URI in the News
Telling URI's Stories
The University of Rhode Island has received considerable media attention in recent months, both locally and around the world. Here's a sampling of news highlights about University people, research, programs and more that appeared in print, broadcast or online media. These items and others are featured regularly on our news blog, URI NewsOnline.
President Dooley Addresses Media
President Dooley addressed a room full of local reporters in November on a wide range of topics, from economic development and diversity to athletics and commuter rail. The reporters responded with an equally varying array of stories. Those reporting on Dr. Dooley's comments included the Providence Journal, Providence Business News, East Greenwich Patch, WPRO radio, and the Associated Press, whose story about extending the commuter rail to Kingston appeared in the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Greenwich Time, Channel 12, Channel 10, Attleboro Sun, Springfield TV station WSHM, and others.
A second Associated Press story about the President's comments regarding a proposed nursing education facility in Providence appeared in the Boston Globe, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, San Francisco Chronicle, England Cable News, Channel 12, Channel 6, Canadian Business, Houston Chronicle, Connecticut Post, Greenwich Time, and others. The URI news release story about his comments can be found here.
URI Patented Research, Spin-Off Companies
The Providence Business News and Mass High Tech wrote extensive feature stories detailing economic development efforts underway at URI. The articles showed how the University puts the results of its research to work through patents, licensing agreements and spin-off companies. The articles were based on the URI press release and related materials.
Pope Refreshes Papal History
Celestine and rules for papal abdication: Upon the surprise announcement of Pope Benedict XVI's resignation, Professor of History Joelle Rollo-Koster wrote about the precedent for the pope to step down. Her letter appeared in the Providence Journal online and she was interviewed by RIPR for comment. Just weeks later, after Pope Francis was named, she described the selection process on Channel 10 news. Professor Rollo-Koster is one of only a handful of medieval historians who study and teach about the history of the papacy. This piece was published by the Providence Journal.
Faculty Voices in the News
- More Activity, Less Stress: Kinesiology Assistant Professor Disa Hatfield was called on by the New York Times to discuss a recent study that shows how exercise may help reduce childhood stressors;
- Tsunami expert and Ocean Engineering Professor Stefan Grilli, who was interviewed by a Japanese television network on the anniversary of the 2011 tsunami;
- Explosives: Our internationally recognized explosives expert, Chemistry Professor Jimmie Oxley, was called on by the New York Times to discuss the explosion at a Mexico office building;
- Inseams in Outer Space: Textiles Professor Karl Aspelund discusses possible designs for fashion in space with Popular Mechanics ;
- Exploration: Oceanography Professor Robert Ballard in Newsweek discussing ocean exploration;
- Taking a Closer Look: Pharmacy Professor Bingfan Yang was in a Forbes story about his research showing how a weight loss drug may cause liver and kidney damage.
Shipwreck Discoveries Highlight Ancient History
Bridget Buxton, assistant professor of history, and William Krieger, assistant professor of philosophy, along with collaborators from the Israel Antiquities Authority, discovered several 19th Century shipwrecks and evidence of an ancient harbor along the coast of Israel. The discovery, announced at a meeting of the American Schools of Oriental Research, generated considerable media attention around the world. It was reported by NBC News, Yahoo News, the Oregon Herald, Archaeology Magazine, the Archaeology News Network, Science Daily, and many others. The story was also covered in Russia, Egypt, Indonesia, Greece, Argentina, and elsewhere. The URI news release about the announcement can be found here.
Student Takes a Beluga's Breath Away
Graduate student Justin Richard has brought what he learned as a beluga whale trainer at Mystic Aquarium to URI in an effort to find non-invasive ways of monitoring the health of wild beluga populations. He is using the cells and hormones that a whale exhales to gather a wealth of information about these mammals. The story about his work has been reported by the Boston Globe, Channel 12, New London Day, Nunatsiaq News in Arctic Canada, and others. Read the URI news release.
Young Scholars in the News
Overcoming the Odds: Film Studies and communications junior Andrew Pilkington, who has cerebral palsy, was recognized by the Huffington Post as its "Awesome Person of the Week";
What's Munching the Monarchs?: Biological Sciences graduate student Jamie Rafter's studies have explored that and more predator-prey interactions. Her work showed the gruesome way that the Chinese mantis feeds and was featured in National Geographic;
A Big Bite of Research: The Dover (Del.) Post ran a lengthy article about marine biology major Chelsea Stephens' shark research in Delaware Bay, followed by EcoRI, who wrote about her studies as well;
Taking a Break to Rebuild: The Jewish Voice and Herald featured the efforts of some students who helped rebuild homes in tornado-ravaged Joplin, Missouri;
Managing Forests for Woodcocks: EcoRI reported on bird research by wildlife and conservation biology major Lindsey Barnard;
Corn Crops Savor Seaweed: The Narragansett Times featured a project by environmental science and management major Nate Winkler on the use of seaweed as a fertilizer for growing corn;
Four Hour Commute for Wildlife: The Barrington Times and Barrington Patch profiled wildlife and conservation biology major Rocky Kile's passion for wildlife;
Athletes Save Lives: The University's football team members are looking for new matches -- off the field. The Providence Journal highlighted several Rhody athletes who donated bone marrow to save the lives of strangers.
Discovery: Marine Plants Flee Predators
There's something about the relationship between predators and prey that generates enthusiasm in the media. Associate Professor Susanne Menden-Deuer's discovery, with oceanography graduate student Liz Harvey, of a marine plant that actively flees from predators proved to be a big hit. It was reported by MSNBC, Yahoo News, Canadian Broadcasting, Scientific American, WRNI Radio, National Public Radio's Living on Earth program, The Living Ocean, EcoRI, and many others. It was even in The Himilayan Times. The story was also reported in numerous foreign languages, including Vietnamese, Indonesian, Dutch and Polish. The press release about the discovery can be found here.
Public Information Officer and natural history writer Todd McLeish's new book, Narwhals: Arctic Whales in a Melting World, about the small whales most notable for their 8-foot long spiral tusk, has generated considerable media attention throughout New England and beyond. It has been featured in the Providence Journal, Boston Globe, Anchorage Daily News, Foster's Daily Democrat, Rhode Island Public Radio, Rhode Island Monthly, South County Independent and Narragansett Times, among others. The URI press release about his book can be found here.
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In the News
All of this news and more are included in the URI NewsOnline blog. Highlights like these are posted on a regular basis with links to the related URI Communications and Marketing Department press releases.
