Life at OSU

News Archive

Filter by Category:

November - 2021

November - 2021
	Oregon State University presidential search committee named	Members of a search committee have been named to help Oregon State University’s Board of Trustees select the university’s next president.
	Five new members appointed to Oregon State University Board of Trustees	The Oregon Legislature on Wednesday confirmed the appointment of five new members to the Oregon State University Board of Trustees.
	OSU study yields a first in fossil research: Seeds sprouting from an amber-encased pine cone	CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State University research has uncovered the first fossil evidence of a rare botanical condition known as precocious germination in which seeds sprout before leaving the fruit.
	Major water birth safety study from OSU finds no increased risk of death, major trauma	Oregon State University researchers have conducted the largest study of water births to date and found they were associated with better overall outcomes than non-water births.
	OSU to host mini-symposium on 2021 ‘heat dome’ event and impact on PNW forests and trees	CORVALLIS, Ore. – The effect on trees of this year’s early summer Pacific Northwest heat wave is the subject of a Nov. 19 event hosted by the Oregon State University College of Forestry.
	Climate change will destroy familiar environments, create new ones and undermine efforts to protect sea life	Climate change is altering familiar conditions of the world’s oceans and creating new environments that could undermine efforts to protect sea life in the world’s largest marine protected areas, new research from Oregon State University shows.
	New computer model is a key step toward low-temperature preservation of 3D tissues, organs	Medical science is a key step closer to the cryopreservation of brain slices used in neurological research, pancreatic cells for the treatment of diabetes and even whole organs thanks to a new computer model that predicts how tissue’s size will change during the preservation process.
	OSU-Cascades fall enrollment shows an increase in degree-seeking students, students taking more classes	The number of students pursuing degrees in fall term at Oregon State University – Cascades increased 2% over the previous year, and students are taking significantly more courses.
	Oregon State fall enrollment sets record, driven by in-person and online offerings	Oregon State University’s fall 2021 enrollment again has reached record levels, with strong demand for in-person and online classes, a continued rise in students of color and surging interest in an OSU education from out-of-state students.
	Dodge the raindrops and finish fall garden tasks	Gardeners tend to think of fall as the time to put bulbs in the ground, but the warm soil and increasing moisture make it a great time to plant most anything.

