ANN ARBOR—The University of Michigan has several experts who can comment on the ongoing crisis in Myanmar, the former Burma.

They include:

Sandro Galea, associate professor of epidemiology, can discuss the mental and physical health consequences of disasters. He has conducted research on the impact of 9/11. He can be reached at (734) 647-9741 or sgalea@umich.edu.

Allen Hicken, political science assistant professor, is the incoming director of U-M’s Center for Southeast Asian Studies who has knowledge and background regarding the entire region. He can be reached at (734) 615-9105 or ahicken@umich.edu.

Kenneth Liberthal, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Political Science and William Davidson Professor of Business Administration, is an expert on U.S./Asia foreign policy, having served in the White House as special assistant to the President for Asia and as the National Security Council’s senior director for Asia during the Clinton Administration. He wrote several books and is frequently quoted on Asian issues. He can be reached at (734) 764-6120 or (734) 998-7555, and at kliebert@umich.edu.

Linda Lim, professor of corporate strategy in the Ross School of Business and outgoing chair of the center, is a specialist on Southeast Asian business who has been to Burma and has research interests in the region. She can be reached at (734) 763-0290 or lylim@umich.edu. For more on Lim, visit:

Douglas Northrop, associate professor in history and Near Eastern Studies, is an expert on the history of disasters. While primarily a specialist on central Asia, he has taught courses on the history of disasters and has spoken with national media outlets on the 2004 tsunami. He can be reached at (734) 647-0099 or northrop@umich.edu.

Gavin Shatkin, assistant professor of urban planning who specializes in urbanization in developing countries, community development and housing, has studied Asia and can speak to the challenges related to rebuilding. He can be reached at (734) 764-1300 or (734) 763-2075 or shatkin@umich.edu.

Dean Yang, assistant professor of public policy and economics, conducts research on the economic problems of developing countries. Some of his work has involved how hurricanes (cyclones) in developing countries have led to large financial aid, as well as remittance inflows from overseas. These inflows have typically been very large and a huge help in discovery. He can be reached at (734) 764-6158 or deanyang@umich.edu.

Nilton Renno, associate professor in the Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space Sciences, can discuss cyclone formation and new research that can quantify how global warming could affect the intensity of cyclones, hurricanes, tornadoes and other spiraling weather phenomena. He can be reached at 734 936-0488 or 734 358-9441. Email is nrenno@umich.edu.

Perry Samson, professor in the Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space Sciences, studies extreme weather and the physics behind it. He, too, can discuss hurricane formation and the affects of climate change on their intensity. Samson can be reached at 734-276-0815 or samson@umich.edu.

Producers: U-M has professional TV studios and uplink capabilities.

Related Links:

• More on southeast Asia
• The U-M International Institute comprises one of the nation’s broadest assemblies of interdisciplinary centers and programs organized around area studies.
• The U-M Documents Center offers access to many government documents and resources related to Myanmar