Story Ideas for Media 10-8-07

News

Ohio State now ranks seventh nationally among public universities in research funding. Ohio State University now ranks seventh nationally among all public universities in research expenditures and a remarkable second place when it comes to industry-sponsored research. Ohio State's total research expenditures were $652 million for fiscal year 2006, an increase of 7 percent over 2005's $609 million.
The federal government has not yet completed its statistical analysis of the nation's academic research expenditures for fiscal year 2007, but information compiled by Ohio State's Research Foundation shows continued strong growth during fiscal year 2007 with research expenditures climbing to $720 million, more than 10 percent above the fiscal year 2006 total.
The new rankings reflect a steady advance for Ohio State in the past four years, during which the university stair-stepped its way annually from 10th place in 2003 to its current rank of seventh in the nation. CONTACT: Shelly Hoffman, (614) 247-4748.

Research

Researchers find evidence of warming climate in Ohio. Summer nights in Ohio aren't cooling off as much as they used to – it's likely a sign of climatic warming across the state, researchers say.
Jeffrey Rogers, professor of geography at Ohio State University, led the new study, which found that average summer nighttime low temperatures in Ohio have risen by about 1.7 degrees Celsius (about 3 degrees Fahrenheit) since the 1960s.
Why the change? It's not just the heat, it's the humidity, the researchers concluded – coupled with increased cloudiness at night.
Three degrees Fahrenheit might not sound like much of an increase, but it is – even though daytime highs have remained mostly the same, said Rogers, who is also the state climatologist for Ohio.
"A lot of Americans might expect that global climate change would cause extremely high daytime temperatures in the summer," he said. "But in Ohio at least, the high temperatures haven't been changing – it's the overnight low temperatures that have been creeping up. That means the average temperature over the 24-hour period is creeping up as well." And this is exactly how Rogers believes that climate change would manifest itself in this region of the Midwest: nighttime lows are rising, so that over time there would be less difference between them and the daytime highs. CONTACT: Jeffrey Rogers, (614) 292-0148; rogers.21@osu.edu SEE: http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/ohiowarm.htm

Events

President of Brookings Institution to lecture – Oct. 9. Strobe Talbott, president of the Brookings Institution, will deliver "Election of the Century: The American Presidency and the World" at noon on Tuesday (10/9) at Ohio State's Mershon Center for International Security Studies.
The Brookings Institution is the nation's oldest think tank devoted to public service through research and education in the social sciences, particularly economics, government, and foreign policy. Talbott served for seven years in the U.S. State Department after spending 21 years as a foreign affairs reporter and editor for Time magazine.
In his lecture, Talbott will discuss the place of the American presidency in world politics, a topic of vital concern in international affairs. CONTACT: Cathy Becker, (614) 292-7529.

Symposium examines South African civil rights activist Stephen Biko – Oct. 12. The Ohio State University Department of African American and African Studies Community Extension Center will hold a day-long symposium on Steven Biko, founder of South Africa's Black Consciousness movement to end Apartheid. The event, which is free and open to the public, is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday (10/12) at the Community Extension Center, 905 Mt. Vernon Avenue. Speakers include several experts at Ohio State University as well as institutions across the country and world. Biko, who was murdered 30 years ago, played an instrumental role in dismantling the system of apartheid in South Africa and urged South Africa's blacks to fight for their empowerment. CONTACT: Marvin Mitchell, (614) 292-3922.

Study Abroad Fair: students can study in over 40 countries – Oct. 12. Students can explore options to learn in another country at The Office of International Affairs' Study Abroad Fair, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday (10/12) at the Recreational and Physical Activity Center. The Study Abroad Fair showcases 100 different programs available in over 40 countries that support and complement students' progress in their curriculum. The event offers one-stop shopping for students who want to study abroad. Staff experts can talk one-on-one about programs available in Asia, Australia, the Middle East, South America, Europe and Africa, how to earn academic credit, and options to finance their study abroad. There will also be representatives from academic departments and other university groups who help support study abroad programs. Students may also obtain passport applications and have their passport photo. CONTACT: Maureen Miller, Office of International Affairs (614) 247-2462.

Theatre production staged completely in Spanish – Oct. 12. New York City's Repertorio Español makes its Columbus debut October 12 at Mershon Auditorium, when it presents Gabriel García Márquez's Crónica de una Muerte Anunciada (Chronicle of a Death Foretold). The production brings to life one of García Márquez's best known works, Chronicle of a Death Foretold. The recipient of the 1982 Nobel Prize for Literature, García Márquez is one of the leading Latin American authors of our time.
The play provides a unique opportunity to enjoy a live theatrical performance in Columbus staged completely in Spanish, with an audio English translation available. The production company, Repertorio Español, includes actors with roots in Colombia, Argentina, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. The event is organized by the Hispanic/Latino community at The Ohio State University in an effort to provide diverse Latino experiences for the university community and Central Ohio. CONTACT: Joel Díaz, (614) 292-9840 or diaz.62@osu.edu; or Victor Mora, (614) 292-6582 or mora.1@osu.edu

Nobel Peace Prize winner to lecture – Oct. 15. Rigoberta Menchu, winner of the 1992 Nobel Peace Prize, will deliver a lecture at Ohio State's Mershon Auditorium at 7 p.m. on Monday (10/15). Menchu is an internationally recognized leader and advocate for social justice and human rights. She was born in Guatemala as a member of the Mayan Quiche tribe. During her youth, her parents and brother were tortured and killed by Guatemalan forces. She has devoted her life to the advocacy of indigenous rights both in her homeland and throughout the world. In 1992, she became the youngest person ever to win the Nobel Peace Prize. She recently formed a political party in Guatemala to represent the indigenous people who make up 42% of the nation's population.
Her lecture will be delivered in Spanish with English translations. The lecture is free, but tickets are required. Tickets are available at the Ohio Union information desk or Explore Columbus, Ohio State's student discount ticket program, explorecolumbus.osu.edu CONTACT: Amy Murray, (614) 292-8385. SEE: apl.org.ohio-state.edu

OSU Homecoming 2007 celebration begins on Sunday with 5K race – Oct. 14. Ohio State celebrates Homecoming 2007, October 14-20. "Let's Go Nuts" is the theme of the weeklong event, which celebrates Buckeye pride, traditions and history. The week's events focus on diversity, service, education and Buckeye spirit. The events begin on Sunday (10/14) with the popular Stefanie Spielman Homecoming 5K, which begins at 9 a.m. at Beekman Park, corner of Kenny and Lane. Proceeds benefit The James Cancer Hospital. The annual Homecoming Parade is at 6 p.m. on Friday (10/19) followed by a Pep Rally at 7 p.m. at St. John Arena. CONTACT: Jen Pelletier, (614) 247-7792. SEE: homecoming.osu.edu

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, Jim Lynch, (614) 247-4110 or lynch.270@osu.edu, or Amy Murray, (614) 292-8385 or murray-goedde.1@osu.edu