Ohio State Engages April 2025 Newsletter

Colleagues,

We are excited to share a few updates with you as spring semester winds down.

If you havent seen them yet, the university has published the first two stories in a new series focused on university-community collaboration called For Ohioans. I encourage you to check out the wonderful articles and accompanying videos highlighting partners in the Ohio AgrAbility and LiFEsports/Coach Beyond programs. Be on the lookout for future stories in the series as well.

Are you interested in supporting the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) as a volunteer judge? Columbus will be hosting the Regeneron ISEF from May 10-16. ISEF is the world's largest international pre-college science competition, with more than 1,600 high school students from more than 60 countries competing. The program is still looking for volunteers to act as judges. We have provided information below to learn more and connect if you are interested in joining as a judge.

Our 2025 Outreach and Engagement Award recipients are being celebrated across the university in their home colleges and units. Check out some of the ways they are being recognized later in the newsletter.

Sincerely,

Jason Reece
Vice Provost for Urban Research and
Community Engagement
Office of Academic Affairs

President Carter to deliver the Patterson Land-Grant Lecture

Ohio State President Walter Ted Carter Jr. will give the 2025 James F. Patterson Land-Grant Lecture on April 17 at noon. The lecture honors former Board of Trustees member Jim Patterson and the cause to which he is most committed, a vibrant university fulfilling its land-grant mission in an ever-changing world. A livestream of the lecture will be available on the Patterson Lecture webpage.

Judges sought for Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair

Judges are needed on May 14 for the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), which is being held in Columbus. Regeneron ISEF is the worlds largest international pre-college science competition. More than 1,600 students representing 60-plus countries, regions and territories will be competing for nearly $9 million in awards, scholarships, internships and prizes. Ohio State is the key academic partner for ISEF 2025. The application deadline is April 29. For more information, contact Assistant Vice Provost Nicole Nieto at nieto.12@osu.edu.

Engaged Scholar Q&A: Andrea Contigiani

"Personally, a lot of my motivation for getting into academia was to have a positive impact on society," said Andrea Contigiani, assistant professor in the Fisher College of Business. "One way I try to do that is to engage with the community through research and teaching."

Ansari earns grant from the Engagement Scholarship Consortium

Arya Ansari, associate professor in the College of Education and Human Ecology, was one of 16 scholars nationwide to earn a 2025 Research/Creative Activities Grant from the Engagement Scholarship Consortium (ESC). The grant is for the project Identifying Key School Experiences Linked to Reduced Absenteeism. Grant recipients will be recognized at the ESC Annual Conference in October.

Provost Bellamkonda: University is the school for the whole state

Provost Ravi Bellamkonda has received a warm reception at Ohio State, including from President Walter Ted Carter Jr. The pair hit it off immediately, Bellamkonda said, in part because of their commitment to higher education. What united us in our first conversations was a passionate feeling that higher ed is important to this country, he said. Institutions like Ohio State, in their mission to transform the lives of students of all socioeconomic backgrounds, they also transform those families lives. Theres a generational impact.

Awards and Programs of Excellence in the news

Colleges and units across the university have been highlighting the recently named University Outreach and Engagement Award recipients and Programs of Excellence in Engaged Scholarship designees. Here are a few of the stories:

• College of Arts and Sciences faculty and staff receive 2025 University Outreach and Engagement Awards
• Partner for Promotion one of Ohio States 2025 Programs of Excellence in Engaged Scholarship
• Congratulations Community Engaged Scholar Award and Community Engaged Graduate Student Award (Social Work)
• Vieira recognized with Community Engaged Practitioner Award

More community engagement news

• For Ohioans: Coaching youth athletes on the playing field and on life
• For Ohioans: Keeping Ohios experts in their fields
• Battelle Center, Microsoft seek growth for Ohios technology workforce
• Helping Community Animal Health Workers enhance skills with dedicated training guidelines

Opportunities

Globally Engaged Scholars Community of Practice: May 1

The Globally Engaged Scholars Community of Practice is open to all university members who are interested in advancing conscientious engaged scholarship, global exchange, learning and service partnerships around the world. The next meeting will take place May 1 from 3-4 p.m.

Emerging Engagement Scholars Workshop

The Emerging Engagement Scholars Workshop is part of the Engagement Scholarship Consortiums (ESC) 2025 pre-conference program, taking place Oct. 6-7 in Roanoke, Virginia. This intensive professional development program provides advanced doctoral students and early career faculty with background literature, facilitated discussion, mentoring, and presentations designed to increase their knowledge and enhance their practice of community-engaged scholarship. The application deadline is May 2. Ohio State is a member of ESC.

Apply now for a CTSI Spark Award

The Clinical and Translational Science Institute offers Spark Awards to help kick-start research efforts. The Spark Awards are designed to enable preliminary work and generate essential data for both new and ongoing projects. These awards are intended to provide investigators with the resources they need to effectively advance their research. Submit your application by April 15.

Accessible Approaches to STEM Outreach and Engagement Seminar

Join the STEM Impact Collaborative as they explore ways in which STEM outreach can be made more accessible for people of all abilities. This event will include a keynote presentation, a panel discussion and a networking reception with refreshments. The event takes place April 11 from 2-3:30 p.m.

Developing hands-on STEM activities

This workshop will explore effective interactive activities that demonstrate science concepts for a general audience. Researchers will 1) brainstorm ideas for STEM outreach activities, 2) use basic materials to build an activity prototype, and 3) demonstrate and receive feedback on their activity prototype and communication strategies. The workshop takes place May 8 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Make connections with the Outreach and Engagement listserv

Did you know you can connect with colleagues through the Outreach and Engagement listserv? You can share your work and events, look for partnerships and much more by emailing the list at outreach@lists.osu.edu.