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.
2019 Savery Outstanding Doctoral Student Award
The recipient of the 2019 Savery Outstanding Doctoral Student Award is Evan Bredeweg in Wildlife Sciences.
Evan’s research explores the intrinsic and extrinsic factors influencing amphibian movement in managed landscapes. Organisms with complex life cycles experience pressures from both aquatic (egg/tadpole) and terrestrial (juvenile/adult) habitats. Evan discovered that adult Red-legged frogs experience latent effects from their time as tadpoles. This project is exciting for many reasons. Few studies have explored amphibian movement, as frogs are inherently difficult to track. Evan developed novel empirical methodologies for quantifying movement, and is currently building and parameterizing individual dispersal models that integrate his empirical findings into simulations on movement potential under various climate regimes. This will enhance the conservation efforts of these species.
Evan’s nominators noted:
...Evan has been one of my “go to” senior graduate students for advice and assistance on several issues. He has coordinated several departmental outreach efforts including summer programs introducing elementary students to the STEM disciplines. Evan is currently working with the Oregon Forest Resources Institute (OFRI) to create a publication on Oregon wildlife for middle school students.
...At the university level, he served as a panelist for OSU workshops on NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program application strategies. He has been extremely active with our FW Graduate Student Association and has assisted with coordination of their annual research symposium.
..it is important to point out that Evan’s academic achievements were in conjunction with new fatherhood and a year of completely independent research while his advisor was on sabbatical last year.