Stay informed about COVID-19

COVID-19 website: To facilitate the ongoing sharing of information about the virus, Oregon State University has added a link on the OSU homepage to a new page that provides detailed and up-to-date COVID-19 information; links to OSU, local, state and federal resources; and updates on the latest federal travel restrictions.

NEW! Today’s Timely Teaching Tip: Finalizing final exam plans? Review the options available for exam proctoring, including Zoom for live proctoring and Proctorio for digital proctoring. The Center for Teaching and Learning is available to consult with you about assessment alternatives. Visit Keep Teaching for all the Week 9 Timely Teaching Tips. 

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. 
 

Overwhelmed working from home and home-schooling? Expert says you're not alone (KGW)

McClelland is a professor of child development at Oregon state University, as well as a parent. She said a lot of parents and kids feel as if they are at their breaking point right about now. "To them we're there and we're at home and it's hard for them to see that their job is to go to school at home somehow and our job is to somehow work from home and so it's really hard to do both of those things," she said.
 

OSU coronavirus prevalence study expanding to Bend (KATU)

An Oregon State University study to determine the prevalence of coronavirus is expanding to include Bend on May 30 and 31.
 

Will the Earth 'remember' the coronavirus? (Scientific American)

“Ice cores can reconstruct aerosols at monthly resolution in some cases, so the COVID-19 signal should show up,” says Christo Buizert, an Oregon State University paleoclimatologist who specializes in ice cores and abrupt climate change. With lockdowns across large portions of the industrialized world already two or three months and a global economic slowdown still ongoing, a drop in sulfur or cadmium ice-core deposits seems likely.
 

What false negatives can tell us about Oregon's COVID-19 numbers (OPB News)

And then there’s the process of extracting the RNA from the virus and purifying it. Once RNA is purified it’s much more stable. But the chemicals to extract RNA are in short supply, contributing to the testing shortages, said Ben Dalziel, an epidemiologist at Oregon State University. He is involved in a survey that aims to track the spread of COVID-19 in Corvallis.
 

Comedians in clubs getting data: OSU prof takes robot on the road (KOIN)

Fitter works at Oregon State University as assistant professor of robotics. Last year, she took Jon the Robot on a 32-show tour in Oregon and the Los Angeles area. Along with a team of LA-based comedians, she wrote jokes from a robot perspective. They also wrote positive or negative tags that Jon could quip back with depending on how the audience reacted to the jokes. (see also Corvallis Advocate)
 

Oregon State is taking initiative to fight selling of illegal timber (KVAL)

Oregon State University is taking on a new initiative to fight it. Believe it or not, illegal logging happens all the time. In fact its one of the most profitable global crimes.
 

What you need to know about hair, nail salons: The Oregonian's guide to reopening (Oregonian)

Professor Chunhuei Chi, the director of the Center for Global Health at Oregon State University, said if you do decide you just must get a professional cut, don’t touch anything you don’t have to.
 

Sewer surveillance: OSU COVID-19 detection research will go to Congressional committee (Corvallis Advocate)

Researchers at Oregon State University will look in Bend’s sewer system for genetic evidence of the virus that causes COVID-19 in an effort to help determine the virus’ prevalence in the city.
 

Planting trees doesn't always help with climate change (BBC News)

Others say this problem is overblown. “They’re assuming that snow cover’s going to stay there with warming,” says Beverly Law of Oregon State University in Corvallis. She points out that the polar regions are warming faster than the rest of the planet, so much of the snow may melt in the coming decades – in which case planting trees will not make the ground that much darker. “That’s been kind of a red herring that’s held out there a lot,” says Law.
 

Seismic noise reveals landslides in the Gulf of Mexico (EOS)

Not all geoscientists are convinced. For one thing, the Western Planning Area is riddled with faults throughout the salt diapirs that make up much of the subsurface, said Chris Goldfinger, a geologist at Oregon State University in Corvallis..
 

Is it safe to buy food at the farmers market during the coronavirus pandemic? (Huffington Post)

“[The farmers market is] also safer because it’s a very short supply chain, and the food is not going through very many hands,” said Lauren Gwin, extension community food systems specialist at Oregon State University.
 

How Tillamook cheese dodged supply chain snags during COVID (KOIN)

Oregon State University professor of Supply Chain and Operations Management Zhaohui Wu told KOIN 6 News the effects of that loss go beyond the farmer.
 

Ask an expert: Must we spray cherries to get rid of worms? (Oregonian)

Spring gardening is in full swing. If you’ve got questions, turn to Ask an Expert, an online question-and-answer tool from Oregon State University’s Extension Service.
 

That's no drone! Humble honey bees thriving in Bend (Bend Bulletin)

Tracy Wilson, agricultural literacy coordinator for the Oregon State University Agricultural Research and Extension Center, said her office has received several calls from concerned citizens asking if the Western cicada killer wasps seen last summer were actually the murder hornets.

