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It's only been since January, but the cannabis industry in Connecticut is already a hit among consumers. There was initial worry that the quick expansion of stores and dispensaries could potentially blunt the long-term success of the retail aspect of the product in the state, but according to UConn's Fred Carstensen concerns about the oversupply seen in neighboring states is not a worry. “It’ll take three to four years to see how the market develops,” said Carstensen, a professor at University of Connecticut and the director of the Connecticut Center for Economic Analysis. In an article that goes into great detail, Carsten told the Stamford Advocate about the many factors and influences that can impact what has been a volatile market in some states since legalization became the trend. And as the state government checks the expansion of Connecticut’s adult-use cannabis market, Carstensen said local governments do the same. He said it wouldn’t matter if Connecticut’s retail cannabis scene was over-licensed, under-licensed, or just right. “Every municipality has the right to say yea or nay (to retailers),” Carstensen said. But he said an estimated 69 cannabis retailers in the Nutmeg State’s pipeline will make the bigger picture clearer. “(Then) it's pretty much available to everybody on a relatively short-travel basis,” Carstensen said. “Then we'll actually know what the market is.” Regulation and observation will be key to measure the success or failure of the market. Carstensen said that as the Nutmeg State’s market matures, retailers will “pull that business back into Connecticut when we become more competitively priced.” Peake agreed that “as (more Connecticut retailers) open up, we can probably expect the vast majority of those folks to be buying cannabis in Connecticut.” And Carstensen said that as much as interstate cannabis purchases skew understanding Connecticut’s market, it also serves as a check on oversaturating the Nutmeg State’s cannabis economy... And, Carstensen said, if there were too many cannabis dispensaries, "the market will tell us." "They’ll close,” the economics professor said. If you're a journalist looking to know more about this emerging industry in Connecticut and beyond, let us help. Fred Carstensen is a University of Connecticut professor and director of the Connecticut Center for Economic Analysis. He is a renowned an expert in the areas of public policy, economic history, and economics. Simply click on his icon now to arrange a time to talk today.
Murdoch's shocking retirement: Expert predicts minimal change in Fox's stance or approach
Despite the fact that he was 92, Rupert Murdoch's retirement as chairman of Fox Corp. and News Corp. came as a shock. Many observers see the passing of the torch from right-wing Rupert to more right-wing son Lachlan as a potentially seismic shift in the media landscape. Danilo Yanich, professor of public policy and administration at the University of Delaware, can discuss the changing of the guard at Fox, which he believes won't alter the network's approach all that much. Yanich doesn't think anything will change from the media side of the equation – coverage won't be any more right wing than it was before. "Lachlan has been running the day-to-day activities for some time now." Also, Yanich said, whether Rupert is "retired" or not does not take him out of the picture. "He still owns the company." Yanich noted that there has been commentary regarding the implications his retirement has for the power arrangements within the company. "That is probably true, but I do not see any change in how Fox approaches its media activities." Yanich's research centers on the media and its intersection with citizenship, public policy and crime, as well as media ownership. He directs the Local Television News Media Project, which examines the role of the news media in democracy and public policy. Yanich was awarded presidential fellowships at two Salzberg Seminars (Salzburg, Austria), both focused on ethics and the news media. To set up an interview with Yanich, simply click on this profile below.
Widening rift with Canada puts India's relations with the West at risk
Relations between India and Canada continue to devolve after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of playing a part in the assassination of a Sikh activist on its home soil. Following India's denial, both countries expelled senior diplomats. In a new video posted on his YouTube channel, Professor Muqtedar Khan said relations are spiraling toward a dangerous place. And, he added, if the situation continues to devolve, it could have a major impact on India's relations with the entire Western world. Khan, a professor of political science and international relations, is an expert on issues surrounding U.S. foreign policy in the Muslim World as well as national security and counter-terrorism. He can also discuss: The Khalistan Movement: The Sikh separatist movement that has taken many lives since the 1980s including the assassination of India's former PM Indira Gandhi. How Canada's large Sikh population 770,000 (2.1%) makes it a hotbed of Sikh activism. In 1985, Canadians Sikh exploded an Air India flight from Montreal to London killing 329 people The assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar and its diplomatic fallout. The dispute between Canada and India is over the killing of Nijjar, a Canadian Sikh who was organizing an illegal referendum on separatism. Khan is the author of "Islam and Good Governance: A Political Philosophy of Ihsan." Video of Khan discussing the concept of Ihsan can be found here. He has also drawn a large following with his "Khanversations" channel on YouTube. To schedule an interview, click on the contact button found in his ExpertFile profile.
