January 29, 2001
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Ohio State's news, experts and events give you more on the news
News
OSU contact lens study: convenience is everything – – A new study, published recently in the journal Optometry and Vision Science, shows that patients who wear contact lenses overwhelmingly prefer disposable extended-wear contacts to disposable daily-wear lenses. Researchers at Ohio State University asked 50 patients to compare the two modes of contact lens wear. Almost twice as many patients preferred the disposable extended wear lenses, compared to those who favored the daily disposable contacts. The subjects reported no differences in vision, comfort, eye health or ease of handling the two types of lenses. Optometry researcher Jason Nichols says the extended wear lenses offer the most permanent mode of visual correction next to surgery. Contact: Jason Nichols, Optometry, (614) 688-5367.
Contact:Experts
Don’t forget to water the trash - Trash in a municipal landfill could decompose nearly 10 to 20 times faster than it normally does through a system that keeps the trash continuously wet, according to new research at Ohio State. Landfills are normally dry environments, and the lack of adequate moisture doesn't allow biodegradable trash to decompose as quickly as it should. Ann Christy, an assistant professor of food, agricultural and biological engineering at Ohio State says keeping a landfill saturated means it could decompose in five to 10 years, instead of taking the average 100 years or longer to do so. The research appears in a recent issue of the journal Applied Engineering in Agriculture. Contact: Ann Christy, Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, (614) 292-3171.
Events
Traffic relief is goal of "Congestion Summit” – Jan. 30. . With more than one million vehicles currently registered in Franklin County and up to 400,000 more people expected to move here by 2020, traffic in the area is expected to increase exponentially. More than 200 central Ohio mayors and planners will meet from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday (1/30) at the Fawcett Center, 2400 Olentangy River Road, to begin searching for solutions to expected gridlock. The Congestion Summit, titled "Managing Our Mobility as We Grow," features opening remarks from Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman, Ohio State University President William Kirwan, summit chair and OSU President Emeritus Edward Jennings, and Bexley Mayor David Madison. Deborah Wathen Finn, director of the Erie-Niagara Surface Transportation Authority, will give the keynote address. Attendees will formulate recommendations in four areas: "Squeezing the Most from our Existing Infrastructure," "Improving Transit Options," "Land Use-The Key to Unlocking Congestion," and "Common Sense Tools for Congestion Management." Congestion Summit planners include the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce, Battelle Memorial Research Institute, Ohio State University, ODOT, MORPC, COTA, and United Way. Contact: www.congestionsummit.org
Professor looks at "The Mind-Body Problem" – Jan. 30. The College of Humanities presents its fourth Inaugural Lecture of the year on Tuesday (1/30) at 7:30 p.m. at the OSU Faculty Club, 181 S. Oval Drive. Professor Joseph Levine, Department of Philosophy, will speak on "The Mind-Body Problem," discussing a classic philosophical problem: the relationship between human beings as thinkers and as beings who experience things. Contact: Shari Lorbach, College of Humanities, (614) 292-1882.
Political correspondent offers new view from D.C. – Jan. 31 Political correspondent Mark Shields will give an address, “A New View from Washington,” at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 31, at Mershon Auditorium, 1871 N. High St. Shields, a correspondent for “The Newshour with Jim Lehrer,” also serves as a moderator for CNN’s “The Capital Gang.” Shield’s lecture, sponsored by the Ohio State’s John Glenn Institute for Public Service and Public Policy, is the second in a series entitled “Odyssey 2000+ New Issues for a New Century.” A 20-minute question-and-answer period will follow the lecture.
Media are welcome to attend and take notes and still photographs. However, at Shields’request, we are unable to accommodate media wishing to make audio or video recordings of his speech.
Contact: Dorie Herman, Glenn Institute, (614) 292-4545.
Mother of shooting victim is featured speaker for United Black World Month kickoff – Feb. 1.In her first university-sponsored appearance, Kadiatou Diallo, mother of shooting victim Amadou Diallo, will talk about racial profiling and police brutality as part of the Kickoff Celebration for United Black World Month at 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 1, in the Ohio Union Ballroom. In February 1999, four New York City police officers fired 41 gunshots at Amadou Diallo, hitting him 19 times, while he was standing in the vestibule of his Bronx apartment complex. The police officers, who were acquitted of the charges, claimed they mistook Diallo for a rape suspect. In this event, sponsored by Ohio State’s Office of African American Student Services, Kadiatou Diallo will discuss her frustration with the American justice system. The kickoff will also feature a musical performance by Ohio State’s African American Voices, commemorating African American heritage. The event is free and open to the public, although seating is limited. Contact: : Terina Matthews, African American Student Services, (614) 688-4988 Board of Trustees meets – Feb. 2. The Ohio State University Board of Trustees meets in regular session at 11 a.m. on Friday (2/2) at the Younkin Success Center, 1640 Neil Ave. Committee meetings, where most of the discussion takes place, will be held prior to the Friday meeting.
Contact: Melinda Sadar, University Relations, (614) 292-8298.
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.
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