HIGHLIGHTS: New stadium turf has Ohio State roots

Personalized approach will shrink big campus

20 million-year-old weather report studied

NEW STADIUM TURF BORN IN BUCKEYE LAB - Buckeye fans checking out renovations in Ohio Stadium shouldn't overlook the field. The new turf is the result of a highly sophisticated system that has its roots in Ohio State's College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. Joe Motz, a graduate of Ohio State's turf science program, worked with researchers here to design the "Prescription Athletic Turf" system that makes the grass tougher, better to play on in rainy conditions, and easier on athletes' bodies. Motz operates the Motz Group in Cincinnati and is installing the same system in athletic fields for the Sydney, Australia, Olympics. Contact: For video clips, call Ken Kulka at 614-292-9675 or 614-216-9608, or Suzanne Steel at 614-292-9637 or 614-216-9606.

BIGGER WILL BE BETTER - Ohio State's new First Year Experience Program will soon help smooth the transition from home and high school for the university's newest students. By the time, the entering class of 2001 arrives, the new program should be in full swing under the leadership of Mabel Freeman, newly named assistant vice president for the First Year Experience and interim director of undergraduate admissions. Freeman is planning a more personalized approach to welcoming new students as the university continues a trend of attracting freshman classes with increasingly strong credentials. Contact: Karissa L. Shivley, University Relations, (614) 292-8295

WEST NILE VIRUS EXPERT- The West Nile virus is now within 60 miles of Ohio's eastern border, according to Ohio health officials. After spreading 250 miles west from New York City over the past year, the virus is in Chatauqua County, N.Y. Residents of Ohio's Lake Erie counties are being asked to watch for dead crows and other birds-a sign of possible West Nile infection. The West Nile virus, which is spread by mosquitoes, can infect people, horses and birds and can be fatal.

A STRESSFUL SEPARATION - Parents sending their children off to college in the next few weeks know they are going to miss their children. But even confident students leaving home for the first time are often surprised to find themselves feeling homesick. Even though they see themselves as independent and are often excited about being on their own, many students find themselves calling or going home every weekend. Counselors at Ohio State have helped their share of homesick students adjust to their new environment. Our experts advise students to make friends and get involved, ideally during the first two weeks at college, to ease separation anxiety from family and friends. Contact:Karissa L. Shivley, University Relations, (614) 292-8295

EUREKA! - Sept. 8-9. Two Ohio State engineering graduates, who invented a new manufacturing method while still undergraduates, won top honors in the 2000 National Collegiate Inventors Contest - the only undergraduates to win the award, which includes a $20,000 prize. Matt Dickerson and Ray Unocic, June graduates in materials science and engineering, discovered a way to produce a low-cost, high performance ceramic composite, which Ohio State hopes to patent. Awards will be presented by Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple Computers, at a luncheon Friday, Sept. 8, at the National Inventors Hall of Fame in Akron. The winners will also be recognized at the National Inventors Hall of Fame induction on Sept. 9. Contact: Dana Stone, College of Engineering, (614) 292-4064; or Matt Dickerson, inventor, (614) 292-8971.

SCIENTISTS COME IN FROM THE COLD - Sept. 5-10. More than 50 scientists from seven countries will attend an International Conference on Paleoclimate (that would be prehistoric weather, if you're puzzled) next week at Ohio State to discuss the scientific results of a recently concluded deep earth science drilling program in Antarctica. The project was a cooperative venture among scientists from Australia, Italy, Germany, New Zealand, The Netherlands, United Kingdom and United States to understand how the climate in Antarctica 20 million years ago affected the world oceans. Ohio State graduate students were also involved in the field and back on campus in laboratory investigations. Contact: Peter Webb, professor of geological sciences, (614) 292-7285 or 292-2721

NAFTA BUCKS? - The three member nations of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) should follow Europe by adopting its own common currency - perhaps the "NAFTA dollar" - says Ohio State agricultural economist Luther Tweeten. A common currency would help farmers in Canada, Mexico and the United States reduce the "exchange risk rate," fluctuating international currency rates that affect the value of products in cross-border trade. "A common currency is a great facilitator for trade and investment, and I think ultimately it's good for the world," says Tweeten. Tweeten hopes a common currency will be the next level for discussion between the three nations. Contact: Luther Tweeten, professor of agricultural, environmental and development economics, (614) 292-6335

The person listed as Contact will have the best information about the story. Call on our media relations staff for help with any Ohio State story--Reggie Anglen, 292-8423; Elizabeth Conlisk, 292-3040; Amy Murray, 292-8385; Lesley Deaderick, 292-0569; Melinda Sadar, 292-8298; and Karissa Shivley, 292-8295.

Compiled by Melinda Sadar, University Relations, (sadar.1@osu.edu)