August Sources of the Month

08/01/2016

Print, radio and TV journalists in need of experts will find UMass Lowell’s world-class faculty, researchers and scholars are engaging and authoritative sources. Experts are available in person, by phone or e-mail to discuss topics in the news, in fields including science and engineering, business and education, the social sciences and humanities. TV options include live interviews in person or via satellite.

This month’s hot topics and featured sources are:

• Summer Olympics – Michael Jones, elite athlete and sports law expert. Jones is a former Olympic qualifier and national and world swimming champion who teaches legal studies at UMass Lowell. A world-class triathlete, legal adviser and retired judge, he can offer insight into the experience of Olympic competition, challenges facing the games’ organizers including the threat of the Zika virus, legal ramifications of using performance-enhancing drugs, athlete endorsement deals and gender equity in sports. Jones created the Rio 2016 poster for the U.S. triathlon team and has painted an official portrait of swimmer Michael Phelps, who holds the record for Olympic medals.
• Public opinion on sports-related concussions – Joshua Dyck, polling expert. As football training camps gear up for the season, Dyck can discuss the results of a recent UMass Lowell Center for Public Opinion poll that found a majority of Americans believe sports-related concussions and brain injuries are a major public health problem. The poll also found strong support for limiting tackling and other activities in youth sports, such as soccer, that have the potential for contact with the head. Dyck, who oversaw the poll, co-directs the center and teaches political science at UMass Lowell.
• Parents’ guide to back-to-school – Doreen Arcus, family and relationship expert. Before the big yellow buses begin to roll, Arcus can discuss what parents need to know and do to help their child transition successfully into the new school year. A psychologist, Arcus can lend authority to stories on topics including how adults can advocate for children with autism and other special needs, what parents should watch for when their children use social media and the influence of cliques on teenagers. Arcus pioneered research on nature-vs.-nurture parenting styles and teaches child development at UMass Lowell.
• Improving student learning – Yana Weinstein, memory and cognition expert. How can high-school and college students improve their ability to learn? What motivates them to study and why do some students “ace” tests while others underperform? Weinstein can answer these questions and discuss the connection between sleep and learning, and the pros and cons of “cramming” for a big exam. She teaches psychology in UMass Lowell’s College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.

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.