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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: OSU is providing random COVID-19 TRACE OSU testing by invitation for students, faculty and staff Monday-Thursday weekly on the Corvallis campus and Monday-Thursday every other week on the OSU-Cascades campuses and at the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport. Free parking will be provided to those working remotely to come to the Corvallis campus for testing. Testing will continue throughout fall term. Here is a link to enroll. For additional information: https://trace.oregonstate.edu/osu
NEW! Timely Teaching Tips: Preparing for Winter term? Register now for teaching workshops: Using Canvas to Give Better Feedback to Students (3 p.m. today), Canvas Course Checklist webinar (10:30 a.m. tomorrow), Designing Your Canvas Sites for an Improved Student Experience (2 p.m. on Dec. 15), and Building Instructor Presence (2 p.m. on Jan. 7).
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.
In addition to Todd, we spoke with Clive Wynne, psychology professor and director of the Canine Science Collaboratory at Arizona State University and the author of “Dog Is Love: Why and How Your Dog Loves You,” and Monique Udell, an associate professor in the Department of Animal and Rangeland Sciences at Oregon State University who has done research on cats and dogs. We also emailed with Alexandra Horowitz, who runs the Dog Cognition Lab at Barnard College and whose most recent book is “Our Dogs, Ourselves.” Here are their answers to some common questions.
“What stands out to me is the aridification of the forests, how much drier they are getting,” said Larry O’Neill, associate professor at Oregon State University’s College of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences. “Every summer, we seem to be in an extreme drought, and it’s becoming more frequent and definitely plays a big role in how the fires are getting larger.”
Numerous Oregon State University colleges and local businesses chipped in to make sure students abstaining from family gatherings could have a Thanksgiving meal.
Natchee Barnd, an associate professor of ethnic studies at Oregon State University, co-wrote the essay. It introduces a collection highlighting Indigenous map work being done in North America and elsewhere.
“We’ve unfortunately gone a little bit into the uncanny valley there, with something that people identify as being wrong,” said Agility co-founder and chief technology officer Jonathan Hurst, a professor of robotics at Oregon State University. Digit is meant to navigate spaces originally constructed for human workers, and so its form follows that of the human body — at least, from the “shoulders” down. Rising above its torso like a human neck is a black cylinder that houses the robot’s lidar sensor. Above that, there’s nothing. Digit has no head. And if it’s going to work alongside people and not make them uncomfortable, Agility now believes it needs to have one.
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the landscape of Christmas tree sales in Oregon this year, according to Oregon State University Extension’s Christmas tree specialist.
The same goes for research connected to ocean and climate change. OSU’s Ed Dever oversees the Ocean Observatories Initiative, an offshore array of stationary sensors and underwater gliders that measure physical and chemical conditions off the Pacific Northwest – things like ocean acidification and low-oxygen dead zones (called hypoxia), which are already hurting Oregon’s fisheries and are expected to continue to get worse. The goal is to collect data over a long period of time to understand how ocean conditions are changing in response to climate and other factors.
The oregonflora.org website has a database of more than 4,700 plants that grow in the wild in Oregon. The site is a project of Oregon Flora, an organization based at Oregon State University.
Beta testing on a COVID-19 exposure notification app began earlier this month at Oregon State University and the University of Washington under the oversight of state health authorities. Associate Dean of the UW School of Public Health Janet Baseman was one of the first to opt in among what are now thousands of pilot project participants.
Elizabeth Tomasino, an associate professor of enology at OSU and member of the Oregon Wine Research Institute, said she and her team have run nearly 700 samples since Sept. 18. It takes specialized equipment to do the analysis, called a gas chromatogram mass spectrometer. The machine essentially uses gas to separate the smoke compounds.
Todd Montgomery, who runs the hospitality management program at Oregon State University–Cascades, will host a new television program that shows the intersection of technology in the hospitality industry.
