This year 53 students in fourth through eighth grades will compete for the Alabama State Spelling Bee Champion title in UAB’s University Hall.

Students earning degrees in studio art, communication, writing, music, theater and more are being recognized for their outstanding creative work.

The community is invited to experience the arts being created by UAB students and faculty with this curated list of performances and happenings.

When the 98th Academy Awards nominations were announced in January, one title caught the attention of many Alabamians: “The Alabama Solution.” Co-producing the HBO documentary — which explores the state’s prison system through the perspectives of incarcerated people — is Beth Shelburne, a graduate of UAB’s English Master of Arts program and a Birmingham-based investigative journalist.

Kelley Schoger directs her first Theatre UAB production, taking audiences on a wild, wickedly funny and emotional ride with mystery writer Agatha Christie’s world-famous detective Hercule Poirot.

Two faculty members in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Alabama at Birmingham were recently highlighted in the prestigious Nature journal for their contributions to the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence. Their articles explore two distinct dimensions of AI, showcasing the breadth of expertise and innovative research within the College.

Henry Panion III, Ph.D., who worked often with Smallwood as a conductor and arranger, will lead the ASO and choirs in this celebration of one of gospel’s most revered composers.

Seven new graduate certificates and an undergraduate certificate are available to Blazers.

An intensive exploration across a range of disciplines, the BFA program of study at UAB prepares students to pursue careers as artists and designers or continue to graduate school.

Choose from student and faculty recitals, the UAB Piano Series, the annual PRISM concert showcase, ensemble performances, Gospel Choir, Opera, and much more.

An innovative project funded by the Department of Energy is digging into the possibilities of phytomining to boost American production of elements that are crucial to modern technology. Greer Dolby, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Biology who specializes in evolutionary genomics, is part of the research team.

The UAB Department of Theatre is committed to supporting new voices in theater and moving new works forward. The latest is “Don’t Ask” from 2018 graduate Hayley Procacci.