Research news
OSU to host conference on military and diplomacy May 7
CORVALLIS, Ore. – A conference exploring American military and diplomatic history will take place at Oregon State University on Tuesday, May 7.
The American Military and Diplomatic History Conference features a keynote panel on “American Power in Historical Perspective.” It begins at 7 p.m. in LaSells Stewart Center’s Construction & Engineering Auditorium and is free and open to the public.
The panel includes:
- Ben Mutschler, director of OSU’s School of History, Philosophy, and Religion;
- Timothy Lynch, associate professor at the University of Melbourne and author of “After the Cold War: American Foreign Policy in a New World” (2014);
- David Milne, senior lecturer at the University of East Anglia and author of “America's Rasputin: Walt Rostow and the Vietnam War” (2008);
- Christopher McKnight Nichols, assistant professor at Oregon State University and author of “Promise and Peril: America at the Dawn of a Global Age” (2011).
The conference coincides with the publication and launch of “The Oxford Encyclopedia of American Military and Diplomatic History,” a major two-volume encyclopedia that will be discussed at the panel by its main editors: Lynch, Milne, and Nichols. During the panel, they will talk about the insights drawn from their study of American military and diplomatic history since the 18th century and will put American power in a global and historical perspective.
For more information on the other talks at the conference, which take place at OSU’s Memorial Union Journey Room, go to: http://oregonstate.edu/cla/shpr/american-military-and-diplomatic-history-conference
The conference is sponsored by OSU Office of International Programs, the School of History, Philosophy, and Religion, the Hundere Endowment for Religion and Culture, Oxford University Press, and the College of Liberal Arts.
College of Liberal Arts Media Contact: Angela Yeager Source:Christopher Nichols, 541-737-8910
OSU to host conference on military and diplomacy May 7
CORVALLIS, Ore. – A conference exploring American military and diplomatic history will take place at Oregon State University on Tuesday, May 7.
The American Military and Diplomatic History Conference features a keynote panel on “American Power in Historical Perspective.” It begins at 7 p.m. in LaSells Stewart Center’s Construction & Engineering Auditorium and is free and open to the public.
The panel includes:
- Ben Mutschler, director of OSU’s School of History, Philosophy, and Religion;
- Timothy Lynch, associate professor at the University of Melbourne and author of “After the Cold War: American Foreign Policy in a New World” (2014);
- David Milne, senior lecturer at the University of East Anglia and author of “America's Rasputin: Walt Rostow and the Vietnam War” (2008);
- Christopher McKnight Nichols, assistant professor at Oregon State University and author of “Promise and Peril: America at the Dawn of a Global Age” (2011).
The conference coincides with the publication and launch of “The Oxford Encyclopedia of American Military and Diplomatic History,” a major two-volume encyclopedia that will be discussed at the panel by its main editors: Lynch, Milne, and Nichols. During the panel, they will talk about the insights drawn from their study of American military and diplomatic history since the 18th century and will put American power in a global and historical perspective.
For more information on the other talks at the conference, which take place at OSU’s Memorial Union Journey Room, go to: http://oregonstate.edu/cla/shpr/american-military-and-diplomatic-history-conference
The conference is sponsored by OSU Office of International Programs, the School of History, Philosophy, and Religion, the Hundere Endowment for Religion and Culture, Oxford University Press, and the College of Liberal Arts.
College of Liberal Arts Media Contact: Angela Yeager Source:Christopher Nichols, 541-737-8910
OSU to hold 58th annual Luau this Saturday
CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State University will host its 58th annual Luau this Saturday, April 27, at Gill Coliseum – an event that includes an authentic Hawaiian dinner, a concert and show, and performances by a fire dancer and an Elvis impersonator.
The luau, which has the theme, “Journey through Polynesia,” is sponsored by OSU’s Hui O Hawaii with the Polynesian Cultural Club. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. and dinner begins at 5 p.m. The show begins at 6 p.m.; the concert at 8;30 p.m.
Advance tickets are priced at $25 for the dinner, show and concert; or $15 for the show and concert. They are available through April 26 in the Memorial Union quad from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets sold at the door will be $5 more.
The dinner features Kalua pig, chicken long rice, shoyu chicken, lomi salmon, rice, poi, poke, haupia, and tofu stir fry.
The concert artist is Spawnbreezie. In addition to the fire dancer from Hawaii, 16 dances from throughout Polynesian Islands will be performed, and children from the Boys & Girls Club will participate in a dance taught by OSU students.
Media Contact: Mark Floyd Source:Sandy Tsuneyoshi, 541-737-9033
OSU to hold 58th annual Luau this Saturday
CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State University will host its 58th annual Luau this Saturday, April 27, at Gill Coliseum – an event that includes an authentic Hawaiian dinner, a concert and show, and performances by a fire dancer and an Elvis impersonator.
The luau, which has the theme, “Journey through Polynesia,” is sponsored by OSU’s Hui O Hawaii with the Polynesian Cultural Club. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. and dinner begins at 5 p.m. The show begins at 6 p.m.; the concert at 8;30 p.m.
Advance tickets are priced at $25 for the dinner, show and concert; or $15 for the show and concert. They are available through April 26 in the Memorial Union quad from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets sold at the door will be $5 more.
The dinner features Kalua pig, chicken long rice, shoyu chicken, lomi salmon, rice, poi, poke, haupia, and tofu stir fry.
The concert artist is Spawnbreezie. In addition to the fire dancer from Hawaii, 16 dances from throughout Polynesian Islands will be performed, and children from the Boys & Girls Club will participate in a dance taught by OSU students.
Media Contact: Mark Floyd Source:Sandy Tsuneyoshi, 541-737-9033
Documentary explores students bringing water to Kenyan community
CORVALLIS, Ore. In July of 2012, a group of Oregon State University students traveled to the small village of Lela, Kenya, to help the community gain access to safe water.
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 Kearney Hall, Room 112 on the Oregon State University campus in a free public screening on Tuesday, April 30. It will explore the challenges the students faced and the welcoming and resilient people they met along the way.
Doors will open to the public at 6 p.m., a photography exhibit of the people of Lela will be available for viewing in the lobby, and the 30-minute documentary will start at 6:30 p.m.
Following the screening, members of Oregon State's chapter of Engineers Without Borders will share their personal experiences and answer questions. Seating is limited and available on a first-come basis.
EWB-USA is a non-profit humanitarian organization that works with developing communities world-wide to improve their quality of life through environmentally and economically sustainable engineering projects, while developing internationally responsible engineering students.
More information about the project is available online at http://groups.engr.oregonstate.edu/ewb/projects/kenya_project. A Facebook event link is at https://www.facebook.com/events/187735174708820/, and the documentary trailer can be viewed at http://poweredbyorange.com/kelwer/.
The documentary was directed by Justin Smith. The project is a collaboration between the OSU College of Engineering and OSU University Relations and Marketing.
College of Engineering Media Contact: David Stauth Source:Thuy Tran, 541-737-6020
Multimedia Downloads Photo Download: Kel Wer Screening Video Download: Kel Wer (full length)Documentary explores students bringing water to Kenyan community
CORVALLIS, Ore. In July of 2012, a group of Oregon State University students traveled to the small village of Lela, Kenya, to help the community gain access to safe water.
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 Kearney Hall, Room 112 on the Oregon State University campus in a free public screening on Tuesday, April 30. It will explore the challenges the students faced and the welcoming and resilient people they met along the way.
Doors will open to the public at 6 p.m., a photography exhibit of the people of Lela will be available for viewing in the lobby, and the 30-minute documentary will start at 6:30 p.m.
Following the screening, members of Oregon State's chapter of Engineers Without Borders will share their personal experiences and answer questions. Seating is limited and available on a first-come basis.
EWB-USA is a non-profit humanitarian organization that works with developing communities world-wide to improve their quality of life through environmentally and economically sustainable engineering projects, while developing internationally responsible engineering students.
More information about the project is available online at http://groups.engr.oregonstate.edu/ewb/projects/kenya_project. A Facebook event link is at https://www.facebook.com/events/187735174708820/, and the documentary trailer can be viewed at http://poweredbyorange.com/kelwer/.
The documentary was directed by Justin Smith. The project is a collaboration between the OSU College of Engineering and OSU University Relations and Marketing.
College of Engineering Media Contact: David Stauth Source:Thuy Tran, 541-737-6020
Multimedia Downloads Photo Download: Kel Wer Screening Video Download: Kel Wer (full length)OSU to host popular Pet Day on Saturday, May 4
Oregon State University will hold its 26th annual Pet Day on Saturday, May 4, when the College of Veterinary Medicine opens its doors for tours, displays and a number of family-oriented events.
CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State University will hold its 26th annual Pet Day on Saturday, May 4, when the College of Veterinary Medicine opens its doors for tours, displays and a number of family-oriented events.
Pet Day is created, organized, and staffed by students in the College of Veterinary Medicine. It is their way of giving back to the community and continuing a legacy of public service, college officials say.
The event draws 3,000 to 4,000 visitors annually, many of whom bring their pets. Event organizers ask visitors to keep their pets on a leash.
“Pet Day is a child-friendly, educational, colorful and furry way for the veterinary college to interact with the community,” said Kim Bruce, a second-year OSU veterinary medicine student and co-chair for the event. “It is easily my favorite event of the year - Pet Day is literally a "tail-wagging" good time.”
Pet Day runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Magruder Hall, located on 30th Street in Corvallis just south of Washington Way, and adjacent to the athletic department’s Truax Indoor Center. Admittance and most events are free; however there is a small charge for a handful of the events.
The college will have new events this year, including a “cow pie” throwing contest, dog nail trims and massages, a pet costume contest (all species welcome), and many new rescue groups with adoptable pets. Benny the Beaver will also make an appearance.
The OSU College of Pharmacy will join the event this year, representing the “One Health, One World” philosophy by offering free blood pressure and diabetes screenings to Pet Day visitors. The college will also have educational information on the importance of immunizations and hygiene in preventing zoonotic disease that people can acquire from their pets.
Other activities offered at Pet Day include dog agility demonstrations, live reptiles, a petting zoo, tours of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Wonders of Anatomy displays, dog Frisbee show, cat photo contest, and more.
Many organizations and vendors will have booths providing free samples, information, or other resources spanning the four-legged gamut from pet food to shelter medicine.
Pet Day is sponsored by the College of Veterinary Medicine, and supported by Banfield Pet Hospital, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Zoetis, Bayer Animal Health, Nestle Purina PetCare Co., the Oregon Animal Health Foundation, and the Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association (SCAVMA).
College of Veterinary Medicine Media Contact: Mark Floyd Source:Lyn Smith-Gloria, 541-737-3844
Multimedia Downloads Multimedia:OSU to host popular Pet Day on Saturday, May 4
Oregon State University will hold its 26th annual Pet Day on Saturday, May 4, when the College of Veterinary Medicine opens its doors for tours, displays and a number of family-oriented events.
CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State University will hold its 26th annual Pet Day on Saturday, May 4, when the College of Veterinary Medicine opens its doors for tours, displays and a number of family-oriented events.
Pet Day is created, organized, and staffed by students in the College of Veterinary Medicine. It is their way of giving back to the community and continuing a legacy of public service, college officials say.
The event draws 3,000 to 4,000 visitors annually, many of whom bring their pets. Event organizers ask visitors to keep their pets on a leash.
“Pet Day is a child-friendly, educational, colorful and furry way for the veterinary college to interact with the community,” said Kim Bruce, a second-year OSU veterinary medicine student and co-chair for the event. “It is easily my favorite event of the year - Pet Day is literally a "tail-wagging" good time.”
Pet Day runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Magruder Hall, located on 30th Street in Corvallis just south of Washington Way, and adjacent to the athletic department’s Truax Indoor Center. Admittance and most events are free; however there is a small charge for a handful of the events.
The college will have new events this year, including a “cow pie” throwing contest, dog nail trims and massages, a pet costume contest (all species welcome), and many new rescue groups with adoptable pets. Benny the Beaver will also make an appearance.
The OSU College of Pharmacy will join the event this year, representing the “One Health, One World” philosophy by offering free blood pressure and diabetes screenings to Pet Day visitors. The college will also have educational information on the importance of immunizations and hygiene in preventing zoonotic disease that people can acquire from their pets.
Other activities offered at Pet Day include dog agility demonstrations, live reptiles, a petting zoo, tours of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Wonders of Anatomy displays, dog Frisbee show, cat photo contest, and more.
Many organizations and vendors will have booths providing free samples, information, or other resources spanning the four-legged gamut from pet food to shelter medicine.
Pet Day is sponsored by the College of Veterinary Medicine, and supported by Banfield Pet Hospital, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Zoetis, Bayer Animal Health, Nestle Purina PetCare Co., the Oregon Animal Health Foundation, and the Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association (SCAVMA).
College of Veterinary Medicine Media Contact: Mark Floyd Source:Lyn Smith-Gloria, 541-737-3844
Multimedia Downloads Multimedia:Screening of documentary film held May 2-3
CORVALLIS, Ore. — An award-winning documentary on journalist Damian Trujillo will be shown at various locations in Corvallis on Thursday, May 2, and Friday, May 3, and followed by a question and answer session with the director.
The screenings are sponsored by several departments, schools and colleges at Oregon State University.
The film, “From the Fields: An American Journey,” chronicles the life of NBC news anchor Trujillo, who came to the United States from Mexico with his family in 1972. Trujillo worked in the agricultural fields of the Salinas Valley before becoming the first in his family to graduate from college.
Following the 30-minute documentary, director Carolyn Brown, an assistant professor of journalism at American University, will answer questions about the film. Brown says one goal in making “From the Fields” was to debunk common stereotypes about Latinos and immigrants, and to explore what it means to work, support a family and contribute to American society. For more information on the screenings, go to: http://oregonstate.edu/urm/events/education
The screening schedule is as follows:
May 2
- 10 a.m.: Darkside Cinema, 215 S.W. 4th St., Corvallis.
- 6:30 p.m.: Corvallis Public Library, 645 N.W. Monroe Ave. (A Q&A session will be followed by a public reception)
May 3
- 3 p.m.: Joyce Collin Furman Hall, OSU campus, 200 S.W. 15th St.
“From the Fields” won the 2013 Gracie Award for outstanding director, and was the 2012 Orson Welles Grand Winner at the California Film Awards.
Brown’s visit is sponsored by the OSU colleges of Education and Liberal Arts, the Center for Latin@ Studies, the School of Language, Culture and Society, the College Assistant Migrant Program, Student Affairs and the Office of Equity and Inclusion.
Generic OSU Media Contact:Celene Carillo, 541-737-2137
Source:Kathryn Ciechanowski, 541-737-8585
Multimedia Downloads Multimedia:Screening of documentary film held May 2-3
CORVALLIS, Ore. — An award-winning documentary on journalist Damian Trujillo will be shown at various locations in Corvallis on Thursday, May 2, and Friday, May 3, and followed by a question and answer session with the director.
The screenings are sponsored by several departments, schools and colleges at Oregon State University.
The film, “From the Fields: An American Journey,” chronicles the life of NBC news anchor Trujillo, who came to the United States from Mexico with his family in 1972. Trujillo worked in the agricultural fields of the Salinas Valley before becoming the first in his family to graduate from college.
Following the 30-minute documentary, director Carolyn Brown, an assistant professor of journalism at American University, will answer questions about the film. Brown says one goal in making “From the Fields” was to debunk common stereotypes about Latinos and immigrants, and to explore what it means to work, support a family and contribute to American society. For more information on the screenings, go to: http://oregonstate.edu/urm/events/education
The screening schedule is as follows:
May 2
- 10 a.m.: Darkside Cinema, 215 S.W. 4th St., Corvallis.
- 6:30 p.m.: Corvallis Public Library, 645 N.W. Monroe Ave. (A Q&A session will be followed by a public reception)
May 3
- 3 p.m.: Joyce Collin Furman Hall, OSU campus, 200 S.W. 15th St.
“From the Fields” won the 2013 Gracie Award for outstanding director, and was the 2012 Orson Welles Grand Winner at the California Film Awards.
