February 19, 2001

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Ohio State's news, experts and events give you more on the news

News

Ice cap meltdown – Many glaciers and ice caps atop mountains in Africa and South America will probably melt within the next 15 years because of global warming, and little can be done to save them. Reporting results of two decades of research into tropical ice caps, Lonnie Thompson, a researcher at Ohio State's Byrd Polar Research Center, says at least one-third of the massive ice field atop Tanzania's Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa has melted in the last dozen years. About 82 percent of the ice field has been lost since it was first mapped in 1912. In Peru, the Quelccaya ice cap has shrunk by at least 20 percent since 1963. Thompson says the glaciers are like the canaries once used in coal mines. They're an indicator of massive changes taking place in the world’s climate. Contact:Lonnie Thompson, Byrd Polar Research Center, (614) 292-6531

Experts

The plant doctor is in Can’t figure out why your plant’s leaves are drooping or what kind of mite is attacking your ornamental? OSU Extension experts list 20 questions to ask when diagnosing the health of a plant, starting with knowing what type of plant you have. Understanding the physiology of a particular species can help diagnose potential health problems, says OSU Extension expert Joe Boggs. For example, normal appearance of leaf curling on a trident maple can be misidentified as a virus or moisture problem, while the normal resin ooze of a bristlecone pine can be misdiagnosed as an insect problem. Learning common insect and disease problems of a particular plant and evaluating its overall health compared to others of its kind are just some diagnostic tools one can use to keep plants healthy and happy.Contact: Joe Boggs at (513) 825-6000, or Joe Boggs ; or Jim Chatfield, (330) 263-3831, or Jim Chatfield

Events

Thank an engineer – Feb. 18-24.
It's National Engineers Week, and Ohio State is recognizing the event with a Career Fair for students in engineering, architecture and computer science, and the annual Women in Engineering Awards Banquet, both to be held Thursday (2/22). The Annual Women in Engineering Banquet will be held at 6 p.m. at the Holiday Inn on the Lane, and will feature as its speaker Dr. Kathryn Sullivan, president and CEO of COSI. Scholarship awards totaling more than $25,000 will be presented to outstanding women engineering students, and representatives from industry also will attend. The banquet follows the Engineering Career Fair, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Ohio Union Ballrooms. Contact: Lisa Abrams, Engineering, (614) 688-4137.

Lecturer looks at new concepts in cancer – Feb. 22.
Donald Coffey, a professor of urology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, will deliver the Block Lecture at 8 a.m. in the James Cancer Hospital Auditorium (Room 518), 300 W. 10th Ave. Coffey's lecture is titled "New Concepts in Cancer." The Block Lectureship recognizes an individual whose contribution to cancer research, patient care or education has received international recognition. Contact: Michelle Gailiun, Medical Center Communications, (614) 293-6054.

Can we talk? – Feb. 23. Ohio State will ask its campus and the Columbus community to talk about racism when the stars and creative team of Lifetime Television's series "Any Day Now" participate in a two-hour discussion on diversity. Ohio State, which in October 2000 released a Diversity Action Plan to improve the campus climate for diversity, is collaborating with Lifetime Television and campus and community leaders to present a forum titled, "Can We Talk? Confronting Our Differences Together," from 3 to 5 p.m. Friday, (2/23), in Weigel Hall Auditorium. "Any Day Now" stars Annie Potts and Lorraine Toussaint will join university faculty, students and community leaders in the forum to discuss cultural misconceptions. Contact: Elizabeth Conlisk, (614) 292-3040

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 Shannon Wingard, (614) 247-6821.

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