Story Ideas for Media 10-31-05

News

Ohio State leads country in faculty honored by leading science organization – For the third straight year, Ohio State University leads the country in the number of faculty named as “fellows” of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
This year, 20 faculty from Ohio State were awarded the “fellow” rank within AAAS, the largest scientific organization in the world. Ohio State led the country for the last two years with the most newly named fellows, garnering 14 in 2004 and 15 in 2003. This recognition follows the recent National Science Foundation ranking of Ohio State among the nation\'s Top 10 public research universities. Newly named fellows will be recognized during the next annual meeting of AAAS in February, 2006, in St. Louis, MO. Before this announcement, more than 90 faculty at Ohio State had earned the “fellow” ranking, making the community of AAAS fellows at Ohio State one of the largest in the country. CONTACT: Earle Holland, (614) 292-8384

Research

Federal grant will allow undergrads to design own research projects – Next fall, when some students at Ohio State University begin working on their first-ever chemistry lab experiment, they\'ll have no idea what the outcome is going to be.
And neither will their teacher.
Ohio State is leading a consortium of universities from across the state to develop a new kind of course for chemistry students. The course will be the centerpiece of an Undergraduate Research Center, funded by a new $3 million grant from the National Science Foundation. By 2010, all 15 member institutions will offer new chemistry curricula that use open-ended experiments to teach students what research is all about. Lab instructors will provide guidance, but students will formulate their own strategies to answer new questions that are vital to today\'s science and industry. In short, they\'ll do what full-fledged scientists do every day.
Ohio State\'s partners in the project – called the Undergraduate Research Consortium: Research Experiences to Enhance Learning (URC-REEL) – include 14 public and private universities in Ohio. Prabir Dutta, professor and chair of Ohio State’s Department of Chemistry, says the grant is intended to boost the number of students statewide who earn bachelor\'s degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematical (STEM) fields. CONTACT: Prabir Dutta, (614) 292-4532; Dutta.1@osu.edu SEE: http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/chem_urc.htm

Events

Eisenman to deliver Knowlton Lecture – Nov. 1. Peter Eisenman, architect and educator, will discuss his work at 7 p.m. Tuesday (11/1) in the Wexner Center Film and Video Theater. The event is part of the Knowlton School of Architecture Lecture Series. The portfolio of Eisenman Architects includes the Aronoff Center for Design and Art in Cincinnati, the Wexner Center for the Arts, and the Greater Columbus Convention Center. The lecture is free and open to the public. CONTACT: Amy Carey, (614) 247-7244.

Local leaders discuss impact of globalization on Ohio – Nov. 1. Local business and political leaders, along with educators, will join with national experts to discuss “The Local Impact of Globalization: Ohio Dialogue” from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday (11/1) at Ohio State’s John Glenn Institute, Page Hall, 1810 College Rd.
Panelists will discuss economic and social trends in employment and trade, and explore the policy alternatives available to Ohio as it seeks to shape globalization in a way that brings equitable economic growth to the state and to citizens. The policy forum is presented Ohio State’s John Glenn Institute and The Carnegie Council on Ethics and International Affairs. CONTACT: Laura Sipe, (614) 247-6369.

Ohio State to dedicate new Physics Research Building – Nov. 2. The Ohio State University Department of Physics will dedicate the new Physics Research Building on Wednesday (11/2) from 3-5 p.m. The building is located at 191 W. Woodruff Ave. The dedication ceremony will include lab tours, demonstrations of the videoconferencing facility and the “Physics of Toys,” a graduate student research poster display and refreshments. The building provides state-of-the-art laboratory, office and conference space for the Physics Department. A teleconference facility will allow for live interaction between physics students and faculty around the world. Those making remarks at the ceremony include President Karen Holbrook, Dean and Distinguished Professor of Mathematical and Physical Sciences Richard Freeman, and Department of Physics chair William Saam. CONTACT: Melissa L. Weber, (614) 292-2254.

Ohio State University Trustees to meet – Nov. 3 and 4. The Ohio State University Board of Trustees and its committees will meet on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 3 and 4. The schedule includes a Medical Center Affairs Committee meeting from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on Thursday (11/3) in Room H1225 of the Ross Heart Hospital, 452 W. 10th Ave.
On Friday (11/4), all meetings will be held at the Recreation and Physical Activity Center, 337 W. 17th Ave. The Academic and Student Affairs Committee will meet from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. in Conference Room B145 located on the first floor. The Fiscal Affairs Committee also will meet at that time in Rooms 2 and 3 on the second floor. The formal Board meeting will begin at 10:30 a.m. in Rooms 2 and 3. CONTACT: Shelly Hoffman, (614) 247-4748.

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 cook.17@osu.edu, Shelly Hoffman, (614) 247-4748 or hoffman.511@osu.edu, or Amy Murray, (614) 292-8385, murray-goedde.1@osu.edu