Community

Psychology Department Chair James Pennebaker this week was named the Grand Prize winner of the University Co-op Robert W. Hamilton Book Awards for his work, “The Secret Life of Pronouns: What Our Words Say About Us.” The Hamilton Award is one of the highest honors of literary achievement given to published authors at The University of Texas at Austin. This year’s winners were announced Tuesday, Oct. 16, at the Four Seasons Hotel.

The University of Texas at Austin celebrated three individuals, a family and two nonprofits for their commitment to education and service to the Hispanic community at an awards ceremony at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center in Austin on Oct. 3.

A new Master of Arts degree at The University of Texas at Austin draws on the liberal arts, technology programs and other disciplines to train business and nonprofit leaders who want a better understanding of how human behavior and experience relates to today's global marketplace.

Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin have received a $6.2 million grant over a five-year period to develop computer software to design and discover materials for low-cost energy applications. Potential uses include economical battery materials to capture solar energy and materials that convert water to hydrogen using sunlight.

The Counseling and Mental Health Center (CMHC) is engaging the campus community via social media and other interactive tools during its fourth annual Suicide Prevention Week (Sept. 24-28). The goal is to highlight awareness and resources available to students, faculty members and staffers at The University of Texas at Austin.

As the new school year begins, 2,000 Central Texas children will be building fundamental literacy skills through a partnership led by The University of Texas at Austin’s ACE (A Community for Education) program. The program is expanding to reach 2,000 children in the 2012-13 school year, which is double the number of students ACE reached last year.

The Courtyard Gallery features the artwork of faculty and alumni of the Department of Art and Art History in the College of Fine Arts. Faculty Susan Whyne’s “Dig In” a collection of paintings and sculptures, will be on exhibition from Sept. 13-Jan. 25.

The Princeton Review has ranked University Health Services (UHS), part of the Division of Student Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin, as the third-best college health service in the United States. The ranking is part of the Princeton Review’s newly released 2013 edition of The Best 377 Colleges. University Health Services moves up from fourth in the 2012 rankings.

Providing English language learners (ELLs) with iPod Touches, or similar handheld devices, can increase learning time and motivation, according to a study from The University of Texas at Austin’s College of Education.

Gloria Steinem, feminist writer and advocate, will give the keynote address titled "Feminism: Past, Present and Future" sponsored by the Gender and Sexuality Center in the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement and the Texas Council on Family Violence at the Texas Council on Family Violence 2012 Statewide Conference.