Ohio State news

OSU Professor zeroes in on an ocean virus to combat climate change

| strausbaugh.76

“’Oceans soak up carbon, and that buffers us against climate change. CO2 is absorbed as a gas, and its conversion into organic carbon is dictated by microbes,’ Sullivan said. ‘What we’re seeing now is that viruses target the most important reactions in these microbial community metabolisms. This means we can start investigating which viruses could be used to convert carbon toward the kind we want.'”

Matthew Sullivan is Professor of Microbiology and Director of the Center of Microbiome Science at The Ohio State University. He recently presented research at the American Association for the Advancement of Science showing his lab’s work on viruses that infect bacteria and the study of manipulating marine microbes into positive carbon conversion.

Read the full article about this research on Ohio State News.

‘Canary’ screening, presented by Green Columbus and Studio 35

Green Columbus and Studio 35 present Canary - An Annual Green Drinks Movie Night - Wednesday, Feb. 28, 6-9 p.m. at Studio 35 - 3055 Indianola Ave.
| Susannah Kistler

Join Green Columbus at Studio 35 for a Green Drinks Movie Night, featuring “Canary,” the story of Ohio State professor Lonnie Thompson, PhD, whose research has advanced our understanding of Earth’s climate system and climate change.

Dr. Thompson is a Distinguished University Professor in the School of Earth Sciences and a Senior Research Scientist in the Byrd Polar Research Center at The Ohio State University.

The event begins at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 28, at Studio 35 (3055 Indianola Ave. in Columbus). The screening is free, and concessions (including alcohol for those 21+) are available for purchase in the Studio 35 lobby.

The screening begins at 6:30 p.m. and is followed by a Q&A with Dr. Thompson and his wife, Ellen Mosley-Thompson, PhD, a Distinguished University Professor in the Department of Geography in the College of Arts and Sciences at Ohio State.

Visit GreenCbus.org/GreenDrinks for more information and to sign up for emails about future events from Green Columbus.



— By Beth Strausbaugh

Sustainable source: Hidden treasures at Campus Surplus

| Susannah Kistler

If elevating or furnishing your office space is on your 2024 “to-do” list, Campus Surplus may be a sustainable and cost-effective solution. By choosing to reuse items, you not only reduce your ecological footprint but also contribute to creating a campus culture that values resourcefulness, community and responsible stewardship. Read more.

Transfer Days are held on the first working Monday of each month. The next Transfer Day is Monday, Feb. 5, 2024. University staff can visit Campus Surplus on Transfer Days from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. to browse the ever-changing inventory and tag items that will be used in on-campus workspaces.

Visit the surplus website.

As world rubber supply is threatened, Ohio State scientists are developing more sustainable solutions

| Susannah Kistler

Katrina Cornish, professor of horticulture and crop science and food, agricultural and biological engineering at The Ohio State University, has led a group of researchers in improving efficiency and increasing the latex yield of the world’s primary natural rubber supply, which is threatened by disease and high demand.

The method: adding specialized agents during processing of a dandelion species and a desert shrub, to get more latex sustainably from both plants. Both plants are found in North America.

“We need to have efficient extraction methods for any and all alternative natural rubber-producing species, especially at a large scale,” Cornish told Ohio State News. “And they have to be low-cost if you’re going to be able to compete in the tire market in the long term.”

Read more in the Ohio State News article by Emily Caldwell.

 

Ohio State affinity program helps address carbon emissions

| Susannah Kistler

Last summer, Ohio State launched a new residential renewable energy offering through the Buckeye Nation Rewards platform. Through the offering, university employees, students and alumni residing in the state of Ohio can switch their home electricity service to AEP Energy’s fixed-priced, renewable energy plan. Through the end of 2023, the program has helped participants address over 350,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions. The program remains open to those interested in changing their service to participate in these benefits.

Read more here.

**Originally published in the Sustainability Institute Newsletter.

Reusable sharps container program diverts 70 tons of plastic annually at medical center

A hand dropping a syringe into a Stericycle reusable sharps container
| Susannah Kistler

The Stericycle reusable sharps container program started in 2021 at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, and since the full implementation, it has been diverting over 70 tons of plastic away from the landfill each year!

How does this work? 

Every reusable container from Stericycle replaces the use of up to 600 containers. This significantly reduces plastic and cardboard going to landfills, which supports our zero waste and carbon footprint reduction goals.

Medical center sustainability efforts and Lauren Koch featured in Columbus Monthly

| Susannah Kistler

Columbus Monthly highlighted The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center’s sustainability accomplishments and goals in its January 2024 issue.

Wexner Medical Center sustainability program manager Lauren Koch in particular was featured, explaining many of these efforts she’s helped lead at Ohio State.

Read the full article at Columbus Monthly‘s website.