MavWire 2015 Archive » MavWire — Thursday, April 9, 2015

STEM growth: Dr. Gian-Luca Mariottini, center, is spurring students' interest in STEM fields at the Technology Education Academy. Mariottini is an assistant professor of computer science and engineering.

New academy uses robots to interest youth in STEM fields

Gian-Luca Mariottini, assistant professor of computer science and engineering, and his students are using assistive robots to spur the interest of local middle- and high-school students toward science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Dr. Mariottini has launched the Technology Education Academy, a pilot 12-week, after-school program funded by the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation and in collaboration with the Arlington Public Library and Arlington school district.

The academy serves eighth- through 12th-graders from some AISD schools at “The Lab” at the East Arlington Branch Library. The academy lasts through mid-May. Every Tuesday from 5 to 6:30 p.m., Mariottini and his students work with AISD students to create assistive robots and technology.

Read more about the Technology Education Academy.

Win-win: Members of UT Arlington's winning GeoInstitute teams are, from left, Jorge Jimenez, Manaf Refai, Santiago Caballero, Raju Acharya, Aritra Banerjee, and Minh Tran.

Civil engineering teams first, second in national competitions

Two UT Arlington civil engineering teams took first and second places in the American Society of Civil Engineers’ GeoInstitute’s national competitions that predicted soil impact on foundation loads and showed strength and stability in geo-wall design and construction.

The contests are considered the premier competition events at the national ASCE-GI conference, which was held in San Antonio this month.

Raju Acharya, doctoral candidate, led the geo-prediction team, and Santiago Caballero, doctoral candidate, served as captain of the geo-wall team. Team adviser was Anand Puppala, Distinguished Teaching Professor and associate dean for research for the College of Engineering.

Read more about the civil engineering teams' honors.

Dr. Galina Nestell and Dr. Merlynd Nestell

Carbon important to ocean life after ancient mass extinctions

A new study demonstrates for the first time how elemental carbon became an important construction material of some forms of ocean life after one of the greatest mass extinctions in Earth's history more than 252 million years ago.

The work is explained in a paper published in the March edition of International Geology Review. Merlynd Nestell, professor of earth and environmental sciences, Galina Nestell, adjunct research professor, and Andrew Hunt, associate professor, are co-authors of the paper. 

The discovery documents elemental carbon as being a major construction component of the tiny shells of single-celled agglutinated foraminifers, ostracodes, and worm tubes that were part of the limited population of bottom-dwelling marine organisms surviving the extinction event.

Read more about the elemental carbon study.

Dr. Ramon Lopez

Highly competitive NASA grant to fund space weather study

Physicist Ramon Lopez has received a $502,956 NASA grant to study the role of solar wind fluctuations in solar wind-geospace coupling.

The highly competitive grant is sponsored by NASA’s Heliophysics Supporting Research Program, which selected 30 of 221 proposals. A total of $5.4 million was awarded for the new class of projects.

Heliophysics is the science of the sun-Earth connection through the space environment. This fast-developing field of research covers many traditional sub-disciplines of space physics, astrophysics, and climate studies.

Read more about Dr. Lopez's NASA grant.

Bob Costas

Bob Costas to speak Monday at CPC

Tickets are still available to see Bob Costas at the last Maverick Speakers Series event for the 2014-15 season.

An acclaimed sportscaster and 26-time Emmy Award winner, Costas will discuss "Sports in America: Is It Still Only a Game?" at 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 13, in College Park Center. 

He has been on air for NBC Sports since the early 1980s, hosting the network's Olympics coverage and Football Night in America.

Preferred seating and free general admission tickets are available at utatickets.com. For VIP tickets, contact Mark LaVelle at mlavelle@uta.edu or 2-5235.

The Maverick Speakers Series provides a forum for today’s brightest minds to examine the people, ideas, actions, and solutions that impact the world around us.

Jazz Brunch a tasty addition to UTA's presence at Main St. Arts Festival

Enjoy some food, Maverick fellowship, and music at the Jazz Brunch during the Main St. Fort Worth Arts Festival on Saturday, April 11.

Brunch is served 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at the UTA Hospitality Suite at Main and Ninth streets in downtown Fort Worth. Tickets are $15 per person and free for children 5 and younger. 

While you dine, listen to performances by the Jazz Band at 11 a.m., the Jazz Ensemble at 12:30 p.m., and the Jazz Orchestra at 2 p.m. All are on the Main Stage at Main and Ninth.

