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WELCOME TO OSUToday, the latest news and information for faculty and staff of The Ohio State University for Friday, Feb. 22. The deadline for submissions is noon the prior business day.

Headline news

OHIO STATE RESEARCHERS WIN IMPORTANT GLOBAL PRIZE

Ohio State glaciologist Lonnie Thompson and climatologist Ellen Mosley-Thompson are among this year’s winners of the prestigious Dan David Prize. The other winners include former U.S. Vice President Al Gore and British geologist Geoffrey Eglinton. Each year, the Dan David Prize awards $1 million to winners in each of three categories, or “time dimensions” - past, present and future. Thompson and Mosley-Thompson will share the $1 million award with Eglinton for the “future”. For nearly three decades, Thompson and Mosley-Thompson have directed an effort to better understand the planet’s climate system, seeking clues preserved deep within massive bodies of ice scattered around the globe. Read more >

OIT ADDRESSES CENTRAL E-MAIL PROBLEMS

The Office of the Chief Information Officer is working around the clock to solve the continuing problems of the campus e-mail system. Staff are taking the following actions:

• Provide continuous effort towards normalizing service on the current e-mail system
• Expedite the move of users to the new e-mail system, with the first group being moved by today (2/21)
• Bring in additional resources to shore up support for the existing e-mail system and assist with migration to the new system
• Implement a 24-hour SWAT response to immediately respond to reports of e-mail disruption and continuously watch for early problem signs
  

Those interested in discussing the technical details behind the e-mail problems may contact Mitch Dysart at: dysart.1@osu.edu
Read more >

EHE DEAN SEARCH COMMITTEE SEEKS FEEDBACK

The College of Education and Human Ecology Dean Search Committee, led by Dean John Roberts, has begun soliciting feedback from faculty, staff and students. The committee is analyzing the information, which will be important considerations in the process. The meetings have proven to be very helpful in the committee’s efforts to understand the diversity of perspectives that need to be considered as it moves forward with the search. Read more >

2009-2010 GEC CLUSTERS CALL FOR PROPOSALS

Faculty from all academic units are invited to propose a General Education Curriculum Cluster for the 2009-2010 academic year. The program allows faculty to create a topic and bundle two or more GEC courses from at least two GEC categories that support their chosen topic. Proposals are due Friday (10/24). Additional information about the program and how to propose a cluster is available online. Contact: mercerhill.1@osu.edu or 292-6248

FRESHMAN SEMINAR PROPOSALS SOUGHT FOR 2008-09

The Freshman Seminar program is accepting proposals for the 2008-09 academic year. Tenure-track faculty are invited to propose a one or two credit Freshman Seminar for the upcoming academic year. Proposals received before Friday (2/29) will receive first considerations. For details about the programs and how to propose a seminar, visit http://freshmanseminars.osu.edu. Contact: mercerhill.1@osu.edu or 292-6248

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR WOMEN IN SCIENCE DAY

Volunteers are needed to guide small groups of girls to and from workshops during the 24th Women in Science Day to be held on campus Friday (3/14). About 300 girls in grades six-eight and their teachers will attend. OSU students, faculty and staff of either gender are invited to volunteer. Check-in begins at 7:30 a.m. at the Drake Performance and Event Center. Reply by Monday (3/3) to volunteer. Volunteers should be able to commit 1.5 hours at a minimum. Details are available online (click on volunteer opportunities for the OSU community). Contact: adamson.29@osu.edu or (740) 243-1454

HUMAN RESOURCES OFFERS MANAGING OSU RECORDS WORKSHOP

The Office of Human Resources, Organization and HR consulting is offering “Paper and Bytes: Policies, Best Practices, and Resources for Managing OSU Records” from 9-11 a.m. Tuesday (2/26). Participants will become more knowledgeable about university policies, legal requirements, and best practices concerning the retention, management and disposition of records in their care. Register online

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING RUNS THROUGH MARCH 1

Shakespeare meets "beach blanket bingo" in the rollicking Department of Theatre production of “Much Ado About Nothing” which runs through Saturday (3/1) in Thurber Theatre, Drake Performance Center. The production is a nod to the beach movies of the 1960s, which - like Shakespeare's comedies - included dangerous plot twists like kidnapping, betrayal, jealousy, lust and greed but are in the end of course comedies, explains director Mandy Fox. For information and tickets, call 292-2295. Read more >

TODAY: COX TO DISCUSS MIGRANT LABOR IN SOUTH AFRICA

Kevin Cox, Distinguished University Professor of Geography at OSU will present the final Winter Quarter Center for African Studies seminar from noon-1 p.m. today (2/22) in 122 Oxley. He will discuss “Migrant Labor in South Africa: Past and Present.” While its outward form has undoubtedly changed, migrant labor has had a huge presence in the social life of South Africa at least since the discovery of gold. Contact: cas@osu.edu
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MONDAY: MERSHON CENTER FURNISS AWARD AUTHOR TO DISCUSS BOOK

Jacques E.C. Hymans, assistant professor of government at Smith College and winner of the Mershon Center’s Edgar S. Furniss Book Award for “The Psychology of Nuclear Proliferation: Identity, Emotions, and Foreign Policy,” will discuss his book at noon Monday (2/25) at the Mershon Center. In his book, Hymans explores why few states have acquired nuclear weapons even though dozens have long been capable of doing so. Contact tompkins.46@osu.edu to reserve a seat. Read more >