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.  
 

Researchers at OSU receive $3 million grant to study microplastics impact on aquatic life (KVAL)

Despite the efforts we have made in recycling plastics, researchers say micro and nano plastics can still be in the air and do potential harm to aquatic life. “The problem is that plastic debris is all over in our aquatic systems right now,” said Stacy Harper, an assistant professor at OSU. “Those large pieces of plastics that we see, all kinds of fish. Those larger plastics break down into smaller plastics.”
 

OSU study finds conservatives more likely to support climate change policy when personally harmed (KLCC)

Personal experiences with natural disasters often influence support for climate change policies. An Oregon State University study surveyed 10 communities from around the country.
 

Industry executives; Profits drive rising prices for MS drugs (Science Daily)

U.S. Medicare patients with multiple sclerosis often pay, on average, nearly $7,000 out of pocket to treat their condition each year. And, even though drug companies have provided no new treatment breakthroughs, the price of these disease-modifying medications is rising by 10% to 15% each year for the past decade. To find out why, a team of researchers at Oregon Health & Science University and the OHSU/Oregon State University College of Pharmacy recruited four pharmaceutical industry executives to speak confidentiality. (see also Portland Business Journal)
 

Hops compounds may combat metabolic syndrome by changing the gut biome (News-Medical)

Compounds from hops may combat metabolic syndrome by changing the gut microbiome and altering the metabolism of acids produced in the liver, new research at Oregon State University suggests.
 

Oregon State University Army ROTC places first in competition (Gazette-TImes)

The Army Reserve Officer Training Corp at Oregon State University placed first at the Task Force West Ranger Challenge Competition, held Nov. 2-3 at Camp Rilea.
 

Oregon Christmas tree harvest a lot like last year (KTVZ)

This year’s Christmas tree shopping season is beginning to look a lot like 2018, with a tight supply and similar prices, according to Oregon State University Extension’s Christmas tree specialist.
 

Today's photo


Thanksgiving 1933: Civilian Conservation Corps Camp Sitkum 1309 Kitchen Force celebrates Thanksgiving in the Siuslaw National Forest. Photo courtesy OSU Special Collections & Archives.

Today

Tuesday Teaching + Tech Talks: Assessing Student Work: Join Funmi Amobi to explore the purpose of and approaches to assessing and responding to student work. +Tech Talk: Explore Gradescope, a web app that improves the efficiency of assessing handwritten student work such as graphs, diagrams, equations, short answers etc. This workshop will be facilitated twice in Milam 215, Nov 26, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. No need to register – just come on by. Learn more here. Contact us here.

The London Classroom (CPHHS): Join Professor Ellen Smit for a three week, 9-credit faculty led program in London from June 28 - July 18, 2020.  While living in London's East End, students will explore London's eclectic mix of cultures, universal health care system, and a wealth of historical artifacts to analyze the past, present, and future of public health and health care. Students will trace John Snow's footsteps in his landmark epidemiological cholera investigation, meet health care and public health professionals, and visit a number of health care and health promotion facilities.  For more information, visit the program brochure and/or join one of several info sessions held in Milam 159: Nov. 26 at 3 p.m., Dec. 5 at noon and Jan. 28 at 3 p.m.

Department of Horticulture Seminar: David Leon, Ph.D. candidate, will speak on “Development of a fertilizer blend for coffee in Peru.” Tuesday, Nov. 26, 4 p.m. in ALS 4000. The event is free and open to the public. The seminar will also be streaming on Zoom at https://oregonstate.zoom.us/j/865508171. For more information and to view the entire Department of Horticulture Fall Seminar Series schedule, go to https://horticulture.oregonstate.edu/horticulture-0.

OSUsed Store Public Sales: The OSUsed Store is open for its weekly public sales Tuesday 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. 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.

OSU Lyric: Scenes and selections from W.A. Mozart’s “Le nozze di Figaro,”Die Zauberflote,” “Cosi fan tutte” and “Don Giovanni.” 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 26, at Ashbrook School, 4045 SW Research Way, Corvallis. $10 advance, $15 door. OSU students with ID and K-12 youth free. Advance tickets at: liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/musicevents

Events

Volunteering at OSU: Do you want to learn more about volunteering opportunities at OSU? Then attend “Volunteering at OSU” presented by OSU’s Director of STEM Academy and Food Security Programs Coordinator, Dec. 2, 1-2 p.m.,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.

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. 4, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. There will be discounts throughout the store and food and wine will be served. Faculty/staff ID required at the door.

Sigma Xi Science Social: Join Sigma Xi's Oregon State University Chapter for a free, no-host informal social/meetup Thursday, Dec. 5, at 5 p.m. at McMenamin's on Monroe, across from the OSU campus. Nonmember guests are welcome to attend, especially if they are involved in science. RSVP to [email protected] to provide a head count and to receive event updates.

Lectures, Workshops, Webinars

Supervisor training: The Core Curriculum for Current Supervisors and Managers training program, presented by the Office of Human Resources, has new sessions 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. View dates and register.

