Today in the News Media

Today in the News Media is a synopsis of some of the most prominent coverage of OSU people and programs. Inclusion of any item constitutes neither an endorsement nor a critique, but rather is intended only to make the OSU community aware of significant items in the media. Content appearing includes timely news and feature stories from broadcast, print and online sources. Occasionally, opinion pieces and first-person columns appearing in mainstream media outlets that are written by faculty members and pertain to their academic or professional expertise may be included based on their unique, informative value, timeliness and space constraints. It is not the policy of OSU Today to include Letters to the Editor. 
 

Give yourself a 'dry January' - you'll sleep better, save money and lose weight (Good News Network)

A separate study from Oregon State University found that heavy drinkers who are trying to stop smoking may find that reducing their alcohol use can also help them quit their daily smoking habit. Heavy drinkers’ nicotine metabolite ratio—a biomarker that indicates how quickly a person’s body metabolizes nicotine—was reduced as they cut back on their drinking.
 

The complicated role of iron in ocean health and climate change (Smithsonian)

Despite iron’s assumed influence over climate, climate models still don’t currently include much detailed information about the element, says Andreas Schmittner, a climate scientist at Oregon State University.
 

Scrubbing carbon dioxide from smokestacks for cleaner industrial emissions (Register-Guard)

An international team co-led by an Oregon State University chemistry researcher has uncovered a better way to scrub carbon dioxide from smokestack emissions, which could be a key to mitigating global climate change.
 

OSU lands $1.2 million natural products grant (Gazette-Times)

A federal grant will help Oregon State University train more researchers to study the potential benefits and pitfalls of natural products for use in drugs and dietary supplements. (see also KTVZ)
 

OSU study suggests vitamin D can combat bacterial infection (Portland Business Journal)

OSU scientist Adrian Gombart developed a new model to study vitamin D and found that it can dramatically reduce disease-causing bacteria in skin wounds. (see also Register-Guard)
 

Greta Thunberg turns 17 - a look back at her year (Newsweek)

William Ripple, a professor of ecology at Oregon State University, told Newsweek that Thunberg's actions encouraged him to take the lead in penning an article titled "World Scientists' Warning of a Climate Emergency," which has been signed by 11,000 scientists from 153 countries.

You've likely never heard of the world's greatest ocean migration. Satellite data is helping scientists study it (Herald Mail Media)

“The lidar has given us our first measurements of animals — in fact, animal behavior — from space,” said Michael Behrenfeld, a biological oceanographer at Oregon State University. “What (it) has allowed us to do for the first time is actually to study this migration on a global scale every 16 days for 10 years. And that’s a very powerful place to be.”
 

Pacific Northwest forests fit trifecta for curbing climate change - if we stop logging them (Crosscut)

Researchers at Oregon State University and the University of California, Berkeley, looked at which forests in the Western United States should be prioritized for preservation under climate change scenarios.
 

Meet Digit: the two-legged robot that's going to be delivering your parcels in the future (Evening Standard)

Take Agility for instance. The robotics company, which was spun out of Oregon State University in 2015, has announced that its two-legged robot, Digit, is officially on sale. Created in part thanks to a research project with the car manufacturer Ford Motor, Digit can lift 40-pound packages (about 18kg) and could be used to deliver parcels in the future. 


Water crisis puts Oregon community at a crossroads (WSKG)

“I’ll give you an example,” explained Todd Jarvis, director of the Institute for Water and Watersheds at Oregon State University. “In 1904, a Texas Supreme Court ruling found that groundwater was so secret, occult and concealed that it was too difficult to legally control it.”
 

Documentation critical for appropriate antibiotic prescribing (Healio)

“We are not saying that 43% of prescriptions are definitely inappropriate,” Michael J. Ray, PhD, MPH, a researcher at Oregon State University’s College of Pharmacy, told Healio. “Rather, we are saying that this is a possibility based on the information we have.”
 

Students binge drink less when cannabis is legal (Global News Canada)

“The biggest takeaway from our paper is that problem binge drinking in college students who are 21 and over, changes after the implementation of recreational marijuana use,” says Zoe Alley, a Ph.D student at Oregon State University and one of the study’s authors.
 

Buzz: Corals are passe: 2020, the year of Classic Blue, is just around the corner (CNBC)

In 2009, Mas Subramanian, chemist and Oregon State University professor, and his student inadvertently invented a new blue pigment. Called YlnMn blue, it is the first new blue in over 200 years to be included as a Crayola crayon.
 