Dr. Juan Hu, a Senior Instructor at Oregon State University who teaches human development, said a factor that impacts whether children read or not is the presence of books around the home. Children with parents who like to read are more likely to also like to read.
Today's photo: Randal Smith, senior instructor with the College of Business, says, “My wife and I are interested in living on a boat one day full-time. Working remotely has given us the opportunity to spend more time on our boat. I'm all set up to connect with my students via Zoom. I get to work on our future home, with our dog! It doesn't get much better than that.” Now it's time to show us what you're doing to help cope with daily life and work in 2020. 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.
Department of Horticulture Seminar Series: Join the Fall 2020 Seminar Series Mondays at noon via Zoom. On Nov. 30 at noon, Michael Dumelle, OSU Department of Horticulture, will present, “Adjusting Standard ANOVA Methods to Account for Heterogeneous Variances with an Application to Turfgrass Management.” The event is free and open to the public. Please register for the Zoom meeting in advance: https://beav.es/oQL. Once you register, a password will be emailed to you in advance of the meeting.
Inspiring Girls Expeditions/OSU Community Info Session: Are you passionate about getting young women interested in STEAM? Learn how Inspiring Girls Expeditions (housed within OSU’s CEOAS) provides high school girls* the opportunity to learn about science, art and the outdoors through multi-day outdoor expeditions. Join us virtually Monday, Nov. 30, from 3-4 p.m. to learn how you can get involved as a volunteer, fundraiser, instructor, or partner organization. Session is free and open to all (pre-registration required).
NEW! Holiday concert webcast: Corvallis-OSU Symphony presents "A Holiday Encore" webcast featuring highlights from past holiday concert performances. Works include W.A. Mozart's "Coronation" Mass in C, KV. 317, Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker Suite" Op. 71a, and an assortment of polkas by Johann Strauss II. Free and open to all. The webcast publishes on Friday, Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. To view, visit: beav.es/oys.
Community art project: Postcards to Campus is a community art project and display in the Valley Library. Inspired in part by Post Secret, this project asks students, staff, and faculty to write a postcard with an anonymous note to campus. Postcards will be displayed in the windows of Valley Library and as a digital exhibit. See more details -- including the option to make a virtual postcard -- at the project website: https://beav.es/o9w
Regional Connections: Relationships That Count: Meet up with Beavers from around the country in a virtual gathering where you can find support, make new friends or simply socialize. No matter what stage you’re at in your education or career, there’s a network of 200,000+ alumni available to help you succeed in school and post-college life. Thursday, Dec. 3, noon to 1 p.m. Registration: osualum.com/regionalconnections Contact: Yuliya Dennis, Yuliya.dennis@osualum.com, 541-737-8294.
2020 Oregon Stater Awards: Please join Oregon State University's College of Engineering for the 22nd anniversary of the Oregon Stater Awards to celebrate achievement at the frontiers of engineering and its profound impact on the profession and our world: Wednesday, Dec. 9, 5:30-6:30 p.m. The 2020 Oregon Stater Awards program will honor the Engineering Hall of Fame Award recipient: Anton Thomas Skoro, ’81 B.S. Construction Engineering Management. Skoro is receiving the Engineering Hall of Fame Award posthumously. Joan Skoro will be accepting the award on behalf of her late husband. Remarks provided by Scott A. Ashford, Kearney Dean of Engineering. Free and open to the public. Register here.
NEW! People and Nature Lunch Series: Anne Devan-Song presents “Sentinel disease surveillance of the global wildlife trade,” Tuesday, Dec. 1, noon to 12:50 p.m. The lecture is free and open to all. To join the meeting, register at https://peopleandnatureosu.weebly.com/fall-2020.html. Sponsored by the Department of Fisheries & Wildlife’s Human Dimensions Lab.
