olds. In other words, many women are postponing childbirth, not choosing not to have children.
Anne Verbiscer, a UVA astronomy professor and part of the New Horizons team, said she valued working with Senegalese students and could relate to overcoming hurdles in pursuing a career in astronomy. Verbiscer was 5 when a human first walked on the moon in 1969. Transfixed by the Apollo mission, she wanted to be an astronaut for Halloween. So she shopped for a costume with her mother and finally found one: It was in the boys’ section.