The Social Justice Education Initiative schedule for fall still has openings: From Faculty Affairs, the SJEI is an  foundational professional development program for all faculty, staff and graduate students. SJEI offers a varied schedule of Tier One and Tier Two workshops, all open now for registration. Join your colleagues to begin, or expand, your equity and inclusion journey in this program. Interested in this work for your unit? Contact SJEI Director Jane Waite for further information: [email protected]

Search Advocate workshopsRegister now for the fall, winter or spring search advocate workshop series. Search advocates are external process advisors for employee search committees, working to enhance equity, validity and diversity. Become a search advocate by completing the two-part workshop series, which introduces the search advocate role and strategies, provides an overview of implicit bias, diversity and the legal environment for hiring, and does a deep dive into early stages of the search process. For more information, see http://searchadvocate.oregonstate.edu or contact Anne Gillies, search advocate program director in Faculty Affairs.

Take Note

NEW! Gift Drive for OSU Kid’s Gift Closet: The Family Resource Center Kid’s Gift Closet helps provide gifts for children of OSU students during holidays and celebrations. Thanks to our generous sponsors, last year’s gift closet was a huge success and we had many grateful families. A remodel of our Kid’s Gift Closet space is under way and we want to have plenty of toys/gifts once it is complete, just in time for the winter holidays. We need your help to stock our closet. Consider donating as an individual, an office and/or a department. To donate gifts or learn more about this program, contact [email protected] or 541-737-4906.

NEW! Trip to France: Join professors James Sterns and Dominique Bachelet for a four-credit, faculty-led program in France from June 16 through July 3, 2020. Let the cities of Lyon and Paris be your classrooms for 18 days. Explore France’s response to climate change and experience French food culture. Students will meet food producers as well as climate scientists, and explore farms, vineyards, food processors and distributors, retailers and restaurants/cafes while also visiting museums and historic sites. For more information, pick up the program brochure and/or contact the organizers.

NEW! Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Arts (URSA) Engage Program: Participating faculty mentors are looking for undergraduates to engage in paid research experiences with them through the URSA Engage Program. For example, Jason Dorsette, an URSA Engage mentor, is looking to connect with early-career undergraduate students who are interested in researching issues of access and equity for underrepresented students. Learn more about how students can apply to URSA Engage here. For information, contact Sophie Pierszalowski, associate director of undergraduate research, at [email protected] or 541-737-4892.


Beavers Fight Hunger: This holiday season, join your colleagues in the fight to end student hunger at OSU. Every day, 2 in 5 college students skip meals to make ends meet. Visit the campaign website to make a gift (every donation is matched) and learn more about this important issue. Every dollar raised will directly fund the OSU Human Services Resource Center, such as the food pantry and other programs that help reduce food insecurity among our students. 

OSU Today reminder: OSU Today will not be published Nov. 28-29 due to the Thanksgiving holiday and will resume publication Dec. 2.

Extended Deadline for Hybrid Course Proposals: To allow more time for proposal preparation, the Center for Teaching and Learning has extended the due date for proposals for the Winter '20 Hybrid Faculty Learning Community until Tuesday, Dec. 3. See the updated Call for Proposals (Beav.es/ZRx) Questions: [email protected].

Learning Corner — UPDATES: The Academic Success Center’s online resource, the Learning Corner, has been refreshed. Find a new home page and updated topic pages that combine research, strategies, techniques and tools. And don’t worry — the strategy quiz and the worksheets page are still there. This iteration was developed to improve navigation and to create more transparent connections between topics. Check it out, share it with students and provide feedback. For questions/clarifications, email Sarah Norek.

Triad Scholarship: The TRIAD Service Scholarship was established to promote service as a value worthy of encouragement, acknowledgment and reward. The award is for $750 and up to three awards will be given this year to OSU undergraduate junior or senior students. Applications are due Dec. 6 and will be evaluated based on academic record and service activities. To apply visit Triad Scholarship Application. Questions? Contact: Gretchen Dursch, TRIAD Scholarship co-chair, [email protected]

Request for Proposals: The OSU Advantage Accelerator is seeking proposals to facilitate the further development and commercialization of OSU applied innovations. Proposals can be submitted for projects focused on bringing OSU-owned innovations invented by OSU faculty, staff, and/or graduate students in any discipline closer to market. Each project may be awarded up to $15,000. Proposals are due no later than 5 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 2. Read the full RFP here: https://advantage.oregonstate.edu/advantage-accelerator/funding-opportunities/aid-fund

Recreational Sports Advisory Board: There is an opening for an undergraduate student to join the Recreational Sports Advisory Board. For information on the advisory board and how to apply follow the link https://recsports.oregonstate.edu/about/governance/recreational-sports-advisory-board or contact [email protected] Applications are due by Friday, Dec. 6.

Traffic and Maintenance

Owen-Kearney walkway: As part of the Owen Hall Chiller Replacement project, the walkway between Owen Hall and Kearney Hall will be closed, and the Owen Hall loading dock will be intermittently occupied by construction traffic Nov. 25-26. There will also be truck and crane traffic along Campus Way and equipment noise in the area of Owen Hall, Merryfield Hall and Kearney Hall. For questions or comments on this closure, contact construction manager Jason Lundy at 541-270-0193.

Weather

“If I were given the opportunity to present a gift to the next generation, it would be the ability for each individual to learn to laugh at himself." ~ Cartoonist Charles Schulz, born today in 1922.

Corvallis: Rain today, possibly turning to snow by morning, high of 42, low of 29. Chance of rain turning to snow Wednesday. 

Central Oregon: Snow likely today, high of 34, low of 22. Snow tomorrow.

Newport: Rain today, possibly turning to snow by morning, high of 48, low of 32. Chance of rain and snow Wednesday. 

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