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From Saver to Spender: Navigating the Retirement Mindset Shift
Let’s start with a familiar—and slightly ridiculous—scene: a retired couple with $750,000 safely tucked away in investments, quietly nibbling no-name tuna on toast while muttering, “We just can’t afford steak anymore.” Sound absurd? Sadly, it’s not fiction. Despite having ample savings, many retirees live with perpetual financial anxiety, clinging to their nest egg as if it were their last roll of toilet paper during a pandemic. Meanwhile, they try to survive solely on government pensions, making life unnecessarily stressful and, let’s face it, a bit joyless. I've wrestled with this as someone who entered retirement earlier than expected. Years in finance taught me how to budget, invest, and plan, but transitioning from saving to spending required a whole new mindset. I learned quickly that being financially “prepared” doesn’t mean you’re emotionally or psychologically ready to spend. So, what’s going on here? The Hypothesis: Individuals Prefer Spending Income Rather Than Saving Retirees prefer spending income (pensions or annuities) rather than withdrawing from savings or investment accounts. This isn’t just a quirky behavioural trend—it’s a deeply ingrained bias, and neuroscience supports it. Research by Michael S. Finke, a professor at The American College and noted researcher in retirement economics, revealed that retirees tend to spend most of their guaranteed income but only withdraw about half of their savings. In his words: “Retirees spend lifetime income, not savings.” The implication is clear: it’s not about how much money you have but how it feels to use it. This is partly due to what behavioral economists call “mental accounting.” We categorize our money into imaginary buckets: income is for spending, and savings are for safekeeping. Unfortunately, this can lead to financially irrational and highly risk-averse behaviors, such as eating cat food while having six figures in a TFSA. The Neuroscience of Spending Fear Add a little neuroscience, and the story deepens. As we age, changes in the brain, particularly in the prefrontal cortex, can affect how we assess risk and manage uncertainty. This can lead to: • Increased loss aversion: We more acutely feel the pain of spending or loss. • Decision paralysis: We delay or avoid withdrawals, even when reasonable. • Heightened anxiety about the future: We fear running out more than we enjoy spending in the present. This Fear of Running Out (FORO), which I’ve written about in a previous post, keeps many retirees in a defensive crouch, emotionally hoarding their savings rather than using them to enrich the years they worked so hard to reach. It’s no wonder money stress impacts us so deeply—our brains are wired that way. From an evolutionary perspective, our minds are designed to fear scarcity because running out of resources once posed a real danger. When we perceive that threat today, whether it’s a dip in our investments or rising grocery bills, our brain shifts into fight-or-flight mode and begins releasing cortisol—the stress hormone that heightens our anxiety. Then our amygdala, that little alarm system in our brain designed to protect us from danger, can’t differentiate between a financial crisis and a sabre-toothed tiger. So, it reacts similarly, nudging us toward quick, often irrational decisions. Sometimes that means freezing and doing nothing; other times, it leads to panicking and regretful choices. Understanding how our brains function under financial stress allows us to step back, breathe, and make better, calmer decisions—ones that serve us, not scare us. Retirement can be wonderfully freeing—no more commutes, no more meetings—but let’s be honest: it also comes with a significant shift in financial responsibility. Without that steady paycheck, it’s completely normal to feel uneasy about how you'll manage your money, especially when unexpected expenses arise. Sure, there are mindset tools and mental prep strategies that can help ease that existential “What now?” feeling before retirement. But let’s be specific—here are the real, concrete financial stressors that keep many retirees awake at night: • Not Enough Income: One of the biggest fears? Your savings won’t stretch far enough to support the life you want—or handle surprises. • Healthcare Costs: As we age, medical expenses climb. It’s not just the big stuff, either. Even prescriptions and dental bills can blow a hole in your budget. • Market Ups and Downs: A stock market dip can uniquely affect retirees. Observing your investments fluctuate can cause genuine anxiety regarding your income, especially in today’s “trade war” environment. • Inflation: We all feel it. The gradual rise of higher prices erodes your purchasing power, making that carefully saved nest egg feel less secure. • Living Longer Than Planned: It's both a blessing and a challenge. If you're healthy and living well into your 90s (and many do), the big question becomes: will your money last as long as you do? Here’s the good news: when you acknowledge these risks and build a plan around them, you exchange fear for control. And with power comes clarity, confidence, and significantly less stress. That’s when you can truly enjoy retirement—on your terms. How to Flip the Script: Make Savings Feel Like Income So, how can retirees overcome this psychological hurdle? Here are 3 powerful strategies: 1. Create Artificial Income Streams Turn a portion of your savings into predictable, automatic income. This could mean: • Setting up regular monthly withdrawals from an RRIF • Purchasing an annuity • Utilizing a bucket strategy, in which one portion of savings is maintained in a cash-like account to replicate a paycheck When money shows up like a salary, you’re more likely to feel permission to spend it. 2. Use Home Equity as a Back-Up Income Source A secured line of credit (HELOC) or a reverse mortgage can serve as a “Plan B” or income buffer. Knowing that the funds are available can alleviate anxiety, whether you use them or not. 3. Involve Family in Income Planning Sometimes, the best way to reframe a spending decision is through conversation. Adult children or trusted advisors can help develop a spending strategy that feels both secure and reasonable. Families can be invaluable in helping you design: • Emergency funding plans for unexpected expenses like healthcare • Gifting strategies (Want to help the kids or grandkids? Do it while you’re alive to see the joy!) • Income simulations replacing a regular paycheck Open conversations can also help uncover mismatched expectations. For instance, some older adults worry that spending their savings will leave less of an inheritance for their children, which might cause disappointment. But in many cases, their children would much rather see their parents use that money to care for themselves and enjoy their retirement years. The great irony of retirement? The hardest part isn’t building wealth; it’s allowing yourself to enjoy it. So, let’s retire the notion that frugality is forever. Replace the guilt of spending with the confidence of an income strategy. And if you're facing your savings with trepidation, remember: cat food may be a pantry staple for your pet, but it’s no reward for 40 years of hard work. Retirement isn't merely a financial phase—it’s a shift in mindset. That shift begins when we stop hoarding and start living.
