By Kevin Fitzsimons Mayor Michael Coleman, right, makes a point to USAC Chair Richard Wofford during a Feb. 28 meeting at city hall.

Town-gown relations: USAC meets with Mayor Coleman

When Ohio State staff gathered around a conference table with Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman, discussion centered on urban revitalization and progress made in partnerships between the University and the city.

The University Staff Advisory Committee met with Coleman Feb. 28 at City Hall. The meeting provided an opportunity for the committee to query the mayor and members of his administration about city projects that affect Ohio State and the University District.

After introductions, the mayor quickly opened up the floor to discussion. "I'm glad you are here," he said. "This is your agenda, so please, speak your mind."

Richard Wofford, chair of USAC and interim director of marketing and communications in the Office of the Chief Information Officer, asked about the State of the City address, and why the University District had not received mention.

"A lot of things are not mentioned, but that doesn't mean I don't care about those things," Coleman said, noting that his administration can focus on only a limited number of items.

"With respect to the campus area, we are very much involved with Campus Partners," Coleman said. "The president (Brit Kirwan) and I have been working on looking at some of the housing issues in the campus area. We're looking at a partnership at how that housing could improve over time."

Coleman explained a city initiative, Community Crime Patrol, which has been successfully used in the campus area, as well as a program, Neighborhood Pride, which began last year.

Neighborhood Pride targets specific neighborhoods, and makes all of the city's services available to that neighborhood at one time. Aid is tailored to the needs and desires of residents, and can include services like street cleaning and trash removal, as well as assistance in bringing buildings up to city code.

Portions of the University District were included in Neighborhood Pride last year, and will be included again this year.

"We made an immediate impact on those areas. It's been an extraordinarily successful effort," Coleman said. "Frankly, I would reach out to all of you to be a part of that effort."

Coleman discussed citywide revitalization efforts, including the region of Taylor Avenue and East Long Street, near where OSU Hospitals East owns property.

"I would like to bring in market-rate housing. I think we're moving in a positive direction. I want to bring people back to this area. There's been a flight from the city for 40 years," Coleman said.

Coleman responded to a question about whether light rail service will be introduced to Columbus, particularly between the University and downtown.

"I'm a big supporter of it, but I don't know if we'll see it because the public has to support it with higher taxes," Coleman said. He said one potential plan would be a connector for downtown only, linking City Center, the Arena District and COSI.

Coleman said Ohio State is an asset to Columbus. "Brit (Kirwan), myself and the Chamber have formed a partnership. Historically, the University has been a great asset to our community, but an isolated asset. The University has really functioned as a city unto itself and needs to be better integrated into our city," he said.

The partnership will draw on the resources of all three partners, Coleman said. "We collectively decided to come up with a long-term economic viability of the region," he said, and gave the example of the city of Austin and the University of Texas as a successful partnership that began 20 years ago. "This partnership might not see results for a long time, but we have to get started."

Larry Price, special assistant to the mayor, and Christie Angel, deputy chief of staff, answered additional questions for USAC after Coleman excused himself for his next meeting.

In response to a question regarding the city's role in lobbying for education, Price said Coleman works for education within the guidelines of his charter as mayor.

"We understand we can make an impact with the after-school program," Price said. The program, sponsored by the mayor's office, utilizes community recreation center facilities, with access not only to gymnasium equipment but also to computers for homework.

Discussion ensued about the African American Heritage Festival. Issues touched on included media coverage, police enforcement, the benefits to the local economy a large event brings, and the need for a close partnership between the city and Ohio State.

"Overall, we thought last year's (festival) was a success," Price said. "We're meeting to work out what roles and partnerships there should be between the city, the police department and the University."

Price and Angel thanked USAC for their time.

"We have enjoyed listening to you and we say thank you for sitting down and sharing your insights," Price said. "We want to continue the dialogue."

Fan elected to National Academy of Engineering

To Liang-Shih Fan, Distinguished University Professor and chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering, his recent election to the National Academy of Engineering is a special event.

"I'm proud to be a home-grown member of the faculty," said Fan, who joined Ohio State as an assistant professor when he was fresh out of postdoctoral research in 1978. "Even though more often the National Academy members are elected from the prestigious universities of the East and West coasts, clearly one can develop his or her entire career here at Ohio State, and achieve this important national recognition."

National Academy of Engineering (NAE) membership honors those who have made important contributions to engineering theory and practice -- including significant contributions to the scientific literature of engineering theory and practice -- and those who have demonstrated unusual accomplishment in the pioneering of new and developing fields of technology.

L.S. Fan has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering

In the laboratory, Fan navigates one of the most important areas of research for the chemical, petrochemical and utility industries: fluidization. Processing plants treat coal, oil and gasoline in giant, roiling vats of hydrocarbons and catalysts. Even the movement of individual molecules and gas bubbles within the baths affects the efficiency of chemical reactions, and Fan has been studying the motions of these tiny components -- a feat that, until recently, defied even the most powerful computers.

His pioneering research has resulted in important scientific discoveries and new technology applications, and directly contributed to the design and operation of several commercial processes. He has developed engineering principles and multiphase processing know-how for synthesizing chemicals that are key to the production of everything from dyes, drugs and perfumes to paint, paper and auto parts.

"Dr. Fan's accomplished career and his ground-breaking research are evidence of his important contributions to the study of chemical engineering," David B. Ashley, dean of the College of Engineering, said. "His election to the National Academy of Engineering validates what we already know -- Dr. Fan is an exceptional leader and an authority in his field. We are extremely proud of him and his many successes."

Jose B. Cruz, professor of electrical engineering and former dean of the college, characterized election to the NAE as the highest honor an engineer can achieve. Cruz described Fan as a top-notch engineering educator across the board -- excellent in his research and scholarship, devoted to teaching, unwavering in his service to the profession, the University and the community at large, and active in industrial outreach.

In particular, Cruz cited the OSCAR (Ohio State Carbonation Ash Reactivation) process Fan invented for flue gas cleaning in coal-fired power plants -- a process that the Ohio Coal Development Office is now funding for its commercial demonstration in the University's own McCracken power plant.

Aside from enabling power plants to burn sulfur-rich coal in a more cost-effective, environmentally sound way, Fan's process may one day increase the use of Ohio coal in the nation's industries and create jobs in economically distressed areas across the state. "Even if he improves clean burning of coal by a few percent, Fan will save hundreds of millions of dollars in Ohio alone," Cruz predicted.

More than his coal work, Fan is proud of the three chemical engineering books he has written, including one from 1989 that is still referenced in almost every research paper concerning gas-liquid-solid fluidization today.

Counting Fan and Cruz, the University now boasts eight NAE members. The others are Robert Wagoner and James Williams, both professors of materials science and engineering; Robert Rapp and Paul Shewmon, both emeritus professors of materials science and engineering; and John Kraus and Robert Kouyoumjian, both emeritus professors of electrical engineering. This year, the NAE elected 74 engineers and eight foreign associates to its membership.

In recognition of his outstanding research and educational contributions, Fan has received over 35 awards from professional societies and universities worldwide. Among his recent awards are the Malcolm E. Pruitt Award from the Council for Chemical Research and the Alpha Chi Sigma Award for Chemical Engineering Research from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers.

He hopes this most recent honor will come as a morale booster to other faculty at the University, and serve as a sign of support for the University Academic Plan on investing within Ohio State, which he said can carry a big payoff.

"There are people here right now who are academy members in the making," Fan said. "It's important that those people receive all the support they need so they can excel without unnecessary hindrance.

"A great university has an atmosphere of scholarship," he continued. "Let's continue to develop that atmosphere so that others can grow their careers here, as I did. Nothing is more rewarding than to see your own people develop that kind of quality."