AGP Executive Report

Fintech Education: Students from Alabama A&M and Alabama State are preparing to pitch banking and financial-technology ideas to Regions Bank, with finalists presenting Monday in Birmingham. Community Science: UAB engineers are working with BuildUp Community School students to measure and improve indoor and outdoor air quality in Titusville. Research Investment: Auburn has opened its $224 million STEM+Ag science complex, while UAB’s new Shelby Biosciences Research Building will support biomedical research. Huntsville Tech: Titomic won a $10.3 million federal loan to expand its Huntsville manufacturing operations, and Dayton T. Brown opened a test and qualification center there. Space STEM: A Pennsylvania high school team is among 17 selected for NASA Student Launch, whose final rocket launch is scheduled for Huntsville in April.

Student Innovation: Alabama A&M and Alabama State students will pitch banking and fintech ideas in Regions Bank’s challenge, with finalists presenting Monday in Birmingham. Clean Air Research: UAB engineers are partnering with BuildUp Community School students to measure and improve indoor and outdoor air quality in Titusville. Manufacturing Growth: Nucor plans a $60 million Decatur expansion to boost utility-pole production, adding 60 jobs. Research Facilities: Auburn has opened its $224 million STEM+Ag science complex, while UAB’s new $192 million Shelby Biosciences Research Building will support biomedical research. Digital Forensics Training: Alabama’s National Computer Forensics Institute hosted judges for a course on digital evidence, from mobile devices to cloud data.

Research and Training: Auburn opened its $224 million STEM+Ag complex, bringing six departments together in a 265,000-square-foot hub for labs, teaching and cross-disciplinary research. Precision Agriculture: Madison County cotton growers are using drones, satellite data and automated irrigation to manage crops and control costs. Advanced Manufacturing: Huntsville-based Titomic plans to expand its global headquarters after securing approval for a $10.3 million federal loan. Biomedical Science: UAB opened its $192 million Shelby Biosciences Research Building to advance health research. Defense Technology: The Army’s Redstone Test Center is repurposing four Navy unmanned helicopters as test aircraft, avoiding more than $70 million in procurement costs.

Campus Research: Auburn opened its $224 million STEM+Ag Complex, bringing six agriculture and science departments together in teaching and research labs designed to spur collaboration. UAB also opened its $192 million Shelby Biosciences Research Building. Huntsville Manufacturing: Titomic received a $10.3 million federal loan to expand its Rocket City headquarters with advanced metal-manufacturing equipment, a project expected to create dozens of jobs. Defense Technology: The Army is giving four retired Navy Fire Scout unmanned helicopters a new role as testbeds for sensor packages at Redstone Arsenal. Schools & Technology: Alabama’s screen-use commission is seeking input from parents and educators on classroom technology; its survey closes Oct. 26.

Kidney Research: A UAB-led study of 30,498 survivors of critical illness and acute kidney injury found that lack of insurance and neighborhood disadvantage were linked to higher kidney-failure risk after discharge; Black patients also faced higher risk than white patients. STEM Education: Alabama is among four states requiring schools to dedicate at least 60 minutes a day to math, but schools say schedule changes can be difficult. Urban Forestry: Auburn researchers say compacted, poorly drained and contaminated urban soils can undermine tree health, and outline ways to improve growing conditions. Space Exploration: NASA’s von Braun Space Exploration Symposium comes to Huntsville Oct. 26–28, with sessions on lunar infrastructure, propulsion and the future space workforce. Defense Technology: AFCEA Huntsville’s first TechNet Rocket City, set for Nov. 4–5, will bring government, industry and universities together to discuss AI, quantum technology, cybersecurity and workforce training. Education Investment: Gov. Kay Ivey awarded $22 million to Auburn and $5 million to the Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences for capital projects.

Aerospace & Defense: Dayton T. Brown opened a 104,000-square-foot Huntsville testing center to support aerospace, defense and propulsion programs. AFCEA Huntsville will bring government, industry and academia together Nov. 4–5 for its first TechNet Rocket City, with sessions on AI, quantum technology and cybersecurity. Space & Engineering: NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center is bringing Artemis exhibits and career information to Alabama’s homecoming game, while UAH students are testing a prototype landing pad designed to make Moon landings safer. Biomedical Research: UAB opened its $192 million Shelby Biosciences Research Building to advance health research. STEM Education: Alabama awarded $5 million toward construction of its healthcare-focused public residential high school in Demopolis.

Cybersecurity: The University of Alabama restricted access to some online services while its IT office responds to a global technology vulnerability. Space Engineering: UAH students tested a prototype lunar landing pad designed to make Moon landings safer. Biomedical Research: UAB opened its $192 million Shelby Biosciences Research Building to advance work on major health challenges. Agricultural Science: Auburn plans to reopen its renovated Beef Cattle Evaluation Center in early 2027, with updated facilities and technology for students and Alabama cattle producers. Student Research: A Central Alabama Community College student’s experiment reached the International Space Station, while a UAB doctoral student earned top honors for nanoplastic research. Space Leadership: NASA named Stephen Cash director of Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville.

Lunar Engineering: UAH students tested a prototype Moon landing pad that captures and redirects rocket exhaust, a key step toward protecting spacecraft and future lunar bases. The project is a NASA-funded partnership with Linc Research. Biomedical Research: UAB opened its $192 million Shelby Biosciences Research Building to advance work on major health challenges. Space Workforce: Alabama A&M and NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center are expanding space-research and workforce training, as former Marshall leader Stephen Cash returns to guide the center. Education Investment: Gov. Kay Ivey awarded $22 million to Auburn University and $5 million to the Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences for capital projects.

