MSU research: global scope, local impact

Contact: University Relations, (517) 355-2281, Media.Communications@ur.msu.edu

The American Association for the Advancement of Science annual meeting, Feb. 15-19 in San Francisco, is an international science and technology extravaganza, with a range and impact that generates extensive news coverage and influences science conference organizers around the world.

Eleven Michigan State University professors and staff will talk about issues ranging from drinking water to ethanol, from scientific literacy to risk assessment and from politics to public relations.

This year, MSU also will be participating in three news conferences.

News releases are embargoed and will be posted at the time of presentation:

• Jon D. Miller, MSU Hannah Professor of Integrative Studies

  “The number of public policy controversies that require some scientific or technical knowledge for effective participation has been increasing. Any number of issues… point to the need for an informed citizenry in the formulation of public policy.”

• Joseph Arvai, assistant professor of community, agriculture, recreation and resource studies, and Environmental Science and Public Policy faculty member

  "People tend to have a hard time evaluating numbers, even when the numbers are clear and right in front of them."

• Joan Rose, Nowlin Chair of Water Research

  “Outbreaks of waterborne illness are like the plane crashes of the water industry. They’re the big events that get people’s attention. But there are other things going on.”

• Bruce Dale, professor of engineering

  "Biofuels can provide large environmental benefits when compared to gasoline or petroleum diesel. But if we're going to fully realize the environmental potential of biofuels, we need to plan carefully.”

• John Stone, Institute for Food and Agriculture Standards researcher, and Susan Selke, associate director of the School of Packaging

  “It’s not just food. Everything from food-processing equipment to packaging and distribution systems are being affected by nanotechnology.”

• Bradley Sherrill, University Distinguished Professor, National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory; and Hendrik Schatz, professor, National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory

  “Sometime revolutions develop slowly. You get in the middle of them before you realize it’s really happened.”    

• Sue Nichols, science writer, and Jack Liu, Rachel Carson Chair in Ecological Sustainability

  “Everyone benefits when scientific exploration holds magic, excitement and promise, including the taxpayers who usually have funded the research.”