Go west, everyone, to learn more about sustainability. Ohio State’s West Campus Science and Sustainability Festival—or WestFest for short—is set for Saturday, May 18, on the university’s West Campus Quad. Featured will be demonstrations and displays by more than 20 sustainability-related organizations from Ohio State and the Columbus community, including CFAES’ Wilma H. Schiermeier Olentangy River Wetland Research Park and Stone Laboratory on Lake Erie. Admission is free. Find out more.
On Campus
Expert to speak on controlled environment ag
More and more farms could be under a roof. Meiny Prins, CEO and co-owner of the Dutch company Priva, presents “Do You Know the Green Belt? Sustainable Urban Agriculture in a Challenging World” from 10–11 a.m. Tuesday, May 21, on Ohio State’s campus in Columbus. The event is billed as an industry summit on controlled environment agriculture, a technology-driven way to produce food in greenhouses, buildings, grow rooms, and the like. Admission to the event is free, but attendees are asked to register in advance. There’s also a way to watch online. Find full details.
A place for plants and people who love plants
CFAES’ Secrest Arboretum has never had its own visitor center before—until now. Here’s your chance to check it out.
Better together: 2 success stories
The next Environmental Professionals Network (EPN) breakfast program looks at two community efforts—one to save the Columbus Crew soccer team; one to raise money for the Guernsey County Foundation—and asks: What were their keys to success? Continue reading
Sustain your garden and Chadwick
Over 16,000 new and unusual perennials and annuals, native Ohio plants, herbs, and heirloom and organic vegetables will be offered at Chadwick Arboretum & Learning Gardens’ Spring Plant Sale and Auction Fundraiser set for May 9–11 on Ohio State’s Columbus campus.
Wednesday: What’s your (eco) motivation?
CFAES scientist Douglas Jackson-Smith, professor of water security in the School of Environment and Natural Resources, presents “What Motivates Environmentally Responsible Behavior?” at 7 p.m. tonight, Wednesday, May 1, in the free monthly Wooster Science Café series.
1 week, 2 honors for innovator Katrina Cornish
CFAES scientist Katrina Cornish had a big week last week, taking home not one but two honors for her sustainability-related research.
Cornish, who is an internationally recognized expert on alternative natural rubber production and on natural rubber biosynthesis, won CFAES’ Innovator of the Year Award on April 22 at the college’s Annual Research Conference; and then, two days later, Ohio State’s Innovator of the Year Award at the university’s new Research and Innovation Showcase.
Visit her lab’s website to learn more about her work.
Student club watching, protecting campus birds
“A club at The Ohio State University is working to tackle the problem of birds colliding head-on with building windows.” So begins our latest CFAES Story, which features CFAES’ Ornithology Club and was written by Yianni Sarris. Sarris is an Ohio State political science major and a student writer with CFAES’ Marketing and Communications unit.
2 ways to celebrate Arbor Day with CFAES
Friday, April 26, is Arbor Day, and CFAES is hosting two celebrations of it, one in Columbus, one in Wooster.
See signs of spring in Secrest Arboretum
CFAES’ Secrest Arboretum in Wooster hosts a Guided Spring Walk at 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 24. “Take a stroll through the arboretum and listen as our experts point out the signs of spring,” the event description says. “Keep an eye out for early bloomers.” Find further details.
A good sign: Wednesday’s forecast by the National Weather Service calls for sun and a high of 63 degrees. (Photo: Saucer magnolia, Getty Images.)