Story and Source Ideas for Journalists
05/14/2013
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 Please note that contact names below are for the media and are not for publication.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: Members of the Class of 2013 can discuss their UMass Lowell experience, accomplishments and plans for the future.
- Biopharmaceutical Summit Explores What’s Next for Industry
- Book Series Explores Jack Kerouac’s Lowell-Centric Works
- Green-Materials Researchers Share Ideas to Improve Environment
- Commencement Eve Gala Celebrates Graduates, Funds Scholarships
- Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis to Address Class of 2013
- Fine Arts Students’ Work Exhibited at Public Show
Biopharmaceutical Biopharmaceutical Summit Explores What’s Next for Industry
When: Tuesday, May 14, 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Wednesday, May 15, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
What: Scientists and researchers from biopharmaceutical manufacturers, technology and system providers, raw material suppliers and related agencies will unite to talk about the challenges behind creating medications using biotechnology and to share breakthroughs and success stories. Representatives of companies including Genzyme, PBS Biotech, Shire, Tarpon Biosystems Inc. and Chromworks are among those who are expected to attend. The event is the second summit presented by the Biopharmaceutical Process and Quality Consortium. Established last year, the BPQC is a research, development and education collaborative based at the Massachusetts BioManufacturing Center at UMass Lowell that assists biotechnology companies in bringing their scientific discoveries to market. For a full schedule, visit www.uml.edu/Research/Centers/BioManufacturing/BPQC/default.aspx.
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
Book Book Series Explores Jack Kerouac’s Lowell-Centric Works
When: Tuesday, May 14, 6:30 p.m.
What: UMass Lowell Libraries’ free reading and discussion series on Jack Kerouac’s Lowell-centric novels concludes with a public reading of “Visions of Gerard” in downtown Lowell, Kerouac’s old stomping ground. Go to http://libguides.uml.edu/kerouac to register or contact Sara Marks at Sara_Marks@uml.edu. Support for the series is provided by the UMass Lowell English Department, Office of Community and Cultural Affairs, and the Massachusetts Humanities Council.
Where: The Old Court Irish Pub and Restaurant, 29 Central St., Lowell
Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu
Green Green-Materials Researchers Share Ideas to Improve Environment
When: Thursday, May 16, 12:30 to 5 p.m.
What: Industry leaders will connect with UMass Lowell faculty, staff and students in an interactive symposium on developing materials and technologies that are safer for the environment and human health. The Greener Materials Research Symposium, hosted by the Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI) at UMass Lowell, will include presentations by UMass Lowell researchers on innovative green-materials projects, roundtable discussions and a tour of the Mark and Elisia Saab Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center, UMass Lowell’s new, $80 million academic building. The center – where industry partners with UMass Lowell scientists – features a nanofabrication laboratory, a plastics manufacturing high-bay facility, a compounding lab, materials characterization lab and more.
Where: Mark and Elisia Saab Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center, Atrium, North Campus, 40 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
Commencement Commencement Eve Gala Celebrates Graduates, Funds Scholarships
When: Friday, May 17, 5 p.m.
What: UMass Lowell students, faculty, alumni and honored guests will celebrate the achievements of the Class of 2013 and raise money for student scholarships during the sixth annual Commencement Eve gala. Participants are scheduled to include Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis and social entrepreneur Harish Hande, ’98, ’00, this year’s Commencement speakers. They will be joined by honorary degree recipients philanthropist Nancy Donahue and Elisia and Mark Saab ’81, co-founders of Advanced Polymers Inc., along with Distinguished Alumni Award winner Bernard Shapiro ’56. Gary Mucica ’71 will be honored posthumously with a Distinguished Alumni Award. The event will also honor students who have excelled in academics, community service and service to the university. In the past five years, the Commencement Eve celebration has raised more than $2.2 million for student scholarships. New funds include the UMass Lowell Boston Marathon Scholarship Fund, which will assist members of the university community, including their families and alumni, who have been affected by the tragedy and would like to pursue a UMass Lowell education. Gala admission, which includes cocktails, dinner and entertainment, is $125 per person. For tickets, contact Kathleen Sullivan at 978-934-3236 or Kathleen_Sullivan@uml.edu. For sponsorship information, contact Louise Griffin at 978-934-3243 or Louise_Griffin@uml.edu.
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
Boston Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis to Address Class of 2013
When: Saturday, May 18, undergraduate ceremony, 9 a.m., graduate ceremony, 3 p.m.
What: Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis, whose leadership in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombings has personified the spirit of “Boston Strong,” will deliver the Commencement address to the Class of 2013 at UMass Lowell’s undergraduate ceremony. Social entrepreneur Harish Hande ’98, ’00 – who as the co-founder of Solar Electric Light Co. India is pioneering access to solar electricity for more than half a million people in India – will deliver the graduate ceremony address. For the sixth year in a row, a record number of graduates – 3,169 – will receive degrees from UMass Lowell. Davis and Hande will receive honorary degrees from the university, along with philanthropist Nancy Donahue and Elisia and Mark Saab ’81, co-founders of Advanced Polymers Inc. Distinguished Alumni Awards will be presented to Bernard Shapiro ’56 and Gary Mucica ’71 (to be honored posthumously). A champion of predictive and community policing, Davis leads the 20th-largest law enforcement agency in the U.S. with more than 2,000 officers and 800 civilian employees. A Lowell native, he previously served as the superintendent of police in the Mill City for 12 years.
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
Fine Fine Arts Students’ Work Exhibited at Public Show
When: Exhibit runs through Thursday, May 23. Exhibit hours are by appointment only.
What: UMass Lowell seniors receiving Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees will exhibit their thesis projects in a variety of media. The show is free and open to the public and will be held in both of the university’s galleries.
Where: Dugan Gallery, Dugan Hall, South Campus, 883 Broadway St., Lowell; University Gallery, McGauvran Student Center, South Campus, 71 Wilder St., Lowell
Contacts for media: Michele Gagnon, 978-934-3491, Michele_Gagnon@uml.edu or Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu