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Expert Pitches

Gene editing could lead to ‘cascade’ of change

West Virginia University Vice President and Executive Dean for Health Sciences Dr. Clay Marsh says that although “a lot of good promise” could come from gene editing, it is mostly practiced in lab models, not in people.

WVU expert: General Motors will have to prove it’s ‘impossible’ to comply with UAW collective bargaining agreement

A West Virginia University law professor says General Motors has “a high burden” to prove that its announced plant closings in Ohio, Michigan, Maryland and Ontario are because of conditions it cannot control. Anne Marie Lofaso, who specializes in labor law, says the plant closings are the antithesis of GM’s latest collective bargaining agreement with the United Auto Workers; the agreement said GM will not close or idle any plant, asset, or business unit of any type other than those which have already been identified.

WVU expert available for comment on how low vaccine rates may have contributed to deadly rise in flu cases

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s newly released impact report shows that more that 79,000 deaths were attributed to influenza last year. And while West Virginia leads the nation in flu vaccination, with 46.3 percent of the adult population vaccinated, the United States has a long way to go in helping overcome deaths and illnesses related to the flu.

Properly dealing with society’s issues starts in the classroom, WVU expert says

A West Virginia University expert says one solution for America's divisiveness and inability to handle society’s most complex, controversial problems lies in classroom communication. Trusting the teacher, feeling understood and exploring diverse perspectives “equips our youth with the tools to engage in a democratic society,” according to Tiffany Mitchell Patterson. 

WVU Extension Service expert offers advice for managing stink bugs inside the home

As temperatures across the Mountain State drop, many insect pests seek shelter indoors, including one common visitor – the brown marmorated stink bug. Though it is a nuisance to homeowners, according to West Virginia University Extension Service insect expert Daniel Frank, this pest won’t harm you and is easily managed with a few simple control methods.

WVU experts discuss this fall's muted colors

Although frequent rain may be good for growing grass, it can also mute the expected brilliant hues of trees as the season changes. According to two West Virginia University experts, heavy precipitation and warmer temperatures are responsible for the lack of colors seen this fall.

Experts discuss immediate and lasting impacts of hurricanes

As the second hurricane in a month makes landfall along the U.S. coast, West Virginia University experts are available to discuss how climate, sea level and land-use changes affect flooding in coastal watersheds, as well as the vulnerability and resilience of communities devastated by large-scale disasters.

WVU experts weigh in on Nobel Prize-winning laser research and women’s contributions to physics

Two physicists at West Virginia University celebrate women’s contributions to the field and highlight the research they’re doing in light of the 2018 Nobel Prize award to Donna Strickland, only the third woman to win the prize in more than a century. Cheng Cen works on surface and interface dynamics and Micky Holcomb uses pulsed lasers to study a range of materials, including magnets for next-generation.