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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: Seeking ways to foster student engagement in the second half of the term? Encourage students to join remote study groups with peers if they haven’t already done so. The Academic Success Center offers successful study group strategies and tips for students. Visit Keep Teaching for all the Week 6 Timely Teaching Tips.
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.
Oregon State University professor Chunhuei Chi likes the plan—but not when it starts. He wants to see Oregon's cases shrink even further before the governor lifts the stay-home order. Thirty cases a day in Oregon, he says, may be too many—and it's less than half of what the state is recording now. (Another public health specialist, Carlos Crespo of Portland State University, says the trigger for reopening Oregon should be when no one is dying from the virus.)
In the ongoing struggle to address health care disparities in rural communities across the U.S., a recent Oregon State University study found that the perfect partner may be hiding in plain sight.
A piece co-written by OSU's Christopher Stout, associate professor in the department of political science.
“Watch out for the people who seem to gloat over the fact that their decades-old predictions of large-scale college closures are coming true. It's like a dam bursting and then claiming you accurately predicted a wet spring.”— Jon Boeckenstedt. Boeckenstedt, vice provost for enrollment management at Oregon State University, in a tweet from a Twitter thread lamenting that Covid-19 will be the lever that will undo many small colleges across the country.
"The 'green new deal' has been the headline, but very few have been talking about the oceans in those conversations," said Steven Dundas, an environmental and resource economist in Oregon State University's College of Agricultural Sciences and the Coastal Oregon Marine Experiment Station in Newport, Oregon.
Hands-on work is a key component of Kyle Webb’s energy systems engineering lab at Oregon State University-Cascades. Piece by piece, his students are building an audio equalizer, which is a speaker that can adjust the bass, mid-level or treble volumes of any song.
The research, led by Oregon State University’s Catalina Segura, is an important step toward understanding how intensively managed plantations might influence water supplies originating in forests and downstream aquatic ecosystems, especially as the planet becomes warmer and drier.
Leanne Lai, a network research assistant in the College of Engineering, is one of the IT experts in the college who are rising to the challenge as technology “first responders,” working around the clock to smooth the transition to remote teaching, remote meetings and remote living. In the opinion of Gabor Temes, professor of electrical and computer engineering, Lai went above and beyond when she helped him set up a system at home to teach ECE 627, an advanced course about data conversion.
With years of experience in online education, Katie Jager knew she was well positioned for Oregon State’s transition to remote instruction in the face of COVID-19. But she also knew that around 95% of the 20-person statistics faculty was somewhat less ready. So she jumped in to help.
Brandi Sigmon's cob scanner is based on blueprints provided by Oregon State University. She has been planning to build the device since learning about its capabilities at a conference in March 2019. Campus facility closures due to COVID-19 allowed for the time to complete the project.
The Oregon State University Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps is scheduled to move this summer from the Naval ROTC Armory, located in the Quonset huts along SW Washington Way, to a renovated space in the west side of Cascade Hall.
Today’s workspaces: Scott Duggan, Extension Livestock Field faculty, likes to work outdoors. “The dog (Stitch) sure likes having me home. So far, I believe my wife does too.”
Kelli Watcherson, administrative office manager and local liaison with Yamhill County Extension service, says “This is my 'bonus' pooch ... a Great Dane named Piglet who lives next door. He was practicing excellent social distancing while checking on my new home office.” Send your home workspace photos to [email protected]. They are being run in the order received. Follow OSU Today on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/osutoday1/ and catch up on any workspace photos you might have missed so far.
Beaver Classic Cheese is still available: Come stock up on your favorite cheeses at the Corvallis Farmer’s Market. Every Wednesday & Saturday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Buy your groceries direct from the source.
Bioinformatics Users Group (BUG): "A look inside deep learning for bioinformatics, i.e. How do modern neural networks work, and why might they be useful in biology?" - Shawn O'Neil (Center for Genome Research & Biocomputing), Wednesday, May 6 at noon to 1 p.m. in the remote broadcast Zoom room https://oregonstate.zoom.us/j/344627115. 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
Investment and PERS webinars: The Maps Credit Union CFS investment team is conducting a Weekly Wednesday 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 6, 2 p.m. - LTC - Do you have a gap in your strategy? Wednesday, May 6, noon - ABC + D of Medicare. Thursday, May 7, noon - Retirement Planning as a PERS Member
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.
Ph.D. Defense – Sustainable Forest Management: Rong Fang will present her research, “Measuring and Modeling the Crown Structure of Coniferous Trees with Point Clouds Data,” on Wednesday, May 6, at 3 p.m. via Zoom. Rong is pursuing her Ph.D. in Sustainable Forest Management with her major professor, Dr. Bogdan Strimbu, in the Department of Forest Engineering, Resources and Management.
The OSU Western Forestry Graduate Research Symposium is excited to announce their 2020 lineup: WFGRS will be held on Zoom in a series of 1.25-hour talk blocks from 3-4:15 p.m., as part of the College of Forestry’s Stay at Home Lecture Series: https://www.forestry.oregonstate.edu/stay-home-lecture-series. See the attached schedule for WFGRS presentations on May 6. Students who submit feedback forms after viewing presentations will be entered into a raffle for $50 Peak Sports gift cards. Use the WFGRS feedback form available on the Stay at Home Series website, or here. Faculty interested in giving presenter feedback should please email [email protected] or [email protected] to sign up.
Women of Color student discussion group: Zoom in every Wednesday from 3-4 p.m., by registering at https://beav.es/4MH. Contact Shaznin Daruwalla for registration help at [email protected]
Beavers Belong: Beavers Belong is a support network for students, by students. Our program’s goal is to create connection, community and belonging through weekly peer-led groups. Spring term 2020 undergraduate student groups start week 3. For Mondays at 11 a.m., register here: https://beav.es/4Yz; for Thursdays at 5 p.m., register here: https://beav.es/4YK. Graduate student groups take place on Tuesdays at noon. Register: https://beav.es/4Az. Recruiting directors and leaders for 2020-21. Apply today at https://beav.es/4YV.
EOP career panel: The Educational Opportunities Program is celebrating its 50th year of supporting Oregon State University students. This virtual career panel will feature EOP alumni of color discussing their experience transitioning from college to professional careers. May 8, noon to 1 p.m. Register to receive the link to the Zoom panel/event at https://app.joinhandshake.com/events/492877
Career Group Counseling: Does COVID-19 have you feeling anxious or stressed about your path from college to career? An OSU career counselor and CAPS counselor will facilitate several small-group dialogue sessions for OSU students. Join us for one of these sessions to get ideas from your fellow classmates, hear shared questions about reaching future career goals in the midst of Covid-19, and hear from people at the university who are dedicated to helping you succeed. This will be an informal conversation and all students are welcome. Session 3: Week 7 – Wednesday, May 13 (noon to 1 p.m.); Register Here.
OSU Digital Days of Service. While the ways we support each other are changing, the creativity and resilience of problem-solving Beavers remain as steady as ever. Join fellow Beavs for the first-ever DIGITAL Days of Service May 1-16. Pledge to volunteer, then inspire others to do the same — share about your project and how it felt to help your OSU and local communities.
Prepare Beavers for success beyond Oregon State: Help the Class of 2020 thrive wherever their next steps lead. The OSU Alumni Association’s Winning in Life After College engaging digital event series on life skills and career strategies includes tools for successful online job and grad school searches, LinkedIn presence and personal finances — plus opportunities to network through the “I Wish I Knew” alumni panel and virtual career fair, hosted by the College of Business and Career Development Center. Share the schedule of events, open to all students and alumni.
Virtual event: Valuing diversity in teams. Tune in via Zoom on May 13 from noon to 1 p.m. with former Beaver Basketball player Eric Knox ‘89. In this OSU Alumni Association and Portland Business Roundtable live webcast, you’ll hear Eric’s story of valuing diversity and building teams, both on and off the court, as an admired coach and community leader. Eric coached the Benson High School girls’ basketball team from unranked to state champs in just two years and uses his energetic personality to inspire youth both athletically and professionally. Listen and learn as he shares his tips for supporting and elevating students in his community. Register now.
NEW! Public health seminar: The College of Public Health and Human Sciences is meeting the current public health crisis head-on and hosting its Friday Research Seminars online from 1-2 p.m. most Fridays. On Friday, May 8, Shannon E. Jarrott, Ph.D., professor of social work, College of Social Work, Ohio State University, will present “The intergenerational compact: Need and support for intergenerational relationships during COVID and beyond” via Zoom. See upcoming presentations and recordings of past presentations at health.oregonstate.edu/seminars and learn how the CPHHS is Meeting the Moment.
NEW! TrekWars@OSU 2020: Normally held on campus, this year’s TrekWars has gone online as OSU faculty Joseph Orosco (philosophy) and Randall Milstein (physics and Space Grant) explore what the villains of Star Trek and Star Wars have to tell us about the nature of being evil and our cultural anxieties through the ages. Which universe has the baddest villains? What do the villains tell us about ourselves? Westworld, The Expanse, Firefly and Flash Gordon are also discussed. View here: https://beav.es/485
Center for Teaching & Learning SPARKSHOPS: Join Sophie Pierszalowski, Associate Director of Undergraduate Research, for an hour-long presentation with the question "Do you mentor undergraduates in research?" Join us for an overview of practices to make mentoring undergraduate researchers effective and efficient. Attendees will discover the benefits of engaging in research partnerships for both student and mentor. May 7, noon. Join Zoom Meeting
Beavers SAVE Lives: An Introduction to Suicide Prevention. Learn how to reach out and help a friend. Suicide is one of the most preventable causes of death. This workshop will provide the skills you need to effectively help or intervene with a friend or family member who is considering suicide. The training is offered on two dates in May: May 12 from noon to 2 p.m. and May 20 from 3-5 p.m. https://beav.es/4n3
Core Curriculum for Current OSU Supervisors and Managers: Consists of online modules followed by 4 half-days of classroom training via Zoom. Topics include the performance management cycle (position descriptions, expectations/standards, engagement, appraisals, and integration), equal employment and affirmative action, ADA, discrimination and misconduct, safety and compensation, and supervising represented employees. May 12-15 via Zoom, 8:15 am to noon each day. Registration required.
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 21, 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
BennyBuy Update: The eProcurement HelpDesk is pleased to announce that both Fisher Scientific LLC and ThermoFisher Scientifiic have been added as Punchout vendors in BennyBuy. Their Punchout stickers can be found in the Lab Supplies section of the shopping showcase. Please contact [email protected] if you have questions.
OSU Extension Service Office Offering Pressure Gauge Testing: Pressure canner gauge testing is available at the Clackamas County Extension Service, where a safety risk management plan has been implemented. Call (503) 655-8631 to schedule an appointment. If you need to get your gauge tested, but are uncomfortable coming to the OSU Extension Service office, the Family & Community Health Program recommends that you convert your dial gauge canner to a weighted gauge canner, as weighted gauge canners do not require testing. If you own a Presto pressure canner, you can purchase a 3-piece weighted gauge from a store that offers canning equipment. If you own an All American canner, you can purchase a conversion kit online. For more information about pressure canners, consult the publication “Using and Caring for your Pressure Canner:” https://catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu/pnw421
Updates to University Policies & Standards: Please visit the University Policy & Standards page to learn about recent policy updates: http://policy.oregonstate.edu/whats-new. This page is updated frequently with new developments, so we encourage you to check back regularly. Also, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter here.
DAM Good Self Care 30-Day Challenge: Celebrate Mental Health Month by taking good care of yourself. Explore a variety of challenges centered around mental, emotional, and physical health. Learn new stress relief techniques and strategies, practice gratitude, get active in creative ways and connect with friends along the way. Visit https://beav.es/4W6 to get started.
Student Multimedia Studio is open: Student Multimedia Studio (SMS) is providing remote support during Spring 2020. Media consultants are available for virtual drop-in Zoom sessions. SMS has ongoing pop-in virtual workshops. Visit the SMS website for hours and media how-to tutorials.
Health and safety: The University Health & Safety Committee wants to promote health and safety by providing the following information from IT in regards to working from home: https://uit.oregonstate.edu/keep-working/home-setup. 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.
"We're born alone, we live alone, we die alone. Only through our love and friendship can we create the illusion for the moment that we're not alone." ~ Orson Welles, born today in 1915.
Corvallis: Showers likely and then partly sunny, high of 62, low of 59. Sunny tomorrow.
Central Oregon: Sunny today, high of 58, low of 36. Sunny tomorrow.
Newport: Showers and then mostly sunny, high of 56, low of 40. Sunny tomorrow.
Statewide: For OSU employees around the state, find your local forecast here: http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/pqr/