Research Office

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Oregon State University’s annual Klatowa Eena Powwow takes place on Saturday and Sunday, May 18-19, in Gill Coliseum on the OSU campus.

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State University’s annual Klatowa Eena Powwow takes place on Saturday and Sunday, May 18-19, in Gill Coliseum on the OSU campus.

As part of the weekend festivities, the Native American Student Association of OSU and Type1 Beavers will host the Jim Thorpe Dash for Diabetes Fun Run, May 18, beginning at 9 a.m. at the Native American Longhouse. Early registration for the run is available at http://studenthealth.oregonstate.edu/dash-diabetes. The event is free.

Free blood glucose screenings and advice from campus health professionals will be available along with refreshments, prizes and giveaways.

The 37th annual Klatowa Eena Powwow takes place at Gill Coliseum (660 S.W. 26th St.). On Saturday, the Grand Entries take place at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday at 1 p.m. This year’s theme of “Honoring Native Youth,” will feature a young adult dance competition with traditional, grass, fancy and jingle dances.

In addition to the powwow, the annual salmon bake takes place in the MU Quad from noon to 3 p.m., Wednesday, May 15. An open house at the new Native American Longhouse is set for Friday, May 17, 4 p.m., 311 S.W. 26th St.

 

Generic OSU Media Contact:  Theresa Hogue Source: 

Becky Evans, 541-737-0760

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Oregon State University’s annual Klatowa Eena Powwow takes place on Saturday and Sunday, May 18-19, in Gill Coliseum on the OSU campus.

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State University’s annual Klatowa Eena Powwow takes place on Saturday and Sunday, May 18-19, in Gill Coliseum on the OSU campus.

As part of the weekend festivities, the Native American Student Association of OSU and Type1 Beavers will host the Jim Thorpe Dash for Diabetes Fun Run, May 18, beginning at 9 a.m. at the Native American Longhouse. Early registration for the run is available at http://studenthealth.oregonstate.edu/dash-diabetes. The event is free.

Free blood glucose screenings and advice from campus health professionals will be available along with refreshments, prizes and giveaways.

The 37th annual Klatowa Eena Powwow takes place at Gill Coliseum (660 S.W. 26th St.). On Saturday, the Grand Entries take place at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday at 1 p.m. This year’s theme of “Honoring Native Youth,” will feature a young adult dance competition with traditional, grass, fancy and jingle dances.

In addition to the powwow, the annual salmon bake takes place in the MU Quad from noon to 3 p.m., Wednesday, May 15. An open house at the new Native American Longhouse is set for Friday, May 17, 4 p.m., 311 S.W. 26th St.

 

Generic OSU Media Contact:  Theresa Hogue Source: 

Becky Evans, 541-737-0760

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Research suggests that overgrazing can increase the severity of cheatgrass invasion in sagebrush steppe, one of the most endangered ecosystems in North America.

The study this story is based on is available online: http://bit.ly/ZO8Ezb

 

CORVALLIS, Ore. – A new study suggests that overgrazing and other factors increase the severity of cheatgrass invasion in sagebrush steppe, one of North America’s most endangered ecosystems.

The research found that overgrazed land loses the mechanisms that can resist invasion. This includes degradation of once-abundant native bunchgrasses and trampling that disturbs biological soil crusts. The work was published today in the Journal of Applied Ecology by researchers from Oregon State University, Augustana College and the U.S. Geological Survey.

“We think there are ways to assess the risks these lands face to reduce the impact of cheatgrass invasion,” said Paul Doescher, professor and head of the OSU Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, and co-author on the study.

“In the future we should work cooperatively with ranchers and land managers to promote a diverse sagebrush and bunchgrass ecosystem,” Doescher said. “That type of community will protect the native plant and wildlife species and benefit sustainable rangeland use at the same time.”

Researchers suggested that one of the most effective restoration approaches would be to minimize the cumulative impact of grazing, by better managing the timing, frequency of grazing and number of animals.

The researchers also determined that, contrary to some previous suggestions, grazing does not reduce cheatgrass abundance. Cheatgrass was found by this study to be extremely tolerant of even intensive grazing, and the findings “raise serious concern” about proposals to use cattle grazing to help control its spread in areas where native bunchgrasses still persist.

The study outlines the complex ecological processes that can promote cheatgrass invasion and the indirect role overgrazing plays in that process. Increasing gaps and connection of gaps between once-abundant native bunchgrasses allow “a dramatic increase” in cheatgrass invasion, the study concluded. Such gaps could serve as a valuable “early warning indicator” and allow for management approaches that could help conserve and restore the land.

Cheatgrass threatens vast regions of the American West, especially the Great Basin in Nevada and surrounding states. These are areas which were once carpeted by millions of acres of native sagebrush, perennial bunchgrasses and associated wildlife that had evolved with little herbivore pressure. Cheatgrass displaces native grasses and wildlife, can increase fire frequency and ultimately cause an irreversible loss of these native shrub-steppe communities.

This also has grazing implications: cheatgrass is a short-lived annual grass that dries out quickly and provides lower quality forage for much of the year, compared to perennial bunchgrasses.

“Cheatgrass changes the fire regime, and as it spreads, can reach a tipping point,” said Michael Reisner, now an assistant professor at Augustana College who led this study as a doctoral student at OSU.

“After you cross that threshold, a major rangeland fire will come through that takes out the sagebrush, and in most cases the native ecosystem never recovers,” Reisner said. “Many of the plant and animal species that were there can disappear, mostly replaced by cheatgrass that offers poor forage for cattle.”

In a more resistant system, abundant native bunchgrasses can limit the size and connectivity of gaps, which minimizes the water and nutrients available to cheatgrass. Using data from 75 study sites, researchers found that high levels of cattle grazing were associated with reduced bunchgrass cover, with wider and more connections between the gaps that provided an opportunity for cheatgrass to invade.

Cattle trampling also appeared to disturb biological soil crust that offers a second defensive barrier against cheatgrass, and further speeds the invasion. Impacts are greater on the drier and warmer sites within this region.

If the level and amount of gaps indicates that it’s necessary, changes in grazing could help restore bunchgrass cover, maintain a diversity of native grass species and provide much better resistance to cheatgrass invasion, the study concluded. Continued research is needed to quantify the threshold levels of cattle grazing that would still maintain a healthy native ecosystem.

This work was supported by the U.S. Joint Fire Sciences Program, OSU, and the U.S. Geological Survey.

College of Forestry Media Contact:  David Stauth Source: 

Paul Doescher, 541-737-6583

Multimedia Downloads Multimedia: 

Intact rangeland




Grazing impacts

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Research suggests that overgrazing can increase the severity of cheatgrass invasion in sagebrush steppe, one of the most endangered ecosystems in North America.

The study this story is based on is available online: http://bit.ly/ZO8Ezb

 

CORVALLIS, Ore. – A new study suggests that overgrazing and other factors increase the severity of cheatgrass invasion in sagebrush steppe, one of North America’s most endangered ecosystems.