Back to School: Expert Tips for a Smooth Transition in the New Academic Year
With the start of school now upon us, Gary Henry, dean of the University of Delaware’s College of Education and Human Development and professor in the School of Education and the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy & Administration, is here to answer some common questions educators and parents may have. What are your three biggest concerns about K-12 education going into this academic year? I think the overarching concern for many K-12 teachers and administrators is creating a sense of continuity as children and young adults go back to school. The three big concerns that contribute to this issue are teacher turnover, school leader turnover and the number of long-term substitutes who are not fully prepared to teach in classrooms. These trends were already in place before the pandemic, but the pandemic heightened this crisis. For the last 20 years, we’ve seen a crisis in the enrollment in traditional teacher preparation programs. Between 2010 and 2018, we saw about a 35% reduction in the number of undergraduates who enroll in education majors across the U.S., but in Delaware, that reduction was 60%. Teacher shortages are affecting every state around the country right now. What is the best way to address these chronic teacher shortages? Chronic teacher shortages are a systemic problem, which means it’s largely a result of the system in which we educate and support teachers. We know, for example, that many alternative teacher preparation programs — where students come in with a bachelor’s degree outside of the field of education and take only a few courses in preparation for teaching — actually contribute to teacher shortages. So part of the answer is investing in traditional teacher preparation programs and in financial aid. Our team at CEHD’s Center for Excellence and Equity in Teacher Preparation is working directly with Delaware students from motivation to pursue teaching, through recruitment into UD teacher preparation programs, through graduation from those degree programs and into schools within Delaware, whenever possible. For example, our Teachers of Tomorrow program introduces underrepresented high schoolers to the field of education through an immersive, two-week summer institute at UD where they can learn about our programs, meet current students and talk with educators. In partnership with high-needs Delaware school districts and the Delaware Department of Education, our Teacher Residency program allows early childhood education, elementary teacher education and secondary STEM education students to pursue yearlong, paid teaching placements in Delaware schools. Overall, we find that 80% of the students we recruit from Delaware stay in our schools to teach. What recommendations do you have for school leaders who are struggling with turnover challenges? The first thing to do is to have a human resources professional conduct exit interviews with teachers who are leaving and for building leaders to pay attention to their responses so they can really understand the key causes of turnover in their school. In my research, I have analyzed exit interview data and I’ve found that teachers are often very straightforward about why they are leaving. The second step is to act on those reasons. And the third step is to constantly check in with the teachers. Ask, “how are things going? What can we do to help you address your instructional needs?” Developing relationships around instructional issues and the teachers’ work with students is fundamental to diagnosing and addressing issues before they lead to teacher turnover. What advice would you give a brand-new teacher about to start their first year in charge of a classroom? I believe that all educators should view students and their families for their assets and recognize that a student’s culture at home is an asset. A relationship with parents and students that recognizes and values the family’s culture allows you to unite with the family, unite with the student and give the student the confidence to take risks, to work hard and to want to come to school because that’s where they feel welcomed and honored. If parents are interested in supporting their child's education, how can they do so? I think the key ingredient for parents is working with teachers and principals to articulate the outcomes that they’re seeking for their children. It’s much easier to get everyone on the same page if you start from a position of common ground. I would also encourage parents to seek the person in the school system that’s closest to the issue. So if your child is struggling in math, reach out to your child’s math teacher first. If the teacher identifies other resources that may be helpful, then seek out additional support from the school principal. Gary T. Henry has much more to talk about as the school year gets underway. He is available for interviews. Click the "View Profile" button to get in touch with him.