October - 2021

October - 2021
	Oregon State receives $7.65 million grant to study impact of smoke on grapes and wine	Oregon State University researchers and a team of West Coast university collaborators have received a $7.65 million grant to study the impact of smoke exposure on grapes, a project that will provide critical knowledge to grape growers and winery owners severely impacted by widespread wildfire smoke in recent years.
	Aim for frustrating yet achievable challenges to keep brain active, OSU Provost’s Lecture Series speaker says	Neuroscientist, author and entrepreneur David Eagleman stressed that the brain is ever changing and encouraged people to seek difficult challenges to keep their aging brains active as part of Oregon State University’s Provost’s Lecture Series on Wednesday.
	Study of destructive California fire finds resilience planning must account for socially vulnerable	CORVALLIS, Ore. – Effective resiliency planning must account for the socially vulnerable and the many ways that schools and health care facilities serve and connect those people to their community, according to researchers who examined the aftermath of the 2018 Camp Fire that devastated Paradise, California.
	Oregon State Science Pub talk to focus on how to grow a quality Christmas tree	Oregon State University Extension’s Christmas tree specialist will talk about what it takes to grow a quality Christmas tree at OSU’s Science Pub on Nov. 8.
	Cancer cells change shape, how they move to invade different types of tissue, OSU research shows	Oregon State University research has shed new light on the way malignant cells change their shape and migration techniques to invade different types of tissue.
	Citizen scientists’ contributions a boon to snowpack modeling, OSU research shows	CORVALLIS, Ore. – Data gathered by backcountry skiers, avalanche forecasters and other snow recreationists and professionals has the potential to greatly improve snowpack modeling, research by the Oregon State University College of Engineering indicates.
	‘Blue Heart,’ an exhibit of the Japanese folk art of fish rubbing, on display at Hatfield Marine Science Center	An exhibit of works featuring the traditional Japanese folk art style of gyotaku, or fish rubbing, is now on display in the Gladys Valley Marine Studies Building at Oregon State University’s Hatfield Marine Science Center.
	Retired Marine Corps lieutenant general to speak about cyber trends and national security	Retired Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Lori Reynolds, whose career culminated with a leadership role tackling the new warfare areas of space and cyberspace, will deliver a virtual presentation sponsored by Oregon State University at 4 p.m. Oct. 28.
	Sweep wood ash from the fireplace to the garden	As you clean the fireplace, do your plants a favor and sprinkle the ashes in the garden instead of throwing them in the garbage.
	OSU’s Marine Mammal Institute to develop wildlife distribution models to inform wind energy development	Oregon State University’s Marine Mammal Institute has been awarded a $2 million grant to collect data about distribution and density of marine mammals and seabirds that will be used to inform decisions about offshore wind energy development.
	Start now to get color from last year’s poinsettias in time for the holidays	To make a poinsettia bloom in early winter, indoor gardeners simply need to adjust the amount of light and darkness to "fool" the plant.
	Neuroscientist David Eagleman to deliver lecture on the power of the brain on Oct. 27 at OSU	Neuroscientist, author and entrepreneur David Eagleman will deliver an address on brain plasticity and how the brain is constantly reconfiguring its own circuitry on Wednesday, Oct. 27 as part of the Provost’s Lecture Series at Oregon State University.
	Study yields insights into the ecology of fishing jaguars, including rare social interactions	Oregon State University researchers and a team of international scientists have gained new insights into the diet, population density and social interactions of a group of Brazilian jaguars.
	OSU study: After two hours, sunscreen that includes zinc oxide loses effectiveness, becomes toxic	CORVALLIS, Ore. – Sunscreen that includes zinc oxide, a common ingredient, loses much of its effectiveness and becomes toxic after two hours of exposure to ultraviolet radiation, according to a collaboration that included Oregon State University scientists.
	Oregon State receives $2.5 million grant to create wood stoves that burn more cleanly	CORVALLIS, Ore. – A team of Oregon State University researchers has received a $2.5 million federal grant to work on reducing harmful emissions from wood-burning stoves, a primary source of heat in Native American communities and in low-resource areas in the United States.
	Sage grouse studies find mixed results from hunting restrictions in West	Conservation of the birds prompted research led by the Oregon State University Extension Service to determine whether hunting affects the birds’ population.
	Oregon State trustees approve preliminary plans for presidential search	CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Oregon State University Board of Trustees on Friday approved preliminary plans for an open search process to begin in this month for the selection of the university’s next president.
	Oregon State microbiology research furthers understanding of ocean’s role in carbon cycling	Microbiology researchers at Oregon State University have shed new light on the mechanisms of carbon cycling in the ocean, using a novel approach to track which microbes are consuming different types of organic carbon produced by common phytoplankton species.
	Genetic analysis reveals differences in mate choice between wild and hatchery coho salmon	A new study of the genetic profiles of wild and hatchery coho salmon demonstrates important distinctions in how the two types of fish form mating pairs.
	Oregon State receives $10 million grant to study hemp market in western U.S.	Oregon State University’s Global Hemp Innovation Center has been awarded a $10 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to define economic opportunities for hemp in the western United States.
	OSU heart disease study highlights need for more data on Asian American, Pacific Islander groups	A recent Oregon State University study on cardiovascular disease among Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders revealed more about the lack of scientific literature on racial and ethnic groups with small populations than about the overall risk factors and heart disease rates.
	Oregon State Science Pub talk to focus on using Star Trek to make the world a better place	The Oregon State University Science Pub on Oct. 11 will focus on how science fiction like Star Trek movies and television programs may strengthen hope for building a better future when the world seems overcome with crises.
	Oregon State honored with national diversity and inclusion award for fourth straight year	Oregon State University has received a national award for the fourth straight year that honors colleges and universities for having a campus culture committed to diversity and inclusion.
	Oregon State fossil research leads to first description of grass in Baltic amber	Amber research by the Oregon State University College of Science has produced the first definite identification of grass in fossilized tree resin from the Baltic region, home to the world’s most well-known amber deposits.
	Seize some seeds from the garden for planting next year	The key to saving seed is selecting open-pollinated or heirloom plants, which produce offspring with the same traits.
	Medical mistrust, misinformation factor into Latino vaccine hesitancy, OSU study finds	Lack of trusted medical sources, traumatic past experiences with medical care and widespread misinformation have contributed to COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among Latino communities, a new Oregon State University study found.

