Story Ideas for Media 5/27/08

News

“Safe Summer” provides shelter for pets. The “Safe Summer” program offers alternatives for college students who are leaving for the summer and may have a pet they cannot take with them. In past years, many pets were abandoned in empty apartments, or released to the street. “Safe Summer” was created by the Shelter Medicine Club of The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine and is run by students and volunteers. The service will be available from May 27 through June 14, 2008 with the goal of finding safe shelter for any pets left behind. After initial communication with the student is established, Safe Summer will discuss options for the pet, which may include surrendering it to the Capital Area Humane Society, a partner in the program. If the animal is healthy and adoptable, it will be spayed and neutered and put up for adoption. Club members will discuss all options with the students before a decision needs to be made for the best care of the animal. Interested students should e-mail the Shelter Medicine Club beginning today. For more information, see www.vet.osu.edu/safesummer or e-mail Safe Summer. CONTACT: Melissa Weber (work) 614-292-3752 or (cell) 614-327-6024.

Events

Competition features student-built roller coasters – May 28. In the competitive world of amusement parks, engineers are responsible for coming up with fresh and exciting ideas for new roller coaster rides while adhering to the laws of physics and safety requirements. Ohio State engineering students who built their own model-scale roller coasters will showcase their best examples this week from 2:45 to 4 p.m. Wednesday (5/28) in room E100 of Scott Lab, 201 W. 19th Ave.
Of the 124 teams who built roller coasters, the 14 top teams will present their final model for the public and judges, including Jeff Gramke, the chief engineer of amusement park Kings Island. At 4 p.m., Gramke will present awards for the event.
The students will display their open-loop coasters, which consist of track rails with two 25-foot lengths of ¼-inch flexible plastic tubing and a circuit board. The students measure and control velocity with eight speed sensors to make sure the roller coaster “car” lands safely in a small box at the end of the roller coaster “ride.” CONTACT: Tom Knox, (614) 292-1450 or Joan Slattery Wall, (614) 292-4064, SEE: http://engineering.osu.edu/news/archive/2008/080523.php

Commencement Week celebrates graduates – June 2-7. Spring quarter 2008 graduates will be the first to help establish a new tradition at Ohio State – the celebration of Commencement Week June 2-7. All graduating undergraduate, graduate and professional students will participate in a variety of events throughout the week, which include chalking the Oval, a commencement hop at South Campus Gateway and a candlelight service on the eve of graduation. The celebration is sponsored by the Office of Student Affairs and the Ohio State Alumni Association to show appreciation to students, provide additional opportunities for networking, and to allow them to reflect together as a graduating class on their time at Ohio State. CONTACT: Matt Couch, Ohio Union, (614) 292-8763.

Energy alert: Media invited to cover national conference on biofuels and biopolymers – June 3-5. University and industry experts from around the country will convene in Columbus next week to discuss agriculture’s role in the renewable fuel, energy and polymer needs of the United States.
Media are welcome to cover the 20th annual meeting of the National Agricultural Biotechnology Council (NABC), hosted this year by the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Columbus. OARDC, the research arm of Ohio State’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, is the largest and most comprehensive agricultural research facility in the United States.
Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland will provide the inaugural keynote address at noon on Tuesday (6/3).
CONTACT: Mauricio Espinoza, (330) 621-6541. SEE: http://www.oardc.osu.edu/nabc20.

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.