Concerns Persist Over the State of Ecuadorian Democracy
On August 9, 2023, Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio was ambushed and killed following a campaign rally in Quito. The Alausí-born journalist-turned-assemblyman had long been a proponent of social and governmental reform, framing his election bid as a crusade against the drug traffickers, corrupt corporate interests and “political mafia” besetting his country. His assassination has, in turn, sparked concerns and discussion over the current state of democracy in Ecuador. Lowell Gustafson, PhD, is an expert on Latin American affairs and a professor of political science in Villanova University’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. From his perspective, Villavicencio’s murder stands as the latest chapter in a saga of malfeasance, intimidation and violence in the region. “This is not new in Latin American political history,” said Dr. Gustafson. “The role of private armies funded by economic sectors beyond state control has been an issue often for the national period. It has taken a stark turn with the riches pouring in from illegal drugs.” In Ecuador, “narco-capitalism” has emerged as a particularly corrosive force. According to Dr. Gustafson, Albanian, Mexican and South American criminal outfits established themselves within the nation by the early 2010s, drawn by the country’s vast network of ports and its proximity to coca-rich Colombia and Peru. “That became a problem for stability in 2016, when the government of Colombia signed a peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia [or FARC],” he stated. “FARC had long controlled cocaine trafficking routes from southern Colombia to Ecuador’s ports on the Pacific Ocean. With their dominance gone, other cartels began to compete for control.” Since the opening of this power vacuum, the situation in Ecuador has grown increasingly volatile, with the governmental response ham-fisted at best and faciliatory at worst. Under the presidential administrations of Rafael Correa, Lenín Moreno and Guillermo Lasso, the cartels succeeded in infiltrating the country’s privatized ports and airports, seizing control of the nation’s prison system and contributing to an ever-growing wave of crime. “Violence against public officials and by vigilante groups have steadily increased since 2018,” Dr. Gustafson said. “With the familiar choice between bribes and cooperation or violence, it is no wonder that cartel influence throughout the Ecuadorian state and military is widely discussed.” While Dr. Gustafson acknowledges the Ecuadorian government’s culpability for this disastrous situation and its escalation, he also cites another factor: the United States’ “war on drugs.” According to the professor, the longstanding U.S. policy has only served to prop up criminal enterprises south of the border, fueling a market for illicit substances. “After a half-century of the war and over a trillion dollars spent on it, coca cultivation in Colombia in 2020 was at an all-time high,” he shared. “The war on drugs has led to the continued power of illegal drug cartels in many countries, now including Ecuador.” In Dr. Gustafson’s estimation, the recent murder of Villavicencio only brings greater attention to this unfortunate state of affairs—a state of affairs common throughout Latin America. “With his consistent and outspoken critique of the cartels’ influence in Ecuador, Villavicencio courageously knew he faced the threat of violence,” he concluded. “The assassination of a presidential candidate brings all of this to a higher level within Ecuador, but the likely reason for [his murder] plagues Mexico, El Salvador and other Latin American nations.”
Back to School: Experts Available to talk ChatGPT, Food Insecurity and Education Leadership
With the school year starting very soon, the University of Delaware media team have rounded up some education stories, experts and research to consider for feature/publication. Experts: Gary Henry is dean of the University of Delaware’s College of Education and Human Development and professor in the School of Education and the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy & Administration. He specializes in education policy, educational evaluation, educator labor markets, and quantitative research methods. Gary can lend context and steps to take to reverse/adapt to this new educational landscape. Allison Karpyn is an associate professor who can speak to topics related to hunger, obesity, school food, supermarket access, food insecurity, healthy corner stores and strategies to develop and maintain farmer’s markets in low-income areas. She has spoken extensively about food in schools and can offer context to those subjects. Joshua Wilson is an associate professor and has been featured in WaPo for his AI/ChatGPT knowledge in the past. His research broadly focuses on ways to improve the teaching and learning of writing and specifically focuses on ways that automated writing evaluation systems can facilitate those improvements. Stories: UD professor partners with Sesame Workshop to create Stories with Clever Hedgehog Among the casualties of the Ukraine war are 2 million-plus children. In an effort to restore some sense of normalcy to their education years, University of Delaware professor Roberta Golinkoff—a nationally recognized expert in childhood literacy—has partnered with Sesame Workshop and others to develop Stories with Clever Hedgehog, a website with free interactive e-books, games and other resources. Books are available in both Ukrainian and English, prompting a global experience for readers of any background. There are photos and video ready for this coverage. Golinkoff and Sesame Workshop leadership are open for interviews. Research: Study finds teachers’ anxiety in mathematics and science was associated with the mathematics and science anxiety of their low-SES students To reach out to specific experts, please click on their "View Profile" button.
