Future of Possibilities Focus College Onof Forestry • Summer 2007 Contents
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College of Forestry • Summer 2007 Future of Possibilities focus College onof Forestry • Summer 2007 CONTENTS Volume 20, Issue 2 Dean Hal Salwasser Development Director 1 Dean’s Column Lisa French College News Managing Editor 2 Feature: A Tree-mendous Party! Caryn Davis 6 Feature: From Research to Renovations Editorial Assistants 8 Feature: College Hosts Forests, Carbon, and Climate Change Conference Bryan Bernart, Carrie Breckel College Forests News Writers 12 Feature: Conservation of Native Prairie and Oak Habitats in McDonald-Dunn Forest Alison Moldenke, David Stauth, Thomas Thompson, Jebediah Wilson Forest Science News 14 Feature: There’s a Fungus among Us! Designer 15 Feature: Pretty but Perilous Sandra Arbogast Photography Wood Science and Engineering News Forestry Communications Group, Forestry Media 16 Feature: 2007 National Timber Bridge Competition 17 Feature: Great “Green” Chemistry Center, Student Services Department, and others. Forest Engineering News How to Reach Us 18 Feature: Forest Service Chief Guest Speaker at Student Forum Address changes: 19 Feature: From the Mountains, to the Prairies, to the Ocean… Cheryl Lester Oregon State University Foundation Forest Resources News 850 SW 35th Street 20 Feature: Forestry through a Prism Corvallis, OR 97333 21 Feature: Meticulous Measurements Yield Meaningful Models [email protected] fax: (541) 737-9689 Outreach and Communications News Other questions/comments: 22 Feature: Starker Tree Planting Day 2007 College of Forestry Oregon State University Student News 154 Peavy Hall 24 Feature: Foresters go to Washington Corvallis, OR 97331-5704 26 Feature: Awards, Fellowships, and Scholarships (541) 737-4271 Alumni News [email protected] www.cof.orst.edu 28 Feature: Three Generations of Newtons 30 Feature: 75th Fernhopper Celebration Focus on Forestry is published by Oregon State University 33 Feature: College of Forestry. Our goal is to keep Forestry alumni, And the Golden Smokey Bear goes to . friends, faculty, staff, and students informed about the College of Forestry and its many activities and programs. OSU Foundation News All or parts of this publication may be reproduced 34 Feature: Gift of New Machine Links Students with Future Careers with credit to the OSU College of Forestry. Oregon State University is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity employer and complies with Section 504 of 36 In Memoriam the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Gift funds provided to the OSU Foundation and the College of Forestry help pay for color reproduction of the Focus on Forestry. Three little boys were mesmerized by a virtual forest simulation demo created by Tim Holt and Matt Gregory (both FS) on display during the College of Forestry Centennial Open House. The computer- animated forester, seen here in the orange safety vest, was made to run up and down slopes and through the trees (sometimes literally), accompanied by squeals of laughter and the command to “do it again!” The program can display large stand areas on topographically accurate virtual terrain, giving foresters a new tool for visualizing forest data. Cover photograph by Caryn Davis. DEAN’S COLUMN ummer brings us to the end of celebrating Forestry’s Centennial at OSU, and our 75th Fernhopper Congratulations 2006 Sgathering. We now turn our attention to a “Future of Possibilities” that will become part Dean’s Award recipients! of a continuing “Legacy of Excellence.” There are a number of events and circumstances that point toward an outstanding future. We TEAM AWARD FOR SERVICE just awarded degrees to 153 students and are expecting another large incoming class with total enrollment exceeding 650 this fall making it the third straight highest enrollment year since 1981. Many forestry and natural resources programs in the nation are experiencing declining enrollments, so we view our growth as a positive indicator of program strengths. OSU Forestry gradu- ates continue to find quick acceptance into the work force. In fact, a survey of Pacific Northwest forest industry and agency hiring needs for the next 10 years reveals we aren’t educating enough students to meet the demand. Oregon’s forest sector continues to be important to the state’s economy and employ- ment base. Forests will also play an important role in the College of Forestry Centennial Working Group: Sandie Arbogast, growing research on climate change. We are changing curricu- Gretchen Bracher, Rose Lacey, Nathalie Gitt, Aleece Kopczenski, Steve lum and adding options to ensure new students are prepared to Cox, David Zahler, Jeff Hino, Debbie Bird McCubbin, and Susan create the future of possibilities. McEvoy (not pictured, Caryn Davis). The Oregon Legislature