Department Roundup: February 2015

Congratulations to Team 2, who earned first place in the 2015 Academic Quadrathlon at The Ohio State University February 24 and 25. The team included Jared Ashworth, Holden Hutchinson, Gabby Ruble, and Candace Lease. This team will go on to the Midwest ASAS meetings for the Midwest regional Quadrathlon competition, although if a team member cannot make it, then an alternate may be chosen from another team. In second place was the team of Caroline Galloway, Emily Warnock, Marina Sweet, and Dani Seitner. Dr. Joe Ottobre advises the Academic Quadrathlon teams. Thanks to all the faculty and staff members who helped out with this year's competition.

Caitlyn Mullins, a senior majoring in meat science, recently presented her undergraduate research at the 2015 National Collegiate Research Conference (NCRC) presented by The Harvard College Undergraduate Research Association. The event was held January 22-24, 2015. The NCRC "is a platform for undergraduates from across the nation to share their interest in research." Mullins took part in the poster presentations with her abstract titled "Quantification of in vivo Heat Shock Protein concentration in cattle breeds as a potential indicator of meat tenderness." This year's keynote speakers included Marcia McNutt, Robert Langer, Jack Szostak, Matthew Meselson, Temple Grandin (shown here with Mullins), and Donald Pfister. In addition to the oral and poster presentations, the conference included Innovation Challenges, where students formed spontaneous teams to come up with solutions to the theme of Technologyical Discovery, as well as workshops, a career fair, and Boston and Harvard tours. Mullins' Innovation Challenge team took on the subject of "governement, technology, socioeconomic inequality". Students from across the nation took part in the conference, and Mullins was one of eight students from The Ohio State University.

The Ohio State University dairy judging team competed in the Ft. Worth Stock Show contest on Sunday, January 18 in Texas.  In all, there were 15 teams from as far west as California to Illinois and Ohio. Rachel Townsley earned high individual in reasons and 6th overall. The team captured 2nd place in reasons and 5th overall.  Coached by Bonnie Ayars, the trip also included a visit to AT&T stadium (where gold confetti could still be seen from OSU victory), local farms and businesses, and the culture of old Fort Worth. -Submitted by Bonnie Ayars

With sadness, we report the passing of some some friends and colleagues.

Dr. Hobart “Hobe” Jones. Click here to link to a Taking Stock article. 

Dr. Walter R. Harvey. Click here to link to his obituary.

Dr. Edward C. Naber. Click here to link to his obituary.

The NIFA Request for Applications are now open for the following areas:

AFRI link

FY 2015 Food, Agriculture, Natural Resources and Human Sciences Education and Literacy Initiative

FY 2015 Foundational Program

FY 2015 Agricultural and Natural Resources Science for Climate Variability and Change

FY 2015 Food Security

FY 2015 Food Safety

FY 2015 Childhood Obesity Prevention

FY2015 Water for Agriculture

Biomass Research and Development Initiative (BRDI)

All OSU Counseling and Consultation Services (CCS) staff were sent home to tele-commute until further notice.The CCS phone line 614-292-5766 remains available for emergency assistance 24 hours per day, 7 days a week. Students can push 2 to reach a mental health counselor at any time.

CCS has suspended onsite and in person services, including those at embedded locations, through at least May 3, 2020.  You are still able to connect with a counselor  for a 30 minute phone or video consultation using Carmen Zoom or Skype. These consultations are offered 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Monday through Friday in order to check in with students, problem solve, and offer support.  Students will need to share their address/location at the time of the call.

Students can access many self-help tools that are available on the CCS website at https://ccs.osu.edu . The CCS COVID-19 updates page linked to the website is a great resource. On that page, students will find helpful coping skills such as the mental health strategies video series. This time that can be difficult for many. All students are encouraged to check that out.

This link also contains some great information for coping right now:https://u.osu.edu/emotionalfitness/2020/03/12/mental-health-tips-during-covid-19-coronavirus/

If you encounter a suspected emergency situation with any student during this time, crisis support is available by calling CCS at 614-292-5766. If this happens with the student remotely located, please try to get as much contact information about the student such as name, phone number, OSU dot #, and address where they are currently located. If you suspect safety is at risk or compromised at that time for the student or anyone they are with, please call 9-1-1. They will help immediately regardless of where the student is physically located. After you have done one of the steps above, please let me know of the situation so that follow up contact attempts can be made with the student. Please make sure to provide me with the best way to reach you right now too.

This is an unusual time for all of us. Please practice good self-care, social distancing, and stay safe. Additional information on Coronavirus (COVID-19) is available at https://cdc.gov . Faculty and Staff should also remember our OSU Employee Assistance Program https://osuhealthplan.com is still available by contacting 614-292-4700 or 800-678-6269.

A full list of available counselors in the college can be found here.