September - 2021

September - 2021
	OSU study on African buffalo offers insights on persistence of highly contagious pathogens	A new Oregon State University study on foot-and-mouth disease among buffalo in South Africa could help explain how certain extremely contagious pathogens are able to persist and reach endemic stage in a population, long after they’ve burned through their initial pool of susceptible hosts.
	Value of Oregon agriculture, food and fiber sector exceeds $42 billion, number of farms grow, report shows	More than 2,000 new farms were established in Oregon in recent years, and the total value of state’s agriculture, food and fiber sector exceeds $42 billion, according to a new economic analysis report by Oregon State University researchers.
	OSU research helps uncover strikingly simple means of diagnosing ecosystem health	An international collaboration including Oregon State University researcher Bev Law says the health of a terrestrial ecosystem can be largely determined by three variables: vegetations’ ability to uptake carbon, its efficiency in using carbon and its efficiency in using water.
	Adding foliage to your chicken habitat may help increase growth, reduce infection, OSU study finds	A recent study from Oregon State University’s veterinary college found that planting hedgerows in pasture-raised chicken farms may reduce heat stress to help certain chicken breeds grow faster and increase their immune response to better enable them to fight off pathogens.
	OSU Board of Trustees and Committees to meet October 6-8	The Oregon State University Board of Trustees will meet from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 8 in the Horizon Room of the Memorial Union on the university’s Corvallis campus.
	OSU study: Thinning moderates forest fire behavior even without prescribed burns – for a while	Mechanical thinning alone can calm the intensity of future wildfires for many years, and prescribed burns lengthen thinning’s effectiveness, according to Oregon State University research involving a seasonally dry ponderosa pine forest in northeastern Oregon.
	Get your garlic on: A primer on planting, growing and harvesting	September through November is the best time to plant garlic.
	Non-native fish are main consumers of salmon in reservoirs, researchers find	When warmwater fish species like bass, walleye and crappie that are not native to the Pacific Northwest, but prized by some anglers, overlap with baby spring chinook salmon in reservoirs in Oregon’s Willamette River they consume more baby salmon than native fish per individual, new research found.
	OSU startup Inpria nets $514M acquisition for trailblazing chemical manufacturing	Inpria Corporation, which got its start at Oregon State University and whose revolutionary material used in microchips has attracted investors such as Intel and Samsung, has agreed to be acquired by Japanese firm JSR for $514 million.
	Oregon State to lead Department of Energy project to capture carbon dioxide from the air	CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State University chemistry professor May Nyman has been selected as one of the leaders of a $24 million federal effort to develop technologies for combating climate change by extracting carbon from the air.
	Give plants a head start by planting in fall	As more people push to plant in autumn, garden stores are stocking more at the end of summer.
	OSU American Strings Series opens new season in person Oct. 6 with Shook Twins	Oregon State University’s American Strings Series, presented by the College of Liberal Arts, is launching its new season at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 6, with a special outdoor program featuring the indie-folk band Shook Twins.
	Oregon State University research enterprise continues upward trend	CORVALLIS, Ore. – Research funding at Oregon State University has topped $380 million for the fifth straight fiscal year, and research expenditures by the university, a key measure of research output, rose despite the pandemic for the seventh consecutive year, increasing by 5%.