BATON ROUGE – Since the Big Bang, the early universe had hydrogen, helium, and a scant amount of lithium. Later, some heavier elements, including iron, were forged in stars. But one of the biggest mysteries in astrophysics is: How did the first elements heavier than iron, such as gold, get created and distributed throughout the universe? A new answer has come from an unexpected place – magnetars. Neutron stars are the collapsed cores of stars that have exploded. They are so dense that one teaspoon of neutron star material, on Earth, would weigh as much as a billion tons. A magnetar is a neutron star with an extremely powerful magnetic field. On rare occasions, magnetars release an enormous amount of high-energy radiation when they undergo “starquakes,” which, like earthquakes, fracture the neutron star’s crust. Starquakes may also be associated with powerful bursts of radiation called magnetar giant flares, which can even affect Earth’s atmosphere. Only three magnetar giant flares have been observed in the Milky Way and the nearby Large Magellanic Cloud, and seven from other nearby galaxies. Astrophysicist Eric Burns and his team of researchers at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge study magnetars extensively through the observation of gamma-rays. These are the most energetic photons, most famous for turning Bruce Banner into the Incredible Hulk. Burns joined with researchers at Columbia University and other institutions to see if we could use gamma-rays to understand if magnetar giant flares forge the heaviest elements, and unexpectedly found the smoking-gun signature in decades-old data. The study, led by Anirudh Patel, a doctoral student at Columbia University in New York, is published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters. “It’s answering one of the questions of the century and solving a mystery using archival data that people had just forgotten about, demonstrating something that occurred when the Universe was younger,” said Burns. “Giant flares should occur just after the first stars died, meaning we have identified what could be the origin of the first gold in the universe.” How could gold be made at a magnetar? Patel and colleagues, including his advisor Brian Metzger, Professor at Columbia University and senior research scientist at the Flatiron Institute in New York, have been thinking about how radiation from giant flares could correspond to heavy elements forming there. This would happen through a “rapid process” of neutrons forging lighter atomic nuclei into heavier ones. Protons define the element’s identity on the periodic table: hydrogen has 1 proton, helium has 2, lithium has 3, and so on. Atoms also have neutrons which do not affect identity, but do add mass. Sometimes when an atom captures an extra neutron the atom becomes unstable and a nuclear decay process happens that converts a neutron into a proton, moving the atom forward on the periodic table. This is how, for example, a gold atom could take on an extra neutron and then transform into mercury. In the unique environment of a disrupted neutron star, in which the density of neutrons is extremely high, something even stranger happens: single atoms can rapidly capture so many neutrons that they undergo multiple decays, leading to the creation of a much heavier element like uranium. When astronomers observed the collision of two neutron stars in 2017 using NASA telescopes and the gravitational wave observatory LIGO, they confirmed that this event could have created gold, platinum, and other heavy elements. “LIGO tells us there was a merger of compact objects, and Fermi tells us there was a short gamma-ray burst. Together, we know that what we observed was the merging of two neutron stars, dramatically confirming the relationship,” said Burns. But neutron star mergers happen too late in the universe’s history to explain the earliest gold and other heavy elements. Finding secrets in old data At first, Metzger and colleagues thought that the easiest signature to study from the creation and distribution of heavy elements at a magnetar would appear in the visible and ultraviolet light, and published their predictions. But Burns in Louisiana wondered if there could be a gamma ray signal bright enough to be detected, too. He asked Metzger and Patel to work out what that signal could look like. Burns looked up the gamma ray data from the last giant flare that was observed, which was in December 2004. He realized that while scientists had explained the beginning of the outburst, they had also identified a smaller signal from the magnetar, in data from ESA (European Space Agency)’s INTEGRAL, a retired mission with NASA contributions. “It was noted at the time, but nobody had any conception of what it could be,” Burns said. Metzger remembers that Burns thought he and Patel were “pulling his leg” because the prediction from their team’s model so closely matched the mystery signal in the 2004 data. In other words, the gamma ray signal detected over 20 years ago corresponded to what thought it should look like when heavy elements are created and then distributed in a magnetar giant flare. "This is my favorite discovery I've contributed to,” said Burns. “My colleagues found this signal in the past, but nobody knew what it could be at the time. Once these models were ready, everything fit like a perfect puzzle, which is extremely rare in science." Researchers supported their conclusion using data from two NASA heliophysics missions: the retired RHESSI (Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager) and the ongoing NASA Wind satellite, which had also observed the magnetar giant flare. Other collaborators on the new study included Jared Goldberg at the Flatiron Institute. Next steps in the magnetar gold rush Patel’s study estimates that magnetar giant flares could contribute about 10% of the total abundance of elements heavier than iron in the galaxy. Since magnetars existed relatively early in the history of the universe, the first gold could have been created this way. LSU PhD candidate Aaron Trigg, a NASA FINESST (Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology) fellow, who works with Burns, is responsible for finding more magnetar giant flares to study. “These are gargantuan outbursts of energy from the strongest magnets in the Universe, which are powerful enough to affect Earth’s atmosphere,” said Burns. Trigg’s work will help us better understand these sources.” NASA’s forthcoming COSI (Compton Spectrometer and Imager) mission can follow up on these results. COSI, a wide-field gamma ray telescope, is expected to launch in 2027 and will study energetic phenomena in the cosmos, such as magnetar giant flares. COSI will be able to identify individual elements created in these events, providing a new advancement in understanding the origin of the elements. LSU is one of the lead science institutes for COSI. Burns and LSU Assistant Professor Michela Negro have key responsibilities in the mission, and Trigg is working through how best to study giant flares with COSI. These LSU astrophysicists will be growing their research group as they approach launch in 2027. “I have so many questions about the cosmos and our place in it,” said Trigg. “This research allows me to explore those questions and share the answers with the world.”
