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.
Back-to-school experts available
With August days ticking down to September, experts from UW–Madison are available to discuss back-to-school transitions for students, teachers, and parents.
-
Travis Wright on: Teaching through trauma
Travis Wright is an associate professor in the Department of Counseling Psychology and faculty director of the Morgridge Center for Public Service. As the new school year gets underway against a backdrop of lingering pandemic concerns and the threat of gun violence, Wright is available to discuss how teachers and schools can respond in times of trauma and stress.
-
Beth Olson on: Healthy eating for families
Beth Olson, associate professor and extension specialist in the UW–Madison Department of Nutritional Sciences, can offer advice about how to shop for and eat healthy food even when life is busy and the cost of food is rising.
-
Heather Kirkorian on: Managing screen time
Heather Kirkorian, an expert on the impact of screen media on young children and an associate professor of human development and family studies, is available for interviews about how parents and caregivers can evaluate how much screen time is appropriate for children with the approach of a new school year and the demands of homework and extra-curricular activities.
Experts on today’s news
-
Richard Keller on: New data shows dangerous heatwaves will increase by midcentury
New data from the nonprofit First Street Foundation finds dangerous heatwaves will intensify and affect more people by midcentury. The data allows residents to search by zip code for their property's risk of damage due to intense heat. In Dane County, the number of days with dangerous heat is expected to increase from 6 to 13 by 2053. Rick Keller, an expert on climate change and its health consequences at the School of Medicine and Public Health, is available for interviews on the new data and what the bigger trend could mean.
-
Ajay Sethi on: U.K. approves new Moderna COVID-19 booster
Ajay Sethi, a professor of population health sciences at the School of Medicine and Public Health, is available to discuss Moderna's new Omicron-specific booster, just approved in the U.K.
"Many people are not up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccinations," says Sethi. "Omicron-specific boosters will soon be available in the U.S., too, to help protect at-risk Americans from severe COVID-19 illness or worse."
-
James Conway on: Polio virus found in NYC wastewater
James Conway is medical director of the UW Health Immunization Program, and professor of pediatrics and infectious disease specialist at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health. He is available for interviews about the detection of the polio virus in New York City wastewater.
-
Paul Wilson on: Nuclear plant at risk in Ukraine
Paul Wilson is a nuclear engineer and chair of the Engineering Physics department. A Russian-occupied nuclear power plant in Ukraine has reached a "grave hour," according to a UN watchdog. Wilson can comment on the plant's safety and what's at stake.
“It’s critically important that a safe zone free of military activity be created around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant," says Wilson.
-
James Lattis on: Saturn looms large
James Lattis, an expert on observational astronomy and astronomy education, can discuss the upcoming opportunity to view of Saturn at its closest position to earth this year.
-
Steven Deller on: Inflation and recession or growth and improvement?
Steven Deller is a professor of agriculture and applied economics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Deller is available now for interviews to discuss the latest economic indicators and what they say about the health and direction of the economy.
-
Jonathan Temte on: Monkeypox
Jonathan Temte, an expert on epidemiology and management of viral outbreaks, can discuss the spread of the monkeypox virus, how it is transmitted and how to manage infection risk. Gay and bisexual men remain at greatest risk. "It is most common right now in the gay community, in men who have sex with men, simply because this is where things emerged," Temte says.
Ajay Sethi, an expert on infectious disease epidemiology, can also talk about the virus and how it's spread, as well as how to navigate discussions about risk. "At this time, gay men represent most of the people who have experienced monkeypox infection, and the virus has been spreading through intimate or sexual contact. ... However, anyone — regardless of their sexual identity and even younger children — can become infected following prolonged skin-to-skin contact with someone who has monkeypox infection or by sharing clothing or bedding with someone with monkeypox infection. The virus can also spread through respiratory secretions, so it can be spread between people during prolonged face-to-face contact or when sharing drinks or utensils. The virus can cross the placenta in pregnant people."