 

Masks, sanitizer to be distributed to Oregon farmworkers, ag producers (KTVZ)

Distribution will take place next week and will vary depending on location. Limited supplies will be provided at each site until supplies are fully distributed. The Governor is proud to have the collaboration between Oregon Department of Agriculture, Oregon State University Extension, Oregon Emergency Management, Oregon National Guard, and county partners.
 

Today's photos


Today’s workspaces: With help from Rhubarb, Norma and Dodger, working from home isn’t so ruff. "They look forward to our daily snack breaks," says Abbie Leland, outreach and education coordinator with University Facilities.

Ecampus scheduling assistant George Michael the cat is nearly as handsome as his namesake. He lives with Zach Kronser, course scheduler and compliance coordinator with OSU Ecampus. Follow OSU Today on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/osutoday1/ and catch up on any workspace photos you might have missed so far.

Today

People and Nature Lunch Series: Tuesday, May 26, from noon to 12:50 p.m. Ashley Peiffer (Marine Resource Management) presents “Meeting People Where They Are: Gender Roles, Food Security, and Fisheries." The lecture is free and open to all. To join the meeting, register at https://peopleandnatureosu.weebly.com/spring-2020.html. Sponsored by the Department of Fisheries & Wildlife’s Human Dimensions Lab.

Q&A Forum: Managing Stress & Work-Life Challenges During COVID-19: This is an hour-long bi-weekly question-and-answer forum facilitated by a master’s level therapist. This lunch connection is intended as a self-care touchpoint to have a safe space where people can ask for tips on stress management, work-life balance challenges and how to stay connected through challenging times. All attendees remain anonymous and will be able to type in their questions to get immediate feedback from the host. May 26, noon to 1 p.m. Register for May 26.

Lessons in Leadership: Join Community Engagement & Leadership for an interactive series of events that aims to learn from our community leaders in a more casual manner, by sharing their lessons and experiences in leadership with our OSU community. By connecting our student leaders to others we are hoping to showcase the pathways they can take to become better leaders today. Register to join us on Tuesday, May 26 at 4 p.m. For additional questions, contact Langley at [email protected].

M.S. Defense – Sustainable Forest Management: Duckha Jeon will present his thesis, “Real-time decision making on helicopter dispatch during multiple forest fires,” on Tuesday, May 26, at 5 p.m. via Zoom. To participate, please contact Duckha for the Zoom information. Duckha is pursuing his M.S. in Sustainable Forest Management with his major professor, Woodam Chung, in the Department of Forest Engineering, Resources and Management.

Events

NEW! 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 from 2:30-4 p.m. Anyone can access OSU’s University Health & Safety Committee online at https://ehs.oregonstate.edu/uhsc, including past meeting minutes, information on how to contact a committee member, and a web link to report safety concerns. If you are interested in attending the meeting (which will be held via Zoom) or would like additional information about the Safety Committee, please contact Kay Miller at [email protected] to RSVP and request the Zoom meeting invitation.

NEW! After the Blast—Online Author Event with Eric Wagner: Join us for online reading and conversation with Eric Wagner featuring his new book After the Blast: The Ecological Recovery of Mount St. Helens, Thursday, May 28, at noon. Sponsored by the Spring Creek Project. Learn more and get the link to join via Zoom.

NEW! Women of Color Caucus Mental Health Summit: Storytelling and expanding your mental health toolkit. May 30, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Keynote by Charlene Martinez of Student Experiences and Engagement, panel with speakers from OSU and other institutions, and mental health workshops by licensed therapists including Shaznin Daruwalla from CAPS. Registration here with refundable fee: http://tinyurl.com/YC7287Q2

The Oregon State University Honors College Virtual Thesis Fair: The Honors College Thesis Fair will be held Wednesday, May 27 through Friday, May 29 online via Canvas. HC graduates will create a poster and a lightning talk describing their research. Additionally, students will be on hand to answer questions regarding their research on Friday, May 29 from noon to 2 p.m. Registration is required in order to gain access to Canvas site. Register by May 26 to attend.

Board of Trustees: The OSU Board will meet from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on Friday, May 29, to consider the university’s operating budget for the coming fiscal year and Oregon’s public universities’ consolidated request for operating funds for next biennium to the Higher Education Coordinating Commission. The board also will receive a report on the university’s COVID-19 response, hear a legislative update and consider a policy regarding the use and management of the university-provided president’s residence. The board will hear an update on the Corvallis campus vision, a community-based engaged launched by the university to identify how the campus will evolve over the next 10 years. The board also will hold an executive session as part of its agenda, pursuant to ORS 192.660(2)(d) to conduct deliberations with persons designated by the governing body to carry on labor negotiations. Given current COVID-19 guidance, the meeting is open to the public and will be hosted through a remote conferencing service. Options for joining the meeting and instructions for providing comment during the board meeting are provided under “Meeting Details” at this webpage. Committees of the board will meet via remote conferencing services on May 26, May 29 and June 5. Agendas and meeting materials for the board and committee meetings are available at http://oregonstate.edu/leadership/trustees/meetings. If special accommodation is required, please contact (541) 737-3449 or [email protected] at least 48 hours in advance.

