"Never" doesn't always mean "no," and it's a perplexing problem for computers trying to understand human language. Eduardo Blanco, assistant professor of computer science and engineering, is the recipient of a $500,000 National Science Foundation CAREER award to teach computers the intricacies of negation. His work could help smart devices and computers carry on more natural conversations with humans and provide better language translations. Blanco is one of 13 UNT researchers to receive the prestigious CAREER award supporting early-career faculty who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education.

Do Usage-Based Insurance or Pay-As-You-Drive-And-You-Save programs save drivers or the companies that offer them money? The answer, is yes, according to Yu-Luen Ma, professor of insurance and risk management. However, the driver, or more specifically, their data, could save individuals even more, says Ma. In her latest study, funded by a $300,000 grant from the U.S. Federal Highway Administration, Ma and her team studied safe driving plans. Read about their significant findings.

Sixty-plus years after the Korean Peninsula was officially split into two separate governments, Young Hoon Kim, associate professor of hospitality and tourism management, is looking for ways to bring the two countries together. Kim, who was born in South Korea, is studying how travel through sustainable tourism and destination development can encourage citizens from both nations to interact and build relationships with one another. For his efforts, Kim and his research team were recently awarded a grant from the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy for their research project. As part of his effort, Kim will lead a group of students on a study abroad trip to the Korean demilitarized zone during UNT's 2019 Maymester.