Story Ideas for Media 8-15-05
News
Chemical sensors garner Ohio State two "R&D 100"Awards – Two of the top 100 innovative technologies for 2005 grew out of research at Ohio State University – and both came from the same laboratory. R&D Magazine recognized Prabir Dutta and his colleagues both for an aircraft fire detection system and a sensor that monitors oxygen levels in high temperature combustion processes. Dutta, chair of the Department of Chemistry, designs materials with special chemical structures to help solve environmental and energy problems. In particular, his laboratory develops sensors to monitor and control gas emissions, such as exhaust gases in cars and power plants. This is the first time Ohio State has earned two spots on the prestigious "R&D 100" list, which salutes the best inventions to emerge from industry, government, and academia each year. Contact: Prabir Dutta, (614) 292-4532; Dutta.1@osu.edu
Stewart named chief diversity office – Mac Stewart, vice provost for the Office of Minority Affairs, has been appointed special assistant to the president for diversity and will serve as the university's chief diversity officer. The appointment comes in recognition of Stewart's long-standing commitment to the university's mission of enhancing its diversity profile through the recruitment and retention of ethnically and racially diverse students and faculty. In his new role, which he will fill concurrently with his present duties at OMA, Stewart will take on leadership responsibilities for the President and Provost's Diversity Lecture series, previously held by Frank Hale, OMA vice provost emeritus, who retired June 30. Stewart will work with other diversity leaders on campus to develop a list of potential speakers and events. Additionally, he will continue to be an active part of the president's cabinet, where he is a voice for diversity issues on campus. Contact: Mac Stewart, (614) 292 4355.
Research
Parents can help teens choose 'good' friends, study finds. While parents often worry about the influence peers have on their adolescent children, a new study indicates that they can play a role in helping their teens choose 'good' friends. The results showed teens are more likely to have good friends -- ones who don't fight and who have plans for college, for instance – if they have a warm relationship with their parents and if their parents choose to live in a neighborhood with high-quality schools. Chris Knoester, lead author of the study and assistant professor of sociology at Ohio State University, says parents' monitoring and supervision are also associated with adolescents' choice of friends, but not as consistently. Knoester presented the results Aug. 13 in Philadelphia at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association. Contact: Chris Knoester, (614) 247-7261; Knoester.1@osu.edu See: http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/adolfrnd.htm
Events
Airport community meeting scheduled – August 17. A community meeting to discuss recent plans for the OSU Airport at Don Scott Field will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday (8/17) at the Linworth United Methodist Church, 7070 Bent Tree Blvd. William A. "Bud" Baeslack, dean of the College of Engineering, was invited to participate in the forum hosted by the Northwest Civic Association. We Oppose Ohio State University Airport Expansion (WOOSE) also will make a presentation. The event is open to the public. Baeslack presented an update of the Airport Master Plan to the Facilities Planning Subcommittee of the Board of Trustees on July 13 where he pledged to meet with community members to discuss the plans. It is anticipated that this meeting will provide that forum. He will discuss and answer questions on his recommendations to aggressively address noise complaints and community concerns, defer the north runway extension and jet hangar development, gain FAA approval to build T and row hangars for small private aircraft, and retain major proposed construction elements in the Airport Master Plan Update. Contact: Amy Murray, University Relations, (614) 292-8385.
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: Liz Cook, (614) 292-7276; or Amy Murray, (614) 292-8385.
