Expert Pitches

In Los Angeles, emergency workers are deciding who gets taken to the hospital and who doesn’t as nearly 8,000 COVID-19 patients overcrowd its healthcare facilities. Ambulance crews there have been instructed to not take patients with little chance of survival and to reserve oxygen use for hospitalized coronavirus patients, a directive that West Virginia University College of Law Professor Valarie Blake says raises legal and ethical questions.

The storming of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. by domestic terrorists on Wednesday (Jan. 6) should come as no surprise, according to political science and history experts at West Virginia University. Extreme political ideologies fueled the attack on the U.S. Capitol, an action reminiscent of fascist regimes elsewhere in the world, researchers said.

Three West Virginia University professors say hate and fear fueled the mob of Trump supporters who stormed the Capitol in Washington, D.C. Wednesday (Jan. 6). In the coming days, these experts say we as a nation must consider culpability and explore how we can create a better future to prevent violence, disrupt misinformation and reform the justice system.

Recently the secretive mink has become a hot topic in COVID-19 headlines. SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) was detected in farmed mink in several countries including the United States. A wild mink tested positive near a farmed mink facility in Utah. While the mink, a mammal similar to weasels and river otters, is prevalent in the Mountain State, Sheldon Owen, wildlife specialist at the West Virginia University Extension Service, says there’s no need for alarm.

As conspiracy theories about COVID-19 vaccines seem to comfort some people, others are anxious to get the shot they believe will protect them from the deadly virus. Social media has played a role in the spread of information and mis-information alike, according to Elizabeth L. Cohen, associate professor in West Virginia University’s Department of Communication Studies.

With the announcement that Mylan Pharmaceuticals is closing its manufacturing facility in Morgantown, West Virginia University’s Bureau of Business and Economics director John Deskins says the “major blow” to the regional economy will be spread beyond job loss.

Research from two West Virginia University experts indicates that investigations into industrial accidents like the Charleston-area chemical plant explosion should be transparent and involve surrounding community members. Martina Angela Caretta, assistant professor in the Department of Geology and Geography, has interviewed hundreds of West Virginians about natural resource extraction over more than four years, noting they are aware of the economic lifeline these industries provide while still having the potential for environmental and chemical disaster. Erin Brock Carlson, assistant professor, Department of English, has researched the effects of industrial development, particularly pipeline construction, on state residents, finding a shared concern about accidents, and how best to protect themselves and their families.

West Virginia University experts are available to comment on the Dec. 8 Charleston-area chemical plant explosion. Harry Finklea, professor emeritus, C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry can offer insights into the chemicals, while Michael McCawley, clinical associate professor in the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, can comment on the effects of weather and terrain, the history of chemical plants in the area and the importance of vigilance in the areas around the plants.

West Virginia University experts Mira Danilovich, consumer horticulture specialist and associate professor, WVU Extension Service, and Sven Verlinden, director of plant and soil sciences center and associate professor of horticulture, Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design, offer tips and guidance on how to keep your holiday décor long-lasting and safe.

During this holiday season, West Virginia University Extension Service Agribusiness Economics Specialist Dee Singh-Knights suggests giving back to your community by purchasing foods and gifts from farms and agribusinesses in your area. She’s provided a few helpful tips for those looking to buy local this year.