For Ohioans stories

Volunteers from across South Bass Island — Ohio State extension educators, students and faculty, island residents, high school students and teachers and restaurant owners and staff — worked together in numerous beach and shoreline cleanups. Those volunteers restored over 60 acres of land, removing nearly 600 pounds of trash.

When Stone Lab educator Sue Bixler first met four-year-old Spencer Knisely at a Stone Lab outreach event, he was a shy kid with sensory issues. But thanks to the love of Sue, Stone Lab, and snakes, Spencer is now a confident 13-year-old, teaching others the importance of snakes.

Ohio State's annual Farm Science Review put farmers from North America in touch with some of the most important research and education findings being discovered at the university. Topics covered range from weather extremes and resilience to mental health, burnout and boosting productivity.

From conducting important research to excelling as a member of the Buckeye rowing team, Alexandra Kushnir is making the most of her time as an undergraduate. It’s on the water where Alex finds peace. And it’s at Stone Lab where she found her path toward becoming a researcher that will improve water quality for generations to come.

Ohio State students are using the university’s research opportunities, student organizations and community connections to create a more sustainable world. From developing a plastic-eating fungus to improving water quality in Ohio, these students are building the type of world they’d like to live in.

Chieri Kubota is helping the United States make huge gains growing produce in greenhouses using less soil and water. Her research in controlled environment agriculture systems, or hydroponics, fuels industries and addresses food security issues. It’s research that results in locally grown tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers and even strawberries — any season, anywhere.