Ask an expert: Check out the many gardening uses for corrugated cardboard (Oregonian)

Winter is here, and we’re still getting plenty of questions to Ask an Expert, an online question-and-answer tool from Oregon State University’s Extension Service.
 

Ag in the Classroom's career expo a hit (Capital Press)

The Agricultural Career Expo was launched as part of a Specialty Crop Block Grant that also included funding for creating a pamphlet and video on career opportunities in agriculture. Oregon AITC uses those resources at events throughout the year, Jansen said, and teachers interested in accessing the pamphlet or the video are encouraged to contact the program at its Oregon State University headquarters.
 

OSU encourages gardening with native plants (Corvallis Advocate)

“There’s a new aesthetic,” said Weston Miller, horticulturist with Oregon State University’s Extension Service. “Gardeners want to connect to nature and the heritage of plants that grow in the Pacific Northwest.”  
 

Excellence in Education (Argus Observer)

Oregon State University Extension agent Barbara Brody has one job, but it is split three ways — 4-H, Family Community Health and the SNAP-ED program throughout Malheur County.
 

Local producers get little help from new spending bill (Wallowa County Chieftain)

Pete Schreder, the Oregon State University Extension livestock, range and natural resources agent for Wallowa County, said the county’s organic market is rather small and without knowing the strings attached to the funding he couldn’t be sure of the effects.
 

Investing in Klamath's future: John Stilwell is the H&N's person of the year (Herald and News)

His favorite part of being involved in 4-H is watching the kids go from timid youngsters who aren’t so comfortable with their animals to confident adults who show with ease.
 

OSU-Cascades custodial team uses green, safe ways to keep campus tidy (Bend-Bulletin)

From snow removal to cleaning bathrooms, the facilities maintenance crew at Oregon State University-Cascades in Bend has found a balance between green and clean.
 

Today's photo


Happy New Year: Welcome to Winter Term 2020. We hope you have a great term and ease into the '20s with success.

Today

NEW! Art opening: Found and Formed,” an exhibition of artwork by Brenda Mallory, will be on display Jan. 6-29 at the Fairbanks Gallery of Art at Oregon State University. The gallery will hold a morning coffee reception for Mallory’s exhibition opening from 9-11 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 6, and the artist will give a gallery talk at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 22. The Portland-based artist works in mixed media sculpture, using a variety of materials, including cloth, fiber, beeswax and found objects. She creates multiple forms joined with crude hardware that imply tenuous connections or repairs. The gallery is located in Fairbanks Hall.

Events

NEW! ASOSU Elections Informational Sessions: Interested in running for ASOSU student body president, vice president, speaker of the house, senator, representative, student fee committee chair or student fee committee at-large member? Attend a mandatory elections information session to run. Next sessions are Jan. 7, 5-6 p.m., in MU 206, and Jan. 13, 5-6 p.m. in MU 206. For more info: asosu.oregonstate.edu/elections

NEW! The Visiting Writers Series with Namwali Serpell: Namwali Serpell, author of “The Old Drift”, will give a reading in The Valley Library Rotunda on Thursday, Jan. 9, followed by a Q&A, from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. 

OSUsed Store Public Sales: The OSUsed Store is open for its weekly public sales Tuesday 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Friday noon to 3 p.m. at 644 SW 13th. Personal purchases must be made during public sales. Staff may shop for their department 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. More information on our website.

Orange Media Network Open House: Looking to get more involved on campus? Orange Media Network is currently looking to fill student positions in journalism, marketing, graphic design, engineering, TV production and more. Come to our Winter Open House to learn more about OMN, the opportunities available, and next steps for joining our team. Wednesday, Jan. 8, 5-7 p.m. on the fourth floor of the Student Experience Center.

Puerto Rico program: Puerto Rico will be our classroom for this course which includes a one-credit spring preparation class and a three-credit, 16-day trip, June 22 through July 8, 2020. We will visit with local farmers, activists and educators working to recover from Hurricane Maria and build resilient food systems for the future. Join Christina WalshIngrid Arocho and Jen Myers for this faculty-led program. See our program brochure and attend an info session at 5 p.m. on Jan. 15 or Feb. 12 in Strand 148.

