Story Ideas for Media - 01/03/05

News

Winter quarter classes began today -- Winter quarter classes begin today (1/3). During the quarter, there will be no classes and offices will be closed for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Monday, Jan. 17. The last day of regularly scheduled classes is March 11, and commencement is Sunday, March 20. CONTACT: Shannon Wingard, University Relations, (614) 247-6821.

Experts

Expert says clean water, food now key to tsunami survival -- Dr. Randall Harris, professor in Ohio State’s School of Public Health, says acute infectious
gastrointestinal diseases threaten to run rampant in tsunami-stricken areas if survivors aren’t able to access clean water and uncontaminated food. “It’s going to be an ongoing, tough public health and world health problem, and it’s imperative to break the chain of infection,” Harris says. “These human concerns trump all else in the relief efforts.” Some of the most likely infections to strike are those caused by outbreaks of E. coli, Salmonella or Shigella. CONTACT: Joanne Donk, School of Public Health, (614) 293-4600.

Research

Studies find that children, infants prefer sounds over pictures -- New research provides the strongest evidence to date that infants and young children - unlike adults - are more drawn to sounds than they are to visuals in their environment. In fact, when 4-year-olds are presented with sounds and pictures at the same time and told to pay particular attention to the pictures, they can\'t - the sounds dominate their attention. “We found that sounds are dominant over visuals from infancy, and only slowly through childhood do visuals become more important,” said Vladimir Sloutsky, professor in the Center for Cognitive Science. For more information, see http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/sounvisu.htm CONTACT: Vladimir Sloutsky, Center for Cognitive Science, (614) 292-7594; or Jeff Grabmeier, University Relations, (614) 292-8457.

Events

Photo exhibition, panel discussion examine issues of motherhood – Jan. 3-28. -- An exhibition titled “Beggars and Choosers: Motherhood is not a Class Privilege in America,” opens today (1/3) at three locations: Bricker Hall, 190 N. Oval Mall, Hopkins Hall Gallery and Corridor, 128 North Oval Mall, and the Hale Black Cultural Center, 153 W. 12th Ave. The exhibition, which runs through Jan. 28, challenges viewers to examine the class, race, ethnic, and gender stereotypes that inform how Americans visualize motherhood and bring together award-winning images by 43 of the nation\'s most distinguished photographers. A reception and panel discussion about the exhibition will be held at 4 p.m. on Thursday (1/6) in the Hale Cultural Center. The panelists are: Keith Kilty, professor in the College of Social Work; Christine Ballengee-Morris, director of the Multicultural Center; Carla Curtis, associate professor in the College of Social Work; and Ruby Tapia, assistant professor in the Department of Women\'s Studies. CONTACT: Liz Cook, University Relations, (614) 292-7276.

Workshop focuses on observing what can’t be seen – Jan. 5-7. -- Astronomers and physicists are gathering this week to discuss methods of observing what can’t be seen. “Gravitational Lensing, Dark Energy and Dark Matter,” the second workshop sponsored by the Ohio Center for Theoretical Science (OCTS), will explore the rapidly developing technologies for the detection, measurement and eventual understanding of the dark matter and dark energy in the Universe. Meetings will be held on Wednesday (1/5) at the Ohio Supercomputer Center (OSC), 1224 Kinnear Road, and Thursday (1/6) and Friday (1/7) at the Blackwell Inn, 2110 Tuttle Park Place. A highlight of the workshop is the use of Access Grid technology, a high-end videoconferencing system that provides an “as if you were there” experience. Robert Caldwell, professor of physics and astronomy at Dartmouth University, will speak to the conference participants from Dartmouth using the Access Grid between 2 and 3:45 p.m. on Wednesday (1/5) at the Ohio Supercomputer Center. He will talk on “Models of Dark Energy.” CONTACT: Kendra Davitt, Ohio Center for Theoretical Science, (614) 292-2368.

The person listed as Contact will have the best information about the story. Call on our media relations staff for help with any Ohio State story – Elizabeth Conlisk, (614) 292-3040; Liz Cook, (614) 292-7276; Amy Murray, (614) 292-8385, and Shannon Wingard, (614) 247-6821.