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.
Experts on today’s news…
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Mark Stephenson on: Farm bill
Mark Stephenson, an expert on dairy policy, can talk about the dairy provisions to the proposed farm bill and its potential impact. Paul Mitchell can discuss commodity support, crop insurance and conservation programs.
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Kathleen Culver on: Time's 2018 people of the year
Kathleen Culver is an expert on ethics in journalism and is available for analysis on Time Magazine's choice of "The Guardians" for 2018's people of the year, including Maria Ressa, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, and slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Culver says, "I'm glad to see Time putting these journalists and the risks many face front and center in the national conversation. Callous claims of ‘fake news’ undercut the important role of journalism within a democracy. When people attack news media, they’re not just going after journalists. They’re coming after every citizen who needs the work so many journalists do."
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James Lattis on: Comet 46P/Wirtanen coming our way
On December 16th, a little-known comet with a mouthful of a name, 46P/Wirtanen, will make its closest approach to Earth and just be visible to the naked eye — but binoculars will help, says Jim Lattis, director of UW Space Place. The comet was named for Carl Wirtanen, a Kenosha, Wisconsin native who discovered several comets and asteroids during his surveys of the Milky Way. Lattis can share how to view the comet and why comets help us understand our solar system.
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Tony Goldberg on: Having something squirmy stuck up your nose.
Hawaiian monk seals are getting eels stuck up their noses. Wondering what that's like? UW–Madison pathobiology professor Tony Goldberg
noseknows. Goldberg once discovered a new species of tick after a specimen hitchhiked home from Africa in one of his nostrils.
