Ohio Center for Technology & Sciences

Department of Physics
http://octs.osu.edu
Steve Pinsky, Director
614-292-2368
octs@osu.edu

The Ohio Center for Technology & Science (OCTS) promotes long-distance, interdisciplinary research, teaching, and learning activities through the collaborative use of the Access Grid videoconferencing system. A large-scale video projection system and multi-media capabilities with multi-channel connections simultaneously link sites and allow large-screen video images of participants, including speakers and their presentations. All participants are seen and heard allowing "as-if-you-were-there" interaction. There are 1,500 Access Grid institutions worldwide, and more organizations are joining the network. The OCTS offers a meeting place for the exchange of ideas across a range of disciplines. Currently, international research workshops and seminars are already underway, and plans for additional outreach programs include: creating advanced classes for graduate students and talented undergraduates that might only attract a few students at each participating institution; establishing interdisciplinary summer school programs for graduate students and postdoctoral researchers; and offering summer programs for in-service K-12 teachers.