$5K Innovation Days Award & Innovation Days event: OSU faculty are invited to join the OSU Advantage office for an Innovation Days event at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 16 in the MU to learn about the resources OSU has to help research and technology achieve greater societal impact via tech commercialization. Hear from an OSU faculty member and a student as they share their journey. Faculty participation in Innovation Days enables eligibility for a $5,000 innovation award. This session is focused on autonomous systems and AI but is open to faculty from any discipline. For more information and to RSVP, visit https://innovationenterprise.oregonstate.edu/innovation-days. Registration is free but is required. A hosted networking reception is provided from 5-6:30 p.m.

Lectures, Workshops, Webinars

NEW! WRGP Guest: Michelle Marie, “Discover how an entrepreneurial mindset supports career success!”
Michelle Marie of OSU’s InnovationX program and the College of Business will be giving a seminar from noon to 1 p.m., Wednesday Jan. 8 in ALS B 4001. Free. 

NEW! Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology Seminar: Selina Heppell, professor and department head in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, will speak on “The Future of Sea Turtles on a Warming Planet,”  Jan 8, 4 p.m., Withycombe 109. Heppell is a conservation biologist with expertise in population modeling and marine conservation. She devotes most of her research to some of the oldest and slowest-growing animals in the sea: sea turtles, sharks, sturgeon, and rockfish.  These marine animals share three traits: long lifespans, late age at maturity, and threats from overharvest.  Her research strives to help us understand how these animals respond to human impacts and to guide research and management policy towards their recovery.

NEW! TRIAD: Looking for networking opportunities in the new year? Weekly Triad luncheons will be starting up for the winter term on Thursday, Jan. 9. Triad is a campus organization open to faculty and staff that offers an opportunity to gather over a meal to network and learn something new. The first program of the term will feature Rorie Solberg, School of Public Policy, noon, Jan. 9, MU 211, “Impeachment: A primer.” Event is free; optional catered lunch is available for $13. Contact Janice Nave-Abele, [email protected] to reserve a lunch. For more information about Triad go to https://triad.oregonstate.edu/.

NEW! Curriculum maps: These planning tools provide clarity to the program assessment process. By diagramming existing and potential courses, curriculum maps identify program strengths, requirements and student learning objectives. Join the Office of Academic Programs and Assessment as we facilitate developing, creating or fine-tuning unique curriculum maps for undergraduate major, minor and certificate programs. Join us Wednesday, Jan. 15, 10-11:30 a.m., in Milam 215. Register for the Curriculum Mapping Workshop

NEW! Winter 2020 Black Minds Matter CourseThe Educational Opportunities Program (EOP) and Advancing Academic Equity for Student Success will again host Black Minds Matter course. This free 7-week hybrid course provides academic teaching and professional faculty members an opportunity to engage in conversations and activities that focuses on issues affecting Black students success in higher education.  The first kick-off session will take place on Friday, Jan. 17 at 10 a.m. Register for the course this winter by emailing [email protected].

Tuesday Teaching + Tech Talks: Teaching Philosophies & Portfolios: Join Lexi Schlosser (CTL) to learn how to use philosophies and portfolios to capture the evolution of your teaching, ideology, and accomplishments. +Tech Talk: Learn how to use Google Sites to create your ePortfolio. This workshop will be facilitated twice in Milam 215, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 7. No need to register. Learn more here and contact us here.

The North American Truffling Society Meeting: Guest speaker will be John Donoghue, president of Northwest Mycological Consultant, Inc. He will talk about current and potential uses of forest products for production of fungal-based food, medicine, and other products while maintaining consideration for both the local and international economic scale underlying these uses, along with a discussion of their environmental and economic sustainability. Jan. 7, 7:30 p.m., Room 2087, Cordley Hall. 

Emotional Intelligence: Learn more about emotional intelligence and mindfulness during this month’s event hosted by the Professional Faculty Leadership Association, “Emotional Intelligence,” presented by OSU’s International Admissions Specialist and LBCC’s Human Resources Generalist, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 8, at Hallie Ford Center 115. This event is free to PFLA members and $10 for non-members. Beverages will be provided and you are welcome to bring your lunch. For more information about the event and how to register click here: https://oregonstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6G8HOdX4ncFAmMJ

Kognito: Recognizing and Supporting Students in Distress Training: Are you worried about a student? College can be stressful at times. Build the confidence to talk with a student whom you’re concerned about. Be prepared to lead real-life conversations with students that build resilience, strengthen relationships and connect them with support. Visit beav.es/Zzp to access the faculty/staff online, interactive training so you can recognize and support OSU students in distress. To access the student version visit: beav.es/ZD3. For questions or to learn more about this training, contact Bonnie Hemrick: [email protected]

