Conversation Starters

News-worthy commentary by Stevens faculty members recently featured in the media.

“People are upset and when they are upset the easiest thing is to point to prices. People have jobs, wages are up and inflation has moderated significantly. It’s very hard to make a case that the economy is in distress.”  

George Calhoun, professor with Stevens’ School of Business, spoke to U.S. News & World Report about the mismatch between public sentiment and the reality of strong economic indicators in an article published on Feb. 27, 2024. 


“One possibility is they just aren’t paying much attention. Another possibility is these ideas are outside of their toolbox.”  

Philip Orton, an associate professor with Stevens’ School of Engineering and Science, was featured in a City & State New York article, published on Feb. 12, 2024, discussing how the Army Corps, in its plan to protect Jamaica Bay from rising sea levels, does not reference his research in its environmental impact statement. 


“There’s really very little regulation at this point, so it’s important to set common-sense priorities. It’s a measured approach between unrestrained innovation for profit versus some AI experts wanting to halt all development.”  

Brendan Englot, director of Stevens’ Institute for Artificial Intelligence and professor with Stevens’ School of Engineering and Science, spoke to Robot Report about an October executive order that established standards for AI testing and other safeguards. The article was published on Dec. 4, 2023. 


“Our very old immune systems can’t keep up with modern lifestyles and diets.”   

Theresa MacPhail, associate professor with the School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, spoke to Radio New Zealand about the rising number of allergy sufferers in the broader population, for an episode that aired on Feb. 11, 2024.