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Campus News
OSU in the News
OSU researcher: Spotted owl protection and forest management don’t have to be in conflict (OPB News)
Timber advocates have singled out the owl for diminished harvests, while conservationists have championed protecting it, a debate that peaked in the 1980s and was—more or less— settled in 1994, with President Clinton’s Pacific Northwest Forest Plan that preserved old-growth forest areas. But Jeremy Rockweit, a postdoctoral student at Oregon State University, says controlled fire doesn’t need to burn efforts to preserve wildlife, including the famed bird. (see also KOIN)
The search for the perfect red (Radio New Zealand)
Chemist Mas Subramanian has already discovered pigment for YinMn blue - a combination of the metals yttrium, indium and mangane. Now he is unpicking the atomic code of colour in a bid to find the elusive red. Mas Subramanian is a distinguished professor and professor of materials science in the chemistry department at Oregon State University.
Emerald ash invaders crash Oregon spring early, officials sound alarm (Hoodline)
Treatment options are available, although they are limited and often expensive. OSU Extension details systemic products and application methods, including emamectin benzoate trunk injections and soil or trunk injections of other systemic insecticides. These treatments can protect trees for roughly one to three years, but they need to be reapplied and tend to work best when used before a tree is heavily infested.
The simple ‘thriller, filler, spiller’ that transforms hanging baskets into garden showpieces (Oregonian)
Hanging a basket filled with colorful plants gives decks and gardens another dimension. “You’ll have color where you wouldn’t have any otherwise,” said Brooke Edmunds, an Oregon State University Extension Service horticulturist.
Major scientific repository arXiv cracks down on AI-generated papers (PC Magazine)
Dietterich, a professor at Oregon State University, says examples could include “hallucinated references,” as well as what he called “meta-comments from the LLM.” For example, this could be a section that reads: “Here is a 200-word summary; would you like me to make any changes?”
Skeleton of rare blue whale that washed ashore in 2015 finally going on display in Newport (OPB)
It’s not uncommon for a gray whale to turn up on Oregon’s beaches. But a blue whale is different. They live primarily in the deep ocean and when they die, their bodies tend to sink. So, when this 100-ton blue whale appeared near Gold Beach in 2015, leaders at Oregon State University’s Marine Mammal Institute took it as an opportunity to turn loss into learning. (see also KPTV)
OSU study finds ‘design friction’ prompts can curb unnecessary AI image generation (KCBY)
Artificial intelligence systems that ask users to pause to consider AI’s energy consumption and environmental impacts are likely to reduce unnecessary AI use, new research by Oregon State University suggests.
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Photo of the Day
BIPOC Farmers Market: Associated Students of OSU and OSU Extension hosted the inaugural BIPOC Farmers Market on the SEC Plaza on Monday, May 18, connecting students with local small-scale producers from the mid-Willamette Valley. The first 75 students received $10 to spend at the market, funded by ASOSU student fees, and attendees received free produce bags. The event also featured a visit from Caesar the No Drama Llama. The OSU student chapter of Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences also co-hosted the market. Photo courtesy Chris Branam, Extension Communications. We are accepting photo submissions at [email protected]. To view past submissions, visit us on Instagram at @osutoday1.
Take Note
UPDATED! Huang Complex faculty residency program: Oregon State is building the Jen-Hsun Huang and Lori Mills Huang Collaborative Innovation Complex, a new platform that integrates supercomputing, experimental labs, rapid prototyping, digital twins and immersive visualization into one unified environment. This platform is designed to accelerate research that crosses boundaries and creates real-world impact. The faculty residency program is now open for letters of interest. The submission portal for the LOI is open and can be accessed through the info ready internal competitions platform here. Faculty will need to log in with their Onid credentials.
NEW! Timely Teaching Tips: Generative AI can be used to help instructors test and improve assessments and rubrics. For practical guidance and examples, see Refining Rubrics & Assessments: AI as Design Support by Ecampus instructional designer Phil Chambers.
NEW! New continued education savings: Looking to upskill, earn a credential or learn something new about a personal interest or hobby? Oregon State Professional and Continuing Education (PACE) offers flexible courses taught by OSU faculty and industry experts — and now, OSU Alumni Association members receive 15% off select courses. Get details.
NEW! Huang Complex faculty residency program: Oregon State is building the Jen-Hsun Huang and Lori Mills Huang Collaborative Innovation Complex, a new platform that integrates supercomputing, experimental labs, rapid prototyping, digital twins and immersive visualization into one unified environment. This platform is designed to accelerate research that crosses boundaries and creates real-world impact. The faculty residency program is now open for letters of interest. Consider applying if: your work requires sustained, cross-disciplinary collaboration and iteration using integrated physical or computational infrastructure; your research has the potential to transform how we address global challenges but requires a unified, multidisciplinary environment to reach its full potential; and you are looking to explore or enhance your research through AI-enabled systems, regardless of your computing background. To learn more and apply, click here.
