Research Road Trip: UC Faculty Take Center Stage at Ohio Statehouse

State of Ohio representatives and senators were able to sniff, drive, test and try some of the University of Cincinnati’s first-rate research projects during a special event held at the Statehouse in Columbus on May 27.

That’s when researchers from UC were on hand to display applied research and technology projects now coming out of the university, exemplifying the institution’s standing among the nation’s top research universities in the United States, according to the National Science Foundation, and its listing in the most prestigious “very high” category in terms of research activity as reported by the Carnegie Foundation.

Ohio Senator Tim Schaffer, who represents the state’s 31st district, said he appreciated the opportunity for a hands-on look at research coming out of the university. He said, “I’m glad I saw this. It represents a huge benefit to Ohio’s citizens.”

He also commented on the “incredible value of the research that enables Ohio to compete with other states in benefitting citizens” in terms of jobs created, better health and promising energy solutions for the future.

One of the UC researchers on hand, Dan Oerther, professor of civil and environmental engineering, agreed. He added, “The exposure for the university is fantastic. We have an amazing diversity of projects and people here that you’d not easily find elsewhere. The hands-on approach to the exhibit makes it very accessible to people. And we, as researchers, are also talking to one another and finding synergies to our projects.”

 Among the UC projects on display at the Statehouse were

• Green-roof research display where visitors could feel the varying heat accumulation on a traditional shingled roof panel vs. that on a green roof.

• Alternative-energy research where visitors were able to drive miniature cars powered by electricity from a hydrogen fuel cell.

• Ongoing drug discovery and genome research were displayed via brightly colored, high-tech monitor displays.

• Robot-assisted skull surgery wherein visitors were permitted to view and try the technology…using a Styrofoam head as a patient.

• A balance test that shows how posture fluctuates. This has implications for the elderly and those with certain diseases. (Visitors were able to see how their posture fluctuated on a graphic display.)

• A sniff-magnitude test that can provide early indications of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other diseases – a project that has won recognition from CNN, Popular Science and other international media.

• "Sun-sensational" research related to UC’s student-built solar house, a project which has already received attention from National Public Radio, BusinessWeek, The Columbus Dispatch, The Chronicle of Higher Education and many other news media.

In addition to the legislators, aides, consultants and tourists who visited the UC exhibit, a few student groups from around the state also stopped by the displays. Students from East Lima, Ohio, all picked differing UC projects as among their favorites. Seventh grader  Brittany Riddle best appreciated the work of UC’s Genome Research Institute because “pharmaceuticals would be a great field to go into.” On the other hand, fellow student Katie Thrasher most liked the energy-related projects from UC since they were more “fun” in her opinion.

In the end, the event was also educational and fun for the participating university researchers and students. Graduate student Fikele Mtshiya, who has participated in the research related to developing a green roof, said it was great to see that all the different audiences at the event were very much interested in sustainability: “Everyone who is here is genuinely interested in what we’re doing and in learning more. I’ve learned that a great diversity of people is interested in sustainability.”

• View recent headlines earned by UC research endeavors.