News from UMass Lowell for Week of Nov. 21, 2016

11/21/2016

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. In case of inclement weather, call UMass Lowell’s weather hotline at 978-934-2121; if the university is closed, events are canceled. For more about UMass Lowell, visit www.uml.edu/pressroom. Please note that contact names below are for the media and are not for publication.

Sources of the week
UMass Lowell faculty experts are available to discuss:

• How to handle politics and other potentially controversial subjects that may arise during Thanksgiving conversations with family and friends;
• Whether Black Friday can regain its footing as the busiest shopping day of the year and what Small Business Saturday means to independent proprietors;
• What parents need to consider about their children changing schools, as the Trump family has opted to keep their son Barron, 10, in school in New York.

Contact UMass Lowell media relations if you need an expert source on any subject.

Craft Fair Showcases Work by Women
Pitch Contests Hone Students’ Entrepreneurial Skills
Revolutionary Advances in Science, Technology Pursued by Researchers
Free Concerts Show Depth of Talent in Music Students, Community

WomenCraft Fair Showcases Work by Women

When: Thursday, Dec. 1, 3 to 7 p.m.

What: Women entrepreneurs who are UMass Lowell graduates, faculty, staff and friends of the university will offer their handmade products for sale during the Women’s Works Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair. The event, which is free and open to the public, is filled with jewelry, knitted items, food, paintings and other goods, along with musical performances, an art show and a silent auction. The event is presented by the UMass Lowell Center for Women and Work, which researches and seeks remedies for gender inequalities in the workplace.

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 or Christine_Gillette@uml.edu


PitchPitch Contests Hone Students’ Entrepreneurial Skills

What: New ideas for products and services will be pitched by students in all majors who are learning to think like entrepreneurs through UMass Lowell’s DifferenceMaker Program at three contests that will provide seed money to advance the best concepts. Participants may move onto the DifferenceMaker Idea Challenge, which awards thousands of dollars in prizes to launch student-run ventures including Nonspec, which produces affordable, scalable prosthetic limbs. The competitions are:

• The DCU/MSB Innovation Contest – Concepts to improve the banking and financial industries will be pitched at this event, presented by Digital Federal Credit Union and the UMass Lowell Manning School of Business. Thursday, Dec. 1, 6 to 9 p.m., Mark and Elisia Saab Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center, North Campus, 40 University Ave., Lowell.
• Francis College of Engineering Prototyping Contest – Prototypes for new mechanical and electrical devices, systems and software will be pitched. Wednesday, Dec. 7, 4:30 to 9 p.m., Mark and Elisia Saab Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center, North Campus, 40 University Ave., Lowell.
• Creative Venture Competition – Ideas for new programs, products and services in the arts and nonprofit sectors will be featured during this event presented by the College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. Thursday, Dec. 8, 6 to 9 p.m., O’Leary Library Learning Commons, Room 222, South Campus, 61 Wilder St., Lowell

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


TripathyRevolutionary Advances in Science, Technology Pursued by Researchers

When: Friday, Dec. 2, 2:15 to 3 p.m.

What: Revolutionary advances in in plastics engineering, chemistry and nanotechnology will be pursued by leading researchers and scientists during UMass Lowell’s annual Tripathy Memorial Symposium. UMass Lowell Chemistry Prof. Dionysios Christodouleas will share his work fabricating paper-like materials that can be used for new applications and devices. Two UMass Lowell students – Zarif Farhana Mohd Aris of Arlington and Olga Kononova of Lowell – will be recognized as the event’s 2016 fellowship recipients during the daylong program.

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 or Christine_Gillette@uml.edu


ConcertsFree Concerts Show Depth of Talent in Music Students, Community

What: Free concerts in a variety of musical genres that showcase the talents of UMass Lowell students and community members will be presented for the public and campus. Performances include:

• UMass Lowell Opera Workshop – Selections from the repertoire of legendary American composers Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein will be performed under the direction of music faculty member Janice Giampa. Saturday, Dec. 3, 8 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 4, 3 p.m.
• Hawkapella – UMass Lowell’s all-male, a cappella group – which recently qualified to compete in the 2017 Varsity Vocals international collegiate a cappella championship and is recording a new CD – will present its winter concert. Sunday, Dec. 4, 7 p.m.
• Concert Band – Music faculty member Blair Bettencourt will conduct a program to include selections from the musical “Carousel,” Gustav Holst’s “Second Suite in F” and “Choral and Shaker Dance” by American composer John Zdechlik. Monday, Dec. 5, 8 p.m.
• University Choirs – Vocalists from throughout the community will join UMass Lowell students, faculty and staff to perform as the University Choir, Chamber Singers and Choral Union, as accompanied by the University Orchestra and conducted by Brian O’Connell, director of university choirs. Wednesday, Dec. 7, 8 p.m.
• World Music and Mixed Chamber ensembles – Latin rhythms and exotic melodies will dominate a performance conducted by music faculty member Charles Gabriel. Friday, Dec. 9, 8 p.m.

Where: Durgin Hall, South Campus, 35 Wilder St., Lowell

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