Story Ideas for Media 9-2-11

News

Join the “Buckthorn Watch” to track invasive plant. University scientists are trying to find out how if common buckthorn is really common in Ohio, Michigan and Iowa -- and will be counting on residents of these states to spot the invasive plant, report their findings online and help fight agricultural and household pests that benefit from its presence in the landscape.
“Buckthorn Watch” (http://buckthornwatch.org) is a citizen science program established by Ohio State University, Michigan State University and Iowa State University to map, study and manage this fast-growing shrub -- which was introduced in the early 1800s by European settlers and can grow up to 22 feet tall, taking over disturbed areas along roads and railroad rights-of-way, near power lines, in fencerows separating crop fields, and on the edges of forests. SEE: http://go.osu.edu/buckthornwatch

Events

2011 Solar Decathlon Team readies enCORE house for international competition – Sept. 6. Ohio State will celebrate the send-off its 2011 Ohio State Solar Decathlon Team on Tuesday, 9/6, from 4 to 6 p.m., as the team prepares to transport the enCORE house to Washington DC for the 2011 Solar Decathlon Competition. The event will be held in the parking lot at the northwest corner of Woody Hayes Drive and Fyffe Road, at the site of the former Vivian Hall.
More than 50 students from 13 different majors have been involved in designing and constructing Ohio State’s entry in the 2011 National Solar Decathlon. Ohio State is one of only 20 teams selected to compete in this international competition to build a state of the art, affordable, energy efficient home. CONTACT: Gina Langen, Langen.2@osu.edu. SEE: http://www.solardecathlon.gov/

Media availability with stories about Ohio State’s new school year – Sept. 13. A media briefing highlighting plans for the start of Ohio State’s new school year will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday (9/13) in the Ohio Union (Ohio Staters Founders Room on the second floor), 1739 N. High St. The event offers several story ideas for media, plus background material and resources to guide coverage as classes begin on Sept. 21.
At the event, Ohio State officials will describe the incoming class, events to cover during Welcome Week, and discuss preparations for the conversion to a semester based academic calendar next year. The briefing is a unique opportunity to gather important information and secure interviews with key Ohio State officials at one time before students return to campus. CONTACT: Amy Murray, (614) 292-8385.

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