David Sela, food sciences and microbiology, says three new studies that track people’s microbiomes though health and disease, specifically prediabetes, inflammatory bowel disease and pregnancy, are “expansive” and “well executed.” He was not involved in studies. (The Scientist 5/29/19)
News from the Media
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David Sela Comments on Phase Two of Human Microbiome Studies
May 29, 2019 -
Forest Park Arboretum Projects Embarks on ID Program
May 28, 2019ReGreen President David V. Bloniarz, who is also project director for the USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, said the Forest Park Arboretum project in Springfield is well under way. “By October 2019, we will have labeled the first 300 trees,” Bloniarz said, adding that the project’s goal is to have 500 trees labeled by August 2020. (Republican, 5/28/19)
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David Julian McClements Authors New Book: Future Foods
May 28, 2019A new book, “Future Foods: How Modern Science is Transforming the Way We Eat,” by David Julian McClements, food science, looks at innovations like 3-D food printers, nano foods and bug burgers. (Lancaster Farming, 6/1/19; NEPR 6/5/19; Medicine News Line, 5/27/19; Phys.org, 5/24/19; News Office release)
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Stephen Rich Discusses TickReport at UMass Amherst's Mt. Ida Campus
May 14, 2019At a public event held at UMass Amherst’s Mount Ida campus, Stephen Rich, microbiology, presented information about TickReport, a service his lab runs that allows people to mail in ticks and receive a report about disease-causing microbes the tick may be carrying. (Boston 25 News, 5/14/19; News Office release)
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David Boutt Comments on New Geologic Sources of Lithium
May 8, 2019David F. Boutt, UMass geosciences, says environmental issues may hamper future mining of lithium, a key chemical used in rechargeable batteries. He says mining in Chile is complicated by the need to protect water tables and maintain habitats for flamingoes and other wild birds. (Science News, 5/7/19)
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Jackson Remarks On Report of Accelerating Loss of Plants and Animals
May 7, 2019Scott D. Jackson, UMass Extension and environmental conservation, comments in a news story about the regional effects outlined in a United Nations report that finds the loss of plant and animal species around the world will increase in coming years. Jackson says he is worried about the unexpected consequences of biodiversity loss. (Globe 5/6/19)
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Bonneville Cutthroat Trout Restored to Nevada Creek
May 6, 2019A collaboration of four federal and state agencies (at UMass led by Profesor Christine Hatch), raised a genetically-pure native Bonneville cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii utah) and found an excellent mountain creek in Nevada for restoration. (Gazette 5/3/19)
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Food Science Ice Cream Competition Produces a Winner!
May 2, 2019Six teams of UMass Amherst food science students, most of them seniors and food science majors, had their newly developed ice cream flavors tasted and judged by Maple Valley Creamery representatives and a panel of culinary professionals on May 1 at the Integrated Learning Center. The winning flavor, Vanilla Chai, will be produced by Maple Valley Creamery in Hadley and sold in local markets, branded with a UMass Amherst logo. The product development course is taught this year by Matthew Steffens, a UMass Amherst food science alumnus. (WWLP-TV 22, 5/1/19; News Office release)
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Dyed Mulch Can Include Dangerous Chemicals
April 26, 2019Some wood ground into dyed mulch can include dangerous chemicals, including creosote and CCA (chromium, copper and arsenic), according to the UMass Amherst Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment. CCA has been banned as a chemical used in pressure-treated wood since 2003 but treated wood still exists in old outdoor structures and is often scrapped out and made into mulch. (Courier & Press [Evansville, Ind.], 4/25/19)
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Olga Kostromytska Presents at New England Regional Turfgrass Conference & Show
April 22, 2019Olga Kostromytska, UMass extension assistant professor in turfgrass entomology, spoke at the New England Regional Turfgrass Conference & Show about how golf course superintendents can work with turfgrass specialists to conduct research at their courses. (Golf Course Industry, 4/10/19)
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UMass Addresses Concerns Over Spraying at Turf Facility
April 8, 2019 -
Lawn Mowing Frequency Affects Bee Abundance and Diversity
April 7, 2019Research led by Dr. Susannah Lerman from UMASS Amhert, shows that cutting grass every two weeks helps to grow more pollinating plants that bees need to survive.(Boston25news.com 4/7/19)
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Head of Food Science at UMass Amherst Elected President of International Industry Group
April 3, 2019Professor Eric Decker, head of food science at the UMass Amherst, has been elected president of the American Oil Chemists’ Society (AOCS). Their goal is to advance the science and technology of oils, fats, proteins, surfactants and related materials. (News Office Release 4/3/19)
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Marine Protected Reserves Do More Than Restore Fish
April 1, 2019In a new analysis of the effectiveness of marine protected areas, UMass assistant professor, Brian Cheng, and colleagues in environmental conservation report that reserves not only replenish target fish populations, they also restore ecological functioning. (Nature World News 4/2/19; News Office Release)
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Deerfield Selectboard Wants to Hear from UMass About Spraying at Turf Center
March 25, 2019Mary Dettloff, deputy director for the Office of News and Media Relations at UMass, said they have been working steadily on a response to the questions raised and are nearly finished. She said they plan to reach out to the town to be placed on an upcoming agenda. (Recorder 3/21/19)
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Manor house demolished on North Maple Street
March 12, 2019The Hadley Farm Manor House, came down late last week at the University of Massachusetts-owned property at 111 North Maple St in Hadley. (Daily Hampshire Gazette, 3/12/19)
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New Sodium and Potassium Guidelines Issued, Eric Decker on NAS Panel
March 11, 2019Eric Decker, food science, is a member of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) panel that reviewed guidelines for daily sodium and potassium intake and has issued new guidelines for dietary consumption. The NAS has tied overuse of sodium to chronic disease. (Boston Globe, 3/5/19; WWLP, 3/6/19)
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UMass Professor Collaborates with MIT on Fertilizer Options
March 11, 2019Allan Barker, professor in the Stockbridge School of Agriculture, collaborated with a research team at MIT to find alternative fertilizer materials that are more readily available all over the world than currently used products. (Science and Technology Research News, 3/7/19)
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Trees Bend in the Wind, UMass Professor Explains
March 7, 2019In response to a reader’s question about what enables trees to bend in the wind without breaking, Brian Kane, environmental conservation, says trees have evolved to manage wind loads. (Daily Hampshire Gazette 3/7/19)
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Gardening and Composting Classes offered, Cape Cod Extension Participates
March 5, 2019Backyard Horticulture is a class offered by the Cape Cod Cooperative Extension, UMass Extension and the Master Gardeners’ Association of Cape Cod, in locations in Barnstable and Harwich. It’s an eight-week program, and it’s for gardeners of all levels. (Brewster Wicked Local 3/4/19)
