The College of Agricultural Sciences at Oregon State University is Oregon's principal source of knowledge relating to agricultural and food systems, and a major source of knowledge regarding environmental quality, natural resources, life sciences, and rural economies and communities worldwide. The College provides undergraduate and graduate education leading to baccalaureate and graduate degrees, and extended education programs throughout Oregon and beyond. Its research programs create knowledge to solve problems and to build a knowledge base for the future. It is a source of information and expertise in integrating and applying knowledge with benefits that are felt in domestic and international settings.
| Sonny's Observations | |
 | A video greeting from SonnySonny shares some exciting news about the new CAS Leadership Academy for Students. |
 | New YearNew OpportunitiesNew Challenges2011—start of the second decade of the millennium. This New Year brings with it—for our College—anticipation along with trepidation. |
| Students | |
  | Academic and International Programs OfficeThe CAS task force on international programs recently recommended more comprehensive and systematic development of the College's international discovery, learning, and engagement programs in the food, agricultural and natural resource sciences. Cary Green and Brett Jeter of the College of Agricultural Sciences Academic Programs office have agreed to accept additional, broader responsibilities that are consistent with the College’s priorities, announced Dean Sonny Ramaswamy. (Watch video...) Cary Green is now Associate Dean for Academic and International Programs and Brett Jeter has been named Head Advisor and Director of Outreach. (Read more...) |
 | EnrollmentYes, we are up 15.6% in Corvallis campus enrollment (undergrad and grad combined) from 1284 last year to 1484 this year. |
| ScholarshipsStudents received nearly $500,000 in financial support from the College of Agricultural Sciences this year, and that’s not including the additional funds our students received from our departments. You too could be eligible to receive College of Agricultural Sciences (CAS) scholarship funding if you major in one of the following degree programs and complete this application. |
| More students means more help is neededDean Ramaswamy shares the news of a significantly increased student enrollment for the College this year. (See video) The consequences of this are greater needs for scholarships and support. You can help provide for these increased needs by making a gift. Scholarships provide essential support for many students in the college. This allows us to attract some of the best and brightest students for whom a college education might otherwise be out of reach. |
 | OSU announces Agricultural Honors scholarships.Agricultural Honors scholarships totaling $85,400 have been awarded to incoming Oregon State University students in the College of Agricultural Sciences. This group of scholarships are made possible by the generosity of supportive donors. (Read more...) |
 | New Fields BlogNew Fields magazine has been an annual print publication describing CAS student government and club activities for many years. This year it has changed to an electronic blog format and is an ongoing record of the numerous club activities. Articles and pictures will be posted quickly after the event happens so parents, alumni, students, faculty, and people in the industry will be able to see what the college is doing. (Read the blog...) |
 | OSU MANRRS chapter collecting professional attire for students(KEZI News)The OSU Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences chapter is collecting donations of professional business attire to help out fellow students, many of whom do not own appropriate career apparel. (Read more and watch news video...) |
 | Entomology course garners national accolades(Oregonian) An Oregon State University Honors College course that uses Far Side comic strips to educate students about entomology has been named the nation's “Best College Course” in 2010 by Playboy magazine. (Read more...) |
 | Austin Fricker's growing mission in NicaraguaAustin Fricker is an International Degree and crop science major who went on study abroad to Nicaragua in September. His undergraduate thesis will be on farming techniques and socio-economics of the Miskito tribe. In response to what he has seen, Austin recently decided to postpone his senior year of college to stay with the Miskito tribe and use his knowledge of agriculture to help the farmers prepare fields and improve crops in order to ease their critical struggle of producing enough food. Read more about his mission (at his blog...) |
 | Hannah O'Leary combines passion for horticulture and artHannah O'Leary, a horticulture and art major, was the 2010 Artist in Residence at the Oak Creek Center for Urban Horticulture. She captured some intriguing sights with her outstanding photography skills. She then went on study abroad to Italy this fall and blogged the experience. (Read her blog...) |
