By Whitney Hale, Whitney Harder

(March 30, 2016) — The relatively new concept of university cities is the focus of the 2016 Lafayette Seminar in Public Issues presented by the University of Kentucky Gaines Center for the Humanities. This year's event will bring together Lexington Mayor Jim Gray and Mayor Wade Troxell, of Fort Collins, Colorado, in a lunch discussion on the value of a community being considered a "university city." "University Cities: A Conversation with Mayors" begins noon Thursday, April 7, at Commerce Lexington Inc., located at 330 E. Main St. in downtown Lexington.

Often referred to as a college town, Lexington has evolved into a "university city" in recent years according to research by Lexington's

By Terrence Wade

(March 30, 2016) —The University of Kentucky has been named a 2016 Kentucky Academy of Science (KAS) Enhanced Affiliate. Faculty, staff and students of UK may join KAS for free thanks to the Enhanced Affiliate Membership Program. KAS is a nonprofit organization fostering scientific discovery and understanding in the Commonwealth and currently has more than 3,000 members — an all-time high.

Membership in KAS is open to anyone with an interest in science. Members receive news, announcements, and job and research opportunities from KAS. They can also apply for research grants and publish in the Journal of the Kentucky

By Andrea Gils Monzon, Gail Hairston

(March 29, 2016) — The University of Kentucky Division of Undergraduate Education and UK Education Abroad recently awarded $5,000 for the spring 2016 Undergraduate Research Abroad Scholarships (UGRAS) to junior biology student, Holden Hemingway; senior equine science student, Haley Reichenbach; and senior English and philosophy double major, Alexander Parmley. All three awardees will be conducting independent research projects abroad this summer.

“UGRAS gives students the opportunity to participate in original, cutting-edge research and promotes interaction with international scholars through immersion in the research environment,” said Evie

By Terrence Wade

(March 24, 2016) — Distinguished Professor in Arts and Sciences for 2015-16 Charles R. Carlson, will present the honorary lecture on March 28, titled “Breathing Entrainment for Self Regulatory Gain: Using Programmatic Research to Improve the Management of Motion Sickness and Chronic Orofacial Pain.” Carlson is a professor of psychology in the University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences. The Distinguished Professor’s reception and lecture will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, March 28, in the UK Athletics Auditorium of William T. Young Library.

Carlson’s presentation describes his examination of chronic muscle pain in the head and neck

By Tasha Ramsey

Speech is an integral part of our development as children and one that continues to develop throughout our lives. Because of this, we don't often spend much time thinking about speech and what it reveals about our identities. However, one professor in the Linguistics Program at the University of Kentucky spends much of his time researching the aspects of speech and social identity. 

According to Dr. Kevin McGowan, Assistant Professor in the Linguistics Program in the College of Arts & Sciences, "Every time we open our mouths to speak we convey not only the words we intend to say but also who we are, where we’re from, how we feel about what we’re saying, how we feel about our listener, how healthy we feel, and the list just goes on and on."

McGowan received a Ph.D. in linguistics

By Dara Vance

The Classical Association has awarded Laura Manning, a master's student studying classics in the Department of Modern and Classical Languages, Literatures and Cultures, a scholarship to participate in a panel presentation at the association’s 2016 annual conference in Edinburgh, Scotland.  

Manning will be presenting her paper “Living Latin at the University of Kentucky,” and is excited for the opportunity to interact and speak Latin with international scholars. “I will have the chance to share ideas with classics scholars from around the United Kingdom and around the world,” Manning said.

Manning will be discussing the University of Kentucky’s innovations in classics pedagogy and the way UK students benefit from the program.

Manning is a non-traditional student, with three adult children and a grandchild, and finds the Institute for

By Gail Hairston

(March 21, 2016) — The extraordinary photography of Ethelee Davidson Baxter will be on exhibit in the first floor atrium of the University of Kentucky William T. Young Library from March 21 through April 22. The theme of Baxter’s exhibit is “Diversity of Lifestyles: Women Around the World.”

Baxter, who was named to the UK College of Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame in 2014, found a second career in photography after many years presiding in a courtroom. Her work can be viewed at http://www.leebaxterphotography.com/index.html#.VusiJ_krLhd.

“Travel has always been my passion, especially travel to remote and unusual destinations. Since my retirement

Watch why Gurney Norman, a renowned writer, is thrilled to be named a 2016 Great Teacher and why he loves working one-on-one with the young writers his classes within UK's College of Arts and Sciences.

By Rebecca Stratton

(March 16, 2016) — Want to get to know the people behind some of the biggest student leadership positions on campus? We did, too! That's why we're excited to introduce "see blue." #selfie - a brand new series on UKNow that lets student leaders from across campus tell us a little bit more about themselves and their organizations. This week, the 2015-16 Students Today, Alumni Tomorrow and TEAM WILDCAT co-chairs!

Kyle Richardson and Nick Ramos are this year's co-chairs of STAT and TEAM WILDCAT! As chair of Students Today, Alumni Tomorrow (STAT), Kyle, a senior from Williamsburg, Kentucky, works first hand with the University of

By Gail Hairston, Weston Loyd

(March 18, 2016) — University of Kentucky’s Manuel Gonzales, Hannah Pittard and 2016 writer-in-residence Helen Oyeyemi have been named to Buzz Book’s list of must-read books in 2016. All three are members of the College of Arts and Sciences Department of English.