Brown’s visit is sponsored by the OSU colleges of Education and Liberal Arts, the Center for Latin@ Studies, the School of Language, Culture and Society, the College Assistant Migrant Program, Student Affairs and the Office of Equity and Inclusion.
Generic OSU Media Contact:Celene Carillo, 541-737-2137
Source:Kathryn Ciechanowski, 541-737-8585
Multimedia Downloads Multimedia:OSU names NC State scholar, NSF division director as science dean
CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State University has named Sastry Pantula, a statistics professor at North Carolina State University who since 2010 has served as director of the National Science Foundation’s Division of Mathematical Sciences, as dean of OSU’s College of Science.
Pantula, who will begin his new duties on Aug. 30, succeeds interim dean Vince Remcho.
A fellow of the American Statistical Association, he served as president of that organization in 2010. He also is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
“Sastry Pantula has a distinguished career during which he consistently has demonstrated his ability to help develop outstanding opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students and collaborative research, as well as build strong and diverse faculty,” said Sabah Randhawa, OSU provost and executive vice president. “The College of Science, and Oregon State University, will benefit from his excellent organizational and leadership skills.”
Pantula has been on the North Carolina State faculty since 1982. He headed the statistics department there for eight years, and also directed the university’s Institute of Statistics. During his tenure, he worked with his dean and the college foundation to create three $1 million endowments for distinguished professors. Since 1999, working with colleagues and alumni, he also has secured more than $7 million in funding from the National Science Foundation and other agencies and industries to promote graduate student training and mentorship.
His own research focuses on time series analysis and econometric modeling, with a broad range of applications. He has worked with the National Science Foundation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and U.S. Bureau of Census on projects ranging from population estimates to detecting trends in global temperature.
As dean of OSU’s College of Science, Pantula will provide leadership for some of OSU’s most recognized disciplines, including nationally noted programs in physics, ecosystem informatics, water resources, environmental health science and more. The college is a major reason that OSU has gained the top ranking in the United States for conservation biology in recent years, and two other departments have been ranked in the top 10 by the Chronicle of Higher Education – zoology and science education.
Diversity of sciences in the college, including mathematical and statistical sciences, provide innovative opportunities for fundamental and multidisciplinary research collaborations across the campus and around the globe.
Pantula has bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Indian Statistical Institute in Kolkata, India, and a Ph.D. in statistics from Iowa State University.
College of Science Media Contact: Mark Floyd Source:Sabah Randhawa, 541-737-2111
Multimedia Downloads Multimedia:OSU names NC State scholar, NSF division director as science dean
CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State University has named Sastry Pantula, a statistics professor at North Carolina State University who since 2010 has served as director of the National Science Foundation’s Division of Mathematical Sciences, as dean of OSU’s College of Science.
Pantula, who will begin his new duties on Aug. 30, succeeds interim dean Vince Remcho.
A fellow of the American Statistical Association, he served as president of that organization in 2010. He also is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
“Sastry Pantula has a distinguished career during which he consistently has demonstrated his ability to help develop outstanding opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students and collaborative research, as well as build strong and diverse faculty,” said Sabah Randhawa, OSU provost and executive vice president. “The College of Science, and Oregon State University, will benefit from his excellent organizational and leadership skills.”
Pantula has been on the North Carolina State faculty since 1982. He headed the statistics department there for eight years, and also directed the university’s Institute of Statistics. During his tenure, he worked with his dean and the college foundation to create three $1 million endowments for distinguished professors. Since 1999, working with colleagues and alumni, he also has secured more than $7 million in funding from the National Science Foundation and other agencies and industries to promote graduate student training and mentorship.
His own research focuses on time series analysis and econometric modeling, with a broad range of applications. He has worked with the National Science Foundation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and U.S. Bureau of Census on projects ranging from population estimates to detecting trends in global temperature.
As dean of OSU’s College of Science, Pantula will provide leadership for some of OSU’s most recognized disciplines, including nationally noted programs in physics, ecosystem informatics, water resources, environmental health science and more. The college is a major reason that OSU has gained the top ranking in the United States for conservation biology in recent years, and two other departments have been ranked in the top 10 by the Chronicle of Higher Education – zoology and science education.
Diversity of sciences in the college, including mathematical and statistical sciences, provide innovative opportunities for fundamental and multidisciplinary research collaborations across the campus and around the globe.
Pantula has bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Indian Statistical Institute in Kolkata, India, and a Ph.D. in statistics from Iowa State University.
College of Science Media Contact: Mark Floyd Source:Sabah Randhawa, 541-737-2111
Multimedia Downloads Multimedia:Fruit-damaging fly could hit record population in Northwest this year
The spotted wing drosophila fly, which lays its eggs in fruit and makes it unmarketable, could reach record population levels in the Pacific Northwest this year, according to OSU researchers.
CORVALLIS, Ore. – The spotted wing drosophila fly, which lays its eggs in fruit and makes it unmarketable, could reach record population levels in the Pacific Northwest this year, according to Oregon State University researchers.
"All indications estimate this season will be similar or worse than 2012, which was the worst on record," said Vaughn Walton, an entomologist with the OSU Extension Service. “Winter and spring temperatures in the Pacific Northwest have been warmer than last year, and heat equals larger populations of spotted wing drosophila.”
Originally from Asia, the spotted wing drosophila was first found stateside in California in 2008 and has since spread across the continent. The insect lays its eggs in ripe and ripening small and stone fruits, and its developing larvae eat the fruit. The cosmetic imperfections caused by the larvae make the fruit undesirable to most consumers.
