These experts from the UW–Madison faculty and staff have agreed to comment on breaking news, ongoing developments and trends in their areas of expertise. If you need help arranging interviews, email University Communications.
Tech and society New policies governing AI
As the 2024 election campaigns ramp up, Wisconsin has a new law requiring that political ads and other campaign materials disclose the use of AI-generated audio and video.
Wisconsin's law joins new policies governing the use of AI in other states and outside of the U.S. UW–Madison experts are available to speak to media about several angles of this story.
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Young Mie Kim on: AI and campaign integrity
Young Mie Kim is an expert in political advertising and disinformation who is available for interviews about Wisconsin's new law mandating the disclosure of generative AI use in political ads.
Wisconsin's new law "will not only reinforce the integrity of election campaigns but also empower voters to make informed decisions," says Kim. "I hope this serves as a beacon for the Federal Election Commission and Congress to establish robust frameworks of AI regulations to safeguard elections."
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Dietram Scheufele on: AI regulatory landscape
Dietram Scheufele, an expert on misinformation, science and technology and AI, is available for interviews about the policy and regulatory aspects of generative AI and deepfakes.
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Lewis Friedland on: AI's effect on civil society
Lewis Friedland is an expert on the role of civil society in democracy and can speak to not only how AI generated content in political ads may influence our social relationships and divisions, but also how they may influence our politics.
Experts on today’s news
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Lori Lopez on: Alum makes history as first Asian American 'Bachelorette'
After 21 years and a whole lot of roses, the first Asian American has been cast as "The Bachelorette." Better yet, she's a UW–Madison alum.
Jenn Tran, who is Vietnamese American, graduated in 2020 with a bachelor of science in molecular biology.
“I feel so, so grateful and honored,” Tran said during Monday’s “Bachelor” finale. “Growing up I’ve always wanted to see Asian representation on TV, and I feel like it was really sparse. Any time Asians were in the media it was to fill supporting-character roles, to fill some sort of stereotype, and I always felt boxed in by that.”
Tran appeared on season 28 of "The Bachelor" and will look for love on "The Bachelorette" this summer.
Lori Lopez, director of the Asian American Studies program, can discuss the importance of representation in media.
"'The Bachelor' franchise has definitely had a tumultuous relationship with race over the years, but this is an important opportunity to get to know an Asian American lead and focus specifically on the twists and turns of her journey to finding love," Lopez says.
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Keith Poulsen on: Avian flu in dairy cows
Yesterday, the USDA announced that a highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza has been detected in dairy herds in Texas and Kansas. Keith Poulsen, an expert in zoonotic disease and director of the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, can discuss the disease, how it is spreading and what Wisconsinites should look out for in their herds. He highlights that the disease is not spreading from cow to cow and pasteurized dairy products are not impacted.
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Jason Lopez on: Shohei Ohtani and sports gambling
Dodgers mega-star Shohei Ohtani is in the spotlight after his longtime interpreter made news for engaging in illegal sports gambling and embezzling from Ohtani's account to feed a gambling addiction. Jason Lopez, an assistant professor in the Department of Communication Arts and sports gambling expert is available for interviews about the developing story. Lopez can discuss:
- Why sports leagues have an ambivalent relationship to gambling.
- Why sports leagues enforce anti-gambling policies on their players
- How sports leagues construct a notion of fairness through anti-gambling policy.
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Sarah Endicott on: Mental health of older adults
Suicide rates among older adults are on the rise, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. So why isn't it talked about more? Stigma regarding mental health and ageism play a part but there's also health problems that often come with aging, explains Dr. Sarah Endicott, a clinical professor in the School of Nursing with a focus on geriatric psychology.
"You have somebody coming in who has congestive heart failure and diabetes and arthritis and maybe cancer. They're also depressed and you have 20 minutes to spend with them," Endicott said in an interview with the Green Bay Press-Gazette. "Well, in that 20 minutes, you're going to focus on the diabetes and the congestive heart failure."
Endicott can discuss ways to be supportive and the importance of paying attention to mental health at any age.
"It's about more people being proactive, being direct, showing up more, not being afraid to say, 'I'm worried about you,' and being a good listener," Endicott said. "You don't have to be a mental health professional to really help people just by listening well."
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James Lattis on: April 8 total solar eclipse
A total solar eclipse will cross over North America on April 8. Viewers in cities like Little Rock, Dallas and Buffalo will have the opportunity to experience the totality zone as the eclipse makes its way across the country. Jim Lattis, director of UW Space Place, is available for interviews about the eclipse and what viewers can expect.
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Laura Albert on: March Madness and bracketology
Laura Albert, an expert on sports analytics and bracketology, can comment on the probabilites and math involved in NCAA basketball March Madness.
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Dixon Kaufman on: Pig kidney transplanted into human
For the first time, a genetically edited pig kidney has been transplanted into a human. Dixon Kaufman, a kidney transplant and xenotransplant (animal organ to human transplant) expert is available for interviews on the milestone.
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Max Besbris on: Realtors association settlement
The standard commission for buying or selling a home has been dismantled, after a striking settlement between the National Association of Realtors and groups of homeowners. Max Besbris, an expert on the housing market, is available for interviews about the settlement and what its potential impact.
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Sara McKinnon on: The Darien Gap
The issue of illegal immigration has drawn attention to the Darien Gap, a dangerous jungle passage that cuts through parts of Central and South America. The passage is a route increasingly used for people seeking asylum in the United States. Sara McKinnon is a professor of Rhetoric, Politics and Culture and an expert on human migration in South and Central America. McKinnon is available for interviews in English or Spanish on the Darien Gap. She recently wrote abut the topic for The Conversation.
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Laura Jull on: Updated plant hardiness zones
For the first time since 2012, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has updated its plant hardiness maps. Several areas in Wisconsin have been assigned new planting zones which could change the road map for the state's growing season. Laura Jull, associate professor and extension specialist of plant and agroecosystem sciences, is available for interviews about the shift and what it could mean for gardeners.