Biomedical Research: UAB has opened its $192 million Shelby Biosciences Research Building, an eight-story facility supporting work in cancer, neuroscience, mental health, aging and precision medicine. It can accommodate up to 80 additional researchers. Space Workforce: Alabama A&M and Huntsville’s Morningbird Space are expanding workforce training and student opportunities in experimental propulsion research, building on a nearly $100,000 state grant. NASA Leadership: Stephen Cash took over Marshall Space Flight Center on Oct. 19, leading more than 5,000 civil service and contractor employees. STEM Education: Applications are open for Alabama’s four tuition-free specialty public high schools, including the Huntsville school focused on cyber technology and engineering. Neutrino Science: The University of Alabama, an IceCube Neutrino Observatory member, will host an Oct. 26 talk on the Antarctic detector and its role in discoveries recognized by this year’s Nobel Prize in Physics.

Research Expansion: UAB opened its $192 million Shelby Biosciences Research Building, adding space for work in cancer, neuroscience, chronic disease and AI-enabled health care. Water Policy: Alabama’s Environmental Management Commission approved changes to how pollutant limits are calculated, removing rules that defaulted to certain EPA toxicity assessments; the changes do not report a new contamination event. STEM Pathways: Applications are open for Alabama’s four tuition-free specialty public high schools for 2027–28. In Marshall County, a $15,000 grant will support animal and plant science classes, aquaponics and veterinary training at Albertville Innovation Academy. Space Leadership: University of Alabama graduate Stephen Cash was named director of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center.

Space Leadership: NASA has appointed Stephen Cash, a former agency engineer and aerospace executive, to lead Huntsville’s Marshall Space Flight Center, overseeing more than 5,000 employees and contractors as the center supports Artemis and advanced propulsion work. Cybersecurity: The Alabama Board of Nursing launched a new license-renewal website after a cyberattack exposed and downloaded some data; more online applications are expected to return over time. Rural Health: The University of Alabama received nearly $1.76 million to help rural EMS crews treat patients at the scene across 13 counties. Research: UAB doctoral student earned top honors for nanoplastic research, while UAB and global partners received a landmark NIH grant to tackle a leading cause of maternal mortality. Student Science: A Central Alabama Community College experiment has reached the International Space Station. Agriculture: Alabama Cooperative Extension issued new guidance to help vegetable growers manage sweetpotato whiteflies.

Space Research: University of Alabama graduate Stephen Cash is the new director of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, putting an Alabama-connected leader at the helm of a major hub for space exploration. A Central Alabama Community College student experiment also reached the International Space Station. Rural Health: The University of Alabama received $1.76 million to help EMS crews in 13 counties treat some patients at the scene, while UAB and global partners landed an NIH grant to tackle a leading cause of maternal mortality. Environmental Science: Tuskegee veterinarian and microbiologist Ruby Perry was elected chair of the Alabama Environmental Management Commission, which sets state environmental standards and policy.

Healthcare AI: UAB has partnered with India’s IIM Jammu on healthcare innovation, including joint research and academic exchanges. Alabama Research: UAB researchers helped identify Sardinia’s Bolotana as a longevity hotspot; women who reach 70 there have an estimated 13.83% chance of living to 100. Smart Infrastructure: Alabama awarded a $167 million contract to replace two Tuscaloosa bridges and widen McFarland Boulevard, adding traffic cameras, weather monitoring and a shared-use path. Space and STEM: NASA named Stephen Cash director of Marshall Space Flight Center, while a Central Alabama Community College student experiment has reached the International Space Station. Rural Health: A $1.76 million University of Alabama grant will help EMS crews treat patients at the scene across 13 counties. Defense Technology: Fort Rucker was selected to lead the Army’s autonomous technologies effort.

Community STEM: Tuscaloosa’s free Tech-or-Treat event on Oct. 22 will introduce families to science and technology through hands-on activities. Rural Health Research: The University of Alabama received $1.76 million to help rural EMS teams treat patients at the scene across 13 counties. Space Science: A Central Alabama Community College student experiment has reached the International Space Station. AI Research: The University of Alabama is among 15 schools launching an AI computing partnership. NASA Leadership: Stephen Cash was named director of Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville. Medical Research: UAB and international partners received a landmark NIH grant to tackle a leading cause of maternal mortality.

Biomedical Research: A University of Alabama at Birmingham endocrinologist is leading early trials of an injectable treatment designed to destroy fat cells. Researchers report promising results, but the findings have not yet been peer-reviewed. Rural Health: The University of Alabama received $1.76 million to help EMS crews in 13 counties treat some patients at the scene, potentially reducing trips to hospitals. Space & STEM: A Central Alabama Community College student experiment has reached the International Space Station, while NASA named Stephen Cash director of Marshall Space Flight Center. Autonomous Systems: Fort Rucker has been selected as the Army’s center for excellence in drones and autonomy, and an AI-and-defense startup plans to open in Washington County. Maternal Health: UAB and international partners won a major NIH grant to address a leading cause of maternal mortality.

Rural Health: The University of Alabama secured $1.76 million to help EMS crews in 13 counties treat some patients at the scene, potentially reducing the need for hospital transport. Space & Research: A Central Alabama Community College student experiment reached the International Space Station, while NASA named Stephen Cash director of Huntsville’s Marshall Space Flight Center. Biomedical Science: UAB and international partners won a major NIH grant to tackle a leading cause of maternal mortality. Conservation & Agriculture: Partners released about 1,500 native mussels into northeast Alabama’s Paint Rock River to support water quality and habitat restoration; a North Alabama broiler farm also cut water costs by 54% through rainwater harvesting. Defense Technology: Fort Rucker was selected as the Army’s center for advancing unmanned aircraft and autonomy.