University of Nebraska–Lincoln faculty members provided expertise on the country’s “toxic political environment” and the pandemic’s effects on the labor market and education for national news stories in November. The stories were among 75-plus featuring Husker faculty, staff, students, centers and programs during the month.

• Eric Thompson, Nelson Professor of Economics and director of the Bureau of Business Research, was interviewed for a Nov. 2 Associated Press article on the low unemployment rates in five Midwestern states, including Nebraska, amid the pandemic. “The economy of a rural state has a different structure, so more of the people work in industries that wouldn’t really be disrupted by a need for social distancing, like agriculture,” he said. The story was picked up by 480-plus media outlets. Thompson was also quoted in a Nov. 23 Axios article on the topic.

• Kevin Smith, Olson Professor and chair of political science, was interviewed for a Nov. 7 USA Today article on the United States looking for normalcy under Joe Biden. The “toxic political environment,” he said, compounded with a pandemic, 24-hour news cycle and reliance on social media, has created a tinder box environment. “It’s hard to conceive a political environment that would be better designed to cause stress and trigger your instinctual emotions,” he said.

• Sue Sheridan, associate dean for research and creative activity, director of the Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools, and George Holmes University Professor, was interviewed for a Nov. 12 Washington Post article on distance learning straining parent-teacher relationships. Sheridan advised parents who have overheard something they find objectionable to speak to the teacher one on one, away from students and outside of class time. She also recommended that teachers set ground rules for onlooking parents.

More coverage:

Tami Brown-Brandl, biological systems engineering, was interviewed for a Nov. 2 Guardian article on cattle producers in the U.S. Southwest being forced to adapt as temperatures rise. Regarding heat stress, she said, “When an animal becomes hot, just like when you become hot, you don’t want to eat very much.” Producers in the Southwest usually keep pigs and chickens inside but still lose some animals, she said.

Caitlin Kirby, a postdoctoral researcher in the School of Natural Resources, was featured in a Nov. 2 Good News Network story for defending her dissertation at Michigan State University while wearing a skirt made of rejection letters. She said she created the unique clothing item to normalize rejection and take pride in overcoming it. “The whole process of revisiting those old letters and making that skirt sort of reminded me that you have to apply to a lot of things to succeed,” she said. “A natural part of the process is to get rejected along the way.”

A review of “The Securitarian Personality” by John Hibbing, political science, appeared Nov. 2 in the Los Angeles Review of Books. The book, based on reporting, focus groups and surveys, is an attempt to understand what motivates the most enthusiastic Trump supporters.

Hibbing was also interviewed for a Nov. 15 Australian Broadcasting Corporation story on what’s next for Trump supporters after his failed re-election bid. Hibbing said President-elect Joe Biden will have a hard time reaching Trump’s “super supporters.” “I think Joe Biden means well [when he says] he’s going to be the president for all Americans, but I don’t think that … fire-breathing base of Donald Trump is reachable in any way,” he said.

Research by Hibbing and Kevin Smith, also political science, and Rice University’s John Alford, professor of political science, was featured in a Nov. 3 opinion piece by the Sandusky (Ohio) Register’s Tom Jackson. The researchers argue that the differences between liberals and conservatives are rooted in personality characteristics and biological predispositions.

A 2019 study co-authored by Smith and Hibbing, along with Matthew Hibbing of the University of California, Merced, was highlighted in a Nov. 6 USA Today article. The study suggests that Americans are making themselves sick over politics. The story was picked up by more than a dozen media outlets, including MSN.com.

The study was also cited in a Nov. 17 Upworthy story on strategies for having constructive political discussions.

Robert Schub, political science, and colleagues from Rice University and Harvard University have published a new study showing that the thought of female soldiers dying in combat does not diminish public support for war. Stories on the research appeared in Phys.org, Stars and Stripes and a few other media outlets.

Chigozie Obioma, English, an internationally recognized author, participated in the virtual 2020 Seoul International Writers’ Festival in early November, the Korea JoongAng Daily reported.

Obioma has also been commissioned to produce content for the new digital storytelling platform Alexander. A Business Wire article on the platform was picked up by more than 60 media outlets. A similar story appeared in Marie Claire.

Obioma’s debut novel, “The Fishermen,” was highlighted in a Nov. 27 book column in The Atlantic titled “How to tell the story of a family.” “Obioma revisits the classic Bible story about feuding brothers Cain and Abel, setting it in 1990s Nigeria,” the column reads. “He blurs the line between fact and fable to tell a morally complex story about four brothers, a dreadful prophecy and fratricide.”

Josephine Lau, architectural engineering, was interviewed for a Nov. 3 AAMC article on how to travel safely during the holiday season. Driving independently is the safest option, she said.

