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

Rebels topple Syrian government in 10-day blitz

The brutal 13-year civil war in Syria reached a swift culmination as Islamist rebel forces occupied Damascus and dictator Bashar al-Assad fled to Moscow with his family. Reduced military support from Russia and Iran helped rebels take the country in a matter of days after years of struggle. Ariel Ahram, an expert on the politics and conflicts in the Middle East, can speak to the significance of Assad’s downfall and what this development could mean for the future of the region.



Why mid-Atlantic winter weather forecasts are so erratic


With winter’s arrival, many now find themselves wondering about the prospects of snow in various regions throughout the United States. Those in the mid-Atlantic area hoping to see more white precipitation this winter could find themselves disappointed. Drew Ellis, a professor in Virginia Tech’s Department of Geography, is an expert in climate science, meteorology, and hydroclimatic variability. He recently broke down the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s winter outlook, and explained why predictions can be so difficult for our area. Read more here.



The economic principles of ‘Wicked’


Beyond the catchy songs and dazzling spectacle, the holiday musical Wicked offers an unexpected lesson in economics. Virginia Tech economist Jadrian Wooten can explain how the evolving relationship between Glinda and Elphaba provides a rich example of “peer effects”—how one person’s behavior, traits, or achievements can shape those of another. As their story unfolds, Glinda and Elphaba show how peer influence works—not just in Oz, but in the choices we encounter in our own lives. Read more here.



Gifts for kids of all ages that encourage STEM careers


Buying gifts for the young people in your life – from “littles” to pre-teens – is one of the most joyful aspects of the holiday season. If you’re looking for options that could spark an interest in science, computers, technology and more, Pam Gilchrist, director of K-12 Initiatives for the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus in Alexandria, Va., has tips on the best 2024 STEM-related holiday gifts for kids of all ages. “The earlier students are exposed to mathematics, problem solving, and coding, the more likely they will see themselves in future STEM positions,” she says. Read more here.



How to protect yourself against holiday shopping hackers


The potential for record-breaking online sales this holiday season unfortunately signifies opportunities for holiday scams, adding urgency to consumer warnings from agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Federal Trade Commission. Yet as technology advances, so do the tactics of scammers. Virginia Tech cybercrime expert Katalin Parti shares tips for new scammer tactics to guard against, through the holiday season and beyond. “Educate yourself about new technologies and potential scam risks, including the use of AI-generated content for impersonation scams,” she says. Read more here.



Tips on taking better holiday photos


Family gatherings during the holidays mean holiday snaps and sharing those photos online or in the mail — and the better the photo, the more treasured the keepsake. “When I see people posting holiday photos, I often wish the photographer would move around a bit more,” says Michael Borowski, associate professor of photography in the Virginia Tech School of Visual Arts. “The first instinct is to snap from our standing or sitting position, but a change in height, angle, or viewpoint can make a huge difference.” Borowski shares tips for taking better photos, during the holidays and all year around. Read them here.  

Why ‘One Hundred Years of Solitude’, now a Netflix series, endures

The Netflix adaptation of Gabriel García Márquez’s landmark novel “One Hundred Years of Solitude,” which drops Wednesday, calls new attention to a landmark of world literature. “It is the most translated Spanish-language literary work after ‘Don Quixote,’” says Jacqueline Bixler, a Virginia Tech expert on Latin American theatre, literature, and culture. “I was pleased to learn that the series is being made in Colombia, in Spanish, and that nearly all of the actors are Colombian. This will at least serve to remind the viewers that the novel is about Colombia and about post-colonial Latin America at large.” Read more here.



Podcast: Balancing security and privacy for the Internet of Things


Christine Julien joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the Internet of Things (IOT), exploring its definition, potential vulnerabilities, and the implications of using smart devices, especially for children. Julien stressed the importance of security and privacy when using IOT devices, particularly during the gift-giving season, and shared insights on navigating these complexities with an aim of balancing enjoyment and security.



About Julien
Julien is head of the Department of Computer Science in Virginia Tech’s College of Engineering. Her research has focused on engineering software that supports a range of smart devices and environments. This includes the use of advanced networking technologies to provide opportunities for children to move independently around their neighborhoods while staying safe through remote connections to parents and guardians and improved sensing and networking for the Internet of Things.



Research Highlights


Planes in the air assess floods on the ground

Kevin Kochersberger and his team of undergraduate and graduate students at the Uncrewed Systems Laboratory use their expertise in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), including drones, to gather visual data from the air that can be interpreted with machine learning. This means using images they gather to build data-rich maps.



The team played a vital role in surveying the damage caused by Hurricane Helene in October. The destruction knocked out roads and forever changed the landscape of large portions of the eastern United States. According to the Virginia governor's office, 310,000 Virginia residents were without electricity when the infrastructure of power grids was severely damaged, and 484 primary and secondary roads as well as 118 bridges were closed. With devastation as widespread as this, the ability to survey the affected areas became a major obstacle. With roads being washed away, the most effective choice was viewing it from the air. UAVs are widely available with cameras capable of doing this, but the scope of Helene's wrath was so large that drones couldn't fully cover it. More here.



Tech and tactics unite to outsmart stealthy submarines


Researchers at Virginia Tech and the United States Naval Academy are teaming up to improve submarine surveillance technology. Funded by a grant from the Office of Naval Research, the collaboration focuses on finding smarter ways to track enemy submarines. The project aims to ensure the Navy can make the best use of its resources in vast ocean areas while staying ahead of emerging threats. For the three-year duration of the grant, the research team will focus both on strategic and tactical allocation of resources. More here.

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