 | AnnaRose Adams finishes up internship in BonaireAnnaRose reflects on six months of her study abroad program in Bonaire and shares her takeaways from the classroom, her research project, coping with high stress and insights she has gained about the future. |
 | Call of the Wild(Oregon Stater) Two years ago, Katie Moriarty accidentally found the proverbial 15 minutes of scientific fame. She had set out a series of trail cameras in the woods near Truckee, Calif., and was checking to see if any martens had tripped the motion sensors while scrambling up a tree for the chicken bait. What she found instead on a grainy image looked like a cross between a bear and a raccoon. It turned out to be a ... (Read more...) |
| OSU Update | |
 | President's Annual ReportWho would have imagined that a student working his way through college as a dishwasher would end up winning the National Medal of Science? Or that game-changing technology for the wood-products industry would come from watching mussels grip a rocky shoreline? (Read more...) |
 | Boom Time for OSUYou could make a spirited argument that the fastest-growing, most vibrant place in Oregon in 2010 might have been the campus of Oregon State University. (Read more...) |
 | Facts about OSUOregon State is a leading research university located in one of the safest, smartest, greenest small cities in the nation. Situated 90 miles south of Portland, and an hour from the Cascades or the Pacific Coast, Corvallis is the perfect home base for exploring Oregon’s natural wonders.. (Read more...) |
| About the Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology | |
 | Toxicology at OSU celebrates 50 yearsEven though the Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology has only officially been in existence for less than two decades, toxicology has been the primary scientific focus of many researchers, instructors and students on campus for 50 years. (Read more ...) |
 | Sinnhuber Aquatic Research LaboratoryThe central facility of the Aquatic Biomedical Models Facility Core is the Sinnhuber Aquatic Research Laboratory (SARL), a unique national and international resource. The SARL supports two animal models for researchers, rainbow trout and zebrafish. (Read more...) |
  | National Pesticide Information CenterDid you know that the National Pesticide Information Center website provides a wealth of unbiased information on pesticide chemistry, toxicology and environmental fate to all who inquire, including industry, government, medical and agricultural personnel, as well as the general public 24/7? This resource is made available through a cooperative agreement between Oregon State University and the US Environmental Protection Agency. (Visit the NPIC website...) (Listen to a PestiByte podcast) |
 | Integrated Plant Protection CenterFarmers know that if you reduce harmful insects and diseases in your crops, you have a chance for a better harvest. Paul Jepson heads the Integrated Plant Protection Center at Oregon State University. He says farmers who have attended field schools in Asia and Africa have increased the use of IPM. And he says this has cut pesticide use. (Read more...) |
| Responding to Emerging Problems | |
 | Wheat fields mysteriously witheringOSU Morrow County Extension associate professor Larry Lutcher said 30,000 to 40,000 acres of wheat in his county have plants with yellow or purple tips. The discoloration spreads inward and downward on the leaf. In some cases, plants are completely desiccated and will not recover.
(Read more in Oregon Business, or Capital Press) |
 | Strawberry shortcuts: Decoding DNA to breed crops that are disease resistant(KVAL News) The secrets of life that scientists are decoding inside the DNA of the woodland strawberry could be key to unlocking better berry crops in Oregon. (Read more and watch KVAL video) |
| Connections | |
 | College of Agricultural SciencesBecome a fan today! |
 | OSU has it's own YouTube channel and it's well-stocked with interesting video stories. Take a look! http://www.youtube.com/oregonstate |
 | Are you Powered by Orange? |
 | Facebook - OSU Beavers! |
| New! | |
 | Christina DeWitt to head Seafood Research CenterOregon State University has hired an alumna who is a food chemist at Oklahoma State University to head its seafood research center in Astoria. Christina DeWitt, who has doctoral and master's degrees in food science from Oregon State University, will start work at the Seafood Laboratory on Dec. 30. The native Texan was a graduate research assistant at the lab from 1997-99. |
 | Robert Zemetra to head Wheat Variety Development ProgramOregon State University has hired a wheat breeder from Idaho to head its internationally recognized wheat variety development program. (Read more...) |
