College of Sciences, Auburn University at Montgomery

06/15/2026

Dr. Hoehun Ha (Bryan), Professor of Geography in the AUM
Department of Biology and Environmental Science Geographic Information Systems, recently published an article entitled “Spatial Association Between Frequent Physical Distress (FPD) and Socioeconomic and Health-Related Factors in the United States: Using Multiscale Geographically Weighted Regression (MGWR)” in ISPRS Int. J. Geo-Inf. 2026, 15, 118. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi15030118

Abstract:This study explored the spatial relationship between frequent physical distress (FPD) and socioeconomic as well as health-related factors across the contiguous United States. FPD, defined as having 14 or more physically unhealthy days within the past month, serves as an important measure of overall population health. While many studies have examined the causes of mental distress, research on the geographic variation and social context of physical distress remains limited. Using data from 2673 U.S. counties, this study analyzed how socioeconomic conditions and health indicators relate to FPD at both national and regional levels. Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) multivariate regression model was first used to assess general associations, followed by Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) and Multiscale Geographically Weighted Regression (MGWR) to identify spatially varying and scale-dependent relationships. Comparing the GWR and MGWR results revealed that several predictors of FPD operate at different spatial scales, reflecting local heterogeneity in health outcomes. Counties in the southeastern United States, particularly those with higher levels of socioeconomic disadvantage and poorer health conditions, showed elevated FPD rates. These findings highlight the importance of accounting for spatial context when addressing physical distress and suggest that locally tailored public health strategies may be more effective than uniform national approaches.

This study explored the spatial relationship between frequent physical distress (FPD) and socioeconomic as well as health-related factors across the contiguous United States. FPD, defined as having 14 or more physically unhealthy days within the past month, serves as an important measure of overall....

05/08/2026

After a career of 42 years at AUM, today we said farewell to Mr. Randy Russell from the Department of Chemistry, seen here with one of his retirement gifts – an earlier photo taken (and framed) by Dr. Steve Arnold. Best wishes Randy!

05/04/2026

Join us on Friday May 8 (11 am - 1 pm) in Room 1014 of the Science & Technology Complex as we recognize Mr. Randy Russell’s long service to AUM as we wish him well in his retirement. Mr. Russell (seen here in a photo from 2019) has been on the AUM faculty in the Department of Chemistry (formerly Department of Physical Sciences) for over 40 years.

05/02/2026

Dr. Flor Breitman, Assistant Professor in the AUM Department of Biology and Environmental Science, recently published an article entitled “Ocean Genes CURE: The Influence of Ocean Microbes on Global Carbon Cycling” in CourseSource, a peer-reviewed teaching resources publication for undergraduate biology and physics. The series of described lessons aims to broaden engagement of undergraduate students with authentic marine science research and is the culmination of 3 years of collaboration between students, faculty, and staff from many institutions.
Link: https://doi.org/10.24918/cs.2026.15

04/14/2026

Congratulations to the students (and their mentors) who participated in this year’s College of Sciences Student Research Symposium on April 10. Students representing every department in the College showcased their work through presentations and posters. As opportunities for student research continue to expand in the College of Sciences, students interested in research are encouraged to reach out to faculty about potential projects. Photos: Sarah Belcher (Mathematics) and Michael Hyden (Chemistry).