Each month staff in the Office of University Relations report on Ohio State research and connect reporters with experts across the University. They then monitor articles that mention Ohio State in the 50 largest U.S. and select world media markets. The dozens of articles each month are just one indication of the high profile the University enjoys in the national media.

A popular story involved research by Lawrence Feth, professor, and Gail Whitelaw, adjunct associate professor, both in speech and hearing science. Their research found that the acoustics of many classrooms are poor enough to make listening and learning difficult for children. Coverage included: the Chicago Sun-Times, Dec. 21; Detroit News and Philadelphia Inquirer, Jan. 5; Chicago Tribune, Jan. 9; Arizona Republic and Gannett News Service, Jan. 19; New York Daily News, Jan. 17; Seattle Times, Jan. 25; and the Indianapolis Star, Jan. 27.

Richard Fortner, associate director of the Engineering Experiment Station, was quoted in a Dec. 4 Chicago Tribune article about a proposed natural gas pipeline that would go beneath Lake Michigan.

Steven Conn, assistant professor of history, co-wrote a Dec. 9 Philadelphia Inquirer column looking at the history of two of Philadelphia's most prominent food markets. For the Dec. 28 Philadelphia Inquirer, Conn wrote a column examining how Philadelphia has changed in the 20th century.

The Dec. 12 Tampa Tribune quoted Jack Nasar, professor of architecture, about how academics are beginning to develop a more positive view about suburban living in the United States. Nasar has found the sense of community is as strong in the suburbs as in traditional small towns.

An article in the Dec. 12 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette mentioned a survey at Ohio State that showed 95 percent of people identified pink as a girl's color and blue as a boy's color.

Lucy Caswell, curator of the Cartoon Research Library, was quoted in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Dec. 17, about the future of political cartoons. "The people who are out there drawing about the mayor and the school board and the potholes in their streets have a huge impact on their communities," she said.

The Dec. 19 Orange County Register quoted Julie Ann Stuart, assistant professor of industrial, welding and systems engineering, about the huge amount of technological junk that is accumulating as old computers and hardware become obsolete.

Media interest was strong in Ohio State research by Jay Zagorsky, research scientist, and Jennifer Hering, assistant editor, both at the Center for Human Resource Research. They analyzed data from the federally funded National Longitudinal Survey of Youth and found that about half of American teen-agers get an allowance from their parents, and most typically get about $50 a week. Coverage included: the Houston Chronicle, Investor's Business Daily, Newsday and San Jose Mercury News, Dec. 23; the Los Angeles Times, Dec. 23 and Jan. 15; Orange County Register, Dec. 24; Philadelphia Inquirer, Dec. 31 and Jan. 7; Dallas Morning News, Jan. 2; National Public Radio's "Talk of the Nation," Jan. 5; Washington Post, Jan. 9 and 22; ABC Good Morning America, Jan. 10; Ottawa Citizen, Jan. 11; New Orleans Times-Picayune, Jan. 14; Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Jan. 16; and NBC Today Show, Jan. 26.

A Dec. 28 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article mentioned an Ohio State study done in rats that suggests high alcohol use may help speed the spread of cancer.

Articles about research by Lucia Dunn, professor of economics, ran in Investor's Business Daily, Dec. 30, and the National Post (Toronto), Jan. 15. Dunn's research suggests some consumers are involved in a risky pyramid scheme: getting new credit cards to pay off old cards.

Glen Needham, associate professor of entomology, was quoted in the Jan. 1 New York Times about possible methods to eliminate or at least reduce dust mites in homes.

Articles in the Washington Post, Jan. 1, and the Boston Globe, Jan. 13, said Ohio State's horticulture and crop science Web site is one of the best places on the Internet for gardeners to find useful information.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Jan. 2, included an article about research by Nicole Leenders, postdoctoral researcher in physical activity and educational services. Leenders' research found the dietary supplement creatine may enhance the performance of elite male swimmers during short-distance swims.

Natalie Tyler, assistant professor of English, was quoted in the Houston Chronicle, Jan. 2, about the renewed popularity of author Jane Austen. Tyler wrote the new book The Friendly Jane Austen: A Well-Mannered Introduction to a Lady of Sense and Sensibility.

The research of John Wanous, professor of management and human resources, was mentioned in several recent articles. Wanous found new hires are more likely to stay at a job if they are recruited through inside sources rather than through ads or employment agencies. Coverage included: the Detroit News, Jan. 2; Indianapolis Star and San Diego Union Tribune, Jan. 3; and Copley News Service, Jan. 10.

Articles about a new technique developed by Glenn Daehn, professor of materials science and engineering, that uses electromagnetic pulses to more easily shape aluminum car parts, ran in the Chicago Tribune, Jan. 3, and Business Week, Jan. 24.

The Christian Science Monitor, Jan. 5, quoted Luther Tweeten, professor of agricultural, environmental and development economics, about how the world will have to more than double food output to meet the growing demand and feed the world's hungry.

Articles about research by Rick Petosa, associate professor of health promotion, that suggests smoking-prevention programs at schools succeed much better when their formats are based on group discussions and role-playing rather than just lectures, were distributed by United Press International, Jan. 5; and Reuters News Service, Jan. 10.

A Jan. 7 New York Times article mentioned research at Ohio State that found cheese whey may make an environmentally friendly alternative to rock salt for keeping roadways clear of ice.