u p fr o nt
JOSEPH SHIELDS
FROM THE OFFICE OF RESEARCH
RODERICK MCDAVIS
Vice President for Research President of Ohio University and Creative Activity and Dean of the Graduate College
Ask the experts
O
hio University is a reservoir of expertise that benefits not only our students, but the public at large.
With each issue of Perspectives we describe some of the diverse and significant outcomes from the research, scholarship, and creative activity of our faculty, staff, and students. As individuals central to the creation of new knowledge, our faculty are in an excellent position to help the public understand major developments in the news, and news outlets increasingly look to the university for such assistance. In some cases journalists are interested in reporting the results of the research conducted directly by our scholars and artists. Assistant Professor of Psychology Peggy Zoccola’s findings on the adverse health effects of dwelling on stressful events have been widely covered in venues that include Good Housekeeping,
which devoted a full page of its October 2013 issue to the story. Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy Douglas Clowe’s results on merging galaxy clusters were similarly reported in dozens of national and international outlets in the past year. The news media also look to Ohio University faculty to help interpret news more broadly. Professor of History Katherine Jellison has become a go-to source for journalists interested in reporting on the history of First Ladies, including Michelle Obama, and their relationship with the public. Communication Studies Professor William Benoit was widely sought out by media sources during the 2012 election for his expertise on political communication and the impact of positive and negative campaign messaging. To help connect our faculty with writers and journalists who need their knowledge, Ohio University’s Communications and Marketing office, with assistance from partners such as the Office of Research Communications, has established a searchable Experts Directory that lists faculty who are skilled at talking with the media, indexed by subject area: http://www.ohio.edu/ucm/media/ experts/. Through the directory and other channels, news sources have increasingly solicited Ohio University faculty. In 2013 our faculty have been quoted in newspapers across Ohio, including the Columbus Dispatch, Toledo Blade, and Cleveland Plain Dealer; and national outlets including National Public Radio, the Washington Post, Popular Science, and US News & World Report, among others. Last year saw more than 1,000 news pieces that cited Ohio University scholars. The prominence of OHIO faculty as expert sources in the media is testimony to our importance as a public research university.
ABOUT PERSPECTIVES Perspectives: Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity at Ohio University is published twice per year by the Office of Research Communications, which reports to the Vice President for Research and Creative Activity. The magazine serves its readers by providing information about the research, scholarly, and creative activities of Ohio University faculty, staff, and students, and about the contributions of university research in general through the publication of accurate and balanced journalistic content that informs, stimulates intellectual discussion, and promotes scholarly inquiry. Text, photographs, and artwork may not be reprinted without written permission from the editor. Comments and queries regarding editorial content should be addressed to: Andrea Gibson, editor, Perspectives magazine 120 Research and Technology Center Athens, Ohio 45701 E-mail: gibsona@ohio.edu Phone: (740) 597-2166
.02
ILLUSTRATION: CHRISTINA ULLMAN
For more information about the research program at Ohio University, please contact: Office of the Vice President for Research and Creative Activity Web: www.ohio.edu/research E-mail: research@ohio.edu Phone: (740) 593-0370