The Virginia Tech media relations office has the following experts available for interviews this week surrounding issues in the news. To schedule an interview, please contact mediarelations@vt.edu.

Why we love March Madness so much

Every year, Americans fill out tens of millions of brackets and bet billions of dollars on a single college basketball tournament. Why does March Madness create so much excitement? Aside from the thrilling format of 67 straight single-elimination games, the tournament holds one distinct advantage over professional sports — the often generational ties to our alma maters. Assistant professor of practice for sports media and analytics Anthony Amey says these ties, combined with the rise in sports betting and our society’s undying love of the next “Cinderella” team, create the unique recipe for the most thrilling sporting event in America.

How women’s college basketball has leveled the March Madness playing field

March Madness is big business, but it’s not just the men’s NCAA basketball tournament that’s booming these days. With a new TV contract, an influx of name, image, and likeness (NIL) money, ascending stars, and bettors spending 14 times more money than last year, the women’s tournament is closing the gap. Associate professor of economics Jadrian Wooten says these factors are conspiring to form a “virtuous cycle,” in which increased investment and interest in the sport feed into each other to drive continued growth. More here.

What the House TikTok ban bill means for users, social media

Last week, the House of Representatives passed a bill that could lead to a nationwide ban of the popular social media app TikTok. It now moves to the Senate, and President Biden has said he will sign the bill. TikTok is owned by Chinese company ByteDance, which some lawmakers say makes it a potential national security threat, due to its surveillance capabilities. Professor of public relations Cayce Myers says that “targeting a specific company like this is unusual, but it may signal a new approach to social media regulation.” More here.

Economics of birth control

The need for a birth control prescription has historically acted as a deterrent for many young women. These barriers, which include both direct costs like the price of the medication and indirect costs like lost wages due to doctor’s appointments, have been substantial obstacles to contraceptive adoption. Opill will soon be accessible without the need for prescriptions or healthcare consultations, but its importance is about more than convenience. Virginia Tech economist Jadrian Wooten explains how by removing these hurdles, Opill will significantly lower the economic barriers to birth control. Read more in his weekly blog, Monday Morning Economist.

Third party candidate could create problems for Biden and Trump

Political experts say Robert F. Kennedy Jr. running as a third party candidate could pose problems for both major party candidates in the general election. He is expected to announce his running mate any day now. New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers and former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura are among the names being bandied about. Virginia Tech political expert Karen Hult says vice presidential candidates typically make little difference in presidential elections, but they might have a small effect this cycle due to the closeness of the race in some states. Hult is available this week to discuss these headlines as well as others as they pertain to the presidential race.

The need for women in STEM is greater than ever, says expert

Women make up only 35% of the workforce in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) — with the greatest disparities occurring in engineering and computer sciences. Christina DiMarino, an engineering professor at Virginia Tech, said now is the time to flip the script and explained why it is so important that education for women and underrepresented groups about STEM fields starts early in life. More here.

Podcast: Misconceptions about air pollution

Gabriel Isaacman-VanWertz joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about air pollution and its misconceptions. He shared his insights related to how plant and human emissions interact and what that means for our shared environment, as well as how he got into this field of study and his hope for the future.

Isaacman-VanWertz is an associate professor in civil and environmental engineering in the College of Engineering and an affiliate faculty member of the Global Change Center. He is currently researching air quality in Ecuador with a focus on the impact of climate change on the Amazon rainforest and its feedback on the atmosphere.

Research Highlights

Americans show paradoxical behavior when it comes to their diets, Virginia Tech study reveals

While a majority of Americans acknowledge the health and environmental benefits of eating more plant-rich diets, only about a quarter are willing to adopt them. That’s just one of the key findings of a recent study by researchers in the Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise at Virginia Tech’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The results, published in the journal Nutrients, revealed that Americans’ beliefs about the value of eating more plants for health and environmental reasons are often at odds with their dietary choices. More here.

How better detection of underground obstacles could save lives during violent storms

Nearly 12 years ago, the derecho that swept through Southwest Virginia and elsewhere killed 12 people and left more than 4 million without power across seven states. More communities could avoid blackouts during violent weather events if their power lines were buried, but burying power lines carries potential dangers and delays, as crews often risk striking existing power, gas, or water lines while drilling. A team led by Joe Vantassel, an assistant professor in the Charles E. Via Jr. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, was selected to receive a $2.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to test safer, more efficient ways of burying power lines. Vantassel’s plan consists of putting sensors on the drill head and at the ground surface, which combined with AI predictive technology could provide the equivalent of an X-ray or MRI to the drilling crew, letting them “see” what lies ahead. More here.

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