OSU Admissions Blog » Environmental Science http://oregonstate.edu/admissions/blog The blog of Oregon State University's Office of Admissions Thu, 16 May 2013 16:13:27 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 College of Forestry Researchers Revolutionizing Duct Tape and more? http://oregonstate.edu/admissions/blog/2010/07/09/college-of-forestry-researchers-revolutionizing-duct-tape-and-more/ http://oregonstate.edu/admissions/blog/2010/07/09/college-of-forestry-researchers-revolutionizing-duct-tape-and-more/#comments Fri, 09 Jul 2010 21:49:01 +0000 Blake http://oregonstate.edu/admissions/blog/?p=2430 While these college of Forestry professors may not have invented ”Duct Tape,” they may very well end up changing the glue behind the idea. Recently Kaichang Li, a professor of wood science and engineering, and his postdoctoral research associate, Anlong Li, made an incidental discovery in a wood products lab at Oregon State University. Together they created a new pressure-sensitive adhesive that may revolutionize the tape industry – an environmentally benign product that works very well and costs much less than existing adhesives based on petrochemicals.

OSU is filled with many great researchers who are consistently making contributions to both science and society. It is always fun to recognize these unique discoveries that are being made here on campus, so please check out the full article.

“OSU researchers discover new adhesive for tape, label industry”

]]> http://oregonstate.edu/admissions/blog/2010/07/09/college-of-forestry-researchers-revolutionizing-duct-tape-and-more/feed/ 0 What Caused the Mysterious Argyle Tree? http://oregonstate.edu/admissions/blog/2009/07/27/what-caused-the-argyle-tree/ http://oregonstate.edu/admissions/blog/2009/07/27/what-caused-the-argyle-tree/#comments Mon, 27 Jul 2009 20:33:34 +0000 Blake http://oregonstate.edu/admissions/blog/?p=1581 OSU, as Oregon’s premiere research university, gets a ton of strange questions. Here is a question submitted to our Department of Forestry then written about by John Howard for the Examiner.

What was odd about this particular snag was the strange pattern on its exterior. From ground level to as far as the eye could see upwards, the tree had a regular, repeating diamond pattern that looked for all the world like argyle. It was as if the snag were wearing a head-to-toe argyle stocking!

Close inspection showed that the diamond patterned lines on the dead tree trunk were ridges, not indentions. The diamonds measured about six inches across, and the pattern continued around the entire 40-inch circumference of the trunk.

Photo by John Howard

Photo by John Howard

This one has even stumped the researchers at North America’s number one College of Forestry. What do you think caused the Argyle Tree phenomenon?

-jm

]]> http://oregonstate.edu/admissions/blog/2009/07/27/what-caused-the-argyle-tree/feed/ 9 Obama Selects Oregon State University Professor Dr. Jane Lubchenco http://oregonstate.edu/admissions/blog/2008/12/21/obama-selects-oregon-state-university-professor-dr-jane-lubchenco/ http://oregonstate.edu/admissions/blog/2008/12/21/obama-selects-oregon-state-university-professor-dr-jane-lubchenco/#comments Sun, 21 Dec 2008 21:21:18 +0000 Matt http://oregonstate.edu/admissions/blog/?p=1121

You might have read BV’s previous news posting on how President-elect Barack Obama selected Oregon State University Professor Dr. Jane Lubchenco today to chair the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This is big news. I’ve read many articles on Dr. Lubchenco – she’s a distinguished professor and one the world’s leading researchers in science. She teaches Marine Biology and Zoology courses and we’ve even had some previous postings about her here on the blog.

Dr. Lubchenco will be the the first woman to head the agency, and she is internationally known for her work on marine and coastal issues. Her new role will be leading government research on global warming and overseeing ocean and atmospheric research and the National Weather Service. She’s been here at Oregon State University since 1978.

Over the weekend, I spoke with current OSU Marine Biology student Megan Cook who works as a TOUR Student in the Visitor’s Center. Megan ecstatically told me “Obama for sure made a great pick! I have had some interaction with Jane in my program. She is a brilliant scientist and a very active and successful advocate for science’s role in the decision making of this country!”

Megan also referred me to Christine Lastovica — a recent OSU graduate who worked directly with Jane this past summer. Christine told me “Jane is such an amazing woman! The thing I liked most about Jane was that she had time for everyone (which kept her very busy!). It didn’t matter if you were the president of OSU or a student with a question, Jane treated everyone equally. What I admire most about her is her confidence. After a meeting with Jane I would walk away in awe. Her knowledge, enthusiasm, and energy for what she did was astounding. She deserves every award she has received and I am pleased to see her newest appointment- head of NOAA. I take pride knowing much of our countries decisions will be in her hands!”

Thanks to Megan and Christine for allowing me to put their comments here on the blog.

I’ve posted President-elect Obama’s announcement of his science team below. Watch for Dr. Lubchenco at mark 3:57:

Congratulations to Dr. Lubchenco! Please join me in wishing her much success in her new role!

–mko

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