November 13, 2001
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Giant cockroach fossil found at Ohio 7-11 mine; site preserves incredible detail – Geologists at Ohio State University have found the largest-ever complete fossil of a cockroach, one that lived 300 million years ago. The cockroach, along with hundreds of other fossil plants and animals from a coalmine in eastern Ohio, could help scientists better understand the diversity of ancient life and how the Earth's climate has changed throughout history. Cary Easterday, a master's student in geological sciences at Ohio State, says Ohio was a giant tropical swamp when the cockroach died, and something unusual about the chemistry of this ancient site preserved organisms without shell or bones with incredible detail. Among features visible in the 3.5-inch long cockroach are veins in the insect's wings, and fine bumps covering the wing surface. The roach's legs and antennae, folded around its body, are also evident, as well as mouth parts. The fossil comes from a site discovered in 1979 and named the “7-11 Mine” because it is located at the intersection of Ohio State routes 7 and 11. Contact: Cary Easterday, (614) 292-0863; Easterday.16@osu.edu See http://www.osu.edu/researchnews/archive/bigroach.htm
Oil may not be the only valuable commodity buried beneath the sands of Saudi Arabia – Ohio State University geologists have located new areas of potential metal deposits, including gold, silver and other valuable metals, in the western third of the Saudi peninsula. Using global information system (GIS) software, Geological sciences doctoral student Abdulrahman Shujoon and his advisor, Douglas Pride, professor of geological sciences at Ohio State, analyzed more than 260,000 square miles of Saudi terrain, an area roughly equivalent to the size of Texas. The software pinpointed sites where metals are likely to be found, based on the age of rock, the shape of the terrain, and the location of key mineral deposits in the area. Contact: Douglas Pride, (614) 292-9523; Pride.1@osu.edu See http://www.osu.edu/researchnews/archive/sametal.htm
The campaign to oust the Taliban leaders of Afghanistan continues. Ohio State offers two experts who are knowledgeable about the culture and politics of the country:
–Alam Payind, director of the Middle East Studies Center at Ohio State, (614) 688-4321. Payind is familiar with the culture, politics and religions of the Middle East and Afghanistan in particular. An Afghan native, Payind can speak about the opinions of leaders and citizens in the region concerning relations with the United States and the possibility of war.
–Margaret Mills, professor and chair of the Department of Near East Languages and Cultures, (614) 292-7136. A scholar who has lived in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran, and who has conducted additional research in south and central Asia, Mills is an expert in the cultural politics of Afghanistan and surrounding nations. She says many of the problems facing the United States today might have been mitigated with a Marshall Plan-style aid package to help stabilize Afghanistan and rebuild civil society after the Soviet Union left there.
International Education is in the spotlight – Nov. 12-16. Increased awareness of the importance of international education and exchange is the goal of International Education Week at Ohio State. The university joins with the U.S. Department of State, Department of Education and other colleges and universities in supporting the week, which focuses attention on the importance of global education through overseas study and exposure to other cultures at home. International education has also gained momentum as a national policy priority, with introduction of resolutions in both the House and Senate calling for an international education policy for the U.S. Events include lectures, seminars, exhibits and films throughout the week, as well as information sessions on study abroad opportunities. A complete schedule of events is at http://www.osu.edu/internationalstudies/speclevent.html Contact: Amy Wier-Ginnan, Office of International Affairs, 614-292-1993.
Panel offers insight on post-attack distress – Nov. 13. OSU & Harding Behavioral Healthcare and Medicine is sponsoring a panel of experts to answer questions about depression, stress and terrorism-related anxiety in a free program at 6 p.m. today (11/13) at the Fawcett Center, 2400 Olentangy River Road. The program is designed to help people understand the many emotional and physical conditions that may be present, or could occur, in the wake of recent national tragedies and uncertainty. Topics include identifying post traumatic stress, helping children cope, and distinguishing normal emotions and reactions from those that are not. Contact: David Crawford, Medical Center Communications, 614-293-3737.
The Iceman speaks – Nov. 14. Professor Lonnie Thompson, a geologist and researcher at the Byrd Polar Research Institute at Ohio State University, will be the featured speaker at the Columbus Metropolitan Club’s community forum on Wednesday (11/14). Thompson studies ice cores harvested from ice fields in the tropics – the hottest part of the globe. Recently named one of America’s best scientists by Time magazine and CNN, Thompson astonished global climate change experts earlier this year when he reported that glaciers and ice caps in Africa and Peru that had stood solid for centuries are melting fast. Thompson’s talk on global warming is from noon to 1:15 p.m. at the Columbus Athletic Club, 136 E. Broad St. Contact: Columbus Metropolitan Club, (614) 464-3220.
Careers search: 120+ companies recruit at OSU on Career Day – Nov. 14.
In light of the Sept. 11 tragedies, college students may choose careers in service organizations or governmental agencies rather than in public and private corporations. Undergraduate students will be available to talk about career choices at Ohio State’s annual Career Day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday (11/14) in the Ohio Union Ballrooms, 1739 N. High St. Representatives from more than 120 national and local companies will be on hand to offer students internships or career opportunities. Among the companies represented are Honda of America, Peace Corps and Ameri Corps, Procter & Gamble, Nationwide Insurance, Eli Lilly and Company, the Dispatch Broadcast Group, Bank One Corporation, and government agencies, such as the Internal Revenue Service and the Central Intelligence Agency. Contact: Shannon Wingard, University Relations, (614) 247-6821.
Diversity Lecture Series looks at multiculturalism in elementary schools – Nov. 14. Henry Griffith, principal of Deer Run Elementary School, in Dublin, Ohio, will present “Multiculturalism: A Dynamic in the Lives of Elementary Teachers and Students,” at 9 a.m. Wednesday (11/14) in the Ohio Union Conference Theatre, 1739 N. High Street. The Diversity Lecture series, a component of Ohio State’s Diversity Action Plan, is sponsored by the Office of the President and the Office of Academic Affairs. Contact: Frank W. Hale Jr. (614) 688-4255.
Knight Kiplinger offers economic
forecast – Nov. 14. Knight Kiplinger, editor in chief of The Kiplinger
Letter and Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine, will deliver “What’s Ahead
for the U.S. and Global Economies” at 4 p.m. on Wednesday (11/14) at the Fawcett
Center, 2400 Olentangy River Road. The lecture is sponsored by The John Glenn
Institute for Public Service and Public Policy. It is free and open to the
public. It will also be live on the Internet at http://streaming1.osu.edu:7070/ramgen/encoder/live1.rm
Kiplinger is also a trustee of The Kiplinger Foundation, a charitable trust
which conceived and supports the Kiplinger Program in Public Affairs Journalism
at Ohio State. Prior to the lecture, at 3:30 p.m., Kiplinger and Glenn will
be available to reporters in room 1 of the Fawcett Center. An audio mult box
will be provided at both the media availability and the lecture. Contact:
Amy Murray, University Relations, (614) 292-8385.
Historic Costume Collection chronicles America’s 20th century rise to dominate the fashion world. – Fashion American Style: 1900-1999, the new exhibition at Ohio State’s College of Human Ecology, documents American's bold move during the course of the 20th century from formal and constrictive fashions to today's casual simplicity. Featured are dresses that belonged to movie stars Gloria Swanson and Rita Hayworth, and former First Ladies Nancy Reagan and “Ladybird” Johnson. After an Oct. 27 premiere, the exhibition runs through May 18, 2002 in the Geraldine Schottenstein Wing of Campbell Hall, 1787 Neil Ave. Hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Media may access high resolution photos of selected garments from the exhibition at http://www.hec.ohio-state.edu/cts/collect/media/ Contact: Gayle Strege, curator, 614-292-3090.
Dean named co-director of OSU Learning Center -- Donna Evans, dean of education, has been named co-director of the Center for Learning Excellence, an affiliate of the John Glenn Institute for Public Service and Public Policy. Evans joins David Andrews, dean of human ecology, who has served as director of the center since its inception in August 2000. The center supports 127 alternative education programs serving more than 500 Ohio school districts. Most of the programs provide an alternative to out-of-school suspension or expulsion; many of the students in the alternative programs have been truant, disruptive, threatened other students or school staff members, or are at risk of dropping out. The center supports the programs by conducting and collecting research to identify strategies aimed at removing the barriers to school success that at-risk learners face, providing training and technical assistance for program staff, and evaluating the programs. Contact: Donna Evans, 614-292-2461.
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; Randy Dunham, (614) 292-8295; Amy Murray, (614) 292-8385, and Shannon Wingard, (614) 247-6821.