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UC Science and Engineering Expo selects presentations for state, national competitions

UC News Tuesday, March 17, 2009

More than 100 student poster presentations won superior ratings at the University of Cincinnati's fifth-annual Science and Engineering Expo and were recommended for the Ohio Academy of Science State Science Day, May 9 in Columbus.

One team project and two student projects were also selected to compete at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Reno, the world's largest pre-college science competition.

Students in grades 7-12 representing 39 schools in southwest Ohio competed at the March 14 event in the categories of physics, engineering, and mathematics, seeking more than $73,000 in awards and scholarships.

UC will pay the $50 entry fee of students participating in the state contest.

Read the full article here, and see the list of student heading to the state competition here.

BioStart creates online resource center

Cincinnati Enquirer Tuesday, March 10, 2009

BioStart, a Corryville life sciences and biotech incubator, has launched an online resource center for entrepreneurs and start-ups called DialedIn.org.

In addition to newsletters and social networking tools, users can get advice on finding funding, grantwriting, branding, recruiting, and attracting board members.

According to the Enquirer, BioStart is hoping to attract contact submissions from industry experts, freelance writers, and researchers.

Read the full article here.

UC professors produce first known introductory text on LGBT Studies

UC News Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Finding a lack of textbooks that could adequately introduce the topic of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) studies to their students, a pair of University of Cincinnati professors decided to create one.

Department of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies professors Deborah Meem and Michelle Gibson worked with former UC colleague Jonathan Alexander to produce "Finding Out: An Introduction to LGBT Studies", considered by the authors to be the first real introductory LGBT textbook published in the field.

The book, which covers such topics as gay and lesbian history, queer theory, intersectionality, and concepts of moral panic, was field tested by Meem's students and by students in a similar course at Northern Kentucky University.

While designed as a textbook, the authors hope it will attract a broader readership of people who want to learn more about the topic.

Read the full article here.

Spohr appointed to direct SW Ohio workforce development

Ohio Department of Development Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Jennifer Spohr has been appointed as the regional workforce director of the Ohio Department of Development's (ODOD) Southwest Ohio office.

In her new role, Spohr will serve as a liaison to state government, local business leaders, elected officials, and economic and workforce development entities to meet the training and talent development needs of businesses throughout Hamilton, Butler, Warren, and Clermont counties.

Spohr joined ODOD in 2005 as coordinator for the Ohio Investment in Training Program and is currently on the Greater Cincinnati Workforce Network's Hard-2-Hire Workforce subcommittee.

This year, she received from Cincinnati mayor Mark Mallory the 2009 Super Award from the Workforce One Investment Board of Southwest Ohio in recognition for her work with the SuperJobs Center.

Read the full release here.

CincyTech funds two start-ups

Business Courier of Cincinnati Tuesday, March 10, 2009

SpineForm and Wiresoft Net will receive start-up capital from CincyTech, a public-private technology funding group.

SpineForm, a research and development company focusing on less-invasive spinal deformity surgical treatments, will receive $300,000 from CincyTech and $950,000 from Queen City Angels and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.

Wiresoft Net, which provides network security solutions for businesses, will receive $200,000 from CincyTech and $126,000 from private investors with ties to the company.

CincyTech is now moving into its third year.

Read the full article here.

Registration open for inaugural UC Diversity Conference

UC News Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Registration is now open for the inaugural University of Cincinnati Diversity Conference, to be held April 15 at the Tangeman University Center.

"Exploring Commonalities and Celebrating Differences", hosted by the President's Diversity Council, will highlight best practices in the catgories of recruitment and retention, campus life and climate, community collaborations, and assessment and accountability.

Nineteen sessions will include topics of race and enthnicity, gender, sexual orientation, education, healthcare, and housing.

"In order to make this conference a great community collaboration, we are encouraging our University community, the consortium of colleges and universities, and the greater community to attend this dynamic one-day event," vice president for Student Affairs and Chief Diversity Officer Mitchel D. Livingston tells UC News.

Read the full release here.

Mt. Sinai hematologist selected to lead UC cancer programs

UC HealthNews Tuesday, March 10, 2009

The University of Cincinnati College of Medicine has selected George Atweh, MD, to lead the department of internal medicine's division of hematology/oncology and will serve as Koch Chair and professor of hematology/oncology.

Atweh will also become the new director of the adult cancer program located in the UC Barrett Cancer Institute at University Hospital, a position previously heldon an interim basis by College of Medicine Dean David Stern, MD.

UC HealthNews says that Atweh's top priority is building a "more robust" hematology/oncology division, eventually hiring up to 25 new faculty members to form multidisciplinary disease-based teams.

Prior to joining UC, Atweh served in leadership roles at Mt. Sinai Medical Center including hematology/oncology division chief, interim director of the Tisch Cancer Institute, associate director of the General Clinical Research Center, chair of the appointments and promotions committee, and medical director of the cancer clinical trials office.

Completing his medical degree and residency at the American University of Beirut with fellowships at Duke University Medical Center and the Yale University School of Medicine, he has published more than 65 scientific manuscripts and holds a U.S. patent.

Read the full article here.