 | OSU names new director for Mid-Columbia Agricultural Research and Extension CenterThe Oregon State University Agricultural Experiment Station and OSU Extension Service have appointed Brian Tuck as new director of the Mid-Columbia Agricultural Research and Extension Center (MCAREC) in Hood River. In this role, Tuck will lead OSU agricultural research and Extension outreach education programs in Hood River County and the mid-Columbia region of Oregon. (Read more...) |
| Research | |
 | Oregon's Agricultural Progress Magazine Winter 2011The latest of Oregon's Agricultural Progress Magazine takes on the many dimensions of fish. Engaging stories and stunning photography point out how agricultural research is focused on solving problems and building economic opportunity -- on land and water. |
 | Terra MagazineTerra connects you with the latest findings in energy, Earth systems, natural resources, health, the economy, the arts and the social sciences. OSU’s research enterprise has more than doubled in the past decade, reaching $275 million in grants and contracts in FY10. OSU researchers address the most pressing issues of our time and provide unparalleled opportunities for students to develop and achieve their goals.(Read more ...) |
 | The Spin on ResearchVice President for Research Rick Spinrad shares conversations and updates in his new blog with our campus community and the public. (Read more...) |
 | Portland Couple Endows Dairy ProfessorshipThe Paul G. and Sandra A. Arbuthnot Professorship Fund will create the Arbuthnot Dairy Center within the College of Agricultural Sciences, support internships and endow a faculty member to develop and deliver state-of-the-art education and outreach programs for OSU students and Oregon’s small dairy foods processors. First recipient is Dr. Lisbeth Goddik. (Read more...) |
 | Agricultural foundation funds 33 new ideas for OSU researchThe Agricultural Research Foundation recently awarded 33 new grants totaling $400,000 to Oregon State University researchers, bringing the total of its currently funded projects to nearly $1 million. The foundation looks for the best ideas to tackle emerging problems, often new and untested ideas, according to Arnold Appleby, chair of the Agricultural Research Foundation projects committee. (Read more...) |
 | OSU malter will end bottleneck between Oregon barley and beerDrink a beer brewed in the United States, and there's a good chance the hops you'll taste were grown in Oregon. But chances are the malted barley in it wasn't.Oregon State University is working to change that. Students there have designed and will build a malting unit that could soak, germinate and dry small batches of the grain as part of OSU's larger effort to create a market for barley grown in Oregon. The malter will become part of OSU's existing research brewery; researchers and companies can pay to use the machine to test new barley varieties or malting techniques. (Read more in OSU News Release, AgInfo or News-Register) |
 | Oregon is business-friendly but taxes need work, according to new OSU studyOregon's rankings in several indexes reveal the state to be slightly above the national average in business friendliness. However, details within these studies suggest that fine-tuning the state's tax structure would make Oregon more attractive to business. Robert Campbell and Greg Perry, economists at Oregon State University, reviewed 10 studies that compare and rank the business climate of each state. |
  | Edible coatings for fresh blueberriesThe edible coatings under evaluation for blueberries include sucrose esters, chitosan, calcium caseinate and sodium alginate. A consumer benefit is the convenience of being able to eat the berries without needing to wash them, and extended shelf-life through delay of post-harvest moisture loss and dehydration. New coating extends shelf life of pre-washed blueberries (KEZI News, ABC 9, Eugene - October 7, 2010)Edible coatings slow rot, increase shelf life in blueberries (IFT Food Technology on-line) Blueberry coatings Press Release (OSU) |
| Food for Thought Lecture Series | |
 | lessons learned: environmental impacts of genetically engineered crops7:00p Wednesday 9 Feb 2011, LaSells Stewart Center Professor of Entomology at the University of Arizona, Yves Carrière, will summarize the findings of a recent National Research Council committee on which he served that explored the impacts of biotech crops on sustainability in the USA. |
 | food's footprint: agriculture and climate change7:00p Wednesday 23 Feb 2011, LaSells Stewart Center Researcher in the Program on Food Security and the Environment at Stanford University, Jennifer Burney, will examine the effects of the “green revolution” in agricultural production on greenhouse gas emissions over the past 50 years. She will also explore the greenhouse gas impacts of various contemporary agricultural systems. |
| Faculty and Staff | |
 | James Carrington to head Danforth Plant Science CenterJames Carrington, a distinguished professor and director of the Center for Genome Research and Biocomputing at Oregon State University, has accepted a new position as president of the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis, Mo. The Danforth Center is the world’s largest independent research institute dedicated to plant science, with more than 200 employees, 80 doctoral-level researchers and a $20 million annual budget. Carrington will begin the position in May, 2011. (Read more...) |
