Sheldon H. Jacobson Ph.D.

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

In the News (2024)

(26 December 2024) “Can lessons learned from airports security guide Trump’s immigration strategy?” Published in The Hill.

(24 December 2024) “The data shows we Americans have much to be thankful for.” Published in Chicago Tribune.

(20 December 2024, CBS42 Washington DC, Maddie Biertempfel) “Law makers sound alarm over TSA facial recognition technology” features Jacobson on the benefits of facial recognition at airport security checkpoint points.

(19 December 2024) “What do totals of mass shootings and school shootings tell us?” Published in Chicago Tribune.

(18 December 2024) “How worried should the public be over the mysterious Northeast drones?” Published in The Hill.

(14 December 2024) “Illinois election results show gerrymandering’s bad outcome.” Published in Chicago Sun Times.

(13 December 2024) “How can we balance the public good of healthcare with our privatized system?” Published in The Hill.

(13 December 2024) “Understanding Taylor Swift, the movement, through her numbers.” Published in Tribune News Service.

(9 December 2024) “Time to reassess how NFL penalties hold back offenses.” Published in Chicago Tribune.

(6 December 2024) “How do transgender athletes fit into college sports?” Published in The Hill.

(5 December 2024) “Fired college football coaches are doing better than ever.” Published in Tribune News Service.

(27 November 2024) “After a rough election season, our country needs to embrace gratitude, appreciation, and thanks.” Published in The Hill.

(26 November 2024, ABC7 Chicago) “Air traffic control staffing crisis continues during Chicago-area holiday season” interviews Jacobson on the causes of and solutions for air traffic control delays and staffing shortages.

(26 November 2024, Entera Solution, Stephen DeAngelis) “Save the planet and secure the global supply chain” references Jacobson’s July 3, 2024 op-ed on food supply chain risk that appeared in The Hill.

(24 November 2024) “Is bird flu a risk yet to people?” Published (with J.A. Jokela) in Chicago Tribune.

(20 November 2024) “American’s passengers are losers in Skiplagged suit.” Published in Dallas Morning News.

(20 November 2024) “How to make holiday travel as smooth as possible.” Published in Tribune News Service.

(19 November 2024) “The top issues Trump 2.0 will need to tackle.” Published in The Hill.

(14 November 2024) “People to remember from the unforgettable 2024 election.” Published in The Hill.

(12 November 2024) “Stanley Cups must be won in the front office before they are won on the ice.” Published in Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

(4 November 2024, Newsweek, Jack Beresford) “Woman flying home from Bangkok finds something ‘scary’ in luggage” quotes Jacobson explaining how an item found in a checked bag after it cleared airport security may have gotten there.

(4 November 2024 “Pollster just can’t get it right on Trump --  will Harris flip the script?” Published in The Hill.

(1 November 2024) “Beware a victory in the anti-publisher US lawsuit.” Published in Times Higher Education.

(29 October 2024) “Four certainties in an uncertain election.” Published in The Hill.

(29 October 2024, East Texas Radio) “Daylight saving time ends this weekend” references Jacobson’s op-ed findings on why daylight saving time clock changes carry risks.

(29 October 2024) “Time to terminate the torture of time changes.” Published with Tribune News Service.

(23 October 2024) “The problem with polling.” Published in The Hill.

(16 October 2024, Conde Nast Traveler, Korin Miller) “How to avoid catching Covid while flying” quotes Jacobson what you can do to minimize the risk of catching Covid on a flight.

(16 October 2024) “First Helene.  Then Milton.  Do you need flood insurance?” Published with Tribune News Service.

(15 October 2024) “My Turn: We are all on the American Team.” Published in Champaign News Gazette.

(12 October 2024) “Trump’s polarizing style is the GOP’s missed opportunity.” Published in The Hill.

(9 October 2024) “Our nation needs people like Jon Tester and Larry Hogan in the Senate.” Published in The Hill.

(7 October 2024) “Should you be concerned about mpox?” Published (with J.A. Jokela) in Chicago Tribune.

(2 October 2024) “Which water is safe to drink?” Published with the Tribune News Service.

