Story and Source Ideas for Journalists

04/22/2013

This is a notice of upcoming events, photo opportunities and story ideas at UMass Lowell, compiled by the Office of University Relations, 978-934-3224. For more stories about UMass Lowell, visit www.uml.edu and click on “Media” at the top of the page. Please note that contact names below are for the media and are not for publication.

Sources of the week: In recognition of Earth Day, UMass Lowell faculty experts can discuss the challenges climate change poses to scientists and the public. A UMass Lowell anti-terrorism and security expert can discuss the Boston Marathon bombing case and what lies ahead for investigators.

Earth Week A Call to Action to Combat Climate Change

When: Monday, April 22 through Sunday, April 28

What: Earth Week programs seek to engage the campus and community in promoting more sustainable ways of life and combating climate change. Events, presented in partnership with Lowell National Historical Park and the city of Lowell include:

  • Lonely Climate, Thursday, April 25, 5:30 p.m. This community forum will include a presentation of film shorts about the environment produced by UMass Lowell students and a discussion about environmental issues. National Park Service Visitor Center, 246 Market St., Lowell
  • Beat the Heat, Saturday, April 27, 12:30 to 3 p.m. UMass Lowell’s Student Environment Alliance and representatives of local communities will host a forum on how to combat climate change. Event speakers are scheduled to include Lowell Mayor Patrick Murphy and Lowell Recycling Coordinator Gunther Wellenstein. Campus Recreation Center lawn, 100 Pawtucket St., Lowell.

For a complete schedule of events, visit http://www.uml.edu.

Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu

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Students Share Research with Peers and Faculty

When: Monday, April 22, humanities projects, 1 to 4 p.m.; Tuesday, April 23, research presentations, 2 to 5 p.m.

What: More than 400 UMass Lowell students from each of the university’s schools and colleges will participate in the 16th annual Student Research and Community Engagement Symposium. The two-day event will feature students’ presentations about their academic and scientific research, as well as creative work, internship and international experiences, community service and thesis projects. The event will allow undergraduate and graduate students to hone their presentation skills, exchange ideas with other scholars and receive feedback from faculty and other leaders.

Where: Monday’s session, O’Leary Library Learning Commons, South Campus, 61 Wilder St., Lowell; Tuesday’s session, UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center, 50 Warren St., Lowell

Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu

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UMass Lowell, Public Share in Celebration of Champions for Hockey Team

When: Tuesday, April 23. Program at 3 p.m. followed by a public skate at 4 p.m.

What: River Hawk hockey fans will join with the UMass Lowell community in a Celebration of Champions to salute the team at the close of its most successful season in program history. The River Hawks captured the Hockey East regular-season and tournament titles before winning the NCAA Division I Northeast Regional tournament and advancing to the team’s first appearance in the Frozen Four national tournament, held in Pittsburgh. The winning season also saw Head Coach Norm Bazin receive the Spencer Penrose Division I and Hockey East coach of the year awards. Speakers at the celebration are scheduled to include Bazin, university leaders and a team member, followed by a reception in the LowellBank Pavilion. To thank fans, team members will sign autographs and be available for photos with the Hockey East regular season and Lamoriello trophies. Players will also join in a free public skating session on the Tsongas Center ice. A limited number of skates will be available for use; members of the public are encouraged to bring their own. The event is free; River Hawks fan attire and gear will be available for purchase along the arena’s concourse.

Where: Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell, 300 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Lowell

Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu

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Seniors Display Engineering Innovations, Offer Demonstrations

When: Wednesday, April 24, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

What: More than 20 teams of UMass Lowell engineering seniors will present their thesis capstone projects and demonstrations during a showcase of their work. Innovations, including those developed through the College of Engineering’s Assistive Technology Program on behalf of people in the community include a robotic arm, a voice-recognition TV remote control, water purification systems and the development of a fiber-optic pressure sensor. Teams will vie for the Showcase Project Award, as voted by attendees.

Where: Cumnock Hall, North Campus, 31 University Ave., Lowell

Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu

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Young Professionals Mentor Students on Life After Graduation

When: Wednesday, April 24, 4 p.m.

What: Three members of the Greater Lowell Young Professionals organization will share their insights and answer UMass Lowell students’ questions about making the transition from campus to career as graduation day approaches. Panelists include Taylor Gys, an accountant with Anstiss & Co.; Craig MacKenzie, senior vice president with Lowell Five Cents Savings Bank; and Heather Makrez, UMass Lowell’s director of alumni relations. UMass Lowell’s Commencement exercises will be held on Saturday, May 18.

Where: Ball Hall, Room 214, North Campus, 185 Riverside St., Lowell

Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu

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Entrepreneurs Showcase New Product, Service Ideas

When: Wednesday, April 24, 5:30 p.m.

What: More than 100 youth and student entrepreneurs – many from UMass Lowell – will present their innovative ideas for new products and services in the food, fashion, education and technology sectors during the Merrimack Valley Sandbox Catalyst Showcase. The entrepreneurs will participate in a pitch contest to generate support for their ideas and Jeffrey White, chief creativity officer of Rightside Shirts, will speak during the event. The program provides support and seed grants to young innovators to support their goal to launch startup enterprises and to fuel the region’s economy. Since its inception in 2011, it has funded more than 600 student and youth entrepreneurs. The program is operated by the Merrimack Valley Sandbox Initiative, which works to boost the economic and social vitality of the Greater Lawrence and Lowell communities by advancing innovation and entrepreneurship. The initiative, based at UMass Lowell’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, is a project of the Deshpande Foundation.

Where: Everett Mills, 15 Union St., Lawrence

Contacts for media: Emil Kuruvilla, 978-934-4958, Emil@MVSandbo.org or Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu

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University Professor Lecture Focuses on Collaborative Research, Results

When: Thursday, April 25, 4 p.m.

What: UMass Lowell Prof. Stephen McCarthy, a medical-device innovator and pioneer in plastics engineering, will present the annual University Professor lecture. UMass Lowell named McCarthy its University Professor for the 2012-2013 academic year in honor of his exemplary teaching, nationally significant research and exceptional service to the university. His presentation will focus on his dynamic work in plastics engineering, chemistry and mechanical engineering and his partnerships with industry, UMass Lowell’s Manning School of Business and UMass Medical School as the co-director of the Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2) at UMass Lowell. He will highlight success stories of startup and spinoff companies that benefitted from the services offered by the center, which is housed at the university in partnership with UMass Medical Center in Worcester. McCarthy also serves UMass Lowell as director of the university’s Biodegradable Polymer Research Center and co-director of the Center for Irish Partnerships.

Where: UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center, 50 Warren St., Lowell

Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu

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New Portuguese Center Presents Perspective on Lisbon’s Influence

When: Tuesday, April 30, 6:30 p.m.

What: The new Saab-Pedroso Center for Portuguese Studies and Culture at UMass Lowell will present scholar Cristiana Bastos, who will explore what makes Lisbon a cosmopolitan hub during her talk, “Old Trends, New Routes: Lisbon at the Crossroads of Global Migrations.” Bastos of the Institute of Social Sciences at the University of Lisbon in Portugal will discuss how the city became a destination for people from around the world throughout history, including during the “Euro-euphoria” of the late 20th century. She will also touch on the transformations in the urban landscape of Southern Europe as they relate to the European financial crisis. The program is presented by Luis Falcon, dean of UMass Lowell’s College of Fine Arts Humans, Humanities and Social Sciences and the Center for Arts and Ideas in collaboration with the Saab-Pedroso Center for Portuguese Studies and Culture at UMass Lowell.

Where: UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center, 50 Warren St., Lowell

Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu

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