April 29, 2009

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Professor Nikolaos Zahariadis, Ph.D., has won a Fulbright award to attend a German studies seminar titled "Germany's Future: New Parties - New Solutions?" June 7-20 in Berlin.

Zahariadis, who directs the UAB Department of Government's International Studies Program, is among 15 faculty members from around the United States selected to participate in this year's program.

Seminar participants will examine issues related to Germany's upcoming general election, which will be held in September. The German Fulbright Commission also will arrange for Zahariadis and the other participants to meet with various party and government officials in Berlin, Ehrfurt and Frankfurt to discuss issues that likely will impact the fall general election, such as the current financial crisis, as well as demographic and education issues.

Zahariadis says he will use the experience to conduct a comparative study of last fall's U.S. presidential election and the upcoming German general election. He plans to present his findings in a lecture at UAB this fall.

About UAB

The UAB Department of Government offers a bachelor's degree in political science and a master's in public administration. The department also directs the International Studies Program, in which students can earn a bachelor's degree in international studies.