Story and Source Ideas for Journalists
11/28/2016
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 Please note that contact names below are for the media and are not for publication.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:
- The retail season’s strength leading to Christmas after Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday sales;
- The presidential vote recount in Wisconsin and whether it and potential recounts in Pennsylvania and Michigan could change the election’s outcome;
- The weather outlook for this winter in the Northeast and across the country.
Contact UMass Lowell media relations if you need an expert source on any subject.
Physicist to Share Effect of Major Scientific Discovery
Craft Fair Showcases Work by Women
Pitch Contests Hone Students’ Entrepreneurial Skills
WUML Benefit Concert to Rock the House for United Teen Equality Center
MSNBC, ‘Today’ Political Analyst Leads Forum on 2016 Presidential Election
Event Advances Revolutionary Ideas in Science, Technology
Free Concerts Show Depth of Talent in Music Students, Community
‘Winter Magic on the Merrimack’ Marks String Project’s 15th Anniversary
WavesPhysicist to Share Effect of Major Scientific Discovery
When: Wednesday, Nov. 30, 4 p.m.
What: Internationally respected physicist Rainer Weiss – whose research has validated Albert Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity – will present the free program “Direct Detection of Gravitational Waves: A New Field of Astronomy and Astrophysics” for the campus and public. Weiss, considered by some in the scientific community to be a leading contender for next year’s Nobel Prize in Physics, is one of the researchers who developed the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) that was the first to detect gravitational waves in space, which confirmed Einstein’s theory that gravity is felt when large objects, such as planets, distort space and time. The discovery, made just last year, has opened new avenues in astrophysics research.
Where: Ball Hall, Room 214, North Campus, 185 Riverside 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
CraftCraft 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: UMass Lowell students in all majors who are learning entrepreneurial skills through the university’s DifferenceMaker Program will pitch new ideas for products and services at three competitions. The contests will provide seed money to advance the best concepts and participants may move onto the DifferenceMaker Idea Challenge, which awards thousands of dollars to student-run ventures such as 2013 winner 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 (DCU) and UMass Lowell’s 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, held 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
RadioWUML Benefit Concert to Rock the House for United Teen Equality Center
When: Thursday, Dec. 1, 7 p.m. to midnight
What: WUML, UMass Lowell’s student-run radio station, will present its 20th annual Rock for Tots concert, this year featuring local indie rock and soul bands Bay Faction, Soft Cactus, Oldsoul and Daisy Bones. The event will benefit the United Teen Equality Center (UTEC), a nonprofit organization that works with youths from Lowell and Lawrence. Tickets may be purchased for $8 per person in advance at https://checkout.bluesnap.com/buynow/checkout?sku3324278=1&storeid=543607 or at the door for $10 per person.
Where: University Crossing, 220 Pawtucket 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
ElectionMSNBC, ‘Today’ Political Analyst Leads Forum on 2016 Presidential Election
When: Friday, Dec. 2, noon
What: MSNBC and “Today” show political analyst Steve Kornacki will lead the program “Election 2016: What the #&^! Happened?” Kornacki, a native of nearby Groton who took classes at UMass Lowell, has been providing daily, in-depth analysis of the presidential race and its outcome on NBC’s “Today” show and MSNBC, including polls by UMass Lowell’s Center for Public Opinion. At this event co-hosted by the center, Kornacki will offer his take on how the campaign played out, the outcome of the election and what the future may hold for national politics. Kornacki is the former politics editor for Salon and his work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Boston Globe and other publications.
Where: O’Leary Library Learning Commons, 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
TripathyEvent Advances Revolutionary Ideas in Science, Technology
When: Friday, Dec. 2, 2:15 to 3 p.m.
What: Researchers and scientists will share their pursuit of revolutionary advances in in plastics engineering, chemistry and nanotechnology during UMass Lowell’s annual Tripathy Memorial Symposium. UMass Lowell Chemistry Prof. Dionysios Christodouleas will present 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 including 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 the community will join UMass Lowell students, faculty and staff to perform as the University Choir, Chamber Singers and Choral Union, 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
String‘Winter Magic on the Merrimack’ Marks String Project’s 15th Anniversary
When: Thursday, Dec. 8, 7 p.m.
What: Lowell public K-12 students who are learning to play classical stringed instruments through the nationally acclaimed UMass Lowell String Project will perform “Winter Magic on the Merrimack,” a free concert celebrating the 15th anniversary of the community program. The event will include the presentation of Lifetime Arts Advocate Awards to two music educators who have had an important relationship with the initiative. The performance will include music from Tchaikovsky's “The Nutcracker” and a collaboration with the UMass Lowell University Choirs on selections from Mozart's “Coronation Mass” and Handel's “Judas Maccabeus.”
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