East
American
Enterprise Institute, American University, The Annapolis Group (800 experts from over 90 leading liberal arts colleges, like Wellesley,
Rollins and Bryn Mawr), Ball
State University, Barnard College, Brookings Institution, Cato Institute, Colby College,
George
Washington University, Harvard University, Heritage Foundation, Stetson University,
University of Central Florida, University of Florida, University of Miami, University of South Florida, Vassar, Virginia Tech,
Wake Forest University, Williams College
Midwest
The Annapolis Group (800 experts from over 90 leading liberal arts colleges, like Wellesley,
Rollins and Bryn Mawr), Drake University, Kansas State University, Purdue University, University of Minnesota, University of Notre Dame, University of Wisconsin,
West
Arizona State University, California Institute of Technology,
California State University, Rand Institute, San Francisco State University, University of California, Davis, University of California, Los Angeles, University of California, Santa Cruz,
University of Colorado, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, University of Oregon, University of Southern California, Washington State University, Whittier College, Willamette University
American Society of Association Executives Gateway to Associations Online -- Search by association name, category or keyword.
experts.com -- A directory used by attorneys and reporters to find experts, expert witnesses, consultants and spokespersons. Experts in this directory have paid for their listings.
The ExpertPages.com -- One of the better directories used by lawyers to find experts. Includes appraisers of art, jewelry and real estate. Experts in this directory have paid for their listings.
ExpertSources NewsSource Center -- This Business Wire service features experts that are almost all business-related, except for the occasional expert on health care, biotech and a few other topics. If you fill out a very detailed registration form you can send queries to the service, which will respond with a list of experts.
FACSNET Sources Online -- This database, from the Foundation for American Communications, includes experts of all kinds, plus the "Reporter's Cardfile," a list of think tanks, advocacy groups and special-interest organizations.
FindLaw Directory of Experts -- Considered by many in the legal profession to be the best expert witness directory.
National Press Club Directory of News Sources -- Search by over 400 topics.
Profnet Global -- A service of PR Newswire, Profnet provides links to 11,000 news and information officers at universities, corporations, think tanks and other institutions. Fill out this form to send a query out, and keep in mind that it's possible to specify the kind of source you're interested in, whether it's academic, corporate or public service. Or, search a database of 4,000 experts.
Yearbook of Experts, Authorities and Spokespersons -- This site is designed primarily for journalists and for the experts, authorities and spokespersons who want to make themselves available to the media. Experts in this directory have paid for their listings.
Amazon.com -- Try the "Power Search" options (click on "Books" at the top of the page, then on "Search" at the top of the next page, and then on "Power Search" on that page to fully exploit the possibilities of this database of millions of books.
BarnesandNoble.com -- Not as big as Amazon, but there's a nice arrangement of subject categories.
Library of Congress -- Allows Boolean searching for subjects, titles, etc. through its "Command Search" function.
To check an author out, try the New York Times Book Review, where you can search a repository of over 50,000 reviews back to 1980. Because this site allows for very sophisticated searching, this is also a great place to begin a search for an expert. Another good source for reviews is BookWire, home of the Boston Book Review, the Hungry Mind Review, the Quarterly Black Review of Books and the Computer Book Review, although searching is a little unwieldy.
enews.com -- Search for magazines by subject.
Aging issues
Center for the Advanced Study of Aging Services -- Part of the University of California's School of Social Welfare, the Center researches programs and services designed to improve the lives of older persons. It also works to improve the training of social workers to meet the needs of a growing population of older Americans
Duke University Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development -- Over 100 Duke scientists and scholars from disciplines as varied as biochemistry, economics and sociology, conduct research in affiliation with the center. Major areas of study include depression in later life, Alzheimer's Disease, the cellular and molecular biology of aging, family relationships in later life and the economic status of older adults.
Jean Mayer United States Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University -- Studies the effect of human nutrition on health. Experts on antioxidants, high carbohydrate/high fiber diets, body composition, calcium metabolism and more.
Agriculture, animal science
Agriculture Network Information Center -- Experts on drought, animal diseases, bugs, forests, plant pathology, soil and much more.
Aviation, aerospace
Embry-Riddle University -- Embry-Riddle is the world's oldest and largest university specializing in the field of aviation and aerospace. Access experts on operation, engineering, manufacturing, management and marketing.
Anderson Graduate School of Management at UCLA, Boston College Carroll School of Management, Columbia Business School, Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations, Duke University Fuqua School of Business, Harvard Business School, Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, University of Chicago Graduate School of Business, University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School, Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Business, Wake Forest University Babcock Graduate School of Management, The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
Census, demographics
William H. Frey, Ph.D., demographer -- The widely quoted Frey was with the Population Studies Center at the University of Michigan and is now affiliated with the Milken Institute and SUNY-Albany. He is currently studying migration and immigration.
