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WELCOME TO OSUToday, the latest news and information for faculty and staff of The Ohio State University for Monday, Nov. 24. The deadline for submissions is noon the prior business day.

Headline news

Ohio BioProducts Innovation Center pursuing soy-based technologies

The soybean, its use once limited to agriculture, is cementing a place in industry as a biodegradable substitute for petroleum in a variety of commercial products. In an effort to promote and commercialize the most promising soybean-based products and materials, the Ohio BioProducts Innovation Center, along with the Ohio Soybean Council and PolymerOhio, is leading a yearlong effort to assess current national soy-based technologies. OBIC, housed on the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences campus, is an alliance of industry and academic organizations and institutions. Read more >

Bloomfield honored by American Society of Hematology

Clara Bloomfield, an international authority on leukemia and lymphoma at the OSU Comprehensive Cancer Center - James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, will receive the prestigious Henry M. Stratton Medal Award during the 50th annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology to be held in December in San Francisco. The Stratton Medal honors an individual whose contributions to hematology are well recognized and have taken place over a period of several years. Carlo Croce, director of human cancer genetics at Ohio State, received the award last year. Read more >

Geography students create virtual field trip of Columbus

A group of undergraduates in Geography professor Ola Ahlqvist's computer based mapping class have developed a digital version of emeritus professor Henry Hunker's "Time and Change" tour of Columbus. Places and events described in Hunker's original 1956 narrative and later updates come alive in this interactive mapping environment. Hunker's text serves as the primary guide, but students have added themes and resources, videos and 3-D graphics for an interesting result. Take the tour > Contact: ahlqvist.1@osu.edu

Benefits confirmation statements now available online

Human Resources is providing Benefits Confirmation Statements online to all benefits-eligible faculty and staff at hr.osu.edu/secure/cs. The 2009 statements will be available online today (11/24)-Friday (12/5). Benefits-eligible faculty and staff are encouraged to log in, review the information, and verify that all benefit elections are accurate. The online statement reflects the benefit elections made during the Open Enrollment period for medical, flexible spending accounts, voluntary group term life insurance and short-term disability. Elections are effective Thursday (1/1/09)-Thursday (12/31/09). Contact: 292-1050.

Annual Ohio State-OSHA Safety Day Jan. 27

Ohio State and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration will present the fourth annual OSU-OSHA Safety Day on Tuesday (1/27/09) at the Fawcett Center. A full day of educational programs will be taught by OSHA compliance officers, area building contractors and area safety vendors. OSU faculty, staff and students may attend free of charge, but must register by Sunday (1/18/09). Contact davidson.217@osu.edu for registration forms. Space is limited.

Call for Nominations: Outreach and Engagement Awards

Nominations are invited for the regional Outreach Scholarship W.K. Kellogg Foundation Engagement Award. Two projects will be submitted by President E. Gordon Gee for this regional award. Regional winners will receive $9,000 and be eligible for the C. Peter Magrath University Community Engagement Award. The national winners will receive an additional $20,000. To apply, submit a 500-word abstract that summarizes the engagement partnership and 2-3 statements that summarize the impacts using the nomination form available online. Deadline for OSU nominees is Friday (12/19).

Breakout session proposals sought for OSU Leadership Conference

Breakout session proposals are due by Sunday (11/30) for OSU Extension’s Leadership for Tomorrow Conference: Exploring New Approaches, scheduled for Tuesday (4/28/09)-Thursday (4/30/09) at the Ramada Plaza in Columbus. The conference is sponsored by OSU Extension, the Gist Endowed Chair for Extension Education and Leadership, and Epsilon Sigma Phi - Alpha Eta Chapter. For details or to submit a proposal, visit leadershipfortomorrow.osu.edu, or contact 292-4880 or buck.19@osu.edu.

Community Engagement request for applications

Ohio State’s Center for Clinical and Translational Science has created a Community Engagement Program that is accepting applications to increase partnerships between researchers and communities. Up to $15,000 (no indirect costs) is available per project with a percentage of the budget allocated for community partners. Applicants must have OSU faculty status. Application deadline is Monday (12/1). For questions and a full listing of RFA criteria, contact Nancy Hood at 688-3478 or hood.48@osu.edu (note corrected e-mail address). Download the RFA

Adjunct professor needs jurors for Moritz trial class

Frank A. Ray, adjunct professor at the Moritz College of Law is seeking volunteers to serve as jurors for his trial class, from 5-9 p.m. Monday (12/8)-Thursday (12/11) at the Moritz College of Law (12th Avenue and High Street). Sitting trial judges will preside. Jurors will have an opportunity to hear an entire case and then discuss their verdict and impressions of the trial with law students and judges. Contact: Lynda Seelie, seelie.2@osu.edu