Infotrak

Will McCallum is the Head of Oceans at Greenpeace UK, and the author of “How to Give Up Plastic: A Guide to Changing the World, One Plastic Bottle at a Time.” He noted that humans produce over 300 million tons of plastic each year, with 12.7 million tons ending up in our oceans. He discussed the major impact that plastic and microplastic waste has on marine life and the environment. He said it is not possible to recycle all of the plastics used in our everyday lives. He outlined small changes that anyone can make to reduce the amount of plastic waste in their home or community.

Ms. Frankel discussed the increasing problem of runaway and homeless teenagers. She said 1 out of 30 youth ages 13-17 experience homelessness at some point each year, 4.2 million in all. She explained the reasons that young people leave and how they survive on the streets. She outlined the services that her organization, the National Runaway Safeline, offers to help.

Prof. William Chopik led a study at Michigan State University that examined biases toward people with disabilities. He said bias toward people with disabilities is quite common, but few will acknowledge it. He talked about the demographic groups who are most likely to be prejudiced towards the disabled, and how the problem can be addressed.

Efforts to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy sources can help lower carbon emissions. However, Prof. McGee led a recent study at Portland State University that found that renewable energy increases “energy inequality” for lower-income Americans because it costs more than energy produced by oil, coal and natural gas.

Jason Forman, PhD, Principal Scientist at the Center for Applied Biomechanics at the University of Virginia led a study that concluded that women are 73 percent more likely to be injured in a car accident than men. Older people were also at greater risk of injury. He talked about the likely reasons behind this trend. He also said that all car occupants are now more than half as likely to sustain serious injuries in cars less than ten years old than in older cars.

Matt Fellowes founder and CEO of United Income, a retirement-focused online investment management and financial planning company based in Washington, D.C. co-authored a report that found that only 4% of retirees sign up for Social Security at the most profitable time. He said this single mistake costs the typical American household an average of $111,000 in lost retirement income. He said that most people should claim Social Security later than they typically do, but he recommends seeking professional advice.

Alisa Divine, domestic abuse survivor, author of She Wins: Harrowing Stories from Women Who Survived Domestic Abuse. Ms. Divine said that domestic and sexual abuse is a huge problem but often the victims get little help. She explained why it is so important to shed light on the issue and educate the public about the warning signs. She also explained why leaving an abusive situation is the most dangerous time for the victim, and how victims can find help.

Chick Moorman, educator, co-author of The 10 Commitments: Parenting with Purpose talked about the verbal skills that parents should have to raise responsible and confident children. He offered tips on how parents can discipline their children in positive ways to create a culture of accountability.

Raafi-Karim Alidina, expert in building equality, diversity and inclusive cultures in organizations, co-author of Building an Inclusive Organization: Leveraging the Power of a Diverse Workforce said in the world of business, diversity is often given lip service, if it receives any attention at all. He explained why diversity and inclusion is crucial to the survival of companies. He outlined steps that business leaders can take to make themselves and their companies more inclusive

Claire Nee, PhD, Director of the International Centre for Research in Forensic Psychology, University of Portsmouth, UK led an international study of the behavior of burglars. She discussed the surprising degree of knowledge and skill of experienced thieves in choosing which home to target, how to navigate inside and what to take. She offered crime prevention suggestions to make a home less vulnerable to burglary.

It’s common knowledge that being outdoors and around nature is a healthy thing. Mathew White, PhD, Environmental Psychologist and Senior Lecturer from the University of Exeter Medical School in Devon, Englandled a study that measured exactly how much outdoor time is necessary for improved health. He found that two to four hours per week is the sweet spot, and it can be done in bits and pieces over the course of a week. He added that the benefits were especially helpful for those with longstanding illness or disabilities.

Laura Condon, PhD, Assistant Professor of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Arizona led a study that found that groundwater pumping in the last century, for drinking water and agricultural use, has contributed as much as 50 percent to stream flow declines in some US rivers. She explained why this is such a serious concern and what can be done by communities and individuals to conserve water resources.

Over the past two decades, there have been major changes in tornado forecasting technology and how Americans receive alerts. Rick Smith, Warning Coordination Meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Norman, OK discussed the latest developments and what everyone needs to know to stay safe. He said the number or intensity of tornadoes hasn't changed, but media attention has increased, partly because nearly every tornado is now captured on a smartphone camera.

Julie Angwin, Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist, author of Dragnet Nation: A Quest for Privacy, Security and Freedom in a World of Relentless Surveillance explained why Americans should be concerned about the rapidly increasing ways that the government, private companies, and even criminals use technology to indiscriminately sweep up vast amounts of our personal data. She outlined tools that people can use to reduce their digital footprint.

An American Psychiatric Association report found that Americans have experienced a 51% increase in anxiety levels in the past two years. Laurie Nadel, PhD, a psychotherapist who specializes in treating acute stress, anxiety and PTSD, author of The Five Gifts: Discovering Hope, Healing and Strength When Disaster Strikes said the report illustrates an epidemic of anxiety issues, including PTSD. She said it can be triggered just by watching disturbing images on electronic devices, causing what she terms “vicarious traumatization.” She outlined five techniques that may help those suffering from mental trauma.

Jamie Cooper, PhD, Associate Professor in the Department of Foods and Nutrition at the University of Georgia led a study that found that stepping on the bathroom scale once per day may help to avoid weight gain. She said the average adult gains 1-2 lbs over each vacation or holiday period, and normally doesn’t lose it afterwards. She said although people may walk more and get other forms of physical activity during vacations, they tend to eat more.

Rachel Moon, MD, Pediatrician and Researcher at the University of Virginia Children's Hospital was the lead author of a study that found that babies are dying in car seats when the child is out of the car and sleeping. When looking at infant deaths in sitting devices, like car seats and strollers, her team found that more than two-thirds occurred while in car seats. In those cases, parents were using the car seats as directed less than 10% of the time. She stressed the importance of educating parents to use a crib or bassinet when they are at home.

A recent investigation by the Food and Drug Administration found toxic per- and poly- fluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, in a wide variety of produce, meats and processed foods. David Andrews, Ph.D., Senior Scientist, Environmental Working Group outlined the health dangers. He said food packaging is a major source of the chemicals, along with contaminated water and soil used to grown the food. He would like to see greatly increased government regulation and monitoring of the chemicals.

Joshua Gotbaum Guest Scholar in the Economic Studies Program at The Brookings Institution, and Chair of the Maryland Small Business Retirement Security Board said the retirement industry has spent decades largely sidestepping perhaps the biggest question most Americans have about retirement planning: how much of their earnings should they be saving? He cited research from the Employee Benefits Research Institute that recommends saving at least 10% of each paycheck. He stressed that Millennials should begin saving in earnest as soon as they enter the workforce.

Corporate psychologist and management consultant Patricia Thompson, Ph.D., author of The Consummate Leader: A Holistic Guide to Inspiring Growth in Others…and in Yourself