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.

Virginia Tech experts available to discuss headlines in the news

President Biden ends campaign, passes torch to Harris

President Joe Biden’s decision to end his reelection campaign and pass the torch to Vice President Kamala Harris has no precedent in American history. Virginia Tech political scientists Karen Hult, Caitlin Jewitt, and Nick Goedert and media communications expert Cayce Myers are providing perspectives on this watershed development.

  • “At this point, it is the delegates that will decide who becomes the Democratic nominee,” says Jewitt. “It seems that Democratic elites are coalescing fairly quickly around Harris, and she has received several notable endorsements since the initial announcement. If it continues this way, with considerable support for Harris, we are likely to see a fairly calm convention, with her receiving a majority of delegates.”

  • “Republicans will criticize the Democrats in their earlier support of Biden, and call into question Biden's ability to continue as President. There may be lawsuits filed to keep Biden on the ballot,” Myers says. “Republicans are prepared for this outcome of a new nominee. This is partially why Biden was not overemphasized in the Republican convention, and why Harris is now a frequent target of Republican attacks.”

Could Kamala Harris be the first female U.S. President?

Kamala Harris, if she receives the Democratic Party nomination, would represent a historic first as the first black woman and person of South Asian descent to receive a major party nomination. Virginia Tech political expert Farida Jalazai's research looks at gender and how it relates to politics. “If Harris went on to win in November, she would break the hardest of glass ceilings, becoming the first woman president of the U.S. and would, as noted, be history making for black women and South Asians,” says Jalazai. “The U.S. would finally join the many countries across the globe to have been led by women.” Jalazai is able to speak to why has the U.S. been so late to the game, what are some obstacles women have faced in the U.S. that have kept them out of the Oval Office, what’s important to keep in mind when evaluating Harris’s chances for success, and what benefits could her presidential leadership offer.

2024 Paris Olympics open this week

The 2024 Summer Olympic Games kick off in Paris this week. Virginia Tech experts can speak to:

  • How aerodynamics and hydrodynamics can be the difference between winning gold and missing the podium

  • From Olympians to weekend warriors, how peanuts can deliver the lean mass muscle gains athletes seek

  • Olympic athletes consume more than a gallon of water a day. But how much do we really need?

  • Can exercise be better than medicine at preventing diseases?

  • Why the 2024 Games will define the legacies of some of Team USA’s biggest stars

  • How AI is impacting your Olympic travel plans

  • A first-person view of how the ‘greenest Games’ are shaping up

Read more here.

Interest rate cuts, election impact to expect from July Fed meeting

All eyes in the financial world are on the Federal Reserve Meeting at the end of July, which could lead to one or more interest rate cuts before the end of the year, if economic conditions continue to stabilize. Virginia Tech economist David Bieri and finance expert Andrew MacKinlay can discuss why the Fed has taken a more cautious approach than anticipated, what should we expect for the rest of the year, and how will it impact both the economy and, potentially, the 2024 election. More here.

Dengue fever at historic levels

The number of people infected with Dengue has hit historic levels in the Americas, leading health officials to warn about the risk. Michael Robert, an assistant professor in the College of Science, has been researching Dengue for years. Through his work, he’s discovered that temperature can impact transmission, as well as extreme weather events. Robert points to the transmission of West Nile following Hurricane Katrina, as well as hurricanes in the Caribbean, and says that Dengue could follow a similar pattern in the U.S. Robert can also speak to personal protection and control of mosquitoes. More about his work can be found here.

Spotted lanternflies are headed into their invasive peak

As you head out on summer adventures this month, make sure that an unwanted guest isn’t traveling with you. Virginia Tech entomologist Eric Day says, starting in mid-July, is the start of the spotted lanternfly’s most destructive phase as they grow their wings. Day explains that this is the time they hitchhike aggressively. spreading hundreds of miles to previously uninfested locations. He’s available to share tips and reminders for the public to help control the spread.

Research Highlights

Coming this Fall: Research-inspired weight-loss bars

Deborah Good, associate professor of human nutrition, foods, and exercise, had a history of successfully using conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) to treat genetic obesity in mice by adding the compound to their food but had only seen it given to humans in pill form. She’s now taken that research one step further with the development of the CLAW Bar. It stands for Conjugated Linoleic Acid Weight Loss Bar. Thanks to Virginia Tech’s LAUNCH program, she was able to get the support she needed to take this to market and patent. Flavors include cranberry orange almond, dark chocolate cherry, and oatmeal chocolate chip cookie dough. Bars for purchase are expected to be available in and around Blacksburg this fall. The group aims to expand into other lines of food, such as shakes and coffee pods, in the near future. More here.

Postpartum depression could be screened at the source

One in eight new moms will experience sadness, hopelessness, and feelings of overwhelm in the first year after having a baby, a statistic that is even higher for those with newborns receiving emergency services. Beyond the “baby blues,” perinatal mood and anxiety disorders - often referred to under the umbrella term “postpartum depression” - are serious illnesses that can have significant and lasting impact on the patient, infant, and family.

Assistant Professor Niyousha Hosseinichimeh in Virginia Tech's College of Engineering has partnered with physician researchers at Children’s National Hospital to launch the Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Learning Laboratory at Children’s National Hospital. The team plans  to introduce screenings where there aren’t currently resources for adult populations yet ample opportunities to connect with new parents in need: the pediatric emergency department and the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). They hope to improve mental health screening for parents through referral and treatment, combining medical expertise with systems engineering to advance health care. More here.

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