COLLEGE OF SCIENCE

WINTER 2018: 150 YEARS OF SCIENCE SEA AND SPACE ISSUE

Impact Winter 2018 new baselines.indd 1 10/18/17 5:13 PM WINTER 2018

Editor Debbie Farris Contents  Writers Katharine de Baun Srila Nayak

Designer Sharon Betterton

College of Science Roy Haggerty, Dean Feature Publisher College of Science  128 Kidder Hall Passion & Purpose Oregon State University Corvallis, OR 97331 Faculty and student success   Alumni & Friends Thinkers and doers

Feature 150 years of science for sea and space

 News  Raising the value of science Real Estate = Real Opportunity Your gift of property can open doors at OSU 

Learn how you can boost your retirement Discover plans through a life-income gift, eliminate Research, breakthroughs and innovation capital gains taxes, and create life-changing opportunities for students. All with real estate! Contact us today.

Julie Irmer, 800-336-8217 • [email protected] osufoundation.org/giftplanning



Impact Winter 2018 new baselines.indd 2 10/18/17 5:13 PM Science Success Center now open for business Our Science Success Center launched this fall to provide an inclusive space where students and faculty can make connections that improve their lives academically, socially, professionally and personally. This holistic approach will help us Fellow Beavers, of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric build a strong, diverse Sciences faculty for seven years community that appreciates I am the new Dean of the College where I served as Interim Dean. and values differences. of Science at Oregon State Most recently, I served as OSU’s University. I am excited to lead Associate Vice President of Research. The Center seeks to inspire this group of extraordinary faculty I have been an earth scientist at OSU undergraduate students and students to advance scientific for the past 22 years. to envision their future in discovery for our world and to science while providing teach science to the whole campus. To share some of my personal life, academic advising, career Science is the best invention of I grew up on a grain farm outside development resources the human mind, it is at the heart a rural town in Alberta, Canada, and learning opportunities of OSU, and it is critical to the with five brothers. I fell in love with that take them beyond university’s mission and success. learning and science before I was the classroom. Students 10 years old, and I was first in my facing academic challenges I look forward to getting to know family to go to college. can access tools to help more of you as we connect at OSU them address obstacles events, personal meetings or even A thriving College of Science is and overcome challenges through email or by phone. paramount to OSU’s success. My so they feel empowered initial priorities are to improve to thrive inside and outside I want to thank Sastry Pantula, student success and generate high- of the classroom. who stepped down after four years growth education opportunities as dean to shift his focus back to that will create a solid financial base More than 25 sophomores, statistical research and teaching for the College. From that base, we juniors and seniors serve as in the Department of Statistics. I will be able to continue to expand Peer Advisors, performing am grateful to him for being such a our scientific research and teaching outreach to students via powerful advocate for science and in other areas. phone, email and 1-on-1 a passionate champion for students meetings. Peer Advisors are and diversity. He is an excellent I look forward to getting to know well-informed on the tools, ambassador for science. you as we create a strong future for services and resources the College of Science. available to all students. I am happy to be back among my They serve as a key part colleagues in the College of Science. of the Center and are I was part of the faculty here for 15 Roy Haggerty supported by a team of four years before moving to the College Dean, College of Science professional staff.

science.oregonstate.edu/SSC

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Carrying on Wei Family Foundation founder’s love of travel Half a world away in Australia, where she’s studying abroad with PASSION & world-renowned marine scientists at James Cook University, Milan Sengthep is enthusiastic about Integrative Biology at OSU: “My PURPOSE advisors…and honestly every graduate student/professor/ Faculty and student success staff in that department, are the coolest, most amazing people I’ve ever met.”

A junior majoring in biology with including six women and ten a minor in chemistry, Milan was Summer research in underrepresented minorities, were born and raised in Boise, Idaho, mathematics and statistics selected from over 70 applicants to where her parents immigrated Undergraduates from across pursue statistical research projects from Thailand. Throughout her the country enjoyed Research such as analyzing the environmental childhood they worked extremely Experiences for Undergraduates impact of obesity and modeling data hard to establish a new life, (REU) in mathematics and statistics for better financial decisions. always encouraging Milan and this summer. Supported by the her brother to pursue education, National Science Foundation (NSF), especially as it “did not really REU grants fund 8-10 weeks of Fulbright year in Poland come easy for them.” hands-on research to promote Biologist Jaga Giebultowicz, an graduate study in STEM fields. Ten expert on biological (circadian) Milan’s Wei Family Foundation students participated in the long- clocks and their functions in Scholarship has filled her with running (since 1987) Mathematics organismal health, has been awarded “ecstatic emotions” and provided REU, pursuing projects from a Fulbright research and teaching enduring “financial stress relief.” classical geometry in Euclidean scholarship for the year 2017-2018. Supporting undergraduate and space to uncertainty quantification Giebultowicz’s Fulbright scholarship graduate science students with a and cryptography. will take her to the University of 3.5 GPA or higher, especially those Warsaw in Poland, where she will of Chinese ancestry and/or who In statistics, a new $380K one-year conduct research and teach in have lived in China, the Wei Family American Statistics Association the Department of Experimental Foundation Scholarships total grant supported four students’ for and Clinical Physiology and work about $100,000 per year with research in microbiome informatics, on her project, “Collaboration awards ranging from $6-8,000 analyzing data from “American on Novel Research and Teaching per student. The scholarships Gut,” a large, crowd-sourced citizen Concepts in Biomedical Science.” honor the legacy of pioneering science project. A second statistics This is the second Fulbright award alumna Chung Kwai Lui, who REU also opened its doors at OSU for Giebultowicz. In 2001-02, she emigrated from China in 1936 to this summer, moving from the traveled to the University of Warsaw become one of the first students University of Nevada under the on a Fulbright to research the in the newly formed OSU physics supervision of newly hired professor important roles of biological clocks graduate program and its first Javier Rojo. Twelve students, in reproduction. female Ph.D. graduate in 1941.