The fly's favorite fruits include blueberries, cherries, blackberries, raspberries, peaches and plums. The pest has not impacted wine grapes so far, Walton added.
Walton expects spotted wing drosophila populations in the Pacific Northwest to rapidly build through July and August when most susceptible fruits ripen.
The economic stakes are high. In Oregon alone, farmers grew $198 million of berries in 2012, with blueberries accounting for $108 million of that, according to a report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Growers also sold $74 million of sweet cherries that year, the report said.
In the absence of detection and control measures, Oregon's small and stone fruit industry could lose $31 million per year, according to a report by the Giannini Foundation of Agricultural Economics at the University of California.
Since the discovery of the pest in Oregon, OSU has been collaborating with scientists in California and Washington to better understand it and help growers deal with it. For example, researchers at OSU are seeing if a parasitic wasp that is native to the United States, known as Pachycrepoides vindemmiae, can be used to control the spotted wing drosophila. It lays its eggs in the fly's pupae, thus killing them.
OSU will also lead a trip to South Korea in August to search for and collect other similar wasps, including one known as Asobara japonica that lays its eggs in the spotted wing drosophila's larvae. Over the next few years, researchers will study these wasps in quarantine to determine if it attacks only the fly's larvae. If tests show the wasp does not harm other insects, Asobara japonica and others could be released in the U.S. in three to five years.
For now, OSU has found that insecticides are the best way to control the pest. OSU pesticide evaluator Joe DeFrancesco tested various compounds for use on strawberries, blueberries and caneberries to see which are most effective. OSU entomologist Peter Shearer has conducted similar work on cherries. The top-performing pesticides are on OSU's website at http://bit.ly/SWD_GrowerInfoOSU.
"To protect against severe economic damage, we've seen farmers spraying more than usual – and this year will probably be no exception," said Shearer. "If farmers use proper sprays at proper times, they should be able to prevent the flies from damaging fruit."
Last year, farmers in the Willamette Valley and Oregon's Mid-Columbia Basin sprayed an average of five to nine times to control spotted wing drosophila at an average cost of $169 an acre, said Walton. Before the fly landed in Oregon, the state's small fruit growers typically sprayed only twice a year to manage other pests, Shearer said. Oregon's blueberry growers alone spent $6 million last year to manage the spotted wing drosophila, Walton estimates.
OSU is also investigating the impact of cold weather on the insect's survival. Early data suggest that some adults can survive fluctuating conditions and can live for 150 days in the winter. Low humidity appears to negatively impact the fly's survival and reproduction, but tests are still ongoing to confirm these findings.
Additionally, OSU researchers have also helped develop an interactive map that estimates the fly's population throughout the U.S. based on temperature and weather conditions. In the mid-Willamette Valley, data suggest that three to five generations of the pest emerge during each growing season.
OSU is also advising growers to monitor for the fly by hanging homemade traps containing apple cider vinegar in plastic cups punctured with small holes that lure in the insect. Amy Dreves, an entomologist with OSU Extension, explains how to make them in a video at http://bit.ly/OSU_SWDtrap. Researchers are working to develop better baits and traps that catch the spotted wing drosophila earlier in the ripening season to help growers determine when to treat for the pest.
In addition, Bernadine Strik, a berry crops specialist with the OSU Extension Service, is monitoring the presence of the pest in an organic research plot and using organically-approved methods to control the fly.
More information on the fly is on OSU's website at www.spottedwing.org. The site features guides to identify the fly, advice for gardeners and commercial growers, and updates on OSU's research. It also contains links to the following guides published by the OSU Extension Service:
- Recognize Fruit Damage from Spotted Wing Drosophila (http://bit.ly/SWD_Bulletin1)
- A New Pest Attacking Healthy Ripening Fruit in Oregon (http://bit.ly/SWD_Bulletin2)
- Protecting Garden Fruits from Spotted Wing Drosophila (http://bit.ly/SWD_Bulletin3)
OSU's partners in the spotted wing drosophila project include the Oregon Department of Agriculture, Washington State University and the University of California, Davis. The work is funded by a $5.8 million grant from the USDA.
Generic OSU Media Contact: Daniel Robison Source:Vaughn Walton, 541-737-3485;
Peter Shearer, 541-386-2030 ext. 215;
Amy Dreves, 541-737-5576;
Bernadine Strik, 541-737-5434
Multimedia Downloads Multimedia:
Small and stone fruits are preferred foods of the spotted wing drosophila, an invasive pest that first arrived in the U.S. in 2008. (Photo by Vaughn Walton.)
Fruit-damaging fly could hit record population in Northwest this year
The spotted wing drosophila fly, which lays its eggs in fruit and makes it unmarketable, could reach record population levels in the Pacific Northwest this year, according to OSU researchers.
CORVALLIS, Ore. – The spotted wing drosophila fly, which lays its eggs in fruit and makes it unmarketable, could reach record population levels in the Pacific Northwest this year, according to Oregon State University researchers.
"All indications estimate this season will be similar or worse than 2012, which was the worst on record," said Vaughn Walton, an entomologist with the OSU Extension Service. “Winter and spring temperatures in the Pacific Northwest have been warmer than last year, and heat equals larger populations of spotted wing drosophila.”
Originally from Asia, the spotted wing drosophila was first found stateside in California in 2008 and has since spread across the continent. The insect lays its eggs in ripe and ripening small and stone fruits, and its developing larvae eat the fruit. The cosmetic imperfections caused by the larvae make the fruit undesirable to most consumers.
