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.
 

No, vodka won't keep your Christmas tree fresh, but here's what will (KGW)

No, according to Chal Landgren, a Christmas tree specialist at Oregon State University. He said one of his research colleagues at Washington State University actually conducted an experiment putting Christmas trees in water mixed with things like vodka, 7-Up, aspirin or sugar.
 

OSU-Cascades dining, academic building named Obsidian Hall (KTVZ)

Obsidian Hall is the new name of the dining and academic building at Oregon State University–Cascades following a campus-wide engagement campaign involving students, faculty, staff and stakeholders. (see also Bend Bulletin)
 

Crowdsourcing snow depth data with citizen scientists (EOS)

Co-written by OSU's David Hill. 
 

North America's science innovators (Study International)

Ecologist Francis Chan from Oregon State University, for example, has made an outreach video on Ocean Acidification from his continued study of the issue, which was recently shown to Oregon legislators at the Oregon Coastal Caucus Economic Summit
 

Today's photo


A beacon in the darkness: Kidder Hall enshrouded in fog in 1936. At that time it served as the university's library. Freezing fog expected this morning, with sunshine to follow.

Today

Tuesday Teaching Talks: Celebrating Teaching Success & Survival: Join colleagues and the Center for Teaching and Learning in a certificated series of teaching workshops. Attend one, some or all. On Dec. 4, join Brooke Howland to apply reflective practices as a catalyst to advance teaching and learning while we celebrate our success and survival. This two-hour workshop will be facilitated twice in Milam 215,at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. No need to register – just come on by. Learn more here. Contact us here.

Ph.D defense: Department of Integrative Biology Ph.D. Defense Seminar: Alexandra CD Davis will present "Habitat Use and Ecological Interactions of Invasive Lionfish in the Bahamas" on Tuesday, Dec. 4, at 10 a.m. in LINC 314. It is free and open to the public.

Oregon Women In Higher Education Webinar Viewing. Brown bag lunch and viewing of OWHE’s latest webinar: Gender 101. This webinar will provide a holistic introduction and reflections on concepts surrounding gender. You do not have to be a member of OWHE to attend. Tuesday, Dec. 4, from noon to 1 p.m. in Valley Library 3622 -  the West Willamette Industries Seminar Room. Questions? Contact Olivia Heath at [email protected]

ElderCare Connections: Understanding Dementia: As your loved one ages, dementia often becomes a concern. Join us on Tuesday, Dec. 4, from 12:10 to 12:50 p.m. in MU 207 as we learn about dementia and potential support strategies. For more information, visit https://familyresources.oregonstate.edu/eldercare-connections or contact [email protected].

Poinsettia sale: The Horticulture Club is doing its annual poinsettia sale. Greenhouse No. 12 (next to Cordley Hall), Dec. 3-7, 2:30-5:30 p.m. Price/sizes: 2½ inches for $5, 4½ inches that are two for $15, 6½ inches for $15 each.

NEW! College of Science Learning Assistant Poster Presentation: Learning Assistants (LAs) are undergraduates trained in pedagogy and peer facilitation that help faculty implement active learning. At this poster session, LAs from Fall 2018 will present their projects about student learning in STEM courses at OSU.  Tuesday, Dec. 4, 4-5 p.m. in the Undergrad Research and Writing Studio, main floor, Valley Library.

OSUsed Store Public Sales: The OSUsed Store is open for its weekly public sales Tuesday, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., and Friday, noon to 3 p.m., at 644 S.W. 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.

Tap Talks Corvallis: OSU's Susanne Brander will share her research on the effects of plastic pollutants on fish and will discuss local outreach initiatives, (such as the Corvallis Ocean Friendly Establishments campaign), to reduce the use of disposable plastics. Q&A on these topics and how citizens can contribute to a more sustainable future to follow. Dec. 4, 7 p.m., Block 15 Brewery & Tap Room, 3415 S.W. Deschutes St., Corvallis. https://m.facebook.com/events/2056072761102819 

The North American Truffling Society General meeting: The speaker will be Shannon Berch of the University of British Columbia, presenting "Documenting alpine mushrooms in British Columbia through expedition and collaboration.” Dec. 4, 7:30 p.m., Cordley 2087. 