ended their session in late June on a positive note for Higher Education. The College and FRL have lost purchasing power during the budget reductions and limited DEAN’S AWARDS FOR INdiVidUAL appropriations of the past three biennia. Consequently, we have OUTSTANdiNG ACHIEVEMENT not been able to fill all faculty vacancies in some key disciplines. This year’s increase in appropriated support will help stem the Advising, Mentoring, and/ additional loss of key disciplines, and put us in a position to start or Resident Undergraduate the process of restoring lost capacity if the next biennial budget and Graduate Instruction: improves from the current appropriation. Additionally, with Charles Brunner (Wood strong industry support, a bill to increase the Harvest Tax rate Science and Engineering); by 37% was passed. This additional funding matches the Research/Scholarship: increase in state General Fund appropriations to the FRL and will Caiping Ma (Forest allow us to restore some capacity in Forestry Extension and Science); Extended and help expand our initiatives in planted forests productivity and Continuing Education: wood-use innovation. These funding increases help ensure our Nicole Strong and Elissa continued “Future of Possibilities” and leadership in forest Wells (Forestry Extension); related education, research and outreach. Support: Denise Steigerwald The next step in setting our future is still ongoing. This (Forest Science); FRA: Tom spring we began college-wide discussions on how to best Manning (Forest Science); organize ourselves. Our goal is to determine the most efficient International: Susan Morré and effective structure for administering our programs, (Forest Resources). educating students, meeting research needs and helping grow Oregon’s multi-billion dollar forest cluster. This process and strategic direction setting is expected to be concluded by November. I anticipate some months will be required to fully implement all decisions, but I foresee an end result that creates new synergies and collaborative opportunities. We will be a stronger institution that is poised to meet future opportunities, and continue our legacy as the premier academic forestry institution. Summer 2007 1 COLLEGE NEWS A Tree-mendous Party! College of Forestry celebrates Centennial with open house t was just after sunrise on Friday, ings, thanks to Ed Jensen (Associate Dean Team prepared to demonstrate their prow- November 3rd, 2006, and the College for Academic Affairs), David Zahler ess at timber sports, while indoors, of Forestry was already humming. (FMC), and a crew of students, including Rakesh Gupta and Milo Clauson (WSE) IAlthough the skies were dreary, Peavy and Sara Davison (FM), Dawn Marie Gaid got ready to rumble with “Earthquake!” Richardson halls were bright beehives of (NR), Jennie Denton (History), Ryan test demonstrations in the large test lab. activity as more than 150 faculty, staff, Jones (FRR), Jessica Ludgate (NR) and Upstairs, the Richardson “knuckle” students, and alums worked together to daughter, Anica Mercado (NR), Crystal was resplendent with floor-to-ceiling prepare for the Centennial Open House. Perez-Gonzalez (FM), Christoph banners designed by Sandie Arbogast After 100 years of excellence in teaching, Schauwecker (WSE), Chaylon Shuffield (FCG) to celebrate the College’s historical research, and outreach, the College was (FM), and Brian Tierney (RRM). The heritage. In the coffee room, homemade throwing a party! landscapers had worked their magic soups were beginning to bubble in dozens Invitations had gone out, the Oregon during the previous weekend–weeding the of crockpots, thanks to members of the Forest Resources Institute (OFRI) had grounds, pruning trees, removing invasive forestry honor society, Xi Sigma Pi. advertised the event in the newspapers, trees and shrubs, and doing the excavation Nearby, exotic dishes from around the and hundreds of posters had been placed for a new planting bed at the front world were slowly warming ahead of the across campus and in local businesses, entrance to Peavy. multicultural lunch, sponsored by the thanks to the tireless legs of editorial assis- Along the sidewalks, colorful “100 International Forestry Students tant Bryan Bernart (FCG). Rand Sether, Faces of Forestry” Centennial banners Association. The tempting fragrances David LaFever, and Scott Nason (FRL flew from lampposts around the forestry wafted down the hallways and were soon Shop) had set up more than six dozen buildings and up Jefferson to the joined by the irresistible aroma of tables throughout the buildings, which Memorial Union, adding a bright touch popcorn popping at an old-fashioned cart. forestry personnel, sporting green to the misty November morning. The More than two dozen 6-foot-tall “welcome ribbons,” were fast filling up banners, created by Gretchen