Story and Source Ideas for Journalists
09/21/2015
This is a notice of upcoming events, photo opportunities and story ideas at UMass Lowell, compiled by the Office of University Relations, 978-934-3224. For more stories about UMass Lowell, visit www.uml.edu/pressroom. Please note that contact names below are for the media and are not for publication unless otherwise noted.
Sources of the week
UMass Lowell faculty experts are available to discuss:
- What Volkswagen needs to do to restore brand confidence after admitting to rigging emissions test on U.S. diesel-powered vehicles;
- How Pope Francis’ views on climate change could affect popular opinion on the subject as he visits the U.S. this week;
- The outlook for the fall foliage season and why some years see brighter color than others.
Contact UMass Lowell media relations if you need an expert source on any subject.
Cybersecurity Workshop Advances Civilian, Military Partnerships
Portuguese-American Author Weaves Tale of Life in a Mill Town
Venture Competitions Teach Students to be DifferenceMakers
Experts Shine Light on U.S., Iranian Nuclear Deal
UMass Lowell Downtown Event Showcases Mill City’s Diversity, Charm
Open Houses Roll Out Welcome Mat to Prospective Students
Cyber Cybersecurity Workshop Advances Civilian, Military Partnerships
When: Tuesday, Sept. 22, 8:15 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 23, 7:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
What: The two-day “Cyber Workshop 2015: A Collaborative Bridge to Cyber Supremacy” will unite researchers from higher education with military generals, law-enforcement personnel and private-sector partners to discuss advancing the country’s cybersecurity efforts. The workshop, presented by the Paul Revere Chapter of the Air Force Association and the MITRE Corp., will include presentations by Hanscom Air Force Base, Lockheed Martin, MITRE and the Tewksbury Police Department. UMass Lowell students who are working with faculty and professional mentors to conduct cybersecurity research will also participate. Members of the public interested in attending the workshop should visit www.paulrevereafa.org/afa-cyber-workshop-2015/ for more information.
Where: UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center, 50 Warren St., Lowell
Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209 or Christine_Gillette@uml.edu
PortuguesePortuguese-American Author Weaves Tale of Life in a Mill Town
When: Tuesday, Sept. 29, 5:30 p.m.
What: Author George Monteiro will reflect on his upbringing and the lives of laborers in his family from Valley Falls, R.I., during the program “Portuguese-Americans in a New England Mill Town.” The event complements the ongoing exhibit “The Lure of the Spindle: The Portuguese in Early 20th Century Lowell,” which traces the lives and impact of immigrants who worked in local textile mills more than 100 years ago. The program and the exhibit, which are both free and open to the public, are presented by UMass Lowell’s Saab-Pedroso Center for Portuguese Culture and Research in partnership with Lowell National Historical Park with support from Mass Humanities.
Where: Boott Cotton Mills Museum, Second Floor, 115 John St., Lowell
Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209 or Christine_Gillette@uml.edu
Diffmakers Venture Competitions Teach Students to be DifferenceMakers
When: Wednesday, Sept. 30, 6 to 8 p.m.
What: UMass Lowell students interested in learning how to successfully create new ventures will be introduced to the university’s DifferenceMaker Program during a launch event for this year. The program teaches entrepreneurship skills to students so they may develop ideas to solve problems in business and the community. The event kicks off three competitions that will award seed money to student teams that present the best ideas for products or services. The contests are the Creative Venture Competition, which seeks products, programs or business ventures that provide a social service; the Francis College of Engineering Competition, which invites participants to develop prototypes for electrical and mechanical devices, software applications or integrated systems; and the DCU Innovation Contest, which asks students to present ideas to improve banking activities. The competitions will sharpen students’ skills and prepare them for UMass Lowell’s annual DifferenceMaker Idea Challenge, which awards funding for winning concepts in a variety of categories, held during the spring semester.
Where: Mark and Elisia Saab Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center, Perry Atrium, North Campus, 40 University Ave., Lowell
Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209 or Christine_Gillette@uml.edu
IranExperts Shine Light on U.S., Iranian Nuclear Deal
When: Thursday, Oct. 1, 9:30 to 10:45 a.m.
What: The challenges and controversies behind the U.S. nuclear deal with Iran – and Congress’ reaction to it – will be discussed by foreign-policy and nuclear-energy experts during a forum moderated by Prof. Paula Rayman, director of UMass Lowell’s Middle East Center for Peace, Development and Culture. Panelists will include Gregory Aftandilian, an associate with the center and a former analyst with the U.S. Department of State, and UMass Lowell professors Sukesh Aghara, an authority on nuclear security, and Marco Marzo, a former director in the department of safeguards for the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Where: O’Leary Library Learning Commons, Room 222, South Campus, 61 Wilder St., Lowell
Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209 or Christine_Gillette@uml.edu
DowntownUMass Lowell Downtown Event Showcases Mill City’s Diversity, Charm
When: Thursday, Oct. 1, 4 to 8:30 p.m.
What: UMass Lowell students, faculty and staff will explore Lowell’s restaurants, shops and attractions during an event that will showcase all the city has to offer and fuel its growth as a college town. Walking tours led by representatives of Lowell National Historical Park and the Cultural Organization of Lowell (COOL) will feature landmarks important to Lowell’s growth and identity. A variety of downtown businesses will provide specials and discounts to members of the UMass Lowell community and a visit to Lowell’s Mill No. 5 – a converted mill that is home to funky shops and the Luna Theater movie house – will cap the night. Presented in partnership with the city of Lowell, the event is part of UMass Lowell Chancellor Jacquie Moloney’s First 90 Initiative (#First90), which is using the first 90 days of her administration to advance programs important to the second phase of the university’s strategic plan, “UMass Lowell 2020.”
Where: Tours start and end at UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center, 50 Warren St., Lowell. Mill No. 5 is located at 250 Jackson St., Lowell.
Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209 or Christine_Gillette@uml.edu
OpenOpen Houses Roll Out Welcome Mat to Prospective Students
When: Saturday, Oct. 3 and Sunday, Oct. 25. Exhibits and resource fair – 9 to 11:30 a.m.; academic presentations and campus tours – 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
What: Prospective freshmen, transfer and graduate students will learn about UMass Lowell’s breadth of academic programs and get a taste of its vibrant campus life during two fall open houses. Attendees and their families will meet with faculty, staff and students and tour UMass Lowell’s booming campus, which continues its stunning transformation, including 11 new buildings such as new residence halls and academic facilities. Presentations on majors and programs, exhibits and information about financial aid and educational resources will illustrate why UMass Lowell is ranked as one of the 10 fastest-growing public universities in the nation by The Chronicle of Higher Education. The university offers more than 100 undergraduate degree programs and options for graduate study that include 42 master’s and 36 doctoral degrees and dozens of certificate programs. For more, visit www.uml.edu/admissions/visit/open-house/default.aspx.
Where: Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell, 300 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Lowell
Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209 or Christine_Gillette@uml.edu