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WELCOME TO OSUToday, the latest news and information for faculty and staff of The Ohio State University for Thursday, July 3. The deadline for submissions is noon the prior business day.

Headline news

OHIO STATE, PARTNERS GET $3 MILLION AWARD TO DEVELOP NEW CROP, INDUSTRY

Ohio State’s Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center and the Ohio BioProducts Innovation Center, along with other university and industry partners, have been awarded a $3 million Third Frontier Wright Projects Program grant to develop a renewable, domestic source of natural rubber that is expected to create new industries and jobs by bringing together the state’s agricultural and rubber-products sectors. Funding is contingent upon State Controlling Board approval. Most of the $3 million will go toward building a pilot-scale processing facility on OARDC’s Wooster campus that will generate 20 metric tons of rubber a year for industrial testing. Read more >

LUDWIG TO SERVE AS INTERIM DIRECTOR OF CONTINUING EDUCATION

Barbara Ludwig has served Ohio State in various administrative capacities for 19 years, and in each of her roles, she’s been known for her collaborative skills, her quick grasp of situations and trends and for her ability to deal with complex administrative issues. As of Tuesday (7/1), she’ll be putting that extensive experience to use as interim director of the Office of Continuing Education, taking over for Tony Basil, who retired Monday (6/30) after 30 years with the university. Ludwig most recently was interim senior associate dean in the College of Education and Human Ecology. Continuing Education is central to President E. Gordon Gee’s commitment to communities, one of his six strategic goals. Read more >

UNIVERSITY RECOGNIZES INDEPENDENCE DAY HOLIDAY FRIDAY

The university will be closed on Friday (7/4) in observance of the Independence Day holiday. There will be no classes and offices will be closed.

RICH RECEIVES AIAA PLASMADYNAMICS AND LASERS AWARD

William Rich, OSU professor emeritus, Mechanical Engineering, recently received the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics 2008 Plasmadynamics and Lasers Award, presented annually for outstanding contributions to the understanding of the physical properties and dynamical behavior of matter in the plasma state and lasers as related to need in aeronautics and astronautics. The AIAA honored Rich for his outstanding achievements in the development of molecular gas lasers, studies of low-temperature plasmas, non-equilibrium reacting flows, molecular energy transfer and non-equilibrium chemical reactions. Read more >

PORTABLE DEVICE EFFECTIVE IN ZAPPING AWAY MIGRAINE PAIN

A novel electronic device designed to “zap” away migraine pain before it starts has proven to be the next form of relief for those suffering from the debilitating disease, according to a study conducted at the OSU Medical Center. With one in eight Americans suffering from chronic migraines, Yousef Mohammad, a neurologist and principal investigator of the study at the Medical Center, says the study’s results are promising given that only 50 to 60 percent of migraine patients respond to traditional migraine drug treatments. Read more >

OSU POLICE PARTNERING WITH FRANKLIN COUNTY DUI TASKFORCE

The OSU Police Division is partnering with the Franklin County DUI Taskforce and other law enforcement agencies throughout Ohio to decrease the number of alcohol related traffic crashes this holiday weekend. Additional OSU police officers will be working in an overtime status looking for impaired drivers, aggressive drivers and safety belt violators. All Fourth of July party-goers are reminded that Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving and to designate a sober driver before the celebrations begin. Contact: OSU Police Capt. Eric Whiteside, whiteside.6@dps.ohio-state.edu

OSU TO OFFER NEW DOCTOR OF NURSING PRACTICE DEGREE

The Doctor of Nursing Practice Program has received final approval and the program will enroll its first class in autumn 2008. The degree offers an enhanced level of preparation for experienced nurses holding a Master’s degree to prepare for nursing practice environments of the future. College of Nursing Dean Elizabeth Lenz led the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Task Force on the development of the Practice Doctorate in Nursing that will be offered online as a distance learning program. Applications for competitive admission are due by Thursday (7/31). Contact: gottesman.6@osu.edu or 292-4989. Read more >

ADVERTISING DEADLINES APPROACHING FOR RESOURCE GUIDE

onCampus’ annual resource Guide is the best way for advertisers to reach Ohio State faculty, staff and graduate students. The special 60-page edition of the faculty/staff newspaper is published Thursday (9/18), with circulation of 30,000. Twenty-three percent of OSU faculty/staff report keeping the Guide all year long as a resource, and 49 percent hang on to it through autumn quarter. Deadline to reserve advertising space is Thursday (8/21), although space normally sells out early. Contact: Bill Estep at estep.47@osu.edu or 292-8421

PETERING TO PRESENT JULY 10 STONE LAB GUEST LECTURE

Ray Petering, executive administrator of Fisheries Management and Research, Ohio Division of Wildlife will present the next Stone Lab lecture on Thursday (7/10). He will deliver “Fisheries Management and Research in Ohio” from 7:45-9 p.m. The public is welcome and a Put-in-Bay water taxi is available from the Boardwalk Restaurant dock at 7:15 p.m. A short tour of Gibraltar Island will be provided. Lectures are also broadcast live into 333D Kottman Hall on the Columbus campus. Contact: reutter.1@osu.edu.
Read more >

COLUMBUS FIRE DEPARTMENT TRAINING IN BROWN HALL JULY 8

The Columbus Fire Department (Station 7) will be using Brown Hall for training purposes from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday (7/8) and also will be on campus from noon-3 p.m. Saturday (7/5) to prepare for the training. Service vehicles will be parked behind Brown Hall, 18th Avenue side, on Saturday and Tuesday. Campus Police, Public Safety and Transportation and Parking have been notified of the training, which is a joint effort between OSU Fire Prevention and Emergency Services and the Columbus Fire Department. Contact: Chuck Scheerle, Fire Prevention and Emergency Services, 732-6141

CABS INDEPENDENCE DAY HOLIDAY SERVICE ANNOUNCED

During summer quarter, there is no CABS service overnight, on weekends or on university holidays. In observance of the Independence Day holiday, there will be no CABS service on Friday (7/4). For details, visit the Transportation and Parking Services Web site.