From alternative energy to health care, and from foreign relations to housing legislation, MSU faculty members can speak to a host of hot-button topics. Their expertise ranges from local issues such as annexation to global issues such as security in the Middle East.
(Media-Newswire.com) - EAST LANSING, Mich. — As Democrats and Republicans prepare to meet at their respective conventions and select their nominees, Michigan State University has researchers closely monitoring the presidential race and important issues facing the candidates.
From alternative energy to health care, and from foreign relations to housing legislation, MSU faculty members can speak to a host of hot-button topics. Their expertise ranges from local issues such as annexation to global issues such as security in the Middle East.
Up for election on Nov. 4 are the presidency, seats in Congress and the Michigan Legislature, judgeships and local and county offices.
The Democratic National Convention is Aug. 25-28 in Denver. The Republican National Convention is the following week, Sept. 1-4, in St. Paul, Minn.
Alternative energy, bioeconomy
Soji Adelaja, John A. Hannah Distinguished professor in land policy and director of MSU’S Land Policy Institute. He can discuss sustainability and its relation to economic development; water and agricultural preservation; and wind power and other renewable energy issues. He can be reached at ( 517 ) 432-8800, Ext. 102 or adelaja@msu.edu.
Bruce Dale, professor of chemical engineering and materials science. An international expert in biofuels, specifically ethanol, Dale can discuss alternatives to fossil fuels and the conversion of plant biomass – like corn and fast-growing switchgrass – into energy. He can be reached at ( 517 ) 353-6777 or bdale@egr.msu.edu.
Steve Pueppke, professor of plant pathology. He is an expert on the bioeconomy and the misconceptions surrounding the “food versus fuel” debate. He also serves as director of the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station and the newly formed MSU Office of Biobased Technology, which aims to foster connections with public- and private-sector initiatives designed to expand Michigan’s bioeconomic sector. He can be reached at ( 517 ) 353-5406 or pueppke@msu.edu.
Bryan Ritchie, associate professor of international relations at MSU’s James Madison College. He can discuss politics and its relation to the international economy, innovation and biobased technologies. He can be reached at ( 517 ) 353-8614 or ritchieb@msu.edu.
Economy, housing
Charles Ballard, professor of economics. He can discuss a wealth of economic issues, including tax and budget policies, gas prices, Federal Reserve policies and the economic impact of campaigning and elections. Ballard also directs MSU’s State of the State Survey, which measures consumer confidence in Michigan. He can be reached at ( 517 ) 353-2961 or ballard@msu.edu.
Doug Roberts, director of MSU’s Institute for Public Policy and Social Research. A former state of Michigan treasurer, Roberts can discuss the economy; fiscal responsibility and tax policy; and K-12 and higher education financing. He can be reached at ( 517 ) 353-6672 or douglas.roberts@ssc.msu.edu.
Elliot Spoon, professor in the College of Law. He is an expert in housing legislation issues. Spoon was appointed in early 2008 to the Federal Housing Finance Board, an independent regulatory agency of the U.S. government. The board ensures the Federal Home Loan Banks operate soundly, carry out their housing and community development missions and remain adequately capitalized and able to raise funds in the capital markets. He can be reached at ( 517 ) 432-6854 or spoone@law.msu.edu.
Elections, politics
Michael Craw, assistant professor at James Madison College. Craw can speak to state and local politics and public policy, urban development and housing, social welfare policy and gay and lesbian politics. He can be reached at ( 517 ) 432-2522 or craw@msu.edu.
Matt Grossmann, assistant professor of political science. Grossmann can discuss American political institutions, public opinion and policymaking. Specifically, he can address interest groups and lobbying; campaign consultants; factions within the political parties; negative advertising; regulation of Internet campaigning; third parties and the two-party system; information technology policy debates; media bias in coverage of politics; and congressional hearings. He can be reached at ( 517 ) 355-7655 or matt@mattg.org.
Larry Hembroff, director of the Office for Survey Research at MSU’s Institute for Public Policy and Social Research. He can discuss presidential political surveys, trends in survey research, Web surveys and focus groups. He can be reached at ( 517 ) 353-1763, hembroff@msu.edu.
Brian Kalt, associate professor in the College of Law. An expert on the 2000 Florida recount, Kalt can speak to electoral mechanics and the Electoral College. He can be reached at ( 517 ) 432-6987 or kalt@law.msu.edu.
Benjamin Kleinerman, assistant professor at James Madison College. Kleinerman can discuss national political issues, especially those centering on the constitutional relations between Congress and the president. He can be reached at ( 517 ) 432-1579 or bkleiner@msu.edu.
Mark Kornbluh, professor and chairperson of the Department of History. The author of “Why Americans Stopped Voting,” he can discuss voter participation, primary elections and electoral laws. He can be reached at ( 517 ) 355-9300 or kornbluh@msu.edu.
Laura Ann Reese, professor of political science and director of the Global Urban Studies Program. She can address local ballot issues such as bonds and taxes, and governmental structure issues such as charter changes, consolidations and annexations. She can be reached at ( 517 ) 353-5942 or reesela@msu.edu.
Bruce Vanden Bergh, professor of advertising. He can speak to advertising issues relating to campaigning and elections. He can be reached at ( 517 ) 353-8606 or vanden4@msu.edu.
Foreign relations
Mohammed Ayoob, University Distinguished Professor of international relations at James Madison College. An expert in international security, Ayoob can speak to what the next president and Congress will face in the Middle East. He can be reached at ( 517 ) 353-3538 or ayoob@msu.edu.
Lewis Siegelbaum, professor of history. An expert on modern Eastern Europe, Siegelbaum can discuss the Soviet Union and Russia before and after the Soviet period. He can be reached at ( 517 ) 432-8222 or siegelbau@msu.edu.
Matt Zierler, assistant professor of international relations in MSU’s James Madison College. Zierler is an expert in U.S. foreign policy, international security and international relations. He can be reached at ( 517 ) 432-8300 or zierler@msu.edu.
Health care, science
Leonard Fleck, professor of philosophy with an appointment in the Center for Ethics and Humanities in the Life Sciences. Fleck has expertise in health care policy, the rationing of health care, ethical issues related to stem cell research and emerging genetic technologies. He was a member of the Clinton administration’s Health Care Reform Task Force. He can be reached at ( 517 ) 355-752 or fleck@msu.edu.
Jon Miller, John A. Hannah Professor of Integrative Studies and director of the International Center for the Advancement of Scientific Literacy. He can discuss the intersection of politics and hot-button scientific issues such as stem cell research and genetic engineering. He can be reached at ( 517 ) 432-4286 or jdmiller@msu.edu.
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Michigan State University has been advancing knowledge and transforming lives through innovative teaching, research and outreach for more than 150 years. MSU is known internationally as a major public university with global reach and extraordinary impact. Its 17 degree-granting colleges attract scholars worldwide who are interested in combining education with practical problem solving.
Contact: Andy Henion, University Relations, Office: ( 517 ) 355-3294, Cell: ( 517 ) 281-6949, Andy.Henion@ur.msu.edu
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