November 20, 2000
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Ohio State's news, experts and events give you more on the news
News
"Swamp Cam" will offer view of OSU Wetland - High-tech improvements are on the way for Ohio State's Olentangy River Wetland Research Park (ORWRP). A new Ohio Center for Wetland and River Restoration will allow scientists and the public to check wetland conditions through high-tech sensors. Ohio State University Natural Resources Professor William Mitsch, director of the ORWRP, says special monitors will offer vital information such as water temperature and the amount of nitrogen being retained by each wetland. At least two "swamp cams" will allow researchers to watch how ducks and other wildlife are using the area. The $2.8 million center is a venture of Ohio State, Shawnee, Youngstown and Wright State universities and Kenyon College. Construction begins next April. Contact: Bill Mitsch, (614) 292-9774
Birds play "Name That Tune" - Young birds can not only recognize the songs of their own species, but they also detect and show preference for learning the songs of their particular subspecies. Douglas Nelson, director of Ohio State's Borror Laboratory of Bioacoustics and associate professor of evolution, ecology and organismal biology, found that male mountain white-crowned sparrows have a genetic predisposition to memorize the songs of their own subspecies over those of other types of white-crowned sparrows. Nelson's findings suggest that birds have a more finely detailed sense of song than scientists had previously realized. Contact: Douglas Nelson, (614) 292-7551
Experts
Gobble, Gobble! OSU research talks turkey - Turkey burgers, ground turkey, turkey ham . . . from traditional stuffed turkey to newer products, consumers seeking cheaper, healthier beef alternatives are turning to turkey. Ohio ranks 11th in turkey production nationally, and Ohio State poultry scientists are looking for ways to aid the poultry industry so consumers can spend less on their favorite bird. Researchers at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) at Wooster are studying methods to control water loss in turkey breast meat. The stress-induced condition costs the poultry industry millions of dollars a year in lost turkey meat, ultimately increasing the prices of turkey and turkey products in the grocery stores. Contact: Sandy Velleman, Animal Sciences at OARDC, (330) 264-3905.
No visits from Sam-n-Ella, please! - The day before Thanksgiving is the busiest of the year for the Food Industries Center at Ohio State. The center provides answers to practically any food-related question you can imagine. Director Winston Bash answers the most frequently asked questions about food preparation and contamination. His advice: "don't cook the stuffing inside the turkey," and "don't try to thaw a big frozen turkey on Thanksgiving morning." Contact: Winston Bash, Food Industries Center, (614) 292-7004
Events
Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, Ohio State will be closed on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 23 and 24. Mark your calendar for these upcoming events:
Nov. 29: Dr. Fred Sanfilippo, dean of the College of Medicine and Public Health, presents "Role of Health Outcomes Research in an Academic Medical Center
Nov. 29: Humanities Lecture: "Unseemly Kisses: Reflections on Philosophy, Judaism, and Feminism."
Dec. 1: Last day of classes for 10-week autumn quarter
Dec. 1: Ohio State University Board of Trustees meets
Dec. 4-7: Finals Week
Dec. 8: Autumn quarter commencement. Jo Ann Davidson, speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives, is the speaker.
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--Elizabeth Conlisk, (614) 292-3040; Amy Murray, (614) 292-8385; Lesley Deaderick, (614) 292-0569; Melinda Sadar, (614) 292-8298; and Karissa Shivley, (614) 292-8295.
Compiled by Amy Murray, University Relations, (Murray-Goedde.1@osu.edu)