Pride Month is observed in June to mark the 1969 Stonewall riots, celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and recognize their ongoing fight for rights. Historian Jennifer Brier, LAS distinguished professor of history and gender and women’s studies at UIC, is available later this week and next week to provide context on the origins of Pride Month, including the historic protests and pioneering activists who shaped the movement, as well as its relevance in today’s political and social landscape. She can also speak to the broader national and Chicago-specific history of LGBTQ+ activism, along with the history of HIV/AIDS and its lasting impact on communities, public health and policy.
Contact: Brian Flood | 312-835-5432
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Google overhauls search bar |
For the first time in 25 years, Google has updated its search bar to improve integration of AI-generated answers via its Gemini technology. Zachary McDowell, associate professor of communication at UIC, is available to discuss how this shift could “detour” users away from sources, cutting off the traffic and revenue that sustain content creators. Drawing on past work with Wikipedia and platform ecosystems, he warns the model risks creating a cascading failure, as AI systems rely on content they simultaneously undermine. McDowell, an expert in digital media platforms and information policy, can also address broader implications of AI for trust, sustainability and the future of open knowledge online.
Contact: Brian Flood | 312-835-5432
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State lawmakers face a tight deadline to pass a megaprojects bill that could keep the Chicago Bears in Illinois, as Sunday marks the end of the spring legislative session in Springfield. Deborah Carroll, director of the Government Finance Research Center at UIC, can speak to the public finance issues at the center of stadium proposals, including the use of public subsidies and tax incentives.
Contact: Brian Flood | 312-835-5432
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Data centers and water use |
As several area towns consider data center proposals, concerns are emerging about the large volumes of water these facilities require for cooling. Rachel Havrelock, director of The Freshwater Lab at UIC, says planners should prioritize water reuse by supplying recycled water to industry to help avoid long-term strain on the region’s freshwater supplies. Havrelock can also discuss successful water reuse models elsewhere and how local leaders could adapt those approaches. She argues these projects present an opportunity for the region to help drive innovation in sustainable water management.
Contact: Danny Sternfield | 847-533-2744
Contact: Brian Flood | 312-835-5432
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Editor's note:
University of Illinois Chicago is the preferred full institutional name to use in text, and UIC for second and subsequent references. Do not use a comma or a dash. As of fall 2020, UIC no longer uses the word “at” in the name of the institution.
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