(1 October 2024) “How will the TSA respond to exploding pagers in the Middle East?” Published in The Hill.

(26 September 2024) “Field goal kickers are better than ever, except for the Colts.” Published in Indianapolis Star.

(25 September 2024) “Threat detected: Why the Department of Homeland Security is investing in AI.” Published in The Hill.

(24 September 2024, Wall Street Journal, Jacob Passy) “What the Exploding Pagers Attack Means for Air Travel” quotes Jacobson on the risk that such attacks may have on the nation’s airport security systems.

(24 September 2024) “Will a federal inquiry into airline loyalty programs dramatically change them?” Published in Chicago Tribune.

(20 September 2024) “Boeing may have done wrong, but we all need it to succeed.” Published with the Tribune Content Agency.

(16 September 2024) “Bad actors already have your data, but there’s something you can do about it.” Published in The Hill.

(13 September 2024, NBC4-TV, New York, NY) “Here’s when daylight saving time ends in the US, and when it will return” quotes Jacobson’s op-ed in The Hill on using a 30 minute permanent time shift as a compromise.

(9 September 2024) “Gun violence is an epidemic in America – gun safety can be the cure.” Published in The Hill.

(7 September 2024) “Is artificial intelligence for the birds? More than you think.” Published in Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

(4 September 20240 “Election 2024 will all come down to turnout – here’s what you need to know.” Published in The Hill.

(27 August 2024, Nightside with Dan Rea, WBZ 1030, Boston, MA) “How the National Public Data Breach Affects you – Part I” has Jacobson as a guest discussing what people can do to protect themselves against data breaches.

(27 August 2024) “Facial recognition demonstrates it worth at the Tampa airport.” Published in Chicago Tribune.

(26 August 2024) “Politicians and misinformation go hand in had, but it’s a dangerous game.” Published in The Hill.

(23 August 2024, Travel and Tour World) “Zayed International Airport to Debut World’s First Biometric Boarding in 2025 as U.S. TSA Delays Persist” quotes Jacobson on how biometrics is being introduced at airports in the U.S.

(22 August 2024, CNBC, Kevin Williams) “The world’s first airport to require biometric boarding is set to arrive in 2025” quotes Jacobson on the benefits of biometrics like facial recognition at airports.

(19 August 2024) “It’s election season – Why aren’t we talking about gun safety?” Published in The Hill.

(13 August 2024) “5 takeaways from the 2024 Paris Olympics.” Published in The Hill.

(8 August 2024, Inc., Kit Eaton) “A survey finds AI workers support AI regulation, though not how government is doing it” quotes Jacobson on the challenge of insuring against AI risk.

(8 August 2024) “US has dominated Paris Olympic Games, but world records in the pool were hard to come by.” Published in Chicago Tribune.

(6 August 2024) “Could the ’13 Keys to the White House’ be wrong in 2024?” Published in The Hill.

(2 August 2024) “Even when Dr. Google is in, it’s best to get a second opinion.” Published (with J.A. Jokela) in Chicago Tribune.

(1 August 2024) “Academics need to raise their public voices.” Published in Inside Higher Ed.

(31 July 2024) “We can’t let another doping scandal sideline the Olympic Games.” Published in The Hill.

(29 July 2024) “Who will pay for the Crowdstrike Outage?” Published in Chicago Tribune.

(25 July 2024, Iowa Business Report) quotes Jacobson on the cause of the Crowdstrike outage.

(22 July 2024, News Talk 1540 KXEL Iowa, Jeff Stein) “Dr. Sheldon Jacobson on Crowdstrike glitch” featured Jacobson as a guest discussing the Crowdstrike outage.

(22 July 2024) “Everyone knew it was time for Biden to step aside. How will the Republicans respond?” Published in The Hill.

(19 July 2024) “Is the global Microsoft tech outage a glimpse into our future?” Published in San Francisco Chronicle.

(16 July 2024) “Trump rally shows limits of airport-style security at political events.” Published in Atlanta Journal Constitution.

(16 July 2024, Ragan Communication, Tom Corfman) “Making the most of in-house experts” quotes Jacobson’s essay that appeared on 9 July 2023 in Times Higher Education on the value of providing expert opinion for journalists.