An Expert Guide to the Papacy and Pope Francis
The death of Pope Francis marks a pivotal moment for the Catholic Church, ending a papacy that redefined the Church's relationship with the modern world. As the College of Cardinals prepares to gather in conclave, Catholics across the globe are closely watching to see whether the next pontiff will build upon Francis' legacy or chart a new course. The following experts are available to provide insight into a range of related topics, including Pope Francis' enduring impact and what lies ahead for the world's 1.4 billion Catholics: Massimo Faggioli, PhD Professor, Theology and Religious Studies Dr. Massimo Faggioli is a world-renowned expert on the history and administrative inner workings of the Catholic Church, with specific expertise in the papacy, Vatican II, the Roman Curia, liturgical reform, new Catholic movements and Catholicism and global politics. As quoted on NPR: "Historically, we see in different conclaves a certain swinging of the pendulum. What the conclave and the next pope cannot do is to ignore and deny the changing features of global Catholicism, which is much less European, much less white, less North American and more Global South..." Kevin Hughes, PhD Chair, Theology and Religious Studies Dr. Kevin Hughes is a leading historical theologian, offering insights into the life, legacy and impact of Pope Francis. He can also speak to the significance of the pope in Catholicism and the influence of his teachings on the global Catholic Church. As quoted on Scripps News: "[Pope Francis' selection] was really the Church extending beyond the limits of its European imagination. His Latin American identity was really crucial to embracing a new moment within the Church and opening the door in so many ways, and I think he bore witness to that throughout his papacy." Jaisy Joseph, PhD Assistant Professor, Systematic and Constructive Theology Dr. Jaisy Joseph is a trained ecclesiologist, able to address a wide range of topics relating to the papacy, conclave process and Catholic Church. Previously, she has commented on the Church's presence in Asia and the Global South, offering expert commentary on its growth, challenges and shifting influence. As quoted by ABC News Digital: "[The election of someone from the Global South would be] a move in that direction of how to be a global church. That move from a Eurocentric church to a truly global church—I think that's what Francis really inaugurated." Patrick Brennan, JD Professor of Law; John F. Scarpa Chair in Catholic Legal Studies Professor Patrick Brennan is an expert on the conclave process and the main rules that govern it. He can also speak to topics such as the contemporary and historical importance of secrecy in the conclave, what the cardinals may be looking for in the next pope and the factors that cause similarities and differences from one conclave to the next. As quoted on Fox 29's Good Day Philadelphia: "The purpose of the general congregation is for the cardinals, who don't know each other in some cases, to get to know each other better as they learn about the current state of the Church and together decide on the needs of the Church and priorities for the new pontificate." Brett Grainger, ThD Associate Professor, Study of Spirituality and American Religious History Dr. Brett Grainger is a go-to source for discussions of the changing face and role of modern spirituality in America. He serves as an expert on contemporary religious trends and can also speak to the broader public reaction to Pope Francis' passing, especially outside of the Catholic faith. As quoted by Courthouse News Service: "People are disaffiliating from a tradition—that doesn't necessarily mean in fact that they don't believe in God anymore...What's more important is 'Is this giving me life? Is this making my life more meaningful? Is this giving me the kind of energy and purpose that I'm looking for?' That's where religion is going." Michael Moreland, JD, PhD Professor of Law and Religion; Director, Eleanor H. McCullen Center for Law, Religion and Public Policy Dr. Michael Moreland is a renowned scholar of constitutional law, religious freedom, public policy and ethics. He can provide expert commentary on items related to the Catholic right and the state of religious politics in the United States. As featured on NBC News Digital: Michael Moreland said the mass appeal of "Conclave" captured how, even in a secular modern age, there is still pervasive intrigue around "the ancient rituals of the Catholic Church." "The significance of the theological and spiritual aspects of Catholicism and this process of electing a pope was kind of reduced into partisan politics," he said. Ilia Delio, OSF, PhD Josephine C. Connelly Endowed Chair in Christian Theology Sr. Ilia Delio addresses topics in her work such as theology and evolution, technology and human becoming and understandings of Catholicity in a world of complexity. She can provide expert insight into Laudato Si', Pope Francis' position on the environment, the relationship between science and religion and integral ecology. As featured in the National Catholic Reporter: "We are clearly an Earth in crisis," with a reversal necessary to secure a sustainable future, said Ilia Delio... Delio posed a series of questions: about the relationship between religion and science; what Laudato Si', and Christianity more broadly, can offer ecological movements; and whether the concept of kinship or creation as family might better reflect humanity's place within nature than "care for creation." To speak with any of these media experts, please contact mediaexperts@villanova.edu.
Should I use AI to write my college entrance essay?
With the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence tools such as generative pre-trained transformers, or GPTs, high school students may be tempted to use the tools to perfect their college applications, particularly their entrance essay. Robert Alexander, a vice provost and the dean of enrollment management at the University of Rochester, cautions prospective college students from relying too heavily on AI tools in their applications. “The sentiment among college admissions professionals is that while AI tools may be helpful in generating essay topics and refining or editing students’ writing, we discourage their use to compose application essays or short answers because AI stifles an applicant’s authentic voice,” Alexander says. That personal voice becomes paramount when admissions officers are sifting through applications and considering how each student will contribute to the campus community and fit into the incoming class. “No college or university is trying to admit perfectly identical automaton students,” Alexander says. “At the University of Rochester, for instance, we’re not looking for 1,300 perfect students. We’re trying to craft the perfect class of 1,300 very different and highly-imperfect, but great-fit students.” The goal, he says, is to invite great students, inclusive of their imperfections, and guide them on a transformative journey through their next four years. “Colleges want students to come in with a growth mindset and potential,” Alexander says. “So, if students think they can use AI to help make their application ‘perfect,’ I think they’re chasing the wrong brass ring.” Alexander is an expert in undergraduate admissions and enrollment management who speaks on the subjects to national audiences and whose work has been published in national publications. Click his profile to reach him.