NEW! Investment webinars: The Maps Credit Union CFS investment team is conducting a Weekly Webinar Series on a variety of investment topics that include current market updates. Tuesday, Dec. 1, 3 p.m., ABC + D of Medicare; Wednesday, Dec. 2, noon, Economic Outlook (First Trust); Wednesday, Dec. 2, 3 p.m., PERS and Retirement Planning (OPSRP); Thursday, Dec. 3, noon, CD Alternatives - More Options Than You Think. This is one way to educate yourself without leaving the comfort and safety of your own home. These are not OSU events but are tailored to OSU clients and during normal circumstances are held on campus. There is no charge.
NEW! Bioinformatics Users Group (BUG): “How tiny fruit flies travel long distances, i.e. Using machine vision, virtual reality and statistics to understand animal navigation.” Tim Warren (Tim Warren Lab, Botany & Plant Pathology), Wednesday, Dec. 2, at noon via Zoom. Register here. 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
NEW! Future of Food From the Sea Webinar & Panel: On Wednesday, Dec. 2, at 4 p.m. via Zoom, join the Marine Studies Initiative to learn about food from the sea, including wild fisheries, mariculture and seafood products. As global food demand rises, how much food can we expect the ocean to sustainably produce by 2050? Register for the event HERE and view more information about the event HERE.
NEW! Wildfires Rising: Environment, Public Health and Economics in the State of Oregon. League of Women Voters of Corvallis hosts panelists Daniel López-Cevallos; Rep. Dan Rayfield, Oregon State House District 16; and Meg Krawchuk for a discussion on fire in Oregon. Thursday, Dec. 3, 7-8:30 p.m. via Zoom. Open to all. See: https://lwv.corvallis.or.us/event/%ef%bb%bfwildfires-rising-environment-public-health-and-economics-in-the-state-of-oregon/.
NEW! Oregon Sea Grant Fellowships Webinar: Oregon Sea Grant is pleased to announce several upcoming paid fellowship opportunities in marine science and policy for graduate students. Please see our website for details and how to apply. Register here for a brief informational webinar on Friday, Dec. 4, 10-10:30 a.m. The Oregon Sea Grant Scholars program is committed to training and supporting a diverse ocean workforce that understands technical and social challenges facing coastal communities and the natural environment.
NEW! Anthropology lecture series: "Conflicts and Cooperation: Race, Place and Memory of New Orleans Afro-American Festivals" with Jiaju Li from the Chinese Academy of Social Science. Presented by the School of Language, Culture and Society. Free and open to all. Friday, Dec. 4 at noon. To join the virtual talk via Zoom, using meeting ID 918 8649 8232 with password 8c574f.
CTL Tuesday Teaching + Tech Talks: Reflection, Metacognition, & Celebration: Brooke Howland, Assoc. Director, CTL; Kelby Hahn, Graduate Teaching Assistant, CTL; & Logan Bingler, Data Reference Specialist, BIC. Excited to wrap up a tumultuous Fall term? We are too. Teaching Portfolios and CORE as means to celebrate and support your reflective teaching success. Live session Dec. 1, 10-11:50 a.m. https://oregonstate.zoom.us/my/ctl.t4 Password: CTL. Recordings of each session will be available the following Friday (beav.es/CTLT4) Handouts, materials and resources: beav.es/BOXT4
So you want to be an economist? What a graduate degree in applied economics can do for you: Thinking about working in environmental, energy, natural resource or agricultural policy? Come learn what a graduate degree in applied economics can do for you. Faculty and graduate students from the Department of Applied Economics will talk about why you might want to continue studying after undergrad, how you get there, and different avenues for financing it. Bring your curiosity and your questions with you! Tuesday, Dec. 1 from 5-6 p.m. via Zoom. Please register at https://oregonstate.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJErfumhqz0vHN3OEjM9j8dAYPG5q1apIVIb.
Department of Integrative Biology Ph.D. Defense Seminar: Erin Abernethy will present “Explorations into who is doing freshwater science and how we are altering waterscapes” on Wednesday, Dec. 2 at 10 a.m. via Zoom. Abernethy is completing her Ph.D. in Integrative Biology under the guidance of Dave Lytle. https://oregonstate.zoom.us/j/99648280570.
Passcode: 953242
Beyond Benefits EAP Presents Managing Holiday Stress: Welcome to the holiday season – that whirlwind of gift-giving holidays, marketing blitzes, parties and family dinners and activities galore starting with Halloween, through Thanksgiving, Hanukah and Christmas and ending with New Year’s festivities. This workshop will allow participants to discuss some ways to manage your emotions and expectations, hear some suggestions for shopping and finances, learn about new travel considerations during this time, understand the importance of self-care during the holiday season and consider some new traditions that can make this holiday season a wonderful time. Dec. 2, 11 a.m. https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6722758650228735248
Water Resources Policy & Management Virtual Seminar Series: “Diversity and inclusion in Water Resources professions” with Dresden Farrand from the American Water Resources Association. Presented by the Water Resources Graduate Program. Wednesday, Dec. 2 from 4-5 p.m. Free and open to all. To join, use Zoom meeting ID 919 2424 3079 (or CLICK HERE) with password ‘WRSeminar’.
Preventing Burnout During This Challenging Time – Hosted by Care.com: Executive Coach Lisa Abramson will teach you how to develop a more resilient mindset through five key strategies. She’ll share actionable strategies you can start using immediately to avoid burnout, “reset” and better cope with the stress of the holidays in the time of COVID-19. During this session, we’ll also actively practice some proven stress management techniques to help you re-center, refocus, and be more productive. Dec. 16, 9-10 a.m. Register here today. A recording and a PDF of the presentation will be shared with registrants following the webinar. If you are unable to attend at the scheduled time you can register and receive the PDF presentation and a recording to watch later. Questions? Please contact employee.benefits@oregonstate.edu.
Holiday safety: Candle fires are more common around the winter holidays. Candles should be placed on a sturdy surface and never left unattended. Working smoke alarms save lives. Test your alarms tonight and replace if they are over 10 years old. When you cook, never leave it unattended and use a lid or baking soda on a cooking fire. Never use water. When using portable space heaters, ensure you unplug them at night and when you leave. Provide at least 36” clearance around a heater.
ADA30 Celebratory Symposium: 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 Dec. 1. For more information about ADA30 and the Symposium, including proposal submission details, please visit https://blogs.oregonstate.edu/ada30/.
New issue of The Messenger magazine from OSU Libraries and Press is available: The magazine highlights the new resources and services, accomplishments and ongoing efforts of the Libraries and Press, and this issue is about the strange but true history of OSU Libraries and Press. Along with some COVID info. This issue of The Messenger and others are available at https://library.oregonstate.edu/the-messenger-recent-issue.
Dialogue Facilitation Lab Winter 2021 Applications: Applications for the winter 2021 session of the Dialogue Facilitation Lab (DFL) are open. DFL is a professional learning seminar for teaching and professional faculty, staff and graduate assistants looking to integrate critical dialogue facilitation skills into their daily practice. For winter term 2021, the Office of Institutional Diversity continues DFL in an online format. Each cohort consists of 12-16 participants that include perspectives from diverse roles and disciplines. Click HERE to apply. The deadline to complete an application is Dec. 2, 5 p.m. Winter DFL 2021 sessions will take place on Wednesdays from 3-4:30 p.m. starting on Jan. 6, 2021.
Key Shop Hours of Operation Updated: Beginning Monday, Nov. 30, the Key Shop hours of operation will be noon to 3 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday for key pickup and return. Email keyshop@oregonstate.edu or call 7-3565 with questions or more information.
$15K of Funding Available: The OSU Advantage Accelerator is currently seeking proposals that describe technology-based projects in any discipline that will move OSU-owned technologies closer to commercialization. Proposals should describe a project that requires $15,000 or less of funding to achieve an important milestone(s) connected to commercialization. Proposals can include expenses for activities related to customer discovery, prototyping, student time, research, commercialization plan development and more. Each project may be awarded up to $15,000 and should span 9 months or less, beginning in October 2020. Proposals are due no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 16. Read the full RFP here: https://advantage.oregonstate.edu/advantage-accelerator/funding-opportunities/aid-fund
Gift Drive for OSU Kid’s Gift Closet: The Family Resource Center Kid’s Gift Closet helps provide gifts for children of OSU students during holidays and celebrations. Thanks to our generous sponsors, each year’s gift closet is a huge success and we have many grateful families. To minimize traffic to campus/our office, donations this year will take place via an Amazon registry that ships directly to FRC, or you can shop at the Toy Factory in downtown Corvallis and leave the gift in our donation box. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about this program, please contact erika.woosley@oregonstate.edu.
PCOSW scholarships: The President's Commission on the Status of Women (PCOSW) is offering scholarships to cover registration costs for the 2021 Oregon Women in Higher Education (OWHE) virtual conference. OSU faculty, professional faculty, staff, students and OSU community members are eligible to apply. The scholarship application deadline is Dec. 15. NOTE: Please DO NOT register for the OWHE conference if you are applying for a scholarship until you are approved. Once approved, you will be sent a promo code and special registration link to use to register with OWHE. PCOSW cannot reimburse people for registrations that have already been paid. For questions, contact pcosw@oregonstate.edu.
OSU Press holiday sale: OSU Press has launched its annual holiday sale with 30% off and free shipping for every book on its website. New books include the bestselling memoir, rough house by tina ontiveros; Hops: Historic Photographs of the Oregon Hopscape by Kenneth I. Helphand; and a new history of the Andrews Forest by professor emeritus William G. Robbins, A Place for Inquiry, A Place for Wonder. Whether you’re looking for the perfect gift or thoughtful reading for quarantine, visit http://osupress.oregonstate.edu to explore new releases and old favorites. Enter the promo code 20HOLIDAY at checkout to receive the discount. The promotion expires Dec. 31.
The Charitable Fund Drive has begun: If you are thinking about holiday gift-giving and wondering what to give the person who has everything, consider a tax-deductible donation to a worthy organization. There are hundreds from which to choose. And remember, you can easily replicate last year’s giving from the website. Donate now through Dec. 31: https://www.ipledgeonline.org/_cfduniversities/ (Group photo taken at the 2019 Annual Hands Across Corvallis Benefit event. L-R, Ed Ray, Susan Capalbo, Becca Gose, Anita Azarenko and Jennifer Almquist)
UPDATED: NW Orchard Avenue closure extended through Nov. 30: NW Orchard Avenue closed between NW 30th and NW 27th Streets. As part of the Cordley Hall renovation and the construction of the North District Utility Plant, NW Orchard Avenue between NW 30th and NW 27th Streets has been closed since Monday, Oct. 26 and will remain closed through Monday Nov. 30. Please view the online map for detailed closure area information. Once it reopens, NW Orchard Avenue will be a one-way street, eastbound only, for the duration of the Cordley Hall renovation. For questions or comments on this closure, contact Construction Manager Jason Lundy at 541-270-0193. Closures are often subject to changes and delays, so please visit the OSU Campus Closures, Shutdowns, and Detours page for updates on this and other campus closures.
"December drops no weak, relenting tear, By our fond Summer sympathies ensnared, Nor from the perfect circle of the year Can even Winter’s crystal gems be spared.” ~ Christopher Pearse Cranch
Corvallis: Rain today then scattered showers, high of 52, low of 33. Sunny Tuesday.
Central Oregon: Chance of rain and snow today, high of 42, low of 23. Sunny Tuesday.
Newport: Rain today, high of 54, low of 35. Sunny tomorrow.
Statewide: For OSU employees around the state, find your local forecast here: http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/pqr/
