Story Ideas for Media 10/6/08

News

Thompson named one of Time's "Heroes of the Environment." Ohio State University glaciologist Lonnie Thompson has been singled out by Time magazine as one of the publication's 30 "Heroes of the Environment" for 2008.
Thompson, a distinguished university professor of earth sciences, was highlighted in the magazine's October 6 issue as one of six scientists and innovators who are key to addressing global climate change.
Thompson was nominated for his three decades of research showing that tropical and temperate ice caps around the globe would be among the first harbingers of climate change. He has led more than 50 expeditions to ice caps and glaciers on five continents, retrieving ice cores that contain a diary of past climate conditions, some dating back farther than 750,000 years.
In 2007, he was awarded the National Medal of Science by U.S. President George W. Bush for his years of research. Time magazine selected Thompson in 2001 as one of its collection of "America's Best in Science and Medicine."
"I was returning from giving a talk in Aukland, New Zealand, and surprised when I picked up a copy of the magazine in the airport and saw the citation," Thompson said. "Honors like this certainly recognize the incredible contribution that has been made by every member of the paleoclimate research group here at Ohio State." CONTACT: Earle Holland, (614) 292-8384. SEE: http://www.time.com

Research

Ohio State research: Social problems dominate concerns in neighborhood with unsatisfied residents. A new study reveals that the general appearance of a neighborhood is the single most important factor affecting how satisfied residents are about the area where they live.
The study, based on a survey of more than 2,000 homeowners in Franklin County, is the first of its kind to examine the differences between neighborhoods that are rated satisfactory and unsatisfactory.
Overall, people living throughout the county were generally satisfied with their neighborhoods, with 82 percent of respondents giving a rating of 5 or higher on the seven-point scale. People living downtown reported the highest levels of satisfaction in the county, rating their neighborhoods between a 6 and 7 on average.
The study found that residents living in highly-rated neighborhoods tended to focus on local city services and distance to work, family and friends. Meanwhile, those who were less satisfied with their neighborhoods focused on the safety and social problems there such as proximity to problem areas and crime levels in and around their area. CONTACT: Misun Hur, (614) 668-1491; Hazel Morrow-Jones, (614) 292-0393. SEE: http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/unsatresi.htm

Experts

Politics and elections – Ohio State election experts are online. Ohio State University offers journalists the expertise of faculty and staff from one of the nation's leading public research universities. Experts are available to comment on topics including Ohio and national politics, presidential politics, Barack Obama, the youth vote, campaign and election law, communication and voter perception and others. A complete directory is online.

Events

Former president of Ireland to lecture at Ohio State – Oct. 9. The Honorable Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland, will discuss "Women and International Policy" at Ohio State on Oct. 9. The lecture will take place at 4:30 p.m. at Mershon Auditorium, 1871 N. High Street.
Named a "Hero and Icon" by Time magazine's top 100 men and women, Mary Robinson is recognized as one whose "power, talent, or moral example is transforming the world." Robinson is an international leader in setting human rights standards and policy. The event is free and open to the public, but RSVP's are required to http://glennschool.osu.edu/robinson.php CONTACT: Laura Sipe,(614) 247-6369.

Mansoor to deliver Department of History Alumni Scholars Lecture – Oct. 10. Retired U.S. Army Colonel Peter Mansoor, professor of military history at Ohio State, will speak on the topic of his new book, "Baghdad at Sunrise: A Brigade Commander's War in Iraq," a memoir of his experience in Iraq, where he served as a brigade commander and as executive officer to General David Petraeus. The lecture will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Friday (10/10) at the Faculty Club, 181 S. Oval Dr. CONTACT: Amy Murray, (614) 292-8385.

Campus hosts "Walk Now for Autism" – Oct. 12. Thousands of walkers – including individuals with autism, their families and friends – are expected to participate in the Inaugural Columbus Walk Now for Autism on Sunday (10/12) at Value City Arena. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., the walk begins at 10 a.m. Sponsored by Autism Speaks, the nation's leading autism advocacy organization, the event will raise funds for research and increase awareness of autism, which now affects one in every 150 children. The day includes a 2 to 3 mile walk and Community Resource fair with educational sources, therapists, schools, recreational organizations, and creative child-friendly activities; a true "one-stop-shop" for families affected by autism. Ohio State University President E. Gordon Gee is honorary chairperson of the event.
Autism Speaks supports a number of research projects at Ohio State. Top university researchers include Eugene Arnold, professor of psychiatry, and Rene Anand, professor of pharmacology.
Dr. Arnold is guiding several applied clinical studies at Ohio State's Nisonger Center that are aimed at reducing behavioral problems that often accompany autism or at reversing the course of the autism.
Prof. Anand and his colleagues in the Department of Pharmacology have identified a novel functional association between two brain proteins. The clinical significance of this work is that therapeutic drugs which bind nicotinic receptors and enhance their functions are being explored as a novel way to correct the nicotinic receptor functional deficiency and thus treat autism. SEE: www.walknowforautism.org CONTACT: Kimberly L. Niederst, 609-228-7317.

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, Shelly Hoffman, (614) 247-4748, Jim Lynch, (614) 247-4110, or Amy Murray, (614) 292-8385.