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November, 2007 |
update! RESEARCH NEWSLETTER |
| Featuring OSU research and scholarship in all disciplines
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Blue Plate Special |
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"She just blows us off the stage!" That's how local musicians describe the jazz pianist and composer who recently arrived on the local scene. |
Sila Cevikce [pronounced Ch-VIK-chuh] Shaman traveled far from the New York City clubs last year when her husband, Jeffrey Shaman, became an assistant professor in the College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences. Ever since Michael Coolen of the Department of Music first heard Sila's work, he recruited her as an OSU instructor and has been avid in her retention. She currently teaches Survey of Jazz, and Big Band and Jazz Composition - some classes on-line.
"Sila is a fabulous musician. And she is a first class, fabulous educator. Her students are so lucky ," Coolen says.
"I nudge them —I don't want them settled in their comfort zone," Shaman says.
Part-time instruction is what Shaman has time for now, with a two-year-old daughter, plus a baby on the way. She also fits in local performances, such as recent brilliant improvisations with the Oregon Poet Laureate, and lively interpretations of standards with a jazz trio downtown, and private students. AND she is composing and directing the complete score for Spin, a satirical musical about happens when art meets politics,a joint venture of the OSU Music Department, the University Theatre, and Opera Theater Corvallis, to be performed this May.
Shaman says, "The jazz I write is not simple. It relies on better players than I am!" and "In performing, I love improvising — the notion that you are there, and anything can happen!"
Seems actually that no one's playing could be better , and fantastic things certainly happen when she's there. You can sample Shaman's music, and order a CD, at the following websites: |
 Shaman's daughter |
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The Office of Sponsored Programs offers workshops about various aspects of funding. See the schedule at oregonstate.edu/research/osprc/index.htm No pre-registration is required. For information, call 737-4933 |
Some OSU faculty devote precious time to mentoring undergraduates in research. Is it worth it — to the students / to you?
The NSF, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and other agencies spending millions each year supporting student programs, want to know: Are they making a difference?
Three recent studies to answer those questions were discussed in The Chronicle of Higher Education.
In summary, all of the studies confirmed that — with strong guidance — most undergraduates benefit, in learning, independence, growth, problem-solving, and reality-checks about what research can involve (including mistakes and tedium). As far as the continuation in academia towards PhDs, the results were less clear.
Benefits to faculty often include advances in research, personal satisfaction, and even exhilaration and fun. But the time invested in hand-holding, and the frustration of having trained students move on, is sometimes viewed as a career detriment. One recommendation is for the NSF to encourage colleges to incentivize mentoring, for tenure and promotion decisions.
Link to The Chronicle of Higher Education, August, 17, 2007 [ Research & Publishing, Volume 53, Issue 50, Page A12]
 Lambingby Terry Gloeckler |
The OSU research picture is bright and uplifting. Collaborations "outside of the lines" are becoming more common. And OSU research successes come in all forms and sizes. As if symbolizing such aspects of the research enterprise, the Research Office space is now enhanced by eight diverse pieces from the University's Art About Agriculture collection. Thanks to Shelley Curtis, curator of the exhibit, for managing the generous loan, and for her expert hanging with assistance from Betsy Leondar, a student in bioresource research. |
| Please stop and enjoy the view in 312 Kerr, even if you're on your way down the hall to 308 Kerr for Sponsored Programs, Research Integrity, or Technology Transfer. |  Wetlands Shadow by Cy Stadsvold |
"Is there any help in finding external funding, without me having to wade through all of the possible sources myself? I am a new faculty member here, but even the experienced people in my department don't know the answer." As an OSU faculty or staff member, you have several options for such services. |
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"My father's father came from a village of farmers and duck herders in Guang Dong, China . . " "Chinese fishermen up and down the California coast netted . . . invertebrates, algae, and bottom fish primarily to dry for Chinese markets in Asia. A delicacy even more special than shrimp was abalone . . ." "Once, a fisherman accidentally dropped his pry rod, and decided to reach under the shell to pull off the big muscle. Big mistake. The abalone clamped down on the fisherman, who drowned with the incoming tide . . . . " excerpted from the essay Lost China Camps, by Judith Li, |
For support for her newest professional experience, Judith Li has been turning to the comics. The nationally syndicated For Better or Worse recently featured one storyline about an author's thrills and dilemmas upon the publication of a book.
