05
February
2012
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18:00 PM
America/New_York

Story Ideas for Media 2/6/12

News

Ohio State anaerobic digestion technology now being commercialized. Cleveland-based quasar energy group has broken ground on its first integrated anaerobic digestion system, a patent-pending technology developed by the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) to increase the types of waste that can be converted to biogas for energy and fuel uses.
The integrated system, known as iADs, is currently under construction next to quasar's Zanesville biodigester – which annually processes close to 30,000 tons of agricultural and food waste and can produce 7,800 megawatt-hours of electricity. The company operates additional biodigesters in Ohio and Massachusetts, including its flagship facility on OARDC campus.
The unique integration of technologies at the heart of iADs is the brainchild of Yebo Li, professor of food, agricultural and environmental engineering and expert in bioenergy and bio-products. He said the new system has the potential to increase the amount of feedstock available for anaerobic digestion within a specific area, thus reducing transportation costs. SEE: http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/7079/Ohio-State-Anaerobic-Digestion-Technology-Now-Being-Commercialized.htm

Research

Political leaders play key role in how worried Americans are by climate change. More than extreme weather events and the work of scientists, it is national political leaders who influence how much Americans worry about the threat of climate change, new research finds.
In a study of public opinion from 2002-10, researchers found that public belief that climate change was a threat peaked in 2006-07 when Democrats and Republicans in Congress showed the most agreement on the issue.
But public concern has dropped since then, as partisanship over the issue increased.
“It is the political leaders in Washington who are really driving public opinion about the threat of climate change,” said J. Craig Jenkins, co-author of the study and professor of sociology at Ohio State University. “The politics overwhelms the science.” CONTACT: Jeff Grabmeier, (614) 292-8457; Grabmeier.1@osu.edu. SEE: http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/climthreat.htm.

Events

Ohio State University Board of Trustees to meet – Feb. 9-10. The Ohio State University Board of Trustees and its committees will meet Thursday and Friday (2/9-10) at the Longaberger Alumni House, 2200 Olentangy River Rd.
The schedule includes meetings on Thursday (2/9) of the Audit and Compliance and Advancement committees from 12:30 to 2 p.m.; the Medical Affairs and Physical Environment committees from 2:15 to 3:45 p.m.; and meetings of the Finance and Academic Affairs and Student Life committees from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Trustees will meet in executive session from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and meet for dinner at 7 p.m.
On Friday (2/10), the Agricultural Affairs Committee will meet from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Trustees will meet in executive session from 9 to 10 a.m. The formal board meeting begins at 10 a.m. CONTACT: Jim Lynch, (614) 247-4110. SEE: http://www.osu.edu/news/newsitem3345

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