The research found that overgrazed land loses the mechanisms that can resist invasion. This includes degradation of once-abundant native bunchgrasses and trampling that disturbs biological soil crusts. The work was published today in the Journal of Applied Ecology by researchers from Oregon State University, Augustana College and the U.S. Geological Survey.

“We think there are ways to assess the risks these lands face to reduce the impact of cheatgrass invasion,” said Paul Doescher, professor and head of the OSU Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, and co-author on the study.

“In the future we should work cooperatively with ranchers and land managers to promote a diverse sagebrush and bunchgrass ecosystem,” Doescher said. “That type of community will protect the native plant and wildlife species and benefit sustainable rangeland use at the same time.”

Researchers suggested that one of the most effective restoration approaches would be to minimize the cumulative impact of grazing, by better managing the timing, frequency of grazing and number of animals.

The researchers also determined that, contrary to some previous suggestions, grazing does not reduce cheatgrass abundance. Cheatgrass was found by this study to be extremely tolerant of even intensive grazing, and the findings “raise serious concern” about proposals to use cattle grazing to help control its spread in areas where native bunchgrasses still persist.

The study outlines the complex ecological processes that can promote cheatgrass invasion and the indirect role overgrazing plays in that process. Increasing gaps and connection of gaps between once-abundant native bunchgrasses allow “a dramatic increase” in cheatgrass invasion, the study concluded. Such gaps could serve as a valuable “early warning indicator” and allow for management approaches that could help conserve and restore the land.

Cheatgrass threatens vast regions of the American West, especially the Great Basin in Nevada and surrounding states. These are areas which were once carpeted by millions of acres of native sagebrush, perennial bunchgrasses and associated wildlife that had evolved with little herbivore pressure. Cheatgrass displaces native grasses and wildlife, can increase fire frequency and ultimately cause an irreversible loss of these native shrub-steppe communities.

This also has grazing implications: cheatgrass is a short-lived annual grass that dries out quickly and provides lower quality forage for much of the year, compared to perennial bunchgrasses.

“Cheatgrass changes the fire regime, and as it spreads, can reach a tipping point,” said Michael Reisner, now an assistant professor at Augustana College who led this study as a doctoral student at OSU.

“After you cross that threshold, a major rangeland fire will come through that takes out the sagebrush, and in most cases the native ecosystem never recovers,” Reisner said. “Many of the plant and animal species that were there can disappear, mostly replaced by cheatgrass that offers poor forage for cattle.”

In a more resistant system, abundant native bunchgrasses can limit the size and connectivity of gaps, which minimizes the water and nutrients available to cheatgrass. Using data from 75 study sites, researchers found that high levels of cattle grazing were associated with reduced bunchgrass cover, with wider and more connections between the gaps that provided an opportunity for cheatgrass to invade.

Cattle trampling also appeared to disturb biological soil crust that offers a second defensive barrier against cheatgrass, and further speeds the invasion. Impacts are greater on the drier and warmer sites within this region.

If the level and amount of gaps indicates that it’s necessary, changes in grazing could help restore bunchgrass cover, maintain a diversity of native grass species and provide much better resistance to cheatgrass invasion, the study concluded. Continued research is needed to quantify the threshold levels of cattle grazing that would still maintain a healthy native ecosystem.

This work was supported by the U.S. Joint Fire Sciences Program, OSU, and the U.S. Geological Survey.

College of Forestry Media Contact:  David Stauth Source: 

Paul Doescher, 541-737-6583

Multimedia Downloads Multimedia: 

Intact rangeland




Grazing impacts

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CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Linus Pauling Institute will sponsor the seventh biennial conference on “Diet and Optimum Health” on May 15-18 at Oregon State University in Corvallis, including a free public session on Saturday morning about “Whole Food Approaches to Disease Prevention.”

The professional conference, which attracts some of the leading researchers in the world in the fields of diet, nutrition, micronutrients and other issues, will also include presentation of the Linus Pauling Institute Prize for Health Research. This is one of the most significant awards in the world recognizing excellence in research on the roles of vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals in promoting health and preventing or treating disease.

The free public session, which is co-sponsored by OSU’s Moore Family Center for Whole Grain Foods, Nutrition and Preventive Health, will be held Saturday, May 18, at the CH2M Hill Alumni Center on the OSU campus, from 9 a.m. to noon. Topics of discussion will include dietary and health approaches to help prevent cancer, metabolic syndrome, childhood obesity and other health concerns.

As part of the public events, a lunch with researchers from the Linus Pauling Science Center is also possible, at a cost of $10, and free tours of the center will be available in the afternoon. More information on the agenda, speakers, and lunch and tour registration is available online at http://bit.ly/15tPuXg

“For the first time holding our conference in Corvallis, this day of activities for the public will help people understand how cutting-edge research can make a difference in all of our lives,” said Balz Frei, professor and director of the Linus Pauling Institute.

“These topics are very important, and will allow people to make the best choices about dietary approaches to help prevent cancer, cardiovascular disease and obesity,” he said.

Topics at the professional conference will include sessions on:

• Omega-3 fatty acids, fatty acid oxidation and cardiovascular health
• Diet and epigenetic impacts on disease and aging
• Vitamin D—health benefits beyond bone
• Health effects and mechanisms of action of xanthohumol
• Health benefits of vitamin C: beyond scurvy
• Micronutrients in fertility and pregnancy
• Whole food approaches to disease prevention

The conference is co-sponsored by the Oxygen Club of California. More information on speakers, registration and other issues is available online at http://bit.ly/10n9UhU

 

Linus Pauling Institute Media Contact:  David Stauth Source: 

Balz Frei, 541-737-5078

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CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Linus Pauling Institute will sponsor the seventh biennial conference on “Diet and Optimum Health” on May 15-18 at Oregon State University in Corvallis, including a free public session on Saturday morning about “Whole Food Approaches to Disease Prevention.”

The professional conference, which attracts some of the leading researchers in the world in the fields of diet, nutrition, micronutrients and other issues, will also include presentation of the Linus Pauling Institute Prize for Health Research. This is one of the most significant awards in the world recognizing excellence in research on the roles of vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals in promoting health and preventing or treating disease.

The free public session, which is co-sponsored by OSU’s Moore Family Center for Whole Grain Foods, Nutrition and Preventive Health, will be held Saturday, May 18, at the CH2M Hill Alumni Center on the OSU campus, from 9 a.m. to noon. Topics of discussion will include dietary and health approaches to help prevent cancer, metabolic syndrome, childhood obesity and other health concerns.

As part of the public events, a lunch with researchers from the Linus Pauling Science Center is also possible, at a cost of $10, and free tours of the center will be available in the afternoon. More information on the agenda, speakers, and lunch and tour registration is available online at http://bit.ly/15tPuXg

“For the first time holding our conference in Corvallis, this day of activities for the public will help people understand how cutting-edge research can make a difference in all of our lives,” said Balz Frei, professor and director of the Linus Pauling Institute.