"[The comic] has been pretty much simultaneous with my experience, on most of the same issues," Li said, holding a just-off-the press copy of her own book, To Harvest, To Hunt. "There's a lot more to publishing a book than I ever knew!"
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Li is the editor, and OSU Press the publisher, of the collection subtitled "Stories of Resource Use in the American West." "I'm in awe of all of the care given by our press!," she said. "They give so much more time than for scientific journals! They are very generous that way, and very good at what they do!" "They marked out a calendar for me, so I had an advance view of all the deadlines. Still, the crunch time came when I had to get back markups from every one of the authors . . .." |
As a researcher in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Li focuses on stream ecology and aquatic food webs. She said, "This book is from my other passion: cultural ecology, particularly among
minority peoples."
Her collection includes pieces about Pueblo, Basque, Mexican, and other peoples' relationship to the land and sea of the American West. She and the 13 other contributors together reveal Native American as well as immigrant perspectives, drawing upon family stories, personal memories, scientific knowledge, and historical records. The enticing titles include "Return of the Canoe Journey," "Logger Poetry and Music," and "Aamodt, Schmaamodt: Who Really Gets the Water?"
OSU faculty members Erlinda Gonzales-Berry, Diana Kingston, and Margaret Mathewson are among the authors.
Li said it has stretched her professional scope to think about the publicity requirements for a book. "And it's amazing, with all of the care and all the people poring over drafts," she said, "there can still be something "I'd like to change!" Instead of lingering, Li is busy with revisions to her next book. "A small one, personal stories about Chinese immigrants in California. |
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"To find these historical and contemporary stories, I sought out scholars and writers whose work I valued for their insight into the intersection of culture and resources . . . As we embrace the complexity, conflicts, and diversity of cultural legacies, their lessons can give us the vision of what our place in the world is, and inspire the wisdom to plan into the future." Judith Li, from the Introduction |
Web PresenceSome good OSU sites |
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The Oregon Innovation CouncilIt's mission is no less than to expand markets for Oregon companies, create jobs across the state, and leverage Oregon's strengths to compete in the global economy. Keep up with the Oregon Innovation Council, and OSU's involvement with its success, at OSUInc |
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A Clear View of Science ResearchMore than 200 scientists and mathematicians in the College of Science are engaged in basic and applied research. Science's website includes a beautifully clear overview of its research strengths, highlighting centers, institutes, partnerships, and initiatives, and listing activities of each department. Research in Science. |
The New President's Report |
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Oregon and Pacific Northwest Water Issues
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"Make sure to wait until the very last minute to get your proposal into Sponsored Programs for approval."
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"Don't ask any of your departmental colleagues to proof your proposal draft - what do they know, anyway?"
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Such "wise" words were among the tongue-in-cheek tips that Dan Arp shared with new faculty at an Orientation on November 9th.
Arp made points with humorous contrast, while Barbara Bond, other veteran OSU faculty, top administrators, and Research Office staff offered more straightforward advice and information. All were contributing to an overview of how to navigate the system and succeed as researchers and scholars.
One attendee commented, "One great thing was to come together with others from around campus - colleagues I don't usually interact with in my focused part of this world!"
The full morning's presentations were recorded and will soon be available on the web — watch for announcements.
Update, The Research Office Newsletter is produced approximately monthly and announced via email to all OSU faculty and staff. Subscribe at http://lists.oregonstate.edu/mailman/listinfo/Update-the-Research-Office-Newsletter. Please send any news or comments to jana.zvibleman@oregonstate.edu . Link to archived issues.
Oregon State University Research Office
312 Kerr Administration Building, Corvallis, OR 97331
Phone 541-737-3437 Fax 541-737-3093
researchsupport@oregonstate.edu
Copyright © 2007
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