The first Plant Breeding and Genetics-designated (PBG) classes are being taught this fall, including the popular PBG 620 DNA Fingerprinting, which teaches students how to find the differences in DNA in a single plant variety.

Oregon State University’s vast network of plant breeders has been working quietly (and, in most cases, independently) for years, improving horticultural, food and animal feed crops, forestry products, ornamental plants, and more. Individual researchers collaborated and the creation of a formal program was discussed many times before, but there never was a united, university-wide effort focused on plant breeding—until now.

“We finally just said, ‘we’ve got to do this!’” explained Patrick Hayes, professor, barley breeder and director of the new Plant Breeding and Genetics Program at Oregon State.

To learn more about the Plant Breeding and Genetics degree option, check out this website: http://horticulture.oregonstate.edu/content/plant-breeding-and-genetics

-AS

Scholarship recipients with Ariko Iso of OSU center.

Oregon State’s very own, Ariko Iso, Head Athletic Football Trainer was in Eastern Oregon for the annual Japanese American Citizen League (JACL) celebration honoring 10 local high school seniors.  The event was held at the Four Rivers Cultural Center in the heart of beautiful Ontario on May 1^st.  The Argus Observer newspaper reported this about the evening;

 The keynote speaker was Ariko Iso, the head football trainer at Oregon State University. She gave a very inspirational talk about her life and her journey from Tokyo to OSU, to San Jose State University, to Portland State University, to the Pittsburgh Steelers and back to OSU in 2011. She has been the ONLY female head athletic trainer in the NFL, but that was not her original goal. She wanted to be a trainer in the National Basketball Association (NBA), but she is grateful where her life’s work has taken her and she enjoys going to work every day. Ariko says she has been fortunate to have gone to 8 NFL playoff games and 3 Super Bowls. She was never intimidated by super star athletes, since she didn’t know who they were as she worked 6 days a week and didn’t spend Sundays watching NFL games. One of the coaches told her that everyone’s elbows and knees are still just elbows and knees, no matter who’s body they are on. She never thought that being Asian or female hindered her employment possibilities since she just wanted to be known as an athletic trainer. She reminded the graduates that you need to love what you are doing, that you take one day at a time, and her motto is, “work hard and play hard”. Several of the seniors spoke to Ariko at the end of the evening since many of them are athletes and want to go into health related or physical therapy occupations.

For more information about Oregon State Univesity’s Iso, click here and here to hear her story.

Thanks for reading…
CYN

This is a great video and article on the creation and history of Benny the Beaver and the legacy that Ken Austin has left here at OSU.  Austin still continues to be a great supporter of Beaver Nation and his recent $10 million donation is going towards the new business building appropriately named Austin Hall.

Austin Hall Construction Progress

Read the Article

Go Beavs!
-GG

The story of their journey will be told in Kel Wer (“to bring song” in the native Dholuo language), a documentary that will debut at OMSI in a free public screening on Tuesday, April 9. It will explore the challenges the students faced and the incredibly welcoming and resilient people they met along the way.

Doors will open to the public at 6:30 p.m., a photography exhibit of the people of Lela will be available for viewing in the lobby, and the 35-minute documentary will start at 7:15 p.m.

You can find more details about this project and other projects here.

VZ

Recently, an article was published by the Wine Spectator showcasing Oregon State’s efforts to recycle pomace; or what is leftover after grapes are harvested and pressed for wine. Yanyun Zhao, a professor here at OSU, is working to transform this waste into baking flour and other sustainable products.  This substitute, both healthy and earth conscience, is just one example of the new developments that are being discovered here in Beaver Nation.  As one of only two schools in the United States that have all four designated grants for land, sea, sun and space; Oregon State University continues to be a top tier research institute allowing students to not just sit in a classroom but be active in their field of study.

To learn more about research opportunities; please visit our website.

-AH

The Gazette-Times recently reported  incredible news on Oregon State’s already strong sports medicine presence with majors in Athletic Training and Exercise Sports Science.  Here’s the full article.

 Oregon State University and Samaritan Health Services have entered into an agreement to develop a sports medicine facility on the OSU campus.

OSU announced the signing of a letter of intent regarding the facility in a news release issued Friday morning.

Oregon State President Ed Ray and Samaritan President and CEO Larry Mullins said the facility will provide diagnostic and treatment services, and will serve as a site for student internships, training and research. The facility will serve the university community and the general public. Samaritan will build and operate the facility on land leased from OSU.

“This collaboration will enhance the university’s academic and research mission, particularly in the areas of athletic training and exercise and sports science,” Ray said in the press release. “We are fortunate to have a comprehensive health care partner in our community that offers board-certified and fellowship-trained sports medicine specialists, as well as a broad complement of professional staff and support for training and research.”

Mullins said the facility collaboration builds upon a long partnership between the two organizations to provide sports medicine services for Oregon State.

“We will now be able to offer expanded diagnostic and treatment services, and at a location that is convenient for the university community, as well as the general public,” Mullins said.

Construction of the 10,000-square-foot facility is expected to begin this fall and be completed in fall of 2014, Mullins said.

For more information about OSU’s Athletic Training and Exercise and Sport Science click please click here.

Thanks for reading…
CYN

Linus Pauling

In celebration, the Linus Pauling Institute will be providing a guided tour of the OSU Libraries Special Collections and Archives Center where individuals can view the Ava Helen and Linus Pauling Papers Collection. This collection, comprised of over 500 thousand research materials, contains all of Pauling’s personal and scientific papers, research materials, correspondence, photographs, awards and memorabilia. Following the tour is a $5 lunch at 12:00pm in the Linus Pauling Center with proceeds going to the OSU Food Drive. At 12:30pm, people can tour the Linus Pauling Institute. Space is limited, so pre-registration is required.

Go Beavs!

-AG

This event gave participants the chance to use their creativity to construct clothing made 100% out of recyclable materials.  OSU’s Recycle Fashion Show is part of a competition between various universities through RecycleMania that encourages students to advocate for a waste-free community.

To see clips from last year’s show you can follow this link 2012 Recycle Fashion Show.

-AH

National Sciences Foundation Grant

With a top-tier oceanography program, OSU has recently won this rare grant to design and build three ocean research vessels. OSU will initially receive $3 million for the design phase of the project, with an additional $290 million to come over the next 10 years if Congress provides the money to build these hi-tech ships. Of the three 175-foot long ships, OSU would operate one ship under the grant with the other two projected to go to the Gulf Coast and the East Coast. Timing is perfect as OSU’s current research vessel, the Newport (OR) based Oceanus, is set to be retired in 2020.

The Oceanus – Oregon State University’s current research vessel

The National Science Foundation hasn’t authorized a multi-ship project since the 1970s, OSU officials said, and no other NSF ships are likely to be built in the next decade.

Research on these ships is in areas such as predicting tsunamis, understanding ocean acidification and predicating global warming. This grant, along with a new ship, would continue to further the success of OSU’s College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospherics Sciences as well as further establish Newport as an “ocean research and education hub.”

OSU Performing Arts Gift 

A $5 million gift from an anonymous donor is the largest the university has every received for the arts and is a commitment to advance its performing arts programs including digital arts, performance technology and communication. Part of the gift ($1million) is contingent on OSU securing an additional $1 million in private support, which can come from gifts of $25,000 or more.

With the gift establishing endowments for four faculty and staff positions and scholarship, graduate fellowship, and program funds; there is a lot of excitement around how this will elevate support for OSU’s School of Arts and Communication.

OSU Chamber Choir

Support of Engineering Research Facility 

OSU has received a total of $20 million in private gifts for a new educational and research facility for the College of Engineering. A recent $7 million from Peter (and Rosalie Johnson), a 1955 engineering alumnus, joins an earlier $10 million gift from an anonymous donor and $4 million in additional private funds. With the possible matching of state funds, the $40 million building will meet the needs for engineering faculty, lab space and a center focused on the recruitment and retention of engineering students.

OSU Cascades 

OSU Cascades in Bend, OR is the state’s first branch campus and is rapidly moving towards its goals of becoming a 4-year campus. To fund the expansion, the OSU Cascades has raised $3.3 million in private funds since last April towards their goal of $4 million.

Plans for OSU Cascades Expansion

Go Beavs!

-AG

…an alpine-style specialty cheese, developed and produced by Oregon State University students using milk from the university’s dairy herd. It has a subtle, nutty flavor with creamy, buttery and caramelized notes.

Beaver Classic Cheese

It made it’s debut at the September 8th football game and is being sold prior to all home football games. Can’t make it to a game? No worries, it is now available online for purchase! The Beaver Classic Cheese may also be purchased at the Department of Food Science and Technology, in Room 108 of Wiegand Fall from 11:00am-1:00pm on Fridays.

Go Beavs!

-AG