University of Alabama News Center

BEST BETS

ATTEMPTS TO BUILD A BETTER CHILD CAR SEAT – News reports of a teenager unable to free a toddler from a burning vehicle's child car seat helped convince a Rome, Ga. dentist his idea of an alternative quick release mechanism for child safety seats was needed. He and a pair of UA staff members have now made their point to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Dr. Michael Blackmon, the Georgia dentist, and Drs. William Gathings and Richard Swatloski, of UA’s Office for Technology Transfer, recently met with NHTSA reps in Washington, D.C. in hopes of obtaining positive feedback from the government highway safety group on Blackmon's emergency harness release invention. The point of the invention is to provide an easy, alternative way to quickly remove a child from a car seat in an emergency situation. Under an agreement, the dentist's patent application has been assigned to UA. And, UA's Alabama Innovation and Mentoring of Entrepreneurs Center, known as AIME, and its Office for Technology Transfer are assisting Blackmon in further development of a business model. For more information, contact Chris Bryant in media relations, 205/348-8323 or cbryant@ur.ua.edu. Blackmon may be reached at 706/346-6793. Swatloski may be reached at 348-8583 or richard.swatloski@ua.edu.

INTERIM TERM COURSES RANGE FROM ORGANIZED CRIME TO HOLLYWOOD CLASSICS – UA will offer the 2008 Interim Program May 12-30 giving UA students an opportunity to experience a creative and innovative approach to learning in a short academic term. Courses offered this year include a criminal justice class taught by Dr. Robert Jenkot, 205/348-3390, on “Organized Crime” and a course on “The American Classics and Hollywood” taught by Dr. Philip Beidler, 205/348-8508, pbeidler@english.as.ua.edu. A complete list of Interim courses can be found online at http://www.interim.ua.edu/courses.html. For details, contact Linda Hill in public relations at 205/348-8325 or lhill@ur.ua.edu.

EVENTS

COMMUNITY MUSIC CONCERT -- The University of Alabama’s Community Music School String Ensembles will give their spring concert at 5 p.m. Monday, May 12, in the concert hall of Moody Music Building on the UA campus. Kristine McCreery conducts three groups: Junior Strings, Chamber Strings and Advanced Strings. Music selections will include classical, folk and fiddle styles. The concert should run about an hour. This event is free, and children are welcome. For more information call 348-6741.

University of Alabama news releases are available online at http://uanews.ua.edu.
To request news releases by e-mail, write to candreen@ur.ua.edu.