Dr. Aiqun Hu, associate professor of history, recently published two peer-reviewed articles. The first, written in Chinese and published in Chinese Public Policy Review, is a historical comparison of pension reforms in China and Taiwan in recent decades. The second article, "Social Insurance Ideas in the People's Republic of China: A Historical and Transnational Analysis," was published in Transnational Social Review. The article is online.

Dr. Brett J. Savary, research professor of protein chemistry at Arkansas Biosciences Institute and in agriculture, gave an invited talk for the agricultural and food chemistry division at the American Chemical Society national meeting. His paper included faculty Dr. Jianfeng (Jay) Xu and Dr. Fabricio Medina-Bolivar as co-authors. Savary's research investigates how rice bran products may promote healthy colon functioning and is supported by a federal grant.

John Harlan Norris, associate professor of art, will present a solo exhibition, "Cons and Pros," at Memphis College of Art, Oct. 7-Nov. 8, in the Rust Hall Main Gallery in Overton Park. Norris, who will be recognized at a reception Friday, Oct. 14, 6-8 p.m., will present a visiting artist lecture Thursday, Oct. 27, at noon. As part of the exhibition, he is debuting the portrait series, "Disintegrants." See details in an online news release.

Dr. Christina Akbari, assistant professor of communication disorders, was featured on the cover of a recent issue of La Ventana, the weekly Spanish newsletter circulated by Hispanic Community Services, Inc.  Under the direction of Akbari and Dr. Amy Shollenbarger, interim chair and assistant professor, students have been working with bilingual children who attend "La Escuelita" to develop a beneficial language and literacy enrichment program.

Dr. Rajesh Sharma, assistant professor of renewable energy technology, is the primary organizer of the fifth annual Renewable Energy Conference, taking place on campus Friday, Oct. 14. Sharma has lined up numerous experts in the field to give presentations on the emerging areas of renewable energy, energy policy, energy conservation and energy efficiency. Students and researchers in various sectors of renewable energy also will present their work.