Articles in "Research"

When the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill disaster occurred along the Gulf Coast two years ago, ecologists at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg wanted to dig deep to study the impacts.

Dr. Stan Kuczaj, professor of psychology and director of The University of Southern Mississippi’s Marine Mammal Behavior and Cognition Laboratory, was recently interviewed by the British Broadcasting Company (BBC) for a future episode of its “Natural World” series. The show airs on the Animal Planet channel.

The interview focused on Kuczaj’s behavioral and cognitive research on walruses, which has been ongoing for the last five years at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, Calif.

Environmental disasters, both manmade and natural, have prompted the need for improved, comprehensive understanding of the waters and resources of the Gulf of Mexico.

To that end, The University of Southern Mississippi has taken the lead role in formation of the new Center for Gulf Studies (CGS). The center represents a partnership between Southern Miss and the state’s other research universities – Mississippi State University, the University of Mississippi and Jackson State University.

University of Southern Mississippi Vice Provost for Research Dr. Gordon Cannon has announced that Chase Kasper will become the director of the Office of Technology Development, effective Feb. 1.

While the United States continues to rely on foreign countries for oil, there’s a push here at home to find alternative fuel resources.

Working diligently toward that end are researchers at The University of Southern Mississippi who are participating in an international research project aimed at turning marine micro-algae into fuel.

The National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS⁴) at The University of Southern Mississippi, along with the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, Nascar, U.S. Olympic Committee, Division I College Sports and other professional leagues, gathered in New York recently to show their commitment to strengthening safety and security at America’s venues.

Former National Basketball Association star Earvin “Magic” Johnson accepted the role as Honorary Chair of NCS⁴’s National Certification Development Commission at a time when safety and security in spectator sports, on and off the field, is paramount.

Dr. Thomas Payne, associate professor in the School of Criminal Justice at The University of Southern Mississippi, has consulted with the Houston (Texas) Police Department on groundbreaking research into the best methods for conducting eyewitness lineups.

Renowned environmental scientist Dr. Margaret Lowman will be the featured speaker at The University of Southern Mississippi’s next Honors Forum Series, set for 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 13 at the Thad Cochran Center Ballroom on the Hattiesburg campus.

A signing ceremony highlighting the recently formed “Mississippi Blue Crab Aquaculture Consortium” will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 22 at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory (GCRL) in Ocean Springs, Miss.

Several University of Southern Mississippi students currently involved in solar cell research will be recognized for their efforts as part of Gov. Phil Bryant’s “Energy and Economic Development in the 21^st Century” summit set for Oct. 4 at the Jackson Convention Complex.

Research teams that include University of Southern Mississippi professors Dr. Daniel Savin and Dr. Joseph Griffitt have received additional grant funding to study the effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on the Gulf of Mexico.

Dr. Shahid Karim, associate professor of biological sciences at The University of Southern Mississippi, has received a three-year grant from the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to study the disease-transmitting agents present in ticks and other blood-feeding anthropod vectors.