Population Reference Bureau -- Journalists around the world contact PRB when they need background information and experts to interview about population trends and their implications.
Population Studies Center, University of Michigan -- The Center is strong in several areas of demographic research: fertility and family planning; marriage and family; race and ethnicity; aging and disability; and education.
Computers, cyberspace
Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania -- The Center focuses on information and society, children and television, the "dialogue of democracy" and "health communication." Recent studies have looked at the Internet's influence on children, the child television audience and television in the home.
Cyberspace Policy Institute -- Part of George Washington University. Experts on the changing nature of telecommunications delivery systems, computer networks, electronic intellectual property, privacy, security (including "telemedicine" security) and related issues such as ethics and values among providers and users of computer and communications networks.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Laboratory -- The Lab conducts advanced research into a broad range of information technologies like news in the future, digital life, interactive cinema and lots of other futuristic matters.
Stanford Computer Industry Project -- Areas of research include network platforms, intranets, software development, multimedia and Information Age organizations.
Defense
Center for Defense Information -- Experts on arms control, base closings, children in war, defense contractors, the intelligence community, the military budget and the military situation in many different countries.
Education
Harvard Graduate School of Education -- Connect with faculty through this index of research interests from affirmative action to charter schools to testing.
National Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards and Student Testing -- A partnership of UCLA's Graduate School of Education & Information Studies and its Center for the Study of Evaluation, CRESST focuses on assessing educational quality and on problems with assessment systems. The Center has lots of experts on just about every aspect of testing: testing policy, test development and scoring, testing students with disabilities and limited English skills, etc.
Entertainment, television
UCLA Center for Communication Policy -- Home of the Network Television Violence Monitoring Project and good source for expertise on religion and television.
Center for International Science and Technology Policy -- Part of George Washington University. The Center studies U.S. science and technology policy, environmental policy and policy implications of science-society interactions. Includes the Space Policy Institute, which focuses on issues related to the world 's space programs. Click on faculty link to find experts.
Environmental and Occupational Health Resource Guide -- A service of the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute at Rutgers University, this guide was compiled to help the media and others find experts on environmental and occupational health. Great source for experts on everything from acetaminophen to oil spills to pesticides to water quality.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology biology faculty -- Experts on biochemistry, bioengineering, cancer biology, genetics and disease.
National Science Foundation -- Search these abstracts of NSF awards made since 1989 to find researchers in specific areas.
Scripps Institution of Oceanography -- A searchable database of research activity at the Institution, one of the world's oldest, largest and most important centers for global science research. Find experts on climate prediction, earthquakes, the physiology of marine animals, beach erosion, etc.
Sea Grant -- The national Sea Grant network is a 30-year-old partnership between universities and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This directory can lead you to experts from more than 300 universities and institutions on beaches, marine mammals, hurricanes, tourism, seafood and all things coastal.
Stanford Solar Center -- This intention of the Center is to provide activities relating to the sun and solar science for kids in grades 4-12 and their teachers. However, there are great links to physicists all over the world with specialties in space weather, comets, magnetic fields and, of course, the sun.
University of California -- A directory of science experts from UC's campuses, medical schools and national labs.
World Resources Institute -- WRI conducts policy research in biological resources and institutions; economics and population; climate, energy and pollution; technology and the environment; and resources and environmental information.
Worldwatch Institute -- Established in 1974, Worldwatch informs policymakers and the public about the complex links between the world economy and its environmental support systems. Contact experts on biodiversity, fisheries, sustainable agriculture, population and ecosystems.
Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy -- Experts on solid waste management, recycling, global environmental governance.
Ethics
Case Western Reserve University Center for Biomedical Ethics -- The Center's mission is to improve understanding of the ethical issues involved in health sciences research, healthcare delivery and health policy development. Experts on the ethical issues of human genetics, HIV and AIDS, cross-cultural issues, rationing, access to care, etc.
Center for the Study of Society and Medicine -- Located at Columbia University. Specialists on the history of medicine, medical ethics and human rights and medicine.
The Hastings Center -- The Center studies ethical issues in the areas of health, medicine, and the environment. It's the only center for the study of bioethics that's not connected to a university or medical school.
Joseph and Rose Kennedy Institute of Ethics -- Established at Georgetown University in 1971, the Institute is the largest university-based group of faculty members in the world devoted to research and teaching in biomedical ethics. Experts include those on nuclear war, informed consent, gene therapy, organ transplantation, etc.
