Buyer beware: Popular back-to-school items can cause injury
   Parents be forewarned - some of this year's trendiest back-to-school buys can be hazardous to children's health, according to Laurie Tis, associate professor of kinesiology and health at Georgia State University. Most ankle sprains, neck and back pains, head injuries, and arthritic conditions can be traced to buying the wrong shoes, backpacks and sports gear, says Tis, an injury prevention expert. She advises buying athletic shoes that fit a child's specific activity - whether it's running or basketball - versus buying popular styles more suited for casual wear than sports. Tis also recommends the use of rolling backpacks to prevent shoulder and neck strain. For more advice on back-to-school buys and general safety guidelines, contact Tis at (404) 651-4022 or ltis@gsu.edu.

New teachers flood Georgia schools, but will they last?
   Across the state, hundreds of new teachers will fill classrooms this fall, many of them professionals in other fields driven by the failing economy to change careers. With a growing number of teachers being trained through alternative or accelerated programs, questions are being raised about both their skills and their commitment. In spite of their critics' doubts, these teachers have the potential to positively impact student achievement, says Gwen Benson, associate dean of Georgia State University's College of Education. Alternative teacher-training programs, designed to counter the state's poor teacher-retention rates, are drawing highly qualified individuals and providing the support to keep them in the field, even in better economic times, says Benson. Benson also can discuss Georgia State's new initiatives that are designed to recruit and retain the state's best teachers. Contact her at (404) 651-2842 or gbenson@gsu.edu.

Gay rights revival?
   An all-gay high school in New York. Increasingly vocal advocates of same-sex marriage. A groundswell of TV programming featuring main characters who are gay. Is the American public shifting its attitudes toward homosexuality and gay rights? Georgia State University researcher Greg Lewis has studied public opinion on gay rights, and found that politics isn't the only influence on acceptance. "There are several demographic predictors of attitudes towards homosexuality and gay rights," says Lewis, a professor of public administration and urban studies. "For example, groups that have experienced some discrimination tend to be more accepting of homosexuality. Women, for example, are often more accepting than men, and Jews tend to be more accepting than many other religious groups." For more information, contact Lewis at (404) 651-4443 or glewis@gsu.edu.

Pesticide runoff could affect fish reproduction, marine biologist says
   The summer's onslaught of rain may have ended a multi-year drought in the eastern United States, but the downpours are contributing to another problem - excess pesticide runoff into rivers and streams. Runoff occurs when water enters drainage basins quicker than it can be absorbed by the soil. Pesticide applications followed by heavy rains cause chemicals to flow into rivers and streams and can affect aquatic organisms living there, says Matthew Grober, a marine biologist and fish expert at Georgia State University. With a grant from the National Institutes of Health, Grober is examining a commonly used pesticide that affects fish reproduction. "Even when pesticide runoff is less than the government's lethal dose, it can halt reproduction in certain fish species," he says. "The pesticides aren't at a level where they kill fish, but populations are eventually wiped out because the fish can't reproduce." Grober studies sexual variability in fish and can answer questions about fish in natural environments and aquariums. Contact him at (404) 463-9581 or mgrober@gsu.edu.

Terrorism coverage
   After Sept. 11, 2001, American businesses found that terrorism insurance at affordable rates was nearly impossible to come by. That remained the case until last fall, when Congress approved the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act, mandating that the federal government subsidize private commercial insurers in the event of catastrophic losses from a terrorist incident through 2004. Robert Klein, an associate professor of risk management and insurance at Georgia State University, is studying whether the legislation has led more businesses to purchase terrorism coverage. "It appears that the relatively high cost of this insurance has discouraged many firms from purchasing it unless they believe they face a high level of risk and/or are required to buy the coverage," says Klein, who is serving as an advisor to the U.S. Treasury Department concerning the government program's effectiveness. Contact Klein at (404) 651-4031 or rwklein@gsu.edu.

Happening at Georgia State University:

Bank of America CEO honors mother with $2.5 million School of Nursing gift
   Bank of America chairman and chief executive officer Kenneth D. Lewis has given $2.5 million to Georgia State University's School of Nursing in an effort to help combat the state's critical nursing shortage. The cash gift will fund faculty positions, teaching laboratories and student scholarships in the nursing school, which has been renamed the Byrdine F. Lewis School of Nursing in honor of Lewis' mother, a retired nurse. "The shortage of nurses and the lack of training opportunities is a national issue, and one we need to address because nurses play such a beneficial role in our society," said Ken Lewis, who graduated from Georgia State's J. Mack Robinson College of Business in 1969. For more information, contact Lisa Borello at (404) 651-3578 or lisab@gsu.edu.

Georgia State Leads will be published monthly during the summer by the Department of University Relations. For more information about the publication or to sign up to receive Georgia State Leads, contact Beth Flannigan at 404-651-3574 or bflannigan@gsu.edu.

Don't see what you're looking for? Call University Relations at 404-651-3025 for fast access to faculty experts and university news. After hours and on weekends, contact Betsy Robertson, assistant director, via pager at 404-655-3456.

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