Chemical and Life Science Engineering Professor Michael “Pete” Peters, Ph.D., is investigating more efficient ways to manufacture biologic pharmaceuticals using a radial flow bioreactor he developed. With applications in vaccines and other personalized therapeutic treatments, biologics are versatile. Their genetic base can be manipulated to create a variety of effects from fighting infections by stimulating an immune response to weight loss by producing a specific hormone in the body. Ozempic, Wegovy and Victoza are some of the brand names for Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists used to treat diabetes. These drugs mimic the GLP-1 peptide, a hormone naturally produced in the body that regulates appetite, hunger and blood sugar. “I have a lot of experience with helical peptides like GLP-1 from my work with COVID therapeutics,” says Peters. “When it was discovered that these biologic pharmaceuticals can help with weight loss, demand spiked. These drug types were designed for people with type-2 diabetes and those diabetic patients couldn’t get their GLP-1 treatments. We wanted to find a way for manufacturers to scale up production to meet demand, especially now that further study of GLP-1 has revealed other applications for the drug, like smoking cessation.” Continuous Manufacturing of Biologic Pharmaceuticals Pharmaceuticals come in two basic forms: small-molecule and biologic. Small-molecule medicines are synthetically produced via chemical reactions while biologics are produced from microorganisms. Both types of medications are traditionally produced in a batch process, where base materials are fed into a staged system that produces “batches” of the small-molecule or biologic medication. This process is similar to a chef baking a single cake. Once these materials are exhausted, the batch is complete and the entire system needs to be reset before the next batch begins. “ The batch process can be cumbersome,” says Peters. “Shutting the whole process down and starting it up costs time and money. And if you want a second batch, you have to go through the entire process again after sterilization. Scaling the manufacturing process up is another problem because doubling the system size doesn’t equate to doubling the product. In engineering, that’s called nonlinear phenomena.” Continuous manufacturing improves efficiency and scalability by creating a system where production is ongoing over time rather than staged. These manufacturing techniques can lead to “end-to-end” continuous manufacturing, which is ideal for producing high-demand biologic pharmaceuticals like Ozempic, Wegovy and Victoza. Virginia Commonwealth University’s Medicines for All Institute is also focused on these production innovations. Peters’ continuous manufacturing system for biologics is called a radial flow bioreactor. A disk containing the microorganisms used for production sits on a fixture with a tube coming up through the center of the disk. As the transport fluid comes up the tube, the laminar flow created by its exiting the tube spreads it evenly and continuously over the disk. The interaction between the transport medium coming up the tube and the microorganisms on the disk creates the biological pharmaceutical, which is then taken away by the flow of the transport medium for continuous collection. Flowing the transport medium liquid over a disc coated with biologic-producing microorganisms allows the radial flow bioreactor to continuously produce biologic pharmaceuticals. “There are many advantages to a radial flow bioreactor,” says Peters. “It takes minutes to switch out the disk with the biologic-producing microorganisms. While continuously producing your biologic pharmaceutical, a manufacturer could have another disk in an incubator. Once the microorganisms in the incubator have grown to completely cover the disk, flow of the transport medium liquid to the radial flow bioreactor is shut off. The disk is replaced and then the transport medium flow resumes. That’s minutes for a production changeover instead of the many hours it takes to reset a system in the batch flow process.” The Building Blocks of Biologic Pharmaceuticals Biologic pharmaceuticals are natural molecules created by genetically manipulating microorganisms, like bacteria or mammalian cells. The technology involves designing and inserting a DNA plasmid that carries genetic instructions to the cells. This genetic code is a nucleotide sequence used by the cell to create proteins capable of performing a diverse range of functions within the body. Like musical notes, each nucleotide represents specific genetic information. The arrangement of these sequences, like notes in a song, changes what the cell is instructed to do. In the same way notes can be arranged to create different musical compositions, nucleotide sequences can completely alter a cell’s behavior. Microorganisms transcribe the inserted DNA into a much smaller, mRNA coded molecule. Then the mRNA molecule has its nucleotide code translated into a chain of amino acids, forming a polypeptide that eventually folds into a protein that can act within the body. “One of the disadvantages of biologic design is the wide range of molecular conformations biological molecules can adopt,” says Peters. “Small-molecule medications, on the other hand, are typically more rigid, but difficult to design via first-principle engineering methods. A lot of my focus has been on helical peptides, like GLP-1, that are a programmable biologic pharmaceutical designed from first principles and have the stability of a small-molecule.” The stability Peters describes comes from the helical peptide’s structure, an alpha helix where the amino acid chain coils into a spiral that twists clockwise. Hydrogen bonds that occur between the peptide’s backbone creates a repeating pattern that pulls the helix tightly together to resist conformational changes. “It’s why we used it in our COVID therapeutic and makes it an excellent candidate for GLP-1 continuous production because of its relative stability,” says Peters. Programming The Cell Chemical and Life Science Engineering Assistant Professor Leah Spangler, Ph.D., is an expert at instructing cells to make specific things. Her material science background employs proteins to build or manipulate products not found in nature, like purifying rare-earth elements for use in electronics. “My lab’s function is to make proteins every day,” says Spangler. “The kind of proteins we make depends entirely on the project they are for. More specifically I use proteins to make things that don’t occur in nature. The reason proteins don’t build things like solar cells or the quantum dots used in LCD TVs is because nature is not going to evolve a solar cell or a display surface. Nature doesn’t know what either of those things are. However, proteins can be instructed to build these items, if we code them to.” Spangler is collaborating with Peters in the development of his radial flow bioreactor, specifically to engineer a microorganismal bacteria cell capable of continuously producing biologic pharmaceuticals. “We build proteins by leveraging bacteria to make them for us,” says Spangler. “It’s a well known technology. For this project, we’re hypothesizing that Escherichia coli (E. coli) can be modified to make GLP-1. Personally, I like working with E. coli because it’s a simple bacteria that has been thoroughly studied, so there’s lots of tools available for working with it compared to other cell types.” Development of the process and technique to use E. coli with the radial flow bioreactor is ongoing. “Working with Dr. Spangler has been a game changer for me,” says Peters. “She came to the College of Engineering with a background in protein engineering and an expertise with bacteria. Most of my work was in mammalian cells, so it’s been a great collaboration. We’ve been able to work together and develop this bioreactor to produce GLP-1.” Other Radial Flow Bioreactor Applications Similar to how the GLP-1 peptide has found applications beyond diabetes treatment, the radial flow bioreactor can also be used in different roles. Peters is currently exploring the reactor’s viability for harnessing solar energy. “One of the things we’ve done with the internal disc is to use it as a solar panel,” says Peters. “The disk can be a black body that absorbs light and gets warm. If you run water through the system, water also absorbs the radiation’s energy. The radial flow pattern automatically optimizes energy driving forces with fluid residence time. That makes for a very effective solar heating system. This heating system is a simple proof of concept. Our next step is to determine a method that harnesses solar radiation to create electricity in a continuous manner.” The radial flow bioreactor can also be implemented for environmental cleanup. With a disk tailored for water filtration, desalination or bioremediation, untreated water can be pushed through the system until it reaches a satisfactory level of purification. “The continuous bioreactor design is based on first principles of engineering that our students are learning through their undergraduate education,” says Peters. “The nonlinear scaling laws and performance predictions are fundamentally based. In this day of continued emphasis on empirical AI algorithms, the diminishing understanding of fundamental physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics that underlie engineering principles is a challenge. It’s important we not let first-principles and fundamental understanding be degraded from our educational mission, and projects like the radial flow bioreactor help students see these important fundamentals in action.”
