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WELCOME TO OSUToday, the latest news and information for faculty and staff of The Ohio State University for Monday, April 2. The deadline for submissions is noon the prior business day.

Headline news

U.S. NEWS RANKS SIX OSU GRADUATE PROGRAMS IN TOP FIVE NATIONALLY

According to the U.S. News & World Report’s 2008 edition of America’s Best Graduate Schools released Friday (3/30), Ohio State offers some of the top graduate programs in Ohio and the nation. Six graduate programs are rated in the top five: vocational/technical education, elementary education, counseling/personnel services (education), dispute resolution (law), supply chain/logistics (business), and veterinary medicine. Specific rankings of OSU graduate programs are available online at www.osu.edu/news/newsitem1651.

BREWER EARNS DISTINGUISHED SCIENTIFIC CONTRIBUTION AWARD

Marilynn Brewer, Ohio State’s Eminent Scholar in social psychology, was awarded the American Psychological Association’s 2007 Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award, the field’s most prestigious award for distinguished contributions to research in psychology. Brewer joined the psychology faculty at Ohio State in 1993 as an Ohio State Eminent Scholar in social psychology. Her pioneering work on social identities and ingroup bias in intergroup relation has changed the way scientists around the world think about issues of prejudice and discrimination. Brewer was recently inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and is a 2007 University Distinguished Lecture Series Award recipient.

ICELAND PRESIDENT TO DISCUSS CLIMATE CHANGE TODAY

Iceland President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson will discuss the issues that have caused the environmental erosion of 40 percent of his country and a partnership with Ohio State to help resolve the severity at 2 p.m. today (4/2) at the Wexner Center. The lecture is free and open to the public. Grímsson will deliver “The Challenges of Climate Change: Iceland, a Laboratory for Global Solutions.” The research collaborations with Iceland are part of Ohio State’s Climate, Water and Carbon Program - one of 10 high-impact programs chosen by the university for its Targeted Investment in Excellence initiative, a $100 million commitment over five years to address some of society’s most pressing challenges. Contact: Candace Pollock, 292-3799

NOBEL LAUREATE TO DELIVER EDWIN SMART LECTURE

Robert W. Fogel, 1993 Nobel Laureate in Economics, will deliver “Toward an Era of Longevity and Wealth” at Ohio State’s Edwin Smart Lecture/All-Ohio Economic History Seminar at 3 p.m. Monday (4/9) at the Blackwell Hotel and Conference Center. Fogel is the Charles R. Walgreen Distinguished Service Professor of American Institutions and the director of the Center for Population Economics at the University of Chicago. The seminar and reception are free and open to the public but seating is limited. Contact: 688-5804 or jbyrant@global.sbs.ohio-state.edu

PUBLIC SAFETY HOSTS MINORITY RECRUITING FORUM

OSU’s Department of Pubic Safety hosted a roundtable forum on minority recruiting for police executives and administrators from local, state and university law enforcement agencies on Wednesday (3/28) at the Schottenstein Center. The event was unique in the field and affirmed the commitment of Public Safety to promoting diversity in its work force and established its leadership position on the issue. The forum explored ways to improve recruiting efforts, especially within the African American community, through current hot topics such as forensic science and technology made popular through programs such as CSI. Contact: hunter.155@osu.edu or denton.25@osu.edu
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YOUR PLAN FOR HEALTH WEB VIDEOS AVAILABLE

Log onto yourplanforhealth.com to view a series of brief videos about Your Plan for Health. The videos feature Larry Lewellen, associate vice president of Human Resources and Fred Sanfilippo, CEO for the OSU Medical Center. Learn the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions, why the initiative was started, where it’s headed and other Your Plan for Health benefits and programs available to help OSU faculty and staff and their families make healthy choices. Join the 2007 Faculty and Staff Incentive Program where healthy living pays off. Contact: 292-1050/(800), 678-6010 or yourplanforhealth@hr.osu.edu.

ODS LAUNCHES DISABILITY AWARENESS MONTH

OSU’s Office for Disability Services has declared April Disability Awareness Month on campus and is celebrating its past milestones and recent accomplishments. Formed in 1974, ODS was one of the first offices in the country dedicated to assisting the disabled at higher learning institutions and has been a constant force in creating an all-inclusive campus for students, as well as enlightening the university community on the importance and legality of providing access to everyone. A complete schedule of activities is available online.

REGISTER FOR 2007 OARDC ANNUAL RESEARCH CONFERENCE

Faculty, research staff and students are invited to attend the 2007 OARDC Annual Research Conference on Thursday (4/19) at the Blackwell Hotel and Conference Center. The registration deadline is Friday (4/6). The theme of the conference is “Ohio’s Future in Renewable Energy and the Bioeconomy” with presentations by Mark Shanahan, executive director of the Ohio Air Quality Development Authority and energy advisor to Gov. Ted Strickland, and Jeffrey Daniels, associate dean, College of Mathematical and Physical Sciences and OSU professor of Earth Sciences. Annual awards also will be presented for outstanding research. Read More >

OUT OF THE GUTTER OPENS AT KNOWLTON GALLERY

Jonathan Novak and Mark Ours, local architects and adjunct instructors at the Knowlton School of Architecture, will exhibit “Out of the Gutter: Exploiting the Readymade” at the Banvard Gallery in Knowlton Hall today (4/2)-Thursday (4/26). An opening reception will take place from 6-8 p.m. today (4/2). The exhibit explores performative characteristics of industrial, mass-produced components and is the winning result of the recent Extra Material Installation Competition. Read More >

DISABILITY SERVICES SEEKS AWARD NOMINATIONS

Nominations are being sought for the Dick Maxwell Award, presented to a faculty or staff member who has made an outstanding contribution to a student with a disability or to the Office for Disability Services. All faculty and staff are eligible. Nominations are due Friday (4/13) and should be submitted to Sharon Dobner, Disability Services, 150 Pomerene Hall, or by fax at 292-4190. Nomination forms are available online. Contact: dobner.3@osu.edu
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SCOTT MCCLOUD: COMICS STORYTELLING APRIL 4

Author and comics artist Scott McCloud puts current trends in the profession into perspective in a fast-moving visual presentation at the Wexner Film/Video Theater at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday (4/4). McCloud is the author of the groundbreaking graphic books Understanding Comics, Reinventing Comics and Making Comics and is also the creator of the comic book series Zot! Contact: cartoons@osu.edu or 292-0538. Read More >