For more details, contact the Office of Alumni Relations at alumni@uta.edu or 2-5297. Find parking information at fortworthparking.com.

The largest four-day event in the Southwest, the Main St. Fort Worth Arts Festival is a nationally recognized art showcase with over 60 live performances, a variety of food options, and activities for all ages.

Disaster drill planned Friday

The College of Nursing and Health Innovation will hold a disaster preparedness simulation for students from 9 a.m.-noon Friday, April 10, at the Fields Complex. 

UT Arlington Police, Arlington Medical Response, Arlington Police Department, Arlington Fire Department, and PHI Helicopter are planning to participate in the simulation. More than 100 senior nursing students also will participate in the drill. 

The event will include a decontamination tent and gear, armored police vehicle, manikins for triage, and several “walking wounded” participants.

The site is east of Arlington’s Swift Elementary School, 1101 S. Fielder Road.

Starting an 'Odyssey' Charles Chiasson, director of classical studies, reads the first passage of "The Odyssey" by Homer at the annual Homerathon on Wednesday. The event is a daylong reading of the Greek classic tale with faculty, staff, students, and community members as volunteer readers and performers. Dr. Chiasson is an associate professor of philosophy and humanities.

Parking lots used for weekend event

Lots 30 and 33 will be used for the Starpower Dance Event parking at Texas Hall beginning at 6 a.m. Friday, April 10-Sunday, April 12. Lots F9 (Davis Hall), Trinity, and Trinity South will be used starting at 6 a.m. on Saturday, April 11.

Parking staff will collect a fee at each lot for parking Friday-Saturday. However, all UT Arlington annual permits are valid in these lots without an additional charge.

Contact Parking and Transportation Services at parking@uta.edu or 2-3907.

Sign up for Involvement Fair

University departments and student organizations may sign up for a table at the upcoming involvement fair at New Maverick Orientation for transfer students. The fair starts at 10:45 a.m. Friday, April 17.

The involvement fairs are an opportunity for you to speak with incoming students regarding your organization, program, or service. Visit uta.edu/sao to sign up your group and for detailed information.

Sign-ups for the Involvement Fairs during summer will open Monday, April 27.

UT Press offers 45 percent off, free shipping during spring sale

The University of Texas Press is holding a spring online book sale for all campuses in the UT System.

All titles on the site already are 33 percent off. Faculty, staff, and students will receive a discount of 45 percent off the full retail price.

The sale will run from 8 a.m. Monday, April 13, through midnight Friday, April 17, on the UT Press website. To receive 45 percent off and free shipping, use the code UTPS15. 

Emergency generator test Friday

Facilities Management will test the emergency electrical generators 1-2:30 p.m. Friday, April 10.

Buildings involved are Carlisle Hall, Chemistry Research Building, Engineering Lab Building, Engineering Research Building, Central Library, Nedderman Hall, Science Hall, and Woolf Hall.

The test will only affect the electrical services tied to each building’s generator, not the entire building. There will be a slight “blip” lasting a half-second as the electrical service transfers to the generator and another as it is transferred back to the normal building service. Keep computer work in progress saved during this time to prevent any possible data loss.

Questions? Call Toby Buhrkuhl at 972-832-1490 or Jeff Johnson at 817-798-8456.

Howdy, stranger Youngster Jack Lehane virtually visits with Jonathan Kretz via a robot at the National Robotics Week event at the UT Arlington Research Institute. Kretz is director of business development and marketing for UTARI. Similar robots are available for rent in the Central Library.

Dance-a-Thon raises cash for student emergency assistance fund

Help fellow students get back on their feet at the 10-hour Dance-A-Thon on Wednesday, April 15, at the indoor soccer field in the Maverick Activities Center.

Register a team of six-10 people to raise a goal of $250 per team, then dance the day away. At least one team member must be on the dance floor at all times.

All proceeds will be donated to the UTA Student Emergency Assistance Fund. The Freshmen Leaders on Campus sponsor the event.

Admission is free before 5 p.m. and $5 per person afterwards. Join the Facebook page to help spread the word.

New program streamlines book, course material adoption

Learn more about a new suite of technology solutions that can help faculty members with textbook and course material adoption. The UTA Bookstore and Follett offer the program.

Follett Discover enables instructors to explore a vast source of course materials including textbook offerings and more. The book adoption process has been streamlined, eliminating the paperwork and guesswork associated with submitting traditional adoptions. Students benefit from the streamlined access to course materials.

