These experts from the UW–Madison faculty and staff have agreed to comment on breaking news, ongoing developments and trends in their areas of expertise. If you need help arranging interviews, email University Communications.
H5N1 spreads to cattle
The avian flu H5N1 has made the jump from birds to mammals, including cattle, and inactive remnants of the virus have been found in grocery store milk. Experts from UW–Madison are available to discuss H5N1 and its potential risk to human health, pets and more.
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Keith Poulsen on: Avian flu in dairy cows and milk
The USDA has been tracking a highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza in dairy herds across the country. Keith Poulsen, an expert in zoonotic disease and director of the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, can discuss the disease, how it is spreading and what Wisconsinites should watch for in their herds.
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Thomas Friedrich on: Zoonotic disease and human health
Professor of pathobiological sciences, Thomas Friedrich, studies how viruses from animals could cross over to humans. Friedrich is available for interviews about the potential human risk from H5N1.
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David O'Connor on: Tracking H5N1
David O'Connor is an expert on novel viral pathogen emergence in human populations and a professor of pathology and medicine. He can discuss what we know about the bird flu's current risk to human health and which factors scientists are tracking as they monitor current risk.
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Erin Lashnits on: H5N1 and pet risk
As H5N1 jumps from birds to mammals, zoonotic disease expert and clinical assistant professor in the School of Veterinary Medicine, Erin Lashnits, is available to discuss the risk to pets and address pet owners' concerns.
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Peter Halfmann on: H5N1 and human risk
Peter Halfmann, expert in emerging and zoonotic viral diseases and research associate professor, is available for interviews about his study of bird flu and its potential to become a human health concern.
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Andrew W. Stevens on: Economic impact on food prices
Andrew Stevens is an expert in agricultural production, consumer food demand and food security. Stevens is available to discuss the potential impact of H5N1 on the supply of products like eggs and milk.
Experts on today’s news
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Tony Goldberg on: Fishing season and viruses in sport fish
As fishing season begins, professor of pathobiological sciences, Tony Goldberg is available for interviews about a suite of viruses his research deteched in sportfish like bluegills, brown trout, lake sturgeon, northern pike and walleye.
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Kris Saha on: AI-generated CRISPR arrives
A new paper recently announced the arrival of AI-generated CRISPR from a startup company called ProFluent. Kris Saha, biomedical engineering professor and expert in biotechnology and ethics, is available for interviews about the news and what it means for the gene-editing tool.
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Lucas Richert on: Justice Department may reclassify marijuana
Marijuana could soon be reclassified as a lower-risk drug if a new recommendation from Attorney General Merrick Garland is adopted. The change would signal a historic shift in policy. Pharmacy professor Lucas Richert, a historian of pharmaceuticals and intoxicants, is available for interviews about the news.
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Connie Flanagan on: Student protests
Student protests about Gaza are intensifying across the country. Constance Flanagan, an expert on youth political engagement and civic participation, is available for interviews about the developing story.
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James Conway on: Importance of vaccinations amid new cases of infectious disease
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services confirmed Friday that a Dane County resident has measles, a highly contagious and potentially deadly disease. The same week, officials in Brown County reported the community was seeing a rising number of cases of whooping cough, an infectious disease that can be fatal for infants.
Dr. James Conway, an expert on pediatric infectious diseases and immunization programs, can discuss the importance of keeping vaccinations up-to-date.
“We need to be taking this as a very stern wake up call,” Conway told Wisconsin Public Radio. “These things are out there — they are nasty diseases. They are largely preventable with vaccines, but we all need to make sure we’re up to date (on vaccines), as well as our family members, to make sure that we’re all equally protected.”
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Mark Eppli on: Interest rates and home prices
Mark Eppli, director of the James A. Graaskamp Center for Real Estate, is available for interviews on the continued rise of home prices following the Fed's decision to leave current interest rates in place.
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John Gross on: Trump trial and contempt of court law
John Gross, clinical associate professor, is available for interviews about how trial judge Juan Merchan can penalize breaches of New York's criminal contempt of court law during Donald Trump's hush-money trial. Gross says Justice Merchan has two options: fines or jail time.
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Kenneth Mayer on: Trump hush-money trial
Kenneth Mayer, an expert on the American presidency and a professor of political science, is available for interviews about former President Trump's hush-money trial underway in New York and what's at stake in the coming presidential election.
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Patrick (PJ) Liesch on: Cicada emergence
PJ Liesch is director of the UW–Madison Insect Diagnostic Lab. Liesch can discuss the emergence of periodical cicadas, cicada biology, the timing and distribution of periodical cicadas in Wisconsin and the ecological impacts of these insects. Liesch is tracking the impact of early spring weather on cicada emergence. Liesch says, “A key factor for emergence of periodical cicadas is the temperature of the soil at a depth of 8 inches. The soil temperature must reach and exceed 64.5 F, so depending on weather, we could see emergence shifted a bit earlier.”
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William Brockliss on: Cicadas in the art of the ancient world
William Brockliss is a classics professor in the College of Letters and Science. Brockless says the music of cicadas is embedded within the poetry of ancient Greece. In The Illiad, says Brockliss, Homer “likens the chatter of old men to the sound of cicadas.” Another early poet, Hersiod, compares a single cicada to a singer, and possibly the poet himself.
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Daniel Young on: Cicada biology
Daniel Young is a professor of entomology and director of the UW–Madison Insect Research Collection. Young is an expert on insect classification and natural history and teaches a course called Introductory Entomology that covers brood XIII cicada emergence.