“These high-profile young authors raise the visibility of our department’s new MFA Program in Creative Writing and act as a magnet for attracting other terrific writers and scholars to the department,” Jeffory Clymer, English department chair, said. “The excitement about their novels is infectious and also really highlights the vibrancy of creative writing at UK.”

Gonzales’ highly anticipated “

By Gail Hairston

(March 18, 2016) — Shaunna L. Scott, associate professor of sociology and director of the Appalachian Studies program at the University of Kentucky, is co-editor of a book chosen as the 2015 Weatherford Award winner for nonfiction.

"Studying Appalachian Studies: Making the Path By Walking," edited by Chad Berry, Phillip J. Obermiller and Shaunna L. Scott (University of Illinois Press), is a collection of essays reflecting on the scholarly, artistic, activist, educational and practical endeavor known as Appalachian Studies. Following an introduction to the field, the writers discuss how Appalachian Studies illustrates the ways interdisciplinary studies emerge, organize and institutionalize themselves, and how they engage with intellectual, political and economic forces both locally and around the world.

Weatherford Award

By Whitney Hale

(March 10, 2016) — What is the role of public art in an educational environment? How should we engage with our institutional past, in terms of art already at the University of Kentucky, and any proposed future projects? Who decides about public art on campus and how is the university community involved in the process?

Those questions and more will be explored by experts in the fields of art, education and arts administration at the campus forum "Art in Public Places." The free public event will run from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, March 21, at the UK Athletics Auditorium in the William T. Young Library.

"Visual art on a university campus can be stimulating or baffling or boring, or combinations of all three at different times.

By Ashley Cox

Frank R. Ettensohn, Jefferson Science Fellow, College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Professor, and professor of geology in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Kentucky, was one of the eight geologists and nine geographers recently elected as an American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Fellow. The prestigious honor recognizes Ettensohn for his extraordinary achievements, dedication and commitment to science.

AAAS was founded in 1848, with the mission to “advance science and serve society” through initiatives in science policy, career development,

By Gail Hairston

(March 8, 2016) — Five years ago this Friday, the world watched in horrified disbelief as one disaster after another pummeled Japan to submission … earthquakes, tsunamis, nuclear meltdown.

Some say northeast Japan may never completely recover from its own private apocalypse; yet the island nation’s authors, artists and philosophers are determined to help their country and the world understand and convalesce.  

“Horses, Horses, in the End the Light Remains Pure,” the most recent work by Hideo Furukawa, as translated by University of Kentucky Professor of Japan Studies Doug Slaymaker, is gathering global acclaim for its ability to capture the shock and

By Kathryn Macon

(March 8, 2016) — The University of Kentucky Gaines Center for Humanities has selected 12 exceptional undergraduates as new scholars for the university's Gaines Fellowship Program for the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 academic years. Gaines Fellowships are given in recognition of outstanding academic performance, demonstrated ability to conduct independent research, an interest in public issues and a desire to enhance understanding of the human condition through the humanities.

Gaines Fellowships are awarded for the tenure of a student's junior and senior years, or for the last two years of a five-year program; students in all disciplines and with any intended profession are

By Lauren Henrickson

(March 4, 2016) — Throughout the year University of Kentucky Confucius Institute (UKCI) brings Chinese cultural showcases to schools and communities around the Commonwealth, but this winter the UKCI team did a special weeklong trip to eastern Kentucky as part of a proposal by the Kentucky Department of Education.

During the December visit, a UKCI team of six specialists worked with more than 900 K-12 students, teaching classes and presenting varied performances, including acts of martial arts, Chinese painting, folk music using such Chinese instruments as the erhu and guzheng, paper cutting and calligraphy.

"From a young age, these students are given

Watch why Amy Murrell Taylor is so honored to be named a 2016 Great Teacher and why she hopes her students leave her classroom with more than just a grade.

By Gail Hairston, Austin Hughes

(March 1, 2016) — University of Kentucky Education Abroad (UK EA) summer program application deadlines are approaching, with the majority of the applications closing March 1. Students can make the most of their summer break by earning credit abroad through UK-sponsored programs led by UK faculty members.

UK EA is offering many sponsored — or faculty-directed — programs in summer 2016. Faculty-led programs are unique because students will study alongside their peers from the university and earn UK credit directly without the need to fill out an academic approval form. These programs typically run for about four weeks and are a good option if students are lacking any UK core or major requirements.

By Whitney Hale

(Feb. 26, 2016) — In order to strengthen collaborative teaching and research between the University of Kentucky and China's universities, the UK Confucius Institute is offering three summer teaching programs at Jilin, Shanghai and Qingdao Technological universities. UK faculty wishing to apply to any of these summer programs, should submit their application by Friday, March 4.

UK Faculty China Short-Term Teaching Program in Jilin University

The UK Confucius Institute is working with Jilin University Academic Affairs Office and Office of International Affairs to present the 2016 UK Faculty China Short-Term Teaching Program at Jilin University, in Changchun,