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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.
For the third time in six years, Oregon State University is ranked as one of America’s five best providers of online education by U.S. News & World Report.
OSU's Bob Cowen, head of the National Association of Marine Laboratories, sees climate change as a challenge, but also a scientific opportunity. “We’re feeling it, and we’re also studying it at the same time as best we can,” he said. If labs like this one have to shut down, decades of on-site measurements could be disrupted — and, researchers say, academic budgets might not allow replacements to be built, or built on a comparable scale.
And farmers can use a little help every now and then with practices and procedures, which are available from the Southern Oregon Research and Extension Center, SOREC. It provides classes for the general public--extending the mission of Oregon State University far and wide.
OSU’s Oak Creek Center for Urban Horticulture recently achieved Certified Wildlife Habitat status from the National Wildlife Federation.
“Dr. Barton is outstandingly creative,” says Bill Ripple, an ecologist at Oregon State University best known for his research on the role of the gray wolf in shaping food webs and landscapes in North America. He is also a co-author on the wolf-grasshopper paper. “He just gets outside and starts noticing.”
Researchers from Oregon State University (OSU) and Northern Illinois University have been examining how common movements done in VR are contributing to muscle strain and discomfort in users.
College students have been using more and more marijuana in recent years, but that trend has been particularly pronounced in states where the drug is legal, according to a new Oregon State University study. (see also NY Post)
A piece by Nicole Sanchez with OSU Klamath Basin Research & Extension Service.
Winter celebration: The President's Winter Coffee took place yesterday in the MU Lounge. It was the final time that President Ed Ray, who is retiring from the position, will be hosting the event, which features treats, coffee, cocoa and plenty of time to socialize near the MU's two blazing fireplaces. To see more photos from the event: https://www.flickr.com/photos/oregonstateuniversity/albums/72157712669305556
Compliance in the Classroom: Students’ experiences of college vary depending on how students perceive the institution affirms their identities and experiences in the classroom. Join staff from the Office of the Registrar, Disability Access Services and Equal Opportunity and Access for an informative session on equitable classroom practices to create inclusive classroom practices that ensure federal compliance. Wednesday, Jan. 15, 10-11 a.m., 202 Kidder Hall.
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 on Wednesday, Jan. 15 from 10-11:30 a.m. in Milam 215. Register for the Curriculum Mapping Workshop
NEW! Trip to France: Join Professors James Sterns and Dominique Bachelet for a 4-credit faculty-led program in France from June 16-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; explore farms, vineyards, food processors and distributors, retailers, restaurants and cafes while also discovering a number of museums and historic sites as well as a nuclear power plant. For more information, pick up the program brochure at https://oregonstate-idea.terradotta.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Programs.ViewProgramAngular&id=10462, or attend the OSU Go Study Abroad Open Advising event on Jan. 15, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., MU Horizon Room, or the Honors College HC-cubed on Jan. 21, 8:30-10 a.m. IN LINC 340.
Triad luncheon: Susanne Brander, College of Agriculture, “Microplastics in the environment.” Thursday, Jan. 16, noon, MU 211. Event is free; optional catered lunch is available for $13. Contact Janice Nave-Abele, [email protected] to reserve lunch. 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. More info: https://triad.oregonstate.edu/
Bioinformatics Users Group (BUG): "Genetic code expansion and augmented metabolism: stop codon repurposing in bacteria, i.e. Faulty annotation in metagenomics means you can't find what you're not looking for" - Veronika Kivenson (Giovannoni Lab, Microbiology), Wednesday, Jan. 15 from noon to 1 p.m. in ALS 3005. BUG consists of life scientists, bioinformaticians, computer scientists, mathematicians, engineers, statisticians and researchers of all types who meet to discuss topics related to these fields of study. Meetings are generally informal, consisting of discussions, interactive talks or short workshops. All are welcome. No experience needed to participate. For additional information, see https://cgrb.oregonstate.edu/bug
NWRGP Guest: Chad Higgins, “Chad’s Magical Mystery Nexus”: Chad Higgins of the College of Agricultural Sciences & Biological and Ecological Engineering will be giving a seminar Jan. 15, noon to 1 p.m., in ALS B 4001. Free.
Tuition Forums: The University Budget Committee has begun meeting to discuss recommendations for tuition rates for the 2020-21 academic year. As part of developing recommendations for the Board of Trustees, representatives of the Budget Committee and the Office of Budget and Resource Planning are offering a series of weekly forums to discuss tuition rates, proposals for tuition increases, and to answer any questions about tuition and the university budget. The first forum is Wednesday, Jan. 15 from 3 to 4 p.m. in the Memorial Union Trysting Tree Lounge. The schedule for subsequent forums and a short discussion of common questions about tuition are available on the Budget website. The committee welcomes questions, comments, and ideas. For more information, to provide an idea or opinion, or to ask a question please contact Laurie Henry.
