Story Ideas for Media 10-3-06

News

Ohio State named among "Best Places to Work in Academia." The Ohio State University has been named one of the best places to work in academia, according to a recent survey released in the October issue of The Scientist magazine.
In the fourth year of the survey, the university is ranked third nationally in the magazine's top 15 list of U.S. academic institutions and first among all colleges and universities. Ohio State follows St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and The J. David Gladstone Institute, respectively in the listing.
Top-notch students and support for excellence are two key factors that contribute to a good work environment, according to Robert McGrath, senior vice president for research. CONTACT: Liz Cook, (614) 292-7276.

Research

Study shows Internet to be resilient against terror attack. Researchers have simulated what would happen to Internet reliability in the United States if terrorists were able to knock out various physical components of the network.
The good news is that it would be very difficult to cause major disruptions across the country, although destruction of some key parts could seriously degrade Internet quality. "When it comes to the Internet, there is strength in numbers," said Morton O'Kelly, co-author of the study and professor of geography at Ohio State University.
"There are so many interconnections within the network that it would be difficult to find enough targets, and the right targets, to do serious damage to Internet reliability nationwide."
CONTACT: Morton O'Kelly, (614) 292-8744; Okelly.1@osu.edu SEE: http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/netrelib.htm

Experts

FDA says only California spinach implicated in E. Coli outbreak. According to the Food and Drug Administration, the spinach implicated in the recent E. Coli outbreak was grown in three counties: Monterey, San Benito and Santa Clara in California. The agency says "spinach grown in the rest of the United States has not been implicated. The public can be confident that spinach grown in the non-implicated areas can be consumed. Consumers are advised not to purchase or consume fresh spinach if they cannot verify that it was grown in areas other than the three California counties implicated in the outbreak." Two faculty from the Department of Human Nutrition are available to discuss the consumer update: Jaime Foster, OSU Extension registered dietitian, and Lydia Medeiros, associate professor of nutrition. The update is available at http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2006/NEW01465.html CONTACT: Jaime Foster, (614) 292-3538 or foster.461@osu.edu; or Lydia Medeiros, (614) 292-2699 or medeiros.1@osu.edu

Events

Special Advisor to U.N. Secretary General will speak with reporters, give talks – Oct. 5. A series of recommendations to end poverty by the year 2015 is the subject of two talks in central Ohio by Jeffrey Sachs, special advisor to U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan and Director of the U.N. Millennium Project.
Sachs will hold a press conference at 1:45 p.m. on Thursday (10/5) at Ohio State's Mershon Center for International Security Studies, 1501 Neil Avenue. At 3 p.m., he will discuss "The End of Poverty" at the Ohio Union West Ballroom, 1739 N. High Street. He will also speak at 7:30 p.m. at Ohio Wesleyan University's Gray Chapel, 61 S. Sandusky St., Delaware, where he will be awarded an honorary degree. Sachs' appearance at Ohio State is sponsored by the Mershon Center for International Security Studies, which fosters the interdisciplinary study of national security in a global context, and Undergraduate Admissions and First Year Experience, which focuses on giving first-year students the resources and support needed to successfully transition to college. CONTACT: Cathy Becker, (614) 292-7529 or Amy Barnes, (614) 247-6285.

Office of Minority Affairs to launch leadership institute – Oct. 4. Preparing students for leadership roles and opportunities for service is the goal of the African American Male Leadership Institute that will be introduced to participants at 6 p.m. Wednesday (10/4) at the John Glenn School of Public Affairs, 1810 College Rd. Programming, provided through the Bell Resource Center on the African American Male, will address academic achievement, leadership development, professional and personal development, and diversity awareness and acceptance. Students additionally will engage with key local, state and national leaders over the course of the two-year diploma program. CONTACT: Eric Troy, Bell Resource Center, (614) 247-4765.

Lecture will focus on urban education issues – Oct. 4. David Andrews, dean of the College of Education and Human Ecology, will present "Response to Urban Crisis: Creative Collaboration" at the 2006 Karlsberger Lecture, at 5 p.m. Wednesday (10/4) in the Wexner Center Theatre, 1871 N. High St. Andrews will discuss the impact that societal patterns and consumer decisions have on schools. He also will describe the holistic approach needed to solve complex educational issues. There will be a question-and-answer period. CONTACT: Janet Ciccone, (614) 292-5338,