News Releases

  1. Cathann Kress, dean of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, addresses the grand opening audience

    Ohio State hosts grand opening for terrestrial science park

    Students, researchers and leaders from The Ohio State University as well as business and community leaders recently helped open the temporary home of the George Washington Carver Science Park’s (GWCSP) Starlab terrestrial analog facility. The lab, located in the Agricultural Engineering Building on the Columbus campus, marks the launch of the first-ever science park devoted to space research. The space park is a collaboration between Voyager Space, Ohio State, the State of Ohio, JobsOhio and One Columbus, and will house a replica laboratory of the Starlab space station developed by Nanoracks and associated facilities, enabling researchers to prepare, evaluate, validate and test spaceflight experiments, and conduct parallel...
  2. Ohio State University Extension and Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague Partner to Commemorate Ohio Saves Week 2023

    COLUMBUS – Ohio State University Extension and the Office of Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague are proud participants in Ohio Saves Week, an annual statewide campaign and recognition of the larger America Saves Week that encourages individuals and families to place a renewed focus on their finances in order to achieve financial stability and success. Establishing an automatic savings plan, reducing debt, and preparing for retirement and unexpected expenses are all helpful steps individuals can take toward achieving greater financial stability.  Ohio Saves Week offers Ohioans the opportunity to engage with OSU Extension on a variety of topics including, “Saving for Major Milestones,” “Saving at Any Age,” and how to “Save...
  3. Twenty-five Distinguished Seniors named by Ohio State CFAES

    COLUMBUS, Ohio—The most prestigious undergraduate award at The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) will be presented to 25 seniors in March. The Distinguished Senior Award honors top graduating seniors on the Ohio State Columbus campus who exemplify the CFAES mission in areas such as academics and scholarship, research and innovation, service and involvement, and influence and leadership. “We hope these 25 award recipients feel a tremendous sense of accomplishment in their success as a student in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences,” said Ann Christy, CFAES professor and associate dean for academic programs. “It’s remarkable how they have succeeded in the classroom,...
  4. National Academy of Engineering adds 3 Buckeyes

    Two Ohio State University professors and a recently retired faculty member have been elected to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) Class of 2023 in recognition of sustained excellence in innovation and education. Alan Luo, Judit E. Puskas and Longya Xu are among 124 new NAE members, bringing the total U.S. membership to 2,420 and the number of international members to 319. “One newly elected NAE member is a big deal for any institution, but three in one year is exceptional,” said College of Engineering Dean Ayanna Howard. “I am delighted for Judit, Alan and Longya, but I’m even happier for our students, faculty and staff that have had the opportunity to learn from and collaborate with these exemplary engineers. They certainly won’t be the last....
  5. OHIO 4-H SPARK EXPO RETURNS IN JUNE

    (COLUMBUS) – Students have the opportunity to explore future careers at the 4-H Spark EXPO, held this summer on The Ohio State University campus. From June 14-17, teens at the Spark EXPO will learn about agriculture and related STEAM fields from industry experts, and faculty and staff of the Ohio State College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES). “Providing students with experiences, like Spark, introduces them to a variety of educational and career opportunities they may not know about,” said Margo Long, 4-H Workforce Development and Pathways program manager. “Not all students find their way to a four-year college, so we want to ensure all young people know 4-H is a space to prepare them for wherever their path may lead them after high...
  6. Farm family with chicken

    Farmers, ranchers needed for national study about balancing work and children

    All parents know how challenging it is to balance children and work, especially when childcare options are limited. One group of parents in particular, farm and ranch parents, are being sought for a national study into their experiences. Researchers at the National Farm Medicine Center and The Ohio State University are looking to better understand farm and ranch families operating in rural, urban, or suburban areas and their lived realities of balancing children and work. “Childcare challenges (paid or unpaid) can have consequences for the farm business, the safety of children, and the well-being of the family as a whole,” said Shoshanah Inwood, rural sociologist and associate professor of community, food and economic development at Ohio State. “This is the...
  7. Emilee Drerup, Program Director, OSU Extension Public Health AmeriCorps

    New $1.1 million project to fund Public Health AmeriCorps program at Ohio State University Extension

    COLUMBUS, Ohio—Public health, community outreach, and youth engagement at The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) are getting a boost with the announcement of a $1.1 million investment from AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism, to fund a new Public Health AmeriCorps program. The five-year grant, which was awarded to Ohio State University Extension, will fund up to 74 AmeriCorps members to address the public health needs of communities across Ohio and help rebuild the state’s public health sector, said Pat Bebo, assistant director, family and consumer sciences, OSU Extension. OSU Extension is the outreach arm of CFAES. “The grant will enhance OSU Extension’s presence...
  8. Amy Ando

    Ando named new chair of CFAES Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics

    COLUMBUS, Ohio—Amy Ando, a professor at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), has been named chair of the Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics (AEDE) at The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES), pending final approval by The Ohio State University Board of Trustees. Her four-year appointment begins July 16, 2023. Ando earned her PhD in economics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and her BA in economics from Williams College. She began her post-doctoral career as a fellow in the Quality of the Environment Division at Resources for the Future in Washington, D.C. She later moved to UIUC in the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics, where she worked as an...
  9. Christy named CFAES associate dean and director for Academic Programs

    COLUMBUS, Ohio—Ann Christy, interim associate dean and director for Academic Programs at The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES), has been named associate dean and director for CFAES Academic Programs, pending final approval by The Ohio State University Board of Trustees. Her appointment began Jan. 1 and runs through June 30, 2026. Christy, who is also a professor of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering (FABE) and a professor of engineering education, previously served as chair of the Academic Affairs Committee for FABE, and then served as interim associate dean for Undergraduate Education and Student Services at Ohio State’s College of Engineering. Other university roles Christy has served include:...
  10. Among the waste types analyzed in the study was fried donut waste, a potential candidate for anaerobic fermentation to biogas. Photo: Getty Images

    Spinning food processing waste into ‘gold’

    COLUMBUS, Ohio–There is money to be made – and potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions – by finding a second life for the potato peels, fried dough particles, cheese whey and other industrial food-processing waste products that routinely end up in landfills, according to new research. Scientists have taken the first step at estimating the best large-scale uses for food processing waste, first analyzing its contents and, based on those findings, proposing production opportunities ranging from sustainable fuels, biogas and electricity to useful chemicals and organic fertilizer. This work is known as valorization, or determining the potential value of something “that is otherwise valueless or even a drain on resources for a company – when you have to...

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