Lau was also interviewed for a Nov. 10 AAMC article on how to gather safely for the holidays amid the pandemic. Lau recommended that holiday gatherings take place outside, if the weather allows, with people at least six feet apart and wearing masks. If staying outside isn’t practical, she suggested opening windows to increase ventilation, with physical distancing and masks. Lau also recommended seating households at separate tables while eating and designating a masked server for shared dishes.

Hannah Guenther, assistant extension educator with Nebraska Extension, discussed the Food in the Field program during a Nov. 3 segment on RFD-TV. The program, which started in 2018, aims to help ag producers make healthy food choices. Guenther also demonstrated how to make egg cups during the segment.

A Nebraska Extension webinar on livestock risk management for agricultural producers and professionals took place Nov. 12. Stories on the webinar appeared in five Nebraska media outlets, including KHGI, as well as FeedStuffs and Pork magazine.

Frans von der Dunk, space law, was interviewed for a Nov. 4 Business Insider article on the legal aspects of SpaceX’s plans to establish habitats on Mars, in particular its plans to develop a quasi-constitution and rudimentary laws to ensure some sense of legal and social order in such settlements.

Von der Dunk was also interviewed for a Nov. 12 Scientific American article on whether NASA’s Artemis Accords violate international space law. He views the accords as more of a political problem than a legal one. The agreement’s sizable list of signatory nations, he said, is meant to signal a broad international consensus that the United States is correct in its interpretation of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty with regard to the exploitation of the moon. However, such consensus may be illusory.

With support from the Office of Research and Economic Development’s COVID-19 Rapid Response Grant Program, virologist Shi-Hua Xiang is in the early stages of developing a bacterial delivery system for a COVID-19 vaccine that would be delivered directly to the respiratory tract as a nasal spray. Stories on the research appeared on KETV, KFXL, KHGI, KOLN/KGIN and several other media outlets.

Brad Lubben, agricultural economics, discussed election results Nov. 4 on Brownfield Ag News. KGFW picked up the story.

A genetically edited form of a herpes simplex virus — rewired to keep it from taking refuge in the nervous system and eluding an immune response — has outperformed a leading vaccine candidate in a new study from the University of Cincinnati, Northwestern University and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Gary Pickard and Patricia Sollars, both veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences, helped develop the vaccine. Stories on the study appeared in Pharmacy Times, Precision Vaccinations, Science Codex, Scienmag, U.S. News and World Report and more than a dozen other media outlets.

Philip Schwadel, sociology, and Brandi Woodell, assistant professor of sociology and criminal justice at Old Dominion University, co-authored a recent study showing that those who report same-sex attraction are almost twice as likely to disaffiliate from their religion. The Religion News Service published a Nov. 6 article on the research. The Christian Century and Church Leaders picked up the story.

Brianna Buseman, animal science, and Carol Schwarz, Nebraska Extension educator, wrote a recent article on things to consider before harvesting a market animal at home. Nebraska Farmer and Western Livestock Journal ran the article.

Jenny Rees, Nebraska Extension educator, was interviewed for a Nov. 9 Successful Farming Radio segment on soybean seeding rates. She said the rates can be reduced without significantly impacting yield, while saving growers money.

Justin “Gus” Hurwitz, law, director of the Nebraska Governance and Technology Center, was interviewed for a Nov. 10 Salon article on how the Biden administration might approach America’s powerful Big Tech industry. “So far, Biden seems inclined to steer a more moderate course that will be aggressive toward the tech sector but cautious about broad antitrust reform,” he said.

Texas A&M engineering professor Yong-Rak Kim, in collaboration with researchers from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and Sandia National Laboratories, has received a Department of Energy grant to develop a system of engineered barriers to isolate and contain nuclear fuel waste. The Environmental News Network ran a Nov. 10 article on the project.

Ben Beckman, assistant extension educator at the West Central Research and Extension Center in North Platte, wrote a recent UNL BeefWatch article on the value of cornstalk bales. “While there are always additional variables and costs to consider, a quick comparison shows that this year with fertilizer prices down, and hay prices up, cornstalk bales may be a reasonable option to explore,” he wrote. Nebraska Farmer ran the article Nov. 11. The article was also highlighted in a Nov. 16 BEEF magazine blog entry.

With the help of a $280,000 matching grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, University of Nebraska–Lincoln and Ducks Unlimited are working to modernize wetland conservation resources for educators and the public. Stories on the project appeared in seven Nebraska media outlets, Hunting Insider and HuntingLife.

Bedross Der Matossian, history, is among more than 50 scholars of Armenian descent who recently signed an open letter calling on global institutions to help protect cultural sites in the vulnerable region of Artsakh. A GlobeNewswire article featuring the letter appeared in 100-plus media outlets.

