In the News
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February 17, 2026
“Good old-fashioned management, including ensuring employees’ roles and workflows are clearly defined,” remains important in the AI age, said Justin Berg, associate professor of management and organizations. “Clear goals, roles, structure to make sure that everyone’s coordinated: These things are more important when everyone is equipped with AI because they could all be going off in their own directions in a much faster way.”
Reworked -
February 17, 2026
“High glucoses during this time can lead to really large babies, higher risk of injuries for both the mom and the baby,” said endocrinologist Jennifer Wyckoff, professor of internal medicine, whose research found that gestational diabetes affects nearly 15% of pregnant women in the U.S. — but unlike other forms of diabetes, does not often result in traditional diabetes symptoms.
WEMU Radio -
February 17, 2026
“So many of the things we’re facing with biodiversity loss just feel inexorable and massive in scale, but we know how to use different materials and how to put things up in different ways to block sound. We know what to use and how to use it, we just have to get enough awareness and interest in doing it,” said Neal Carter, associate professor of environment and sustainability, whose research shows that human noise impacts bird behavior, body function and breeding success.
Earth.com -
February 16, 2026
A new law banning cell phone use in Michigan’s K-12 classrooms during instructional time “is great, but most schools are already doing that or even have more stringent rules, ” said Margaret Murray, associate professor of communication at UM-Dearborn. “What would really move the needle is a full bell-to-bell ban” in which phones are locked up during the school day, except for emergencies, or are prohibited from schools altogether, a zero-tolerance policy.
WWJ Radio -
February 16, 2026
“It might not seem like much is happening in the environment, but that layer of snow is actually providing some real big benefits to little organisms that live in the soil,” said Olivia Vought, doctoral student in ecology and evolutionary biology, on the benefits of cold and snowy winters. “They’re processing things like nitrogen, that is then really important for plants throughout the growing season. And those little microorganisms really benefit from that insulating snow layer.”
WEMU Radio -
February 16, 2026
“Removing restrictions on carbon emissions will only exacerbate climate-related disasters. If you think America has a wildfire problem now, just wait,” said Ann Jeffers, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, in response to the EPA’s decision to rescind a section of the Clean Air Act that states greenhouse gases are a threat to public health, thereby removing the legal framework that regulates emissions.
New York Metropolitan Magazine -
February 13, 2026
The U.S. produces millions of tons of hydrogen a year, but it’s expensive and requires a lot of energy. Instead, harnessing the clean fuel below the Earth’s surface requires significantly less energy than producing it, said Todd Allen, co-director of MI Hydrogen and professor of nuclear engineering and radiological sciences: “You may have some local energy used to run the drill, but the amount of zero-carbon energy you could get if there’s a lot of geologic hydrogen I think is a bigger advantage.”
Interlochen Public Radio -
February 13, 2026
“Innovation Partnerships is now ranked No. 2 nationally for startup companies launched in the latest national licensing survey,” said Kelly Sexton, associate vice president for research for innovation partnerships and economic impact. “Support from the Michigan Innovation Fund has been critical in growing our innovation ecosystem, and is one of the reasons that we are increasingly competing as a serious startup economy, not just a place where ideas begin.”
Crain's Detroit Business -
February 13, 2026
“With the bridge nearly completed, the biggest thing the president could do would be to deny staffing to the border crossing, the border patrol, and customs officials. That’s really the major thing they could do at this point,” said Jonathan Hanson, lecturer in public policy, about President Trump’s threats to block the opening of the new Gordie Howe International Bridge between Michigan and Ontario.
CBS Detroit -
February 12, 2026
Lisa Fedina, associate professor of social work, found that LGBTQ young adults face suicide-related risks two to five times higher than their counterparts and those ages 24-26 report the highest level of suicidal thoughts. “(That) challenges this idea that risk is only highest or of most concern in the late teens or early college years,” she said. “We could be missing a critical age window for prevention, and that outreach should continue to young people well into their 20s.”
WOOD Grand Rapids
