MAY / JUNE 2017 STATE

The Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center and Extension are the research RESEARCH AND EXTENSION NEWS and outreach arms, respectively, of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. from the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences

MAKING an IMPACT Ohio 4-H Member Wins National Award for STEM Work

She can recite Newton’s laws the way most people give out phone 4-H MEMBERS TIMES THREE. numbers. She built a model of a trebuchet — a catapultlike device used Ava Lonneman (middle) with mother Rhonda (left) and grandmother Audrey (right), all of in the Middle Ages to hurl stones — and can accurately predict the whom have participated in 4-H. trajectory of the marble it throws. She even decorated the mini weapon with a picture of the “Father of Anatomy,” Andreas Vesalius, born in 1514. When she turned 8, she wanted a “science-themed” birthday party, Hands-on learning is one feature that to include a History Channel program and science experiments. attracted Lonneman to 4-H. “I have ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). I figured out I get the most out of learning by doing,” Lonneman said. “That’s what AVA LONNEMAN is no ordinary Club members used the 4-H National 4-H is all about. Hands-on learning.” 17-year-old. The third-generation Youth Science Day curriculum, Motion 4-H member from Suffield, Ohio, just east Commotion, to teach about such things Lonneman started in 4-H as a Cloverbud, of Akron, is the winner of the 2017 Youth as Newton’s laws and to show the the 4-H group for children in kindergarten in Action Pillar Award for Science, consequences of texting when in motion. through second grade. Her mother, Technology, Engineering and Math Their visits to middle schools were made Rhonda, served as advisor for their Lucky (STEM) from the National 4-H Council. possible by a $1,770 Ohio 4-H Foundation Clovers 4-H club, which focused on science grant for youth STEM outreach. projects including rocketry, Ohio birds and She is being honored for organizing 4-H Junk Drawer Robotics; and she continues members in her high school STEM club, While science has always interested to serve as advisor for the high school at Bio-Med Science Academy in Rootstown, her, “STEM isn’t just for super geniuses,” STEM group at Bio-Med Science Academy. to share their knowledge with more than Lonneman said. “It wasn’t always easy for 600 middle schoolers in surrounding me. You just have to keep working on it.” Portage County. Story continues on next page

cfaes.osu.edu PASSION FOR SCIENCE. Clockwise, left to right: Ava’s wall of awards; Ava in her workshop; Ava with her 4-H club at the Bio-Med Science Academy; Ava working on an engineering project; Ava with her club

“The ‘sciencey’ nature runs in my blood,” OSU Extension operates the 4-H program in Lonneman said. Her parents are engineers Ohio and is the outreach arm of the College WHAT MAKES A and land surveyors — her father, Andy, of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental TRUE SCIENTIST built their Victorian-style home himself, Sciences at The Ohio State University. in only nine months. ISN’T INTELLECT OR Ava Lonneman has served as a 4-H camp Being honored seems to run in the counselor with Hughey for three years. KNOWLEDGE. Lonneman family blood as well. Her sister She is also in the National Honor Society, IT’S CHARACTER. Maria’s room is lined with ribbons and and she served on the 2016 Portage County trophies, as is Ava’s. Her father and his Junior Fair Court. IF YOU PERSEVERE employer were honored during Ohio 4-H Week, March 6–10, as a “Friend of Ohio As for the Youth in Action Award, Lonneman AND PUSH 4-H” for volunteer work he organized at received a $5,000 scholarship for higher education and, for the next year, will serve as THROUGH, YOU 4-H Camp Whitewood, with volunteers and a grant provided by Dominion East Ohio a spokesperson for 4-H STEM programming. WILL MAKE IT. Gas Company. She was recognized at the 4-H Legacy Awards in Washington, D.C., on March 21. “This family lives and breathes 4-H in our AVA LONNEMAN When asked if she has a message for fellow 4-H Member county and is constantly coming up with new ideas and ways to get youth involved teens, Lonneman said this: “What makes a in this great organization,” said Ashley true scientist isn’t intellect or knowledge. Hughey, Portage County 4-H educator for It’s character. If you persevere and push Ohio State University Extension. through, you will make it.” 

