Expert Pitches

During the holiday season, many families around West Virginia decorate their homes with garland, tinsel, lights and most commonly, the Christmas tree. While some opt for the ease and convenience of a pre-lit, artificial tree, others prefer the look and smell of a fresh-cut Christmas tree. A fresh-cut tree does require a bit more attention and care, but according to WVU Extension Service expert Dave McGill, with a few simple considerations, you and your family can safely enjoy your tree all season long.

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.

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.

West Virginia University faculty members are available for commentary and insight regarding the 2018 midterm elections and current issues in the U.S.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.