“These topics are very important, and will allow people to make the best choices about dietary approaches to help prevent cancer, cardiovascular disease and obesity,” he said.

Topics at the professional conference will include sessions on:

• Omega-3 fatty acids, fatty acid oxidation and cardiovascular health
• Diet and epigenetic impacts on disease and aging
• Vitamin D—health benefits beyond bone
• Health effects and mechanisms of action of xanthohumol
• Health benefits of vitamin C: beyond scurvy
• Micronutrients in fertility and pregnancy
• Whole food approaches to disease prevention

The conference is co-sponsored by the Oxygen Club of California. More information on speakers, registration and other issues is available online at http://bit.ly/10n9UhU

 

Linus Pauling Institute Media Contact:  David Stauth Source: 

Balz Frei, 541-737-5078

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In the last year, Oregon has veered from very wet to very dry conditions and the start to 2013 is the driest on record in Salem and Eugene, and second driest in Corvallis and Medford.

CORVALLIS, Ore. – When Oregonians can rototill their gardens in March, but then have to water their lawns all throughout April and May, you know it’s drier than usual.

Experts say that through May 10, it has been the driest start to the year on record at the Eugene and Salem airport weather stations, and the second driest start at Hyslop Farm in Corvallis and the Medford Airport. This is the third driest start to the year for the Portland Airport station.

“We’ve seen some pretty drastic swings from very wet to very dry over the past year,” said Oregon State University’s Kathie Dello, who is the deputy director of the Oregon Climate Service at OSU. “The whole West Coast has been abnormally dry. We’ve had some strong high pressure ridging, which means the storm track is sent to our north.

“When it does that, we get weather that generally results in hot days and cool nights,” Dello said, “and it is usually quite dry.”

The spring of 2012 – from March to May – was the fourth wettest on record statewide, and then things dried up quickly. The summer July to September period was the second driest on record. But the fall October to December period saw above-normal precipitation, before the transition to this spring’s dry conditions.

“It’s been pretty topsy-turvy,” Dello said. “On one hand, we built up a nice snowpack through November and December in the central and northern Cascades, but abnormally warm temperatures are melting that quickly.”

More than 91 percent of Oregon is considered abnormally dry for this time of year, Dello said, citing the U.S. Drought Monitor. The NOAA Climate Prediction Center shows that the odds favor the dry trend continuing into July.

“The biggest concern when that happens is warm, dry ground and early melting of snow,” Dello said. “That equates to fire danger. The National Interagency Fire Center is saying that fire season may begin weeks earlier than normal this year.

“And, of course, dry conditions are a concern for farmers, stream health and fish,” she added. “We have seen occasional bouts of cloudiness and sprinkles, but not enough to chase the overall pattern of dryness.”

For the record:

• Through May 10, the Eugene Airport has received just 6.54 inches of rain, which is 14.08 inches below normal. It is the driest on record dating back to 1940.

• The Salem Airport has had 7.65 inches of rain, driest on record back to 1928, and 9.67 inches below normal.

• The Corvallis Hyslop station has received 8.27 inches of rain, second driest on record back to 1893 and 10.59 inches below normal. The driest on record was in 2001, when it got just 7.98 inches.

• Medford Airport has received a scant 3.05 inches, which is 4.48 inches below normal in records dating back to 1928. The driest start to a year on record was in 1992 with 2.99 inches.

• Portland Airport has logged 8.3 inches of precipitation, 6.55 inches before normal and third driest since 1942. The record year was in 1985, with 6.0 inches.

Weather-lovers can learn more about Oregon weather by following Dello on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/orclimatesvc. The state is also looking for volunteers to collect precipitation data. For more information, go to http://www.cocorahs.org/.

College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences Media Contact:  Mark Floyd Source: 

Kathie Dello, 541-737-8927

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In the last year, Oregon has veered from very wet to very dry conditions and the start to 2013 is the driest on record in Salem and Eugene, and second driest in Corvallis and Medford.

CORVALLIS, Ore. – When Oregonians can rototill their gardens in March, but then have to water their lawns all throughout April and May, you know it’s drier than usual.

Experts say that through May 10, it has been the driest start to the year on record at the Eugene and Salem airport weather stations, and the second driest start at Hyslop Farm in Corvallis and the Medford Airport. This is the third driest start to the year for the Portland Airport station.

“We’ve seen some pretty drastic swings from very wet to very dry over the past year,” said Oregon State University’s Kathie Dello, who is the deputy director of the Oregon Climate Service at OSU. “The whole West Coast has been abnormally dry. We’ve had some strong high pressure ridging, which means the storm track is sent to our north.

“When it does that, we get weather that generally results in hot days and cool nights,” Dello said, “and it is usually quite dry.”

The spring of 2012 – from March to May – was the fourth wettest on record statewide, and then things dried up quickly. The summer July to September period was the second driest on record. But the fall October to December period saw above-normal precipitation, before the transition to this spring’s dry conditions.

“It’s been pretty topsy-turvy,” Dello said. “On one hand, we built up a nice snowpack through November and December in the central and northern Cascades, but abnormally warm temperatures are melting that quickly.”

More than 91 percent of Oregon is considered abnormally dry for this time of year, Dello said, citing the U.S. Drought Monitor. The NOAA Climate Prediction Center shows that the odds favor the dry trend continuing into July.

“The biggest concern when that happens is warm, dry ground and early melting of snow,” Dello said. “That equates to fire danger. The National Interagency Fire Center is saying that fire season may begin weeks earlier than normal this year.

“And, of course, dry conditions are a concern for farmers, stream health and fish,” she added. “We have seen occasional bouts of cloudiness and sprinkles, but not enough to chase the overall pattern of dryness.”

For the record:

• Through May 10, the Eugene Airport has received just 6.54 inches of rain, which is 14.08 inches below normal. It is the driest on record dating back to 1940.

• The Salem Airport has had 7.65 inches of rain, driest on record back to 1928, and 9.67 inches below normal.

• The Corvallis Hyslop station has received 8.27 inches of rain, second driest on record back to 1893 and 10.59 inches below normal. The driest on record was in 2001, when it got just 7.98 inches.

• Medford Airport has received a scant 3.05 inches, which is 4.48 inches below normal in records dating back to 1928. The driest start to a year on record was in 1992 with 2.99 inches.

• Portland Airport has logged 8.3 inches of precipitation, 6.55 inches before normal and third driest since 1942. The record year was in 1985, with 6.0 inches.

Weather-lovers can learn more about Oregon weather by following Dello on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/orclimatesvc. The state is also looking for volunteers to collect precipitation data. For more information, go to http://www.cocorahs.org/.