(15 July 2024) “The rewards if AI are huge, but so are the risks – enter AI insurance.” Published in The Hill.

(11 July 2024) “What can the FAA and TSA do to handle spikes in flyers?” Published in Chicago Tribune.

(10 July 2024) “Trump and Biden won’t step aside --- the parties must make them do it.” Published in The Hill.

(3 July 2024) “Is our food supply chain at risk?” Published in The Hill.

(28 June 2024, US News & World Report, Maryalene LaPonsi) “What is skiplagging and should you do it to save money?” quotes Jacobson on the benefits and risks of hidden city ticketing.

(27 June 2024) “Put away your credit cards --- soon you might be paying with your face.The Hill, Published 27 June 2024.

(21 June 2024) “Should skiplagging to get cheaper flights be banned?” Published in Chicago Tribune.

(18 June 2024) “All bets are off in the 2024 race for the White House.” Published in The Hill.

(14 June 2024, Inc., Sergio Padilla) “Businesses want insurance for AI risk, but insurers are still figuring out how to offer it” quotes Jacobson on AI risk and insurance.

(11 June 2024) “Paying student-athletes opens an expensive can of worms for universities.” Published in The Hill.

(4 June 2024) “Our Turn: What is special about our community?  Look at four ‘publics’.” Published (with J.A. Jokela) in Champaign News Gazette.

( 4 June 2024) “Beyond a reasonable doubt: Why the Trump verdict deserves respect.” Published in The Hill.

(1 June 2024, In Wheel Time) “Unpacking the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve: Insights with Dr. Sheldon Jacobson” features Jacobson as a guest discussing the Strategic Petroleum Stockpile.

(1 June 2024, Travel + Leisure, Stefanie Waldek) “Everything to know about the REAL ID – Including how to get one and when to use it” quotes Jacobson on issues surrounding the need for REAL IDs.

(31 May 2024) “NCAA settles lawsuit. Power conferences athletic conferences did this to themselves.” Published in Chicago Tribune.

(30 May 2024) Should America be worried about the Strategic Petroleum Reserve this summer?” Published in The Hill.

(27 May 2024, Dailymail.com, Lewis Pennock, United Kingdom) “Inside the shocking rise in American arrest for guns and ammo overseas – after Turks and Caico cops arrested five” quotes Jacobson on why people bring firearms to airport security checkpoints.

(23 May 2024) “What should we fear with AI in medicine?” Published (with J.A. Jokela) in Chicago Tribune.

(22 May 2024) “When a bumpy ride turns deadly: How worried should you be about turbulence?” Published in The Hill.

(20 May 2024, The Closing Bell, WLS-890 Chicago, IL, Bret Gogoel) “Hospital Cyberattacks, the Grandma McFlurry, and the Cost of Traveling” speaks with Jacobson on the new Department of Transportation automatic refund policy for air tickets, based on his op-ed in the Chicago Tribune (available 24:00 to 30:28).

(20 May 2024, CNBC, Todd Wasserman) With JP Morgan, Mastercard on board in biometric ‘breakthrough’ year, you may soon start paying with your face” quotes Jacobson on the evolution of facial recognition into retail and issues related to privacy.

(20 May 2024) “Will the automatic refund policy for air travel cause more harm than good? Published in Chicago Tribune.

(17 May 2024) “Has the administration overstepped with the new airline ticket fee disclosures?” Published in The Hill.

(15 May 2024) “Remember the days of open airports?” Published in Dallas Morning News.

(15 May 2024) “We invest in our military to prevent attacks – why not also invest in preventing the next pandemic?” Published in The Hill.

(8 May 2024) “The perils of plastics.” Published in The Hill.

(7 May 2024, Cyber News, Paulius Grinkevicius) “The next chapter in air travel: Facial recognition and privacy concerns” quotes Jacobson on the use of facial recognition in air travel and airport security.

(3 May 2024) “If inflation is down, why are so many people unhappy?  Published in Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

(1 May 2024) “A commonsense way to actually fix air travel.  Published in The Hill.