New Year, New You: Online Professional Courses starting in January: The College of Business Continuing and Professional Education courses and certificates are open for January enrollments. Instructor-led, 100-percent online courses are offered in many topics including: leadership, digital branding, Lean Six Sigma, business contracts and human resource fundamentals. Courses take five to seven weeks to complete and you can earn a certificate in as few as nine months. OSU faculty and staff can use discount code OSUSTAFF20 to save 20 percent. Call 541-737-1500 for more information or browse the upcoming certificate programs and courses: https://business.oregonstate.edu/continuing-and-professional-education/online-certificate-programs

Oregon Forest Health Conference: The State of the State 2020 conference brings together researchers and managers to present the current science on forest health in Oregon. Conference dates: Feb. 26-27 at the LaSells Stewart Center. Early registration ($150) is open through Feb. 18; regular registration ($200) begins on Feb. 19. Student registration is available. For more information, visit the conference website.

Core curriculum: The Core Curriculum for Current Supervisors and Managers training program, presented by the Office of Human Resources, is open for registration. Core Curriculum is a blended online/two-day classroom training program that strengthens knowledge and skills required for effective supervision and management at OSU. Multiple content experts from key offices will lead you through topics that address OSU policies, procedures and practices. Details and registration (several options available).

Conference on affordability in online learning: OSU is hosting a regional conference with a focus on improving student success and affordability in online and digital learning. Co-hosted by the Online Learning Consortium and OSU Ecampus, the event – scheduled for Feb. 7 in the Memorial Union – will bring faculty, administrators and online learning professionals together to address the opportunities and challenges facing the future of affordability in higher education. Learn more and register today.

The Social Justice Education Initiative: The Social Justice Education Initiative is open for registration through summer 2020. From Faculty Affairs, the SJEI is a foundational professional development program for all faculty, staff and graduate students. Join your colleagues to begin or expand your equity and inclusion journey. Interested in this work for your unit? Contact SJEI Director Jane Waite for further information: [email protected]

Take Note

NEW! Difference, Power, and Discrimination Academy Applications: Faculty applications are being accepted for the DPD Academy scheduled to be held from June 15 to June 26, 2020. The DPD Academy facilitates focused and productive engagement with contemporary, multidisciplinary scholarship on difference, power and discrimination; critical pedagogies; and curriculum transformation. Individual and team applications are welcome. For more information and to apply, visit the DPD Academy web page. Deadline: Feb. 7, 2020.

NEW! Applications for PCOSW scholarships and event co-sponsorships for spring term projects are now being accepted: The President’s Commission on the Status of Women provides funding to faculty, students, and staff who are pursuing professional development, research, outreach, or creative projects related to women’s issues. Scholarships average $300 and are paid by reimbursement. Applications are due Friday, Feb. 7, 2020, with notification in Week 7. Visit http://leadership.oregonstate.edu/pcosw/awards-scholarships for detailed guidelines, qualification requirements, and application links. Questions? Contact Joy Jorgensen at [email protected]

NEW! Metabolic Research Study: We are examining how insulin release is triggered by tasting carbohydrates. Participants must be non-smokers and non-diabetic, aged 18-35. The study will involve having body measurements taken, having saliva collected, performing taste tests, having blood drawn, and filling out dietary surveys. Email [email protected] for more information. Study name: Taste Perception of Carbohydrates, PI: Juyun Lim.

NEW! Honors College course proposals and grants: OSU tenured/tenure-track, senior instructor, and emeritus faculty are invited to submit honors course proposals for 2020-2021 at honors.oregonstate.edu/course-proposals.  Any General Catalog course can be offered as a small, highly-engaged honors course; proposals for interdisciplinary colloquia are also welcome. Faculty may apply for Meehan course development grants of up to $3000 to develop experiential learning opportunities for honors courses.  More information: [email protected] or 541-737-6412.  Deadline: Jan. 15.

NEW! Health & Safety: The University Health & Safety Committee wants to promote health and safety by providing SAIF online information on ErgoPoint for office ergonomic assessments, which available is online at https://www.saif.com/Documents/SafetyandHealth/Ergonomics/S-1081_Ergopoint.pdf. You can also access OSU’s University Health & Safety Committee online at http://ehs.oregonstate.edu/uhsc, including past meeting minutes, information on how to contact a committee member, and a link to report safety concerns online. 

