Story and Source Ideas for Journalists

10/15/2013

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 stories about UMass Lowell, visit www.uml.edu and click on “Media” at the top of the page. Please note that contact names below are for the media and are not for publication.

Sources of the week are available to discuss: 

  • The ongoing effects of the federal government shutdown and the effort to avoid a U.S. Treasury default; 
  • Today’s primary in the Fifth District race for Congress and the upcoming vote for Boston mayor.

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

UMass President’s Statewide Bus Tour Comes to UMass Lowell

When: Tuesday, Oct. 15, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

What: UMass President Robert Caret will stop at UMass Lowell as part of the president’s annual statewide bus tour. Caret will participate in a roundtable discussion on the university’s economic impact with Chancellor Marty Meehan and other members of the UMass Lowell community, along with local economic development professionals, city officials, leaders of chambers of commerce from around the region and representatives from approximately a dozen businesses in the medical device industry.

Where: Mark and Elisia Saab Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center, 40 University Ave., Lowell. Contact UMass Lowell media relations for parking information.

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

Cancer Researcher Talks about Issues that Influence his Work 

When: Wednesday, Oct. 16, noon

What: Researchers’ quest for a cancer-free society, along with the science and regulatory issues that influence that effort, will be explored by David Kriebel, UMass Lowell professor of work environment and co-director of the Lowell Center for Sustainable Production at UMass Lowell. Kriebel’s research focuses on the causes, patterns and frequency of occupational injuries, cancer and non-malignant respiratory disease. As part of that work, he has studied the effect of aerosols on the lungs. His talk, one in the Fall 2013 Seminar Series, is presented by UMass Lowell’s College of Health Sciences; College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; Work Environment Department; and the Lowell Center for Sustainable Production.

Where: 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

Entrepreneurs, Industry Leaders Learn about the Rise of Robots

When: Thursday, Oct. 17, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

What: How are robots reshaping the workplace? How are they affecting the regional economy? Entrepreneurs, emerging-technology professionals and industry leaders will explore these and related topics during robot demonstrations and a roundtable discussion at UMass Lowell’s New England Robotics Validation and Experimentation (NERVE) Center, the country’s leading robotics testing facility. Speakers are scheduled to include UMass Lowell Chancellor Marty Meehan; Computer Science Prof. Holly Yanco, the center’s director and an internationally known robotics expert; Lowell City Manager Bernie Lynch; and Pamela Goldberg, chief executive officer of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative. The event is presented by the Merrimack Valley Venture Forum, Merrimack Valley Economic Development Council, Middlesex 3 and UMass Lowell’s NERVE Center. 

Where: NERVE Center at UMass Lowell, 1001 Pawtucket  Blvd., Lowell 

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

Teach-In Examines Climate-Change Choices for Health of Planet

When: Thursday, Oct. 17, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

What: Policy-makers, activists and experts on climate science will discuss the choices that need to be made today in order to avert climate change’s potential consequences during UMass Lowell’s Climate Change Teach-In, “Too Late for What? Real Choices on a Changing Planet.” Speakers are scheduled to include activist Wen Stephenson, who helped launch the grassroots climate-change action group 350 Massachusetts; Elizabeth Sawin, co-director of Climate Interactive, which works with governments, businesses and nonprofit agencies around the world to address climate-change issues; and Jennifer Francis, co-founder of Rutgers Climate and Environmental Change Initiative. UMass Lowell students will screen short films and display research projects they created as part of the event.

Where: Cumnock Hall Auditorium, North Campus, 31 University Ave., Lowell

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

Portuguese Fado Musicians to Perform Benefit for UMass Lowell

When: Friday, Oct. 18, benefit reception, 5:30 to 7 p.m.; concert, 7 p.m.

What: The Saab-Pedroso Center for Portuguese Studies and Culture at UMass Lowell will present “Sounds of Portugal,” a night of fado music featuring singer Rodrigo Costa Félix with virtuoso guitarist Marta Pereira da Costa and special guest Nathalie Pires. Traditional Portuguese folk music, fado is marked by melancholy melodies and lyrics that describe such topics as everyday life, the sea, unrequited love and longing. Félix is a singer, composer and lyricist whose recent single “Amigo Aprendiz” was named one of the 12 best ballads of 2012 by The Atlantic Monthly. Pires has developed a national and international reputation for her stirring, soulful performances. A reception before the show will benefit the center. Tickets for the donor reception and show are $100. General admission for just the 7 p.m. performance is $30. Tickets are available at http://alumni.uml.edu/fado. The event is a presentation of the Saab-Pedroso Center for Portuguese Studies and Culture and is sponsored by the College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, the Office of University Advancement and the Center for Arts and Ideas. 

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

Boston Mayor Thomas Menino to Speak at Lunchtime Series

When: Monday, Oct. 21, 11:45 a.m.

What: A national champion for cities and Boston’s longest-serving mayor, the Honorable Thomas Menino will reflect on his multi-faceted career as part of the university’s (http://www.uml.edu/News/press-releases/2013/LunchtimeLectures2013.aspx) Lunchtime Lecture Series. Menino, who served five terms as a Boston city councilor before becoming mayor in 1993, is known for his tireless work to strengthen the fabric of the city’s diverse neighborhoods. Along with his service to Boston, he served as president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors from 2002 to 2003. After 20 years at Boston’s helm, he has decided not to run for re-election. Boston voters will elect the next mayor on Tuesday, Nov. 5. The Lunchtime Lecture Series is co-hosted by the UMass Lowell Center for Arts and Ideas and the Moses Greeley Parker Lectures with support from community partners.

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

Huge Career Fair Matches Employers with Student Job Candidates

When: Wednesday, Oct. 23, 1 to 4 p.m.

What: From IBM to iRobot, Raytheon to Radio Disney, organizations that need employees who are ready for the working world will find them at UMass Lowell’s largest career fair to date. The fair will bring more than 300 representatives of 155 employers together with more than 1,000 UMass Lowell undergraduate and graduate students who are seeking full- or part-time jobs, internships or cooperative-education opportunities. Visit the fair to interview UMass Lowell students about their career plans and talk to employers about what they are looking for from employees and how they assess the job market. The event is presented by UMass Lowell’s Career Services and Cooperative Education Center. Note: The fair is not open to the public but the media is encouraged to cover this event.

Where: Campus Recreation Center, East Campus, 100 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

Prospective Students Visit Campus on the Move during Open House

When: Sunday, Oct. 27. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Exhibits, 9 to 11:30 a.m.; campus tours, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

What: Prospective freshmen, transfer and graduate students thinking about enrolling at UMass Lowell will learn about the breadth and depth of the university’s academic programs and exciting campus life during the Fall Open House, the largest on-campus information event of the year. Attendees and their families may meet with faculty, staff and students and tour UMass Lowell’s campus, where in the past year the university has constructed six new buildings, including new residence halls and academic facilities. Exhibits, resource and financial-aid information and academic presentations will also help illustrate why PayScale.com recently rated a UMass Lowell education as providing the 10th best return on investment among the country’s public universities, based on the cost of attending and graduates’ lifetime earning potential, and why (http://www.uml.edu/News/press-releases/2013/Forbes-Best-Buy-2013.aspx) Forbes ranked UMass Lowell 10th among the nation’s Top 25 Best Value Colleges. 

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 or Christine_Gillette@uml.edu

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