Featured Experts

• 

  Jean Creighton

  Director, Manfred Olson Planetarium, College of Letters & Sciencejcreight@uwm.edu

  Creighton can talk about meteors, also called shooting stars, and specifically, the annual Perseids meteor shower active through late August.

  

  Jean Creighton

  Director, Manfred Olson Planetarium, College of Letters & Sciencejcreight@uwm.edu

  The annual Perseids meteor shower, which is considered the year’s best meteor shower, is expected to be active until Aug. 24, with a peak of Aug. 11-13. Jean Creighton can talk about what to look out for after dark. At its peak, the Perseids produce 50 to 100 meteors an hour with clear skies. The Perseids shower is caused by the Earth traveling through debris and dust particles of the comet 109P/Swift-Turtle. Creighton also can discuss the UWM planetarium’s upcoming return to in-person shows. The planetarium will host an online show about the Perseids on Aug. 6.

• 

  Kirk Harris

  Urban Planning, School of Architecture & Urban Planningkeharris@uwm.edu

  Harris can speak about the importance of accounting for racial equity in projects that arise from the infrastructure bill.

  

  Kirk Harris

  Urban Planning, School of Architecture & Urban Planningkeharris@uwm.edu

  As Congress continues to weigh an infrastructure bill, Kirk Harris says it’s important for municipal officials, urban planners and engineers to account for racial and economic equity when considering potential projects. An urban planner, Harris says they must look back and learn from examples from the past, such as understanding how many post-World War II urban renewal projects reinforced the segregation of low-income Black and Hispanic neighborhoods and undermined the vitality and stability of those communities.

   

• 

  DeAnn Huinker

  Mathematics Education, School of Educationhuinker@uwm.edu

  Huinker can talk about preparing children to return to in-person mathematics classes.

  

  DeAnn Huinker

  Mathematics Education, School of Educationhuinker@uwm.edu

  Many students have been away from in-person classes for more than a year and a half and some families are worried about how they’ll do, especially in core subjects like mathematics. DeAnn Huinker can offer tips on how parents can work with schools and teachers, who are also thinking about how to help students make the transition. One tip from Huinker for parents: incorporate math in low-key, every-day activities around the house, like figuring out measurements for food recipes.

  Taking Action: Implementing Effective Mathematics Teaching Practices in K-Grade 5
• 

  Robert Longwell-Grice

  Office of Student Services, School of Educationrobert@uwm.edu

  Longwell-Grice can discuss ways to help first-generation college students succeed in school.

  

  Robert Longwell-Grice

  Office of Student Services, School of Educationrobert@uwm.edu

  Just more than half of undergraduates nationwide are first-generation students, meaning their parents do not have bachelor’s degrees. While first-generation students share some common concerns, Robert Longwell-Grice says a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work when it comes to supporting them. Longwell-Grice, who was a first-generation student, is co-editor of a new book that looks at ways to help first-generation students succeed. For instance, he says faculty members or advisers who can serve as a mentors can especially be helpful to guide them through the ups and downs of college. Longwell-Grice is a senior advisor emeritus at the School of Education.

  At the Intersection: Understanding and Supporting First-Generation Students