Story Ideas for Media 1-3-06

News

Ohio State offers bioterrorism course – The Department of Plant Pathology, in collaboration with the International Studies Program, is offering undergraduate students a new course on a much-needed aspect of global and homeland security.
"Bioterrorism: An Overview," offered for the first time this quarter, is designed to cover topics on how terrorism relates to public health, plants and animals from a biological and agricultural perspective. No other course instruction of its kind exists on campus. Chuck Curtis, Ohio State University Extension plant pathologist, says the course fills a gap in the Intelligence and Security track of the International Studies Program. Topics include nuclear, biological and chemical weapons; agency and organization infrastructure; the role of the land-grant system in food and fiber production; public health issues related to diseases, bacteria, viruses and toxins; epidemics and pandemics; animal health and livestock issues, and an overview of plants and plant-related diseases. CONTACT: Chuck Curtis, (614) 292-4854, or curtis.6@osu.edu

Experts

Registered dietitians can discuss new food labeling requirements – New food labeling requirements went into effect on Jan. 1. Sharron Coplin and Jaime Foster, registered dietitians in the OSU Extension Department of Human Nutrition, in the College of Human Ecology are available to discuss the regulations. Topics of interest to the public are: what will be different on labels, how those allergic to certain foods will benefit, and how to make wiser fat choices based on label information. CONTACT: Coplin (614) 292-6402, or Foster (614) 292-3538.

Research

Economic integration is a remedy for failing schools, study finds – A new Ohio State study suggests that Ohio policymakers adopt policies that promote the economic integration of public schools in order to increase student achievement, and decrease the numbers of failing schools.
"Economic Segregation: Challenging Ohio's Public Schools," conducted by Ohio State's Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity, examines consequences of racial and economic segregation in Ohio's six largest metropolitan areas and concludes that the economic integration of public schools is the most viable remedy. Professor john powell, executive director of the Kirwan Institute, says, "in the six major Ohio metropolitan areas studied, not one high-poverty school outperformed the low-poverty schools." CONTACT: Professor john jowell, (614) 247-8453, powell.355@osu.edu or Rebecca Millard, (614) 292-9869, millard.14@osu.edu SEE:www.kirwaninstitute.org

The person listed as the CONTACT will have the most current information about the story. Call on our media relations staff for help with any Ohio State story: Liz Cook, (614) 292-7276 or , Shelly Hoffman, (614) 247-4748 orhoffman.511@osu.edu, or Amy Murray, (614) 292-8385, murray-goedde.1@osu.edu