Amphibian population decline: The second Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology Seminar of the term takes place Wednesday, Jan 15 at 4 p.m. in Withycombe 109. Andrew Blaustein, university Distinguished Professor in the Department of Integrative Biology, will give a talk titled, “Complex causes of amphibian population declines: lessons from disease ecology.” Blaustein is a leading scholar in disease ecology and animal behavior, conducting important work on amphibian deformities and population declines, and on host-pathogen biology with a particular focus on Chytrid fungus. Connect online via Zoom https://oregonstate.zoom.us/j/565744050, meeting ID: 565-744-050.
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 Walsh, Ingrid Arocho and Jen Myers for this faculty-led program. See our program brochure and attend an info session on Jan. 15 or Feb. 12 at 5 p.m. in Strand 148.
NEW! Leave No Trace Presentation: The Adventure Leadership Institute will be hosting Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers for a session Wednesday, Jan. 15, 6-8 p.m. in the Dixon Lower Classroom. Come learn how to be good stewards of our environment while participating in outdoor activities. Admission is free.
NEW! SEIU and Allies meeting: SEIU will hold a union meeting for all represented employees and allies Jan. 16, 11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in Willamette West Seminar Room, third Floor of Valley Library. They will discuss local elections for the OSU Local SEIU union and important opportunities for supporting 1) workers in arbitration 2) Faculty members in bargaining 3) SEIU workers at Conifer House who are facing a tough bargaining situation. Past campus organizer Craig Mahaffey will speak. For more information contact Siobhan Burke at 630-699-0281 or [email protected]
NEW! Budget conversation: On Thursday, Jan. 16 at noon, the Office of Budget & Resource Planning will hold another University Budget Conversation in the Memorial Union Room 215. This week’s topic is the OSU Foundation and private fundraising. The Budget Conversation sessions are limited to 60 minutes and are an open-forum structure with the initial 15-20 minutes spent on presentation of the topic, leaving time for discussion and Q&A. We encourage you to bring your lunch and join the conversation and to learn more about OSU’s budgeting and fiscal matters. More information about University Budget Conversations is located on the Office of Budget & Resource Planning website. If you have questions, please contact Sherm Bloomer for more information.
NEW! OSU Astronomy Club presents Cosmos: The OSU Astronomy Club will be hosting a free showing of Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey featuring Neil deGrasse Tyson. This event is open to everyone of all ages and you can find more about the event at: https://www.facebook.com/events/681013462435951/. Any questions can be directed to the facebook page or by contacting the Astronomy Club at [email protected]. This is a weekly event held on Thursdays during winter term, from 5-6 p.m. in Wenger 151.
NEW! Music à la Carte: Victoria Wolff (cello) and Sunghee Kim (piano) perform Jan. 17, noon, in the MU Lounge.
School Supplies Giveaway: In need of some free school supplies? Stop by Champinefu Lodge on Thursday, Jan. 16 from 2 to 5 p.m. to get some school supplies including notebooks, binders, pens and more. This event is free to attend and is hosted by the OSU Waste Watchers club.
$5K Innovation Days Award & Innovation Days event: OSU faculty are invited to join the OSU Advantage office for an Innovation Days event on Thursday, Jan. 16 at 3 p.m. 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.
Speed Friending: Make new friends fast. Join the Active Minds student club for an evening of dinner, fun and friendship. Open to OSU students. Thursday, Jan. 16 from 7-9 p.m., in the Memorial Union Ballroom. Contact Tessie Webster-Henry at [email protected] for more info. Hosted by CAPS and the Active Minds student club.
Faculty/staff free nutrition counseling: The OSU dietetic interns are offering free nutrition counseling sessions to faculty and staff this winter. Appointments are available Jan. 17 at 1 or 2 p.m. We also have openings Friday, Feb. 14 at noon or 1 p.m. Can count towards your HEM requirement. Email [email protected] to schedule your appointment.
OSUsed Store Public Sales: The OSUsed Store is open for its weekly public sales Friday noon-3 p.m. at 644 SW 13th. Personal purchases must be made during public sales. Staff may shop for their department Mondays through Thursdays, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. More information on our website.
SAC Presents performing arts series: Schick Machine, created by a multi-disciplinary team, features percussionist Steven Schick exploring a stage filled with large-scale invented instruments. Makers, musicians, design enthusiasts and science buffs alike will enjoy the group’s aural and visual surprises, quickly relinquishing any preconception about what an instrument should look like or sound like. Join Schick on the stage to play the instruments after the performance. Jan. 18 from 7:30-9:30 p.m. in the LaSells Stewart Center.