5 Reasons Why Experts Should Drive Your Content Marketing Strategy
It’s a fact: buyers today don’t want to be prospected, demoed, or closed. Whether it’s a procurement officer on the other end of the phone, a prospect reviewing a product online, or a journalist assessing the credibility of a potential spokesperson, “buyers” today expect a more authentic, reliable and practical experience when getting to know an organization, product or service. That’s why understanding how your expertise fits into the buyer’s journey to attract attention, drive interactions and earn trust is becoming critical to success. For marketers today the purchase process has increased in complexity. Today, audiences advance through a process known as the buyer’s journey” – the research and decision-making process that customers go through which progresses from awareness to evaluation and ultimately purchase. The Shift to Expertise Marketing In the early days of marketing and sales, organizations practiced a features oriented “buy what I have” approach; however, these traditional product-oriented marketing approaches are failing to yield the benefits they once did. Audiences have become far more sophisticated. Research clearly shows that expert content is setting the bar for relevance, credibility and attractiveness for every stage of the buyer journey. Here’s 5 major trends you need to know plus some helpful tips to help you deal with this reality. #1 – Buyers Have Shifted into Self-Serve Mode When Researching Purchases Approximately 67% of the buyer’s journey is complete prior to contacting a vendor (Source: Sirius Decisions) The research continues to show that many buyers would sooner help themselves to content rather than speak to a salesperson, especially in the early stage of the buyer journey. Audiences are increasingly venturing online to doing more of their own research to validate the buying decision. And they are digging deeper into content and are looking to see the people you have on board to support their decision-making. Tip: Remember that people buy from people. Think about how you can create a more human user experience by giving your experts and their content more profile on your website to drive engagement and build trust. It’s time to go beyond simple headshots and biographies to develop a richer amount of supporting information that feeds your website and search engines. #2- The Buyer Journey is More Collaborative & Non-Linear Than Ever Its clear that the traditional linear sales funnel has disappeared. In B2B markets, buyers now engage with an average of 11.4 pieces of content prior to making a purchase (Source: Forrester Research). They are now more likely to bounce around in a variety of sites. Tip: Evaluate the touchpoints you provide with expert content across your websites and how they interact at various buyer stages, from initial search to content to the connection process. In the end are you making it easy for buyers to engage with the content your experts have to offer? #3 – Experts are a Top Source of Influence in Purchase Behavior Research by the Information Technology Sales and Marketing Association (ITSMA) has consistently ranked subject-matter experts as a top source of information influencing purchase behavior in B2B, higher consideration purchases. In this new model, buyers validate the purchase decision by seeking out reliable information from trusted sources. Decisions such as what lawyer to choose; what IT platform to invest in or where to study for graduate school can be very positively influenced by expert content. Tip: Ensure you have engaging expert content available online to support buyers across all stages of the buyer journey. Remember they may be looking for additional validation as well as education. #4 – The Buying Process is More Inclusive than Ever with Multiple Personas Playing a Part In addition to consulting industry peers on social media channels, buyers work with colleagues inside their organizations when making purchase decisions. Marketers and salespeople cannot be content with focusing on key decision makers. If you aren’t known company-wide this will present challenges. Tip: Marketers must reach the broader buying group in an organization, which means making larger amounts of expert content with messages targeted to specific personas. Weaving experts into the discussion and engaging more departments within a buyer’s organization will help wield influence on the final buying decision. #5 – Feeding the Search Engines The Right Content Matters More Than Ever According to a Google/Millward Brown study, 71% of business purchases begin with a non-branded search. These generic queries, are from people looking for product first, not for a specific brand or organization name. Huge improvements in organic search rank are possible once when your content is optimized to support the customer at all phases of the buyer journey. Expert content, in the form of articles, infographics, or videos, not only strengthens the trust relationship with your buyer, but also reinforces your value and expertise with search engines. you pay a little more attention to the information structure on your website and add assets such as multimedia content to expert profiles. Search engines continue to reward well developed expert content that has personal attribution with higher trust and authority rankings as it views this content as more relevant. Tip: Start with some tests using Google and Bing to assess how your experts are surfacing on key topics. Also do some searches on the names of your experts to see what position they surface at organically. Where possible add videos, photos, audio, books and social content that you can add to their profiles. Also ensure that the information is properly tagged to allow search engines to properly index this content. About ExpertFile ExpertFile is changing the way organizations tap into the power of their experts to drive valuable inquiries, accelerate revenue growth, and enhance their brand reputation. Used by leading corporate, higher education and healthcare clients worldwide, our award-winning platform helps teams structure, manage and promote their expert content while our search engine features experts on over 50,000+ topics. Learn more at: www.expertfile.com/getstarted.
Taking ACT-ion for Quality Improvement
“Learning is a journey. It is continuous,” said nurse Hellen Okoth, MSN, CCRN, RN-BC, of the Transitional Surgical Unit. She was one of the learners on that journey through ChristianaCare’s professional development program Achieving Competency Today (ACT). ACT, a 12-week graduate-level program dedicated to health care improvement, will celebrate its 40th session in 2025. Some 1,000 caregivers have graduated from ACT and have tested some 140 innovative project ideas since the program’s launch in 2003. On April 9, three ACT teams presented their quality improvement projects at the John H. Ammon Medical Education Center on ChristianaCare’s Newark campus. Interdisciplinary, experiential learning programs like ACT create a rich and dynamic learning environment,” said Tabassum Salam, M.D., MBA, FACP, chief learning officer for ChristianaCare. “The emphasis on continuous improvement and real-world applications of the educational content sets our ACT graduates up for lifelong learning and repeated application of these new skills.” The ACT course is a collaborative experience that brings together learners from diverse disciplines to tackle real-world health care challenges. Participants learn from health system leaders and gain a broad perspective on health care through coursework. They work in teams to complete problem-solving projects from start to finish using the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PCDA) model of continuous improvement. Facilitators, who are experts in improvement science and team effectiveness, guide the teams through the process, ensuring that each project is meticulously planned and executed. ChristianaCare offers many professional development opportunities. Click here for careers and benefits. “The hands-on projects in ACT enable learners to innovate and test out solutions in settings that directly benefit patients, leading