Lectures, Workshops, Webinars

NEW! Investment and PERS webinars: The Maps Credit Union CFS investment team is conducting a Weekly Webinar Series on a variety of investment topics that include current market updates. This is one way to educate yourself without leaving the comfort and safety of your own home. Wednesday, May 27, noon - Fundamentals of InvestingTuesday, June 2, noon - Investing With Social Responsibility. PERS Related Webinars: Wednesday, May 27, 3 p.m. - PERS and Retirement Planning (Tier 1 & 2)Wednesday, June 3, 3 p.m. - PERS and Retirement Planning (OPSRP). (These are not OSU events but are tailored to OSU clients and during normal circumstances are held on campus. There is no charge.)

NEW! Strategies for Being Effective in Times of Uncertainty: Uncertainty in organizations will affect each of us differently. Some thrive in ambiguity, while others are dominated by feelings of anxiety, fear, and doubt that negatively affect productivity. This class will provide 8 strategies with practical ideas to increase effectiveness in challenging, uncertain times. Zoom session, May 28, 8-9 a.m. Registration required.

NEW! Coaching: A Process for Developing Talent: Participants will learn, and practice, a powerful coaching model that is process- (not content-) driven. When the process is applied in a systems manner, "coachees" develop their unique talents and perform at a higher level. Target audience is supervisors and faculty that advise students. Zoom session, May 28, 9:30-11 a.m. Registration required.

NEW! Meredith Jacobson: M.S. defense: Meredith Jacobson will present her thesis, titled: “Why Anchor Forests? Exploring a conceptual framework for tribal leadership in cross-boundary forest governance.” May 28, 9:30 a.m., via Zoom. Jacobsen is earning her Master of Science degree in Forest Ecosystems and Society with Emily Jane Davis and Reem Hajjar. To participate, send a request to Meredith at [email protected] for the Zoom link and password. Please contact [email protected] with questions or for accommodations for disabilities.

NEW! Do you have a business idea or tech with commercialization potential but need some help? The OSU Advantage Accelerator is offering Iterate, a free virtual class for researchers, entrepreneurs and prospective entrepreneurs who have a business idea or technology with commercialization potential but aren't sure what to do next. Come learn how to create a value proposition, find and understand your market, and more. Iterate consists of four workshops that build on each other: May 28, June 2 and June 4, all from 4-5:30 p.m. Learn more and register: https://advantage.oregonstate.edu/advantage-accelerator/programs/iterate

Choose Your Attitude: Emotions tend to vacillate in the COVID-19 environment. Maintaining a favorable perspective and managing emotions is important. Understand the relationship between your attitude, your beliefs and your behaviors, and learn about the “Wallenda Factor” and how self-fulfilling prophecy effects outcomes. Zoom session, May 27, 8-9 a.m. Registration required.

Running Effective Remote Meetings: Meetings are a series of conversations. Most agenda items can be categorized under a handful of conversations. Remote meetings require a greater adherence to the conversational processes. Conversational processes will be highlighted, that when followed, will increase the likelihood of an effective meeting. Zoom session, May 27, 9:30-11 a.m. Registration required.

Fulbright Scholar Program Webinars: The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program will continue to accept applications for awards for the 2021-2022 academic year. Over 450 awards offer more than 800 grants annually. The deadline to apply is September 15, 2020. To learn more about the 2021-2022 competition click here  or visit the Catalog of Awards for more details. Regional and discipline-focused webinars are held every Wednesday from 2-3 PM EST. See our Webinar Schedule for more details.

Grading Compliance: Grade submissions affect a multitude of processes at OSU that affect students directly. With emergency grades and S/U deadline changes this term, you’re bound to have questions. Join Jennifer Ketterman, Associate Registrar for Operations, for an informative session on the effects grading has on students and compliance. Wednesday, May 27, 2-3 p.m. Join Zoom meeting: https://oregonstate.zoom.us/j/98511081590. Phone Dial-In Information: +1 971 247 1195. Meeting ID: 985 1108 1590.

Celebrate API Heritage Month in community: Storytelling brings communities closer. In a time that calls for increased support and compassion, join together with friends for a live webcast and celebration of Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. In this TED style talk, hear the stories of alumni and students that center the power of humility, connection and resiliency in the API community. May 27, 6-7:30 p.m. Online live webcast. Register at osualum.com/API-talk.