Der Matossian will serve as the editor of the new I.B. Tauris series “Armenians in the Modern and Early Modern World.” The series was highlighted in a Nov. 19 guest column in The Armenian Weekly.

Der Matossian has also been re-elected president of the Society for Armenian Studies. Aravot and the Massis Post published articles on the society’s new officers.

Slate published a Nov. 13 article on George Flippin, Nebraska’s first Black football player, focusing on the discrimination and disrespect he faced during his playing career. As part of the Big Ten’s “United as One” social justice campaign, the Huskers honored Flippin with a helmet sticker during their opening game against Ohio State.

Margaret Jacobs, history, and Elizabeth Lorang, University Libraries, are leading a new project to examine the history of the Genoa Indian School. The project is a collaboration between the university; Genoa U.S. Indian School Foundation; community advisers from the Omaha, Pawnee, Ponca, Santee Sioux and Winnebago tribes of Nebraska; and descendants of those who attended the school. Stories on the project have appeared in NET News, the Norfolk Daily News, North Platte Telegraph and The Circle News.

Matt Waite, journalism, was featured in a Nov. 16 Newsweek article on his wife Nancy’s recent hospitalization due to COVID-19. On Nov. 15, Waite shared his family’s story on Twitter, urging people to stay home and avoid Thanksgiving gatherings. The story originally aired on KETV. MSN.com picked up the Newsweek article.

Megan Taylor, assistant extension educator with Nebraska Extension, was quoted in a Nov. 16 Successful Farming brief urging ag producers to prepare for the consequences of dry conditions. “With drier soils, fertilization may be different,” she said. “If you soil sample in fall but have an extremely wet winter (more than 8 inches of rainfall-equivalent precipitation), you will see some differences come spring for fertility programs, especially nitrogen.”

Taylor also offered tips for ag producers to take advantage of technology for a Nov. 17 Successful Farming article. She recommended Microsoft Excel to track management decisions and take notes, online training sessions, smartphone apps and the Nebraska On-Farm Research Network.

The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology has released a new paper titled “Ground and Aerial Robots for Agricultural Production: Opportunities and Challenges,” Feedstuffs reported Nov. 16. Nebraska’s Santosh Pitla, advanced machinery systems, and Tami Brown-Brandl, biological systems engineering, co-authored the paper.

Even though the COVID-19 pandemic has slowed much academic research across the nation, the university’s Extreme Light Laboratory is among facilities that are continuing to press forward. Stories on the facility have appeared in KFXL, KHGI, KNEB, KPTM and Technology.org. Donald Umstadter, physics and astronomy, director of the laboratory, was featured in the stories.

Mark Balschweid, agricultural leadership, education and communication, discussed the expansion of the Rural Fellows program during a Nov. 17 segment on RFD-TV. Up to 200 students and 100 communities will be accepted into the 2021 program — a more than tenfold increase from 2020.

Megan Elliott, founding director of the Johnny Carson Center for Emerging Media Arts, was the featured guest on the “Creative Innovators” podcast with Gigi Johnson on Nov. 17. Elliott discussed her background, what she’s learned as director and the Carson Center’s curriculum and future.

The inaugural Nebraska Specialty Crop Conference will take place virtually Feb. 22-26. The conference is presented by Nebraska Extension with partners the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, Nebraska Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, Nebraska Hop Growers Association, Nebraska Dry Bean Commission and Nebraska Potato Council. Stories on the conference appeared in Midwest Messenger, the Syracuse Journal-Democrat, Fruit Growers News and Vegetable Growers News.

A survey conducted by Dan Piatkowski, community and regional planning, was cited in a Nov. 18 Newsday article on Long Island lawmakers taking on reckless bicyclists. The survey of 17,000 people found that drivers, cyclists and pedestrians all reported regularly breaking traffic laws. But Piatkowski said scofflaw cyclists might be more noticeable because fewer people bike than drive, and driver infractions such as speeding are so common.

Omaha businessman Allan Noddle, ’62, will receive the 2020-21 Lifetime Achievement Award from the College of Business. The college’s most esteemed honor, the award recognizes individuals for their outstanding leadership, as well as time, energy and guidance provided throughout their career. Progressive Grocer and Retail Leader ran an article on Noddle’s award.

Jesse Fulton, who most recently worked for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, will serve as the new Nebraska Beef Quality Assurance coordinator. The position is a partnership among the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Nebraska Cattlemen and Nebraska Beef Council. Fulton replaces Rebecca Funk, veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences, who has served in the position since June. Today’s Producer ran a Nov. 19 article on Fulton’s appointment.

John Beghin, international trade and finance, was quoted in a Nov. 20 Iowa Capital Dispatch article on what the Biden administration might mean for multinational trade deals. Most observers expect the new administration to avoid the fireworks of the Trump administration. “It’s like entropy applied to economics and politics,” Beghin said. “It takes time to build things, but it doesn’t take much time to destroy them or to get out of them.” The story was picked up by several media outlets.

Edward Schmidt, professor emeritus of astronomy, was featured in the article “The weirdest objects in the universe” in the December issue of Air and Space magazine. He recently identified 21 dipper stars, or stars whose light flickers irregularly. “Many explanations for these stars is that something is passing in front of them, but the fact that the stars all fall within a narrow range of properties suggests that may not be it,” he said. “Extraterrestrial intelligence is a low-probability explanation, but it’s a possibility, and the SETI people ought to be looking at these stars.”

Husker food scientists Devin Rose and Kristina Arslain and behavioral economist Christopher Gustafson recently investigated why gluten-free foods have become so popular among those who aren’t medically required to avoid gluten. They hope to shed light on what attracts people to fad diets. The Rural Radio Network and Medical Xpress ran articles on the research.

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln and the U.S. Embassy in Rwanda have launched the University Partnerships and Exchange Rwanda Program, an initiative that aims to enhance collaboration in higher education between the two countries. Stories on the program appeared in four Nebraska media outlets, including the Lincoln Journal Star, as well as The New Times (Rwanda) and Taarifa Rwanda.

The university has launched a review that seeks to identify and address gaps in its policies, procedures, communications and resources related to the reporting of racial bias incidents. Diverse Issues in Higher Education published a Nov. 23 article on the review.

Jan Hygnstrom, agronomy and horticulture, discussed how to properly store liquid pesticides over the winter for a Nov. 23 episode of Successful Farming’s “Living the Country Life” program. She said if pesticides freeze, the active ingredients could separate from the inert ones and make the pesticides less effective.

The New York Times published a Nov. 24 review of William G. Thomas III’s new book, “A Question of Freedom: The Families Who Challenged Slavery from the Nation’s Founding to the Civil War.” “It’s a rich, roiling history that Thomas recounts with eloquence and skill, giving as much attention as he can to the specifics of each case while keeping an eye trained on the bigger context,” the review reads. Thomas is the Angle Chair in the Humanities and a professor of history at Nebraska.

Thomas also discussed his new book in a Nov. 30 virtual book talk for the National Archives.

A 2017 study by sociologists Kristen Olson and Christina Falci of Nebraska and Megumi Watanabe of Hiroshima University was cited in a Nov. 24 FiveThirtyEight article on social alienation among some Trump voters as a possible explanation for why polls underestimated him again in 2020. The researchers found that Americans with weaker social connections are less inclined to cooperate with survey requests and that some survey estimates may be “systematically biased due to nonparticipation from socially isolated people.”

A new study by researchers from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and University of Texas at Austin provides more evidence that the stress of racism contributes to health problems among people of color. The research was highlighted in a Nov. 25 DiverseInc article.

Jeong-Kyun Choi, child, youth and family studies, was cited in a Nov. 25 Boston magazine article on Massachusetts requiring parents who are divorcing to take a parenting class. According to Choi, there are only two studies on parent-education courses with sound experimental designs in the academic literature, even though countless parents have been ordered to take the classes since 1970.

Four Husker faculty members — Craig Allen, Roch Gaussoin, Kristen Olson and James Takacs — have been named fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the world’s largest general scientific society. Stories on the new fellows appeared in KLKN, the Lincoln Journal Star, Norfolk Daily News and Science magazine.

A 2014 study by Kathy Krone, organizational communication, and Stacy Tye-Williams, associate professor of English at Iowa State University, was cited in a Nov. 29 Psychology Today article on building brain resilience. The researchers collected narratives from 48 workplace bullying victims and found that more than half reported being bullied by their manager or boss, while others were targeted by a co-worker. Victims who had a co-worker to speak with and from whom they received support had lower levels of depression, they found.

Sumaiya Tabassum, a graduate student in natural resource sciences, was interviewed for a Nov. 30 Erudera College News story on what it’s like to study remotely in a different time zone than one’s university. Tabassum was taking four remote classes from Bangladesh, which is 12 hours ahead of Nebraska. She said instructors have been supportive and responsive and classes have been well-organized.

Site Selection Magazine published a recent article on Adjuvance Technologies — a biotechnology firm at Nebraska Innovation Campus — and its work to help develop a COVID-19 vaccine. Tyler Martin, the company’s chairman and CEO, said he started the company in Lincoln because of the availability of virology and immunology talent, including at the Nebraska Center for Virology.

Faculty, administration, student and staff appearances in the national media are logged at http://newsroom.unl.edu/inthenews.
 If you have additions to this list, contact Sean Hagewood at shagewood2@unl.edu or 402-472-8514. If you have suggestions for national news stories, contact Leslie Reed at lreed5@unl.edu or 402-472-2059.