College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences Media Contact:  Mark Floyd Source: 

Kathie Dello, 541-737-8927

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Researchers studying cirrus clouds have found the wispy trails of ice crystals form primarily on dust particles and unusual metal particles – which may be influenced by human activities.

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Researchers studying the origin of cirrus clouds have found that these thin, wispy trails of ice crystals are formed primarily on dust particles and some unusual combinations of metal particles – both of which may be influenced by human activities.

The findings are important, scientists say, because cirrus clouds cover as much as one-third of the Earth and play an important role in global climate. Depending on altitude and the number and size of ice crystals, cirrus clouds can cool the planet by reflecting incoming solar radiation – or warm it by trapping outgoing heat.

However, what the net effect is, and how humans impact it, is still unclear.

Results of the study, which was funded by NASA and the National Science Foundation, were published this week in the journal Science.

“Cirrus clouds are complicated but the important message is that dust and certain metals provide the seeds for a majority of the ice crystals that form the clouds,” said Cynthia Twohy, an Oregon State University atmospheric scientist and co-author on the study. “Other particle types – including bacteria and soot from human-produced combustion or natural sources – don’t seem to contribute much to the nuclei of cirrus crystals.

“These biological particles may be important in the formation of lower altitude clouds,” added Twohy, who is a professor in OSU’s College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences. “But they were surprisingly absent from the particles we sampled from cirrus clouds.”

During the study, led by scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the researchers conducted flight missions from 2002 to 2011 over North America and Central America at 20,000 to 50,000 feet elevation, where cirrus clouds often form. As their planes flew through the clouds, researchers captured and heated the ice crystals, which then evaporated, leaving behind a tiny kernel that they analyzed using an onboard mass spectrometer.

Despite the length of the study and its different geographic locations, the researchers found similar outcomes: About 60 percent of the cloud particles they analyzed could be traced to mineral dust blown into the atmosphere, or to metallic aerosols.

“Mineral dust can occur naturally,” Twohy said, “or it can be influenced by human activities. Certainly the major deserts like the Sahara and Gobi are enormous sources of mineral dust. But agriculture, over-grazing and climate and land-use changes can also contribute.”

Twohy said the scientists have not yet traced the origin of the dust to see how much of it came from natural versus anthropogenic causes. The metallic aerosols, she added, are unusual and may be easier to trace to specific sources. Containing elements like lead, zinc, tin and copper, they appear to be from industrial activities, according to other scientists in the study.

“As the climate warms, it is possible that we will see an expansion of desert lands, which could lead to even more dust entering the atmosphere,” Twohy said. “That could create more cirrus clouds, but what that means in terms of warming or cooling is unsure and an area for future research.”

An expert in cloud formation, Twohy has been involved in some 30 different aircraft missions over the years to understand the composition and characteristics of clouds and how they are influenced by pollution. She has studied clouds in North America, Central America, South America, Africa, the Southern Ocean and the Indian Ocean.

“At lower altitudes, clouds are known to be influenced by pollution – especially near cities,” Twohy said. “They have more droplets, they reflect more light and they rain less. The impacts of cirrus clouds on climate are much more complex. But this gives us a starting point because we now have a better understanding of the particle types and mechanisms that lead to their formation.”

College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences Media Contact:  Mark Floyd Source: 

Cynthia Twohy, 541-737-5690

Multimedia Downloads Photo Download:  Cirrus Clouds in the Utah Desert Photo Download:  Cirrus Clouds from Thunderstorm Photo Download:  Cynthia Twohy

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Researchers studying cirrus clouds have found the wispy trails of ice crystals form primarily on dust particles and unusual metal particles – which may be influenced by human activities.

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Researchers studying the origin of cirrus clouds have found that these thin, wispy trails of ice crystals are formed primarily on dust particles and some unusual combinations of metal particles – both of which may be influenced by human activities.

The findings are important, scientists say, because cirrus clouds cover as much as one-third of the Earth and play an important role in global climate. Depending on altitude and the number and size of ice crystals, cirrus clouds can cool the planet by reflecting incoming solar radiation – or warm it by trapping outgoing heat.

However, what the net effect is, and how humans impact it, is still unclear.

Results of the study, which was funded by NASA and the National Science Foundation, were published this week in the journal Science.

“Cirrus clouds are complicated but the important message is that dust and certain metals provide the seeds for a majority of the ice crystals that form the clouds,” said Cynthia Twohy, an Oregon State University atmospheric scientist and co-author on the study. “Other particle types – including bacteria and soot from human-produced combustion or natural sources – don’t seem to contribute much to the nuclei of cirrus crystals.

“These biological particles may be important in the formation of lower altitude clouds,” added Twohy, who is a professor in OSU’s College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences. “But they were surprisingly absent from the particles we sampled from cirrus clouds.”

During the study, led by scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the researchers conducted flight missions from 2002 to 2011 over North America and Central America at 20,000 to 50,000 feet elevation, where cirrus clouds often form. As their planes flew through the clouds, researchers captured and heated the ice crystals, which then evaporated, leaving behind a tiny kernel that they analyzed using an onboard mass spectrometer.

Despite the length of the study and its different geographic locations, the researchers found similar outcomes: About 60 percent of the cloud particles they analyzed could be traced to mineral dust blown into the atmosphere, or to metallic aerosols.

“Mineral dust can occur naturally,” Twohy said, “or it can be influenced by human activities. Certainly the major deserts like the Sahara and Gobi are enormous sources of mineral dust. But agriculture, over-grazing and climate and land-use changes can also contribute.”

Twohy said the scientists have not yet traced the origin of the dust to see how much of it came from natural versus anthropogenic causes. The metallic aerosols, she added, are unusual and may be easier to trace to specific sources. Containing elements like lead, zinc, tin and copper, they appear to be from industrial activities, according to other scientists in the study.

“As the climate warms, it is possible that we will see an expansion of desert lands, which could lead to even more dust entering the atmosphere,” Twohy said. “That could create more cirrus clouds, but what that means in terms of warming or cooling is unsure and an area for future research.”

An expert in cloud formation, Twohy has been involved in some 30 different aircraft missions over the years to understand the composition and characteristics of clouds and how they are influenced by pollution. She has studied clouds in North America, Central America, South America, Africa, the Southern Ocean and the Indian Ocean.

“At lower altitudes, clouds are known to be influenced by pollution – especially near cities,” Twohy said. “They have more droplets, they reflect more light and they rain less. The impacts of cirrus clouds on climate are much more complex. But this gives us a starting point because we now have a better understanding of the particle types and mechanisms that lead to their formation.”

College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences Media Contact:  Mark Floyd Source: 

Cynthia Twohy, 541-737-5690

Multimedia Downloads Photo Download:  Cirrus Clouds in the Utah Desert Photo Download:  Cirrus Clouds from Thunderstorm Photo Download:  Cynthia Twohy

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OSU-Cascades is a partner in a new biomechanics laboratory opening in Bend this spring that will provide cutting-edge research and intervention for injuries - especially knees, ankles and hips.

