Story Ideas for Media 5-1-06

News

Ohio State is "statewide science central" this week. Several science-based campus events take place this week that bring bright middle and high school students to campus, and entertain the campus and community through lectures:
- "Breakfast of Science Champions" - May 4. About 40 Columbus Public School "gifted and talented" middle school students will get a taste of college-level science in the quarterly "Breakfast of Science Champions," from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Thursday (5/4). Students will get breakfast, see a demonstration, a physics-based TV show and tour labs.
- 2006 Alpheus Smith Lecture - May 4. Wolfgang Ketterle, 2001 Nobel Laureate in Physics and a professor of physics at the MIT-Harvard Center for Ultracold Atoms will present - When freezing cold is not cold enough - new forms of matter close to absolute zero temperature - at 8 p.m. on Thursday (5/4) in 131 Hitchcock Hall.
- Alumnus will deliver annual chemistry lectures - May 4 and 5. Duane Burnett, research fellow at Schering-Plough, is the 2006 Meek Lecturer in the Department of Chemistry. Burnett, who works on drug discovery efforts to treat a variety of human disorders including metabolic syndrome and chronic pain. On Thursday (5/4), he will speak on - Designing Wonder Drugs - Modern Medicinal Chemistry and Its Application to Obesity Research, - at 3:30 p.m. in 1008 Evans Laboratory. On Friday (5/5) he will present "Discovery of Cholesterol Absorption Inhibitors: From ACAT to Zetia+ - at 2 p.m. in 1008 Evans Laboratory. CONTACT: Melissa Weber. (614) 292-2254, weber.254@osu.edu
- Ohio State hosts 57th Annual State Science Day - May 6. Approximately 1,200 seventh?12th-grade students from 305 schools across Ohio converge on the Ohio State campus to exhibit their science research projects at the 58th annual State Science Day. The event will be held on Saturday (5/6) at the French Field house, 460 Woody Hayes Drive, and St. John Arena, 410 Woody Hayes Drive. The event is the academic equivalent of a state athletic championship and one of the largest of its kind in the nation. The students vie for nearly 100 scholarships and awards valued at more than $1.7 million. CONTACT: Latina A. D. Rockhold, (614) 688-3310 or rockhold.14@osu.edu SEE: http://statescienceday.osu.edu/

Research

Tiny polyps gorge themselves to survive coral bleaching - Certain species of coral have surprised researchers by showing an unexpectedly successful approach towards survival when seriously bleached. Their innovative strategy is gluttony. The discovery, derived from experiments on coral reefs in Hawaii, provides new insights into how these tiny animals face a multitude of environmental threats. "If the rain forests were dying off at this rate, we would all be panicking," explained Andrea Grottoli, an assistant professor of geological sciences at Ohio State and lead author of the study.
During the past decade, reports have multiplied of major bleaching events that have damaged, if not destroyed, large portions of the world\'s fragile coral reefs. Scientists point to global warming as the cause and the victims are some of the tiniest creatures near the base of the undersea ecosystem. Within a two-year window during the 1997-98 El Nino events, 16 percent of the world\'s coral reefs sustained serious bleaching due to increases in seawater temperature and the animals died. CONTACT: Andrea Grottoli, (614) 292-5782; Grottoli.1@osu.edu . SEE: http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/corlblch.htm

Events

Ohio State marking 28th annual Heritage Festival - through May 6. Ohio State?s 28th annual African American Heritage Festival, which started on April 30, continues through May 6. The theme for this year?s festival, which offers cultural events for the entire university community to celebrate the many aspects of Black culture, is "Ufanisi: Striving for Higher Heights," which takes its name from the Swahili term for prosperity. A Gospel Fest, featuring the Ohio State Gospel Choir, will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday (5/4) at the Newman Center, 64 W. Lane Ave. in addition to the many cultural events that will be held throughout the week. Special guest, comedian Owen Smith, will host the 19th Annual Pan-Hellenic Council Step Show, featuring African American fraternities and sororities, at 7 p.m. on Friday (5/5) at the Jerome Schottenstein Center, 555 Borror Dr. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 the night of the performance. CONTACT: Liz Cook, (614) 292-7276. SEE: http://heritagefestival.osu.edu

Kweisi Mfume and Angela Oh will speak at Ohio State - May 2. Ohio State presents the 12th Annual National Conference on Diversity, Race & Learning from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. on Tuesday (5/2) at the Fawcett Center, 2400 Olentangy River Road. Approximately 400 people are registered for Ohio State?s most comprehensive single day conference that focuses on issues of diversity and cultural inclusion and acceptance. This year?s theme is "2006 & Beyond: Creating a Diversity Collaborative." Concerns that will be explored include voter rights issues as a consequence of the 2004 elections, and recent U.S. Supreme Court confirmations. In addition to interactive breakout sessions, there will be two keynote speeches. Angela Oh, an attorney and social activist who served on President Clinton?s Initiative on Race, will deliver the opening keynote at 8:50 a.m. Kweisi Mfume, former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and head of the NAACP will deliver the closing keynote at 2:40 p.m. CONTACT: Liz Cook, (614) 292-7276. SEE: http://oma.osu.edu/spprogs/ncdrl2006/ncdrl.htm

