How do you reach for the stars? You stand on the shoulders of giants. That's how one UH alum did it and it launched him into space. Listen to this week's UH Moment.
"I'm not here because of anything I've done. I'm here because of everything everyone's done for me," said astronaut and University of Houston alum Danny Olivas. The two-time veteran of NASA space flights is grounded by the support family, friends and teachers have provided him—a long line of role models that began on top of his El Paso house with his father and a telescope.
"In El Paso, which is West Texas, the skies are so clear. You can see forever," Olivas remembers. "We would take the telescope on top of the roof and watch the moon. I remember those nights vividly. We'd look at the craters of the moon, talk about it, and it was that sense of wonderment of space, the vastness of space, looking at stars. I came to appreciate the importance those experiences had on shaping my passions today."
Olivas saves his greatest thanks for his wife, Marie, whom he calls the most consistent influence in his life. The pair was at UH together getting their master's degrees (she in About her master's in education: education; he in mechanical engineering). He says his professors and advisers further buoyed his drive to the stars.
"The ones I remember Dr. Van Arsdale, Dr. Dalton, Dr. Ravi-Shandar were mentors. I could confide in them, struggles I was having trying to balance work and school and commuting from Freeport to Houston," he said.
But while he has been the one making front page news, Olivas humbly acknowledges those whose support launched his success.
"I stand on the shoulders of everybody who's been there to help me and that took me to 220 miles above the surface of the Earth," Olivas said. "I also know that I have a responsibility to take my experiences and take the things that I can do and help others around me.
Danny Olivas is part of what's happening at the University of Houston. I'm Marisa Ramirez.
Telling the stories of the University of Houston, this UH Moment is brought to you by KUHF, listener supported radio from the University of Houston.
A recent study on public responses to health disparities in the U.S. found surprising answers to how the government should address those. Listen to this week's UH Moment.
We are immersed in debate over the government's role in health care, but what problems do the public want government to prioritize? Do we know? It's research being conducted at the University of Houston.
"We found it didn't make much of a difference to ask people about health problems among different income or educational groups," said Elizabeth Rigby, assistant professor of political science. "But, when framed in terms of racial groups, the public expressed more skepticism about the ability of government to solve these health problems and much less support for government-based solutions."
"We found that respondents were much more likely to believe that these racial disparities in health were genetic, about 60-percent agreed that that could be a cause of the disparity," Rigby said. "When we asked about the other groups, it was about 25- or 30-percent."
Her research was published in Social Science Quarterly. She says the study is a cue that more public education and dialogue is needed if the political debate is to be productive.
"The more we can focus on the ways on which the politics of social diversity and the politics of race and class play out, the better we can communicate with each other as well," she said.
Elizabeth Rigby is part of what's happening at the University of Houston. I'm Marisa Ramirez.
Telling the stories of the University of Houston, this UH Moment is brought to you by KUHF, listener supported radio from the University of Houston.
UH Moment is a weekly feature heard Wednesdays at 7:49 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Each week, you'll hear students, faculty and administrators telling stories of the innovative research, programs and successes that make up the story of the University of Houston.
UH Moment is written by the staff of University Communication and voiced by Marisa Ramirez, a UH alum. The program is produced by Paul Franklin, audio specialist for KUHF.
The music that introduces the segment is the original work of Brad Sayles, composer and KUHF Senior Recording Engineer. Brad is the 2003 and 2007 first laureate of the Louisa Stude Sarofim Composition Competition for his chamber suite New England Journey and his dramatic voice and chamber ensemble piece The Lily. He's also a UH alum.
UH Moment: "Student Teacher of the Year" October 28, 2009 by: Marisa Ramirez High School lit class doesn't have to be boring, especially if your teacher is young, energetic and recognized by state and national teachers. And also a product of a UH teacher's program. Listen to this week's UH Moment. > read complete article > click to listen
UH Moment: "Construction Management" October 21, 2009 by: Marisa Ramirez Creating civilization requires art and science, and at the intersection is a University of Houston program that is growing in scope and necessity. Listen to this week's UH Moment. > read complete article > click to listen
UH Moment: "Hospitality Industry Archives" October 7, 2009 by: Marisa Ramirez If you want a biography of hotelier Conrad Hilton, you can check out a library book or do a Google search and find an acceptable timeline of his life. But if you want to know about his accent, where his cowboy hat is or the advertising budgets for his hotels, then you go see Professor Mark Young. Here's this week's UH Moment. > read complete article > click to listen
UH Moment: "American Humanics" September 30, 2009 by: Marisa Ramirez Students preparing to lead a nonprofit organization get an added credential and an edge with one University of Houston program. Find out more in this week's UH Moment. > read complete article > click to listen
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