News tips and events for the week of April 22

Writer(s): 
A plastic bottle and a landfill

Tip 1: Keeping plastic out of landfills with a biodegradable replacement: Companies looking to shrink their environmental footprint are already showing interest in new research from The Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES).  Almost all plastics—about 90%—are petroleum-based and not biodegradable, a major environmental concern. A CFAES research team reports success with a rubber-toughened product that could perform like conventional plastic and is much stronger. Beyond packaged foods, a bioplastic could also be used in other food-related applications such as utensils and cutting boards. Read more about the research here or contact Yael Vodovotz, professor of food science and technology, and director of the Center for Advanced Functional Foods, Research and Entrepreneurship (CAFFRE), at 614-247-7696 or vocovotz.1@osu.edu

Tip 2: Renowned scientist and inventor joins Ohio State: Hungarian native Judit E. Puskas has joined The Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) and its Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering. The noted polymer scientist co-invented the coating on a heart stent implanted in millions of Americans, a safer rubber bullet used by law enforcement, and is working on a new breast implant coating that would also deliver cancer drugs. Published in more than 430 publications, she is an inventor or co-inventor of 33 U.S. patents and applications. She will be based at the CFAES Wooster campus, where she will specialize in green polymer chemistry and biomaterials. She will also be a member of Ohio State’s newly created Sustainability Institute. Learn more about Puskas here or contact her at 330-263-3861 or puskas.19@osu.edu

April

23 Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) Grower Training Course, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Perry Public Library meeting room, 3753 Main St., Perry, Ohio. Designed to meet the Produce Safety Rule training requirement of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). Free for Ohio residents; $85 for out-of-state residents. Registration deadline: April 12. Details: go.osu.edu/CuEQ.

26 Arbor Day Celebration, 10 a.m., Kottman Hall west entrance, 2021 Coffey Road, Ohio State, Columbus, Ohio. A celebration of trees and the people who plant and care for them hosted by Chadwick Arboretum & Learning Gardens, featuring speaker Joe Blundo, columnist with the Columbus Dispatch. Free admission and refreshments. Details: go.osu.edu/CuEV.

27 Spring Gardening Workshop, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Canfield Fairgrounds, Arts and Crafts Building, 7265 Columbiana-Canfield Road, Canfield, Ohio. Registration: $40; includes lunch and proceedings. Register ASAP by calling 330-533-5538. Details: go.osu.edu/CpkZ.

28 Spring Migration Birding Event, 8 a.m., Shenango Wildlife Area, State Route 7, Kinsman, Ohio. Observe and photograph the variety of migratory birds at one of Audubon’s important bird areas in Ohio. Meet at Shenango Wildlife Area parking lot off of Milligan East Road. Free event held rain or shine. Details: go.osu.edu/Cpkd.

30 Ohio Fertilizer Applicator Certification, 6–9 p.m., Mahoning County office of OSU Extension, 490 S. Broad St., Canfield, Ohio. $30 per person. Call 330-533-5538 to register. Details: go.osu.edu/Mahoningfertcert.

May 

1 Leadership Institute: Effective Coaching and Emotional Intelligence, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center, 2201 Fred Taylor Drive, Ohio State, Columbus, Ohio. Registration: $415 for the general public, $395 for Ohio State employees. Details: go.osu.edu/Cr8d.

8 Challenges and Opportunities for Economic Development in Ohio, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Fawcett Event Center, 2400 Olentangy River Road, Ohio State, Columbus, Ohio. Presentations by speakers from CFAES, Ohio State, and local government. Keynote talk titled “Does an Urbanizing World Still Need Rural America?” by CFAES’ Mark Partridge, Swank Chair in Rural-Urban Policy; professor, AEDE; and president, Regional Science Association International. Free admission; lunch included. Registration deadline: May 2. Details: go.osu.edu/CuEn.

8 Tree Walk, 1–2 p.m., Seaman Orientation Plaza, Secrest Arboretum, OARDC, CFAES Wooster Campus, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, Ohio. Features a range of tree-related topics including selection, planting, pests, and diseases. Free, no reservations required. Details: 330-263-3761.

10–11 Chadwick Arboretum & Learning Gardens Spring Plant Sale and Auction Fundraiser, northwest corner of Lane Avenue and Fred Taylor Drive, Ohio State, Columbus, Ohio. Plant sale and auctions benefitting Chadwick Arboretum & Learning Gardens. May 9, 5:30–8:30 p.m.: Presale and preview party for Friends of Chadwick Arboretum members only; unusual tree and shrub auction at 6 p.m. May 10, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.: Public sale; unusual tree and shrub auction at 4 p.m. May 11, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Public sale; unusual tree and shrub auction at 10 a.m. Free admission. Details: go.osu.edu/CuGD.

10 Plant Discovery Day Presale, 3–4 p.m., Secrest Welcome Center, Secrest Arboretum, OARDC, CFAES Wooster Campus, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, Ohio. Plant sale presale and free admission for members of Friends of Secrest Arboretum only. Proceeds benefit CFAES’ Secrest Arboretum. Details: go.osu.edu/CuGV.