Grant Funding Available: The OSU Women’s Giving Circle is accepting proposals for grant funding to be awarded in May 2020. Projects that enhance the undergraduate experience, directly impact as many OSU students as possible and improve student retention are eligible. The applications are due by Monday, Jan. 13, 2020 at 9 a.m. To apply for a grant, visit www.osufoundation.org/wgc_grant. Questions: Contact Molly Moriarty Russell at 541-737-4044 or [email protected].

CTL survey: At OSU's Center for Teaching and Learning, our goal is to support effective and efficient teaching and create and sustain a culture of teaching excellence. We are looking ahead to winter/spring 2020 and would appreciate three minutes of your time to help us shape our offerings with this short survey http://bit.ly/OSU_CTL19

Campus Directions: Learn more from University Facilities, Infrastructure and Operations about how Oregon State's campuses are improving every day. Read the latest issue of Campus Directions to peek inside OSU’s Energy Center, learn how 5.7 million square footage of space is managed on the Corvallis campus and more. Interested in keeping up with projects on campus? Subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Instagram.

Attention Salem commuters: A group of commuters is forming a new vanpool from Salem to OSU, and seats are still available. If you travel to OSU from Kaiser or Salem along I-5, this is an opportunity to share the drive, reduce your stress and save money. Email [email protected] if you have questions or want to connect with the organizers. 

New Year, New Name! Center for Research on Lifelong STEM Learning Name Change: The Center for Research on Lifelong STEM Learning is now officially the STEM Research Center. We look forward to continuing to collaborate on groundbreaking research with the OSU Community and beyond under our new (easier-to-say) name. For more information about our new name visit https://stem.oregonstate.edu
 
Affordable learning grant application: OSU’s Open Educational Resources Unit announces that funding for faculty to adopt, adapt or author an open textbook will be made available in early January. This grant supports faculty who make learning more affordable for their students by implementing no-cost, high-quality OER for their courses. More information on the grant application and related workshops will be shared in the coming weeks. Questions? Contact Stefanie Buck, OER director, at [email protected].

Registration for STEM Academy’s AWSEM (Advocates for Women in Science, Engineering, and Math) Clubs for students in grades 6-12 is open: AWSEM Clubs are designed to nurture girls’ interest in STEM by providing a program of hands-on activities paired with positive adult women STEM role models. Middle school club meets on Tuesdays, 5-6:30 p.m, from Jan. 21 through Feb. 25. High school club meets on Wednesdays, 5-6:30 p.m., Jan. 22 through Feb. 26. Undergraduate women studying science and engineering at OSU will lead and be mentors for the clubs. To register: http://stemacademy.oregonstate.edu. For questions, call 541-737-8139 or email [email protected]. Cost is $90 for the entire series. Needs-based scholarships are available. While AWSEM Clubs are designed to nurture girl’s interest in STEM, anyone is eligible to apply.

Jobs

This email only lists new or recently updated job postings. For a full list of current job postings for OSU Today, go to: https://today.oregonstate.edu/email/jobs
To apply for the below positions, visit  jobs.oregonstate.edu unless otherwise specified.

NEW! Design specialists: Ecampus is seeking two Instruction Design Specialists. These are full-time (1.0 FTE), 12-month, fixed-term professional faculty positions. This position provides knowledge and creativity in enhancing the development and design of hybrid and online courses. Posting #P03507UF. Closes Jan. 20. 

NEW! Accounting Technician –The Agricultural Sciences & Marine Sciences Business Center (AMBC) in Corvallis invites applications for a full-time Accounting Technician (1.0 FTE). Review full posting and apply at https://jobs.oregonstate.edu/. Posting #P02537CT. Closes Jan. 24.

Weather

"Comedy has become, I think, a very important branch of public intellectualism. But it still ain't Washington." ~ Comedian Kate McKinnon, who turns 36 today.

Corvallis: Rainy and breezy today, high of 49, low of 44. Rain tomorrow.

Central Oregon: Chance of rain and snow today, high of 42, low of 34. Chance of rain and snow tomorrow.

Newport: Rain and windy today, high of 52, low of 49. Rain and windy tomorrow.

Statewide: For OSU employees around the state, find your local forecast here: http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/pqr/