Christopher B. Roberts begins first day as Auburn University’s 21st president

“In my 28 years on the Plains, I’ve come to value and cherish everything that makes the Auburn experience truly remarkable and distinctive,” Roberts said. “I've developed a deep appreciation for our unique culture and how to achieve ambitious goals here at Auburn. Through our successes, we’ve earned the right to dream the biggest dreams, and we will strive to be nothing short of excellent in all areas of our land-grant mission.”

Auburn University part of $20 million statewide collaboration to boost plasma science, engineering

Auburn University is part of a $20 million collaboration among nine Alabama universities and one private firm to develop transformative technologies in plasma science and engineering, or PSE.

The five-year effort—which is being led by the University of Alabama in Huntsville, or UAH—is funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation, or NSF, Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, or EPSCoR. The goals of the Future Technologies enabled by Plasma Processes, or FTPP, initiative are to develop new technologies using plasma—the most abundant form of matter in the observable universe—in hard and soft biomaterials, food safety and sterilization and space weather prediction.

“This research directly impacts two of the largest industries in the state of Alabama, space and agriculture,” said Ed Thomas Jr., interim dean, Auburn College of Sciences and Mathematics and project lead. “For more than three decades, Auburn has been a leader in plasma research, and we have one of the highest ratios of plasma physicists in our faculty in the entire nation.”

Spotlight on the Alabama Natural Heritage Program: keeping our state’s biodiversity conservation efforts on track

Did you know that Auburn has a conservation team dedicated to identifying, tracking and reporting on rare species in Alabama?

The Alabama Natural Heritage Program, or ALNHP, is part of a network of programs spanning the United States, Canada and Latin America, collectively known as the Natural Heritage Network. At Auburn, ALNHP is a program of the Auburn University Museum of Natural History in the College of Sciences and Mathematics’ Department of Biological Sciences.

The Cane Toads are coming to Science Pub: May 19 at Red Clay Brewing Co.

What are Cane Toads, and why are they a problem? How can we protect our natural fauna from this invasive pest?

Join Mary Mendonça, Assistant Chair in the Department of Biological Sciences, as she answers these questions and more at the next Science Pub on Thursday, May 19 at 6:30 p.m. at Red Clay Brewing Co. located at 704 N. Railroad Ave. in Opelika.

A heartfelt legacy: COSAM alumnus Dr. Robert Copeland receives Georgia Heart Center naming recognition, recalls journey at Auburn

The Georgia Heart Clinic at Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center has been officially renamed the Copeland Heart and Vascular Center by the Callaway Foundation in honor of Auburn University alumnus Dr. Robert Copeland.

Copeland ’60 (B.S., Pre-med) was instrumental in the development of the Georgia Heart Clinic at West Georgia Health in 1972 and served as its first medical director providing cardiac care to the Troup County community.

Copeland was recognized as a true visionary in adopting new technology, encouraging participation in research and training and setting high standards for clinical excellence in cardiovascular care. He was instrumental in the state’s decision to participate in the Cardiovascular Patient Outcomes Research Team (CPORT) study, a study which changed care of the ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) patient for the nation by allowing percutaneous coronary intervention at hospitals without surgery on site.

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COSAM Today is published by COSAM's Office of Communications and Marketing. Questions? Send an email to mcg0052@auburn.edu.