OHIO STATE IMPACT MAY / JUNE 2017 CFAES SPOTLIGHT

OHIO STATE WELCOMES NEW CFAES DEAN

SCIENCE on YOUR SIDE

Punch in the Kidneys CATHANN ARCENEAUX KRESS has been tapped as vice president for agricultural administration and dean of the Could Stop Mosquitoes College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) at The Ohio State University. You may someday hear less of Called VU041, the experimental compound Pending approval by Ohio State’s that buzzing sound. targets a mosquito’s kidneys — or Board of Trustees, Kress is scheduled to begin May 1. Kress Malpighian tubules, to be exact — instead comes to Ohio from Iowa, where of its nervous system, as most current she served as vice president A team led by scientists from mosquito insecticides do. By doing that, for extension and outreach and The Ohio State University and Piermarini said, the new compound director of cooperative extension bypasses a mosquito’s mechanisms for at Iowa State University. Vanderbilt University has taken the next step toward developing an improved, developing resistance. “It’s an honor to join the sustainable mosquito insecticide — Insecticide resistance is a “major challenge” in incredible community of faculty, one that won’t cause the biting, staff and volunteers dedicated controlling mosquitoes, Piermarini said. It can to all of CFAES’s missions in sometimes-disease-carrying pests to hamstring efforts to control new mosquito- education, research, outreach become resistant to it. borne disease outbreaks when they occur, and service. I’m excited by the opportunities and multiple If successful, their work could one such as when Zika was detected last year in ways we can enhance the day help fight the spread of mosquito-borne mosquitoes in parts of Miami, Florida — the capacities and impacts of illnesses such as Zika and malaria. first finding of the virus in mosquitoes on the CFAES,” Kress said. U.S. mainland. Zika can cause birth defects In an article published last fall in the “I look forward to working with in babies born to infected mothers. Cathann as we move forward journal “Scientific Reports,” Ohio State with an ambitious agenda for entomologists Peter Piermarini and Resistance also can shrink what’s already our college and university,” Reed Johnson, Vanderbilt pharmacologist a “very limited” arsenal of usable mosquito said Bruce A. McPheron, PhD, Jerod Denton, and colleagues insecticides, Piermarini said. Ohio State’s executive vice reported several new findings about a president and provost. “Most of the current mosquito insecticides mosquito-killing compound they’ve been target the nervous system, and in some cases, Prior to her leadership at studying, including that it seems safe resistance to one of those insecticides Iowa State, Kress served as a for adult honeybees. senior policy analyst of Military leads to resistance to others,” he said. Community and Family Policy at Piermarini and Johnson both hold Because of that, he said, “We need to the Department of Defense in appointments with the Ohio Agricultural develop new insecticides that are toxic Washington, D.C. In addition, she to mosquitoes via new mechanisms if has served as director of youth Research and Development Center, development at the National the research arm of Ohio State’s we want to develop an effective chemical 4-H Headquarters, as assistant College of Food, Agricultural, and toolkit for controlling mosquitoes.” director of Cornell Cooperative Environmental Sciences. Read more at go.osu.edu/mosquito.  Extension, and as state program leader at Cornell University.

MAY / JUNE 2017 OHIO STATE IMPACT SPEED READ News You Can Use

Taking Action to Combat Ohio’s Opioid Epidemic OSU Extension has partnered with Ohio State University’s colleges of Public in Columbus Health, Social Work, Nursing, Pharmacy and Medicine to combat Ohio’s opioid epidemic. Ohio is considered “ground Two Great Places for New Scholarship Fund zero” for the opioid epidemic. There were People Who Love Plants Helps Feed Food-Insecure 3,050 deaths due to opioids in 2015, ranking Ohio No. 1 in the nation. With an Ohio State has not one but two arboretums CFAES Students office located in all 88 Ohio counties, (big botanical gardens). And you’re welcome The CFAES Nourishing Success Scholarship OSU Extension is uniquely positioned to visit them. Enjoy tall trees, gorgeous Fund (315732) — created through a gift to address the prevention of opioid flowers, trails to walk on and more in from Bill Hoerger and Ellen Lake, both of abuse statewide, said Ken Martin, Chadwick Arboretum in Columbus and Oakland, California — helps cover meal- chair and associate director, programs, Secrest Arboretum in Wooster. plan costs for income-eligible college juniors OSU Extension. and seniors living off-campus. This lets Free admission! OSU Extension’s broad range of them concentrate on their studies instead chadwickarboretum.osu.edu programs and activities has the ability of on empty stomachs. Every $4 donated secrest.osu.edu to reach individuals, groups and provides a meal to a student in need. organizations statewide, he said. For more information, contact the “Opioid addiction is a community Live Smart Ohio Blogs Office of Advancement at 614-292-0473 and family problem; and because OSU or [email protected]. OSU Extension’s Family and Consumer Extension works directly with Sciences (FCS) program focuses on communities and families as part of our building healthy people, healthy finances Growing Green, Green outreach mission, we are positioned and healthy relationships. The goal is to to help people understand how they help people stay healthy through good Grass at Home can contribute to helping take on this nutrition and food safety, help them use Keep your lawn green this summer with challenge,” Martin said. “In addition to their money wisely, and help them balance science. Get turf tips on Ohioline, a website expanding and enhancing the numerous the demands of life and work. FCS provides by OSU Extension. Dozens of free fact existing tools, resources and programs accessible and reliable science-based sheets — sourced from Extension specialists that can be readily implemented in information to help people help themselves. and grounded in research — cover topics communities statewide, OSU Extension Read FCS’s Live Smart Ohio blogs at such as diseases, pests, soil tests and more. will also work to build community fcs.osu.edu/news/blogs to learn timely coalitions to take this issue on as tips and helpful information. Visit ohioline.osu.edu. a health challenge.”

OHIO STATE IMPACT is produced eight times a year by COMMUNICATIONS OFFICES MANAGING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING WRITERS the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences 364 W. Lane Ave., Suite B120 Suzanne Steel Kurt Knebusch at The Ohio State University. If there is a story you’d like to Columbus, OH 43201 see tackled or if you have a comment or question, please send EDITORS Matthew Marx 614-292-2011 Stacy S. Cochran to Suzanne Steel at [email protected] or 364 W. Lane Ave., Suzanne Steel Suite B120, Columbus, OH 43201. This publication is distributed 203 Research Services Building Heather Murphy Gates Tracy Turner through the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation’s Buckeye Farm Wooster, OH 44691 PHOTOGRAPHER News and Our Ohio. 330-263-3780 Ken Chamberlain

Ohio State is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity DIRECTOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER OHIO institution. For more information: go.osu.edu/cfaesdiversity. Michelle Ball Camilla Dorinsky STATE Impact

OHIO STATE IMPACT MAY / JUNE 2017