University of Pittsburgh Center for Bioethics and Health Law -- Since 1987, the Center has analyzed the complex legal and ethical issues surrounding the health care process. Experts there can comment on right-to-die issues, ethics in emergency care, obligations of adult children to aging parents, etc.
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force -- Electronic and other ways to contact the staff of the NGLTF, which has supported grassroots organizing and advocacy since 1973.
Center for the American Woman and Politics -- Located at Rutgers University. The Center compiles information about women in government and politics. Maintains the National Information Bank on Women in Public Office, a database of current and past women officeholders and candidates.
The Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies -- Located at American University in D.C. The Center focuses on Congress and the presidency and interactions between the two institutions.
John F. Kennedy School of Government -- Harvard's graduate school of public policy, planning and administration. Experts on everything from affirmative action to corporate law to welfare. This looks like just a list of names, but when you type a keyword into the search box at the top you'll get faculty members who are experts on that particular topic, like "taxation."
Albert Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center -- Search faculty by keyword among the over 100 scientists and doctors at one of the Top 10 National Cancer Institute-funded cancer centers in the country. Be forewarned that the descriptions of research interests are pretty technical and may be impenetrable to all but medical reporters.
Center for AIDS Prevention Studies -- Part of the University of California at San Francisco. Search faculty bios by clicking on "Prevention People."
Center for Health Policy, Law and Management -- Located at Duke University. Specialists on state, national and international health policy. Can address issues such as management of chronic illnesses, funding and organization of long-term care, the problem of the uninsured and the effect of tort law on physician practice patterns.
Center for the Study of Society and Medicine -- Located at Columbia University. Specialists on the history of medicine, medical ethics and human rights and medicine.
Duke University Medical Center -- Experts on dermatology, genetics, geriatrics, nicotine and much more.
Harvard School of Public Health -- Experts on adolescents, asthma, diet, epidemiology, genetics and a lot more.
Joslin Diabetes Center -- Gives clear and readable descriptions of the Center's areas of research, such as the behavioral and mental health aspects of diabetes, and good background on the researchers involved in each area.
Mount Sinai School of Medicine -- Click on a research area -- from alcohol to dementia to T cells -- to find researchers in those areas, descriptions of their work and a list of articles they've published.
National Institutes of Health -- Search for publications throughout the over 100 web sites that make up the NIH web space. Find their authors, who are experts on everything from acupuncture to hepatitis to obesity to spinal cord injuries. The search engine is sophisticated and fast.
Information management
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Laboratory -- The Lab conducts advanced research into a broad range of information technologies like news in the future, digital life, interactive cinema and lots of other futuristic matters.
University of California, Berkeley, School of Information Management and Systems -- Authorities on information retrieval, digital information systems and libraries, design of information systems.
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace -- Established in 1910, the Carnegie Endowment conducts research in international affairs and U.S. foreign policy. It also publishes the quarterly magazine, Foreign Policy. Good source for experts on post-Soviet states, democratization in Russia, international migration.
Center for Strategic and International Studies -- CSIS is a public policy research institution that claims to be the only institution of its kind that maintains resident experts on all the world's major geographical regions.
East-West Center -- Established by Congress over 30 years ago, the Center is a good source for experts on trade, politics, development, population and culture of the Asia-Pacific region.
The Middle East Center -- The Center's faculty, at the University of Pennsylvania, specializes in Middle East languages, sociology, folklore, history, political science and economics.
Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies -- Part of Johns Hopkins University. This is where foreign diplomats go to learn about U.S. foreign policy. Get in touch with such luminaries as Arab scholar Fouad Ajami or Zbigniew Brzezinski, Carter administration national security adviser, among others.
David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies -- Located at Harvard. Areas of research include economic and institutional reform, the environment, humanities, immigration and violence.
Sources Select Online -- This is one of the key source guides used by Canadian journalists. Great resource for reaching 5,000 experts on all things Canadian -- health care, Parliament, Canadian unity and more.
University of Pittsburgh Global Emerging Markets Database -- Experts, not just from the University of Pittsburgh, but from all over the country, on emerging markets.
Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs -- Located at Princeton, the school is a major center for research on public and international affairs. Faculty members are experts in urban land use, industrial regulation and pricing, nuclear power, international trade policy and health services.
The World Bank -- The World Bank is the world's largest source of development assistance, providing nearly $30 billion in loans annually to its client countries. Its experts can talk about specific countries and regions, as well as topics such as heavily indebted poor countries, microcredit, poverty, women's health and nutrition.
Duke Law School -- Experts on gender law, the death penalty, Chinese and Japanese law and admiralty law.
