Infotrak

Do you ever feel stressed? Amy Serin is a neuropsychologist who reveals ways to turn off stress and find relief.

Today, identity theft and fraud are happening everywhere, partly due to modern technology. Frank Abagnale is an FBI advisor and top expert on scams, and he shares simple strategies to outsmart today's ripoff artists.

Parents know all too well that family, friends and so-called experts can dish out loads of advice on raising kids. But, much of that advice can be wrong, according to Prof. Emily Oster from Brown University. She examined some of this standard advice, compared it to scientific research and found that the conventional wisdom is often wrong. She offers advice to help new moms and dads to be better and more relaxed parents.

The devastating consequences of the opioid crisis are far-reaching in the United States, in terms of lost and broken lives. Prof. Segel from Penn State University examined the often-overlooked costs to taxpayers via the impact to state and local budgets.

How much do you know about Health Savings Accounts? Roy Ramthun is an expert known as Mr. HSA and he explains the benefits of HSAs, how to avoid overpaying for medical services and how to shop for you own HSA.

Prof. Palamar led a study at the NYU School of Medicine that found that teenagers are more likely to experiment with recreational drugs such as LSD, marijuana, cocaine or ecstasy for the first time during the summer months. He said that the amount of free time on their hands once the school year ends and activities like music festivals are major factors in this risky behavior. He said parents should educate and warn their kids about using recreational drugs, their risks and side effects.

Joanne Lara, is an autism expert, former special education teacher, and Executive Director of the organization “Autism Works Now.” She said up to 85 percent of autistic adults are either unemployed or underemployed. She explained how “Autism Works Now” teaches pre-employment and workplace readiness skills to young adults with autism. She outlined the challenges faced by autistic students, and she explained the role that parents, schools and employers play in helping them to secure meaningful employment.

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.