Training sessions are available during open houses 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday, April 21; 2-6 p.m. Thursday, April 23; and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday, April 29. All are in the E.H. Hereford University Center. 

Or watch a training webinar 3-3:30 p.m. Thursday, April 16. Another online session is 4-4:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 22.

Software Carpentry workshop set for researchers

Researchers can learn how to use computing skills and techniques to their advantage in a two-day Software Carpentry workshop.

The program is aimed at researchers, including faculty, research-active lecturers, post-doctoral students, graduate students, and promising undergraduates working in labs.

The basics of three important computing frameworks using hands-on exercises are addressed. They are the Unix shell, version control with Git, and statistical analysis in R.

The workshops are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, April 18, and Sunday, April 19. The cost is $40 and includes lunch on both days. Sponsors are the Biology Department, the College of Science, and the Office of Graduate Studies.

Learn more about Software Carpentry. For workshop details and location, email dcard@uta.edu.

Yo, Chinese style Bruce Lu, industrial engineering graduate student, demonstrates a diabolo, a Chinese yo-yo, after the International Week banner parade was canceled because of rain on Monday. He showed his skills among display booths in the Bluebonnet Ballroom of the E.H. Hereford University Center. See the schedule of International Week events.

University College seeks peer educators for fall term

Motivated students are needed to become peer educators with TRIO-Student Support Services and University Tutorial and Supplemental Instruction.

Peer educators are students who are successful in their courses and have completed at least one semester at UTA. All students must have an A or B in the course for which they are applying. Positions include one-on-one tutors, small group tutors/mentors, and Supplemental Instruction leaders.

Faculty and staff recommendations are needed. If you know a student who would be a good peer educator and who would represent the best and brightest of UT Arlington’s student body, refer them to uta.edu/tutoringjobs.

The application deadline for all peer educator positions is April 30.

Evening at Six Flags to benefit Student Emergency Assistance Fund

Enjoy an evening at Six Flags Over Texas with discount tickets that help Arlington schools. The theme park hosts Education Celebration 6-11 p.m. Friday, April 17, benefiting UTA and AISD through the AISD Education Foundation.

Tickets are only $20 plus tax. Advanced tickets are limited. No tickets will be sold at the gate. Special discounted parking is $10 per car at the gate.

With each ticket, $5 goes directly to the UTA Student Emergency Assistance Fund. See the gift codes on the website. Use the code UTA.

Phone scam continues to target students, demands payment

A telephone scam first reported in October continues to target students and has resulted in nearly $16,000 in fraudulent payments, the UT Arlington Police Department reports.

A caller claims to be from the University, a government agency, or a police department and tries to collect money for unpaid debt. The caller requests payment with the purchase of a gift card or MoneyGram. The caller threatens the individual with arrest and solicits immediate payment for the alleged debts.

The telephone number used has been cloned from a legitimate agency or University office.

University officials, law enforcement, and government officials will not contact you in this manner or threaten arrest for non-payment of debts. The Internal Revenue Service does not initiate any contact with taxpayers by email, text, or social media. 

Always be cautious about providing your personal information over the phone especially to individuals who initiate the call. In such cases, always offer to hang up, verify the nature of the call, and to call them back at a number they provide. Seek out the organization's official number and contact it directly. If you suspect attempted fraud or fall victim, contact your local law enforcement.

If you encounter this or similar scams or have information about them, contact the UTA Police at 2-3381.

Use good judgment and caution when clicking Web or email links or opening attachments. If you receive an email that appears suspicious, send it to security@uta.edu. Do not click on the links or open attachments.

Thursday, April 9

Political Science Week Lecture Daniel Sledge, assistant professor, “Dismantling Obamacare? King v. Burwell and the Future of American Health Insurance,” 12:45-1:30 p.m., Room 110, Pickard Hall. Also, Joshua Kertzer of Harvard University speaks on foreign policy, international security, and the political psychology of international relations, noon-1 p.m. Friday, April 10, Room 116, University Hall. Political Science.

TelePresence Robots Workshop Gain hands-on experience with UTA Libraries' new robots. Bring your laptops, webcams, and smartphones for a full experience. Watch the video of the Double robot at work in the FabLab. Register online. 3-4 p.m., basement, Central Library. UT Arlington Libraries.