Jurist: The Law Professors' Network -- Based at the University of Pittsburgh College of Law, Jurist allows you to search by subject for professors who have posted resource pages, course pages, articles, presentations etc. on the web. Topics include constitutional law, criminal law, health law, legal history and a lot more. An exceptionally clean, concise and easy-to-use guide.
Martindale-Hubbell Lawyer Locator -- Need an expert on family law, product liability, worker's compensation? Allows you to narrow to a particular area.
Stetson University College of Law -- Expertise in many areas of law (family, military, constitutional, elder, etc.) plus the use of computers in law practice, estate planning and ethics.
Vermont Law School -- Experts in all the typical areas, as well as some quirky ones, like Ted Bundy, chain letters and -- of particular interest to Florida reporters -- Joseph 'Crazy Joe' Spaziano.
West Legal Directory -- Allows searching in essentially the same way as the Martindale-Hubbell. Was recently redesigned, making it easier to find experts.
Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania -- The Center focuses on information and society, children and television, the "dialogue of democracy" and "health communication." Recent studies have looked at the Internet's influence on children, the child television audience and television in the home. Studies
Freedom Forum Media Studies Center -- Can provide expert commentary on media and journalism issues. The Center also publishes dozens of reports, both in print and online, on various media-related topics.
Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy -- This Harvard research center is a major source for research on campaigns and elections, journalism and public policy, and race, gender and the press.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Laboratory -- The Lab conducts advanced research into a broad range of information technologies like news in the future, digital life, interactive cinema and lots of other futuristic matters.
Poynter Institute -- This school for journalists has experts on writing, management, diversity and ethics.
Nonprofits
Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action -- Search this database of abstracts of articles back to 1971 to find researchers who study nonprofits and philanthropy.
Carter Center -- Founded by former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, in 1982, the Center focuses on issues related to fighting disease, hunger, poverty and conflict around the world. Affiliated with Emory University.
Center for Law and Social Policy -- The Center works in the areas of family policy and access to civil legal assistance for low-income families. Family policy projects include welfare reform, workforce development, child care, child support enforcement and reproductive health.
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities -- The Center focuses on government policies and programs that affect low- and moderate-income people. Good source of experts on welfare reforms, state income trends and the effects of government benefit programs on poverty.
Columbia University School of Social Work -- The birthplace of formal social work education in the United States.
Families and Work Institute -- Experts on how to create stronger families, more supportive communities, and more effective workplaces. Can talk about low-income employees, what employers are doing for new and expectant parents, the future of fatherhood and balancing productivity with a life at home.
The Maxwell School Center for Policy Research -- The Center, at Syracuse University, conducts a broad range of research in the areas of aging, disability and income security, domestic urban and regional issues, public finance and problems of economic development in less industrialized countries.
National Center for Children in Poverty -- Part of Columbia University. Good source for statistics about child poverty, early childhood care and education, and child health.
Public Agenda Online -- This public opinion research organization was founded in 1975 by social scientist and author Daniel Yankelovich and former Secretary of State Cyrus Vance. They publish guides -- aimed at journalists -- on social issues including abortion, the federal budget, gambling, race, welfare and more. Each includes links to experts and authors of relevant studies.
Stanford Center on Adolescence -- The Center's work focuses on guidance for parenting, for improved educational practice and for youth development in a variety of community settings. Other areas of investigation include social identity in high school, eating disorders, childhood trauma, etc.
University of Chicago Center for the Study of Race, Politics and Culture -- A center for African-American Studies which also focuses on race and U.S. society.
University of North Carolina Frank Porter Graham Child Development Center -- Experts in development, care and the well-being of children can discuss children with disabilities, high-risk students, ear and upper respiratory infections, etc.
Urban Institute -- The Institute investigates social and economic problems and programs designed to alleviate them. Experts on federalism, economics, social welfare (children, the elderly, health, etc.) and community building.
The Columbia Institute for Tele-Information -- Part of Columbia University's Graduate School of Business, the center studies the economic, management and policy issues in telecommunication and information.
The Cyberspace Policy Institute -- Part of George Washington University. Experts on the changing nature of telecommunications delivery systems, computer networks, privacy, security and related issues such as ethics and values among providers and users of computer and communications networks.
University of South Florida Center for Urban Transportation Research -- CUTR conducts research in public transportation, intelligent transportation systems, transportation for the disabled and elderly, alternative fuels, and transportation safety.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Center for Transportation Studies -- Considered an international leader in the field of transportation and logistics, the Center is home to experts on transportation system planning and operations, and on management and planning for trucking, railroad, air and ocean carriers.
University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute -- Authorities on ship design and production, truck accident data, and the interactions of drivers, vehicles and the environment.