MLK Jr. Day of Service: Students, faculty, staff, and their partners and children are all invited to participate in OSU’s largest day of service of the year on Saturday, Jan. 18. Projects will take place at various times with most projects starting in the morning. They include indoor and outdoor service activities with the City of Corvallis, Parks and Rec and Linn-Benton Food Share. For more information, contact [email protected]. To register for a project, visit: https://apps.ideal-logic.com/osucce?key=F3T9-25VWY_K9KH-5PTF_e3fad1a6
MLK Celebration: Free tickets for the 38th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. peace breakfast are now available to OSU faculty, staff and students for the event on Monday, Jan. 20 at 9 a.m. at the CH2M HILL Alumni Center ballroom. The celebration week runs Jan. 18-24. After the breakfast, Raquel Willis, a black queer transgender activist, writer and the executive editor of Out Magazine, will be the keynote speaker for the celebration lecture at 11 a.m. at the LaSells Stewart Center. The keynote session is free and open to the public; tickets are not required. To register for the breakfast and for a full list of events, visit https://diversity.oregonstate.edu/mlk. For info, contact [email protected] or 541-737-4717.
Board of Trustees: The OSU Board will meet from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 24, in the Horizon Room of the Memorial Union. The board will consider the university’s 10-year business forecast, amendments to its conduct of board meetings policy, the election of board officers, and the board’s 2020 work plan. The board also will hear updates on the upcoming legislative session, implementation of Strategic Plan 4.0 and the university’s food insecurity initiatives. The board will hold an executive session pursuant to ORS 192.660(2)(d) to conduct deliberations with persons designated by the governing body to carry on labor negotiations. Committees of the board will meet from 8 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 23 and from 8 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 24 in the Horizon Room of the Memorial Union. The agendas and meeting materials will be posted as they are available at http://oregonstate.edu/leadership/trustees/meetings. For accommodations: (541) 737-3449 or [email protected] at least 48 hours in advance.
NEW! OSU Anthropology Lecture Series: Leilani Sabzalian, assistant professor of Indigenous Studies in the College of Education at the University of Oregon, will present “Survivance Storytelling as Indigenous Educational Research” on Friday, Jan 17, from noon to 12:50 p.m. in LINC 314. The lecture is free and open to all. For further information, contact Shaozeng Zhang at [email protected].
NEW! Mental health talk: The College of Public Health and Human Sciences (CPHHS) presents “Optimizing mental health across the lifespan,” by OSU professors Karen Hooker and Carolyn Aldwin, Ph.D. student Lan Doan, OCHI Director Allison Myers and Associate Professor of Practice Marion Ceraso. Friday, Jan. 17, 1-2 p.m., HFC 115/Bray Leadership Conference Room.
NEW! MLK Soul Force: Careers Through a Lens of Faith: MLK’s legacy fighting for justice — for civil rights, labor unions, the poor people’s campaign and against the Vietnam War — was largely fueled and sustained by his faith. Panelists will discuss how their work, like that of MLK, is inspired and sustained by their faith and religious, secular or spiritual identity. Jan. 22, 4:30-6 p.m., Westminster House, 101 N.W. 23rd St. Register here.
NEW! Difference, Power, and Discrimination Academy Applications: Faculty applications are being accepted for the DPD Academy scheduled to be held June 15-26. 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.
Flash Panel on Iran - Understanding the US-IRAN Conflict: Panelists include: Courtney Campbell, Jon Katz, Christopher McKnight Nichols, all from the School of History, Philosophy & Religion, and Philipp Kneis, School of Public Policy. Moderated by Amy Koehlinger, School of History, Philosophy & Religion. Thursday, Jan. 16, 5 p.m. Milam 318.
Winter 2020 Black Minds Matter Course: The Educational Opportunities Program (EOP) and Advancing Academic Equity for Student Success will again host the Black Minds Matter course. This free seven-week hybrid course provides academic teaching and professional faculty members an opportunity to engage in conversations and activities that focus on issues affecting Black students' success in higher education. The kickoff session will take place on Friday, Jan. 17 at 10 a.m. Register for the course this winter by emailing [email protected].
Multi-level allyship in academia: Join Women and Science and Women in Policy for a conversation about multi-level allyship in academia (e.g., individual, institutional). The lunch will be lead by Pamela Devan. Pamela is a Ph.D. candidate in sociology at Boston University; her dissertation focuses on questions of belonging and community among queer women in Singapore. Lunch and refreshments will be served. Friday, Jan. 17, noon, MU 206.
