19
July
2010
|
18:00 PM
America/New_York

Story Ideas for Media 7/20/10

Cross-section of a walleye ear bone, or otolith, showing growth rings. Image courtesy of Ohio State University.
Cross-section of a walleye ear bone, or otolith, showing growth rings. Image courtesy of Ohio State University.
Cross-section of a walleye ear bone, or otolith, showing growth rings. Image courtesy of Ohio State University.

News

Ohio State’s new Ohio Union building officially earns a silver LEED rating. The new Ohio Union has received a silver rating in the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program administered by the U. S. Green Building Council to encourage and facilitate development of more sustainable buildings.
The Ohio Union opened this spring after two years of construction and eight years of planning. Sustainability was built into nearly every aspect of the building, from site selection to furnishings.
The building received LEED points in many areas, including water use reduction, energy-efficient building systems, use of recycled and low-emitting building materials, use of local and regional materials, indoor air quality control, storm water management, location on a bus line, bicycle storage and changing rooms, and water-efficient landscaping. The installation of a pulper to convert food waste to agricultural use and reduce impact on the sewage system earned high marks, as was the use of recycled building materials and locally sourced materials.
It is the second building on the Columbus campus to receive LEED certification; the first was the Ohio 4-H Building in 2008. The new Student Consolidated Services Building/Lane Avenue Parking Garage also was constructed to achieve silver LEED status. CONTACT: Ruth Gerstner, Student Life, (614) 292-8424, Gerstner.2@osu.edu

Experts

What does financial regulator reform mean to consumers? The sweeping overhaul of the nation’s financial regulatory laws has many implications for business, but it also affects consumers. It calls for a regulator of consumer financial products such as credit card interest rates. Jonathan Fox, associate professor of Consumer and Family Financial Services, is available to discuss the impact of finance reform on individuals. He is an expert in educating the public about financial matters. CONTACT: Jonathan Fox, (614) 292-4561 or fox.99@osu.edu. SEE: http://ehe.osu.edu/facstaff/cs.php?name=jonathan%20fox

Events

Preventing community violence-tips from the experts – July 23. Researchers and community members will discuss the latest knowledge on community safety and violence prevention issues at “Promoting Community Safety and Preventing Violence: Integrating Lessons from Research and Practice.” Hosted by the Ohio State University Youth Violence Prevention Advisory Board, the conference will be held July 23 at the Verne Riffe Conference Center, 77 S. High Street. The conference features workshops, panels and experts on violence prevention from Ohio State, Georgetown University, Drexel University, CeaseFire Illinois and Columbus Police, among others. Sessions include Making a Difference for Black Males, Police-Community Relations: ABC's of CPD and CFD, Understanding and Preventing Urban Youth Violence, and Gun Violence Reduction Program. SEE: http://people.ehe.ohio-state.edu/dwilkinson/conference/ CONTACT: Jeff Grabmeier, 614-292-8457; Grabmeier.1@osu.edu

Bringing diversity to the world of graduate education – July 23-24. A national effort to encourage students from underrepresented groups into graduate education lands in Columbus this week, as Ohio State University hosts more than 400 students from colleges and universities nationwide for the Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP) Research Conference.
Sponsored by the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC), SROP targets a diverse group of students, largely underrepresented in graduate school, and prepares them to pursue advanced degrees at a one of the 12 CIC member institutions.
Each year, Ohio State selects 40 to 60 applicants to participate in its SROP program. The students come to the campus to conduct research for nine weeks and present their research during both the national conference and a local conference.
Two thirds of SROP participants are women, and more than three-fourths are members of underrepresented minority groups. SEE: http://www.gradsch.osu.edu/2010SROP/

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