Upcoming Events

OSU Beaver Store’s Faculty & Staff Appreciation Night: All OSU faculty and staff are invited to come to the OSU Beaver Store on Wednesday, Dec. 5, from 5:30-7 p.m.  There will be discounts throughout the store and food and wine will be served.  Faculty/Staff ID required at the door.

Kemper retirement: Hank Kemper is retiring from Transportation Services after 33 years of service. Join us in a celebration to wish him well on Dec. 13, from 2-4 p.m., in the Wells Fargo room located in The LaSells Stewart Center. Light refreshments will be served.

Lectures, Workshops, Webinars

NEW! Demonstration of Wireless Real-time Testing and Control of Systems Using Simulink:  Guest Speaker: Ali Haider (OSU Ph.D. candidate). This demonstration explains the procedure for real-time testing and control of large-scale systems, such as Wave Energy Converters or Power Electronics Converters, using real-time capabilities of Simulink. A real-time machine, named "Speedgoat" (www.speedgoat.com), will be introduced as a solution for real-time control problems. A wireless real-time interface will be demonstrated using two machines interfaced with each other using Speedgoat and Matlab/Simulink over Ethernet layer. Thursday, Dec. 6, 11 a.m., in WESRF Lab (Dearborn Basement).

Ph.D. Thesis Defense, Michael Dennis: “Of Planes and Plumblines: Map Projections and Differential Leveling in a GNSS-based 3D Geodetic Framework.” Major adviser: Chris Parrish, associate professor of geomatics and Eric H.I. and Janice Hoffman Faculty Scholar. Dec. 5, 9 a.m., Kearney 311.

Center for Genome Research and Biocomputing Seminar (CGRB): Daniel Buckley, Cornell University, will present a seminar, “Three amazing ideas about microbial biogeography that will blow your mind,” on Wednesday, Dec. 5, at 3 p.m. in the Agricultural & Life Sciences 4001. Note new start time for CGRB seminars is 3 p.m.

Reconciling Financial CORE Reports: One of the most frequently asked questions about finance reports in CORE is: “Why doesn’t the transaction and operating ledger match up?” In this session, we will look at the common reason there are discrepancies between the transactional and operating ledger reports in CORE. We will also look at the reports that you cannot compare against each other due to this issue. Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2-2:45 p.m., Kerr B094. Register: https://oregonstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8pHoTWa1L48BQ7r. Questions? Email: [email protected]

Sustainable Landscape Seminar: The two-day Sustainable Landscape Seminar provides the public with practical information to create sustainable/green/ecological landscapes. Some outcomes to expect include lowering power, water and waste bills due to more efficient use of resources, and reducing the flow of organic matter into the landfill. Wednesday, Dec. 11, and Thursday, Dec. 12, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Class is held at Lane Extension, 996 Jefferson St., Eugene. Cost: $25.Register

UPDATED! Leadership Collaborative I: Applications for the winter, 2019 Leadership Collaborative are now being accepted. The LCI includes six day-long sessions and features engaged, self-directed learning; a collaborative learning approach; practical, effective tools and skills; and on-the-job implementation. All OSU employees are encouraged to apply for sessions offered in Corvallis and Portland. Contact Kristen Magis for more information. Submit your application on the LCI webpage by Dec. 7.

Master Recycler class: Act soon to secure your spot. This eight-week, non-credit class covers all aspects of waste reduction, reuse and recycling and is free to those who agree to pay back what they learned by completing 30 hours of volunteer service. Hosted on the OSU campus on Tuesday nights, Jan. 8 through Feb. 26 from 6:15 to 9 p.m. plus field trips. Visit http://tiny.cc/recycclass for more details and to register.

Take Note

NEW! Winter 2019 FERPA Learning Community:  The Office of the Registrar will offer another FERPA Learning Community (LC) in Winter term. Join the LC and explore the nuances and applications of FERPA with colleagues from across campus. If you’re interested, take a minute to fill out this interest survey, which lists the dates/times of the meetings.