BEND, Ore. – A new biomechanics laboratory opening this May in Bend will provide cutting-edge research and intervention strategies for injuries – especially knees, ankles and hips – creating a perfect match with Central Oregon’s population of elite and recreational athletes.

The Functional Orthopedic Research Center of Excellence, or FORCE Laboratory, is led by researchers at Oregon State University-Cascades, in partnership with Therapeutic Associates-Bend Physical Therapy and The Center Orthopedic & Neurological Care & Research and The Center Foundation.

It is one of the few such partnerships of its kind in the country, organizers say.

“What makes this lab unique is that it is a partnership between a university, orthopedic surgeons, sports medicine physicians and physical therapists,” said Christine Pollard, an associate professor of exercise and sports science at OSU-Cascades, and director of the FORCE Lab. “The best place to do research is in a clinical setting with a multi-disciplinary team, which we will have.

“Most cutting edge biomechanics labs are located on a university campus – not in a clinical setting,” she added. “The potential for clinically applied research is tremendous.”

Pollard said research at the FORCE Lab will include analyzing and creating effective injury prevention strategies and rehabilitation practices; and improving the efficiency and performance of human movement. One planned research project, for example, is to assess potential differences in the recovery and performance of patients with reconstructed anterior cruciate ligaments (ACLs), comparing allografts from cadavers with those from patients’ own bodies – usually their hamstring or patellar tendons.

Other areas of research will range from examining recovery from complex injuries to metabolic testing of running and movement efficiency related to biomechanics. FORCE Lab partners already are in discussions with footwear companies about collaborative research.

“Central Oregon has a highly active population of ages across the lifespan,” Pollard said. “Because of that activity, they have acute injuries from skiing or climbing, as well as repetitive injuries from long-term running or cycling. That is one reason Bend is such an ideal location for this kind of collaborative research laboratory.”

The lab will offer sports performance analysis, medical intervention and injury prevention and rehabilitation guidance in addition to its research mission.  The lab has a suite of sophisticated equipment, including an eight-camera motion analysis system, two “force plates,” a treadmill with a metabolic cart, ultrasound equipment, and video cameras.

OSU-Cascades students will have an opportunity to participate in lab activities, Pollard noted, creating a rich environment for experiential learning.

“In addition to helping conduct state-of-the-art research, our students will get to work with orthopedists, sports medicine doctors, physical therapists, athletic trainers and others,” she pointed out.

Other opportunities will emerge as the FORCE Lab grows over time, she said.

“A number of our studies will be driven by physician interest,” Pollard said. “We’ve already been asked to participate in a study on concussions that involves Oregon Health & Sciences University and the University of Oregon, as well as local schools and their athletic trainers.

“The future is very, very bright.”

More information on the FORCE Laboratory is available at: http://www.osucascades.edu/force-lab

OSU-Cascades Campus Media Contact:  Mark Floyd Source: 

Christine Pollard, 541-322-3122

Multimedia: 

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OSU-Cascades is a partner in a new biomechanics laboratory opening in Bend this spring that will provide cutting-edge research and intervention for injuries - especially knees, ankles and hips.

BEND, Ore. – A new biomechanics laboratory opening this May in Bend will provide cutting-edge research and intervention strategies for injuries – especially knees, ankles and hips – creating a perfect match with Central Oregon’s population of elite and recreational athletes.

The Functional Orthopedic Research Center of Excellence, or FORCE Laboratory, is led by researchers at Oregon State University-Cascades, in partnership with Therapeutic Associates-Bend Physical Therapy and The Center Orthopedic & Neurological Care & Research and The Center Foundation.

It is one of the few such partnerships of its kind in the country, organizers say.

“What makes this lab unique is that it is a partnership between a university, orthopedic surgeons, sports medicine physicians and physical therapists,” said Christine Pollard, an associate professor of exercise and sports science at OSU-Cascades, and director of the FORCE Lab. “The best place to do research is in a clinical setting with a multi-disciplinary team, which we will have.

“Most cutting edge biomechanics labs are located on a university campus – not in a clinical setting,” she added. “The potential for clinically applied research is tremendous.”

Pollard said research at the FORCE Lab will include analyzing and creating effective injury prevention strategies and rehabilitation practices; and improving the efficiency and performance of human movement. One planned research project, for example, is to assess potential differences in the recovery and performance of patients with reconstructed anterior cruciate ligaments (ACLs), comparing allografts from cadavers with those from patients’ own bodies – usually their hamstring or patellar tendons.

Other areas of research will range from examining recovery from complex injuries to metabolic testing of running and movement efficiency related to biomechanics. FORCE Lab partners already are in discussions with footwear companies about collaborative research.

“Central Oregon has a highly active population of ages across the lifespan,” Pollard said. “Because of that activity, they have acute injuries from skiing or climbing, as well as repetitive injuries from long-term running or cycling. That is one reason Bend is such an ideal location for this kind of collaborative research laboratory.”

The lab will offer sports performance analysis, medical intervention and injury prevention and rehabilitation guidance in addition to its research mission.  The lab has a suite of sophisticated equipment, including an eight-camera motion analysis system, two “force plates,” a treadmill with a metabolic cart, ultrasound equipment, and video cameras.

OSU-Cascades students will have an opportunity to participate in lab activities, Pollard noted, creating a rich environment for experiential learning.

“In addition to helping conduct state-of-the-art research, our students will get to work with orthopedists, sports medicine doctors, physical therapists, athletic trainers and others,” she pointed out.

Other opportunities will emerge as the FORCE Lab grows over time, she said.

“A number of our studies will be driven by physician interest,” Pollard said. “We’ve already been asked to participate in a study on concussions that involves Oregon Health & Sciences University and the University of Oregon, as well as local schools and their athletic trainers.

“The future is very, very bright.”

More information on the FORCE Laboratory is available at: http://www.osucascades.edu/force-lab

OSU-Cascades Campus Media Contact:  Mark Floyd Source: 

Christine Pollard, 541-322-3122

Multimedia Downloads Photo Download:  Biomechanics Lab

05/09/2013 Thumbnail:  Promote to OSU home page:  Not Promote to the OSU home page Teaser: 

OSU-Cascades is a partner in a new biomechanics laboratory opening in Bend this spring that will provide cutting-edge research and intervention for injuries - especially knees, ankles and hips.

BEND, Ore. – A new biomechanics laboratory opening this May in Bend will provide cutting-edge research and intervention strategies for injuries – especially knees, ankles and hips – creating a perfect match with Central Oregon’s population of elite and recreational athletes.

The Functional Orthopedic Research Center of Excellence, or FORCE Laboratory, is led by researchers at Oregon State University-Cascades, in partnership with Therapeutic Associates-Bend Physical Therapy and The Center Orthopedic & Neurological Care & Research and The Center Foundation.

It is one of the few such partnerships of its kind in the country, organizers say.