to better outcomes and a higher quality of care,” Salam said. The three most recent teams presented improvement research that has the potential to expand beyond their pilot stage to other areas of the health system. ‘Hush! For the Love of Health’ In “Hush! For the Love of Health,” an interdisciplinary team worked to reduce noise levels on the Cardiovascular Critical Care Unit (CVCCC) at Christiana Hospital. Their goal was to decrease ambient noise levels by 10 decibels during the study period. Intensive care units often experience noise levels that can exceed 80 decibels. A quiet environment is 30 to 40 decibels. Members of the “Hush” project found creative ways to reduce noise on an intensive care unit. Ambient noise refers to all sounds present in the background, which research shows can interfere with communication, concentration and comfort. In a hospital setting, these sounds may include alarms, conversations, announcement and pages and carts moving by. The team looked for opportunities to safely reduce the number of alarms sounding. By collaborating with Philips technology company to lower alarm volumes and eliminate redundant alarms, they reduced the number of alarms sounding from 10,000 to 3,000 daily and successfully decreased noise levels by 13 decibels, exceeding their goal. “It’s good for patients to have a quiet environment and it fights alarm fatigue for caregivers,” said Dylan Norris, a pre-medical student from the University of Delaware and participant in the ACT course. ‘Show Up and Show Out’ Reducing the no-show rate among patients in primary care practices improves health outcomes and conserves resources. In “Show Up and Show Out: Boosting Patient Attendance in Primary Care,” the project team aimed to reduce the incidence of no-show appointments at the Wilmington Adult Medicine (WAM) practice by 10%. The “Show Up and Show Out” project team used personalized communication outreach to patients to encourage keeping their primary care appointments. “Our literature review showed that personal relationships with providers are one thing that can encourage people to attend appointments,” said team member Christi Karawan, MS, BSN, CCRN-CSC. The key to their problem-solving strategy was using a secure messaging platform for automatic appointment reminders specifically for WAM that were personalized with the provider’s name and thanking the patients for letting WAM be a part of their healthcare team. Other steps on the road to success were signage around the practice encouraging patients to update their contact information and calls from office assistants and medical assistants to unconfirmed patients the day prior to their appointments. The team achieved a 9.5% reduction in no-shows, just shy of their goal, over a two-week period. An office assistant who participated in the pilot said, “Outreach has been helpful not only in getting people in but in getting people to reschedule or cancel. We can catch it before it becomes a no-show.” ‘Magnetic Efficiency’ To address delays in patient transport from MRI testing at Newark campus, an ACT team created a new communication workflow to directly connect patient escort dispatch to the MRI charge technician. The ACT team aimed to decrease patient wait times following MRI completion for stretcher transport back to patients rooms by 25% — and “a bold goal,” said one colleague — during the study period. The “Magnetic Efficiency” team identified a new workflow to get patients back to their hospital rooms faster after MRI testing. Using Vocera wearable communications tools, the team created a thread for direct communication between Escort Dispatch caregivers and MRI charge technicians. Also, when an Escort transporter dropped off a patient for an MRI, the transporter asked MRI staff if any patients were ready to go back to their rooms. These changes in communication and empowerment consolidated transports and led to a 17% reduction in wait time during the two-week pilot. “We don’t want people to work harder,” said team member Tim Kane, BSN, RN. “We wanted to avoid preventable delays.” Both teams expressed satisfaction and improved communication with the new process and they expressed interest in continuing the process after the pilot ended. Future forward The ACT course has a rich history, originating from a specific initiative piloted by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation with ChristianaCare among the early adopters along with Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, Johns Hopkins University and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Through the years, ChristianaCare ACT team members have seen their projects live on both as permanent changes throughout the health system and, more personally, in their professional growth. “I was able to enhance my creativity, organizational and problem-solving skills,” said Starr Lumpkin, a staff assistant who was on the “Hush” team. “This was a pivotal journey for me.” ChristianaCare is growing its program to develop a pipeline for the next generation of health professionals, said Safety and Quality Education Specialist Claire Rudolph, MSM, CPHQ. “We have a varied group of learners and facilitators who are making an impact on health care quality, cost and safety.” Dylan Norris was the first participant from a new partnership with the University of Delaware for pre-med students to get quality improvement experience. “I have learned so much about what goes into a quality improvement project. Buy-in from the stakeholders is key in implementing any new project successfully,” she said. “I have also learned about the importance of the initial research that goes into creating a new project and how much pre-planning goes into it.” Closing the event, Clinical Effectiveness Officer Christian Coletti, M.D., MHCDS, FACEP, FACP, called on the ACT graduates to use their newfound “superpowers” — “vision, seeing the future, catching something before it breaks. “It’s not a glitch in the matrix,” he said. “You are the most important people at the bedside – hearing the alarms going off or the stretchers piling up. Work to identify problems and move toward solutions in your own microenvironments. Pass on your powers with reckless abandon.”
Are test-optional colleges being straight with students when they say the absence of SAT and ACT scores on an application won’t affect a student’s chances of being admitted? “Colleges are not trying to trick or trap applicants,” says Robert Alexander, who oversees the admissions process at the University of Rochester, where he is a vice provost and the dean of enrollment management. “No one is trying to fool anyone into thinking, ‘I don’t have to submit a test score,’ when that test score is secretly make-or-break.” Much more important in any academic assessment, Alexander says, is and always has been the four years of academic performance detailed in an applicant’s high school transcript. He says most colleges, including Rochester, take a deep dive into the transcript to not only consider the student’s grade point average, but also the rigor of the high school and its curriculum and why the student selected certain courses. “Some students are limited by the opportunities offered at their schools,” Alexander says. “In that case, colleges look for what they have done to utilize their resources and push beyond those limitations.” The University of Rochester has a test-optional policy. The average standardized test score of incoming students has been trending upward, in part because the students who are most likely to submit their scores on their applications are those with strong scores. Alexander says prospective students and their families can use the average test scores at the college or university they’re considering as a barometer, but not the arbiter of whether a student will gain acceptance. “I think admissions officers are being as transparent as possible in telling students what they require,” Alexander says. Alexander is an expert in undergraduate admissions and enrollment management who speaks on the subjects to national audiences and whose work has been published in national publications. Click his profile to reach him.
What's Your Retirement Plan B?