Climate Change Impact in the Columbia Gorge: Bill Weiler, wildlife biologist for the Sandy River Watershed Council, founder of the Columbia Gorge Ecology Institute (now Gorge Ecology Outdoors) and author of several books including Earth Speaks and Don't Run from Bears will share this presentation and engage your questions regarding the impacts of climate change and ways to build ecosystem resiliency in the Gorge. He will present on May 27, from 7-8:30 p.m. on Zoom. Register HERE.

Webinar: Managing Stress in the midst of COVID-19 presented by Care@Work: Stress is a normal part of our day-to-day lives. However, in this new era of COVID-19, when you add working from home, home-schooling your kids, and caregiving for ailing parents to the external stressors of our uncertain world, it can be a dizzying balancing act. How can you manage stress when you feel like you have no time for yourself? There are some tangible things you can do to avoid burnout, even when you feel like you have limited time. This seminar will address: Warning signs of a stress overload, techniques to reduce stress and enhance well-being, and ways to get the support and help needed to balance work and life. May 28, 2-3 p.m. Register today.

Take Note

NEW! Call for submissionsThe ADVANCE Journal, hosted by OREGON STATE ADVANCE, announces a special issue in honor of the 20th anniversary of the National Science Foundation’s ADVANCE program. The special issue theme is Collaborations, Collisions, and Connections. The goal of ADVANCE “is to increase the representation and advancement of women in academic science and engineering careers.” Additional information and submissions portal found here: https://www.advancejournal.org/post/444. Deadline for submissions is March 31, 2021.

NEW! InclusiveExcellence@OSU: IE@OSU is a professional development program for STEM faculty to understand and confront inequities in STEM education. The IE@OSU team is recruiting interested faculty for the Fall 2020 cohort of Fellows. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Fall Academy is shifting to a virtual format, which will take place over the course of Fall term. More information about the program can be found here. If you are interested in participating, please click here to complete a short survey; deadline to indicate interest is Friday, June 5. Please contact program coordinator Ann Sitomer with any questions.

Computer Security for Students: University Information Technology has released an “IT Security Program for Students,” with three courses touching on IT security. The topics are: Social Engineering, Email and Phishing, and Creating a Cyber Secure Home. The program is available on Bridge under Student Wellbeing and Support, or can be accessed directly here: https://students-oregonstate.bridgeapp.com/learner/programs/c8ee7dda/enroll. Faculty can also review the program at that link.

Saving Atlantis: Saving Atlantis, a feature documentary produced by Oregon State University that features researchers from OSU and around the world uncovering the causes and seeking solutions for the global decline of coral reef ecosystems, is now streaming on Hulu and Amazon Prime

Beavers Read: During social isolation, it can help to have good things to read -- to pass the time, to calm your mind, to help you keep learning. OSU Libraries is here to help you find your next good read -- and make sure it is something you can read safely from home. Just fill out this survey to get an email with personalized recommendations: https://oregonstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4GHk9YYcjKaHSfz.

World Oceans Day is June 8: The OSU Marine Studies Initiative is compiling OSU-led events and resources to recognize this day and help raise awareness about the importance of a healthy ocean. We invite you to join this celebratory effort. Is your college or unit hosting or involved with seminars or other special events at the end of May through mid-June that raise awareness about issues of the coasts and ocean? If yes, send the information to us at [email protected]  

Online Professional Development Workshops for OSU Employees Now Open for Registration: UHR Learning and Organizational Development is presenting a variety of online professional development workshops in the upcoming weeks, including: Choose Your Attitude; Running Effective Remote Meetings; Strategies for Being Effective in Times of Uncertainty; and Coaching: A Process for Developing Talent. View and register for upcoming workshops here. Did you know we can also tailor workshops for your team? Email [email protected] with your request.

Faculty & Staff COVID-19 Disaster Relief Fund Under IRS Code Section 139: In collaboration with the OSU Foundation, Oregon State University is offering emergency financial assistance grants through the OSU Faculty and Staff COVID-19 Disaster Relief Fund. The purpose of this fund is to help regular classified and unclassified employees in our university community with unexpected needs during this unprecedented time of the COVID-19 pandemic. All classified staff, professional faculty and academic/research faculty are eligible regardless of service time or FTE. An individual must be actively employed on the date of grant distribution. Read more about the details of the program here. Student hourly employees, graduate assistants, and stipend recipients (e.g., fellows) are not eligible. There are separate programs for students located here: https://financialaid.oregonstate.edu/covid-19.

Weather

"We all really basically have a lot of magic … it’s only those of us that choose to accept it that really understand it." ~ Stevie Nicks, who turns 72 today.

Corvallis: Partly sunny, high of 74, low of 50. Mostly sunny tomorrow.

Central Oregon: Partly sunny, high of 73, low of 47. Sunny tomorrow.

Newport: Partly sunny, high of 61, low of 51. Mostly sunny tomorrow.

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