OHIO STATE IN THE MEDIA

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.

Several newspapers carried articles about research by Delwin Lindsey, associate professor of psychology, Mansfield, and Angela Brown, associate professor of optometry. Their research suggests why some languages have no specific word for the color blue. They said these languages tend to occur around the equator, where high levels of ultraviolet B exposure damage the eyes of residents, making them unable to perceive the color blue. Coverage included: New Scientist, Nov. 16, Washington Post, Nov. 18, and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Nov. 26.

An article about research by Robert Arkin, professor of psychology, ran in the Portland Oregonian, Sept. 10. Arkin's research found people with enduring feelings of self-doubt scored higher than others on a measure of materialism -- the tendency to value monetary success and material possessions over other goals in life.

A Sept. 11 Financial Times article discussed Ohio State research that found high levels of credit card debt and debt stress may be bad for a person's health.

Ohio State continues to rank among the nation's top 25 public universities in U.S. News & World Report's annual edition on "America's Best Colleges," published this year on Sept. 23. Ohio State was tied for 24th, and is the only public university in Ohio included among the top 25.

United Press International, Sept. 24, carried a story about Douglas Scharre, associate professor of clinical neurology. Scharre's research found quetiapine -- a drug used to help control psychotic behavior in schizophrenics -- also holds promise for controlling similar symptoms in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease.

John Sheridan, professor of molecular virology, was quoted in the Sept. 25 Chicago Sun-Times article about a University of Chicago study that found flu shots might not work very well in people who don't get enough sleep.

Steven Conn, associate professor of history, was quoted in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Sept. 26, about his presentation at a recent conference arguing that urban historians have inadvertently emphasized cities as places of disaster because of crime and other problems. He said urban history should also reflect that cities are the engines of economic and cultural life. Conn was quoted in the Dec. 15 Chicago Tribune about the growing issue for museums concerning claims for repatriation of antiquities acquired centuries ago. Included are claims from countries such as Greece and Egypt who want ancient artifacts now held in American museums returned to their countries.

The Salt Lake Tribune and United Press International, Sept. 26, carried articles about research by Arthur Epstein, professor of physics and chemistry. Epstein's research is on spintronics, a technology that may spark dramatic improvements in future electronic devices.

Dick Davis, professor of Near Eastern languages and cultures, wrote a Sept. 29 New York Times review of the novel West of Babylon, written by Eduardo Garrigues.

Paul Sciulli, professor of anthropology, was quoted in the Chicago Sun-Times, Sept. 30, about how the height of Americans has leveled off during the past generation, with the average male being about 5 feet 9 inches tall.

Vincene Verdun, associate professor of law, was quoted in a Sept. 30 Washington Post article about new attempts by descendants of slaves to seek reparations from companies that they say directly profited from the slave trade.

Reuters News Service, Oct. 1, quoted Richard Herrmann, professor of political science in an article about how President Bush was able to persuade many Americans that a war against Iraq would be necessary.

Edward Lee, assistant professor of law, was quoted in the Rocky Mountain News (Denver), Oct. 5, about a U.S. Supreme Court case that involves the constitutionality of copyright extensions passed by Congress in 1998.

The Associated Press, Oct. 8, quoted Daniel Coury, clinical professor of pediatrics, in a story about a new study that found hyperactive children and teens have slightly smaller brains than those without the disorder.

Reuters News Service, Oct. 8, and New Scientist, Nov. 30, carried stories about research by Peter Curtis, professor of evolution, ecology and organismal biology. Curtis' research suggests rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere may lead to crops that grow better and faster, but are of lower nutritional quality.

The Washington Post, Oct. 9, quoted Frank Mott, senior research scientist, Center for Human Resource Research, in an article about a recent survey of American Jews that found 52 percent of Jewish women between the ages of 30 and 34 have no children, compared with 27 percent of all American women in that age group.

United Press International, Oct. 10, carried a story about research by Glenn Daehn, professor of materials science and engineering, developing a new process for shaping metal parts using magnetism. The new process may one day cut manufacturing costs and help preserve the environment.

Merry Merryfield, professor of teaching and learning, was quoted in the Christian Science Monitor, Oct. 15, about how elementary school teachers are incorporating the current situation in the Middle East into lessons for history, social studies, and civics classes.

New Scientist, Oct. 17, and the Wall Street Journal, Oct. 18, carried stories about Jiyan Ma, assistant professor of molecular and cellular biochemistry. Ma's research uncovered the molecular cause of some degenerative brain diseases including the so-called "mad cow disease."

Business Week, Oct. 21, ran an article ranking the nation's top MBA programs. The magazine ranked Fisher College of Business 5th in terms of the return on educational investment that students receive once they enter the workforce. A Nov. 25 Financial Times story about the growing importance that business schools place on executive education used the Fisher College of Business as a positive example of this trend.

United Press International, Oct. 25, carried a story about research by Ju Li, assistant professor of materials science and engineering. Li's research found aluminum may behave like a ceramic or a semiconductor in certain situations.

Joseph Barr, professor of optometry, was quoted in the Los Angeles Times, Oct. 28, and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Nov. 5, about a new generation of recently approved contact lenses that offer improvements in comfort, convenience and safety.

Mabel Freeman, assistant vice president for undergraduate admissions, and Stuart Zweben, professor and chair of computer and information science, were quoted in an Oct. 29 New York Times, article about how the slumping economy has led many graduating students to reconsider their plans and look for alternative career goals.

An Oct. 30 New York Times article noted that Ohio State has been one of the leading universities in the country in helping fund new works by upcoming and established artists.

United Press International, Nov. 1, and the London Guardian, Nov. 7, carried articles about Richard Steckel, professor of economics and anthropology. Research co-authored by Steckel suggests the health of indigenous people in the Western Hemisphere was on a downward trajectory long before Columbus set foot in the Americas.

Stephen Cecchetti, professor of economics, was quoted in a number of publications over the last several months. He was quoted in the Atlanta Journal and Constitution, Nov. 2, about the belief that the U.S. Federal Reserve Board would cut interest rates in early November. He wrote an op-ed article arguing that, despite the concerns of some, the United States is not in danger of falling into deflation anytime soon, published in the Financial Times, Nov. 11. A Dec. 16 Business Week article mentioned Cecchetti as one of the leading proponents of the "anti-bubble" view of how the Federal Reserve Board should operate. This view states the Fed should not only aim to control inflation, but also to moderate financial-market excesses. He was quoted in the Washington Post, Dec. 22, about his criticism of the Federal Reserve Board, arguing that the board helped create and sustain the stock market "bubble" of the late 1990s. Cecchetti wrote an op-ed column arguing that governments should use long-term budget planning to keep expenditures in line with revenues, published in the Financial Times, Dec. 23. Reuters News Service, Jan. 21, carried a story in which Cecchetti was quoted about the search to find a new president for the New York Federal Reserve Bank.

New Scientist, Nov. 2, and the Cable News Network, Dec. 21, carried stories about research by Lonnie Thompson, professor of geological sciences. Thompson predicts that the ice cap atop the famed African mountain Kilimanjaro will melt away within the next 20 years, the victim of global warming. Thompson also was quoted by the New York Times and the Montreal Gazette, Nov. 24, about his research showing that glaciers in the Andes mountains are melting rapidly because of global warming, causing concerns about future water supplies in the region.

Articles carried by the Boston Globe and Associated Press, Nov. 4, stated that Ohio State is among several top U.S. universities that are creating digital libraries to preserve the scholarly output of professors and researchers.

Larry Copeland, chair and professor of obstetrics and gynecology, was quoted in the Seattle Times, Nov. 5, about clinical testing of Xyotax, a promising drug that has the potential to replace Taxol in treatment of ovarian cancer.

Herb Asher, professor emeritus of political science, was quoted in USA Today, Nov. 11, about the problems facing newly elected governors, many of whom will have to deal with looming state budget deficits. Asher was quoted in USA Today, Jan. 7, about how the onus is on the Republican majority to manage the national economy effectively now that the party rules both houses of Congress.

Reuters News Service, Nov. 11, carried a story about Richard Suminski, assistant professor of physical activity and educational services. Suminski's research found many college students -- particularly Asian and African-American women -- do not regularly participate in vigorous physical activity, even though recreational facilities and other resources are available to them on campus.