Search Advocate program: The OSU Search Advocate Program has scheduled a two-part workshop series in partnership with Extension & Engagement at the North Willamette Research and Extension Center in Aurora. Session 1 takes place Jan. 17 and Session 2 will be held Feb. 14. Search advocates are outside process advisors who serve on search committees from position development through the final recommendation stage with a focus on advancing equity, validity, and diversity. To learn more about the workshops/program and to register, go to the Professional Development Registration website http://oregonstate.edu/training/course_list.php?cat_id=45.
PFLA luncheon: The Professional Faculty Leadership Association (PFLA) and TRIAD invite you to attend the annual Winter Luncheon Jan. 23, noon to 1:30 p.m., at the LaSells Stewart Center, Giustina Gallery. The guest speaker will be Jason O’Brien, Oregon Master Naturalist Program Coordinator. Lunch will be provided by OSU Catering, and each attendee must register by Friday, Jan. 17. Cost is $15. For more information about the event and how to register, click here: https://oregonstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4Usv2qyyFz9qqfH
Winter 2020 HWeekend event, Jan. 25-26. Have you ever wanted to make something cool but need a little help in how to do it and people to do it with? The HWeekend event is a partnership with the Inventors Enterprise club, the College of Engineering and the College of Business that helps you realize this dream. This event allows participants to use modern tools, hardware and their own innovation to make exciting and interesting prototypes in only 30 hours. The event is free to participants but space is limited so sign-up ASAP.
‘Household Energy In Guatemala” 3-credit Field Course: Students from any major are invited to travel to Guatemala for 10 days in September 2020 to learn about the household energy poverty facing 40% of the world’s families and the technologies and policies that can help to address it, as part of the humanitarian engineering program. Multiple scholarships are available to cover the in-country course fees. An info session will be held Jan. 28, 5 p.m., Rogers 226. More details on the info session are here and details about the past course here. Contact the course leader Nordica MacCarty, [email protected], with any questions.
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]
Cyber-Awareness Minute: January is the start of a new year, and marks the beginning of tax season. Cyber-scammers will use this opportunity to attempt fraud. Don’t fall for this. If you see a suspicious e-mail (tax fraud or not!), send it to [email protected]. For more information on tax-related fraud, visit the IRS at: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-scams-consumer-alerts
Data privacy: Did you know that Jan. 28 is Data Privacy Day? Learn how to protect your personal information and set your devices and applications so that you control your data. For more detail, visit: https://staysafeonline.org/data-privacy-day/
Student Self Service for financial aid: The Office of Financial Aid will be converting to the new Student Self Service system within MyOSU beginning Jan 13. The menu will have a new look so contact us if you have any questions. We can be reached at 541-737-2241 or by email at [email protected].
Nominations are open for the PNNL-OSU Distinguished Graduate Research Program: Through the PNNL-OSU Distinguished Graduate Research Program, Ph.D. candidates will earn a stipend along with benefits while on appointment under a prestigious graduate committee on nationally relevant research. It is a unique opportunity to tap into the knowledge and world-class research infrastructure available at both institutions. DGRP students will work with faculty at Oregon State and scientists at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory while completing their graduate coursework and subsequently transfer to PNNL for the remaining years of their Ph.D. program to gain hands-on research experience with PNNL scientists. More information available: https://gradschool.oregonstate.edu/awards/pnnl-osu
Older men needed for OSU multivitamin study (Corvallis): Are you a healthy, non-smoking man that is 68+ years old? Our study is looking at the role of multivitamins in improving the micronutrient status. Participants will take tablets daily for six months. For more information: [email protected] or 541-737-8730. Principal Investigator: Tory Hagen, Linus Pauling Institute, OSU.
Kognito: Recognizing and Supporting Students in Distress Training: 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 training so you can recognize and support OSU students in distress. To access the student version visit: beav.es/ZD3 For questions or to request a group facilitation of this training for your department, contact Tessie Webster-Henry: [email protected].
Affordable learning grant application: Oregon State faculty are invited to apply for affordable learning grants to offset the time and expense required to develop and/or implement high-quality, freely available learning materials in classes. All grant recipients will receive assistance from OSU’s Open Educational Resources Unit in locating, adopting or authoring zero-cost course materials. For more information, visit open.oregonstate.edu/opportunities.
“I feel like I was lucky to have a mother that allowed me to dream." ~ actor and director Regina King, who turns 49 today.
Corvallis: A slight chance of snow before 10 a.m. today and then rain possible, high of 43, low of 35. Rain likely Thursday.
Central Oregon: Slight chance of snow today, high of 31, low of 24. Chance of snow tomorrow.
Newport: Rain and snow and windy today, high of 42, low of 38. Showers tomorrow.
Statewide: For OSU employees around the state, find your local forecast here: http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/pqr/