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.
The cicadas are on their way
A historic double brood of cicadas is expected this year in numbers not seen since Thomas Jefferson was president. Experts from UW–Madison are available for interviews about cicada biology, hatching timeline and the poetry of cicada song.
-
Patrick (PJ) Liesch on: Cicada biology
PJ Liesch is director of the UW–Madison Insect Diagnostic Lab. Liesch can discuss the emergence of periodical cicadas, cicada biology, the timing and distribution of periodical cicadas in Wisconsin and the ecological impacts of these insects. Liesch is tracking the impact of early spring weather on cicada emergence. Liesch says, “A key factor for emergence of periodical cicadas is the temperature of the soil at a depth of 8 inches. The soil temperature must reach and exceed 64.5 F, so depending on weather, we could see emergence shifted a bit earlier.”
-
William Brockliss on: Cicadas in the ancient world
William Brockliss is a classics professor in the College of Letters and Science. Brockless says the music of cicadas is embedded within the poetry of ancient Greece. In The Illiad, says Brockliss, Homer “likens the chatter of old men to the sound of cicadas.” Another early poet, Hersiod, compares a single cicada to a singer, and possibly the poet himself.
Brockliss says, “As a Greek friend of mine once put it, he knows he’s home when he hears the sound of the cicadas. While other plant and animal species contribute to the visual environment of Greece and the wider Mediterranean, cicadas are an ever-present constituent of the region’s auditory environment, at least in the summer. For this reason, ancient Greek poets were able to draw on the cicada in their creation of similes describing sounds.”
-
Daniel Young on: Cicada emergence
Daniel Young is a professor of entomology and director of the UW–Madison Insect Research Collection. Young is an expert on insect classification and natural history and teaches a course called Introductory Entomology that covers brood XIII cicada emergence.
Experts on today’s news
-
Kenneth Mayer on: Trump hush-money trial begins
Kenneth Mayer, an expert on the American presidency and a professor of political science, is available for interviews about former President Trump's hush-money trial underway in New York and what's at stake in the coming presidential election.
-
Jon Pevehouse on: Iran targets Israel in drone, missile strike
Bring a what has been called a "shadow war" into the open, Iran targeted Israel over the weeked in an airstrike with hundreds of drones and missiles. Jon Pevehouse, professor of political science and public affairs and an expert on international relations, is availalbe for interviews on the historic attack.
-
Andrew W. Stevens on: The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children is updated
The Biden Administration has updated food prescriptions and secured funding for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children for 2024. Andrew Stevens, expert on agricultural and food policy, is available for interviews about the news. Stevens says, "New updates...are set to increase flexibility in program benefits despite reducing the total amount of milk that participants can receive through the program."
-
Christy Remucal on: EPA sets first national limits on PFAS in drinking water
The Biden administration on Wednesday finalized strict limits on certain so-called “forever chemicals” in drinking water that will require utilities to reduce them to the lowest level they can be reliably measured. Officials say this will reduce exposure for 100 million people and help prevent thousands of illnesses.
"The first national standards for PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are long overdue and are critical for ensuring that people have access to safe drinking water," says Christy Remucal, an expert on PFAS.
Steph Tai, an expert on environemtnal law and food safety regulation, and Manuel Teodoro, an expert on public policy and utility management are also available to speak about the new regulations, as well as what benefits and challenges they may bring.
-
Christine Whelan on: Happiness report shows U.S. not so happy
Not feeling so happy? If you're living in the United States, you're not alone. As a nation, the U.S., dropped in the global happiness ranking from 15th to 23rd. But researchers point to striking generational divides.
People aged 60 and older in the U.S. reported high levels of well-being compared to younger people. What's behind the happiness and the not-so-happy? Christine Whelan, an expert on happiness and finding mean in life, can discuss.
"Self-comparison is the kryptonite of happiness, but it’s also human nature," Whelan says. "The World Happiness Report results are a great springboard for meaningful discussions about steps we can take to maximize thriving."
Listen to an interview with Whelan on Wisconsin Public Radio here.
-
Menzie Chinn on: High inflation rate surprise
A new report shows a surprise surge in inflation, undercutting an expected interest rate cut from the Fed. Menzie Chinn, professor in the La Follette School of Public Affairs and a fiscal and monetary policy expert, is available to discuss the news.
-
Jenny Higgins on: Arizona Supreme Court abortion ruling
The Arizona Supreme Court ruled that an abortion law on the books from 1864 — enacting a near total ban on abortion — is enforceable in the state today. Jenny Higgins, professor of obstetrics and gynecology and director of the Collaborative for Reproductive Equity at the School of Medicine and Public Health, is available for interviews about the news.
