OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
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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: TRACE OSU is providing random COVID-19 testing by invitation at its Corvallis and Bend campuses and at the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport. Testing will take place in Corvallis in the Memorial Union Ballroom and at Reser ticket booths, Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. In Newport, testing will be provided every other week beginning Jan. 19, Monday through Wednesday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and Thursday 9 a.m.-2 p.m. At OSU-Cascades, testing will be provided every other week beginning Jan. 19, Monday, through Wednesday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Thursday 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Please join the effort to build a safer and healthier Oregon State University community. To enroll and for more information: https://trace.oregonstate.edu/osu
NEW! Timely Teaching Tips: Wondering how to update your Zoom display name so your personal pronouns are displayed in all class meetings? Have you tried updating your display name in OSU's Zoom Web portal and it's not working? Follow the steps in this temporary workaround for using the Zoom mobile app to update your display name.
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 announced plans to build a $70 million arts and education complex on Friday by the board of trustees. The 49,000 square foot building will be constructed at the corner of Southwest Washington Way and Southwest 15th street, next to the administration building. The university said half of the money came from an anonymous donor and philanthropic gifts. The other half came from state bonds.
Oregon State University says commencement ceremonies this June in both Corvallis and Bend will be held virtually. (see also Gazette-Times, Bend Bulletin, KTVZ)
An Oregon State University researcher is zeroing in on plans to build what he describes as “the Disneyland of sustainable agriculture.”
Oregon State University is celebrating Black History Month with a host of free virtual events that highlight the achievements and struggles of African-Americans from the past to the present.
If you have kids at home, your parental patience might be running a little thin. Maybe it was gone a while ago. Dr. Monique Udell, an associate professor at Oregon State University and animal behaviorist, recently studied and was the lead author of an article looking at the connection between the family dog and the kids in the house.
Postcards to Campus is an ongoing project centered around the OSU community. This project is open for submissions of mailed, dropped off or uploaded postcards. OSU community members are encouraged to share art, writings and sentiments on their postcards that range from personal to OSU-specific. Postcards submitted will be on display in the Valley Library rotunda and online, and will be archived through OSU's Special Collections and Archives Research Center (SCARC) to be featured in their COVID Collecting Project. To find out more go here: https://spark.adobe.com/page/DoBPihuByIA4D/ and also click on Postcard Archive to see more of these great works of art.
Feb. 4 Regional Connections | Southern California: Beavers are resilient. And staying connected with fellow Beavs is good for your mind, body and Beaver spirit. At the upcoming Southern California Regional Connections event Feb. 4, gather with fellow Beavs to share your experiences, network with others in your field, get help with career searches or simply socialize with OSU alumni, students and friends. OSU Alumni Association regional volunteers from Southern California and OSUAA staff will help guide the conversations and connections. Reunite. It will feel so good! Register today at osualum.com/regionalconnection
HMSC Research Seminar: On Thursday, Feb. 4, at 3:30 p.m., David Thomson, Restoration Specialists, USFWS Ecological Services at Hatfield and the Siuslaw NF & Oregon Coast NWRC will be giving a seminar entitled “Learning by Watching the Grass Grow. Lessons from a decade of applied restoration research” Zoom Link Password: 972587 or call +1-971-247-1195 Meeting ID: 945 5573 115. Click here for more information.
WorldOregon Speaker Series: Limited Tickets Available. Through the Office of Global affairs, OSU is proud to share the lineup for the 21st Annual International Speaker Series, streaming live online. This year's theme: Changing Course. The first speaker, Nikole Hannah-Jones – "1619, Race, & Democracy," will be Thursday, Feb. 4. To attend one of these events, or questions, email the Office of Global Affairs.
Biological & Ecological Engineering Winter Seminar Series: Samantha Hatfield, Oregon State University, will present "Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK): Perspectives and Reciprocity," on Thursday, Feb. 4 at 4 p.m., with a meet-and-greet at 3:30 p.m. Zoom Meeting ID: 917 1196 8021. Password: 769617. Free & open to the public.
Social Action Works: Community Networks of Care for Reproductive Justice – Community Doula Program and Partners: Panel talk featuring Marit Bovbjerg, Ph.D., M.S., assistant professor, College of Public Health & Human Sciences; Alicia Bublitz, program administrator, Community Doula Program; Melissa Cheyney, Ph.D., LDM, professor of clinical medical anthropology, licensed midwife, co-director of Uplift; Cristof Del Aquelarre Errante, doctoral student in applied medical anthropology; Micknai Arefaine, doula, Community Doula Program; Helen Wong, OSU Honors College and the URSA Engage Experience; Analuz Torres Gutierrez, case manager, care coordinator, Benton County; Alexandra Lape, anthropology, midwife; Jeanette McCullough, Birthswell. Thursday, Feb. 4 at 5:30 p.m. Free, open to all. Register for link to view at: https://beav.es/JfP
Provost’s Lecture: Provost’s Lecture featuring Dr. Mae C. Jemison, former NASA astronaut and first woman of color in space, entrepreneur, engineer, physician, social scientist and educator, Jemison is at the forefront of integrating the physical and social sciences with art and culture to solve problems and foster innovation. Join us for the Provost’s Lecture on Feb. 4 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. via Zoom. Registration is required and the event is open to the public. More information regarding the Provost’s Lecture Series can be found here.
NEW! University Budget Committee: The University Budget Committee (UBC) will meet this Friday, Feb. 5, 2-3:30 p.m. via Zoom. The UBC is OSU’s advisory body to the Provost for recommendations on tuition rates, budget priorities, and budget policies. The committee will discuss projections and planning relevant to developing budget and tuition recommendations for 2021-22. Members of the university community are welcome to join the meetings as observers. To join as an observer, register here. More information and future meeting times can be found at https://fa.oregonstate.edu/budget/university-budget-committee.
NEW! President Alexander to meet with faculty: President Alexander and the Faculty Senate Executive Committee are continuing the long-standing tradition of sponsoring small group faculty conversations (academic, research and professional faculty). Each conversation will be facilitated by a Faculty Senate Executive Committee member and will consist of up to 12 faculty. These conversations, via Zoom, provide President Alexander with an opportunity to receive candid feedback from faculty and an occasion for idea and information exchange. To register for winter term sessions, which are scheduled for Feb. 9 from 3:30-5 p.m. and Feb. 19 from 10-11:30 a.m., access the registration form at
https://oregonstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eyugpEDxp9wBm98.
Music à la Carte: David Servias, piano: Take a midday music interlude and watch a remote performance by pianist David Servias live from his Community Hall studio on the OSU campus. In a celebration of Black History Month, the program will include Piano Sonata in E Minor by Black American composer Florence Price. The program also includes works by Scott Joplin. Watch on Zoom or Facebook Live on Feb. 5, noon to 12:45 p.m. https://oregonstate.zoom.us/j/98179923298#success
Virtual MPH Open House: Undergraduate students are invited to join our Virtual MPH Open House on Tuesday, Feb. 9 from 5-6 p.m. Hosted via Zoom, students will learn about our MPH program and have an opportunity to talk with a variety of faculty, staff and current students. Free. Registration required by Feb. 7: https://beav.es/JM2.
Family Feud with the BCC: This is a special Black History Month BCC Family Feud. The Game, will exclusively be on Black Culture. It is scheduled for three days: Friday, Feb. 12, 5-8 p.m.; Friday, Feb. 19, 5-8 p.m.; and Friday, Feb. 26, 5-8 p.m. Please fill the form only if you are sure to make it to the event. Each team should be made up of five participants. Please provide the name of your team and that of your team participants. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfxH34zRDtBz5UnhuFqJT5MDHE3ck0il2gnOz_KQxZWVFr_rA/viewform
NEW! Geography winter colloquium series: Vivek Shandas, professor of Urban Studies and Planning at PSU, will be presenting his talk "Centering historically disinvested communities in climate research and engagement: a case study for adapting to urban heat." He will speak Friday, Feb. 5 from noon to 1 p.m. To join, use Zoom link: https://oregonstate.zoom.us/j/94478363106?pwd=ZUtzNVVlVE9Oc0ZvWTRKWEVnWkliUT09
NEW! Defining the Parts of Your Startup: Early entrepreneurs, especially tech startups, often struggle with thinking through all the functional aspects of a well-run business, such as R&D, supply chain/procurement, manufacturing, marketing and sales, human resources, accounting, etc. For small startups with just a few employees, these functions still need to be managed, even if it means one person manages wears several "hats." Join us as we talk about these functions with Jonathan Hurst, founder of Agility Robotics and robotics professor at Oregon State University, and about how a startup evolves from starting to think about these functions to managing them well. Wednesday, Feb. 10 from noon to 1 p.m. More info here.
Zarina Ruzmatova – WRPM MS Defense: Ruzmatova will present her thesis, “Norm Entrepreneurs in water cooperation? The role of International Actors in promoting the International water law principles in Central Asia” on Friday, Feb. 5, starting at 8 a.m. Ruzmatova is advised under the guidance of major professor Jenniver Sehring. Meeting ID: 965 0411 0642 | Password: 898137.
Accessibility Basics for the Web - Join us for an introduction to website accessibility. Learn how to make websites accessible to people with disabilities. Topics will include how to address basic accessibility features such as alternative text for images, creating good link text, and using headings. We will discuss free tools you can use to audit your own websites. We will also focus on how to address these topics in Drupal, the content management system most OSU offices use for their web presence. All are welcome; employees with website management responsibilities are especially encouraged to attend. Part of the Winter 2021 FYI Friday series, Feb. 5, 9-10:30 a.m. via Zoom. Registration required.
Health and safety of recycling workers seminar: Friday, Feb. 5, from 1-2 p.m., Rick Neitzel, Ph.D., CIH, FAIHA, associate professor of environmental health sciences, associate professor of global public health, associate director of the Office of Global Public Health, associate director of the Center for Occupational Health and Safety Engineering, and director of the Department of Environmental Health Sciences at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, will present “Addressing health and safety challenges among informal electronic waste and recycling workers.” The seminar is co-sponsored by the CPHH Environmental and Occupational Health Program and will be presented via Zoom. Learn more about College of Public Health and Human Sciences research seminars a https://health.oregonstate.edu/seminars.
Get to know Zoom with Media Services: My event is over, now what? Friday, Feb. 5 from 2-3 p.m. Location: Zoom. To register for this event and for more Zoom information from Media Services, go to https://uit-at.oregonstate.edu/media-services-zoom/
Applied Economics Seminar: Friday, Feb. 5 from 3:30-5 p.m. Professor Craig McIntosh, University of California, San Diego, will present "Search Cost, Intermediation, and Trade: Experimental Evidence from Ugandan Agricultural Markets" via Zoom. Details, including dial-in information, here.
Social Justice Initiative: This event is hosted by the Professional Faculty Leadership Association. Learn more about how this program provides facilitated learning opportunities, consultation and coaching that specifically support achieving inclusive excellence across OSU. Wednesday, Feb. 10, noon to 1 p.m., presented by Jane Waite via Zoom. For more information about the event and how to register click here.
Floor Monitor Training: Training for Floor Monitors and Building Managers on roles and responsibilities when evacuating their building. Training is the second Wednesday of every month via Zoom. Sign up for Zoom Floor Monitor Training at: https://oregonstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1ZhCgowN8AukjPf
Principles of Vineyard Management Course: Patty Skinkis, professor and Viticulture Extension Specialist in the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University, is offering an online course to the industry and public who wish to learn about wine-growing. The course is offered live online with recordings available for all lectures. The course runs from March 30-June 3. Registration is open until March 29, but early registration rates end Feb. 26. Click for more information.
NEW! Join the fight against hunger during OSU’s February Food Drive, with the Naval ROTC Beaver Battalion student group, by using the Facebook Donation link, virtually donating via Venmo @FAO-NROTC and noting “FOOD DRIVE” in the comments, or by physically donating food to the Drop Box at the north entrance of Cascade Hall. Every little bit helps, as donating only a dollar will pay for four pounds of food, which is over three meals.
NEW! Strong Communities, Strong Selves: Black Heritage Month Conversation Series: Throughout February, celebrate Black Heritage Month by building your support network and learning tools for growth in a virtual event series hosted by the Black Alumni & Friends Network. Discuss mental health and wellness, navigating education and engaging in activism with a welcoming Beaver community at osualum.com/BAFN.
P&M Food Drive 2021: Support the local food drive by dropping off non-perishable foods, personal hygiene items, sanitation products or pet food at Printing & Mailing Services, 4700 SW Research Way, on Mondays, Wednesdays or Fridays, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. during the month of February. Each donation gets entered into a drawing to win a one-of-a-kind vinyl tote bag. All donations benefit non-profit agencies in Linn and Benton counties. https://printmail.oregonstate.edu/food-drive-2021
Recipes wanted: The OSU Foundation and the OSU Alumni Association are collecting recipes to make a cookbook to benefit the Annual Food Drive. Do you have a go-to recipe that gets rave reviews every time? All profits will benefit the Linn Benton Food Share. You can either submit your favorite recipe to be included in the cookbook (even if it’s not original, that’s OK, we have a space to mark it as “adapted from”). Deadline is Feb. 22. Nominate someone that you know that has an amazing recipe that you have always tried to get your hands on. We will contact that person and ask them to consider handing over the recipe to include in the cookbook. Finally, order your cookbook today. Deadline for ordering a cookbook is Feb. 22. You can pay by check, made out to LBFS (Linn Benton Food Share). Orders will be delivered sometime in March, once the cookbook is designed and completed. Digital copies are $10. Pre-sale printed copies are $15 before Feb. 19. Late order printed copies are $18 (Feb. 19-22). For more information, email Heather Rapp.
Robot food delivery: If you’re on campus and looking for a tasty meal or snack, have it delivered to your doorstep by robot. OSU’s Starship robot fleet of more than 30 robots is ready to deliver from some of your favorite campus restaurants to any outdoor campus location. They can even bring many grocery items from Cascadia Market. To order, use the Starship app and pay with your Orange Cash account or Dining Dollars. Need to reload Orange Cash? Visit mycard.oregonstate.edu.
Animal Interludes: Spring Creek Project has released two new videos in its Animal Interludes series: Grizzly Bear and Space Aliens. The Animal Interludes are a series of 20 tiny concerts, each an original composition of words and music in honor of a threatened or beloved animal. They are part of the series Music to Save Earth's Songs, inspired by Kathleen Dean Moore's new book Earth's Wild Music.
Health & Safety: The University Health & Safety Committee wants to promote health and safety by providing a link to OSHA’s updated rules in regards to COVID-19 at https://osha.oregon.gov/covid19/Pages/default.aspx. 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.
Scholarship: The OSU Folk Club Thrift Shop Scholarship Committee is accepting applications from high school seniors who will attend OSU in the fall of 2021 and are graduating from Benton County High Schools or live in Benton County. Students must attend OSU full-time or have full-time dual enrollment in the Degree Partnership Program at LBCC and OSU with at least 6 credits per term at OSU in the academic year 2021-22. The principal criterion for this award is academic merit. The Scholarship Committee is also accepting applications from non-traditional women (age 30 or older), who will be attending OSU full-time or part-time in 2020-2021 pursuing an undergraduate degree. Students must be U.S. citizens and residents of Benton County, Linn County or Monmouth or Independence in Polk County. Principal criteria are financial need and academic merit. These $3,000 awards ($1,500 for part-time) are made possible by the work of the OSU Folk Club/Thrift Shop in Corvallis. Applications are available online at https://osufolk.oregonstate.edu/scholarships. The postmark deadline for mailing or delivering applications is March 5 for high school seniors, and March 19, for non-traditional women students. See scholarship applications for additional terms or restrictions. For more information, contact the OSU Folk Club Scholarship Co-Chairs, Mary Ann Matzke, maryann.matzke@gmail.com or Kate Mathews, kate.mathews@comcast.net.
Schoenstein Sustaining Excellence Scholarship: OSU Alumni Association and Community Engagement & Leadership (CEL) are accepting applications from students involved in activities beyond coursework, demonstrating they are committed to contributing to the OSU/local community outside the classroom. Eligibility: sophomore, junior and senior undergraduate students from all OSU campuses. Application deadline: Monday, Feb. 15. Award: $1,000 each for six (6) recipients. Apply through OSU Scholar Dollars. View the 2021 Schoenstein Scholarship informational flier or contact Peter Wilkinson (peter.wilkinson@oregonstate.edu) for more info.
Sustainability conference: Register today for only $35 to attend the Washington & Oregon Higher Education Sustainability Conference (WOHESC) Thursday, Feb. 11 and Friday, Feb. 12. This regional annual sustainability conference is fully online this year, offering greater access at lower cost than ever before! Register using the OSU30 discount code to attend at the $35 rate for the full two-day conference that focuses on embedding social justice, equity and inclusion within sustainability work.
“Keep reading. It’s one of the most marvelous adventures that anyone can have.” – Lloyd Alexander
Corvallis: Mostly cloudy today, high of 50, low of 39. Slight chance of rain Friday.
Central Oregon: Mostly sunny today, high of 43, low of 28. Partly sunny Friday.
Newport: Patchy fog and then mostly cloudy, high of 48, low of 42. Slight chance of rain Friday.
Statewide: For OSU employees around the state, find your local forecast here: http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/pqr/