“What makes this lab unique is that it is a partnership between a university, orthopedic surgeons, sports medicine physicians and physical therapists,” said Christine Pollard, an associate professor of exercise and sports science at OSU-Cascades, and director of the FORCE Lab. “The best place to do research is in a clinical setting with a multi-disciplinary team, which we will have.

“Most cutting edge biomechanics labs are located on a university campus – not in a clinical setting,” she added. “The potential for clinically applied research is tremendous.”

Pollard said research at the FORCE Lab will include analyzing and creating effective injury prevention strategies and rehabilitation practices; and improving the efficiency and performance of human movement. One planned research project, for example, is to assess potential differences in the recovery and performance of patients with reconstructed anterior cruciate ligaments (ACLs), comparing allografts from cadavers with those from patients’ own bodies – usually their hamstring or patellar tendons.

Other areas of research will range from examining recovery from complex injuries to metabolic testing of running and movement efficiency related to biomechanics. FORCE Lab partners already are in discussions with footwear companies about collaborative research.

“Central Oregon has a highly active population of ages across the lifespan,” Pollard said. “Because of that activity, they have acute injuries from skiing or climbing, as well as repetitive injuries from long-term running or cycling. That is one reason Bend is such an ideal location for this kind of collaborative research laboratory.”

The lab will offer sports performance analysis, medical intervention and injury prevention and rehabilitation guidance in addition to its research mission.  The lab has a suite of sophisticated equipment, including an eight-camera motion analysis system, two “force plates,” a treadmill with a metabolic cart, ultrasound equipment, and video cameras.

OSU-Cascades students will have an opportunity to participate in lab activities, Pollard noted, creating a rich environment for experiential learning.

“In addition to helping conduct state-of-the-art research, our students will get to work with orthopedists, sports medicine doctors, physical therapists, athletic trainers and others,” she pointed out.

Other opportunities will emerge as the FORCE Lab grows over time, she said.

“A number of our studies will be driven by physician interest,” Pollard said. “We’ve already been asked to participate in a study on concussions that involves Oregon Health & Sciences University and the University of Oregon, as well as local schools and their athletic trainers.

“The future is very, very bright.”

More information on the FORCE Laboratory is available at: http://www.osucascades.edu/force-lab

OSU-Cascades Campus Media Contact:  Mark Floyd Source: 

Christine Pollard, 541-322-3122

Multimedia: 

05/09/2013 Thumbnail:  Promote to OSU home page:  Promote to the OSU home page Teaser: 

OSU-Cascades is a partner in a new biomechanics laboratory opening in Bend this spring that will provide cutting-edge research and intervention for injuries - especially knees, ankles and hips.

BEND, Ore. – A new biomechanics laboratory opening this May in Bend will provide cutting-edge research and intervention strategies for injuries – especially knees, ankles and hips – creating a perfect match with Central Oregon’s population of elite and recreational athletes.

The Functional Orthopedic Research Center of Excellence, or FORCE Laboratory, is led by researchers at Oregon State University-Cascades, in partnership with Therapeutic Associates-Bend Physical Therapy and The Center Orthopedic & Neurological Care & Research and The Center Foundation.

It is one of the few such partnerships of its kind in the country, organizers say.

“What makes this lab unique is that it is a partnership between a university, orthopedic surgeons, sports medicine physicians and physical therapists,” said Christine Pollard, an associate professor of exercise and sports science at OSU-Cascades, and director of the FORCE Lab. “The best place to do research is in a clinical setting with a multi-disciplinary team, which we will have.

“Most cutting edge biomechanics labs are located on a university campus – not in a clinical setting,” she added. “The potential for clinically applied research is tremendous.”

Pollard said research at the FORCE Lab will include analyzing and creating effective injury prevention strategies and rehabilitation practices; and improving the efficiency and performance of human movement. One planned research project, for example, is to assess potential differences in the recovery and performance of patients with reconstructed anterior cruciate ligaments (ACLs), comparing allografts from cadavers with those from patients’ own bodies – usually their hamstring or patellar tendons.

Other areas of research will range from examining recovery from complex injuries to metabolic testing of running and movement efficiency related to biomechanics. FORCE Lab partners already are in discussions with footwear companies about collaborative research.

“Central Oregon has a highly active population of ages across the lifespan,” Pollard said. “Because of that activity, they have acute injuries from skiing or climbing, as well as repetitive injuries from long-term running or cycling. That is one reason Bend is such an ideal location for this kind of collaborative research laboratory.”

The lab will offer sports performance analysis, medical intervention and injury prevention and rehabilitation guidance in addition to its research mission.  The lab has a suite of sophisticated equipment, including an eight-camera motion analysis system, two “force plates,” a treadmill with a metabolic cart, ultrasound equipment, and video cameras.

OSU-Cascades students will have an opportunity to participate in lab activities, Pollard noted, creating a rich environment for experiential learning.

“In addition to helping conduct state-of-the-art research, our students will get to work with orthopedists, sports medicine doctors, physical therapists, athletic trainers and others,” she pointed out.

Other opportunities will emerge as the FORCE Lab grows over time, she said.

“A number of our studies will be driven by physician interest,” Pollard said. “We’ve already been asked to participate in a study on concussions that involves Oregon Health & Sciences University and the University of Oregon, as well as local schools and their athletic trainers.

“The future is very, very bright.”

More information on the FORCE Laboratory is available at: http://www.osucascades.edu/force-lab

OSU-Cascades Campus Media Contact:  Mark Floyd Source: 

Christine Pollard, 541-322-3122

Multimedia Downloads Photo Download:  Biomechanics Lab

05/06/2013 Thumbnail:  Promote to OSU home page:  Not Promote to the OSU home page

CORVALLIS, Ore. – The potential health benefits of vitamin C may be Linus Pauling’s most famous legacy among the public, but the Oregon State University graduate and two-time Nobel Prize winner is better known among scientists for deep insights into chemistry and its application to medicine. 

The May 13 Corvallis Science Pub will focus on little-known highlights of Pauling’s life and on how scientists are applying his findings today.

Science Pub presentation begins at 6 p.m. at the Old World Deli, located at 341 S.W. Second St. in Corvallis. It is free and open to the public.

The event will feature two speakers – Chris Petersen of the Special Collections and Archives Research Center in OSU’s Valley Library and Steve Lawson, administrative officer at the Linus Pauling Institute on campus. The institute is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.

Petersen authors The Pauling Blog and has overseen production of websites and videos that describe Pauling’s lifelong research. Lawson has been associated with the institute since 1977 when it was located in the San Francisco Bay Area before moving to Oregon State. 

Sponsors of Science Pub include Terra magazine at OSU, the Downtown Corvallis Association and the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.