Bioenergy experts welcome commitment to sustainability in UK’s new Biomass Strategy
New strategy outlines role of biomass in UK’s transition to net zero, with sustainability as major theme Supergen Bioenergy Hub experts worked with government departments to provide scientific evidence and insight They welcome the holistic view of sustainability in the Biomass Strategy and call for action to deliver its ambitions. A group of bioenergy experts have welcomed the Government’s new UK Biomass Strategy, but say urgent action is now vital to shape its ambitions into deliverable policies. Researchers at the Supergen Bioenergy Hub - led by Aston University - worked closely with government departments to provide scientific evidence to inform the strategy, which outlines the role biomass will play in supporting the UK’s transition to net zero and how this will be achieved. Professor Patricia Thornley, who leads the Hub, says: “This is a comprehensive and considered biomass strategy that, rightly, places sustainability at the heart of UK bioenergy development. The challenge is now to produce actions that can deliver the sustainable system of biomass required to achieve net zero.” Sustainability is a major theme within the new strategy. It includes a review of how existing sustainability policies could be improved, as well as a commitment to developing a cross-sectoral sustainability framework (subject to consultation) to ensure sustainability across the many different applications of biomass. This follows previous work led by Dr Mirjam Rӧder, Systems Topic Group Lead in the Supergen Bioenergy Hub, calling for harmonised sustainability standards across different biomass applications, which is referenced in the strategy. Dr Rӧder says: “We need rigorous approaches to sustainability governance that go beyond emissions. Considering wider environmental, social and economic trade-offs is essential for true sustainability and building trust in bioenergy projects.” The strategy considers the amount of biomass resource that might be available to the UK in the future, highlighting the importance of both imported and domestically produced biomass resources. Professor Thornley comments: “It is important that the strategy recognises the potential of imported as well as indigenous biomass in achieving global greenhouse gas reductions. Sustainable systems should grow, convert and use biomass in the locations where they can deliver most impact, ensuring we take account of all supply chain emissions. We shouldn’t shy away from imports where the source is sustainable and the overall system makes environmental, economic and social sense.” The strategy also considers how biomass should be prioritised across a variety of applications to best support the transition to net zero. Biomass applications ranging from transport fuels and hydrogen to domestic and industrial heating are recognised as important, but in the medium to long term the focus is on integration of bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS). BECCS is an emerging technology where the CO2 that may be released during the production and use of electricity, fuels or products derived from biomass is captured and stored, potentially resulting in negative emissions. Professor Thornley comments: “The priority use framework outlined in the Biomass Strategy makes eminent sense. The UK (and the global energy system) needs carbon dioxide removals to deliver net zero. BECCS has an absolutely key role to play, as reflected in the strategy. Again, while this is encouraging to see, we must not underestimate the challenges of moving towards such a radically different system at scale.” “Relying on future BECCS deployment alone to counterbalance the current excess of greenhouse gas emissions would not enable the full potential and benefits of BECCS. BECCS should be deployed alongside measures to transition away from the use of fossil fuels, not instead of them,” adds Dr Joanna Sparks, Biomass Policy Fellow at the Supergen Bioenergy Hub, who engaged closely with government departments as they developed the strategy. Dr Sparks led an extensive policy engagement and knowledge transfer process to ensure that those developing the strategy had full access to the breadth and depth of UK scientific and engineering academic expertise, ensuring a robust, independent scientific base. Professor Thornley believes continued engagement between policymakers, academics and the wider sector is vital in achieving the next steps in the delivery of the Government’s strategy. She says: “The key to successful long-term results is a close partnership between academia, industry and policy stakeholders so that we can anticipate problems and plan the pathways to success.”
Managed retreat: Could this "extreme" move be one of the best ways of dealing with climate change?
Climate change is wreaking havoc on every part of the world right now. Coastal towns are seeing more consistent floods, inland cities are being plagued by droughts and fires and regions unaccustomed to deadly high temperatures are struggling to adapt. A.R. Siders, assistant professor in the Biden School of Public Policy and Administration and the Department of Geography and a core faculty member of the Disaster Research Center, looks at climate change and the impact it is having on communities. One solution she poses for regions being pummeled by climate change is managed retreat. The idea is to plan an exit strategy for a community before these life-altering events occur. One such example is Valmeyer, Ill. In 1993, back-to-back floods swamped the town, officials simply moved their residents to higher ground. Siders can discuss the advantages to this seemingly extreme move and other ways communities can deal with climate change. She has been featured in multiple national outlets including The New York Times, NPR and Vice. She is available for interviews. Click "View Profile" to connect with her.
Extreme heat is stretching the United States' electricity infrastructure to maximum capacity, and the reported disjointedness of the country's three electric grids has made it more difficult to deliver wind and solar power as reinforcements. Willett Kempton, professor of marine science and policy at the University of Delaware, led the development of a way to use electric car batteries to make grids more stable and resilient. Kempton advocates using electric storage through V2G technology to make electricity more reliable at a lower cost today and to enable the grid to use more renewable energy in the future. Kempton, associate director of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology for UD's Center for Research in Wind (CReW), pioneered technology for vehicle-to-grid (V2G) vehicles, which are capable of absorbing excess energy when demand for power is low and returning some back to the electric grid when the demand for power is high.
