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.
Volume XIV, Issue 1
As I approach my one-year anniversary as Dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences, I reflect upon the amazing contributions of our faculty, staff, students, stakeholders, and alumni. Each time we summarize the accomplishments of the past quarter in The Source, I am reminded of the depth of commitment that is reflected across our College, as we embody our shared mission to make tomorrow better for everyone.
Sometimes that work can feel invisible day-to-day. But the sum truly is so much greater that its parts.
I encourage you to watch this newly produced short two-minute video to frame your understanding of just how important YOUR work is as part of the College of Agricultural Sciences community. And in reviewing the recent accomplishments reflected in the remainder of this quarterly newsletter, remember that this is just a snapshot. Each day, we are out there embedded in our communities and working with each other to improve access to opportunities, enhance experiential learning for students, advance new discoveries that create a more resilient food system, and find new ways to strike that balance between conservation and production.
Some highlights from this past quarter include a new license plate now available to support pollinator research. We are ensuring that student success initiatives are more available and accessible. Our researchers are gaining national and international acclaim as the expansion of our global reach grows.
Through it all, our students continue to bring me the greatest pride. Please take some time to read some of their stories and remember just how impactful your partnership with us is—not just in the work we do today, but in shaping the leaders of tomorrow.
Go Beavs!
Staci L. Simonich, Ph.D., M.B.A.
Dean and Reub Long Professor
College of Agricultural Sciences
Director of the Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station
Dr. Alexander Levin named director of Southern Oregon Research & Extension Center
Levin is a well-regarded viticulturist and associate professor who has served the agricultural community of the Rogue Valley at SOREC since 2016. As a leading wine grape researcher, he is also active with the Oregon Wine Research Institute. His research and extension activities have largely focused on water stress in a region that has increasingly found itself battling water scarcity issues related to climate change. (Read more...)
Oregon Pollinator License Plate Presale
On February 7th a check with the voucher sales was delivered to DMV. This starts the process of getting the Pollinator Paradise plate into production. The process is expected to take 4-6 months. Please do not call DMV about when the plate will be available - we have a form where you can leave your email to get updates on the plate. For those who purchased a voucher - we are so grateful for your support - and know the physical vouchers will be mailed to you directly closer to when the plates are released.
Student Success Initiatives
The College of Agricultural Sciences seeks to expand transformative learning opportunities for students, equipping them with the knowledge, experience, confidence, and problem-solving skills they'll need to become the next generation of agricultural leaders.
Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK)
TEK is difficult to define because it is a westernized term created by scientists who wanted to label the Indigenous Science they were witnessing Natives engaged in. Each Tribe or Nation may have a different term they use rather than “TEK”.
Joseph Spatafora honored as 2022 AAAS fellow
2022 Natural Resource Policy Fellow: Alex Avila
2023 AACT JOINN Biomere Outstanding Young Toxicologist Award: Lisa Truong
2023 Frances Dancy Hooks Award: Dana Sanchez
Elizabeth Tomasino Received the Innovator of the year award for the Wine Enthusiasts Award
Daniel Palacios is the President-Elect of the Society for Marine Mammalogy
Bob Grover was nominated as the 2023 Alumni Fellow
2023 Open Call for Art!
Competition and Touring Exhibition 2023
Deadline: March 5, 2023 at 11:59pm
For 40 years, the Art About Agriculture program at Oregon State University’s College of Agricultural Sciences has invited artists throughout the Pacific Northwest to creatively explore the uniquely diverse agricultural and natural resources of our region. Striking a careful balance between agricultural production and conservation, our agriculture and natural resources represent the backbone of resilience for our communities, our food systems, and our environment.
Featured artwork for the 2023 Open Call: Claudia Cave, Clouded Tree, 2006, graphite, 12.5” x 8.5”. 2010 Dean and Director of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station, Sheldon L. Ladd, and OSU President's Awards. Sponsored by Sonny and Gita Ramaswamy, James and Stella Coakley, Ed and Beth Ray, and the OSU College of Agricultural Sciences. (detail)
Art Auction to Alleviate Hunger
Hiram Larew (MS and PhD), founder of Poetry X Hunger, recently partnered with The Poartry Project and others to raise more than $5,000 to fight hunger. The online Art Auction to Alleviate Hunger offered paintings, photographs, mosaics and a quilt. Created in response to hunger poems on Poetry X Hunger's website, the artwork drew bids from around the world. All proceeds (bids and donations) that were raised benefited Feed the Children. Yes, Poetry and Art Can Fight Hunger!
Interdisciplinary Student Fellowship
Expanding on last year's popular Art-Science Fellowship, the 2023-24 Interdisciplinary Student Fellowship offers students the opportunity to explore the intersection of two disciplines or ways of looking at the world. During the year-long fellowship, students will develop a creative project informed by active engagement with research at OSU.
Fellowship Mentors
We are looking for artists, writers, musicians, humanities scholars, scientists, and engineers both from OSU and the community who are willing to serve as mentors for this year-long student experience (Spring 2023 - Spring 2024). Mentors will attend a one-hour orientation at the end of Spring Term 2023 (date TBD) and will work with a student(s) at least once a month (on average) to help them develop their project.
Willis Lloyd McCuistion
May 28, 1937 - April 22, 2022
Robert "Bob" Stebbins
August 30, 1933 - December 29, 2022