The fly's favorite fruits include blueberries, cherries, blackberries, raspberries, peaches and plums. The pest has not impacted wine grapes so far, Walton added.
Walton expects spotted wing drosophila populations in the Pacific Northwest to rapidly build through July and August when most susceptible fruits ripen.
The economic stakes are high. In Oregon alone, farmers grew $198 million of berries in 2012, with blueberries accounting for $108 million of that, according to a report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Growers also sold $74 million of sweet cherries that year, the report said.
In the absence of detection and control measures, Oregon's small and stone fruit industry could lose $31 million per year, according to a report by the Giannini Foundation of Agricultural Economics at the University of California.
Since the discovery of the pest in Oregon, OSU has been collaborating with scientists in California and Washington to better understand it and help growers deal with it. For example, researchers at OSU are seeing if a parasitic wasp that is native to the United States, known as Pachycrepoides vindemmiae, can be used to control the spotted wing drosophila. It lays its eggs in the fly's pupae, thus killing them.
OSU will also lead a trip to South Korea in August to search for and collect other similar wasps, including one known as Asobara japonica that lays its eggs in the spotted wing drosophila's larvae. Over the next few years, researchers will study these wasps in quarantine to determine if it attacks only the fly's larvae. If tests show the wasp does not harm other insects, Asobara japonica and others could be released in the U.S. in three to five years.
For now, OSU has found that insecticides are the best way to control the pest. OSU pesticide evaluator Joe DeFrancesco tested various compounds for use on strawberries, blueberries and caneberries to see which are most effective. OSU entomologist Peter Shearer has conducted similar work on cherries. The top-performing pesticides are on OSU's website at http://bit.ly/SWD_GrowerInfoOSU.
"To protect against severe economic damage, we've seen farmers spraying more than usual – and this year will probably be no exception," said Shearer. "If farmers use proper sprays at proper times, they should be able to prevent the flies from damaging fruit."
Last year, farmers in the Willamette Valley and Oregon's Mid-Columbia Basin sprayed an average of five to nine times to control spotted wing drosophila at an average cost of $169 an acre, said Walton. Before the fly landed in Oregon, the state's small fruit growers typically sprayed only twice a year to manage other pests, Shearer said. Oregon's blueberry growers alone spent $6 million last year to manage the spotted wing drosophila, Walton estimates.
OSU is also investigating the impact of cold weather on the insect's survival. Early data suggest that some adults can survive fluctuating conditions and can live for 150 days in the winter. Low humidity appears to negatively impact the fly's survival and reproduction, but tests are still ongoing to confirm these findings.
Additionally, OSU researchers have also helped develop an interactive map that estimates the fly's population throughout the U.S. based on temperature and weather conditions. In the mid-Willamette Valley, data suggest that three to five generations of the pest emerge during each growing season.
OSU is also advising growers to monitor for the fly by hanging homemade traps containing apple cider vinegar in plastic cups punctured with small holes that lure in the insect. Amy Dreves, an entomologist with OSU Extension, explains how to make them in a video at http://bit.ly/OSU_SWDtrap. Researchers are working to develop better baits and traps that catch the spotted wing drosophila earlier in the ripening season to help growers determine when to treat for the pest.
In addition, Bernadine Strik, a berry crops specialist with the OSU Extension Service, is monitoring the presence of the pest in an organic research plot and using organically-approved methods to control the fly.
More information on the fly is on OSU's website at www.spottedwing.org. The site features guides to identify the fly, advice for gardeners and commercial growers, and updates on OSU's research. It also contains links to the following guides published by the OSU Extension Service:
- Recognize Fruit Damage from Spotted Wing Drosophila (http://bit.ly/SWD_Bulletin1)
- A New Pest Attacking Healthy Ripening Fruit in Oregon (http://bit.ly/SWD_Bulletin2)
- Protecting Garden Fruits from Spotted Wing Drosophila (http://bit.ly/SWD_Bulletin3)
OSU's partners in the spotted wing drosophila project include the Oregon Department of Agriculture, Washington State University and the University of California, Davis. The work is funded by a $5.8 million grant from the USDA.
Generic OSU Media Contact: Daniel Robison Source:Vaughn Walton, 541-737-3485;
Peter Shearer, 541-386-2030 ext. 215;
Amy Dreves, 541-737-5576;
Bernadine Strik, 541-737-5434
Multimedia Downloads Multimedia:
Small and stone fruits are preferred foods of the spotted wing drosophila, an invasive pest that first arrived in the U.S. in 2008. (Photo by Vaughn Walton.)
Earth Week at OSU offers sustainable events, opportunities
Oregon State University is promoting sustainability and awareness with an array of events during Earth Week, which begins Saturday, April 20.
CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State University is promoting sustainability and awareness with an array of events during Earth Week, which begins Saturday, April 20.
Several new events this year include Campus Creature Census, in which community members are invited to contribute a creative work inspired by the various plants and animals that inhabit OSU. Participants may submit an entry in prose, field guide, artistic, or poetry form, which may be added to a compilation.
Returning events include the Hoo-Haa Earth Day Celebration, hosted by the Organic Grower’s Club at their farm on April 22. From 3-7 p.m., guests may enjoy free food and live music, watch a bubble artist in action, learn about soil, and discover how chickens may be used to till the earth. A shuttle bus will leave campus every 15 minutes from outside the OSU Beaver Store.
The 13th annual Earth Week Community Fair will be April 23. About 50 groups, both on and off of campus, will offer activities and environmental information. Students may also bring styrofoam for free recycling. Acceptable items include foam sheets and wraps, as well as bendable and rigid blocks. However, food packaging and expanding foam will not be accepted.
