Science Stories
Come to the Hadley Public Library to meet Dr. Stephen Rich and hear him talk ticks with the UMass Science Stories group! This event will also be available to attend virtually.
This event is free and open to the public.
Learn more at sci-stories.org
WIP: “Identification of Tick Species, Detection of Pathogens, and Progress on Experimental Anti-tick Vaccines”
Dr. Guang Xu from the University of Massachusetts Amherst will present on September 24, 2025 from 11:00–12:00 EST.
WIP: “Project ITCH in RI: Preliminary Results and Insights”
Dr. Alexis White from the University of Rhode Island will present on October 8, 2025 from 11:00–12:00 EST.
WIP: "Project Listen: Investigating Experiences and Challenges of Public Health and Vector Control Professionals in New England"
Johanna Ravenhurst from the University of Massachusetts Amherst will present on October 22, 2025 from 11:00–12:00 EST.
WIP: “Animal Model for Assessing Efficacy of Minimal Risk Natural Product Tick Repellents”
Dr. Tom Mather from the University of Rhode Island will present on November 5, 2025 from 11:00–12:00 EST.
WIP: "Cultivating Communities of Practice for Tick Control; Navigating Constraints and Managing Expectations"
Dr. Stephen Rich from the University of Massachusetts Amherst will present on November 19, 2025 from 11:00–12:00 EST.
WIP: “Project SCRATCH: Development of a Decision Tool for Residential Tick Control”
Dr. Nelle Couret from the University of Rhode Island will present on December 3, 2025 from 11:00–12:00 EST.
WIP: “Residential Tick Management: A Connecticut Research Update”
Dr. Neeta Connally from Western Connecticut State University will present on December 17, 2025 from 11:00–12:00 EST.
WIP: “The Effectiveness and Limits of Tick Education Interventions”
Matt Cahillane, a public health expert in New Hampshire and Adjunct Instructor in the Department of Environmental Studies at Antioch University, will present on September 10, 2025 from 11:00–12:00 EST.
Envisioning New England After Lyme Disease
Dr. Stephen Rich speaks about Lyme Disease in New England at the 42nd Annual School Nurse Conference: “Challenges and Changes in Today’s School Nursing” at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire. See the three-day conference agenda HERE.
Space is limited. Register HERE.
Centerville, MA, Library Talk
Join Dr. Stephen Rich, Executive Director of New England Center of Excellence in Vector-borne Diseases, for a talk about Project ITCH and tick prevention at the Centerville Public Library. Project ITCH (Is Tick Control Helping) is a region-wide research project that looks at backyard tick control practices to figure out what keeps ticks away, what doesn't, and why. Dr. Rich will discuss Project ITCH's work on Cape Cod and give tips on how to prevent tick-borne diseases.
This event is free and open to the public. Registration is encouraged. Register here.
Please note: Event is located in community rooms AB on the lower level.
Falmouth, MA, Library Talk
Join Dr. Stephen Rich for a talk about Project ITCH and tick prevention at the Falmouth Public Library on Monday, July 28th at 4:00 pm. Project ITCH (Is Tick Control Helping?) is a region-wide research project that looks at backyard tick control practices to figure out what keeps ticks away, what doesn't, and why. Dr. Rich will discuss Project ITCH's work on Cape Cod and give tips on how to prevent tick-borne diseases.
This event is free and open to the public. Registration is encouraged. Register here.
WIP: The Rising Tide of Tick- and Mosquito-borne Illnesses
Goudarz Molaei from the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station presents “The Rising Tide of Tick- and Mosquito-borne Illnesses and Our Research and Surveillance Engagement to Mitigate the Impacts".
Click the link to join the meeting on 25-Jun-2025 (11:00am to 12pm): Join Now!
New Study May Help Improve Quality of Arbovirus Testing in Mosquitoes
Written by NEWVEC Executive Director, Dr. Stephen Rich.
Is This Going to be a Bad Tick Year?
Written by NEWVEC Executive Director, Dr. Stephen Rich.
WIP: TBA - Andrea Gloria-Soria
Andrea Gloria-Soria from the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station presents.
Click the link to join the meeting on 21-May-2025 (11:00am to 12pm): Join Now!
Grapefruit: Not Just for Breakfast
Written by UMass Amherst senior biology major, Cayla McGonigle.
Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases (including Lyme): Separating Fact from Fiction
Presentation by Dr. Steve Rich, Professor of Microbiology at UMass Amherst and executive director of NEWVEC, on tick-borne diseases and how to prevent them. Lyme Disease is the most prevalent infectious disease in Massachusetts and is now considered to be a public health crisis. In addition to Lyme, blacklegged ticks can carry the pathogens that cause
babesiosis, anaplasmosis, relapsing fever and Powassan virus, all of which can be very serious and are on the increase. An ounce of
prevention is worth a pound of cure! So come learn how you can protect yourself, your family, and your pets during tick season.
