Story and Source Ideas for Journalists
01/16/2018
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. In case of inclement weather, call UMass Lowell’s weather hotline at 978-934-2121; if the university is closed, events are canceled. For more news about UMass Lowell, visit www.uml.edu/pressroom. Please note that contact names below are for the media and are not for publication.
Sources of the week
UMass Lowell faculty experts are available to discuss:
- A first-person account of what it was like in Hawaii on Saturday when an emergency warning of an incoming ballistic missile – a false alarm that was not called back for more than 30 minutes – was broadcast to more than a million residents and vacationers;
- The latest from the UMass Lowell Weather Center on tomorrow’s anticipated snowstorm, part of a band of storms bringing winter conditions across the U.S. from New England to the deep South, and the factors that are contributing to this pattern;
- Plans for the second annual Women’s March on Saturday, Jan. 20, including a look back at the cultural shifts the grassroots movement fueled over the last year and what lies ahead to accomplish;
- The death of The Cranberries’ frontwoman Dolores O’Riordan and the influence and place in pop music of the band, which rose to international fame in the 1990s and built a loyal following with hits like “Linger.”
Contact UMass Lowell media relations if you need an expert source on any subject.
Event Explores Work of Mystery and Detective Fiction Writers
When and where: Wednesday, Jan. 17, 10 a.m. Weekly programs are held each Wednesday through Feb. 21. University Suites, Room 106A, 327 Aiken St., Lowell
What: UMass Lowell’s Learning In Retirement Association, which offers enrichment classes and activities for adults, will present a program on authors of mystery and detective fiction led by UMass Lowell English Prof. Melissa Pennell, an expert on the subject. Once dominated by British and American authors, the genre is gaining in popularity with Canadian writers and audiences; Pennell’s presentation will explore some of the country’s best-sellers. More than 200 members strong, LIRA presents programs that include visits to museums, discussions about classic and contemporary literature and explorations of local, U.S. and world history. Upcoming classes will feature UMass Lowell faculty presenting on research into potential causes of autism and philosophical theories about the meaning of life. Members of the public who would like more information on how to join may visit http://uml.edu/Community/LIRA.
Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu
Innovation Night Showcases New Products, Haverhill iHub
When and where: Thursday, Jan. 18, 6 p.m. (postponed from Wednesday, Jan. 17) UMass Lowell Innovation Hub, Harbor Place, 2 Merrimack St., Haverhill
What: Entrepreneurs who have developed groundbreaking products in the apparel, food, gaming, renewable energy and safety equipment industries will showcase their work at an open house at UMass Lowell’s new Innovation Hub at the university’s Haverhill satellite campus. The free event is organized by Mass Innovation Nights, which hosts product launches and networking opportunities to promote new ventures. The iHub Haverhill, a business incubator that provides resources and expertise to entrepreneurs and startups, is the second for UMass Lowell, which also operates a location in downtown Lowell. Members of the public who would like more information should email Stephanie_Guyotte@uml.edu. NOTE: This event was postponed from Wednesday, Jan. 17.
Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu.
Vietnamese Festival Celebrates Lunar New Year
When and where: Sunday, Jan. 28, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center, 50 Warren St., Lowell
What: The Lunar New Year – one of the most important events in Vietnamese culture – will be celebrated at a free festival for the public that showcases holiday traditions including games, music and live performances. The program ushers in the Year of the Rooster and is presented by UMass Lowell’s Vietnamese Student Association in partnership with Lowell’s Vietnamese community. Members of the public who would like more information should email Henry_Zhang@student.uml.edu.
Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu
MLK Event Honors Campus, Community Leaders for Their Service
When and where: Tuesday, Jan. 30, 5:30 p.m. University Crossing, 220 Pawtucket St., Lowell
What: UMass Lowell will recognize members of the public and university community who exemplify the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s commitment to social justice with Distinguished Service Awards at the MLK Celebration Dinner, held each year at the start of the spring semester. The theme for the program is “Dignity, Worth, Excellence: What’s your life’s blueprint?,” a question posed by King in a speech he delivered at a junior high school in Philadelphia in 1967, six months before he was assassinated. Artwork and essays by Lowell public schoolchildren that illustrate this theme will also be honored during the free event, which is organized by the UMass Lowell Office of Multicultural Affairs. Members of the public interested in attending the program should RSVP by Tuesday, Jan. 23 to multicultural_affairs@uml.edu.
Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu