For Media

The College of Arts and Sciences' communications office works closely with Cornell's Media Relations Office. As the College's representatives to media, we connect faculty experts and thought leaders to local, regional, national and international media organizations. 

Contacts:

Current press statements from Arts & Sciences faculty:

Coronavirus: virtual scientific conferences

Virtual astronomy: Coronavirus sparks new model for scientific conferences

As the novel coronavirus spreads, forcing people to stay home and upheaving industries, it is sparking a new model for astronomical gatherings — both in the short term, and beyond. And the astronomy community is ready.

Jonathan Lunine, professor of physics and chair of the astronomy department at Cornell University, says most scientific exchanges already happen by teleconferencing and the coronavirus crisis may force a long-term rethinking of scientific gatherings that reduces travel.

Bio: https://astro.cornell.edu/jonathan-lunine

Lunine says:

"The biggest direct impact on astronomers is the cancellation of essentially all scientific conferences in the near term and, in some cases, efforts to put future ones online. We may actually see a new model for scientific conferences evolve from this that reduces the number of in-person events, with all of the associated benefits that less travel provides in the long-term.

“Had we been in this situation 25 years ago, it would have been catastrophic for the exchange of scientific information, but today we do most of our scientific exchanges with our colleagues by teleconferencing. That’s true for science teams on missions as well. And many observatories have gone to remote observing, where a small staff is always on hand but the astronomers who have time allocated for a given observation aren’t onsite for the observations themselves."

For interviews contact:
Jeff Tyson
Office: (607) 255-7701
Cell: (607) 793-5769
jeff.tyson@cornell.edu

Cornell University has dedicated television and audio studios available for media interviews supporting full HD, ISDN and web-based platforms.
 

Coronavirus economic relief

Trump adopts liberal policy: Direct payments to 'grease the economy'

On Tuesday, the Trump administration expressed support for including direct payments to Americans as part of a coronavirus economic relief package. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said he is looking at sending checks within the next two weeks, potentially in the amount of $1,000.

Larry Glickman, professor of history at Cornell University, is an expert on consumerism in the United States and recently authored the book “Free Enterprise: An American History.” He says the sudden interest in direct payments signals a shift from conservative to liberal ideas.

Bio: https://history.cornell.edu/lawrence-b-glickman

Glickman says:

“We're seeing an amazing change of tune in a matter of days on the question of a massive Keynesian stimulus in the form of direct payments to individuals. Just a day or so ago, a targeted payroll tax cut seemed to be in the offing. Now we have moved from a conventional conservative solution—tax cuts—to a conventionally liberal one: direct payments to individuals.

“I think the idea is that people will spend the money and the beneficiaries will be local merchants, among others. This will allow people to pay rent, medical bills and other necessities. The goal, I think, is for the money to be spent to grease the hurting economy.

“I'll also be watching for payment to public goods—short term and long-term infrastructure—like field hospitals in the near-term and better broadband in the longer term not be left out.”

For interviews contact:
Rachel Rhodes
Cell: (585) 732-1877
rer252@cornell.edu

Cornell University has dedicated television and audio studios available for media interviews supporting full HD, ISDN and web-based platforms.

Coronavirus in New York City

Coronavirus K-12 closures impact safety, stability for vulnerable NYC students

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the first NYC public school closures on Thursday, adding to the over 1,000 K-12 schools across the country that are closing or moving to online education to help control the spread of the coronavirus. Equity is a large concern in school closures for those students who depend on subsidized breakfasts and lunches and also may not have a supportive environment outside of school.

Jamila Michener is an assistant professor of government at Cornell University and an expert on poverty and racial inequality. She says during times of public health crisis the consequences of inequalities surface and it’s going to be a huge challenge to support K-12 students facing school closures at home and also in their communities.

A video version of Michener’s comments can be viewed and downloaded here:https://cornell.box.com/v/MichenerCOVID-19.

Bio: https://government.cornell.edu/jamila-michener

Michener says:

“Schools, especially for students who are marginalized – who come from low income households or who have unstable homes – are sometimes the most stabilizing institutions in those students’ lives. There are the basic material resources, for example, school is a place where you can eat, but there’s also the mental, psychological and emotional aspect as well. School is a place where students can engage adults who are healthy and who care. School is a place where students have stability and safety.

“I think for those students, in the event of school closures, we are going to have to really think carefully about how to provide support either in their homes or in the community to make sure that they’re getting help, because it’s going to be a huge challenge.
 
“I think any public health crisis reveals tensions and cracks in our society. It especially reveals the consequences of gross inequalities and we have plenty of those in the U.S. Having a public health crisis like this unfold is going to bring all of those inequalities to the surface. We can’t just deal with the public health crisis itself. We also have to deal with the inequality, the difficulties and challenges it brings, especially for children and for lots of other community groups as well.”

For interviews contact:

Lindsey Hadlock

office: 607-255-6121

cell: 607-269-6911

lmh267@cornell.edu

Cornell University has dedicated television and audio studios available for media interviews supporting full HD, ISDN and web-based platforms.

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Israel: preliminary election results

Trapped in a draw, Israel on edge of semi-authoritarian abyss

Preliminary results from Israel’s election show that the country’s incumbent Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu (Bibi), is maintaining a lead over his opponents. However, exit polls also suggest a difficult road ahead for Netanyahu’s Likud party who may not obtain enough votes to secure a parliamentary majority, required to form a government.

Uriel Abulof, a visiting professor in Cornell University’s Government Department and a senior lecturer of politics at Tel-Aviv University, says that Israel’s polarized politics are keeping the country trapped in a draw.

Bio: https://government.cornell.edu/uriel-abulof