	Oregon State-led coalition pushes to increase universities' societal impacts, inclusivity	CORVALLIS, Ore. – University promotion and tenure criteria and processes should be broadened and made more inclusive to value innovation, entrepreneurship and other forms of scholarly impact, a collaboration led by Oregon State University asserts today in a paper published in Science.
	Annual research funding at OSU-Cascades is second highest in history, contributing solutions to local and global challenges	BEND, Ore. – Research funding at Oregon State University – Cascades reached $3.4 million during the past fiscal year, the second highest total in campus history.
	OSU University Day speaker gives blunt assessment of where science, higher education need to do better	Science journal Editor-in-Chief Holden Thorp provided an unvarnished view of the challenges facing higher education and the scientific community, especially in light of the pandemic, during a keynote address at Oregon State University on Tuesday.
	New forecasting tool enables proactive conservation of New Zealand blue whales	Researchers at Oregon State University have developed a method for forecasting the locations where a distinct population of New Zealand blue whales are most likely to occur up to three weeks in advance.
	Nearby gas leak closes three OSU buildings	Three Oregon State University Corvallis campus buildings were evacuated and closed Tuesday afternoon after a contractor hit a gas line near the campus while working near northwest 25th Street and northwest Monroe Avenue.
	Oregon State to host international, United Nations-sponsored training academy on climate change	Oregon State University is one of three institutions worldwide selected to host a five-year international training program to support climate leaders within national governments in meeting goals established under the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement.
	Gut microbes are key to health benefit delivered by hops compound	The health-enhancing performance of a compound found in hops is dependent upon its interactions with intestinal microorganisms, new research by Oregon State University shows.
	Oregon State names interim chief diversity officer	Scott Vignos, assistant vice president for strategic diversity initiatives in Oregon State University’s Office of Institutional Diversity, has been named the university’s interim vice president and chief diversity officer.
	Oregon State to lead National Science Foundation-funded Center for Oldest Ice Exploration	Oregon State University will lead a National Science Foundation-funded effort to discover Antarctica’s oldest ice and learn more about how the Earth’s climate has changed over the past several million years.
	Oregon State University leads global project to optimize, evaluate marine protected areas	CORVALLIS, Ore. – Led by Oregon State University researchers, more than three dozen scientists from around the globe have produced a guide to help nations better plan, evaluate and monitor marine protected areas set aside to safeguard ecosystems and support a healthy ocean.
	Ocean hypoxia off Pacific Northwest coast more troubling than ever, experts say	CORVALLIS, Ore. – Rather than ocean oxygen levels improving as they usually do this time of year, hypoxia off the Pacific Northwest coast is as bad as it’s been at any point in 2021, according to collaborative research by Oregon State University, the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife and Oregon’s crabbing industry.
	Editor-in-chief of Science, former university chancellor to give keynote talk at Oregon State	Holden Thorp, editor-in-chief of Science journals, will give a keynote address on science, politics, and higher education in light of the pandemic on Sept. 14 as part of University Day at Oregon State University.
	Oregon State to lead National Science Foundation-funded research hub for coastal resiliency	Oregon State University will lead a National Science Foundation-funded collaborative research hub focused on increasing resiliency among coastal communities in the Pacific Northwest.
	Sand, silt or clay? Texture says a lot about soil	Texture determines all kinds of things like drainage, aeration, the amount of water the soil can hold, erosion potential and even the amount of nutrients that can be stored.

August - 2021

August - 2021
	OSU hosting free antiracism teaching conference to equip educators with practical techniques	Oregon State University is hosting a free, online conference this fall for secondary and college-level educators to learn about advancing antiracist teaching practices and to connect with a broader community working to implement those practices.
	10 trees for fiery fall color	When choosing a tree, first do some research. Walk around neighborhoods, parks and public gardens to get ideas.
	Beavers are well established and moving through the Oregon Coast Range, study finds	Beavers are often translocated to restore populations in areas, reduce their conflicts with humans and to take advantage of their ability to improve ecosystems.
	Oregon Sea Grant leader leaving post for leadership position at National Science Foundation	Shelby Walker, director of Oregon Sea Grant, the Oregon State University-based marine research, outreach, education and communication program, has been appointed to a senior leadership position within the National Science Foundation.
	OSU Distinguished Professor receives $7M for wide-ranging study of biological impact of chemicals	An Oregon State University toxicologist has received a $7 million grant to study the biological impacts of chemicals, which could potentially lead to reducing or eliminating the need for chemical testing on animals.
	OSU research shows scale models effective for predicting storm damage to wood-frame buildings	CORVALLIS, Ore. – A pair of scale model structures subjected to simulated storm conditions in an Oregon State University lab responded like real wood-frame homes during recent hurricanes, suggesting model buildings can yield important design information for low-lying areas vulnerable to storm surges and big waves.
	Carnivore interactions are a game of risk and reward, Oregon State research shows	CORVALLIS, Ore. – Coyotes can eat by scavenging cougars’ prey but it’s a risky proposition as coyotes often end up killed by cougars too, a new study of predator interactions by Oregon State University shows.
	Tree rings from old growth Douglas-firs on the Oregon Coast show evidence of 1700 tsunami	Core samples taken from a stand of old growth Douglas-fir trees in the South Beach area just south of Newport showed reduced growth following the 9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami that struck the Pacific Northwest in 1700.
	OSU to require proof of vaccination to attend university and athletic events, activities	CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State University announced today that people attending designated university events and activities, including athletic events, concerts and conferences, will be required to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test.
	OSU cryptography research leads to huge efficiency gain in secure computing	CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State University researchers have developed a secure computation protocol that’s 25% more efficient than what had been thought the best possible, meaning future savings in time and energy costs for groups needing to team up on computations while keeping their individual data private.
	Slugs and snails, destructors of crops and gardens, could be controlled by bread dough	Bread dough is a nontoxic, generic and effective tool that could be used in the detection and management of gastropods worldwide.
	Students who misuse prescription drugs risk mental health, academic challenges, OSU study finds	College students who misuse prescription stimulants or opioids often experience negative mental health and academic outcomes even if they don’t use other illicit drugs, a recent Oregon State University study found.
	Now’s the time to plan for cover crops	Cover crops can add organic matter and aerate the soil, protect it from compaction caused by rain, suppress weeds and reduce erosion,
	Research shows flocking birds, schooling fish, other collective movements can stabilize ecosystems	CORVALLIS, Ore. – In addition to being visually stunning, schools of herring, herds of wildebeest and countless other groups of organisms that act in concert can help complex ecosystems maintain their diversity and stability, new research by Oregon State University shows.
	New grant will help OSU researchers find ways to prevent injury in Dungeness crab industry	A team of Oregon State University researchers will use a new federal grant to study how different equipment configurations onboard crab vessels could help prevent injury to crabbers.
	Oregon State, Guild Education create affordable pathway to degrees and certificates online for America’s workforce	A new collaboration between Oregon State University and Guild Education, involving some of the largest employers in the U.S., gives working adults access to Oregon State’s top-ranked online programs while significantly reducing or eliminating their educational debt.
	Better breeding brings begonias back into the limelight	The variety of begonias is stunning. The leaves, which come in many colors, can be flat, pebbled, shiny, hairy, fuzzy or spiraled. They come in many colors with single blossoms up to huge clusters.
	Oregon State names new vice provost for extension and engagement, director of OSU Extension Service	Ivory W. Lyles, who prioritized the needs and challenges of the residents of Nevada as associate dean for engagement and director of extension for the University of Nevada, Reno, has been named Oregon State University’s new vice provost for extension and engagement and director of the OSU Extension Service.
	Oregon State scientists collaborate on road map for adapting dry forests to new fire regimes	CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State University scientists and collaborators from throughout the West say that thinning and prescribed burning are crucial parts of adaptive management for seasonally dry, fire-dependent forests such as those east of the Cascade crest.
	OSU trustees authorize advancing wellness clinic lease with Samaritan Health Services	CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Oregon State University Board of Trustees on Tuesday approved the key terms of a proposed lease with Samaritan Health Services as part of a Corvallis campus wellness clinic that will provide expanded wellness and health care services to OSU students, faculty and staff as well as Benton County community members.

July - 2021

July - 2021
	Oregon State University part of $20M effort to develop artificial intelligence for agriculture	CORVALLIS, Ore. – Thirteen researchers from the Oregon State University College of Engineering are part of a $20 million federal effort, known as the AgAID Institute, to develop artificial intelligence to tackle mounting agricultural challenges such as diminishing water and labor supplies, weather variations and climate change.
	Study: Buffer zones, better regulation needed to prevent agricultural pollution in rivers, streams	Greater buffer zones around bodies of water and more consistent enforcement of water protection regulations are needed to reduce agriculture-based pollution in the Western U.S., a recent review from Oregon State University found.
	Oregon State University part of $20M effort to develop AI to help elderly live at home	CORVALLIS, Ore. – A team of researchers including Oregon State University’s Kagan Tumer, director of the Collaborative Robotics and Intelligent Systems Institute, has received a five-year, $20 million grant from the National Science Foundation to build intelligent systems that help people as they grow old.
	Variations in climate conditions affect reproductive success of Antarctic krill, study finds	Climate conditions play a significant role in the reproductive success of mature female Antarctic krill and are a factor in fluctuations of the population that occur every five to seven years, a new study from Oregon State University has found.
	Earth’s vital signs worsen amid business-as-usual mindset on climate change	CORVALLIS, Ore. – Twenty months after declaring a climate emergency and establishing a set of vital signs for the Earth, a coalition headed by two Oregon State University researchers says the updated vital signs “largely reflect the consequences of unrelenting business as usual.”
	OSU study will provide insight into optimal nutrition for bees	With the $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, the team hopes to improve bee nutrition by building a database of macro and micronutrients found in the flowering plants used in the study.
	Bipedal robot developed at Oregon State makes history by learning to run, completing 5K	CORVALLIS, Ore. – Cassie the robot, invented at Oregon State University and produced by OSU spinout company Agility Robotics, has made history by traversing 5 kilometers, completing the route in just over 53 minutes.
	Ancient, newly identified ‘mammoth weevil’ used huge ‘trunk’ to fight for mates	CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State University research has identified a 100-million-year-old weevil unlike any other known fossilized or living weevil.
	Keeping pH in the right range is essential	Keeping pH in the right range for certain plants is essential.
	OSU Board of Trustees to meet August 3	The Oregon State University Board of Trustees will meet from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 3 to consider the organization of schools and a new academic program within the College of Liberal Arts, improvements to the Hatfield Marine Science Center seawater system in Newport, a potential candidate for an anticipated vacancy on the Board of Trustees, a lease agreement with Samaritan Health Services to provide health care services on the Corvallis campus and the board’s proposed 2023 and 2024 meeting calendars.
	Live theater returns to OSU in August with Bard in the Quad’s ‘Comedy of Errors’	Live theater returns to Oregon State University next month with the 16th season of Bard in the Quad featuring Shakespeare’s “Comedy of Errors.”
	OSU Extension Service Master Gardener awards announced	The awardees are among the nearly 2,900 Master Gardeners who work with Extension to share their knowledge of sustainable gardening practices across 26 Oregon counties.
	Residential proximity to oil and gas drilling linked to lower birthweights in newborns, study finds	A new study from Oregon State University found that infants born within 3 kilometers of oil and natural gas drilling facilities in Texas had slightly lower birthweights than those born before drilling began in their vicinity.
	Removal of barred owls slows decline of iconic spotted owls in Pacific Northwest, study finds	A 17-year study in Oregon, Washington and California found that removal of invasive barred owls arrested the population decline of the northern spotted owl, a native species threatened by invading barred owls and the loss of old-forest habitats.
	OSU takes measures to reduce water usage in response to statewide drought conditions	Oregon State University is taking steps to reduce its water usage in response to serious drought conditions across the state
	Fertilizing vegetables mid-summer gives plants a boost	So, your vegetable garden is growing lush and fruitful – or not. If the latter is true, you may need to feed your plants.
	Oregon State researchers begin to unravel the mysteries of kombucha fermentation	Oregon State University scientists are beginning to unravel the key microorganisms that contribute to the fermentation of kombucha, research that is already aiding large-scale kombucha producers in the fast-growing industry.

Pages