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.

Solar eclipse - weather, science, safety, and pet reactions

Assuming the weather permits, communities across the country and in Southwest Virginia will have a spectacular view of the April 8 solar eclipse. Meteorology expert Stephanie Zick can discuss the weather outlook and how it could affect eclipse viewing. Neuroscientist Kristofer Rau has many tips for how to view the eclipse safely. Veterinarian Mark Freeman explains how our companion animals may or may not react to the unexpected darkness, and what human owners can do to help anxious pets cope. Read more here.

Protesters return to the streets in Israel

After six months of war with Hamas, protests against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have resumed in Israel’s streets, fueled by accusations that Netanyahu is deliberately stalling the negotiations to release 130 Israeli hostages. Global security experts Joel Peters and Ariel Ahram with the School of Public and International Affairs are following the latest Israel-Hamas developments and can provide context and analysis.

Structural changes needed to keep bridge disasters from happening, says expert

As work continues to clear debris after last week’s bridge collapse in Baltimore, experts are weighing in on what needs to be done to keep disasters like this from happening again. Virginia Tech structural engineering expert Roberto Leon said while it is unlikely that even a well-designed protection system could have prevented serious damage to the structure due to the enormous momentum of the ship, it is imperative that design codes are updated worldwide. “Container ships have become so massive, our infrastructure is poorly maintained, and seldom upgraded to current codes,” said Leon. “Our intertwined economies have significant and unrecognized critical nodes that need to be hardened.”  

Supply chain disruption could impact automotive, coal industries

While crews work to restore access to the Port of Baltimore, disruptions to the supply chain could have local, regional, and even global impacts for a couple industries in particular. The automobile and coal industries will be the most impacted, as Baltimore is a large importer of autos and parts, and a large exporter of coal. While there may be short-term delays for the automobile industry, there could be longer, further-ranging impacts for coal, as “the ports in Norfolk and Hampton Roads are also used for coal, and will probably see the greatest increase in traffic,” said Virginia Tech supply chain expert Andy Arnette. Also, while Baltimore’s inaccessibility alone may not have major global impacts, “if there are other disruptions in supply chains (such as we have seen in the Red Sea recently), then the closure at Baltimore could be a compounding factor at that point in time,” said Arnette.

Traffic fallout throughout region from bridge collapse

Losing a main thoroughfare and one of the only crossings over the Patapsco River will have major regional transportation impacts. Ralph Buehler, an associate professor of urban affairs and planning at Virginia Tech in the D.C. metro area, says that “the regional transport system does not have a lot of redundancy when it comes to passenger transport.” He expects increased traffic on I-95 and I-895 through Baltimore, and encourages those able to avoid rush hour or driving at all to use other modes of transit or work from home. Ultimately, though, he says “we need a transport system with more options to be more resilient to disruptions.”

March Madness - a different kind of Cinderella story

It may not fit the classic profile of a March Madness Cinderella story, but North Carolina State’s unexpected run to the Final Four is still the kind of surprise that makes the tournament so compelling. Despite being a major conference program with a rich basketball history, the Woflpack’s compelling storylines — from getting their coach off the hot seat, to their two “DJ’s” setting the tempo — make them a compelling underdog story nonetheless. Virginia Tech sports media and analytics expert Anthony Amey can speak to whether NC State can win it all as the most thrilling sporting event in America enters its final week.

Podcast: America’s history of food waste

Anna Zeide joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the history of food waste in America and its impact on society and the environment. She shared insights related to several historical turning points, including the rise of mass consumption in the Gilded Age, organized efforts to combat food waste during World Wars and the Great Depression, and agricultural policies in the 1970s that contributed to the surplus of cheap commodity crops. She stressed that addressing food waste requires rethinking and integrating food security and waste management systems, and that reducing food waste is a tangible area where individuals can make a difference in addressing environmental issues.

Zeide is an associate professor of history in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences and founding director of the Food Studies Program. She studies food as a way of understanding environmental change, dynamic cultural practices, consumer behavior, technology, health, and justice.

Research Highlights

Leaves of three, let it be? Maybe not anymore

While many of us know the old saying, it turns out there are also many harmless three-leaf native plants and accurate poison ivy identification is quite challenging because poison ivy does not hold true to form. Virginia Tech researchers, including John Jelesko from the School of Plant and Environmental Science, found that poison ivy leaves show a lot of variability that likely confounds accurate poison ivy plant identification and significantly undermines a longstanding poison ivy avoidance strategy. Therefore, there is an ongoing need to develop preventive medical procedures to prevent poison ivy rash that do not depend on plant identification. More here.

Maple syrup producers provide sweet news for threatened birds

In recent decades, the loss and degradation of bird habitats has led to a precipitous decline in bird populations. Now, a $2 million grant awarded to the National Audubon Society’s Bird-Friendly Maple program, in partnership with Virginia Tech College of Natural Resources and Environment Associate Professor Ashley Dayer, will look to improve bird habitats by encouraging maple syrup producers to incorporate forest management practices that allow other trees and bushes to grow amid the sugar maples that are responsible for our sticky breakfast topping. More here.

Women’s health: ‘Maternal mental health problems are the No. 1 complication in pregnancy’ 

Modern medicine treats patients independently, but when it comes to women’s health, physicians and researchers stressed the need for a holistic approach during a recent panel discussion on maternal health in Washington, D.C. sponsored by Children’s National and the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC. “Many people aren’t aware that maternal mental health problems” — such as postpartum depression and anxiety — “are the No. 1 complication in pregnancy,” said Catherine Limperopoulos, chief and director of the Developing Brain Institute at Children’s National Hospital. The event was moderated by Melissa Schooley, a member of Fralin Biomedical Research Institute’s advisory board. More here.

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