Generic OSU Media Contact:  Nick Houtman Source: 

Chris Peterson, Valley Library, 541-737-2810

Stephen Lawson, Linus Pauling Institute, 541-737-5080

05/06/2013 Thumbnail:  Promote to OSU home page:  Not Promote to the OSU home page

CORVALLIS, Ore. – The potential health benefits of vitamin C may be Linus Pauling’s most famous legacy among the public, but the Oregon State University graduate and two-time Nobel Prize winner is better known among scientists for deep insights into chemistry and its application to medicine. 

The May 13 Corvallis Science Pub will focus on little-known highlights of Pauling’s life and on how scientists are applying his findings today.

Science Pub presentation begins at 6 p.m. at the Old World Deli, located at 341 S.W. Second St. in Corvallis. It is free and open to the public.

The event will feature two speakers – Chris Petersen of the Special Collections and Archives Research Center in OSU’s Valley Library and Steve Lawson, administrative officer at the Linus Pauling Institute on campus. The institute is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.

Petersen authors The Pauling Blog and has overseen production of websites and videos that describe Pauling’s lifelong research. Lawson has been associated with the institute since 1977 when it was located in the San Francisco Bay Area before moving to Oregon State. 

Sponsors of Science Pub include Terra magazine at OSU, the Downtown Corvallis Association and the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.

Generic OSU Media Contact:  Nick Houtman Source: 

Chris Peterson, Valley Library, 541-737-2810

Stephen Lawson, Linus Pauling Institute, 541-737-5080

05/02/2013 Thumbnail:  Promote to OSU home page:  Not Promote to the OSU home page

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Noted Native American author and storyteller Joseph Bruchac will perform in Corvallis on Thursday, May 9, and then give a talk the following day at Oregon State University’s new Native American Longhouse. Both events are free and open to the public.

Bruchac will perform “Keepers of the Earth: Native American Stories and Music,” on May 9 beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library. His talk at the longhouse on Friday, May 10, “Seeing Nature through a Native American Language,” begins at 3 p.m.

He is the author of more than 120 books for adults and children, including the best-selling “Keepers of the Earth” series (with Michael Caduto), which uses traditional American Indian stories to teach science. There are more than one million copies in print.

Bruchac is founder and executive director of the Greenfield Review Literary Center and The Greenfield Review Press. He has edited a number of anthologies of contemporary poetry and fiction, including “Songs from this Earth on Turtle's Back” and “Breaking Silence,” which won an American Book Award.

His work as an educator includes three years of volunteer teaching in Ghana and 12 years at Skidmore College, where he taught English and directed a college program inside a maximum security prison.

As a professional teller of the traditional tales of the Adirondacks and the native peoples of the Northeastern woodlands, Bruchac has performed widely in Europe and throughout the United States. He has been featured at the British Storytelling Festival and the National Storytelling Festival.

In advance of his Corvallis visit, Bruchac will be writer-in-residence for the Long-Term Ecological Reflections program at the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest, which is co-sponsored by the Spring Creek Project for Ideas, Nature, and the Written Word and the U.S. Forest Service. His May 9 performance is co-sponsored with the Friends of the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library.

For more information, call 541-737-6198, or go online to http://springcreek.oregonstate.edu/

College of Liberal Arts Media Contact:  Mark Floyd Source: 

Charles Goodrich, 541-737-6198

05/02/2013 Thumbnail:  Promote to OSU home page:  Not Promote to the OSU home page

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Noted Native American author and storyteller Joseph Bruchac will perform in Corvallis on Thursday, May 9, and then give a talk the following day at Oregon State University’s new Native American Longhouse. Both events are free and open to the public.

Bruchac will perform “Keepers of the Earth: Native American Stories and Music,” on May 9 beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library. His talk at the longhouse on Friday, May 10, “Seeing Nature through a Native American Language,” begins at 3 p.m.

He is the author of more than 120 books for adults and children, including the best-selling “Keepers of the Earth” series (with Michael Caduto), which uses traditional American Indian stories to teach science. There are more than one million copies in print.

Bruchac is founder and executive director of the Greenfield Review Literary Center and The Greenfield Review Press. He has edited a number of anthologies of contemporary poetry and fiction, including “Songs from this Earth on Turtle's Back” and “Breaking Silence,” which won an American Book Award.

His work as an educator includes three years of volunteer teaching in Ghana and 12 years at Skidmore College, where he taught English and directed a college program inside a maximum security prison.

As a professional teller of the traditional tales of the Adirondacks and the native peoples of the Northeastern woodlands, Bruchac has performed widely in Europe and throughout the United States. He has been featured at the British Storytelling Festival and the National Storytelling Festival.

In advance of his Corvallis visit, Bruchac will be writer-in-residence for the Long-Term Ecological Reflections program at the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest, which is co-sponsored by the Spring Creek Project for Ideas, Nature, and the Written Word and the U.S. Forest Service. His May 9 performance is co-sponsored with the Friends of the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library.

For more information, call 541-737-6198, or go online to http://springcreek.oregonstate.edu/

College of Liberal Arts Media Contact:  Mark Floyd Source: 

Charles Goodrich, 541-737-6198

05/02/2013 Thumbnail:  Promote to OSU home page:  Not Promote to the OSU home page Teaser: 

Fifty years ago, a former Oregon State University student and faculty member became one of the first two Americans to scale Mt. Everest - a climbing feat held in awe half a century later.

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Fifty years ago this spring, the first American mountaineers to scale the world’s tallest mountain accomplished that feat in a manner that still has the climbing world in awe today. The ascent of Mt. Everest by Willi Unsoeld and Tom Hornbein is considered one of the greatest climbing achievements in history.

A graduate of Oregon State University, Unsoeld later served on the faculty of the Department of Religion and Philosophy at Oregon State before taking a leave of absence to join the Peace Corps and embarking upon his historic trek.

It was a quest that would cost Unsoeld nine of his toes from frostbite, but cement his reputation as one of the country’s greatest climbers and give birth to a legacy of adventure-seeking that today still thrives at Oregon State University.

Josh Norris, director of the Adventure Leadership Institute for OSU’s Department of Recreational Sports, said that Unsoeld’s philosophy of life is as compelling to students today as tales of his climbing triumphs.

“When Willi was in his late 40s, he could out-climb just about anyone around even though he was missing almost all of his toes and had an artificial hip,” Norris said. “He was a strong personality and was most at home when he was in the outdoors, in touch with what he called ‘the sacred,’ or nature. His basic philosophy was that if you didn’t experience life to its fullest, you weren’t really living.”

That philosophy is what led to the Mt. Everest achievement. Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first climbers to scale the world’s tallest peak in 1953, taking a southern route. In the subsequent decade, only one other successful climb took place, using that same route.

Ten years later, the National Geographic Society sponsored an ascent that resulted in dual attempts. Two American climbers would follow the southern route; Unsoeld and Hornbein opted to go for the western route, which was considered a near-impossible climb.

The difficulty of the route was not the only challenge; the climbers would have to carry all of their gear on their backs – no base camp, no porters, and no way back.

