Story Ideas for Media 5/6/08

Experts

Global food crisis – In the months ahead, the importance of a global food crisis will grow as Americans see soaring prices for staples such as wheat, corn and rice. Increased costs are hitting poor people especially hard and causing food riots in Somalia, Haiti, Egypt and other nations.
Several factors are credited for the increase, including the diversion of millions of acres of crops to biofuels, climate change and soaring gasoline prices.
As you plan coverage of this story, Ohio State experts are available to discuss aspects of the crisis including: tips for coping with higher food costs, international trade and development policy, farm policy, international issues, ethanol production, grain economics, carbon sequestration and no-till production, soil science, and food production in Africa. CONTACT: Amy Murray, (614) 292-8385.

Research

Anxiety, mood disorders put cancer patients at risk for PTSD. Breast cancer patients who have a prior history of mood and anxiety disorders are at a much higher risk of experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following their diagnosis, new research suggests.
A study of 74 breast cancer patients at the Ohio State University Medical Center found that 16 percent of them (12 women) suffered from PTSD 18 months after diagnosis.
Women with PTSD were more than twice as likely as breast cancer patients without the disorder to have suffered from previous mood disorders such as depression before the cancer diagnosis. They were also more than three times more likely to have experienced anxiety disorders.
“What is unique about breast cancer patients with PTSD is that they have already had this double hit of both anxiety and mood disorders even before they got the diagnosis,” said Barbara Andersen, co-author of the study and professor of psychology at Ohio State University.
“So when they are in a new situation that is very anxiety provoking – cancer diagnosis and treatment – it is not surprising that they are at risk for developing PTSD.” CONTACT: Barbara Andersen, (614) 292-4236. SEE: < href="http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/ptsd.htm">http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/ptsd.htm

Events

New Ohio Union moves a step closer to completion with Topping Off ceremony – May 9. Media are invited to cover the ceremony marking the topping off of Ohio State’s new Ohio Union. The beam-raising will take place at 11 a.m. on Friday (5/9) at the site at 12th and High St. The ceremony marks the placement of the last piece of steel at the highest point of the building. It will feature placement of an I-beam signed by a diverse group of people including the architects, alumni and a group of 88 students – one from each Ohio county – to illustrate how the building fulfills the land grant mission of Ohio State. Scheduled to open in 2010, the new Ohio Union will tell the histories of Ohio State and the state of Ohio through architectural design, art, and even the food served in the building. CONTACT: Eve Scrogham, (614) 292-5200. SEE: http://ohiounion.osu.edu/new/topping_ceremony.asp

Ohio State University to host 60th annual State Science Day – May 10. More than 1,000 seventh-12th grade students from 283 schools in 65 Ohio counties will exhibit their science research projects at the 60th annual State Science Day Saturday (5/10) at French Field House, 460 Woody Hayes Drive, and St. John Arena, 410 Woody Hayes Drive. The students, now advanced to the state-level competition from than 16 district science days, compete for scholarships and awards valued at more than $1.9 million. The event is the academic equivalent of a state athletic championship and one of the largest of its kind in the nation. SEE: http://statescienceday.osu.edu CONTACT: Lynn Elfner, Ohio Academy of Science, (614) 488-2228, or
Latina A. D. Rockhold, (614) 688-3310.

Mother’s Day 5K benefits 2nd & 7 Foundation – May 11. Ohio State’s Student Athlete Advisory Board will hold a 2nd & 7 Foundation Mother's Day 5K beginning at 10 a.m. on Sunday (5/11). This first annual event will start across from the College of Veterinary Medicine, 1900 Coffey Rd. and finish in Ohio Stadium. Former Ohio State and NFL star Mike Vrabel will kick off the event at 10 a.m. following a quick speech. The event benefits the 2nd & 7 Foundation which helps promote literacy throughout central Ohio. Former Ohio State student-athletes Mike Vrabel, Ryan Miller, and Luke Fickell, who were involved in community activities as students, continue their service through this organization, which urges kids to practice reading. Register at www.premierraces.com. SEE: http://www.secondandseven.com/

Ohio State, Battelle issue National Bike to Work Week challenge – May 12-17. National Bike to Work Week begins Monday (5/12), and Ohio State has made a friendly challenge with Battelle to see who can replace the most automobile commutes with bicycle commutes, and bike the most miles. Student organization Bike OSU is teaming up with Consider Biking, a local bicycle advocacy organization, to sponsor the event. University events for the week include a movie screening at Knowlton Hall about automobile congestion (5/12), a bicycling and the law workshop in Denney Hall (5/13), and a bike tour of Columbus that begins at Ohio State (5/17). SEE: http://www.tp.osu.edu/Events/b2ww.shtml

Kathryn Sullivan to discuss her first book – May 12. Kathryn Sullivan, director of Ohio State’s Battelle Center for Mathematics & Science Education Policy, will discuss her book, “Generative Leadership: Shaping New Futures for Today’s Schools,” in the 2008 Deborah Jones Merritt BookMarks Lecture. The event takes place at 5:30 p.m. on Monday (5/12) in the auditorium of Drinko Hall, 55 W. 12th Avenue.
The book highlights a new concept of leadership that taps into an organization’s collective intelligence to produce effective solutions for today's educational needs. Sullivan co-wrote the book with Karl J. Klimek and Elsie Ritzenhein.
Before coming to Ohio State, Sullivan spent 13 years as an astronaut with NASA, and led COSI Columbus. The lecture is free and open to the public, but reservations are required. Media should call Laura Sipe to reserve a seat. CONTACT: Laura Sipe, John Glenn Institute, (614) 247-6369.

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.