Biology Colloquium Series Rayna Bell of the University of California, Berkeley presents "The Evolution of a Novel Coloration Phenotype in African Reed Frogs." 4 p.m., Room 124, Life Science. Also, Michael Ryan, the Clark Hubbs Regents Professor in Zoology at UT Austin, Thursday, April 16. Biology.

Documentary: 'Alive Inside' Social worker Dan Cohen, founder of Music and Memory nonprofit organization, demonstrates music’s ability to combat memory loss and restore a deep sense of self to those suffering from it. A panel discussion follows. Free. 5:30-8 p.m., Room 109, Social Work Complex Building A. Social Work. 

Friday, April 10

Social Work Ethics Forum “Big Data, Privacy, and Your Agency’s Functioning: A Forum on Social Work Ethics in the Age of Electronic Record Keeping and Coordination of Care.” Free but registration required. 1-4 p.m., Room 245, Business Building. Social Work.

Engineering Speakers Series President Vistasp Karbhari, professor of engineering, discusses “Engineers: Technicians, Scientists, or Futurists? Where Are We Headed?” Free. 2-3 p.m., Room 105, Nedderman Hall. Engineering.

Management Lecture Series Margaret Shaffer of the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee discusses “Global Work Experiences: A Research Journey from Concept Creation to Scale Development to Model Testing.” Free. 2 p.m., Room 140, Business Building. Business.

Tuesday, April 14

Customer Service 101 Register online. 9-11 a.m., Room 200, J.D. Wetsel Service Center. Human Resources.

Critical Conditions: Minority Health Panel and Discussion Panelists include alumna Valene Garr; Joniqua Howard, assistant professor of biology; and Rebecca Garner, visiting professor of kinesiology. Free. 5:30-7 p.m., sixth floor parlor, Central Library. UT Arlington Libraries, Center for African American Studies.

Wednesday, April 15

CMAS Distinguished Lecture Vicki Ruiz, chair of Chicano/Latino Studies at the University of California, Irvine and president of the American Historical Association, presents "Why Latino History Matters to U.S. History." 7 p.m., sixth floor parlor, Central Library. Center for Mexican American Studies.

Thursday, April 16

Qualitative Research Networking Alexa Smith-Osborne, associate professor of social work discusses "The Student Veteran Project and Military Youth Resilience Project." Noon-1 p.m., Room 415, Central Library. Also, Dorothy Kalanzi, visiting assistant professor of sociology and anthropology, "HIV/AIDS Studies and Designs from Previous Research," Thursday, April 30. Qualitative Research Networking.

Friday, April 17

Leadership Skills for Supervisors Register online. 10 a.m.- noon, Room 200, J.D. Wetsel Service Center. Human Resources.

New Answers to Research Questions Erik Hinton, an interactive web developer and assistant design editor at The New York Times, discusses new approaches to footnoting and citation, rapid sharing of archival research, and the presentation of digital photography and artwork. A workshop for graduate students follows. Free. Noon, Room 108, University Hall. History.

Coming up

Walter Prescott Webb Lecture Series "Beyond Attics and Activists: Rethinking Family in Disability History" has been rescheduled for Friday, April 24, Rio Grande Ballroom, E.H. Hereford University Center. History, Disability Studies, Office for Students with Disabilities, Women's and Gender Studies, Movin' Mavs Adapted Sports and Recreation.

Human Resources Training Register online. Administrative Professionals’ Recognition Luncheon, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Monday, April 20; Powerful Presentation Skills, 9-11 a.m., Thursday, April 23; Partnering with Your Boss; 9-11 a.m., Tuesday, April 28; Time Management: Keys to Everyday Office Success, 9-11 a.m., Thursday, April 30. All in Room 200, J.D. Wetsel Service Center. Human Resources.

Mathematics Lecture David Eisenbud of the University of California, Berkeley and director of the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute presents “Counting From Infinity: A Non-Technical Account of a Mathematical and Personal Triumph.” Prime numbers are the basis of Internet commerce and some state secrets. In 2013 there was an amazing breakthrough in understanding them. Clips of the movie Counting from Infinity: Yitang Zhang and the Twin Prime Conjecture. Free. 5-6 p.m., Thursday, April 30, Room 100, Nedderman Hall. Office of the Provost.

(For an expanded list of events, see the UTA calendar.)

Both sides: Senior Travis Sibley, top, hits one for the Maverick offense while junior Darien McLemore covers defense at a recent Maverick baseball game. The team plays a three-game weekend series against Georgia Southern. The Mavs play at home again Tuesday, April 14, against TCU at Clay Gould Ballpark.

