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 the Office of Strategic Communication.
Experts on the news
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Julie Stamm on: FIFA's concussion protocol after Freeman incident
The head injury involving U.S. defender Nolan Freeman during the U.S.–Australia match has reignited debate over whether FIFA's concussion protocol does enough to protect players after potential brain injuries.
Dr. Stamm is a concussion researcher and certified athletic trainer whose work focuses on the long-term effects of repetitive head impacts and evidence-based approaches to athlete brain health.
She can discuss:
- Whether sideline evaluations are sufficient to identify concussions in elite soccer.
- The scientific arguments for and against temporary concussion substitutions.
- Best practices for protecting athletes while minimizing unnecessary removals from play.
- What this latest incident reveals about the ongoing challenges of concussion recognition in international soccer.
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Richard Keller on: Why Europe's Deadly Heat Waves Are About More Than Temperature
Keller is one of the world's leading scholars of the catastrophic 2003 Paris heat wave that killed approximately 15,000 people in France and an estimated 70,000 across Europe. As the author of Fatal Isolation: The Devastating Paris Heat Wave of 2003, Keller examines how culture, behavior, urban environments and public policy shape who survives climate-related disasters. His work is especially relevant as European cities once again face prolonged, dangerous temperatures.
Keller can discuss:
- Lessons from the 2003 Paris disaster that remain surprisingly relevant more than two decades later.
- How cultural habits such as keeping homes sealed during hot weather or failing to recognize personal vulnerability can increase mortality.
- What Europe and the United States can learn about preparing communities for a future in which extreme heat is becoming the norm rather than the exception.
