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

Impact of tariffs on steel, aluminum

President Trump announced immediate 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports starting Monday on all nations, including Canada and Mexico. Virginia Tech economist Jadrian Wooten says the resulting price increases will immediately impact the construction and automotive sectors, but could also have a ripple effect throughout the economy. "While these tariffs aim to protect domestic industries, they also risk driving up prices for manufacturers and the consumers,” said Wooten. 

Other experts on tariffs can be found here.

Cabinet confirmation hearings and executive orders

Two of President Trump’s most unconventional cabinet picks, former Democrats Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for health secretary, appear to be on the verge of confirmation by the Republican Senate. Political scientist Karen Hult can speak about the precedents at play. “At least as important, though, are the broader executive actions that President Trump is taking — and their effects within and outside the United States,” Hult says.

Flu levels highest since 2009, according to CDC

New data from the CDC shows flu levels are now the highest they’ve been since the 2009 swine flu pandemic. The flu is actually hitting a second peak in the U.S. this season. In addition to the flu, there’s also a surge in COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and norovirus. Dr. Ryan Fulton, section chief of general pediatrics at Carilion Children’s and faculty member at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, shares critical insights on how this “quad-demic” is impacting children and what parents need to know. More here.

Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day and chocolate are a perfect match — but is it a healthy relationship? 

As companies put effort into making chocolate the candy of love, it seems that the health benefits of chocolate are often put in the spotlight as either healthy or unhealthy more and more. Some studies say it's good for you, others not so much. Virginia Tech dietitian Emily Myers can separate fact from fiction in the mixed messaging surrounding chocolate and how to take a more neutral approach to this yummy treat.

Love is in the air on Valentine’s Day and so is romantic reading

The romance genre typically sees a significant sales bump around Feb. 14, and in general popular romance is on a growth trend, says Netta Baker, an English instructor and expert on popular romance and romantasy. Reading platforms, such as Kindle Unlimited, have made the genre more affordable and available. Also, social media trends, such as BookTok and Bookstagram, give readers a sense of permission to openly discuss romantic reads.  “Even just a few years ago reading a romance in public, admitting you read the genre, or even just purchasing one tended to be something readers found potentially embarrassing,” Baker said. “It was most readers' secret vice rather than something they proudly proclaimed to millions online.” More here.

A Valentine for the floral industry

The floral industry looks forward to sales in the millions as Valentine’s Day draws near. Barbara Leshyn, who teaches floral design for the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, can talk about trends in the floral industry, such as the farm-to-table flower movement, or the concerns about how florists might be affected by tariffs. “Like every industry, we are worried about costs going up,” Leshyn says. “Most flowers come from South America.” More of her expertise here.

Love languages: Understanding how your pet communicates

Life with cats and dogs would be a lot easier if they could tell us exactly what they were thinking. 
Unfortunately, pets can’t talk — they rely mostly on body language to express themselves. Dr. Virginia Edwards with the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine shares tips on decoding your pet’s body language so you can understand each other better. More here.  

Podcast: Love is more complex than ‘5 love languages,’ says expert

⁠Louis Hickman⁠ joined ⁠Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations”⁠ to talk about the concept of the ‘The 5 Love Languages’, its origins, and its impact on relationship satisfaction. He shared his thoughts on the appeal of simple solutions to complex relationships, findings from his recent research on the love languages, and the importance of personality traits in relationships. Hickman also emphasized the need for self-care and adaptability in maintaining healthy relationships over time. More here.

Hickman is an assistant professor of industrial-organizational psychology in the ⁠College of Science⁠ at Virginia Tech. His research interests are applying machine learning and natural language processing to psychological research and investigating various forms of bias.

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