WIP: Project White Tail
Dr. Patrick Pearson from the New England Center of Excellence in Vector-borne Diseases presents “Project White Tail”.
Click the link to join the meeting on 07-May-2025 (11:00am to 12pm): Join Now!
Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases (including Lyme): Separating Fact from Fiction
Presentation by Dr. Steve Rich, Professor of Microbiology at UMass Amherst and executive director of NEWVEC, on tick-borne diseases and how to prevent them. Lyme Disease is the most prevalent infectious disease in Massachusetts and is now considered to be a public health crisis. In addition to Lyme, blacklegged ticks can carry the pathogens that cause
babesiosis, anaplasmosis, relapsing fever and Powassan virus, all of which can be very serious and are on the increase. An ounce of
prevention is worth a pound of cure! So come learn how you can protect yourself, your family, and your pets during tick season.
Blog: Maine's Newest Tiny Terror
Written by UMass Amherst senior biology major, Cayla McGonigle.
WIP: Heritable Immunization of Mice to Intervene Against Enzootic Lyme Disease Spirochete Transmission
Sam Telford from the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University presents “Heritable Immunization of Mice to Intervene Against Enzootic Lyme Disease Spirochete Transmission”.
Click the link to join the meeting on 23-Apr-2025 (11:00am to 12pm): Join Now!
Blog: Deer Keds: A New “Canary” in the Coal Mine
Written by UMass Amherst senior biology major, Cayla McGonigle.
WIP: Advancements in the Application of Systemic Acaricides to Wildlife
Jessica Brown from the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station presents “Advancements in the Application of Systemic Acaricides to Wildlife”.
Click the link to join the meeting on 09-Apr-2025 (11:00am to 12pm): Join Now!
Blog: Research Provides Clues for New Tick Repellent
Written by UMass Amherst senior biology major, Cayla McGonigle.
WIP: Innovative Tick Control: Acaricide Strategies for Managing Blacklegged Ticks While Protecting Pollinators
Megan Linske from the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station presents “Innovative Tick Control: Acaricide Strategies for Managing Blacklegged Ticks While Protecting Pollinators.”
Click the link to join the meeting on 26-Mar-2025 (11:00am to 12pm): Join Now!
WIP: Targeting Borrelia burgdorferi’s guaB for Reservoir Host Intervention
Eric Siegel, PhD student from the New England Center of Excellence in Vector-borne Diseases, presents “Exploiting the Essentiality of Borrelia burgdorferi’s guaB for Reservoir Host-targeted Intervention.”
This video was recorded on March 12, 2025.
WIP: Jamestown Canyon Virus Comes into View
John Shepard from the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station presents “Jamestown Canyon Virus Comes into View: Understanding the Threat from an Under-recognized Arbovirus.”
This video was recorded on February 26, 2025.
Genomic Ecology of Mosquito- and Tick-borne Viruses by Dr. Nathan Grubaugh, Yale University
Your New England Center of Excellence in Vector-borne Diseases (NEWVEC) is Tick Week at UMass Amherst. This is an in-person event.
Seminars are in 222 Morrill Science Center II. Contact NEWVEC Communications Coordinator, Jane, with any questions.
WIP: Two Recent Seasons of Epizootic Activity of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) Virus in Maine
Chuck Lubelczyk from Maine Health presents on two recent seasons of epizootic activity of eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus in Maine and the changes seen in 2023 and 2024.
This video was recorded on February 12, 2025.
Exploiting the Essentiality of Borrelia burgdorferi's guaB for Reservoir Host-targeted Interventions
Your New England Center of Excellence in Vector-borne Diseases (NEWVEC) is hosting Tick Week at UMass Amherst. This is an in-person event.
Eric Siegel, UMass Microbiology PhD candiate, will be presenting “Exploiting the Essentiality of Borrelia burgdorferi's guaB for Reservoir Host-Targeted Interventions.” Eric has published a number of papers and this latest reports on a new drug that may help the fight against Lyme Disease.
Seminars are in 222 Morrill Science Center II. Contact NEWVEC Communications Coordinator, Jane, with any questions.
Jumping Worms and Potential Worm-Tick Interactions
Bill Landesman and Maryam Nouri Aiin (Vermont State and University of Vermont)
Drivers of Residents’ Willingness to Pay a Tax for Tick Control on Public Woodlands
Allison Gardner (University of Maine)
Project ITCH Update: Collaboration with Vermont Center for Ecostudies
Jason Hill (Vermont Center for EcoStudies)
View a recording of this seminar given on 11-September-2024.