OSU Surplus Property will host the OSUsed Store Earth Week sale on April 24. Furniture, computers, electronics, housewares, and more will be on sale to students and community members from noon to 3 p.m.
This year also marks the 100-year anniversary of the planting of the elm trees that stand in the library quad. A celebration will be held from noon to 1 p.m. on April 26, as an additional tree is planted to commemorate the next 100 years.
A more detailed list of events may be found at: (http://tiny.cc/earth-calendar).
Campus Recycling Media Contact: Theresa Hogue Source:Andrea Norris, 541-737-5398
Earth Week at OSU offers sustainable events, opportunities
Oregon State University is promoting sustainability and awareness with an array of events during Earth Week, which begins Saturday, April 20.
CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State University is promoting sustainability and awareness with an array of events during Earth Week, which begins Saturday, April 20.
Several new events this year include Campus Creature Census, in which community members are invited to contribute a creative work inspired by the various plants and animals that inhabit OSU. Participants may submit an entry in prose, field guide, artistic, or poetry form, which may be added to a compilation.
Returning events include the Hoo-Haa Earth Day Celebration, hosted by the Organic Grower’s Club at their farm on April 22. From 3-7 p.m., guests may enjoy free food and live music, watch a bubble artist in action, learn about soil, and discover how chickens may be used to till the earth. A shuttle bus will leave campus every 15 minutes from outside the OSU Beaver Store.
The 13th annual Earth Week Community Fair will be April 23. About 50 groups, both on and off of campus, will offer activities and environmental information. Students may also bring styrofoam for free recycling. Acceptable items include foam sheets and wraps, as well as bendable and rigid blocks. However, food packaging and expanding foam will not be accepted.
OSU Surplus Property will host the OSUsed Store Earth Week sale on April 24. Furniture, computers, electronics, housewares, and more will be on sale to students and community members from noon to 3 p.m.
This year also marks the 100-year anniversary of the planting of the elm trees that stand in the library quad. A celebration will be held from noon to 1 p.m. on April 26, as an additional tree is planted to commemorate the next 100 years.
A more detailed list of events may be found at: (http://tiny.cc/earth-calendar).
Campus Recycling Media Contact: Theresa Hogue Source:Andrea Norris, 541-737-5398
OSU to shut down some buildings Sunday for electrical work
CORVALLIS, Ore. – Several buildings on the Oregon State University campus will be without power this weekend to allow Pacific Power & Light to replace some of the older switches that bring electricity to the buildings from outside lines.
The work is part of a long-term plan to modernize the university’s power grid, according to Brian Thorsness, executive director of campus operations for OSU.
“This is an early step in an ongoing effort to provide greater power system stability on campus,” Thorsness said.
OSU has experienced several power outages over the past 2-3 years due to the antiquated system. An electrical fire in the steam tunnels underneath the campus caused an outage throughout much of the campus two years ago and a power outage last year prevented alarms from going off and alerting campus officials to flooding at the new Linus Pauling Science Center.
During the work this weekend, Pacific Power & Light will have trucks and equipment staged along Campus Way between 14th Street and Waldo Place. Buildings that will be without power this Sunday, April 21 (from roughly 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.), are as follows:
- Covell Hall
- Merryfield Hall (west end)
- Graf Hall
- Batcheller Hall
- Benton Hall
Several other buildings will be without power from 8 to 10 a.m., and from 5 to 6 p.m. They are:
- Milam Hall
- Bexell Hall
- Kidder Hall
- Milne Computer Center
- Gleeson Hall
- Gilkey Hall
- Gilbert addition
- Shepard Hall
- Dearborn Hall
- Rogers Hall
Two other dates have been scheduled for building shutdowns, campus officials say. On Sunday, April 28, these buildings will be without power from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Withycombe, Nash, Gilmore, Ballard Extension and the Women’s Building.
On Sunday, June 16, these buildings will be affected by power shutdowns: Withycombe, McNary, Wilson, Callahan, Nash, Gilmore, Ballard Extension, Women’s Building, Snell, McAlexander Fieldhouse, Gladys Valley Gymnastics Center, Pharmacy, Women’s Center, Education and Kerr Administration.
Generic OSU Media Contact: Mark Floyd Source:Brian Thorsness, 541-737-7344
OSU to shut down some buildings Sunday for electrical work
CORVALLIS, Ore. – Several buildings on the Oregon State University campus will be without power this weekend to allow Pacific Power & Light to replace some of the older switches that bring electricity to the buildings from outside lines.
The work is part of a long-term plan to modernize the university’s power grid, according to Brian Thorsness, executive director of campus operations for OSU.
“This is an early step in an ongoing effort to provide greater power system stability on campus,” Thorsness said.
OSU has experienced several power outages over the past 2-3 years due to the antiquated system. An electrical fire in the steam tunnels underneath the campus caused an outage throughout much of the campus two years ago and a power outage last year prevented alarms from going off and alerting campus officials to flooding at the new Linus Pauling Science Center.
