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State's news, experts and events give you more on the news

News

Database puts an ant’s world at researcher’ fingertips – More than 11,000 ant species reside in Norm Johnson's insect lab. The insects aren't relegated to stick pins and Styrofoam. Instead, each species occupies a minute bit of a space in a database called Antbase, an effort to catalog all known species of ants. The project is spearheaded by Norman Johnson, the director of Ohio State's insect collection and a professor of entomology. Antbase houses all sorts of information on ants and other insects in the order Hymenoptera, which also includes bees and wasps. Scientists all over the world can visit individual species whenever they like. Johnson says the insect clearinghouse has the potential to solve much strife and frustration for entomologists eager to quickly find all available information on a particular variety of ant. ”Say an entomologist in Costa Rica finds an ant he's never seen before,” said Johnson, who is an expert on parasitic wasps. ”He can hike back to his research station and search the Web site for info on that particular species.” Although Johnson said he and his Antbase colleagues are finally caught up with adding to the database all the published literature that they could find on known ant species, their work certainly hasn't stopped. Researchers estimate that Hymenoptera contains as many as 115,000 species. Contact:Norman Johnson, (614) 292-6595;johnson.2@osu.edu; see http://www.osu.edu/researchnews/archive/antbase.htm.

Experts

New terror warnings prompt concerns on homeland security – Vice President Cheney is now saying, ”It’s not a matter of if, but when” in warning that another terror attack is likely in the United States. Recently retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Todd Stewart, the director of Ohio State’s new Program for International and Homeland Security, says the government has a huge task in seeking to prevent future terrorist attacks because, in many respects, it means a re-engineering of how agencies run their offices. Ohio State’s Program for International and Homeland Security is a new multidisciplinary research program designed to assist federal and state officials in better understanding the causes of international terrorism and finding appropriate solutions.Contact: Todd Stewart, (614) 688-3420.

Events

Ohio State undergraduates take part in research forum – May 21. More than 130 of Ohio State’s brightest and best undergraduate students will present their research projects at the seventh annual Richard J. and Martha D. Denman Undergraduate Research Forum, which runs from noon to 5 p.m. today (5/21) in the Ohio Union Ballrooms, 1739 N. High St. The purpose of the forum is: to encourage undergraduate participation in research; to develop the abilities of undergraduate students to make a contribution to society; and to provide an opportunity to showcase interdisciplinary student research projects. Student projects, which will be presented on poster boards, will be judged during the forum. The winners, who will be announced between 4 and 5 p.m., will receive a cash award, a medallion and a certificate. Contact: Shannon Wingard, (614) 247-6821.

Gay romantic comedy – May 21. Debra Moddelmog, professor of English, will present ”Hollywood Romantic Comedy and Sexual Citizenship” in the College of Humanities’10th Inaugural Lecture of the year at 7:30 p.m. today (5/21) at the Faculty Club. The presentation will examine what might happen to the romantic comedy genre when gay or lesbian characters take over the starring roles.Contact:Shari Lorbach, College of Humanities, (614) 292-1882.

ROTC cadets march in military parade – May 23. About 300 Ohio State student members of the Army, Navy and Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps will march in full dress uniform in the 2002 Tri-Service Pass In Review Parade on Thursday (5/23) at 3:30 p.m. on the Coffey Athletic Fields at the corner of Coffey Road and Woody Hayes Drive. The parade will present cadets from all three services marching in formation. Reviewing the troops will be professors of military science at Ohio State. In case of rain, the parade will move to the Woody Hayes Athletic Facility. Contact: Col. Jack Gumbert, Army ROTC, (614) 292-6075.

Native American Powwow is this weekend – May 25, 26 and 27. The 20th Annual Moon When the Ponies Shed Memorial Day Weekend Powwow will be held May 25, 26 & 27 at the Jesse Owens Recreation Center (West), 1031 Carmack Road. The powwow is sponsored by American Indian Student Services at Ohio State, the Ohio Arts Council, and the Native American Indian Center of Central Ohio. Gates open each day at 10 a.m., and there is an admission charge. Dancing will begin with a ”Grand Entry” of all the dancers at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. A second ”Grand Entry” will be at 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The powwow, a beautiful display of color and movement, will feature the finest in Native American Indian music, dancing, arts, crafts and foods. Artists and craftsmen from across the country will be selling and demonstrating traditional and contemporary arts and crafts. The public is encouraged to come and experience this expression of Native America and join in the celebration — a celebration of the circle of life and remembrance of those who have gone on before us. Contact: American Indian Student Services, (614) 292-0524; or Native American Indian Center of Central Ohio, (614) 443-6120.

The person listed as Contact: will have the best information about the story. Call on our media relations staff for help with any Ohio State story – Elizabeth Conlisk, (614) 292-3040; Liz Cook, (614) 292-7276; Randy Dunham, (614) 292-8295; Amy Murray, (614) 292-8385, and Shannon Wingard, (614) 247-6821.