NEW! Volunteers needed for the Great Move Out: Each year, OSU Surplus and Recycling collect items no longer needed from students moving out and redistributes them to nonprofits in our community to keep usable or recyclable items out of the landfill. We couldn't do it without volunteers like you who assist with picking up and sorting donations during a variety of shift times between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. June 9-15. Sign up for a shift and invite others to volunteer too! Questions? Email [email protected] at OSU Surplus Property.
NEW! Mid-Month Emergency Preparedness Topic: Recreational water safety. Understand important pool protocols as well as swimming and boat safety. Rec water safety can be very overlooked, but it is important to understand how to be safe in the water. English and Spanish versions of this bulletin can be found here.
Volunteers needed for Engineering Expo: More than 1,000 capstone seniors will showcase 250+ projects at the Engineering Expo on Friday, June 5, at the CH2M HILL Alumni Center and The LaSells Stewart Center. The expo is free and open to the public with many K-12 students joining us. We need a large team of volunteers to help make the Engineering Expo a success. All employees and students are welcome to volunteer. Volunteers will receive a free Expo t-shirt. Sign up here for a range of volunteer shifts on June 4-5. All volunteers should also attend a Zoom prep session, either from noon to 1 p.m. or 4-5 p.m. May 21. Contact [email protected] for questions or assistance.
Timely Teaching Tips: Students often reduce their sleep to study longer or have more time to do the things they have in their schedule. But sleep is essential to learning and memory! Invite students to learn more about sleep and learning and to prioritize sleep. Academic Success Center Strategists can support students in planning to meet deadlines while taking care of themselves.
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College of Engineering now accepting nominations for 2026 Oregon Stater Awards: The awards honor outstanding alumni for their contributions to the engineering profession and to OSU. There are three award categories determined by length of career and accomplishments: the Engineering Hall of Fame, the Academy of Distinguished Engineers and the Council of Outstanding Early Career Engineers. To learn more about each award category and explore past awardees visit the 2026 Oregon Stater Awards website. Submit nominations here. Your event, your way: The Alumni Center at Oregon State offers flexible spaces for conferences, trainings, board meetings and more — plus AV packages with screens, projectors, podiums and microphones. Enjoy modern amenities in a welcoming building with accessible entry points; an elevator; and ADA, family and all-gender restrooms. Learn about the space and reserve now. |
Community Climate Survey: The 2026 Employee Community Climate Survey launched April 27 with an invitation from Scott Vignos, vice president for mission and impact. Please check your email to access the survey link; the survey is open through Friday, June 5. The survey is administered every two years to gauge the opinions and perceptions of employees regarding their experience at OSU. Your responses help identify areas where OSU is making progress, as well as areas that may benefit from further attention, dialogue or action. To thank employees for their time, a $25 incentive will be provided to 50 randomly selected participants. The information participants enter for the incentive will not be linked to responses to the survey to ensure responses remain anonymous. Questions about the survey can be directed to [email protected].
OSU łatwa ina Royalty Program: The łatwa ina Royalty will be presented with the Oregon State regalia at the łatwa ina Pow-Wow (May 16 at Gill Coliseum), and represent OSU at surrounding Pow-Wows and cultural events. Sponsored by the Native American Student Association and the Office of Institutional Diversity in collaboration with the Division of Student Affairs. Applications are due May 10.
OSU Health and Safety Committee: The University Health and Safety Committee would like to invite campus members interested in health and safety to attend our open meetings, held semi-annually in May and October. Meetings are held on the fourth Wednesday of the month (May 22) from 2:30-4 p.m. Anyone can access OSU’s University Health & Safety Committee online, including past meeting minutes, information on how to contact a committee member and a web link to report safety concerns. Contact Dan Kermoyan at [email protected] to RSVP and request the meeting location.
Timely Teaching Tips: Does your course have writing projects during the second half of the term? This is an ideal time to remind students of support available through the Writing Center. Students and project groups can get writing support through in-person consultations, via Zoom, or via email with written feedback. See sample messaging and other faculty resources to encourage your students to visit.
Monthly Emergency Preparedness Topic: Hot Weather. Are you prepared to handle the heat? Thousands of people die every year from weather-related hazards. Know the signs of heat-related illnesses like heat stroke and heat exhaustion as well as how to prevent them. English and Spanish versions of this bulletin can be found here.