New Policy on BMI Use Will Change How Physicians Approach Diagnoses and Care
The Body Mass Index – or BMI – table was created in the mid-1800s, and for the last several decades has been viewed as the choice tool to diagnose obesity. However, the American Medical Association (AMA) recently issued a policy clarifying the role of BMI after taking a comprehensive look at both its benefits and limitations as a diagnostic tool. In short, the new policy urges physicians to use BMI only in conjunction with other measures of risk and recognizes the historical shortcomings of the oft-used formula. Lisa Diewald, MS, RDN, LDN, is the program manager of the MacDonald Center for Nutrition Education and Research with Villanova’s M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing. She applauds the AMA for embracing a more holistic approach to weight and health in individuals. “This is a huge step forward and I think it will ultimately lead to better health care and an improved practitioner-patient relationship,” Diewald said. To understand why, one must first understand the history of BMI’s use. The formula that spits out the number we have all come to understand as our BMI considers a person’s height and weight. It was developed in the mid-19th century by a Belgian sociologist to measure the socially ideal person. The modern term and application came about in the 1972 and has been a routine measurement ever since because it is easy, fast, costs nothing and in some cases, said Diewald, does correlate with body fat. But in recent years, large scale studies have exposed some of the limitations of the measure, building to the point where they needed to be weighed against the overt benefits. For starters, BMI does not measure body fat – or adiposity – directly. Adiposity, per Diewald, is more closely associated with health risk than BMI. “For this reason, health risk for some individuals with normal BMI but high body fat has been underestimated, and some with high BMI but normal body fat levels have been overestimated,” she said. Nor does it “differentiate between muscle, bone and body fat, or distribution of fat on the body,” Diewald said. “We know that all these factors can influence health and chronic disease risk.” Other comorbidities or chronic conditions that wouldn’t show up on a BMI chart alongside a number in the “normal” range can also impact health. Conversely, there are health conditions that might be incorrectly assumed just because a BMI is high. “Not every person with a high BMI experiences these chronic conditions, so developing a more holistic approach can lead to better assessment, treatment and outcomes,” Diewald said. Another shortfall she pointed out was its failure to factor in gender, race, body composition, ethnicity or physical activity level. Think back to the origins of the chart, intended to be a social standard created in Europe nearly two hundred years ago. “BMI tables were originally designed in the 1800’s using a population of white men,” Diewald said. “Understandably, at one point in time it was all we had to evaluate weight status, but it may not be accurate to use this standard alone with all groups of people.” These societal, gender and racial/ethnic factors led the AMA to explicitly cite “historical harm, use for racist exclusion and because BMI is based primarily on data collected from previous generations of non-Hispanic white populations” in the new policy on its clinical use. Additionally, the policy addressed the differences in body composition across genders, races and ages that were not being considered. There is also an ignored mental component in its use to diagnose obesity, which can lead to avoidance of doctor visits and, in turn, further physical issues. “Obesity is a multifactorial, complex condition and addressing it with individuals needs to be done with empathy and sensitivity, beginning with how it is measured,” Diewald said. “There are numerous factors influencing weight well beyond simply food intake, physical activity level and BMI, so it is important for practitioners to recognize that and communicate this to patients. “It is extremely difficult for people with higher weight to be told that they have a high BMI and simply need to eat less and move more. When BMI is used as the sole indicator of weight status, this can be psychologically damaging. We know that many who have been told to lose weight simply based on a high BMI may avoid going to the doctors for routine medical visits and skip necessary preventive care.” It will not be easy, she said, to move away from a method used for so long that has been ingrained as a part of a routine medical visit, but Diewald thinks utilization of the tool in conjunction with other assessments is the best way put this new policy to practice. She advocates for measures such as “Using BMI as only one of several indicators of chronic disease risk, asking permission to discuss weight and health risk, [and] using shared decision-making between practitioners and patient to determine course of treatment.” Education is also paramount to proper assessment of weight-related health risks. “Education cannot stop with physicians, however,” she said. “I think this provides an excellent launching pad for enhanced collaboration among health professionals such as dietitians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician’s assistants and others involved in providing care, nutrition counseling and lifestyle modification support to patients… Doing this can better fine tune recommendations for treatment, leading to improved outcomes.”
