Story and Source Ideas for Journalists
04/11/2017
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. For more news 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 Please note that contact names below are for the media and are not for publication.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 tensions in the wake of the U.S. missile strike in Syria between the two nations, the president and Congress, and the Trump administration and Syria’s ally, Russia, where Secretary of State Rex Tillerson arrives today;
- National Robotics Week and advances in robots that will change how businesses operate in the future;
- Earth Day and the future of renewable energy in the face of President Trump’s efforts to roll back environmental programs and policies.
Contact UMass Lowell media relations if you need an expert source on any subject.
Robots Changing the Face of Research, Industry Featured at Open House
Veteran Journalist Dan Rea to Present ‘Media, Politics and the Law’
Event Opens Door for Next Generation of Teachers
Genealogist to Provide Guide to Researching Irish Family Roots
Competition, Showcase Honor Student Research, Community Work
Health Physicist Returns to Alma Mater to Talk About Career Path
Former U.S. Ambassador, Hockey Coach Among Alumni Award Winners
‘Invitation 2 Innovation’ Taps into Creativity of Students and the Public
RobotsRobots Changing the Face of Research, Industry Featured at Open House
When: Tuesday, April 11, 6 to 8 p.m.
What: Robots that are contributing to cutting-edge research and transforming the workplace will be showcased at an open house for the public at the New England Robotics Validation and Experimentation (NERVE) Center at UMass Lowell to mark National Robotics Week. Attendees will watch as “Valkyrie” – NASA’s 300-pound humanoid robot – demonstrates its latest capabilities. Researchers at NERVE are continuing their work to expand the robot’s skills for use in future NASA missions that could include Mars. ChartaCloud’s “Sanbot” will also display its ability to serve in the hospitality and retail sectors. One of the nation’s most advanced robotics-testing facilities, NERVE evaluates robots’ performance through a variety of means, including obstacle courses.
Where: NERVE Center, 1001 Pawtucket Blvd., Lowell
Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu
ReaVeteran Journalist Dan Rea to Present ‘Media, Politics and the Law’
When: Wednesday, April 12, 11:45 a.m.
What: Dan Rea, host of WBZ NewsRadio’s “NightSide,” will present “Media, Politics and the Law,” the latest in UMass Lowell’s Lunchtime Lecture Series, which will examine journalism’s role in society. Rea will share experiences from his 30-year career in TV and radio, as well as his work as a lawyer, which include a years-long effort to exonerate a Boston man wrongfully convicted for a 1965 murder. The free event is presented by UMass Lowell in partnership with the Moses Greeley Parker Lectures with support from community partners. Members of the public who would like to attend should RSVP before April 12 by calling 978-934-5467.
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, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu
EducationEvent Opens Door for Next Generation of Teachers
When: Wednesday, April 12, 4 p.m.
What: Members of the public interested in pursuing careers in education – whether as teachers, principals, superintendents or in higher education – will find valuable information about how they can achieve their goals through a graduate degree at an open house hosted by UMass Lowell’s School of Education. Eighty percent of graduates are working in school districts across the state.
Where: O’Leary Library Learning Commons, Room 517, South Campus, 61 Wilder St., Lowell
Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu
IrishGenealogist to Provide Guide to Researching Irish Family Roots
When: Wednesday, April 12, 5:30 p.m.
What: Internationally recognized genealogist Michael Brophy will show participants how to locate vital records and immigration documentation in order to identify their Irish ancestors at a free event offered by the UMass Lowell Center for Irish Partnerships, which works to deepen understanding between the American and Irish people through programs for the campus and community, joint research including archaeological digs in Lowell and Northern Ireland with international partners and faculty and student exchanges.
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, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu
SymposiumCompetition, Showcase Honor Student Research, Community Work
When: Tuesday, April 18. Pitch contest, noon to 2 p.m.
What: Research projects designed to counter the recruitment methods of terrorists, to build a photo archive of the history of Asian Americans in Lowell and to study the behaviors of gorillas will be among the more than 100 presentations at the 20th annual Student Community Engagement and Research Symposium. The event provides a venue for undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students in all fields to display their work, including the results of internships and co-ops, for their peers, faculty and guests. This year, the event includes a pitch contest where participants will vie for awards before a panel of expert judges.
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, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu
DoseHealth Physicist Returns to Alma Mater to Talk About Career Path
When: Wednesday, April 19, 4 p.m.
What: Health physicist Elizabeth Brackett, a 1984 graduate of UMass Lowell, will lead a free program in the university’s Alumni Leadership Series that focuses on her work and career choices. Brackett – who earned a master’s degree in radiological sciences and protection at UMass Lowell – evaluates the safe use and dosing of radiation for health-care applications as an internal dosimetrist with MJW Corp. The event series brings outstanding graduates back to campus to talk about their path to career success. Members of the public who would like to attend should register in advance by calling 978-934-3140.
Where: Alumni Hall, North Campus, 84 University Ave., Lowell
Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu
AlumniFormer U.S. Ambassador, Hockey Coach Among Alumni Award Winners
When: Thursday, April 20, 5:30 p.m.
What: James Costos, a Lowell native who went on to serve as U.S. ambassador to Spain and Andorra, and Head Coach Norm Bazin, who has turned UMass Lowell’s ice hockey team into a Division I powerhouse, are among eight distinguished UMass Lowell graduates who will receive this year’s University Alumni Awards. The honorees are selected from graduates of each of UMass Lowell’s six schools and colleges, as well as the university’s athletics program. One recent graduate who is already having a positive impact in the community will also be recognized. Proceeds from the event support UMass Lowell student scholarships.
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, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu
Innovation‘Invitation 2 Innovation’ Taps into Creativity of Students and the Public
When: Friday, April 28, noon to 5 p.m.
What: UMass Lowell will present its first “Invitation 2 Innovation,” a free event for the public and school groups that will highlight the intersection of creativity and industry, where students apply classroom and hands-on learning to develop products, prototypes and projects, including a race car. Attendees can participate in the fun by competing in a Tinker Toy contest that will challenge them to build a variety of items. The event spotlights the work of students in UMass Lowell’s Francis College of Engineering, Kennedy College of Sciences and College of Health Sciences.
Where: Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell, 300 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Lowell
Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu