Virginia Tech has the following experts available for interviews on a variety of holiday-connected topics and research. To schedule an interview, please contact mediarelations@vt.edu.
Meteorology expert explains why NOAA outlook suggests mild winter
With winter’s arrival, what are the prospects of snow throughout the United States? Spoiler: Those in the mid-Atlantic area hoping to see more white precipitation this winter could find themselves disappointed. Drew Ellis, a professor in Virginia Tech’s Department of Geography, broke down the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s winter outlook, and predicts a mild winter for the mid-Atlantic area of the country. Read his explanations here.
Expert guidance for planning a holiday budget
Generous gift giving during the holidays can lead to scarcity in one’s wallet. Budgeting in advance allows shoppers to worry less about gifts when the holidays finally arrive and allows for more quality time with friends and family. “A budget will allow you to shop with freedom knowing that you can celebrate the holidays without causing damage to your financial well-being,” says Virginia Tech finance expert Jesse Lineberry.
“It’s no secret that inflation has increased the prices of the goods we want and need. Pre-emptive budgeting can help ensure that we have the proper funds to avoid taking on debt,” Lineberry says. “If you’re having a hard time budgeting for gifts this year, consider making crafts or building gifts instead of purchasing items at the store. Avoid buying gifts with interest-bearing debt and consider using a debit card or cash if you can.”
Find even more holiday budgeting tips here.
Cybercrime expert explains how to guard against new scammer tactics
The potential for record-breaking online sales this holiday season unfortunately signifies opportunities for holiday scams, adding urgency to consumer warnings from agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Federal Trade Commission.
Yet as technology advances, so do the tactics of scammers. Virginia Tech cybercrime expert Katalin Parti shares tips for detecting and avoiding new scammer tactics.
“Educate yourself about new technologies and potential scam risks, including the use of AI-generated content for impersonation scams,” she says. Read more here. Find even more tips on how to avoid holiday shopping scams here, and read Parti’s tips for guarding against charity scams here.
How to make your holidays sustainable and eco-friendly
From electricity usage to piles of presents and an overload of food, the end of year holidays can take a toll on the environment. Virginia Tech sustainability expert Jennifer Russell says even though it isn’t always what we want to hear during the holidays, it is really the “abundance” that is a challenge for sustainability.
“Cutting back on the abundance is one of the most critical things we can do to make the holiday season more sustainable,” says Russell, who has shared tips about how to plan a more eco-friendly holiday season, including the benefits of shopping locally, limiting use of disposable items, preparing food with healthy portions and leftovers in mind, and more, even criteria between choosing a real or artificial Christmas tree. Read her suggestions here.
Which is better in your stocking: Silver and gold or a lump of coal?
“Silver and gold are some of the most cherished holiday gifts and are also some of the most valuable precious metals produced from mining,” says Aaron Noble, head of the Department of Mining and Minerals Engineering for Virginia Tech’s College of Engineering.
“Coal is typically much cheaper — and thus reserved for those on the naughty list — however, researchers at Virginia Tech are exploring ways to enhance the value of materials produced from coal,” Nobel says. “Graphite, graphene, and rare earth minerals are high value materials that are critical for modern technology, and work at Virginia Tech has shown that they can all be sourced from waste from traditional coal mines. By repurposing these wastes, their efforts seek to produce materials that have fewer environmental impacts than conventional methods.”
Noble can speak to these technological advances and provide some insights on why you might want to update your holiday wish list in the coming years.
Environmental impacts of an artificial ‘White Christmas’
Many recreational activities, particularly winter-themed attractions, require significant energy. “A lot of human recreation uses energy,” says William Ducker, a chemical engineer with the Virginia Tech College of Engineering. “The winter wonderland activities that the worst offenders in terms of energy use are those where the outdoor temperature is kept below the ambient temperature. In this case, one is constantly using energy to fight the natural heating of the cold area by the surroundings.”
Ducker can discuss the many surprising environmental impacts of wintery recreation.
“Winter wonderlands in above-freezing conditions can be created in a variety of ways. Artificial snow at ski resorts is fabricated from water with a small amount of a nucleating agent, which is usually a protein or minerals. Making real snow requires cooling, which uses a lot of energy if indoors and a vast amount of energy if done outdoors. There’s also plastic snow, a massive use of plastic that can only be done indoors. A more environmentally friendly method utilizes cellulose products like paper, which are biodegradable and can be used outdoors,” he says.
Tips for managing holiday stress
Winter holidays can bring stress as well as joy. “Planning and prioritizing what activities are the most important is a better strategy than exhaustingly trying to do everything and ending up not enjoying it,” says Virginia Tech psychologist Rosanna Breaux. “Setting boundaries and being able to decline invitations may help combat stress, especially if a party involves a person who is particularly triggering for you or a member of your family.”
Breaux, a professor in the Department of Psychology at Virginia Tech, shares her most effective tips for navigating seasonal stress. Read them here.
Taking better photos this holiday season
Family gatherings during the holidays mean holiday snaps and sharing those photos online or in the mail — and the better the photo, the more treasured the keepsake.
“When I see people posting holiday photos, I often wish the photographer would move around a bit more,” said Michael Borowski, associate professor of photography in the Virginia Tech School of Visual Arts. “The first instinct it to snap from our standing or sitting position, but a change in height, angle, or viewpoint can make a huge difference.”
Read Borowski’s tips here.
Tips on winter holiday plant care
Winter holiday plants such as poinsettia, holiday cacti, or amaryllis can add vital color to indoor décor. Ed Olsen, a horticulture expert with the Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Science’s School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, shares tips for selecting and caring for these eye-catching, festive plants.
“The distinctive red ‘petals’ that make poinsettias so striking are really modified leaves, referred to as a ‘bract.’ When choosing poinsettias to take home, you want to look for plants that have the small yellow true flower in the center of the bract,” he says. “Many times, especially after they have been sitting out in big-box stores, the true flowers will drop off, which means those plants won’t last as long.”
Read more of his tips here.
Holiday gift ideas for kids that encourage STEM education
Buying gifts for the young people in your life – from “littles” to pre-teens – is one of the most joyful aspects of the holiday season. If you’re looking for gifts that could spark an interest in science, computers, technology and more, Pam Gilchrist, director of K-12 Initiatives for the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus in Alexandria, Va., has tips on the best 2024 STEM-related holiday gifts for kids of all ages. “The earlier students are exposed to mathematics, problem solving, and coding, the more likely they will see themselves in future STEM positions,” she says. Read more here.