For more information, or to put your name on the contact list for future information, contact Jeff Hino ([email protected]). | Pachyderm - not what you're thinkingEarly-adopter faculty, staff and students have been building learner-driven multimedia stories that combine text, graphics, audio, and video--without being multimedia programmers, using Pachyderm. Pachyderm is an open-source multimedia development application that provides an easy way to create highly engaging interactive modules for websites and presentations. (See Pachyderm Showcase...) The next opportunity for Pachyderm training will occur in the spring of 2011, dates TBA. This training will be using the new much-improved Pachyderm 2.1 release. The workshop will be a one-day offering, with followup activities to assist you in the development of modules. Mini-grant funds up to $2,000 will be made available for proposals accepted from CAS faculty for module development. |
| Alumni and Friends | |
 | Agriculture alumni honored for professional workThe College of Agricultural Sciences honored four alumni for their professional accomplishments on Oct. 29. Jason Tosch of Hillsboro, Ore., received the Luminary Award. Scott D. Campbell and James McKim received Leader Awards. Hiram Larew of Upper Marlboro, Md., received the Legacy Award for career lifetime achievement. (Read more...) |
 | Oregon Stater MagazineOregon Stater Magazine is available on the web! Check out the The Winter 2011 edition which features several stories about, or are of interest to, your College of Agricultural Sciences community. (Read more...) Alumni: Please join or renew your membership in the Oregon State University Alumni Association. There are many great benefits to being a member, including a subscription to the Oregon Stater. Keep your connection as a Beaver alive! (Read more...) |
 | Diamond Pioneer AwardsThe Diamond Pioneer Registry was established in March 1983 when the College Of Agricultural Sciences observed its 75th anniversary. With the Registry, the College recognizes the significant contributions of many of our friends and colleagues who have served agriculture and related areas throughout a portion of their careers. (Read more...) |
| Faculty and Staff Awards and Honors | |
 | 2010 CAS Faculty and Staff AwardsThe Ch2M Hill Alumni Center was the backdrop of a luncheon to honor the recipients of the 2010 CAS Faculty and Staff Awards on October 21st. Connie Davis (l) is among recipients of the Classified Employee and Professional Faculty Employee Awards from Associate Dean Larry Curtis and Prof. Doug Johnson of Rangeland Ecology and Management. (Excellent recipients...) |
 | Sujaya Rao wins national teaching awardThe Entomological Society of America gave Sujaya Rao its Distinguished Achievement Award in Teaching on Dec. 12. Each year, the society gives the award to one association member who has excelled in developing innovative new courses, programs and teaching methods. (Read more...) 2010 APHIS Administrator's Award for Western CLB TeamAt the 62nd Secretary's Annual Honor Awards Ceremony the Western CLB Team received an APHIS Administrator's Award that "recognizes collaboration, creativity, and outstanding contributions to the APHIS mission". The Western CLB team includes folks from Oregon - off and on campus researchers (Darrin Walenta, George Hoffman and Sujaya Rao) from OSU. (Read more...) |
 | Hong Liu receives NSF CAREER AwardHong Liu, an expert at Oregon State University in the conversion of organic wastes to energy, has received a $400,000 CAREER award from the National Science Foundation. |
 | Clint Shock Ontario Agriculturalist of the Year(Argus Observer) For Clint Shock, superintendent of Oregon State University’s Malheur Experiment Station, his interest in plants began at an early age and it led not only to a career but also a life-long passion for how and why plants grow and finding better ways to grow them and help society as a whole. (Read more...) |
| CAS Calendar | |
 | College of Agricultural Sciences Calendar |
The College of Agricultural Sciences at Oregon State University is Oregon's principal source of knowledge relating to agricultural and food systems, and a major source of knowledge regarding environmental quality, natural resources, life sciences, and rural economies and communities worldwide. The College provides undergraduate and graduate education leading to baccalaureate and graduate degrees, and extended education programs throughout Oregon and beyond. Its research programs create knowledge to solve problems and to build a knowledge base for the future. It is a source of information and expertise in integrating and applying knowledge with benefits that are felt in domestic and international settings.