“They were totally going for broke,” said Norris, who has become a bit of a historian in researching OSU’s mountain climbing past. “They had no camp to retreat to, so they decided to traverse the peak. They had to make it to the top from the west and descend on a different route. That daredevil approach is why Willi joined the team – he didn’t want to try a route that someone else had already done.”

Scaling a 29,000-foot peak in the bitter cold, and carrying all of the necessary food, ropes, oxygen and other supplies on your back is almost beyond comprehension by today’s standards.

“Last year a group of climbers tried to recreate the Unsoeld-Hornbein climb,” Norris said, “and they did not succeed – even with modern equipment.”

After the successful ascent and summit on May 22, 1963, Unsoeld was hospitalized for weeks in Nepal. Oregon State president A.L. Strand sent a letter to faculty and staff seeking donations to help pay for his medical care; when he took leave from the university he lost his health insurance.

Eventually, Unsoeld returned to the United States and became a founding faculty member of Evergreen College in Washington. He died in 1979 at the age of 52, leading a group of Evergreen students on a climb of Mt. Rainier when he was buried in an avalanche.

Norris said that Unsoeld’s spirit has carried on at Oregon State. In 1988, OSU graduate Stacy Allison became the first American woman to scale Mt. Everest.

Today, the university’s Adventure Leadership Institute, which was founded in 1947 with undergraduate Unsoeld as a charter member, draws students to outdoor activities, Norris said. Some 9,500 annually participate in classes or outdoor activities, which include climbing, kayaking, hiking, cycling and other pursuits.

“It is more than just experiencing outdoor adventures,” Norris said, “the institute is about instilling the qualities of leadership and spirit that Willi Unsoeld personified.”

The OSU Adventure Club has some 200 dues-paying members who climb peaks throughout the Pacific Northwest, including Mount Hood, Mount St. Helens, Smith Rocks, Mount Rainier, The Three Sisters and others. Climbing walls in Dixon Recreation Center draw some 28,000 visits a year.

Such activities are a draw for students, who are seeking meaningful experiences in college to supplement their classroom learning, Norris said.

“We have one 18-year-old freshman from the East Coast who came to OSU specifically because of the Adventure Leadership Institute,” he said. “Her latest goal is to climb Mount Jefferson in the winter, and at the same time, develop her leadership skills.

“That kind of spirit in students today would make Willi proud.”

Generic OSU Media Contact:  Mark Floyd Source: 

Josh Norris, 541-737-4341

Multimedia Downloads Multimedia: 

05/02/2013 Thumbnail:  Promote to OSU home page:  Not Promote to the OSU home page Teaser: 

Fifty years ago, a former Oregon State University student and faculty member became one of the first two Americans to scale Mt. Everest - a climbing feat held in awe half a century later.

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Fifty years ago this spring, the first American mountaineers to scale the world’s tallest mountain accomplished that feat in a manner that still has the climbing world in awe today. The ascent of Mt. Everest by Willi Unsoeld and Tom Hornbein is considered one of the greatest climbing achievements in history.

A graduate of Oregon State University, Unsoeld later served on the faculty of the Department of Religion and Philosophy at Oregon State before taking a leave of absence to join the Peace Corps and embarking upon his historic trek.

It was a quest that would cost Unsoeld nine of his toes from frostbite, but cement his reputation as one of the country’s greatest climbers and give birth to a legacy of adventure-seeking that today still thrives at Oregon State University.

Josh Norris, director of the Adventure Leadership Institute for OSU’s Department of Recreational Sports, said that Unsoeld’s philosophy of life is as compelling to students today as tales of his climbing triumphs.

“When Willi was in his late 40s, he could out-climb just about anyone around even though he was missing almost all of his toes and had an artificial hip,” Norris said. “He was a strong personality and was most at home when he was in the outdoors, in touch with what he called ‘the sacred,’ or nature. His basic philosophy was that if you didn’t experience life to its fullest, you weren’t really living.”

That philosophy is what led to the Mt. Everest achievement. Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first climbers to scale the world’s tallest peak in 1953, taking a southern route. In the subsequent decade, only one other successful climb took place, using that same route.

Ten years later, the National Geographic Society sponsored an ascent that resulted in dual attempts. Two American climbers would follow the southern route; Unsoeld and Hornbein opted to go for the western route, which was considered a near-impossible climb.

The difficulty of the route was not the only challenge; the climbers would have to carry all of their gear on their backs – no base camp, no porters, and no way back.

“They were totally going for broke,” said Norris, who has become a bit of a historian in researching OSU’s mountain climbing past. “They had no camp to retreat to, so they decided to traverse the peak. They had to make it to the top from the west and descend on a different route. That daredevil approach is why Willi joined the team – he didn’t want to try a route that someone else had already done.”

Scaling a 29,000-foot peak in the bitter cold, and carrying all of the necessary food, ropes, oxygen and other supplies on your back is almost beyond comprehension by today’s standards.

“Last year a group of climbers tried to recreate the Unsoeld-Hornbein climb,” Norris said, “and they did not succeed – even with modern equipment.”

After the successful ascent and summit on May 22, 1963, Unsoeld was hospitalized for weeks in Nepal. Oregon State president A.L. Strand sent a letter to faculty and staff seeking donations to help pay for his medical care; when he took leave from the university he lost his health insurance.

Eventually, Unsoeld returned to the United States and became a founding faculty member of Evergreen College in Washington. He died in 1979 at the age of 52, leading a group of Evergreen students on a climb of Mt. Rainier when he was buried in an avalanche.

Norris said that Unsoeld’s spirit has carried on at Oregon State. In 1988, OSU graduate Stacy Allison became the first American woman to scale Mt. Everest.

Today, the university’s Adventure Leadership Institute, which was founded in 1947 with undergraduate Unsoeld as a charter member, draws students to outdoor activities, Norris said. Some 9,500 annually participate in classes or outdoor activities, which include climbing, kayaking, hiking, cycling and other pursuits.

“It is more than just experiencing outdoor adventures,” Norris said, “the institute is about instilling the qualities of leadership and spirit that Willi Unsoeld personified.”

The OSU Adventure Club has some 200 dues-paying members who climb peaks throughout the Pacific Northwest, including Mount Hood, Mount St. Helens, Smith Rocks, Mount Rainier, The Three Sisters and others. Climbing walls in Dixon Recreation Center draw some 28,000 visits a year.

Such activities are a draw for students, who are seeking meaningful experiences in college to supplement their classroom learning, Norris said.

“We have one 18-year-old freshman from the East Coast who came to OSU specifically because of the Adventure Leadership Institute,” he said. “Her latest goal is to climb Mount Jefferson in the winter, and at the same time, develop her leadership skills.

“That kind of spirit in students today would make Willi proud.”

Generic OSU Media Contact:  Mark Floyd Source: 

Josh Norris, 541-737-4341

Multimedia Downloads Multimedia: