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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 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.
TRACE OSU testing: For the first week of winter term starting Jan. 4, testing will be offered to all OSU faculty, staff and students in the Corvallis, Bend and Newport areas who are enrolled in TRACE OSU. Here is a link to enroll. All students living in university residence halls will be required to participate in testing through TRACE OSU within three days of the start of the term.
NEW! Timely Teaching Tips: Looking for guidance to share with your remote and blended students this term? See Adapting for 2021: A Student Guide and the Academic Success Center’s Winter 2021 Toolbox for faculty and staff.
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.
On Dec. 14, the U.S. death toll from COVID-19 reached a grim, new milestone: 300,000 Americans killed. That’s nearly half of the 675,000 Americans killed a century ago during the 1918 flu, the deadliest pandemic in the 20th century, as historian Christopher Nichols pointed out on Twitter. The current wave of COVID-19 infections is the worst it’s been nationwide and, as TIME reported, cases are expected to continue to rise after Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
"I have kind of a reserved optimism," shared Dr. Chunhuei Chi, Professor of Global Health Program at Oregon State University. "In my estimation, it will take at least another four months--that’s the most optimistic. At least another four months for us to gradually resume to more normal activities."
Oregon State University researchers have identified a spectacular new genus and species of flower from the mid-Cretaceous period, a male specimen whose sunburst-like reach for the heavens was frozen in time by Burmese amber. (see also New Atlas)
Poop samples are an effective, non-invasive tool for monitoring gray whale reproduction, stress and other physiological responses, a new study from Oregon State University shows.
The report comes on the heels of a 19-year study conducted by the Reserve and Oregon State University scientists, during which researchers trapped crabs annually throughout the Coos Bay estuary, on Oregon’s southern coast. In 2020, about 77% of the crabs caught were European green crabs. The green crabs were found at all sites, but were most abundant in mid to upper parts of the estuary, the study found.
Silvia Rondon, Oregon State University Extension entomology specialist, recently received a $162,794 USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant to explore chlorpyrifos alternatives.
But a 2019 study from researchers at Oregon State University's College of Agricultural Sciences published in the journal Current Biology, indicates that like children and dogs, cats forge a similar attachment to the humans raising them.
A piece by Regan A. R. Gurung, professor of psychological science, the director of the general psychology program, and interim executive director for the Center for Teaching and Learning at Oregon State University.
As COVID-19 case numbers continue to climb, Bend city officials and public health leaders are collaborating with Oregon State University-Cascades researchers to determine how to tailor public health messages to keep communities safer and healthier. (see also OPB, Portland Business Journal)
Beginning in January, Oregon State University–Cascades will again offer “Cultivating Resilience in Challenging Times,” a course designed to help community members and students better cope during trying times.
A piece by Regan A. R. Gurung, professor of psychological science, the director of the general psychology program, and interim executive director for the Center for Teaching and Learning at Oregon State University.
A $121 million question remains to be resolved before Oregon State University can assume responsibility for the management of the Elliott State Forest.
Recent research funded by the industry also challenges the council’s claim. This year, Oregon State University released two studies, which found logging can cause long-lasting water shortages and pollute drinking water with herbicides and dirt. A March study examining timber practices over a 60-year period found that water levels in streams surrounded by industrial timber plantations dropped by more than 50% compared with older forests.
“We don’t smell the smoke any longer and we’ve moved into winter, and for many, their brains have turned off, nobody’s thinking about the fires anymore,” Kevin Bladon, Associate Professor in the Forest Engineering and Management Department of Oregon State University’s College of Forestry, tells me later in the month, “but to me this is when all the issues are starting to happen.”
Researchers at Oregon State University have received a $3 million federal grant to study a harmful bacterial disease impacting carrots — one of the Northwest's signature seed crops sold across the U.S. and around the world.
A professor at Oregon State University released a report last month that compared cigarette usage among racial and ethnic groups. Researchers found disparities in the effectiveness of anti-smoking measures.
"The state official government may have a hurdle mandating that, but they cannot prevent private industries or school districts to mandate that or airline industries," explained Dr. Chunhuei Chi with Oregon State University. He believes the airline industry could be the first private industry to require vaccination documentation.
The next spring, Chelsea Sink, an Oregon State University graduate student who studies the birds, walked through the charred skeletons of the sagebrush that these birds rely on for every stage of their lifecycle.
OSU's Christopher McKnight Nichols is a guest.
Coming out of a year in which new technology was used to create a first-ever vaccine, it’s to be expected that scientific progress abounds. In the backyard of every Corvallisite sits a university where these breakthroughs can be developed and seen in use every day. Here is a list of the top discoveries to come out of Corvallis in 2020.
Macdonald is also joined by the Oregon State University writer Elena Passarello for a conversation and a few audience questions.
Pets provide a special kind of social support, said Regan Gurung, an Oregon State University-Corvallis psychology professor. A social support can help people in times of stress and illness, he said.
Today's workspace: Amy Koehlinger, associate professor with the School of History, Philosophy and Religion, says, “Remote education and class via Zoom has occasional upsides. Today students in my seminar REL 407 Theories of Religion coordinated to show up for our last meeting with thank you signs.” It's a new year, but most of us are still waiting for 'normal' to return. In the meantime, if you'd like to share your workspace or what you're doing to cope, take a photo and send it to osutoday@oregonstate.edu. Follow OSU Today on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/osutoday1/ and catch up on any photos you might have missed so far.
Book club reading: Join the Association of Faculty and Staff for the Advancement of People of Color (AFAPC) for a book club reading of “Freedom is a Constant Struggle” by Angela Y. Davis. Register by Jan. 12. The book club will meet twice on Jan. 13 and Jan. 20 from noon to 1 p.m. Davis is keynote speaker for the 39th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration on Jan. 18. AFAPC encourages you to purchase books at a 40% discount through her publisher, a Black-owned business or through a local business like Grass Roots & Music or the Book Bin. The e-book is also available through the OSU Libraries for a 3-day loan period. For questions, contact mealoha.mcfadden@oregonstate.edu.
ADA30 Celebratory Symposium — Deadline Extended: The OSU Americans with Disabilities Act 30th (ADA30) Anniversary Committee is presently accepting proposals for the ADA30 Celebratory Symposium to be held remotely in May 2021. Campus and community members are encouraged to submit proposals for workshops, posters, artist talks and other session types on a wide array of disability-related topics by Jan. 15. For more information about ADA30 and the Symposium, including proposal submission details, please visit https://blogs.oregonstate.edu/ada30/.
NEW! Water Resources Engineering Winter Seminar Series: Julia Jones, who is currently working as a Professor and Program Head for Geography at Oregon State University, will present “River Management Response to Multi-decade Changes in Timing of Reservoir Inflows” Wednesday, Jan. 6 from noon to 1 p.m. Zoom link https://oregonstate.zoom.us/j/93467362981?pwd=NHdvU3I1by9rZ1haODNZMW94ZXZPQT09. Password: WRESeminar
NEW! Ecology seminar: The Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology (EECB) seminar series is free and open to the public. Lekelia "Kiki" Jenkins will be giving the first talk on Jan. 6 titled “Saving Sea Turtles with Conservation Technology and Dance.” Links to watch the seminar Wednesdays at 4 p.m.: Zoom: beav.es/eecb. YouTube: beav.es/oSs
NEW! New MyDegrees Dashboard Advisor Training: Advisors and employees with advisor access in MyDegrees are invited to join Martin Main, from the Office of the Registrar, as he walks users through important features in the new MyDegrees responsive dashboard. Topics covered will include the degree checklist, exceptions and notes, the planner and more. Part of the Winter 2021 FYI Friday series. Jan. 8, 9-10:30 a.m. via Zoom. Registration required.
NEW! Applied Economics Seminar: Professor Marco Gonzalez-Navarro, University of California, Berkeley, will present "Vulnerability and Clientelism" Friday, Jan. 8, 2-3:30 p.m., via Zoom. Details, including dial-in information, here.
NEW! Get to know Zoom with Media Services: Sharing Content: Audio & Video & PPT, Oh My! Friday, Jan. 8 from 2-3 p.m. Location: Zoom. To register, go to https://beav.es/oFc. For more Zoom information from Media Services, including upcoming Zoom webinars, go to https://uit-at.oregonstate.edu/media-services-zoom/
NEW! January 2021 Learning & Development Workshops: University Human Resource’s Learning and Development team is presenting a variety of online professional development workshops in January, including: Strategies for Being Effective in Times of Uncertainty; Managing People Through Change; Stretch Goals: Taking Performance to the Next Level; Six Leadership Concepts to Embrace Now; and Choose Your Attitude. View and register for upcoming workshops here.
NEW! Crucial Conversations: Crucial Conversations is a 10-hour course that teaches skills for creating alignment and agreement—by fostering open dialogue around high-stakes, emotional or risky topics—at all levels of your organization. By learning how to speak and be heard (and encouraging others to do the same), you’ll surface the best ideas, make the highest-quality decisions and then act on your decisions with unity and commitment. This is a series of five (5) live, online sessions on Wednesdays, 1-3 p.m Feb. 10 through March 10. There is a $100 fee to attend Crucial Conversations; advanced registration is required. Learn more and register.
NEW! Alumni making a difference – CLA Changemakers webcast: There are Oregon State alumni passionately advancing justice and equity in every field. Join the OSU Changemakers webcast series for inspiring conversations with Beavers, hosted monthly by CLA Professor Susan Shaw. Part two of the series kicks off Jan. 27, and features alumni cultivating youth literacy, empowering Oregon’s farmworkers and creating pathways to economic prosperity. Learn more and register at osualum.com/Changemakers.
NEW! Creating partnerships for prosperity – CLA Changemakers webcast: Meghan Barp, ’06, breaks barriers — not just for herself, but for her community of 50,000+ in South Carolina. Learn how the president and CEO of United Way of Greenville County became the first woman to lead the organization in its nearly 100-year history, where she convenes her community to address the issues that matter most. Join a conversation with Barp Jan. 27 at osualum.com/Changemakers, presented by the College of Liberal Arts and the OSU Alumni Association.
NEW! Empowering farmworkers and working Latinx families – CLA Changemakers webcast: Mobilizing communities is what Laura Galindo, ’17, does best. She’s director of communications and strategic partnerships at PCUN, one of Oregon’s longest standing Latinx-led organizations, and her impact reaches statewide. Learn about her current role and a career spent advocating at the intersection of immigration, undocumented workers’ rights and electoral organizing. Join a conversation with Galindo Feb. 24 at osualum.com/Changemakers, presented by the College of Liberal Arts and the OSU Alumni Association.
NEW! Changing lives through literacy – CLA Changemakers webcast: Creating a lifelong reader and writer requires all hands on deck. That’s why Penny Kittle, ’83, founded the Book Love Foundation. She works with educators to donate classroom libraries, helping young readers discover diverse and impactful stories that fuel a passion for reading. She’s authored several books of her own and teaches at Plymouth State University. Join a conversation with Kittle March 10 at osualum.com/Changemakers, presented by the College of Liberal Arts and the OSU Alumni Association.
Crossroads Conversation School for Women invites international women to join them for winter term English conversation classes beginning on Tuesday, Jan. 5. Classes meet via Zoom on Tuesdays and Thursdays (morning and afternoon options are available). For more details and information on how to register go to www.facebook.com/Crossroads-Conversation-School-for-Women-111562023572850 or contact Kara Hanson at crossroadsconversationschool@gmail.com.
“Taking it to the streets: Wildfire in the 21st Century" with John Bailey, Professor in Forest Engineering, Resources & Management. Prof. John Bailey will be talking to members of the OSU Retirement Association about what he has learned about how Oregonians can manage their environments to reduce the risk of fires as our habitats and environment change. The art and science of forest management have not fundamentally changed in the last decade, but the objectives have broadened and become more controversial. Thursday, Jan. 14 at 4 p.m. via Zoom. Register today.
Angela Davis at OSU: Angela Davis, American political activist, philosopher, academic and author is the 2021 Keynote Speaker for the 39th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Virtual Keynote and Awards Celebration. The event is on Monday, Jan. 18 from 9:30-10:30 a.m. via Zoom. Registration is free and required. For a schedule of all celebration events, visit the celebration website. For more info, contact events@oregonstate.edu or Mealoha McFadden at 541-231-2585.
NEW! PNNL graduate research program: PNNL-OSU Distinguished Graduate Research Program is open for nominations through Feb. 26. The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory - Oregon State University Distinguished Graduate Research Program was established as a nationally-competitive effort to elevate the scientific and technical impact of STEM Ph.D. student research at PNNL and OSU. The DGRP is designed to attract a select cohort of Ph.D. candidates with enhanced research opportunities unique to the National Lab system. Candidates selected to participate in the program will receive an assistantship/fellowship for financial support and will benefit from having graduate committee members and access to the world-class research infrastructure the two organizations can provide. You may learn more about this unique opportunity here.
NEW! Monthly Emergency Preparedness Topic: Evacuation — Emergency Evacuation is the immediate and urgent movement of people away from the threat or actual occurrence of a hazard. Evacuations are more common than many people realize. Fires and floods cause evacuations most frequently across the U.S. and almost every year, people along coastlines evacuate as hurricanes approach. In addition, hundreds of times a year, transportation and industrial accidents release harmful substances, forcing many people to leave their home. This month’s poster can be downloaded at https://emergency.oregonstate.edu/emergency-preparedness/preparedness-topics/evacuation
NEW! Health & Safety: The University Health & Safety Committee wants to promote health and safety by providing a link to SAIF’s continually updated resources on health during the pandemic when you are working from home at https://www.saif.com/safety-and-health/ergonomics-for-the-home-office.html. 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.
NEW! Now accepting FYI Friday presentation proposals for Winter and Spring 2021: FYI Friday is a weekly remote program where campus partners are invited to present brief, one-off, awareness- or skill- building topics intended for a wide audience of professional faculty, academic faculty and classified staff. Does your group have a service, process or system you want to share with the campus community? Consider FYI Friday as your venue. Learn more about the requirements and application process here.
NEW! Reminder! Giving Circle: The OSU Women’s Giving Circle is inviting you to submit a grant proposal to be awarded in May 2021. Proposals must enhance the OSU undergraduate student experience and improve student retention and directly impact as many OSU students as possible. The average grant amount awarded is $5,000-$10,000. Deadline for submitting proposals is Monday, Jan. 11, 9 a.m. Please see our website for further information and email womensgivingcircle@osufoundation.org or call 541-223-3389 with any questions.
NEW2OSU program: CTL has announced a fully remote and gamified New2OSU program. New2OSU impacts student success by accelerating the effectiveness of those newer to teaching and/or OSU. With customizable learning pathways, New2OSU can support you regardless of your location and the modality in which you teach. Participants are asked to commit 3 hours per week for three terms. CTL accepts 20 applicants per term on a first-come basis and launches again in Winter Term. Spots fill quickly. Register now.
Synergies: Read the latest issue of Synergies, the magazine for the College of Public Health and Human Sciences, for profiles on TRACE co-director/co-PI Jeff Bethel, pandemic expert and media source Chunhuei Chi, new Moore Family Center Director Siew Sun Wong and LPI Director Emily Ho, kinesiology graduate student and roller derby star Kathy McCarty, and more.
In Memoriam, a new event for OSU, will annually honor those from our community that passed away in the previous academic year. The Inaugural event is planned for Thursday, Jan. 28 at 5:30 p.m. and will honor those members of our OSU community (students, staff, faculty, alumni and others who made an impact at OSU) that died during the 2019-20 academic year. This year the event will take place as a livestream broadcast via live.oregonstate.edu and will feature poetry, live music and activities for reflection and healing along with guest speakers and representatives from each community to read the names of the deceased. Additional information will be shared as details are finalized. Please visit https://oregonstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_beAI0KM3JbZ0iep to share information about an OSU community member that passed away last year that you would like honored at the event or to sign up for more information. You may also email jon.dorbolo@oregonstate.edu for more information or to learn how to get involved with planning the event.
START is recruiting new START Leaders for the 2021 summer. Please visit this link to nominate a student to apply before Friday, Jan. 8; visit this site to learn more about the job; or refer students to our posting on OSU jobs here. The posting opened today and the first consideration deadline is Jan. 15. Any questions or inquiries can be directed to newstudents@oregonstate.edu.
Carbon Neutral OSU: What you can do? Did you know that OSU made a commitment in 2009 to be carbon neutral by 2025? Want to help achieve that goal? Please save the date of Jan. 12 from 10-11 a.m. You’ll learn about OSU’s efforts toward carbon neutrality, how progress is tracked and what you can do. Register for this webinar today.
Next Great Startup 2021 Competition Application is open now: NGSU is a campus-wide, virtual competition beginning in January where student-led teams compete to win cash prizes, in-kind services and the chance to turn a startup idea into a real company. Open to all teams lead by a currently enrolled OSU student. More information and application available here: http://nextgreatstartup.oregonstate.edu/
Faculty Staff Fitness: OSU’s Faculty Staff Fitness is offering a variety of options for you over winter break and winter term. Winter break options are open for registration. Winter term registrations open Dec. 1. Remote, asynchronous Online FSF classes will be available Jan. 4-March 29 for $35, https://health.oregonstate.edu/fsf/online. Classes in person, on campus will be back in action with distancing and safety measures starting Jan. 4 and can be accessed at https://health.oregonstate.edu/fsf/schedule/winter. You will also find on our winter schedule some synchronous Zoom options this winter. Do you need additional guidance to stay on track for the new year? Join our 6-week RECHARGE wellness challenge. Details can be found at https://health.oregonstate.edu/fsf/recharge.
This email only lists new or recently updated job postings. For a full list of current job postings for OSU Today, go to: http://today.oregonstate.edu/email/jobs To apply for the below positions, visit http://oregonstate.edu/jobs unless otherwise specified.
NEW! Campus Security/Public Safety Officer: This recruitment will be used to fill one full-time, 1.0 FTE, 12-month Classified position for OSU-Cascades in Bend, Oregon. Posting #P02821CT. Closes Jan. 22.
NEW! Director for 4-H Youth Development and Program Leader: The OSU Extension Service and 4-H programs invite applications for a full-time (1.0 FTE) Director for 4-H Youth Development and Program Leader. Posting #P04102UF. Full consideration date Jan 31. Closes Feb. 7.
"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
Corvallis: Rain today, high of 51, low of 38. Rain tomorrow.
Central Oregon: Rain and then rain and snow, high of 46, low of 28. Partly sunny tomorrow.
Newport: Heavy rain and breezy, high of 50, low of 41. Windy and rainy tomorrow.
Statewide: For OSU employees around the state, find your local forecast here: http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/pqr/