Baseball team's rally falls short

UTA made a push to erase a five-run Baylor lead entering the seventh inning but couldn’t complete the comeback in a 10-7 loss Tuesday at Baylor Ballpark in Waco.

Senior Levi Scott had three hits in five at-bats with a pair of RBIs and one run scored. Freshman Christian Hollie went 2-for-3 with two runs and one RBI.

The Mavericks are 14-17 overall and 5-7 in the Sun Belt Conference. They travel to Statesboro, Ga., for a three-game series beginning Friday, April 10, against Georgia Southern.

No-hitter highlights doubleheader sweep

Sophomore Sam Montes tossed a no-hitter as the softball team swept a doubleheader against Central Arkansas on Wednesday at Allan Saxe Field.

Montes was nearly perfect in Game 1, throwing the first no-hitter for UTA since Teri Lyles in 2013. She gave up a walk in the first inning and didn't allow another baserunner in the 8-0 victory. The Mavericks won the second game 2-1.

UTA is 24-18 overall and 5-7 in the Sun Belt Conference. The team visits Louisiana-Monroe for a three-game series beginning Saturday, April 11.

Sports Shorts

• A strong final round lifted the golf team to a fourth-place finish Tuesday at the Jim West Intercollegiate at Wolfdancer Golf Club in Bastrop, Texas. The Mavericks improved four spots with a third-round, 1-over-par 289.

• The women’s tennis team fell 4-0 on Wednesday to No. 19 TCU in Fort Worth. The Mavericks face North Texas on Saturday, April 11, at the UTA Tennis Center.

• The men’s tennis team defeated Georgia Southern 6-1 on Saturday in Lafayette, La. Sunday’s match against Louisiana-Lafayette was canceled due to inclement weather. Next up for the 60th-ranked Mavericks is the Sun Belt Conference Championship on Friday, April 17, in New Orleans.

• After posting solid performances Friday at the Baylor Invitational, the men’s and women’s track teams return to Waco on Saturday, April 18, for the Michael Johnson Classic.

Intramural deadlines include badminton doubles

Upcoming entry deadlines for intramural sports include badminton doubles, Sunday, April 12; FIFA video game, Wednesday, May 6; and poker tournament, Thursday, May 7.

See the intramural sports schedule. Pick up entry forms at the Services and Information Desk of the Maverick Activities Center. For questions, call 2-3277 or email imsports@uta.edu.

(For more sports news, go to utamavs.com, uta.edu/movinmavs, or uta.edu/campusrec.)

Artists display recent works, fund trip to Italy Art and Art History students and faculty show their works this week. “Recent Works: Advanced Clay & Moldmaking," an exhibit of student art work, is on display through Friday, April 10, at Gallery West in the Studio Arts Center, 810 S. Davis St. See works such as those at right by Michelle Kolbe, Alexia Mentzel, Suzie Salazar, Elise Snelgrove, Christopher Turpin, and Megan Wood. Art students host an art exhibition and fundraiser at 5 p.m. Sunday, April 12, at the Arlington Museum of Art, 201 W. Main St. The show and sale are to raise funds for a month-long course in Florence, Italy, later this year. Read more about the event. The works include painting, printmaking, glassworks, and photography from UTA art faculty and local and national artists. Contributing artists include Sedrick Huckaby, Billy Hassell, Benito Huerta, Kenda North, Alison V. Smith, Stephen Lapthisophon, Susan kae Grant, and Nancy Palmeri.

Thursday, April 9

Faculty Percussion Recital Michael Varner, associate professor and director of percussion studies, performs his 34th annual faculty recital. Featured is the premiere of two compositions. Free. 7:30 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music.

Friday, April 10

College of Science Spring Picnic Hot dogs, hamburgers, veggie burgers, chips, and drinks. 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Library mall. Science.

Friday Night Film: 'Interstellar' Rated PG-13. Free, fresh-popped popcorn while supplies last; other concessions for sale. Tickets $1, $1.50 with credit card. 8 p.m., Rosebud Theatre, E.H. Hereford University Center. Also, American Sniper, Friday, April 24. EXCEL Campus Activities.

Jazz Night Vocalist Jai Malano performs. Free. 6 p.m., Palo Duro Lounge, E.H. Hereford University Center. Multicultural Affairs.

