Story and Source Ideas for Journalists
02/12/2018
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 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 Please note that contact names below are for the media and are not for publication.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:
- Research on athlete health and a view of life in the Olympic Village at the Winter Games in Pyeongchang;
- Monday’s announcement by Unilever – which owns brands including Noxema, Ben & Jerry’s and Hellmann’s – to pull its advertising from Facebook and Google if the social media sites don’t clean up what the consumer goods giant deems as questionable content;
- Valentine’s Day, the importance of celebrating non-romantic relationships and why cultivating platonic friendships can improve one’s well-being.
Contact UMass Lowell media relations if you need an expert source on any subject.
City’s Artists Mentor Students in Exhibit of Their Work
When and where: Artists’ receptions – Thursday, Feb. 15 and Saturday, Feb. 24, 4 p.m. The exhibit runs from Wednesday, Feb. 14 through Sunday, March 4. Arts League of Lowell, 307 Market St., Lowell
What: The creativity of UMass Lowell art and design majors will be on display in “Burning Minds,” an exhibit hosted by the Arts League of Lowell (ALL). Mentored by league members, the students are learning about all aspects of exhibit management and how best to promote their works, which include paintings, photographs, prints, sculptures and graphic illustrations. Participating students are from Bedford, Billerica, Dracut, Dunstable, Groton, Hamilton, Haverhill, Lawrence, Leominster, Lexington, Lowell, Lunenburg, Methuen, North Andover, Townsend, Westford and Weston, along with Hampton, N.H. The first artists’ reception will be for the UMass Lowell community and the second will be free and open to the public, as will the exhibit. ALL gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday, noon to 6 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. Members of the public who would like more information should email Jennifer_Vivier@student.uml.edu.
Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu
Innovation Hub Hosts Entrepreneur Showcase
When and where: Thursday, Feb. 15, 6 p.m. UMass Lowell Innovation Hub, 110 Canal St., Lowell
What: Entrepreneurs behind startups in the medical device, pet care, horticulture, real estate and other industries will display and discuss their products during a free event hosted by the UMass Lowell Innovation Hub and the city of Lowell. The program is one in a series of showcases organized by Mass Innovation Nights, which hosts launches and networking opportunities to promote new ventures. The iHub is a business incubator that provides resources and expertise to entrepreneurs. Its success prompted UMass Lowell to open a second location in Haverhill last year. Members of the public who would like to attend should register at http://mass.innovationnights.com/events/mass-innovation-nights-107.
Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu
‘Unveiled’ Explores Islam in a Post-Sept. 11 World – new location
When and where: Friday, Feb. 16, 5 p.m. O’Leary Library Learning Commons, Room 222, South Campus, 61 Wilder St., Lowell. NOTE – This location has been updated from previous editions.
What: Playwright, activist and actress Rohina Malik will stage “Unveiled,” her one-woman play that explores racism, love and Islam’s religious traditions in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Malik has presented the work in theaters, places of worship and other venues around the world. In March, she will receive the 2018 Lee Reynolds Award, given annually by the League of Professional Theatre Women to a recipient whose work in the field helps illuminate possibilities for social, cultural or political change. The performance, which is free and open to the public, will be followed by a discussion of the play’s themes. Members of the public who would like more information may email Wael_Kamal@uml.edu.
Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu
Portuguese-Americans’ Impact on Lowell Explored in Exhibit
When and where: Keynote remarks and exhibit opening – Tuesday, Feb. 20, 5:30 p.m. University Crossing, 220 Pawtucket St., Lowell
What: Portuguese immigrants’ pursuit of the American Dream will be celebrated in the new exhibit “Immigration from the Atlantic Islands to Lowell: Continuity and Change in the Mill City’s Portuguese Community.” Spanning many of the 20th century’s political and cultural events, the exhibit will explore the achievements of Portuguese-Americans who worked in Lowell’s textile mills, along with a second wave of immigrants who began to arrive in the 1950s to seek manufacturing and high-tech jobs. History Prof. Robert Forrant will offer keynote remarks to kick off the show, which is free and open to the public. Forrant – named a UMass Lowell Distinguished University Professor for his outstanding contributions to the university – curated the exhibit with UMass Lowell students from Lowell and Dracut, along with other faculty and staff. The exhibit, which runs through Friday, March 30, is presented by the UMass Lowell Saab Center for Portuguese Studies and is supported in part by Enterprise Bank. Members of the public who would like more information may email Natalia_Melo@uml.edu or call 978-934-5199.
Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu
Emerging Technology Event Explores the Future of Biofuels
When and where: Wednesday, Feb. 21, 6 p.m. UMass Lowell Innovation Hub, Harbor Place, Haverhill Campus, 2 Merrimack St., Haverhill
What: Hunter Mack, an expert in next-generation biofuels and a UMass Lowell professor of mechanical engineering, will lead a program that explores how the groundbreaking research conducted by the university is helping to transform the energy industry. The free event is part of the Emerging Technology Speaker Series presented by the UMass Lowell Innovation Hub in Haverhill, where entrepreneurs can grow their ventures while enjoying access to the university’s experts and resources to help guide their startups to success. The new iHub is the second for UMass Lowell, which also operates a location in Lowell. Members of the public who would like more information or wish to attend the program should email Stephanie_Guyotte@uml.edu.
Contacts for media: Stephanie Guyotte, 978-934-5560, Stephanie_Guyotte@uml.edu or Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu