COLUMBUS -- Ohio State University faculty will be hitting the highways and byways of Ohio to learn about the region's natural resources, people and communities and the role Ohio State plays in the lives of its citizens.

The fourth annual "Roads Scholar" tour is a two-day bus trip, Sept. 12 - Sept. 13, designed to give those faculty members new to the university a firsthand look at the range of ways Ohio State Extension agents, faculty, staff and students exchange expertise and resources with the state's citizens. Approximately 80 faculty and staff in varying disciplines ranging from the colleges of Dentistry, Engineering, Law and Medicine to the Food, Agricultural and Environmental and Social and Behavioral sciences will be traveling on this year's trip with stops in Urbana, Lima, Dayton and Wilberforce, Ohio.

WHAT:The fourth annual Ohio State University Roads Scholars Tour

WHEN:Tuesday, September 12 and Wednesday, September 13

WHERE:Urbana, Lima, Dayton, Wilberforce and Springfield, Ohio

WHY:To expose Ohio State University faculty to the diversity of the state of Ohio and to give first-hand knowledge of the ways Ohio State is serving Ohioans.

NOTE TO REPORTERS AND EDITORS: Members of the media are encouraged to join the Roads Scholars at any of the stops. It will very helpful to us to know in advance who expect at each stop. Please contact Lesley Deaderick, assistant director of media relations, at (614) 292-0569 by Sept. 11 or by cell phone, (614) 370-2938, September 12 - 13.

Sept. 12 (Tuesday)

9:15 - 10:30 a.m. Robert Rothschild Berry Farm, 3143 E Route 36, Urbana, www.RobertRothschild.com

11:45 a.m. - 2 p.m. Ohio State University Lima campus, 4240 Campus Drive, www.lima.ohio-state.edu

2:30 - 3:30 p.m. BP Oil Lima Chemicals, 1900 Ft. Amanda Road, Lima www.bplima.com

6:30 - 8:30 p.m. The Ohio State University's Dayton Young Scholars program and dinner, (Dinner and overnight) Doubletree Hotel, 11 S, Ludlow Street, Dayton http://oma.ohio-state.edu/ysp

Sept. 13 (Wednesday)

8:15 - 9:15 Adventure Central Metro Park, 1375 E. Siebenthaler Avenue, Dayton

10:00 - 11:15 a.m. Chaminade Julienne High School, 505 S. Ludlow Street, Dayton

(Two groups) Walter Stebbins High School, 1900 Harshman Road, Dayton

11:45 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton

(Lunch)

3:00 - 4:00 p.m. National Afro-American Museum, 1350 Brushrow Road, Wilberforce www.ohiohistory.org/places/afroam/

4:45 - 6:00 p.m. Clark County Extension Office, 4400 Gateway Blvd. Suite 104, Springfield,www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~clar

6:30 p.m. Depart for Columbus