Story and Source Ideas for Journalists
12/05/2016
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 Please note that contact names below are for the media and are not for publication.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 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941 and the lessons World War II can still teach;
- Coping with sadness or difficult memories during the holidays and how to help children, family and friends who may be in distress;
- What “Quitaly” – the possibility Italy will leave the European Union – would mean to international markets and the U.S. economy.
Contact UMass Lowell media relations if you need an expert source on any subject.
Middle-School Students Teach Computers to ‘Sing’
Pitch Contests Hone Students’ Entrepreneurial Skills
Free Concerts Show Depth of Talent in Music Students, Community
‘Winter Magic on the Merrimack’ Marks String Project’s 15th Anniversary
Talents of UMass Lowell Art and Design Majors on Display in Exhibit
Middle-School Students Teach Computers to ‘Sing’
When: Tuesday, Dec. 6 and Thursday, Dec. 8, 2:30 to 4:45 p.m.
What: Local middle-schoolers are teaching computers to “sing” as part of a UMass Lowell program that introduces them to the world of computer programming during after-school sessions led by university faculty and computer science and music majors. The classes on Tuesday and Thursday are part of Computer Science Education Week, during which K-12 pupils around the world will learn about the field through coursework and extracurricular activities. Through “Teach a Computer to Sing” UMass Lowell faculty and students build the computer skills of fifth-, sixth- and seventh-graders by teaching them songs and then showing them how to write programming code that instructs computers to create audio files that “sing” these songs, too. Participation is free for the middle school students thanks to a National Science Foundation grant secured by the UMass Lowell professors.
Where: Bartlett Community Partnership School, 79 Wannalancit 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
Pitch 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 during two competitions that align with their interests. The contests will provide seed money to advance the best concepts and participants may move onto the DifferenceMaker Idea Challenge, which annually awards thousands of dollars to student-run ventures such as 2013 winner Nonspec, which produces affordable, scalable prosthetic limbs. The competitions are:
- 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
Free 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:
- 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
‘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 University Choir 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
Talents of UMass Lowell Art and Design Majors on Display in Exhibit
When: Artists’ reception – Wednesday, Dec. 14, 5 to 7 p.m. Exhibit runs from Wednesday, Dec. 14 through Thursday, Dec. 22. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
What: UMass Lowell students studying for their bachelor of fine arts degrees will display their senior thesis projects during a free exhibition for the campus and community. Works have been created in a variety of media, including animation, painting, photography, graphic design and sculpture. The students – who are from Andover, Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell and Reading, will talk about what inspired their art with fellow students, family, faculty and the public during an artists’ reception that will kick off the show.
Where: University Gallery, Mahoney Hall, South Campus, 870 Broadway St., Lowell
Contacts for media: Deborah Santoro, gallery coordinator, 978-934-3491, Deborah_Santoro@uml.edu or Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu