OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
Open search box
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: Want to learn about barriers to access for first generation students, students of color, and low-income students, while incorporating more career connection in your classes? Faculty are invited to apply to join the spring cohort of the new Career Champions Program. Apply by Feb. 26. Honorarium provided.
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.
Until now, whale calls have been an annoyance to seismologists. The researchers place ball-shaped seismometers on the ocean floor to record earthquakes. But the instruments often capture the repetitive songs of whales, which the scientists must delete from their analysis. When Václav Kuna was a Ph.D. student tracking earthquakes at Oregon State University, however, he wondered whether the “trash” of detected fin whale vocalizations in his recordings could be “treasure” instead. (see also New York Times, New Scientist, Ars Technica)
The more people who get vaccinated now, the less virus we can expect to see in the summer, even with the new variants in the mix, said Chunhuei Chi, director of the Center for Global Health at Oregon State University.
Oregon State University professor Dr. Joseph Agor told KGW last week pharmacies will likely need extra help to free up staff as they join the federal vaccination effort. "They're doubling the work for people without doubling the amount of help," Agor said. "Additional manpower is always helpful...For example, I can't administer a vaccine, but I can certainly help in documenting data."
Get a group together of 100 residents from Redmond and the odds are that at least three will test positive for COVID-19. That is according to results from random testing recently conducted by researchers from Oregon State University.
Analyzing thousands of genetic markers in albacore tuna from the Pacific Ocean, researchers at Oregon State University have learned that just seven dozen of those markers are needed to determine which side of the equator a fish comes from. (see also Headlight Herald)
Marcey Bamba, associate director of clinical services for Counseling and Psychological Services, or CAPS, at OSU, said it is critical to hire mental health professionals who are aware standard western approaches to mental health are not always helpful for students from different cultural backgrounds.
In May, Lane County voters will decide on the renewal and increase of a property tax levy that would provide $5.2 million in funding to the Oregon State University Extension and 4-H programs.
OSU Professor Karen Hooker and doctoral candidate Shelbie Turner teamed up on the report; both of them visit with details of how thinking more positively can result in a more positive aging experience.
The Columbia River basin will see an increase in flooding over the next 50 years as a result of climate change, new modeling from Oregon State University indicates. (see also Oregonian, Science Daily)
Workers in the construction industry are most likely to suffer traumatic injuries during the first four hours of their shift, and those who work evening or night shifts experience more severe injuries than their day-shift counterparts, a recent Oregon State University study found.
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.
NEW! Geography winter colloquium series: Lynette de Silva, an instructor in the College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences at Oregon State University, will be presenting her talk "Transformative Water Conflict Analysis: The Vanport Case Study." She will speak on Friday, Feb. 12 from noon to 1 p.m. Free and open to all. To join, use Zoom link: https://oregonstate.zoom.us/j/94478363106?pwd=ZUtzNVVlVE9Oc0ZvWTRKWEVnWkliUT09.
Online Valentine’s Masterclass – Dinner & Drinks: If you’re staying in on Valentine’s Day, you can still make it memorable with this new three-day online series. Learn live, interact with the Food Science experts, and impress your loved one with an amazing dinner and drinks experience. Feb. 12, 13 and/or 14. https://workspace.oregonstate.edu/valentine. Sponsored by Professional and Continuing Education. $25 per course.
Sparkshop — Join Funmi Amobi, CTL’s Instructional Consultant, for "Assessing Student Learning: Using Diagnostic (Just-in-Time Teaching) and Formative Assessment Strategies to Promote Student Learning and Engagement." Have you ever wondered how to capture your students’ thinking about an upcoming topic before they even get to class and how to actively engage them in learning throughout an entire class period? Co-presenters: Lyn Riverstone, Student Response System Product Manager, Academic Technology and Demian Hommel, Senior Instructor, Geography and Geospatial Science, CEOAS for Assessing Student Learning: Using Diagnostic (Just-in-Time Teaching) and Formative Assessment strategies to Promote Student Learning and Engagement. Feb. 12 at noon via Zoom: https://oregonstate.zoom.us/my/sparkshop. Password: CTL
Teaching and research seminar: Lisa Sullivan, associate dean for education/School of Public Health and professor of biostatistics at Boston University, will present “The teaching and research balancing act,” Feb. 12, 1-2 p.m. The seminar will be presented via Zoom. Learn more about College of Public Health and Human Sciences research seminars a https://health.oregonstate.edu/seminars.
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! Tuition Forum: The University Budget Committee has begun meeting to discuss recommendations for tuition rates for the 2021-22 academic year. As part of developing recommendations for the Board of Trustees, representatives of the Budget Committee and the Office of Budget and Resource Planning are offering a series of weekly forums to discuss the tuition setting process, tuition rate scenarios for FY22, and to answer any questions about tuition and the university budget. The next forum is Wednesday, Feb. 17, from 5-6 p.m. via Zoom. To register for this forum, click here. The schedule for subsequent forums and a short discussion of common questions about tuition are available at https://beav.es/tuition-forums. The committee welcomes questions, comments, and ideas. For more information, to provide an idea or opinion, or to ask a question please contact Sherm Bloomer.
NEW! OMSI-OSU Virtual Workshops: The College of Science and OMSI offer opportunities for members of the OSU community (OSU faculty, staff, graduate and undergraduate students engaged in research) to build and hone their science communication skills. Build your skills and confidence talking about your science research with the public, friends and family through this special training offered by OMSI Science Educators. Workshop dates: Feb. 18, Feb. 25 and March 4, 3-4:30 p.m. Registration closes Feb. 16. Registration and more information can be found at: https://omsi.edu/science-communication-services.
Career Meetup Day: One of the biggest Beaver networking opportunities of the year is happening Thursday, March 11 at noon PT. Spark connections with people who can help you achieve your goals at the Oregon State Alumni Association’s annual Career Meetup Day. Gather with OSU professionals and students from across the country and around the globe for conversations about thriving in uncertain times. Discover the new tools of virtual networking, pick up pointers for using LinkedIn and join a friendly quiz game with prizes. Register for free at osualum.com/careermeetup.
OSU Album Club: Paul Simon's Graceland. Join director of popular music and performing arts, Bob Santelli, in listening to and discussing some of the greatest music albums of all time. Album Club is remote, free and open to all. Register to join the discussion by Zoom on Monday, Feb. 15, 7 p.m. at https://beav.es/JMD.
OSU hosts ‘Contagion’ screenwriter Scott Z. Burns: The Oregon State University School of Writing, Literature and Film presents “Framing Catastrophe,” a conversation with American screenwriter, producer and director Scott Z. Burns on Thursday, Feb. 18 at 4 p.m. Burns is best known for his screenplays for “Contagion,” “The Bourne Ultimatum,” “The Informant!” and “Side Effects,” and for producing the Academy Award-winning climate documentary “An Inconvenient Truth.” The virtual event is free and open to the public. To join the event, visit beav.es/JwP.
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, Feb. 19 from 10-11:30 a.m., access the registration form at https://oregonstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eyugpEDxp9wBm98
Book club reading: Join the Association of Faculty and Staff for the Advancement of People of Color (AFAPC) for a book club reading of “How to be an Anti-Racist” by Ibram X. Kendi. We are reading this book in advance of the April 14 Provosts Lecture with Kendi. Register by Feb. 24. The book club will meet every two weeks on Fridays from 3-4 p.m. beginning on Feb. 25. AFAPC encourages you to purchase books through Bookshop.org, 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.
Career Webcast Feb. 24: Many people question their career path, especially in challenging times. Learn from alumni professionals how to make your own opportunities and launch a new career by attending a free webcast, Forging Your Career Path, Wednesday, Feb. 24, at noon PT via Zoom. Adidas’ Jessica Breedlove Latham, ’08, and Russell Borne, ’07, offer tips on how to make career decisions, overcome challenges and conquer transitions, followed by an interactive Q&A. OSU Alumni Association’s Career Webcast series offers guidance for students and alumni entering the workforce, changing fields or advancing a career during these challenging times. Register and find additional resources at osualum.com/careerwebcasts.
Black Heritage Month Conversation Series | Navigating Education and Student Success: Whether you’re in school for the first time or have multiple graduate degrees under your belt, every level of education comes with its own unique challenges. Join inspiring alumni who can share insights into navigating education in a virtual event hosted by the Black Alumni & Friends Network on Feb. 25, part of the BAFN’s Black Heritage Month celebration. Register: https://oregonstate.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYpf-GuqDIoH9fixzb9-Y58vX5rGVfwEI1V
Writing Black History of the Pacific Northwest into Wikipedia: Come for a keynote presentation and Q/A discussion with Alexandria Lockett, Spelman College, about knowledge equity (philosophy and practices) and stay for the Wikipedia editathon. Friday, Feb. 26 at 1 p.m. Find out more and register.
OSU Panhellenic Scholarship event: Celebrating the philanthropic work of today's students, sorority alumnae and OSU students, faculty and staff are invited to come together during the OSU Panhellenic Scholarship event hosted by the Corvallis Area Alumnae Panhellenic (CAAP) on Saturday, Feb. 27 at 10:30 a.m. Traditionally an in-person brunch, this virtual spin expands the event's reach to those residing in Oregon and beyond. Enjoy presentations from three active chapters on the success of their 2020 philanthropic work. Plus, one lucky student will be awarded a $1,000 scholarship, named for and presented by Jo Anne Trow (Chi Omega), former vice president of student services at OSU and winner of the 2017 OSU Alumni Association Dan W. Poling Service Award. Register for free at osualum.com/panhellenic.
NEW! CTL’s Tuesday Teaching + Tech Talks: UDL: Providing Multiple Means of Representation. Daniel Powers, Instruction Designer, PACE & Raul Burriel (AT). How can existing OSU technologies add production value to lecture recordings, presentations and class content? Learn how embedded audio and video, and graphic design elements increase engagement, and thereby content retention. This workshop will be facilitated on Feb. 16, 10 a.m., via Zoom: beav.es/ZOOMT4 *Password: CTL
NEW! Multisolving Our Way Forward: COVID-19, Health, Justice, and Climate Protection: We invite you to this talk by Elizabeth Sawin, the co-founder and co-director of Climate Interactive, on Tuesday, Feb. 16, at 6 p.m. Learn more and register here. This event is part of the nine-week series Pandemic as Portal: Creating a Just Future on Earth hosted by the Spring Creek Project and Environmental Arts and Humanities Initiative.
Empowering farmworkers and working Latinx families - OSU Changemakers webcast: Mobilizing communities is what Laura Galindo, ’17, does best. She’s former 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 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.
Public Health Insider | Making Outdoors Accessible for Everyone: As we strive to recover community health, a unique partnership between Oregon State and AARP aims to make outdoor recreation accessible for people of all ages and abilities. Join presenters Erwin Tan from AARP, Lee Davis with the OSU Outdoor Recreation Economy Initiative and Joshua Norris with the OSU Adventure Leadership Institute to learn more about the interdisciplinary effort. Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 4 p.m. Register.
NEW! College of Forestry Pet Contest: Vote for the most photogenic, best grumpy face, most homely, best goofy face, and best couple. Votes are $1 each and there is no voting limit. Vote by Feb. 18: https://www.forestry.oregonstate.edu/cof-pet-contest.
NEW! College of Forestry Silent Auction: Our silent auction is now open. The auction will run Monday, Feb. 15-Thursday, Feb. 18. Bids close at 5 p.m. Check out our themed baskets, hand-crafted items, and even bid on a happy hour experience with the dean. Items can be picked up on Monday, Feb. 22 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the RH Hatfield Courtyard.
College of Forestry Quilt and Bowl Raffle: Get raffle tickets for a queen-sized quilt, a wall-hanging quilt, and a wood-turned bowl from spalted Oregon maple burl. Tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5: https://oregonstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bjRrAbXExl1sbVY.
Donuts: Honors College is selling the following flavors in boxes of a dozen donuts: Glazed for $12, jelly-filled for $13, chocolate for $13. Each person who purchases a box will be entered into a raffle to win a Dutch Bros gift card. To order: https://oregonstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8kNBYyVwnGXAgjs and email emily.garcia@Oregonstate.edu with questions.
Auction: BEE is hosting a month-long online auction of art, crafts, jewelry, plants and much, much more. In particular, we will auction at least one of BEE faculty member John Selker’s artisan crafted wood bowls, as well as Dominique Bachelet’s cards and a watercolor painting.
Virtual High-Five: Do you miss giving people high-fives? Want a fun way to thank a co-worker? Send them a Virtual High-Five with a minimum $5 donation and you will automatically enter to win a gift card. The final day to send Virtual High-Five is Feb. 19.
Gift baskets: Bid on themed gift baskets to donate to the Food Drive at Oregon State University. All proceeds will be donated to the Linn Benton Food Share. To participate in the auction please contact Valarie.Thrower@oregonstate.edu or visit https://www.32auctions.com/OSU-Statistics-GiftBasket. Auction closes Feb. 21 at 11:45 p.m.
Pet fashion show: This high fashion event is perfect for pet parents who’ve always known their fur babies were destined for stardom. Donate $3 to enter and participate in the Fur-Baby Fashion Show from Feb. 8-14. For more info click HERE. The contest and voting will take place from Feb. 15-21 for a $2 donation per vote.
Virtual 3K: The 3K Food-for-All Walk will be held virtually from Feb. 7-21. Donate $3 to participate. Your donation will also enter you to win a free gift. Lisa Ganio will donate an additional $5 for every participant who enters.
Race to the Top Banana Virtual 5K/10K: Take part in the College of Forestry's virtual 5K/10K. Run or walk wherever you want — outdoors on a course of your choice or indoors on your treadmill. Complete by Feb. 21. You will receive a special medal to commemorate your race! $25, sign up here: https://oregonstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9zPP9RCbsBrfcQl
Bird Talk: Join Extension Communications at noon on Feb. 18 for Bird Talk, our follow-up to last year’s Bird Walk. We will present and discuss birding topics appropriate for all skill levels. To participate, donate a minimum of $2 to GiveButter.com, list “OSU Food Drive - EESC Bird Talk” in the message/comment/designation box, and forward receipt to amy.baker@oregonstate.edu. Link upon receipt of your email.
Photo contest: Extension Communications is offering a photo contest devoted to the natural world around us. Categories are landscape, birds/wildlife and macro (close-up imagery). Deadline is Feb. 19. To participate, donate $2 or more per image (up to 3 images) to GiveButter.com, list “OSU Food Drive - EESC Photos” in message/comment/designation box, and forward your receipt to amy.baker@oregonstate.edu. Details in Box https://oregonstate.app.box.com/f/54a8a9cadb06494a8e29ed5961473a47
Recipe Book: Now that all this Food Drive talk has your stomach growling, we’ve got the perfect way to satisfy those cravings - the Extension Communications Recipe Book! Donate a minimum of $2 to GiveButter.com, list “Food Drive - EESC Recipes” in the message/comment/designation box, and forward your receipt to amy.baker@oregonstate.edu. Recipe book will be sent as a pdf by email beginning Feb. 12.
NROTC Beaver Battalion: 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.
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.
NEW! Call for Abstracts: The OSU Food in Culture and Social Justice program invites the submission of abstracts to the 2021 "Just Food: because it is never just food" conference. The event was originally scheduled to be in-person at Oregon State University; due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the event will be held virtually online and will be hosted by The Culinary Institute of America and New York University. Click here for full details about the call for abstracts.
NEW! Animal Interludes: Spring Creek Project has released two new videos in its Animal Interludes series: Dawn Chorus and Sapsucker. 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.
NEW! Call for Proposals: Join a supportive learning community to improve teaching. The Center for Teaching & Learning and Academic Technology invite proposals to participate in the Spring ’21 Blended Faculty Learning Community. Group members will explore and develop solutions for personal teaching challenges through effective use of educational technology. See Call for Proposals. Apply by Feb. 24.
Provost’s Literary Prize: Professor Keith Scribner and the selection committee are seeking help from faculty to identify candidates for the 2021 Provost’s Literary Prize. OSU undergraduate students are encouraged to submit their original literary work in the form of fiction, poetry or creative nonfiction (typed, up to 14 double-spaced pages for prose or 8 manuscript pages for poetry) for the Provost’s Literary Prize. Deadline is Feb. 16. Submissions must include the student’s name, year in school, current mailing address and phone number. Email to keith.scribner@oregonstate.edu. The subject line should be either “Provost’s Literary Prize—Poetry” or “Provost’s Literary Prize—Prose.”
Free Middle School Women in Science Workshop: Discovering the Scientist Within is a program designed to nurture 6th, 7th and 8th grade girls’ interest in STEM. The event will be virtual this year with all activity supplies shipped directly to participants. It will be held Saturday, March 6, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Pre-registration is required. Registration is open now and closes Feb. 18. Contact Emily Nicholson in Precollege Programs with questions.
OSU Design Network Industry Connect: Graduating design seniors and OSU alumni creatives are invited to come together for an evening of mentorship and networking during the OSU Design Network’s virtual Industry Connect on Tuesday, Feb. 23 at 5:30 p.m. Traditionally an in-person event, this virtual spin allows successful OSU alumni to nurture and share their expertise with the next generation of creative Oregon State professionals. This networking opportunity is open to seniors studying innovation and design management, merchandising management, apparel design, interior design and graphic design, and OSU alumni across those fields. Student applications for this free event are due Friday, Feb. 12, and can be submitted here. Alumni interested in attending can register at osualum.com/designpros or reach out to Molly.Durbin@kroger.com for additional information.
Call for Applications: Career Champions Faculty Program: Applications for the Spring 2021 Career Champions program for teaching faculty and instructors are now being accepted. The program will provide tangible ways to include career readiness in the classroom, while also taking a hard look at the barriers to access that our first generation, high financial need and/or students of color face. A $500 honorarium will be awarded to participants. More information can be found on the Center for Teaching and Learning website. To apply, please complete the application form by Feb. 26.
Partial closures of Western Building parking lot Feb. 8-12: As part of the Campus Operations building project, partial closures are scheduled for the Western Building lot. The partial lot closures are scheduled to start on Monday, Feb. 8 through Friday, Feb. 12. (view map). The west half of the parking lot will be closed for storm line work from Monday, Feb. 8 through Wednesday, Feb. 10. The east half of the parking lot will be closed for storm line work from Thursday, Feb. 11 through Friday, Feb. 12. For questions or comments on this closure, contact Construction Manager Rick Freeman at 541-231-5368. 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.
“I often carry things to read so that I will not have to look at people.” ~ Charles Bukowski
Corvallis: Chance of rain and rain and snow likely today, high of 38, low of 33. Rain likely this weekend.
Central Oregon: Chance of snow today, high of 23, low of 17. Snow this weekend.
Newport: Chance of rain and patchy fog, high of 42, low of 38. Rain and breezy this weekend.
Statewide: For OSU employees around the state, find your local forecast here: http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/pqr/