OSU Today: Starting Monday, Dec. 10, OSU Today will publish once a week until the beginning of Winter Term, when daily publication will resume. In order to get an item into OSU Today for the following week, submit your item to [email protected] by noon the previous Friday.

Winter Break Recycling Collection Schedules: Dec. 17 through Jan. 4, most buildings will have recycling collection reduced to every other week due to reduced available staffing and activity within most buildings during that time. Contact Campus Recycling through this form to inform us of any exceptions that need to be addressed such as full building or office closures; please include a contact name, email, phone and the office or building location.

How Can I Help—Charitable Fund Drive. Is there something that is getting in the way that I can help with? Is there a step in the donation process that is awkward? Let me know so that I can remedy the situation: [email protected] or 7-5547. The OSU campaign for the Oregon Employees’ Charitable Fund Drive ends with the end of December. Give now: https://www.ipledgeonline.org/_cfduniversities/

The University Health & Safety Committee wants to promote health and safety with a link to information about total worker health titled “Get Active” https://www.saif.com/Documents/SafetyandHealth/Wellness/S1012_TWH_Get_Active.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.

Updates to University Policies & Standards: Visit the University Policy & Standards page to learn about recent policy updates: http://policy.oregonstate.edu/whats-new. This announcement runs monthly and the page is updated frequently with new developments.

Student entrepreneurs who want money and prizes: The third campus-wide Next Great Startup competition starts this January. This is a campus-wide opportunity for startup ventures to get visibility, bragging rights, cash, prizes and direct one-on-one mentorship with venture capitalists and local entrepreneurs. Teams must be led by an OSU student. Apply to compete here: https://nextgreatstartup.oregonstate.edu/

This January, it’s time to Accelerate your startup. In just 10 weeks, streamline your value proposition, get to market faster, and validate your product-market fit. The Accelerate program is open to OSU researchers, students and staff along with community members who intend to start or grow an entrepreneurial venture. The fun starts Jan. 8. Learn more and apply here: https://tinyurl.com/advantageacc01219

University Budget Committee and Tuition Discussions: The University Budget Committee has begun meeting to discuss recommendations for tuition rates for the 2019-20 academic year. The committee welcomes questions, comments, and ideas. Opportunities for public comment and feedback on tuition scenarios being discussed will be available beginning in January. Information about the tuition-setting process and the work of the University Budget Committee is available on the Office of Budget & Fiscal Planning website. For more information, to provide an idea or opinion, or to ask a question contact Sherman Bloomer.

Learning Innovation Grant Individual Proposals: University Information and Technology invites proposals from faculty and staff for Individual Learning Innovation Grants to foster the meaningful use of educational technology. Proposals of up to $10,000 will be awarded for innovative uses of technology to improve student experience, whether in courses, informal learning experiences, or student life. Proposals are due Dec. 7. To learn more or to apply, visit https://uit.oregonstate.edu/tech-funding/learning-innovation-grant/individual-grants-learning-innovation-grant Questions? Contact Robin Pappas at [email protected]

Jobs

This email only lists new or recently updated job postings. For a full list of current job postings for OSU Today, go to: http://today.oregonstate.edu/email/jobs

To apply for the below positions, visit http://oregonstate.edu/jobs unless otherwise specified.

NEW! Event Services Manager (Internal Employment Opportunity): OSU Conferences Services is seeking an Event Services Manager.  This is a part-time (0.6 FTE), 12-month, fixed-term professional faculty position.  Posting # P02631UF.  Closes Dec. 10..

Weather

“The future is a fog that is still hanging out over the sea, a boat that floats home or does not.” ~ Anne Sexton

Corvallis: Patchy freezing fog followed by sunshine, high of 44, low of 24. Sunny tomorrow.

Central Oregon: Sunny today, high of 33, low of 15. Mostly sunny tomorrow.

Newport: Sunny, high of 49, low of 30. Sunny tomorrow.

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