During the work this weekend, Pacific Power & Light will have trucks and equipment staged along Campus Way between 14th Street and Waldo Place. Buildings that will be without power this Sunday, April 21 (from roughly 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.), are as follows:
- Covell Hall
- Merryfield Hall (west end)
- Graf Hall
- Batcheller Hall
- Benton Hall
Several other buildings will be without power from 8 to 10 a.m., and from 5 to 6 p.m. They are:
- Milam Hall
- Bexell Hall
- Kidder Hall
- Milne Computer Center
- Gleeson Hall
- Gilkey Hall
- Gilbert addition
- Shepard Hall
- Dearborn Hall
- Rogers Hall
Two other dates have been scheduled for building shutdowns, campus officials say. On Sunday, April 28, these buildings will be without power from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Withycombe, Nash, Gilmore, Ballard Extension and the Women’s Building.
On Sunday, June 16, these buildings will be affected by power shutdowns: Withycombe, McNary, Wilson, Callahan, Nash, Gilmore, Ballard Extension, Women’s Building, Snell, McAlexander Fieldhouse, Gladys Valley Gymnastics Center, Pharmacy, Women’s Center, Education and Kerr Administration.
Generic OSU Media Contact: Mark Floyd Source:Brian Thorsness, 541-737-7344
Outpatients, hospital patients face different problems with antibiotic resistance
Antibiotic resistance is now as bad in some outpatient, community settings as it is in hospitals, and researchers say more needs to be done to study the issue.
CORVALLIS, Ore. – A new study concludes that problems with antibiotic resistance faced by outpatients may be as bad as those in hospitalized patients, and that more studies of outpatients are needed – both to protect their health and to avoid inappropriate or unnecessary drug use.
Antibiotic resistance is a huge and growing problem in both hospital and outpatient settings. Failure to select an effective antibiotic, without appropriate consideration for this resistance, can increase the risk of continued illness or death.
While 126 million prescriptions a year for antimicrobial drugs are given to people outside of hospitals, less has been done with them, compared to inpatients, to monitor their levels of antibiotic resistance.
The new analysis examined more than 16,000 cultures for resistance to some commonly used antibiotics. It found that outpatients can face resistance issues that sometimes are similar to those of people in hospitals – but that these problems can also be either more or less severe.
The findings were reported in Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease by researchers from Oregon State University, Oregon Health and Science University, and Kaiser Permanente Northwest.
“Hospitals for some time have been producing what are called antibiograms, a compilation of data to provide insights into local problems with antibiotic resistance,” said Jessina McGregor, assistant professor in the OSU College of Pharmacy, who is an expert in antibiotic resistance issues and lead author on this study.
“Traditionally these findings have been shared with doctors to help them select the best antibiotics for their patients’ infections,” she said. “However, in many outpatient settings this same level of information has not been available. We found there are enough differences that we need to start doing more studies with the outpatient groups, in order to help doctors provide patients with the best possible care for their infections, and prevent the spread of resistance.”
The researchers also noted that more than half of all antibiotics prescribed to outpatients for acute respiratory infections are unnecessary. This can speed the resistance of bacteria to antibiotic treatment.
Antibiotic resistance historically began to show up in hospitals before it was found in the larger community, researchers say. Because of this, hospitals have been more aggressive in working to monitor, understand and prevent unnecessary antibiotic use.
As patient records increasingly become electronic, both in the hospital and in outpatient clinics, it will be possible for more health care systems to produce outpatient antibiograms, McGregor said, and that will be “a step in the right direction.”
College of Pharmacy Media Contact: David Stauth Source:Jessina McGregor, 503-494-4722
Outpatients, hospital patients face different problems with antibiotic resistance
Antibiotic resistance is now as bad in some outpatient, community settings as it is in hospitals, and researchers say more needs to be done to study the issue.
CORVALLIS, Ore. – A new study concludes that problems with antibiotic resistance faced by outpatients may be as bad as those in hospitalized patients, and that more studies of outpatients are needed – both to protect their health and to avoid inappropriate or unnecessary drug use.
Antibiotic resistance is a huge and growing problem in both hospital and outpatient settings. Failure to select an effective antibiotic, without appropriate consideration for this resistance, can increase the risk of continued illness or death.
While 126 million prescriptions a year for antimicrobial drugs are given to people outside of hospitals, less has been done with them, compared to inpatients, to monitor their levels of antibiotic resistance.
The new analysis examined more than 16,000 cultures for resistance to some commonly used antibiotics. It found that outpatients can face resistance issues that sometimes are similar to those of people in hospitals – but that these problems can also be either more or less severe.
The findings were reported in Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease by researchers from Oregon State University, Oregon Health and Science University, and Kaiser Permanente Northwest.
“Hospitals for some time have been producing what are called antibiograms, a compilation of data to provide insights into local problems with antibiotic resistance,” said Jessina McGregor, assistant professor in the OSU College of Pharmacy, who is an expert in antibiotic resistance issues and lead author on this study.
“Traditionally these findings have been shared with doctors to help them select the best antibiotics for their patients’ infections,” she said. “However, in many outpatient settings this same level of information has not been available. We found there are enough differences that we need to start doing more studies with the outpatient groups, in order to help doctors provide patients with the best possible care for their infections, and prevent the spread of resistance.”
The researchers also noted that more than half of all antibiotics prescribed to outpatients for acute respiratory infections are unnecessary. This can speed the resistance of bacteria to antibiotic treatment.
Antibiotic resistance historically began to show up in hospitals before it was found in the larger community, researchers say. Because of this, hospitals have been more aggressive in working to monitor, understand and prevent unnecessary antibiotic use.
As patient records increasingly become electronic, both in the hospital and in outpatient clinics, it will be possible for more health care systems to produce outpatient antibiograms, McGregor said, and that will be “a step in the right direction.”
College of Pharmacy Media Contact: David Stauth Source:Jessina McGregor, 503-494-4722
