October Sources of the Month

10/04/2016

Print, radio and TV journalists looking for sources will find engaging authorities on a variety of topics in UMass Lowell’s world-class faculty, researchers and scholars. Experts are available in person, by phone or email to discuss current events, 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:

• Stress-free Halloween – Doreen Arcus, expert on children and families. Children getting ready to go trick-or-treating can get overwhelmed by costume choices and become stressed about events with friends. Arcus can discuss how parents can make Halloween a good experience for all kids, especially those with autism other special needs. She teaches psychology in the College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.
• Breast cancer treatment – Prakash Rai, researcher. Rai is an expert in theranostics, a cutting-edge field in which doctors tailor individualized treatment regimens for patients. He is an authority on the biology of breast cancer and is researching new drug protocols and delivery systems to fight the disease. As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month coverage, he can talk about how nanotechnology is used to target cancer-fighting drugs specifically to diseased cells in order to minimize damage to healthy tissue and reduce side-effects in patients. He teaches in UMass Lowell’s Francis College of Engineering.
• Charter schools – James Nehring, education expert. Massachusetts voters will consider a proposal on the Nov. 8 ballot to expand the cap on the number of charter schools in the state. Nehring can speak on this issue as an authority on learning environments, teacher training, curriculum development and the organization of school systems. Before his career in higher education, he served for 25 years as a public school teacher and principal, and led the startups of three high schools. He teaches educational leadership in UMass Lowell’s Graduate School of Education.
• U.S. Supreme Court – Patricia Sullivan Talty, legal expert. The fall term of the country’s highest court begins on Oct. 3. An authority on constitutional law, Talty can talk about the significance of upcoming cases, including those that center on issues such as voting rights, search and seizure, and the scope of what’s considered insider trading. She can also offer insight into how the outcome of the presidential election may shift the court’s ideology in the years to come. She is a faculty member in UMass Lowell’s Political Science Department who is also a practicing attorney.

For a complete list of UMass Lowell experts by topic, see www.uml.edu/experts and click on that category on the left-hand side of the screen. 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.