Chances are, you have seen the ups and downs in the financial markets, which can really cause seniors a lot of anxiety when looking at those portfolio statements. Add to that the ripple effects of the Canada-U.S. trade war, and it’s more essential than ever to have a Plan B. The Trade War Is Personal The Canada-U.S. trade tensions may appear to be a political issue, but their repercussions are directly impacting kitchen tables across the country. Inflation is increasing the cost of everyday essentials, while investments—on which many retirees depend for income—are suffering. For those who cannot easily re-enter the workforce, this situation is more than just inconvenient. It’s stressful. Withdrawing investments during a market dip can permanently reduce your savings. Meanwhile, rising prices on everything from apples to arthritis medication stretch fixed incomes thinner than ever. This isn’t just about budgeting anymore —it's about building a wise financial safety net. Plan B Matters More in Retirement You’ve worked hard to reach this point. Retirement should be about freedom, not fear. However, having a backup plan is essential since there are limited ways to generate new income. Think of Plan B as your financial airbag — something you hope you never need, but you're grateful it's there when life encounters a bump. And let’s be honest: even the most well-padded retirement can use a little backup when the economy’s doing somersaults. The Simple Economics of Cashflow Managing your finances boils down to a straightforward equation: money in versus money out. Think of it as balancing a seesaw—on one side, you have your income (cash in), and on the other, your expenses (cash out). For seniors, especially those on a fixed income, keeping this balance is crucial. Boosting Your Income Even in retirement, there are ways to add a little extra to your “money in” side. This could be through part-time work, turning a hobby into a small business, or renting out unused space in your home. Every additional dollar earned can provide more breathing room in your budget. Another option for many Canadians, is right under their feet—their homes. Home equity can be a powerful tool, giving them access to funds without selling or downsizing. Here are some practical options you may want to consider: Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC): If you qualify, a HELOC offers flexible access to funds and charges interest only on the amount you use. It’s perfect for short-term needs or emergency access. Remember, you’ll need to make monthly payments and provide proof of income to qualify. Manulife One is a creative and customizable solution that combines your mortgage, income, and savings into a single account. It allows you to borrow against your home with greater flexibility. Payments are required but can be made within the available limit. Qualifying is similar to a HELOC. Reverse Mortgage: For homeowners aged 55 and older, a reverse mortgage allows you to access your home equity without the need for monthly payments. The loan is repaid when you sell or move, providing you with freedom and cash flow while remaining in your home. These tools can help ensure you're not forced to withdraw from investments during market downturns, letting your money recover while you stay comfortable. Trimming Your Expenses On the flip side, reducing your “money out” can be equally, if not more, effective. Perhaps you have subscriptions you no longer use for streaming services or mobile phone plans. Or you find you are purchasing too many items at the store because you aren’t preparing a list. Or you are dining out multiple times a week. Remember, every dollar you don’t spend is a dollar saved. Let’s unpack this a bit more, looking at this from a tax perspective Understanding the After-Tax Advantage of Cost Reduction For seniors supplementing their income with part-time work, it’s crucial to recognize that reducing expenses can be more impactful than earning additional income, primarily due to the effects of taxation. For example, let’s consider part-time income at a marginal tax rate of 30%. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- • To have an extra $100 in your pocket after taxes, you’d need to earn approximately $142.86 before taxes. This is because 30% of $142.86 is $42.86, leaving you with $100 after tax. • Conversely, if you reduce your expenses by $100, you effectively save the full amount. There’s no tax on money you don’t spend. Why This Matters: Every dollar saved is equivalent to more than a dollar earned when considering taxes. This means that focusing on cost-saving measures can be a more efficient strategy for improving your financial situation than seeking additional taxable income. 3 Major Strategies to Help You Cut Costs Budgeting: Prioritize identifying and eliminating unnecessary expenses. Regularly review subscriptions, dining habits, and utility plans to find areas where you can cut back. Smart Shopping: Utilize discounts, loyalty programs, and bulk purchasing options to reduce spending on essentials. Tax Planning: Be aware of how additional income might affect your tax bracket and eligibility for income-tested benefits. Sometimes, earning more can inadvertently reduce certain government benefits. Saving Smart – Some Tips to Get Started Your Plan B doesn’t have to focus solely on earning more income or borrowing. Sometimes, the best backup plan begins with cutting the extras. Think of it as being retro cool — just like you were before it became trendy. Tip #1: Rethink Dining Out - A Once-A-Week Treat, Not a Routine I love to dine out. It’s great to leave the cooking to someone else, especially after a busy day. But this is also one of the fastest ways to drain your budget. In Toronto, the average cost of a casual dinner for two with wine is around $90–$120. Opt for a more upscale spot? You’re likely looking at $150+ after tax and tip. Savings Tips • Cutting out one dinner per week could save approximately $400–$500/month or $5,000–$6,000/year. • Think about hosting a monthly dinner with friends at home where everyone brings a dish. You’ll still enjoy social time—but for a fraction of the cost. Or maybe try organizing a game night. Perhaps it’s euchre or cribbage, or maybe charades they all have something in common (they don’t require a monthly fee). Organize a potluck to bring people together. Twister might be off the table (unless your chiropractor is on standby), but laughter and connection are always in season. • Also think about how you can share resources. From ride-shares to splitting bulk grocery purchases with a neighbor, the old-school approach of sharing is making a comeback. It’s like carpooling, but with avocados and streaming passwords. Tip #2 Review Your Subscriptions - What are you Really Using? Have you already binge-watched all the episodes of your favourite shows, but you are still paying for streaming services you haven’t used in months? Then it’s time to cancel some subscriptions. According to the Convergence Consulting Group The average Canadian household now spends $70–$90/month on streaming and digital services (Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, Spotify, etc.). Many people are paying too much for mobile. According to the CRTC, the average Canadian pays $64/month for mobile service. Seniors who negotiate can often reduce this to $35–$45/month—a 30–40% savings. Savings Tips: • Audit Your Subscriptions: Write down every monthly and yearly subscription you have. Even cutting or optimizing 2 or 3 could save $30–$50/month. • Cancel subscriptions you don’t use often. You can always resubscribe later. Instead of paying for four platforms and using a few, consider rotating through them one at a time. You’ll be surprised at how quickly you can catch up on your favorites. Many streaming platforms also offer free trials or cheaper, ad-supported versions. • Call Your Mobile Phone & Internet Carrier Once a Year. Most people don’t realize how much loyalty can cost them. New customers often get much better deals than long-standing ones. When you call, here are some questions to ask: “Am I on the best plan for my usage?” “Are there any promotions I qualify for?” “Can I get a loyalty discount?” “Do