AMHERST, Mass. - Mary V. Andrianopoulos, associate professor of communication disorders at the University of Massachusetts, has received a Fulbright grant to teach and conduct research at the University of Athens in Greece during the 2002-03 academic year.

AMHERST, Mass. - A University of Massachusetts scientist is part of a panel of experts helping the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) determine how to deal with tons of spent rocket fuel that has seeped into aquifers in parts of the American Southwest. The panel is specifically looking at a chemical known as perchlorate, a salt that has been a major component in rocket fuel for roughly 50 years, said Thomas Zoeller, an endocrinologist at UMass.

AMHERST, Mass. - A University of Massachusetts researcher is conducting a study to determine whether antioxidants improve muscle function, strength, and volume in older adults. Maria Urso, a UMass doctoral student, says the research could have a significant impact for older people who currently experience muscle atrophy – either from the normal course of aging, or when they are immobilized or become more sedentary due to injury or advanced age.

AMHERST, Mass. - A company with its roots at the University of Massachusetts has introduced a computer game that allows people who are visually impaired to compete on an equal footing with sighted competitors. Although a handful of other games enable blind players to compete against each other, Zform’s game is the first that puts opponents on equal footing, regardless of their eyesight, say company founders. Zform officially launched its first game last week. The game is an accessible version of the five-card draw poker. A synthesized voice tells visually impaired players what cards they have been dealt, what moves other players have made, and what cards have been thrown down. It can be downloaded from the World Wide Web. The company also has other accessible games in development.