ANN ARBOR—The University of Michigan has several experts and resources who can comment on issues expected to be included in President Bush’s State of the Union address on Tuesday.

Among the topics anticipated to make news are a major initiative for alterative energy, a new proposal related to climate change as well as proposals related to Iraq, health care, stem cell research and education as the Democratic Congress debates a number of new related initiatives. U-M has several experts on these and other issues including:

Alternative energy and energy independence
Gary Was, director of the University’s Michigan Memorial Phoenix Energy Institute, is an international authority and resource in issues related to energy research, policy, and education. He can be reached at (734) 763-4675 or e-mail him at [email protected].
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Levi Thompson, the Richard E. Balzhiser Collegiate Professor of Chemical Engineering and director of U-M’s Hydrogen Energy Technology Laboratory, is an expert on fuel cell research. He can talk about multiple alternative energy-related topics. He can be reached at (734) 936-2015 or e-mail him at [email protected].
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Climate change
Barry Rabe, professor of public policy who and holds environmental appointments. Much of his recent research examines state and regional development of policies to reduce greenhouse gases. He can be reached at (734) 615-9596 or [email protected].
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Perry Samson, associate chair of the Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space Sciences, is an expert in meteorology and science education. He can be reached at (734) 763-4217 or [email protected].
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Health care
Catherine McLaughlin, professor of health management and policy, was vice chair of the Citizens’ Health Care Working Group created to talk to citizens nationwide and submit recommendations to Congress and President Bush. Their recommendations were sent to Congress Sept. 29. She also directed the Economic Research Initiative on the Uninsured. She can be reached at (734) 764-9335 or e-mail her at [email protected].
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Kyle Grazier, a professor of health management and policy, focuses on health care finance and chaired the 2003 U-M Committee on Health Insurance Premium Design. She can be reached at (734) 936-1222 or e-mail her at [email protected].
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Stem cell research
Sean Morrison, director of the U-M Center for Stem Cell Biology at U-M’s Life Sciences Institute, is a frequently sought after expert, well versed at deciphering the stem cell research debate. He can be reached at (734) 764-2220 or e-mail him at [email protected].
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Iraq
Juan Cole, a widely quoted U-M history professor, specializes in the Modern Middle East and terrorism. He is available at (734) 747-8211 or [email protected].
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Education
Deborah Loewenberg Ball, dean of U-M’s School of Education, is part of the White House’s National Mathematics Advisory Panel charged with advising the Bush administration on the best way to improve the teaching of math as part of an effort to make the nation more competitive. She can be reached at (734) 647-1637 or e-mail her at [email protected]
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Political analysis
Michael Traugott, senior research scientist for the Center for Political Studies and the Institute for Social Research at U-M, is an expert on U.S. politics and voter behavior. Contact Traugott at (734) 764-0420 or e-mail him at [email protected].
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