Good Day!
WELCOME TO OSUToday, the latest news and information for faculty and staff of The Ohio State University for Thursday, May 8. The deadline for submissions is noon the prior business day.

Headline news

GLOBAL CLIMATE MODELS BOTH AGREE AND DISAGREE WITH ACTUAL ANTARCTIC DATA

Scientists who compared recorded Antarctic temperatures and snowfall accumulation to predictions by major computer models of global climate change offer both good and bad news, according to research conducted by David Bromwich, OSU professor of geography, in conjunction with the National Center for Atmospheric Research.

The good news is the models’ predictions covering the last 50 years broadly follow the actual observed temperatures and snowfall for the southernmost continent, although the observations are very variable. The bad news, however, is that a similar comparison that includes the entire last century is a poor match. Projections of temperatures and snowfall ranged from 2.5 to five times what they actually were during that period.

The findings, reported last month in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, suggest that current computer models of the effects of global warming may not work as well for the remote Antarctic regions. Read more >

SECURITY EXPERT CORDESMAN TO SPEAK AT MERSHON CENTER

The increasing influence of the Taliban and al-Qaida in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and what the United States and NATO should do about it, will be the subject of a lecture by national security expert Anthony Cordesman at noon Wednesday (5/14) at the Mershon Center for International Security Studies. Cordesman, Arleigh A. Burke Chair in Strategy at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, will deliver “The Changing Nature of the Afghan-Pakistan War.” Cordesman is also an analyst for ABC News and author of more than 50 books, including a four-volume series on the lessons of modern war. RSVP to russell.16@osu.edu by Monday (4/12). Read more >

LATEST ISSUE OF ONCAMPUS NOW AVAILABLE

The May 8 issue of onCampus is now available, so please check your Ohio State mailbox. Here’s a preview from the online version of onCampus:

• Strategic Plan for Higher Education calls for Ohio State to lead within University System of Ohio. Read more >
• President Gee says a universitywide online staff survey to be e-mailed later this month or early June will guide future decisions. Read more >
  

SUICIDE, NOT HOMICIDE A LARGER THREAT TO NATION’S COLLEGE CAMPUSES

As tragic as the mass killings were at Virginia Tech and Illinois State, suicide is the more nefarious problem when it comes to college campuses, according to a panel at the American Psychiatric Association’s annual meeting. Diverse magazine has the complete story. The drive to prevent suicide has led to an increased demand on mental health services on campus, but at least 40 percent of the nation’s schools do not have any psychiatric services, noted Jerald Kay, co-chair of the panel. To learn more about what Ohio State is doing or what you can do, visit suicideprevention.osu.edu or reach.osu.edu.

CAHEN TO DELIVER ENERGY - A GLOBAL CHALLENGE MAY 9

David Cahen, the Rowland and Sylvia Schaefer Chair in Energy Research at the Weismann Institute of Science, Israel will present "Energy - A Global Challenge" at 10:30 a.m. Friday (5/9) in the Smith Seminar Room (Physics Research Building). Cahen will discuss the challenges faced in meeting our global energy needs, and the role solar energy will play. Sponsored jointly by ENCOMM and the Institute for Energy and the Environment and open to all interested parties; graduate and undergraduate students are encouraged to attend. Contact: norman.59@osu.edu
Read more >

MAY 9: EFFECTS OF KENYA'S POST-ELECTION VIOLENCE

Valentine Mukuria, a Ph.D candidate in Educational Policy and Leadership at OSU, will discuss "The Effects of Kenya's Post-Election Violence: A report from the Kenya Human Rights Commission, " from noon-1 p.m. Friday (5/9) in 122 Oxley Hall. This week's CAS brown bag presentation looks at the findings of a recent investigation by the Kenya Human Rights Commission into the dynamics of Kenya's post-election violence. All are welcome to attend. Contact: cas@osu.edu
Read more >

CHADWICK ARBORETUM SPRING PLANT SALE MAY 9-10

Chadwick Arboretum and Learning Gardens will host its annual Spring Plant Sale, Auction and Gardening Fair Friday (5/9)-Saturday (5/10). The event will take place Friday from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m.-3 p.m., with an auction both days at 11 a.m. Sale and auction proceeds support Chadwick Arboretum and Learning Gardens programs and operations. A Friends of Chadwick Arboretum and Learning Gardens members-only pre-sale reception will take place from 6-9 p.m. today (5/8). The plant sale will be held one block east of state Route 315 on the southwest corner of Lane Avenue and Fyffe Road. Read more >

INTERNATIONAL CAREERS WEEK AT OSU MAY 12-16

Faculty are encouraged to talk to their students about participating in International Careers Week at OSU, Monday (5/12)-Friday (5/16). It will be an opportunity for students to learn more about the career benefits of studying a foreign language, tips on working overseas and about careers in the intelligence industry. The activities and discussion groups will take place in Hagerty and Postle Halls throughout the week. View a list of events at http://oia.osu.edu or http://slaviccenter.osu.edu.

MBI LECTURE: THE ADAPTIVE SELF AND BRAIN-COMPUTER INTERFACES

The Mathematical Biosciences Institute is holding a free public lecture at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday (5/13) in 355 Jennings Hall (MBI Auditorium). The lecture, “The Adaptive Self and Brain-Computer Interfaces” will be delivered by Eberhard Fetz, professor of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Washington. Read more >

RESEARCH PROTOCOL FORMS UPDATED

The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee and the Institutional Biosafety Committee have recently updated their respective protocol submission forms. The IACUC and IBC request that investigators use the most recent version of the form posted online. View current IACUC forms and IBC forms. For assistance, contact: spohn.31@osu.edu or 247-1562 (IBC review), or IACUCinfo@osu.edu, 292-4494, or 292-0409 (IACUC review).

OSU KICKS OFF ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

This year’s theme of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is “Asians in America: Emerging Together,” and Ohio State is marking the occasion by holding numerous events throughout May. Featured events include ExplorAsia today (5/8), the Annual Distinguished Lecture in Asian American Studies on Wednesday (5/14), and the APAHM Annual Picnic on Sunday (5/18). For details and a complete list of events, check out the flyers around campus or visit http://mcc.osu.edu/asam

DIGITAL UNION PRESENTS APPLE PODCASTING 101 May 14

Nick Koval from Apple and David Hooker from the Digital Union team up to offer a free production seminar on publishing podcasts from 9:30-11 a.m. Wednesday (5/14) at the Digital Union (SEL 060). They will demonstrate podcasts using current Apple software and introduce equipment and facilities that support production at OSU, from software and hardware to hosting by OSU's Classroom Digital Media Distribution group. Registration is required. Register and view details at digitalunion.osu.edu/podcast.

CENTER FOR COGNITIVE SCIENCE COGFEST MAY 9

The Center for Cognitive Science Cogfest will take place from 1-4 p.m. Friday (5/9) in the Physics Building Smith Seminar Room. Scheduled are three, 30-minute talks by OSU faculty members and a one-hour talk by guest speaker Richard Lewis, University of Michigan professor of Psychology and Linguistics. Any interested individuals are encouraged to attend. Read more >