(26 April 2026) “A slam dunk for women’s sports: Caitlin Clark could be a game-changer for the WNBA.  Published in The Hill.

(17 April 2024) “Why are some banknotes hot commodities for collectors? Published in Chicago Tribune.

(17 April 2024) “The eclipse gave us something increasingly rare – shared experience.” Published in The Hill.

(12 April 2024) “Trump versus Biden: Is this the best we can do?” Published in The Hill.

(11 April 2024, Travel Commons Podcast) “Smile for Security: Facial Recognition in Travel” has Jacobson as a guest, discussing the benefits and opportunities offered by facial recognition in the travel industry.

(10 April 2024, The Week, Joel Mathis) “Is legalized betting hurting Sports?” quotes Jacobson’s op-ed that appeared in The Hill on the risks of sports gambling.

(8 April 2024) “Will the Supreme Court affirmative action ruling affect where high school seniors attend college?  Published in Chicago Tribune.

(5 April 2024) “Will the politics of sports gambling make it the next national ‘addiction” crisis?” Published in The Hill.

(27 March 2024, Smart Meetings, Malik Anderson) “Las Vegas airport tests self-service security checkpoints” interviews Jacobson on the self-service checkpoints being launched at the Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas.

(27 March 2024) “Lottery culture is overtaking America, but for most, it’s a losing bet.” Published in The Hill.

(24 March 2024, Associated Press, Mark Anderson) “March Madness:  3 perfect brackets remain entering Sweet 16” quotes Jacobson on the predictability of the women’s bracket.

(24 March 2024, Sacramento Bee, Stephanie Finucane)Two California lawmakers want to eliminate daylight saving time.  That ticks me off” references Jacobson’s op-ed that appeared in The Hill (3/9/2023) proposing a year-round 30 minute shift in clocks. Also appeared in the Press Democrat.

(24 March 2024, Associated Press, Mark Anderson) “March Madness: 14 perfect women’s brackets remain after Sunday’s second-round action” quotes Jacobson on the predictability of the women’s bracket.

(22 March 2024, Associated Press, Mark Anderson) “Kentucky’s loss to unheralded Oakland crushes millions of March Madness brackets” quotes Jacobson on how to fill in your March Madness bracket.

(21 March 2024) “NCAA basketball coaching carousel creates more chaos than calm.” Published in Chicago Tribune.

(20 March 2024) “United Airlines had a bad few weeks --  Should air travelers be worried?” Published in The Hill.

(20 March 2024, FOX-32, Chicago, IL) “March Madness Bracket: Using AI for better odds” has Jacobson as a guest discussing how AI can help build a better bracket.

(19 March 2024, Associated Press, Mark Anderson) “Caitlin Clark behind the increased betting interest in women’s college basketball” quotes Jacobson on the popularity of Iowa Hawkeye star Caitlin Clark and her impact on the women’s game.

(19 March 2024, Portland Press Herald, Mike Mandell) “Can science help predict a winning NCAA basketball tournament bracket?” quotes Jacobson on how to fill in your March Madness bracket.

(19 March 2024, WLS-890AM, The Steve Cochran Show, Chicago, IL) “Unlocking the Madness: The Science Behind Crafting the Perfect March Madness Bracket” interviews Jacobson on his bracketodds web site and how to use science to construct a bracket.

(19 March 2024, ESPN, Ryan Hockensmith) “How one fan came close to a perfect March Madness bracket” references strategies from the bracketodds web site and quotes Jacobson on upsets in the tournament.

(18 March 2024, Associated Press, Mark Anderson) “Bettors counting on upsets as they put money on long shots this March Madness” references the bracketodds web site and quotes Jacobson on how the Selection Committee seeded teams.

(18 March 2024, Washington Post, Neil Greenberg) “10 March Madness tips from a certified bracket master” references strategies from the bracketodds web site and quotes Jacobson on how to sensibly fill out your bracket.

(14 March 2024) “The future of airport security is here: Get ready for self-service lanes.  Published in The Hill.

(13 March 2024, National Geographic, Ronan O’Connell) “PreCheck, Global Entry, CLEAR: We explain U.S. expedited travel programs” quotes Jacobson on the benefits associated with TSA PreCheck.

