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CORVALLIS, Ore. - Oregon State University research is taking center stage in "Terra," the university's first comprehensive research magazine, which makes its debut next week.

A proposal by OSU engineers to develop a wave energy research and development center on the Oregon coast is the cover story in the inaugural issue. Other stories focus on veterinary medical students monitoring animal health on Willamette Valley farms, and efforts by scientists, writers and philosophers to explore the human relationship to nature through OSU's Spring Creek Project.

Produced by OSU's University Advancement division, with support from the OSU Foundation, the 24-page magazine will appear three times a year. Copies are mailed to state legislators, educators, community leaders and other Oregon decision-makers.

Stories, additional photos and chances to see and hear faculty and students talk about their work are also available on a Web site, oregonstate.edu/terra.

"This is an exciting place to be," said Nick Houtman, OSU's director of research communications and editor of Terra. "Oregon State is where the largest share of non-medical research in Oregon is done and our goal is to talk about research across the campus, in all the departments and research centers.

"Students and faculty members work closely with people throughout the state," Houtman added. "They deal with practical problems like how to improve math education, grow a better wheat crop or where to put a wind turbine. They study animal diseases, which, as we hear now with avian flu, can be precursors for human illness. And our faculty does far more than scientific research. They bring music, poetry and literature to our communities and schools.

"We want to use Terra to share what they do more widely."