NEWS FROM GEORGIA STATE

Lean, Green Machines

A team of Georgia State economists has discovered that cleaning up school buses pays dividends in the classroom. Wes Austin, an economics Ph.D. student at Georgia State, led the study, which explored the value of retrofitting school buses to reduce emissions. Austin and his team found that riding in greener buses improves students’ health and enhances their academic performance. Considering it costs only a few thousand dollars to retrofit an older bus, the return on investment is huge, the researchers say.

Against the Odds

As a child, JenVon Cherry, a certifying official for veterans in Georgia State’s Enrollment Services office, suffered a tragic injury. She has since fought a lifelong battle with epilepsy. Cherry struggled with memory loss and seizures, which made school challenging and life unpredictable. But she persevered, graduating from college and landing a dream job where she helps veteran students access benefits and assistance.

The Climate Conversation

Georgia State has joined the Georgia Climate Project, a statewide consortium working to improve understanding of climate impacts and solutions in Georgia. Faculty are engaged in climate-related work, including education programs across various colleges and research supported by the National Science Foundation, NASA, the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Institutes of Health. Much of the work is in collaboration with the university’s Sustainability Office, which promotes environmentally friendly practices on campus.

Under the Influence

Alcohol is an ever-present social lubricant in our society. And psychology professor Dominic Parrot says it's one of many causes of assault. In the latest episode of the Georgia State Research Podcast, Parrott discusses the complex relationship between drinking and violence. Hear what he and his colleagues have learned about how booze drives aggressive behavior and how we can prevent it.