11 Plant Discovery Day Plant Sale and Secrest Welcome Center Open House, Secrest Welcome Center, Secrest Arboretum, OARDC, CFAES Wooster Campus, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, Ohio. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Plant sale and auctions benefitting Secrest Arboretum. 1–3 p.m.: Open house for new Secrest Welcome and Education Center. Talks, food trucks, and arboretum tours throughout the event. Free admission. Details: go.osu.edu/CuGg.

16 Private Pesticide Applicator Testing, testing begins at 10 a.m., Portage County Office of OSU Extension, 706 Oakwood St., Room 101, Ravenna, Ohio. Details: go.osu.edu/Cr8z.

17 Financial Concepts for Natural Resource Managers, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Nationwide 4-H Center, 2201 Fred Taylor Drive, Columbus, Ohio. Registration: $50 includes lunch and materials. Please bring a laptop and calculator. Details: go.osu.edu/Cv47

18 Simply Nature for Families, 10:30–11:30 a.m., Secrest Welcome Center, OARDC, CFAES Wooster Campus, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, Ohio. Children will be led through several outdoor activities and receive a take-home kit to connect the park experience with backyard nature. Activities are free, but please call 330-263-3968 by May 15 to register. Intended audience is children ages 5–10, accompanied by parents, grandparents, or other caregivers. Details: go.osu.edu/Cr8v.

22 New Pesticide Applicator Training, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Ohio Department of Agriculture, 8995 E. Main St., Reynoldsburg, Ohio. Cost: $35 morning session, $30 afternoon sessions. Preregistration encouraged; on-site registration by cash or check only. Details: go.osu.edu/Csqn.

22 Herbs and Perennials Workshop, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Miller Pavilion, Secrest Arboretum, OARDC, CFAES Wooster Campus, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, Ohio. Cost: $40 arboretum members, $45 nonmembers. Details and to register: go.osu.edu/Cr85. Contact: Paul Snyder, snyder.1062@osu.edu, 330-263-3761.

June

10-14 4-H Global AgriCULTURE Camp,  9 a.m. June 10 to 5 p.m. June 14, Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center (Columbus, Ohio) and Heifer Global Village (Howell, Michigan). A new camp designed to help teens decipher the daunting issues of hunger and poverty, and create commitments to local actions. Limited to 25 campers. Registration: $350, which includes all supplies and overnight accommodations in Ohio State north campus student dorms and at the Heifer Global Village in Howell, Michigan. All meals, snacks and insurance are also included. Registration deadline: May 1. Details: go.osu.edu/Cv5B

13 Whiz Bang Science Show, 7–8 p.m, John Streeter Garden Amphitheater, Secrest Arboretum, OARDC, CFAES Wooster Campus, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, Ohio. Free, open to the public. The show will be canceled in the event of severe weather. Contact: Gwen Zimmerly, 330-263-3761, zimmerly.30@osu.edu.

15 In the Garden Seminar, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Bravo Room, Hobart Arena, 255 Adams St., Troy, Ohio. Topics will include diversifying your landscape, new conifers, encouraging communities to support pollinators, and others. Cost: $40, $32 for master gardeners. Contact: Amanda Bennett, 937-440-3945, bennett.709@osu.edu.

25 The Wondrous World of Lichens, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Jack and Deb Miller Pavilion, Secrest Arboretum, OARDC, CFAES Wooster Campus, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, Ohio. Cost: $40, $45 for nonmembers. Contact: Paul Snyder, 330-263-3761, snyder.1062@osu.edu.

July

9 Wood Destroying Insect Inspection Training,  8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Ohio Department of Agriculture, 8995 East Main Street, Reynoldsburg, Ohio. Preregistration: $90 (lunch included), on-site registration $100 (lunch not included). Details: go.osu.edu/Cv5D

10 Tree Walk, 1–2 p.m., Seaman Orientation Plaza, Secrest Arboretum, OARDC, CFAES Wooster Campus, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, Ohio. Features a range of tree-related topics including selection, planting, pests, and diseases. Free, no reservations required. Details: 330-263-3761.

11 Whiz Bang Science Show, 7–8 p.m, John Streeter Garden Amphitheater, Secrest Arboretum, OARDC, CFAES Wooster Campus, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, Ohio. Free, open to the public. The show will be canceled in the event of severe weather. Contact: Gwen Zimmerly, 330-263-3761, zimmerly.30@osu.edu.

13 Insect Night, 8–10:30 p.m., Secrest Arboretum, OARDC, CFAES Wooster Campus, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, Ohio. For children of all ages and their families. Free. Bring a flashlight, good walking shoes, and a clear jar to collect insects. Details: go.osu.edu/Cv5G

18 Summer Grafting Workshop, 8 a.m. to noon, Jack and Deb Miller Pavillion, Secrest Arboretum, OARDC, CFAES Wooster Campus, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, Ohio. Registration: $35 Secrest member, $45 non-member. Pre-registration is required. The hands-on workshop will focus on summer grafting of tree species. Rootstock and scion will be provided. Details: go.osu.edu/Cv5J

 

 

Writer(s): 
Sherrie R. Whaley
614-292-2137