Next Science Café topic is farming and ethanol

MARION - The Ohio State University at Marion invites the community to the Infinity Restaurant in the historic Harding Hotel, 267 W. Center St., at 7 p.m. Tuesday for a free monthly community dialogue on science entitled Science Café.

December's Science Café will feature Fred Yoder and Natalie Walston from the Ohio Corn Growers Association. In this café, Yoder and Walston will lead a discussion on the role of the Ohio farmer and Ohio's involvement in shaping federal policy entitled "Ohio Farming: Environment, Ethanol, Energy, & Economics."

According to organizers, discussion topics will include the impact of farming on the environment, how ethanol production fits in with the farmer's traditional role as a food producer, and the carbon cycle, and why it is relevant to cap-and-trade legislation.

Fred Yoder is a past president of the National Corn Growers Association and is on the board of directors of the Ohio Corn Growers Association. He is involved in public policy on the national level and he has recently testified before Congress on climate legislation. Natalie Walston is director of communications of the Ohio Corn Growers Association.

Science Cafés involve a lively conversation with a scientist about current science topics. Science Café is free and open to everyone, and takes place in casual settings like pubs and coffeehouses. At a café you can learn about the latest issues in science, chat with a scientist in plain language, meet new friends, speak your mind, and talk with your mouth full.

The overriding goal of Ohio State Marion's Science Café is to overcome reluctance to learning about science and to make science less mysterious. Science Café is free and open to the public.

source: marionstar