In the News
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December 6, 2019
“We’re encouraging our colleagues — the important individuals at the front of the classroom — to join existing efforts and help us create new ones. And we’re encouraging fellow deans of all disciplines to step up: make student mental health a priority for your faculty and implement programs and tactics that engage them in the essential work of helping our students succeed, despite their struggles,” co-wrote Alec D. Gallimore, dean of the College of Engineering.
Inside Higher Ed -
December 5, 2019
Research by Don Scavia, professor emeritus of environment and sustainability, shows how, in addition to farmland runoff in Ohio and southeastern Michigan, another source of nutrients — Lake Huron — is also contributing to Lake Erie’s persistent toxic cyanobacteria blooms.
Michigan Radio -
December 5, 2019
The U.S.-China trade war has caused all sorts of problems, not just because of the higher tariffs themselves, but also because of adjustments the markets have to make in response to the tariffs, said Alan Deardorff, professor of economics and public policy: “The sooner we can take off those tariffs, the better, (because) some of those adjustments won’t have to be undertaken, and we’ll be able to get back to where we were before.”
Xinhua (China) -
December 5, 2019
“The risks of triggering tipping points go up fast if we warm the planet more, meaning it might not be possible to limit warming to just 3 or 4 degrees Celsius if tipping point thresholds are crossed,” said Jonathan Overpeck, dean of the School for Environment and Sustainability, commenting on research that indicates a higher risk that “abrupt and irreversible changes” to the climate system could be triggered at smaller global temperature increases than thought just a few years ago.
Inside Climate News -
December 4, 2019
“For 50 years, the story was actively suppressed in Tulsa, and it was deliberately kept out of the white newspapers. The people who brought it up were threatened with their jobs; they were threatened with their lives,” said Scott Ellsworth, a lecturer in Afroamerican and African studies, on the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre in which a white mob attacked residents, homes and businesses in the predominantly black Greenwood neighborhood.
The Atlantic -
December 4, 2019
“Dark matter could still be WIMPs, but every day it looks a little bit less likely,” said Ben Safdi, assistant professor of physics, referring to weakly interacting massive particles that physicists have searched decades for but have come up empty-handed. Instead, the focus of the search for dark matter particles is shifting to the axion, an ultra-lightweight particle that Safdi said “is kind of the best dark matter candidate that we have at the moment.”
Quanta Magazine -
December 4, 2019
Research by Lisa Meeks, assistant professor of family medicine, and colleagues indicates that 32 percent of medical students report psychological disorders like anxiety and depression, and 18 percent experience chronic physical health problems — a 69 percent rise in these reported disabilities since 2016. “The inclusion of individuals with disabilities is an important contribution to diversity in medicine,” the researchers wrote.
Reuters -
November 27, 2019
Barry Rabe, professor of public policy, environment and political science, says the Trump administration’s lawsuit to block California’s climate change program with Quebec is surprising since that relationship has been in place for a decade: “This is like going out of your way to find something to bring against the state. … I cannot think of another president who sustained a political jihad against a specific state.”
The New York Times -
November 27, 2019
Margaret Dewar, professor emerita of urban and regional planning, said Detroit officials need to mount effective code enforcement with emphasis on the worst offenders among landlords, and find more sources of money to help low-income owners make repairs: “Much more effort is needed to stop the foreclosure of owner-occupied structures. Work is essential on stopping the flow of structures into the condition where they have to be demolished.”
Detroit Free Press -
November 27, 2019
“There are many stories about people using SNAP to buy lobster or steak. SNAP participants have it hard enough stretching their entire benefit allotment throughout all 30 days of the month. They certainly aren’t going to spend it on lobster, steak or other expensive luxury foods for a single meal when they could use the same amount of money to buy ground beef or chicken that would last a week,” said Cindy Leung, assistant professor of nutritional sciences.
Forbes