UC team wins ACG Cup

Cincinnati Enquirer Tuesday, March 03, 2009

A team from the University of Cincinnati has won the ACG Cup, a business competition in which participants use a realistic case study of a financial transaction to prepare a presentation for a mock board of directors.

Sponsored by the Cincinnati chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth, the competition's goal is to expose area companies to graduate-level business talent, and to keep that talent in the region.

Multiple teams of master's-level business students from Miami University, the University of Dayton, Xavier University, and Northern Kentucky University also took part in the event.

The five schools in the finals split $10,500 in prize money, with the UC team taking home $4,000.

Read the full article here.

New UC Co-op assessment model available for other colleges and universities

UC News Tuesday, March 03, 2009

A new assessment model based upon employers' feedback on the University of Cincinnati Co-op program is now available online, and will be distributed to other co-op colleges and universities this month.

"Leveraging Cooperative Education to Guide Curricular Innovation: The Development of a Corporate Feedback System for Continuous Improvement" is a guide to building a real-time process that allows any institution to assess its classroom cirricula, then make adjustments to that cirricula that will make students more competitive in the marketplace.

Recognized as the birthplace of co-op education, the university was singled out for nearly $1 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Education and other funders to develop the model.

The model's database will continue to be updated throughout this year, further strengthening the efficiency of UC's experiential learning programs.

Read the full article here.

Cincinnati earns its 'Queen City' nickname

Newhouse News Service Tuesday, March 03, 2009

Yes, Cincinnati has a sometimes shaky reputation. But let's forget about that for a second. (Or forever.)

Laura DeMarco, a writer for the Newhouse News Service whose story was picked up by the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, sees in Cincinnati a cultural revival, a city that boasts "world-class museums, a vibrant nightlife and dining scene, and a rich look at the state's history".

For sights, DeMarco recommends Fountain Square, the Lois & Richard Rosenthal Center for Contemporary Art, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, and the "forward-thinking" architecture at the University of Cincinnati.

The writer also recommends catching a show at the Southgate House, taking a trip off the beaten path to the Comet in Northside to dine on a giant burrito, or experiencing the fine dining, fantastic views, and charming streets of Mount Adams.

Read the full article here.

Ohio's 10 best-kept secrets

Ohio Business Development Coalition blog Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Following a year and a half of talking to Ohio's business leaders and executives, the Ohio Business Development Coalition has compiled a list of the ten best-kept secrets about doing business in Ohio.

Everybody knows about the relatively low cost of living and the advantageous location, but what other advantages does Ohio have?

I'm not going to give it all away here!

You'll have to read the full article here.

UC research displayed for state

UC News Tuesday, February 24, 2009

A February 18 event at the Ohio Statehouse showcased the University of Cincinnati's groundbreaking research and how it's contributing to Ohio's economy.

The second annual event, featuring interactive, hands-on exhibits, highlighted UC research that has not only resulted in start-up companies and jobs in the region and brought significant savings to existing Ohio companies, but also holds the potential for significant economic growth in the future.

Among the exhibitors were clinical kit producer Siloam Biosciences, Inc. of Forest Park; Mac Tools of Georgetown, Ohio, which optimizes manufacturing processes; and the team of Anastasios Angelopoulos and Jonathan Bernstein, who are working to produce more efficient fuel cells as an alternative to gasoline.

Ohio senators and representatives, aides, representatives from the Ohio Board of Regents, Statehouse staff, industry partners, and high school students were among those who viewed the exhibits.

Read the full article here.

UC dean to be keynote speaker at international nanotechnology conference

Nanowerk Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Dr. Carlo Montemagno, dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Cincinnati, will be the keynote speaker at the 2009 International Conference on Nanotechnology for the Forest Products Industry, June 23-26 in Edmonton.

His career in research has focused on the application of advanced micro and nanotechnologies to translational medical applications, the development of hybrid living-nonliving functional materials for energy transduction and sensing, and the creation of engineered systems that manifest emergent intelligence.

Prior to joining UC, Dr. Montemagno served as the chair of the Department of Bioengineering at UCLA and has worked at Argonne National Laboratory, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the Navy Civil Engineer Corps.

Dr. Montemagno holds eleven patents.

Read the full release here.

Mayor Mallory gets assurances from President Obama

Cincinnati Enquirer Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Following a meeting with President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden at the White House, Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory says that he's assured that Cincinnati will receive its fair share of the $787 billion federal economic stimulus bill.

According to Mallory, the president told the 80 mayors in attendance that stimulus money will be on the streets within six months and is expected to be spent on projects within 18 months.

He was also pleased that $7 billion of the $12 billion set aside for transit projects would go directly to cities, instead of being funnelled through state governments.

"The president stressed several things, that he understands the importance of cities as it relates to stimulating the economy," Mallory tells the Enquirer.

Read the full article here.

Students rally to better UC's environment

The News Record Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Several University of Cincinnati student organizations are bringing environmental sustainability initiatives to campus.

Last year, Students for Ecological Design (SED) worked with university administration to bring recycling to the College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP).

Leaders for Environmental Awareness and Protection have focused on water saving, and plan on partnering with SED and student government for Earth Week activities.

And the President's Advisory Council on Environment & Sustainability made sure that the new campus power plant was less polluting than the old coal one.

Read the full article here.

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