Tuesday, April 14

One Mic Stand Comedy Series: Sheng Wang Comedian Sheng Wang does stand-up comedy. Free. 7 p.m., Bluebonnet Ballroom, E.H. Hereford University Center. EXCEL Campus Activities.

Clavier Piano Recital Piano students perform. Free. 7:30 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music.

Wednesday, April 15

Housing Fair The Shorthorn's Housing Fair brings together apartment communities and housing resources to inform about housing options and how to successfully live on- and off-campus. 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Palo Duro Lounge, E.H. Hereford University Center. The Shorthorn.

Guest Artist Recital Wyeth String Quartet performs. Free. 7:30 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music.

MavPlays A two-week festival of plays, many written, directed, and performed by students. Tickets $7 students, faculty, staff, seniors; $10 public. 8 p.m., Mainstage Theatre. Through April 26. Theatre Arts.

Thursday, April 16

Block Party The Block Party provides an end-of-year celebration for on-campus and commuter students alike. Block Party will host live music and also includes carnival-style treats, games, and activities galore. Free. 5-10 p.m., University Center mall. University Events.

Third Thursday Game Night Video and board games are available, but you can bring your own to share. Free. 6 p.m., basement, Central Library. UT Arlington Libraries.

Spring Jazz Concert UTA's jazz groups perform. Tickets $9 adults, $5 students and seniors. 7:30 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music.

Saturday, April 18

HBO After Dark: Crawford vs. Dulorme Undefeated WBO world lightweight champion Terence Crawford, the BWAA 2014 Fighter of the Year, takes on top contender Thomas Dulorme. Tickets $25-$200. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., College Park Center.

Coming up

MFA Art Exhibit Master of Fine Arts candidates present a culminating exhibition demonstrating excellence in their chosen fields. Morgan Chivers, Gabriel Duran, Brendan Feltrup-Exum, Christine Heimerman, Emily Nicastro, Maryam Rezaei, and Joshua Wilson showcase their work in film/video, glass, intermedia, and visual communication. Hours 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, noon-5 p.m. Saturdays. Monday, April 13-Saturday, April 25. The Gallery at UTA.

Concerts and Recitals Free performances: Percussion Ensemble Concert, Monday, April 20; Opera Workshop Performance, Wednesday, April 22, and 6 p.m. Thursday, April 23; Wind Symphony Concert, Friday, April 24; Symphonic Winds and Symphonic Band Concert, 5 p.m. Sunday, April 26; Faculty Violin Recital: Martha Walvoord, Monday, April 27; String Chamber Ensembles Recital, Tuesday, April 28; Guest Artist Recital: Nick Scales, Friday, May 1. Also, UTA Symphony Orchestra, Saturday, April 25, and UTA Choir Concert, Thursday, April 30; tickets $9 for adults, $5 for students and seniors. All 7:30 p.m. unless noted, Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music.

Earth Day Celebrating People and Planet. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, April 22, University Center mall. Institute for Sustainability and Global Impact.

Nedderman Society Cookout Faculty and staff celebrated for their contributions to UTA. Free. 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Friday, April 24, Library mall. Nedderman Society.

BFA Art Exhibit The work of 43 Bachelor of Fine Arts candidates include painting, drawing, sculpture, glass, printmaking, film/video, photography, digital imaging, and visual communication. Hours 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, noon-5 p.m. Saturdays. Monday, May 4-Saturday, May 16. The Gallery at UTA.

Ongoing

MavsArt The semi-annual UTA community art show features 67 works by 25 artists who are UTA students, faculty, and staff. Through May 15. UT Arlington Libraries, MavsArt.

Juneteenth in Texas: 150 Years of Freedom More than 60 photographs explore issues of Texas African-Americans from Emancipation to the Civil Rights era. Hours 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Through Aug. 9. Sixth floor, Central Library. Center for Greater Southwestern Studies.

Special Collections: !Viva Mexico! A Comic Book History of Mexico A rare look inside the rise of comic books in 20th century Mexico, their literary, cultural, and entertainment value, and influence by the Mexican government. Hours 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Mondays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, sixth floor, Central Library. Through Aug. 8. UT Arlington Libraries Special Collections.

Planetarium The spring schedule features Black Holes, Dynamic Earth, Pink Floyd, Secret of the Cardboard Rocket, and Spacepark 360: Infinity. Planetarium.

(For an expanded list of events, see the UTA calendar.)