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Grad students win top National recognition for Faculty receive NSF fellowships five stellar students top honors at The College is delighted to The College of Science is thrilled to University Day announce that three Ph.D. students announce that two students won On University Day 2017, the received prestigious National Goldwater Scholarships and three College of Science received Science Foundation Graduate students won Fulbright Awards for five of the university’s Research Fellowship Program the 2017-18 academic year. most prestigious awards for awards for 2017: Rebecca Lucia exceptional teaching, advising, Maher in microbiology and David Gregory Mirek Brandt, a promising research and Lynn Hubert and Claire Couch in junior studying physics and scholarship. Congratulations to integrative biology. This year the mathematics, and True Gibson, these winners! award, which provides three years an Honors College junior studying of financial support towards a biochemistry and biophysics, Kevin Ahern, professor of research-based graduate degree, received Goldwater Scholarships, biochemistry and biophysics, supports research on vertebrates, the top undergraduate STEM received the Elizabeth P. mammals and marine invertebrates. award in the country. The award, Ritchie Distinguished Professor honoring former Arizona Senator Award, OSU’s highest teaching Hubert and Couch will study Barry M. Goldwater, provides up to award recognizing outstanding gene expression during $7,500 per year for undergraduate contributions to undergraduate hibernation of garter snakes and tuition, fees, books, and housing education. Ahern has been on respiratory disease in African expenses. Delaney Smith, an the forefront of making the buffalo respectively, and Maher Honors College sophomore in study of life sciences more will investigate how the coral biochemistry and biophysics accessible to all students, microbiome is affected by predation and pre-education, received a by expanding the use of and nutrient availability. Goldwater Honorable Mention. technology in the classroom and creating survey courses on Biochemistry and biophysics OSU’s Ecampus. alumna Lynda Bradley (’15), biochemistry and biophysics Henri Jansen, professor and senior Arianna Kahler-Quesada lead advisor in the Department and integrative biology doctoral of Physics, received the Dar student Ian Morelan were Reese Excellence in Advising awarded Fulbright scholarships Award for outstanding on the basis of their academic undergraduate advising. A achievement, record of service dedicated teacher and advisor, and leadership potential. The Jansen has been deeply involved scholarships provide funds for a in transforming the larger, year-long study, research and/or lower division classes with teaching project abroad. ■ evidence-based innovations like the flipped classroom and active engagement.

Kenneth “KC” Walsh received Goldwater scholar Mirek Brandt the OSU Faculty Teaching (above) and Fulbright scholar Excellence Award, which Arianna Kahler-Quesada (below) honors unusually significant and meritorious achievement in teaching and scholarship to enhance effective instruction. A dynamic, dedicated physics teacher who consistently gets rave reviews from students, Walsh is an ESTEME@OSU Action Research Fellow who has studied online learning in physics and successfully “flipped” his own classes.

Impact Winter 2018 new baselines.indd 3 10/18/17 5:13 PM ALUMNI & FRIENDS Thinkers & doers The Merrill family with President Ed Ray