(12 March 2024, Consumer Affairs, Kristen Dalli) “TSA is testing out a self-service screening system at Las Vegas.” quotes Jacobson on the new airport screening system being launched at Las Vegas Harry Reid International airport.

(12 March 2024) “Measles is making a comeback.  Should we be concerned?” Published (with J.A. Jokela) in Chicago Tribune.

(9 March 2024) “Time to change the NCAA selection committee protocol.” Published in Chicago Tribune.

(8 March 2024) “Let’s stop wasting time on the Daylight Saving Time debate.” Published in The Hill.

(28 February 2024) “Why Larry Hogan represents the best of US politics.” Published in The Hill.

(28 February 2024) “Should court storming by fans in college basketball be banned?” Published in Chicago Tribune.

(23 February 2024, The Week, Justin  Klawans) “How AI can – and cannot – be used to help air traffic controllers?” quotes Jacobson’s essay in The Hill on the use of AI in air traffic control.

(21 February 2024, Politifact, David Scibilia) Quotes Jacobson’s essay in The Hill (18 January 2023) on a quote by Chuck Schumer about the number of firearms found by the TSA at airport security checkpoints in 2023. Also appeared at PBS WUFT (26 February 2024).

(19 February 2024) “Senator Cruz thinks there should be a ‘super Precheck’ level of screening for certain people --- he’s right.” Published in The Hill.

(18 February 2024, New York Times, Christine Chung) “Facing recognition: Coming to an airport near you” quotes Jacobson on the future of airport security using facial recognition.

(14 February 2024) “How do you narrow the field while you date? Try math.” Published in Chicago Tribune.

(13 February 2024) “Putting the peer-review process to the test.” Published in The Hill.

(10 February 2024) “This year’s Super Bowl offers something for everyone.” Published in Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

(8 February 2024) “Why data analysts like myself are cheering for Brock Purdy to win the Super Bowl.  Published in San Francisco Chronicle.

(5 February 2024) “The myth of personal privacy.” Published in The Hill.

(30 January 2024, Newsgram) “How old is too old to lead?” quotes Jacobson on the risks of having older public officials, based on his op-ed which appeared in The Hill (7 September 2023).

(29 January 2024) “The problem with primaries.” Published in The Hill.

(29 January 2024, Cryptopolitan, Derrick Clinton) “TSA expands facial recognition technology at U.S. airports” quotes Jacobson on the benefits of facial recognition to enhance airport security.

(29 January 2024, NextGov, Edward Graham) “The Transportation Security Administration is planning to expand its facial recognition scanners to more than 400 airports, an agency office said” quotes Jacobson on the benefits of facial recognition to enhance airport security.

(25 January 2024) “Is air travel in crisis?  Hardly.”  Published in Chicago Tribune. Also appeared in Mercury News, East Bay Times, Kansas City Star, Miami Herald.

(23 January 2024) “Should you be concerned about rise in Covid-19, RSV, and flu cases?”  Published in Chicago Tribune.

(22 January 2024) “How blindly ‘following the data’ can shipwreck the best of ideas.”  Published in The Messenger.

(19 January 2024, Smart Meetings, Eming Piansay) “Flight safety under scrutiny” interviews Jacobson on the risk of flying in  light of the recent midair flight incident on Alaska Airlines.

(18 January 2024) “Every year there are more firearms found at airports – should you be concerned?  Published in The Hill.

(16 January 2024) “How special is your special day?” Published in The Messenger.

(9 January 2024) “The calculus for Democrats is clear – Biden needs to step aside, now.” Published in The Hill.

(6 January 2024 “Give yourself a new year gift: Visit the dentist.” Published (with J.A. Jokela) in The Messenger.

(3 January 2024, Air Traffic Technology International, Paul Willis) “Navigating AI’s role in Air Traffic Control” quotes Jacobson’s article that appeared in The Hill.

(3 January 2024) “When the courts decide state legislative maps, we all lose.” Appeared in The Hill.

(2 January 2024) “NFL division ‘gerrymander’ may place less worthy teams in the post-season.” Appeared in The Messenger.

Last Updated: 31 December 2024