Student collaboration with immigrant-focused afterschool program results in film - May 3. Ohio State students have partnered with a local middle school to produce a short film that explores the destructive consequences of rumors. Produced by a group of immigrant and non-immigrant seventh and eighth-grade students in an after school program in Whitehall, the film tracks a rumor from start to finish during one day at the school. The program was established to bring the youth together to work to projects, learn about one another, and improve academic achievement. The students also express their thoughts about being members of a shared community. Media are invited the premiere of "From Bad to Worse: The Rumor Cycle" at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday (5/3) at the Longaberger Alumni House, 2200 Olentangy River Road. A shorter version will also be shown at the Buckeye Ranch Film Festival at the Arena Grand Theater on May 5th. CONTACT: Courtney Kelly, (614) 446-2326.

Journalist to discuss covering Iraq war from the front lines - May 3. Darrin Mortenson, a fellow in the Kiplinger Program in Public Affairs Journalism at Ohio State, will discuss his experiences as an embedded journalist with the U.S. Marines in Baghdad, Fallujah and other cities across Iraq. The event begins at 6 p.m. Wednesday (5/3) on the first floor of Page Hall, 1810 College Road. Mortenson covered the war for the San Diego region?s North County Times. He has also contributed combat reports to Time Magazine, ABC?s World News Tonight, and Nightline, and is co-author of A Thousand Miles to Bagdad, a book about the invasion of Iraq. CONTACT: Debra Jasper, director, Kiplinger Program, (614) 247-6686.

Ohio State Trustees to meet - May 4- 5. The university?s Board of Trustees and its committees will meet on Thursday (5/4) and Friday (5/5) at the Longaberger Alumni House. The schedule includes a board briefing/discussion with a national expert on governance from 1-4 p.m. on Thursday. On Friday, the schedule includes meetings of the Investments Committee at 9:15 a.m., and the Academic and Student Affairs and Fiscal Affairs committees from 10-11 a.m. The formal board meeting will begin at 11 a.m. in the Sanders Grand Lounge. Trustees will recess into Executive Session from 8 -9:15 a.m. CONTACT: Shelly Hoffman, (614) 247-4748.

Center for Automotive Research unveils first hydrogen refueling station in Ohio - May 5.
Ohio State?s Center for Automotive Research (CAR) will unveil the first hydrogen refueling station in Ohio at 3 p.m. on Friday (5/5), at CAR, 930 Kinnear Rd.
CAR is one of the leading university research centers in the U.S. working to develop highly efficient and environmentally clean cars. The refueling station will further CAR?s research opportunities into fuel cell and alternative powertrain technologies for the future of transportation. CAR will now be able to work with prototype fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) or cars that run on hydrogen directly. CAR has won many alternative fuel vehicle awards, including participation in the FutureTruck and ChallengeX hybrid vehicle competitions and development of the Buckeye Bullet, holder of the world?s land speed record for an electric car. CONTACT: Gina Langen, College of Engineering, (614) 688-4423, langen.2@osu.edu SEE: http://www.eng.ohio-state.edu/news/archive/2006/hydrogenfuelingstation.php

Humanities Forum looks at how U.S. is portrayed in media around the world - May 5.
An international panel of media experts, led by Stephen Hess, senior fellow emeritus of The Brookings Institution and professor of media and public affairs at George Washington University, will discuss how the U.S. is portrayed in the media of other countries - and how these countries and cultures are portrayed in U.S. media. The College of Humanities 2006 Forum, "Seeing Ourselves as Others See Us: Whose Medium" Whose Message" - will take place from 4- 5:30 p.m. on Friday (5/5) in 180 Hagerty Hall, 1775 College Rd. CONTACT: Melissa Soave, (614) 292-2077.

Oval transformed to Renaissance Odyssey - May 6. Ohio State?s 32nd annual Renaissance Faire will be held rain or shine on from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, (5/6) on the South Oval. The theme this year is: "1571: A Renaissance Odyssey" and the day loosely follows the events of the end of the Homer\'s Odyssey, set in the Elizabethan era. The faire offers food, crafts and shops, music, singing, dancing, sword fighting, comedy, and historical demonstrations. The event is sponsored by the Council for the Medieval and Renaissance Faire and the Ohio State Medieval and Renaissance Performer\'s Guild. CONTACT: Amanda Rosen, (614) 298-8830, rosen.81@osu.edu

Ohio State?s Latino/a Studies Program presents readings by Frederick Aldama and Daniel Olivas - May 8. The Latino/a Studies Program at The Ohio State University announces its year-ending celebration as part of its Latino/a Studies Lecture Series. A reading by two prominent authors, book signing, and reception will be held Monday (5/8) at the Faculty Club from 4-6 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Ohio State English professor and award-winning author and editor, Frederick Aldama will read from his most recent book, Spilling the Beans in Chicanolandia, which highlights the changing works of third wave Chicano/a artists and authors, including Daniel Olivas. Renowned author and attorney, Daniel Olivas, will also read from his latest novel, Devil Talk: Stories, and discuss his life as a lawyer and writer. CONTACT: Pat Enciso, Coordinator of Latino/a Studies Program, (614) 688-4288 or enciso.4@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