you offer special discounts for seniors?” Keep in mind there are also senior-specific mobile plans from carriers like Zoomer Wireless, Public Mobile, or SpeakOut. • Don’t be shy about taking your business elsewhere. Carriers don’t want to lose subscribers and have special offers designed to make you want to stay. You’d be surprised how quickly they "find" a discount. Savings Tip #3: Don’t Throw Out Those Flyers and Coupons With inflation pushing up grocery prices, shopping smart matters more than ever. According to Statistics Canada, the average Canadian household now spends $1,065/month on groceries. So, it may be time to pay attention to those grocery store flyers you used to throw out. While Canadian data on potential savings is limited, US studies show that flyers and couponing can reduce costs by 10–25% for groceries and other household items if used consistently. Savings Tips: • Use apps like Flipp or visit sites like Smart Canuks to find online flyers you may have missed. • Sign up for loyalty cards to access extra discounts. One of the most popular savings programs, PC Optimum, offers frequent discounts and helps you collect points at Shoppers Drug Mart and Loblaws. Also, remember to swipe loyalty cards at the pump; many gas retailers offer discounts that can add up. • Consider shopping at stores like Walmart, which have pricing-matching policies for identical items you find advertised elsewhere. Saving Tip #4: Cut the “Daily Habits” That Add Up Remember, it’s not just the big expenses—it’s the daily ones that sneak up on you. Let’s look at a few “seemingly small” indulgences as examples: • 3 Starbucks Grande Lattes ($6.45 + tax) x 3 days/week = $1,137/year • Take-Out Lunch (for $12 + Tax) x 3 days/week = $2,115/year That’s over $3,000/year in “small” daily purchases! Savings Tips: • Prepare Meals in Advance: Cooking larger portions and planning for leftovers can minimize the temptation of ordering takeout. Planning meals and shopping with a list can prevent impulse purchases and reduce food waste. • Embrace the Home Café Trend: Investing in a quality coffee maker and brewing your own coffee can add joy to your day but also reduce your costs. • Set a Food Budget: Establishing a clear budget for dining out and groceries helps you track expenses and make more mindful spending decisions. Try allocating specific amounts to avoid overspending. Saving Tip #5: Leverage Senior Discounts if you are 60+ From transit to museums to groceries and drugstores, there are dozens of businesses that offer 10–20% off for seniors—but they don’t always advertise it. Many stores also have a set day of the week for seniors' discounts. Consider this: A $50 weekly purchase with 20% off saves $10—over $500/year. Savings Tips: • Shoppers Drug Mart has a 20% Seniors Day on Thursdays (for those 65+) • Rexall offers a 20% discount on Tuesdays • Many major retailers (e.g., Canadian Tire, Sobeys) offer senior discounts that vary by location—ask at checkout. Cineplex has special pricing for seniors plus seasonal promos like $5 Tuesdays if you want to take the grandkids with you. Saving Tip #6: Mind Your Utilities and Insurance Reviewing these bills once a year can result in hundreds of dollars saved. Consider switching to time-of-use electricity plans, which are offered in most areas. Check to see when cheaper rates are offered during off-peak hours, and look at using appliances such as your clothes dryer on off-peak hours. You can also lower your insurance premiums by looking at options such as raising your deductible (if you’re comfortable with the risk). Also, look at rates offered by providers for “pay as you drive” insurance, especially if you aren’t using your car a lot. Also, if you are not bundling your home and auto insurance, you may be missing out on some savings. Saving Tip #7: Buy & Sell Online Many items we need can be found for a fraction of the cost used on platforms such as Facebook Marketplace and Kijiji. And remember, buying a used item also saves on tax. Many retirees have extra furniture, tools, collectibles, or tech they don’t need. It's now easier than ever to declutter and turn these unused items into extra cash. It’s All About Small Changes and Big Rewards Recessions are hard on everyone, but especially on those living on fixed incomes. The good news is that there are plenty of smart, manageable ways to reduce expenses without giving up all the good things in life. By becoming a more conscious consumer and checking in on your spending habits once or twice a year, you can save thousands of dollars annually—money that can be redirected toward travel, gifts for grandkids, or, if nothing else, it just may calm your nerves. Another Tip: Don’t Wait — Timing Matters If this trade war continues, housing values may dip, which means the equity you can access could shrink. Getting your Plan B in place now ensures you lock in flexibility and peace of mind before things tighten up. Remember, it’s easier to get approved for a HELOC or reverse mortgage when you don’t urgently need it. It's better to set it up and keep it on standby than to wait until it’s too late. Talk It Out Stress develops in silence. Speak to family and friends about your concerns. They may not have all the answers, but they’ll provide emotional support — and possibly assist with paperwork or technical hurdles. If you have senior loved ones, check in and ask how they’re feeling about rising costs and uncertainty. These conversations go a long way and might even lead to better solutions. This trade war isn’t solely about economics. It involves peace of mind, dignity, and stability in retirement. While it may not be the type of Plan B that preoccupies the younger generation, it is equally important — perhaps even more so. So, take a breath. Make a plan. Get creative with your budget, and look at ways to save. Tap into your home equity if necessary, and don’t hesitate to ask for help. With the right Plan B, you can face the future with confidence — and perhaps even enjoy a little fun along the way. Here's a handy checklist to help you get started. Quick Wins Checklist ❏ Cancel one unused subscription ❏ Call your mobile carrier for a better deal ❏ Bring lunch instead of dining out 1x/week ❏ Use a coupon or flyer on your next grocery trip ❏ Look for a senior discount before you pay ❏ Brew your coffee at home 3 days this week ❏ Research potential discounts on your car insurance (bundling or pay-as-you-drive options) ❏ Use your clothes dryer or other appliances during off-peak hours to save on electricity Don’t Retire … Re-Wire! Sue
In new book, entomologist shows homeowners how to make changes in their yards
They asked, he answered. In his new book, "How Can I Help?: Saving Nature with Your Yard," nationally known University of Delaware entomologist Doug Tallamy addresses the most common questions he receives from homeowners looking to do their part to impact the food web, boost biodiversity and replace invasive plants with native ones. “Change is afoot!” Tallamy writes in the book, which was released today, April 8. “The cultural change from an adversarial relationship with nature to a collaborative one is starting to happen, and it gives me hope about the future of diversity and thus our own future.” Tallamy, TA Baker Professor of Agriculture and Natural Resources, wrote “How Can I Help” to tackle questions he’s received over email and during talks he has given around the U.S. “I get the same questions over and over again,” Tallamy said. “They fall into easily arranged categories: Questions about oaks, questions about ecology, questions about invasive plants. The book almost wrote itself in that sense.” Some of those common questions include: • Why should I care about the food web? • How should I choose the right native plants for my property? • What is the greatest threat to oaks? • How do we prioritize which invasive species to get rid of? • Are bug zappers hurting insect populations? • Is it better to have fewer plants of lots of species or more plants of fewer species? • Is it good to feed the birds? Tallamy is available for interviews to discuss "How Can I Help" or other relevant topics. To reach him directly, visit his profile and click on the "connect" button.
