December Sources of the Month

12/01/2015

Science and engineering, politics and history, criminal justice, anti-terrorism, business, education and humanities experts from UMass Lowell lend authority to news and feature stories in an engaging and relatable way. UMass Lowell faculty are world-class researchers and scholars who are available in person, by phone or e-mail as sources for print, radio and TV journalists. TV options include live broadcast interviews in person or via satellite.

This month’s hot topics and featured sources are:

• Climate change – Juliette Rooney-Varga, scientist and researcher. Rooney-Varga can talk about what it’s like to attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris, where she will present her work this month as a member of the Climate Interactive delegation. She can offer analysis about what it will take to successfully implement countries’ pledges to reduce their carbon footprints. She can also talk about a role-playing exercise that simulates real-life negotiations on climate change that she uses as a teaching tool. While in Paris, she’ll present this exercise to educators and others, so people can gain insight into how negotiations are conducted. Rooney-Varga teaches environmental biology and is the director of UMass Lowell’s Climate Change Initiative, which promotes sustainability on campus and in the community.

• How to minimize holiday stress – Doreen Arcus, family and relationship expert. Worried about how to get through celebrations alongside difficult relatives? Procrastinating over shopping until the last possible minute? So consumed with creating the perfect experience you forget to have a good time? Arcus, an authority on human behavior, family dynamics and child development, can explain why and provide guidance on how to make this season a personal success. Arcus is a psychology professor in the College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.

• 2015 Year-in-Review – Experts in domestic and international policy, business, the economy and popular culture, among other subjects, are available for interviews on the year’s biggest news stories including Donald Trump’s move into politics and Hillary’s e-mails, the rise of ISIS, gun violence, corporate mega-mergers, the fight to increase the minimum wage and extreme weather events, from the record-breaking winter in the Northeast to the California drought.

For a complete list of UMass Lowell experts, see www.uml.edu/experts. The university’s media relations team is ready to help connect you. Contact Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu.