With Naomi Osaka’s recent withdrawal from the French Open to focus on her mental health, the topic has moved to the forefront of public discussion. The 23-year-old’s bold stand has served as a reminder of the importance of maintaining one’s mental health in addition to one’s physical health as a key to a balanced life.

During the first week in June, it was estimated that 40% of the U.S. population has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and 60% have received one dose. The Biden Administration has set a goal of vaccinating 70% of the U.S. population by July 4, since in the region of 75-80% of our population should be immune to the predominant strain and variants of SARS-CoV-2 virus. Experience in South Africa, India and the European Union has demonstrated that a population with a high level of susceptibility and with an increasing incidence rate will result in the evolution of mutants. These may be more infectious and have greater pathogenicity than the original January 2020 strain, thereby delaying effective control of the pandemic.

On May 31, 1921, an atrocity known as the Tulsa Race Massacre began in the thriving Greenwood District of the Oklahoma metropolis. More than 35 city blocks were burned to the ground and hundreds of Black citizens were killed, erasing what was known as Black Wall Street, a booming center of Black ingenuity and promise. A new documentary about the massacre – executive produced by NBA All-Star and philanthropist Russell Westbrook and directed by Peabody and Emmy Award winner Stanley Nelson and Peabody and duPont Award winner Marco Williams – will air on the HISTORY channel on Sunday, May 30.

Glenn Richey, the Raymond J. Harbert Eminent Scholar and chair of the Department of Supply Chain Management in Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business, comments on gas supply and demand and the expectations for future gas prices. He says the U.S. needs to allow more production and exploration, support innovation, assist in pipeline upgrades and fund alternative energy creation and supply.

Alabama’s unemployment numbers are below the national average at less than 4%, but many business owners are struggling to fill their staffing needs due to a workforce shortage. Matt Ulmer, Community Workforce, Leadership & Economic Development specialist for the Alabama Cooperative Extension System at Auburn University, weighs in on the issue and gives insight into how the situation may play out through the summer and remainder of 2021.

Auburn University forestry professors Adam Maggard and Daowei Zhang provide insight into the rising cost of lumber and discuss what can be expected in the future. Maggard is an assistant professor of forest systems management in the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences and an Alabama Extension specialist. Zhang is the school’s associate dean of research and serves an Alumni Professor and the George W. Peake Professor of Forest Economics

Herd immunity occurs when a large portion of a community (the herd) becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person less likely. As a result, the whole community becomes protected, not just those who are immune. Often, a percentage of the population must be capable of getting a disease in order for it to spread. This is known as the herd immunity threshold. The percentage of a community that needs to be immune in order to achieve herd immunity varies from disease to disease. The more contagious a disease is, the greater the proportion of the population that needs to be immune to the disease to stop its spread. For example, the measles is a highly contagious illness. It is estimated that 94% of the population must be immune to interrupt the chain of transmission.

As the COVID-19 global pandemic persists and the country slowly inches its way toward herd immunity, many Americans remain reluctant to get the vaccine and demand for the much sought-after inoculation has waned in recent weeks. Everything from skepticism, personal beliefs, a “wait and see” mentality and even misinformation have contributed to the waning of numbers of those signing up to get the vaccine.

Professor Bob Norton, chair of the Auburn University Food System Institute’s Food and Water Defense Working Group, discusses the importance of a safe and secure food chain, especially in connection with COVID-19 and cybersecurity. He says the pandemic has created problems, as well as opportunities, in the food and agriculture sector.

COVID-19 infection and hospitalization rates are falling nationwide, but experts talk in dire terms about what will happen if variants of the virus are allowed to continue to surge this spring. There is a continual threat of emerging coronavirus variants that may increase the transmissibly, increase the disease-causing ability of the virus and/or weaken the effectiveness of immunizations.

Sleep is a billion-dollar industry, yet a good night’s sleep is elusive to many, especially during these trying times as the COVID-19 pandemic lingers. Auburn University Psychology Professor Jennifer Robinson and her team have discovered a wide assortment of side effects from a lack of sleep. In addition to impaired motor skills, sleep deprivation also negatively affects emotions, decision-making abilities and overall health.

Supergiant Betelgeuse—normally the 10th-brightest star in the night sky—made headlines earlier this month based on analysis that has revealed the star dimmed significantly in 2020. The red-colored star—part of the constellation of Orion—is well-known to the science world because it has been observed and studied for centuries and is, at 750 times the size of the sun, easily visible to the naked eye. Melissa Halford, a lecturer in Auburn University’s Department of Physics in the College of Sciences and Mathematics, or COSAM, took some time to discuss the popular star, which is roughly 530 light years from Earth.

Auburn University Professor Kimberly Key provides information on tax preparation, tax laws and the effect of COVID-19 stimulus checks. She serves as the PWC Professor of Accounting in Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business.

In late December, the idea that safe, effective vaccines against COVID-19 had been created in less than a year seemed miraculous—a triumph of science and American ingenuity. It took only six weeks to tarnish that image. Pride in the remarkable feat has been replaced by confusion, accusations of unfairness, frustrating waits and the nightmare of vaccine vials gathering dust while tens of thousands of people die of what is now a preventable disease.

The recent market highs reached by Bitcoin, Ethereum and other major cryptocurrencies have sparked a dramatic uptick in interest in this 10-year-old class of digital currency. Fueled in part by renewed coverage in mainstream media and announcements of large purchases by hedge funds and traditional investment pools, Bitcoin and a handful of other leading cryptocurrencies are rapidly becoming embraced by merchants, financial institutions and consumers alike. Many experts believe that the higher-profile cryptocurrencies are on the brink of an explosion in popularity and value in the coming years.

Approval of the two mRNA COVID-19 vaccines by the FDA in mid-December and possibly two more in February does not necessarily represent the beginning of the end. To quote Winston Churchill at the time of the successful conclusion of the Battle of Britain in 1941, having the two vaccines available for administration by the end of 2020 is certainly “the end of the beginning.” In an insightful opinion article in the Dec. 4 edition of The Wall Street Journal, Dr. Tom Frieden, previously a director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, noted the logistic and epidemiologic restraints relating to vaccination in the presence of escalating incidence rates in most states, and elevated hospitalizations and mortality.

This time of year usually brings people together to celebrate the holidays. Whether it’s taking a trip to spend time with family or heading out with friends for a New Year's Eve celebration, a collective tendency toward togetherness is a fundamental part of the holidays. Even though many people are separated from friends and loved ones, Tracy Witte, the Alumni Professor and Jane Dickson Lanier Professor in Psychological Sciences at Auburn University, says we can find new ways to celebrate togetherness.  With the coronavirus still raging and record numbers still being set, Witte offers some positive ways people can safely celebrate the holidays.

Auburn University Professor Kimberly Key provides advice on year-end financial and tax planning, including circumstances due to COVID-19. She serves as the PWC Professor of Accounting in Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business.

Most families will experience a Thanksgiving like none other this year due to a resurgence of COVID-19 influencing travel plans and gathering sizes. Auburn University Assistant Professor of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work Anthony Campbell believes there are ample opportunities for people to enjoy the holiday, focus on what makes them thankful and avoid any negativity that may be looming as we conclude what has been a long year for everyone. He offers insight below about everything from positivity, enjoying family, putting differences aside, maintaining mental health and focusing on relationships that create happiness.

Food safety should be practiced every day, but the proper handling, cooking and storage of foods gains even more attention on Thanksgiving Day. Jean Weese, formerly of the Auburn University Food Systems Institute, or AUFSI, explains how to be safe this holiday. Weese is long-time head of the Alabama Cooperative Extension Systems food safety and quality team, in addition to her role with AUFSI.

Although politically comforting and expedient, science does not support the principle of "herd immunity" for controlling the COVID-19 pandemic. Herd immunity is the term used when a sufficient number of individuals within a population become infected and immune, so the virus will no longer be able to circulate. Herd immunity has never been achieved with any disease without an effective vaccine stimulating durable immunity. Currently, there is insufficient knowledge concerning the antibody status of those recovering from COVID-19 irrespective of whether they were asymptomatic or required supportive treatment. Besides the increasing mortality due to the virus, the proponents of herd-immunity ignore the long-term consequences of infection. The virus can cause both cardiac and neural changes in addition to fatigue in the so-called “long haulers.” Therefore, the pandemic cannot be controlled until there is a safe and effective vaccine developed and administered to a significant number of people worldwide. This article will discuss the science behind the leading COVID-19 vaccine candidates and when can we expect commercially available vaccine(s).

As the holiday shopping frenzy of Black Friday and Cyber Monday are upon us, what can brick-and-mortar stores and online retailers expect this season? Dora Bock, associate professor of marketing in Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business, comments on Nov. 27 Black Friday and Nov. 30 Cyber Monday sales predictions and trends.

In a recent Wall Street Journal article, “COVID-19 Vaccine Delivery Will Challenge Cargo Airlines,” Doug Cameron, the WSJ’s deputy bureau chief in Chicago, lays out what pharmaceutical makers, cargo shipper and the entire medical services industry will face in delivering yet-to-be-approved vaccines to hospitals, medical offices and pharmacies across the United States and around the globe. Cameron’s article focuses on the air cargo segment of this specialized supply chain, which is already suffering from a shortage of planes equipped with the carefully controlled refrigeration transport and storage these vaccines will require. His findings in that segment of the vaccine supply chain raise real concerns and beg the question of what else needs to be done to ensure virtually every step in this critical health care delivery process succeeds.

Like many industries, aviation is undergoing changes due to the pandemic. Three leaders from Auburn’s Department of Aviation—James Witte, department chair, James Birdsong, aviation program coordinator and recent winner of the 2020 Alumni Undergraduate Teaching Excellence Award, and Bill Hutto, past acting chair and Airport and Aviation Center director—discuss below the changing landscape of the aviation industry and how Auburn’s program is responding. They talked about how the Auburn Department of Aviation is rising to meet the needs of the aviation industry during the pandemic and discussed their outlook on the future of aviation.

With the 2020 U.S. presidential election coming down to a razor-thin margin and votes still being counted in some key states, Auburn University Political Science Professor Mitchell Brown—co-director of the Election Administration Initiative—gives her thoughts on this week’s developments, how the uncertain outcome may play out and what procedures and policies may ultimately determine the winner. Brown is an expert on election administration (general and changes in process), counting and certification, audits and recounts, mail ballots and election security.

NASA sent shockwaves through the science and aerospace communities on Monday when it announced the discovery of water on the surface of the moon. Auburn Assistant Professor of Aerospace Engineering Toshi Hirabayashi discusses the significance of the discovery and talks about where it may have come from, what it may mean for the future of space exploration and perhaps even colonizing the moon.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused communities to modify or cancel large social gatherings. The upcoming Halloween holiday is no exception. While some communities are offering drive-thru trick-or-treating events in lieu of the traditional door-to-door candy gathering, others have canceled the holiday altogether. Angela Wiley, a professor and former Extension specialist in family life, explains how families can maintain some sense of normalcy when a global pandemic prevents your child from collecting candy from the neighborhood. Wiley is also the head of the Department of Human Development and Family Science in the College of Human Sciences at Auburn.

In honor of Oct. 22 being celebrated as Journalism Day by Auburn University’s School of Communication and Journalism, John Carvalho—professor and associate director for the school—took time to talk about how sports reporting has changed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. He weighs in on procedural and coverage policy changes he’s seen in the industry, as well as in the media relations realm, and talks about the adjustments he has made teaching sports writing at the university.

Close relatives of the SARS-CoV-2 have likely circulated in bats for decades before it was transmitted into humans, causing the worst pandemic in 100 years. A paper coauthored by Todd Castoe at the University of Texas-Arlington and published in the journal, Nature Microbiology, found no evidence that the virus was either manufactured or accidently released from a lab in Wuhan, China, as some have speculated. Sequencing of the entire viral genome of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and other coronaviruses isolated from bats over the past decades has shown they are similar and have been circulating and ready to infect humans for many years.

It is axiomatic that any vaccine to be deployed extensively in the U.S. or elsewhere should receive approval only after rigorous testing for both safety and efficacy. With more than six million cases and 200,000 fatalities, possibly rising to 400,000 deaths, the U.S. urgently needs a safe and effective vaccine.

This year’s Election Day will be unlike any before, and many voters still have trepidations and questions as uncertainty swirls just six weeks ahead of the Nov. 3 vote. Auburn Political Science professors Bridgett A. King and Kathleen Hale, experts on elections and voting, recently participated in separate national panel discussions and offered their thoughts on everything from what in-person voting might look like logistically amid the COVID-19 pandemic and whether they expect people to vote in person or by mail, to a possible shortage of poll workers and local funding and what local election officials are doing to prepare for all types of contingencies.

Prominent epidemiologists and medical professionals are advocating the introduction of an inexpensive rapid antigen immunoassay tests similar to a home pregnancy test. Prototype COVID-19 tests are being developed and are under evaluation to be commercially available later in the year. The demand for rapid tests is based on the reality that highly sensitive lab-based molecular (PCR) assays, which measure viral RNA, may not yield a result for most people even those with symptoms for periods from four to 10 days.

For safety reasons, many retailers are requesting contactless forms of payment during a transaction. Those retailers who do accept cash payments have been asking customers to use exact change. The combination of people staying home to help slow the spread of the coronavirus and the preference toward using credit/debit cards for health reasons have yielded some interesting economic results during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nicolas Ziebarth, the Ekelund and Hebert Associate Professor of Economics, shares his opinion on whether a cashless business model is likely, and what some of the effects of such a shift might be.

As the world continues to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, psychology and even brain chemistry may play increasingly important roles in how people deal with the global health crisis. Auburn University’s Jennifer Robinson, an associate professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences and director of the Cognitive and Behavioral Sciences Program, says neuroscience—the study of the structure and function of the nervous system and brain—could lend important insight into successful ways to weather the storm in future pandemics.

With the U.S. Presidential race looming on the horizon amid a lingering COVID-19 pandemic, this year's election will be like no other from any time in history. According to Auburn Political Science Assistant Professor Soren Jordan, not even changes to the conventions will quell public interest in voting—both in person and via mail—and the debates should be must-see viewing for a nation hungry for content and competition. He discussed the upcoming election and what it might mean for the future of elections in the United States below.

Auburn University physics professors Dennis Bodewits and Edward Thomas Jr. have been just as intrigued by the recently visible Comet NEOWISE that has been making headlines the past week as the general public. Bodewits, an associate professor in Auburn’s Department of Physics, and Thomas, the Charles W. Barkley Endowed Professor and associate dean for research and graduate studies in Auburn’s College of Sciences and Mathematics, offer insight into the comet and tips for how locals can get out and see the solar system body before it’s too late.

As most of the United States enters the wildfire season, Auburn University wildfire expert John Kush comments on what can be expected and how landowners and managers can help reduce occurrences and damage.

There are few issues more critical in the age of COVID-19 than biosecurity, or the proper methods and practices to help people and pets from contracting the disease.

With more questions than answers currently circulating about the current global pandemic of the COVID-19 virus, Dr. Bruce Smith of Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine discusses zoonotic diseases, their origins and how humans can better deal with them.

The purpose of vaccination is to stimulate the immune response to prevent a disease. A person who is rendered resistant to a disease by vaccination is termed “actively immunized.” Active immunity may also result from recovery from a natural outbreak of a disease. Immunity transferred from plasma from a donor, which contains antibodies from a prior infection or vaccination is referred to as “passive immunity.” This type of immunity is immediate, but only temporary and is used mainly for treatment of hospitalized individuals. Various laboratories are also developing synthetic antibodies called “monoclonal antibodies” in cell cultures, which can be mass-produced for treatment of seriously ill patients.

The rise of quantum information processing has the potential to vastly improve communication security by offering next-generation encryption technology. On Monday, June 15, a team of Chinese researchers published the latest results of their work in this area, highlighting how they used quantum physics to send a “key” to encrypt and decrypt messages from one ground station to another about 700 miles away through a satellite. This technique is known as quantum key distribution, or QKD. Mark Adams, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering in Auburn’s Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, is a researcher in the Alabama Micro/Nano Science and Technology Center, who works in the area of quantum information processing, including QKD. Adams explains how QKD works and highlights Auburn’s role in advancing this technology.

Melissa Pangelinan, an assistant professor in Auburn University’s School of Kinesiology, is the director of the Pediatric Movement and Physical Activity Lab. The lab uses state-of-the-art brain and body imaging, as well as neurocognitive and movement assessments, to better understand how movement ability and physical activity participation affect brain and motor development in children, adolescents and adults with and without developmental disabilities. The goal of her research is to develop age-appropriate interventions that will promote motor competence and physical activity participation, which will in turn impact the long-term development of brain and physical health in those with and without movement difficulties.

June is National Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month and is a great time to consider adding a feline friend to the household. Dr. Diane Delmain of Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine says cats are delightful, playful companions that can provide years of loving friendship, but there are several things to consider when finding the right cat.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused breaks in the food supply chain, resulting in shortages of products, like beef and pork, or even elevated prices of meats in some areas. Between scarcity and rising prices, Americans may be considering a change in their food consumption. Mike Greene, an associate professor in the Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Hospitality Management in Auburn’s College of Human Sciences, has conducted extensive research on the Mediterranean diet, a more plant-based food plan. He even created a Mediterranean diet tour of Italy and Greece, giving students an immersive study abroad experience at the source of the diet trend. Greene explains why it could be beneficial for Americans to rethink the foods they currently eat.

The African-American community has been hit harder by the COVID-19 pandemic than other populations. Onikia Brown, associate professor and registered dietitian in Auburn’s College of Human Sciences, shares the health and environmental factors that drive those disproportionate results.

The COVID-19 pandemic upended the fashion industry and temporarily closed retailers and manufacturers worldwide. Consumers had to turn to online retail, but even then, quantities were sometimes limited and deliveries were delayed. Pamela Ulrich, Under Armour Professor and head of the Department of Consumer and Design Sciences in Auburn’s College of Human Sciences, explains the impact and where the industry goes from here.

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in transformative changes throughout society, including how people view social status, which professions are considered crucial and how wealth is valued. Auburn Assistant Professor of Social Work Anthony Campbell says he expects some social and perceptual shifts to be temporary, while permanent changes could include how we involve the use of technology for communication, education and health care. Campbell, who earned his doctorate from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, discusses the pandemic’s effects on the nation from a variety of perspectives.

It is axiomatic that decisions relating to opening up the economy and relaxation of mitigations in the current COVID-19 era and assessing the effectiveness of preventive measures should be based on real-time evaluation of the incidence rate of the infection. By definition, incidence is the number of new cases in a population identified within a specific time period.

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the U.S. food system, leading to a rise in food insecurity rates and increasing the demand at food banks and food pantries nationwide to feed more people than ever. Food insecurity occurs when a household has difficulty providing enough food due to a lack of resources. Alicia Powers, managing director of Auburn University’s Hunger Solutions Institute in the College of Human Sciences, explains how the pandemic will continue to affect food insecurity rates and offers resources to those in need, including a new initiative to be launched by End Child Hunger in Alabama this month.

Since the days of Florence Nightingale during the Crimean War and Clara Barton during the Civil War, nurses have been an integral part of the care and treatment of the sick and wounded. The COVID-19 pandemic has shed a spotlight on nurses and reinforced the essential role they have in hospitals and clinics worldwide. Caralise Hunt, an associate professor and associate dean for academic affairs in Auburn’s School of Nursing, discusses the spotlight and what Auburn is doing to prepare young people for the future of health care.

The School of Kinesiology’s Reita Clanton, coordinator of the Performance and Health Optimization Center, and Assistant Clinical Professor Ford Dyke teach the practice of mindfulness. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Clanton and Dyke offered mindfulness sessions for Auburn University’s campus community. Below, they share tips for people who are interested in incorporating mindfulness into their daily lives.

Auburn University’s College of Education, long a pioneer in the realm of online instruction, is preparing the next generation of educators amid changes posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Humana-Germany-Sherman Distinguished Professor of Special Education, Rehabilitation and Counseling Caroline Dunn and Christopher Clemons, an assistant professor of Agriculture Education in the College of Education’s Department of Curriculum and Teaching, describe how instructors are implementing new techniques to deliver lesson plans to students and what the future of teaching may hold for K-12 educators.

Matt Malczycki, Joseph A. Kicklighter associate professor and director of undergraduate studies for Auburn University’s Department of History, comments below on how COVID-19 compares to other pandemics in history—saying COVID-19 is historic not so much for its number of cases but for the speed at which the world moved to stop its spread.

Karen Hopkins, a marketing expert and lecturer in Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business, says even though people tire of image advertising, companies must run those ads to keep up with competitors. She also discusses how companies have had to change their communications strategies and channels to reach consumers.

Associate Professor of Spanish Jana Gutiérrez Kerns discusses below how the Hispanic community has dealt with the effects of COVID-19, the unique challenges it faces in dealing with a crisis of this nature and how students in the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures have adjusted to remote instruction through it all.

Franz Lohrke, the Lowder Eminent Scholar and Professor of Management in Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business, says opportunities exist for established businesses during economic downturns and he offers advice for those thinking about starting a business during this uncertain time.

With nearly 20 states delaying primary elections, mail-in ballots a widely debated topic and a presidential election on the horizon, the country’s political landscape has been greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Assistant Political Science Professor Ryan Williamson looks at the ways this year’s elections have been impacted, how voters and candidates will be affected as a result of the ripple effect from the coronavirus and how future elections may be influenced for years to come.

As the world reopens from the COVID-19 quarantines, Professor Brian Connelly of Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business discusses why some people follow guidelines and others do not. He looks at how people weigh their personal safety decisions and says now would be a good time to demonstrate an extra measure of empathy toward others.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a wide impact across virtually every aspect of society, and the nonprofit sector is no different. Kelly Krawczyk, associate professor and Ph.D. program director in Auburn’s department of Political Science, teaches undergraduate and graduate classes on a wide range of nonprofit topics. She described how the coronavirus has affected the nonprofit world and highlighted how its leaders have stepped up to help during the crisis despite their own struggle to survive.

Social distancing guidelines to decrease the spread of COVID-19 have many people spending much more time than usual at home. Many may be drawn to the idea of farming in their backyard and need to be aware of the risk of contracting foodborne illness through unsafe preparation. Interior Design Program Coordinator and Associate Professor Lindsay Tan and Culinary Science Lecturer Ana Plana share their expertise with novice backyard farmers on how to cultivate a safe, healthy backyard garden.

Auburn’s Harrison School of Pharmacy responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by making hand sanitizer for the community. It continues to be a resource for pharmacies throughout Alabama and the country seeking support and answers under new operations. Kimberly Braxton Lloyd, the school’s associate dean of clinical affairs and outreach, talks about the school’s efforts in response to this unprecedented situation.

The COVID-19 pandemic is the latest opportunity for threat actors and cybercriminals to prey upon the concerns of a worried nation. Some have even gone so far as falsely representing the World Health Organization, the United Nations’ agency responsible for international public health. Jason Cuneo, chief technologist for the Auburn Cyber Research Center and an adjunct lecturer in the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering’s Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering, offers his thoughts on cyber threats during the pandemic.

While a pandemic indicates primarily a health crisis, there are many societal facets associated with it that are still being explored. One of the people looking at how a crisis may exacerbate existing disparities among the sexes is Melissa Blair, associate professor of history. Blair researches and teaches U.S. women’s history. With an April unemployment rate more than 14%, Blair talks about how and why unemployment affects American women and what new challenges and outcomes are likely to arise. 

With stay-at-home orders being lifted by varying degrees across the country and a multitude of people returning to work, lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic may begin to become more visible. Auburn’s Nadia Bhuiyan—an assistant clinical professor of psychology and director of the Auburn University Psychology Services Clinic, or AUPSC—describes the possible psychological impact of the coronavirus and offers advice and resources for anyone who may struggle to reconnect and adjust to the “new normal” in society after months of seclusion.

Auburn University Outreach’s Government and Economic Development Institute, or GEDI, assists communities, especially underserved and under-resourced communities, by providing expert consultation and training resources to address significant local issues and to promote economic development and effective government policy.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, we spend more than 90 percent of our time indoors—where we work, where we shop, where we worship, where we go to school—and we aren’t the only ones living there. Pathogens—germs—are there too. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced everyone to stay inside even more and raised questions about our ability to keep ourselves safe among potential pathogens, like the novel coronavirus.

Editor’s note: This Expert Answers piece was distributed initially April 30. Please look for continuing updates on the evolving, food supply situation on our Coronavirus Experts page.

Auburn University business faculty members James Barth and Pei Xu say using digital currency, or cryptocurrency, instead of paper money would reduce the spreading of viruses and they comment on the buying and selling of cryptocurrencies.

With schools closed during the COVID-19 outbreak, students and parents alike are adapting to online learning procedures. Parents are learning to provide academic support, while students are immersed in interactive and creative lessons.

John Jahera, professor emeritus of finance in Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business, comments on the possible effect of the coronavirus stimulus packages on the national debt, the prospect for inflation and how citizens can protect their financial well-being.

The worldwide quarantine has halted global travel, vacated hotels and forced restaurants to close or switch operations. Fortunately, the hospitality/tourism industry has faced crises in the past and survived. Martin O’Neill, the Bruno Endowed Professor and head of the Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Hospitality Management in Auburn’s College of Human Sciences, explains how the global industry will recover in the aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis.

Some of the most important unknowns with COVID-19 are as follows:

Joanna Sztuba-Solinska, assistant professor of biological sciences in Auburn University’s College of Sciences and Mathematics, gives an update on her research of SARS CoV-2—the virus that causes COVID-19—talks about how warming temperatures can affect the pandemic and what the future of the coronavirus may look like for everyone.

With most Americans experiencing weeks and weeks of lockdown and social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, society may very well be changing right before our eyes. Auburn sociology professor Allen Furr examines the effects of the coronavirus on society and what it might all mean for the future.

Brian Gibson, the Wilson Family Professor and executive director of the Center for Supply Chain Innovation in Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business, comments on the impact of coronavirus on sales projections for retailers and suppliers, how supply chains are adapting and how consumer costs will be affected. He also gives details on the May 12 Fusion supply chain webinar that will cover how supply chains are effectively responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the world under quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic, everyone is spending more time at home than usual and perhaps even eating foods they don’t regularly consume. Mike Greene, associate professor in the College of Human Sciences’ Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Hospitality Management, offers advice on the importance of maintaining healthy eating habits in quarantine.

Dave Ketchen, the Harbert Eminent Scholar and professor of management in Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business, comments on the “safer at home” status, provides advice on spending your stimulus check and what to do if bills are past due.

A unique combination of a pandemic, stay-at-home orders and an ongoing price war between the world's top oil producers has led to historically low oil prices and a growing global crisis. Auburn University’s Hyeongwoo Kim, Patrick E. Molony Professor & Department Chair of Economics, took time to help sort it all out.

Auburn University Professor Kimberly Key provides information on federal stimulus checks, payment amounts and how long it might take to receive them. She serves as the PWC Professor of Accounting in Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business.

In order to serve the health and relational needs of the public while following guidelines to slow the spread of COVID-19, the Auburn University Marriage and Family Therapy program has introduced Technology Assisted Family Therapy Services, or TAFTS. These therapy services, conducted online, are designed to improve the mental health and well-being of clients from a safe physical distance. Center Director and Associate Professor Scott Ketring and Assistant Professor Lauren Ruhlmann in the College of Human Sciences’ Department of Human Development and Family Studies share everything you need to know about TAFTS and telehealth.

Robert Judd, professor of pharmacology and chair of the Boshell Diabetes and Metabolic Disease Research Program in Auburn’s College of Veterinary Medicine, discusses the importance of preventative measures for diabetics and how COVID-19 increases the risk of serious complications for these patients.

Sarah Zohdy, assistant professor of disease ecology in Auburn University’s School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences and the College of Veterinary Medicine, discusses what leads to the emergence and spread of novel viruses; the major threats to human and animal health; and how the spread could be rooted in the loss of natural, wildlife habitats.

As P.T. Barnum famously said, "The show must go on." With theatre closed, from Broadway to your local community playhouse, some artists have turned to digital or virtual platforms to continue to engage with audiences. Chase Bringardner, professor and chair of the Department of Theatre, comments on the current climate of the performing arts, what they might look like as a result of the pandemic, and how we can continue to support the art of the theatre and its performers. 

Wednesday marks the 50th installment of Earth Day, and with most of the world following stay-at-home ordinances in recent weeks, some say the environment has had time to recover in the wake of far fewer people on the roads and in the air and a massive reduction in nitrogen dioxide emissions from automobiles. Chandana Mitra, an associate professor in Auburn University’s department of geosciences, gives her thoughts about what she says are the positive byproducts that have come about by the coronavirus-forced lockdown and what it could mean going forward.

Auburn University Health Administration professors Cathleen Erwin, Geoffrey Silvera, Haneen Ali and Lori Redding discuss the impact of the coronavirus on the U.S. health care system and how it could affect everyone going forward.

Danielle Wadsworth, an associate professor in Auburn University’s School of Kinesiology, leads the Exercise Adherence and Obesity Prevention Lab. Her research focuses on increasing physical activity participation and adherence through examining factors that motivate people to exercise and adhere to an exercise regimen over a long period of time. Wadsworth aims to develop techniques that make exercise fun and enjoyable, and therefore, more likely that people will regularly engage in the behaviors.

Rafay Ishfaq, the W. Allen Reed Associate Professor of supply chain management in Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business, has conducted research on the benefits and challenges of providing healthcare delivery via telemedicine—in which patients uses a smart phone app or home computer to connect with a doctor via video. As the world faces the COVID-19 pandemic, he says telemedicine can help with delivering healthcare to non-coronavirus patients as a way to meet the capacity and inventory challenges faced by healthcare supply chains.

With some job offers now being rescinded and the nation’s job market tightening for recent college graduates amid the coronavirus pandemic, it’s all the more important for candidates to do all they can to market themselves and network–albeit through virtual means. Auburn University’s Jan Moppert, director of the Office of Professional and Career Development in Auburn’s Harbert College of Business, addresses this tough job market and offers tips on how recent graduates can set themselves up for success even in such unprecedented times.

Joseph Giambrone, a professor emeritus in Auburn University’s Department of Poultry Science with a joint appointment in the Department of Pathobiology in the College of Veterinary Medicine, offers his thoughts about how coronaviruses will never be totally eradicated and how pandemics normally occur in waves of infection. He comments on the stability of the SARS CoV-2 virus, how best to mitigate transmissions and says constant surveillance of wild animals and those sold in live animal markets is a necessity. 

Dr. Constantinos Kyriakis, assistant professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Pathobiology, discusses the role of vaccines in protecting against COVID-19 and helping prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, as well as the unique challenges scientists are facing in developing safe, effective vaccine candidates. His research, primarily focused on ­zoonotic influenza viruses and novel vaccine technologies for more than a decade, will soon involve a minimally invasive study of a variety of COVID-19 vaccine candidates’ ability to trigger an immune response in swine when used alone or in combination with adjuvants.

Peter Weber teaches in Auburn’s philanthropy and nonprofit studies program, which helps students identify their philanthropic priorities and be strategic in their philanthropy. Weber shares his expertise in this crucial time of giving and comments on how philanthropic work benefits COVID-19 relief.

As a faculty member in Auburn’s Marriage and Family Therapy program, part of Josh Novak’s research investigates relationship dynamics during acute sickness such as cold and flu. He applies what he’s learned about disease to COVID-19, how it may affect relationships and offers helpful resources that couples can take advantage of during this time.

With the news of COVID-19 spreading throughout the United States, most look to health care providers for information on how to treat or cure the disease. Just as important, according to the Harrison School of Pharmacy’s Jan Kavookjian, is learning new preventive healthy habits in our daily lives.

The information in this Q&A is based on relevant data as of the date of publication and will be updated as new information is received.

Bob Norton, chair of the Auburn University Food System Institute’s Food and Water Defense Working Group, discusses how modeling is conducted when estimates are made on the possible number of COVID-19 deaths. He also provides information on why certain states are seeing higher numbers, and tells why the food supply is safe.

Auburn University tax expert Kerry Inger, associate professor in the School of Accountancy in the Harbert College of Business, explains how individuals and corporations can apply and benefit from the recently passed Families First Coronavirus Response Act and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.

At this time, the U.S. has the most confirmed cases in the world and ranks sixth in the number of total deaths from the virus. With limited information regarding risk factors for severe disease, Robin Farrell, a veteran nurse practitioner, offers her expertise on protecting ourselves and others.

As health care providers and patients adjust to new procedures with the appearance of the coronavirus COVID-19, the Harrison School of Pharmacy’s Dr. Spencer Durham, who was recently named to Gov. Kay Ivey’s Coronavirus Task Force, offers some tips and practices.

Kyle Kostelecky, an associate professor of human development and family studies at Auburn and an expert in gerontology, explains the challenges of caring for the elderly during quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Associate Clinical Professor Marilyn Bulloch is an infectious disease expert and has been closely following the news about COVID-19 and its impact on pharmacists and patients.