at the University of Pennsylvania. Throughout his career, Mathews Christopher Mathews Cohen studied the induction of mentored 35 Ph.D. students as well Lifetime Achievement Award new enzymes in bacteria infected as postdocs, research assistants and Christopher Mathews has been with T-even bacteriophage, which 150 undergraduate students. a researcher, teacher, department later contributed to the chemical chair, distinguished emeritus treatment of cancer and viral In 2015, he and Kate made a legacy professor and lifelong scientist. An infections. Mathews left the gift to support and inspire future internationally recognized leader in Northwest for Philadelphia. generations of biochemists at OSU. biochemistry, Mathews has a vast They established the Christopher research record in enzymology, In 1963, Mathews began his first and Catherine Mathews Graduate virology and genetics. His work faculty position in biology at Yale Fellowship, which recognizes Ph.D. on nucleotide and coenzyme University. In 1967, he jumped at students with outstanding academic metabolism, DNA synthesis the chance to join the newly formed merit, teaching acumen and research and replication and nucleic acid University of Arizona College potential. It helps recruit and retain enzymology is widely cited. of Medicine. There he realized exceptional doctoral students. The work led him to link dNTP he enjoyed the “full package” of metabolism with processes such as academia – research, teaching, “Looking back, I think I embraced cell cycle progression, DNA damage, and leadership. In 1977, Mathews the whole package, as I originally and tumor suppressor action. was recruited for a new position wished to do,” says Mathews. as chair of the Biochemistry and Mathews’ passion for biochemistry Biophysics Department at OSU. ignited as a Reed College junior after The move offered him the chance Kay Merrill & Lee Sickler Distinguished Service Award reading about the burgeoning field to lead a 14-person faculty of and its relationship to medicine, active researchers who valued an The Merrill Family Foundation physiology and biology. As a Ph.D. atmosphere of collegiality and (MFF), created by Kay Merrill and student in biochemistry at the mutual respect and finally landed her late husband Chuck (’63), has University of Washington, he was the family back in the Northwest in been the single most impactful excited by the prospect of targeting Corvallis, their home for more than scholarship in the College of drugs to treat disease. He worked 40 years. Science—supporting more students in the lab of Frank Huennekens, than any other. Since 2006, the who helped him publish his first Mathews became adept at securing Foundation has granted over $1 study in 1960. He married fellow funding for the department and million for 544 scholarship awards. biochemistry student Kate Zitcer. for his own research, which was continuously funded for over 48 “We are delighted to accept this Mathews was intrigued by genetic years at three universities. He award for the Foundation, which biochemistry after hearing about served as chair for more than 24 has been a wonderful way to share the discovery of the double years before “retiring” in 2002. He a strong spirit of giving and service helix structure of DNA from a remained active in his lab through across generations, a tradition that visiting lecturer. That led him 2012, conducting research on dNTP continues in our family,” said Kay. to Seymour Cohen, who was metabolism that led to collaborations Cheryl Thompson Merrill, Tony conducting pioneering research with more than 10 laboratories. Merrill, son-in-law Lee Sickler (’90)

Impact Winter 2018 new baselines.indd 4 10/18/17 5:13 PM iMPACT WINTER 2018 5 Exceptional “This is totally unexpected,” said McGrath. “It really caught me off achievements, guard. It is both flattering and exceptional humbling at the same time.” McGrath and her husband, math leadership. alumnus Bernie McGrath (’70, ’74), have fruitful careers and are deeply committed to giving back. They generously support OSU’s many interests from the Colleges of Science, Engineering and Business From top: Sue McGrath, to athletics. They see their gifts Chris Mathews, and Luisa and their impact as a way to pay it and Nathan Snyder forward. This year they supported graduate students through the Achievement Rewards for College professor teaching science at SUNY- Scientists (ARCS) Foundation Cobleskill and in 1977 they moved Portland Chapter, a women’s back to Oregon to join his father in nonprofit organization dedicated the land development business. to advancing U.S. competitiveness in scientific and technological innovation. McGrath will lead ARCS Suzanne McGrath (’Ž) next year as co-President. Distinguished Alumni Award For math alumna Suzanne McGrath, things are coming full circle. She Luisa & Nathan Snyder Young Alumni Award taught math for one year at OSU and three years at Newberg High Drs. Luisa and Nathan Snyder School. Fast forward 40 years, and (Biology ’09) have achieved she is seeing the fruits of her labor phenomenal professional through the success of her former accomplishments early in their students. OSU Head Baseball Coach careers. They run the Snyder Family Pat Casey likely uses the probability, Dentistry in Salem, Oregon, a mathematical and statistical skills dental clinic specializing in pediatric learned in McGrath’s classroom to care. Although it opened just last and daughter Lisa Merrill Sickler develop a winning game strategy. year, the clinic is already very highly help manage the foundation, which regarded and has garnered began with a scholarship program Although McGrath loved teaching accolades from clients. This year the at SUNY-Cobleskill in 1996 and at and inspiring students, she wanted Snyders opened the Fairmount SUNY-Delhi in the late 1990s. a broader career experience. As she Dental Center, a comprehensive encouraged her students to follow general dentistry clinic. MFF Scholarships support juniors their dreams, she too followed hers. and seniors in the College of Science She applied her computational and “Since moving to Oregon more than as well as in botany and plant problem-solving skills to accounting a decade ago, we always envisioned pathology and geoscience who are and became a CPA. Today, McGrath having a practice in Salem. It’s been academically high achieving with is President of Vision Capital a great experience for us to have demonstrated community service Management, Inc., an investment our dream practice and to work and leadership. advisory firm founded 18 years ago together as a team,” said Luisa, who with her daughter, Marina Johnson, was born and raised in Guatemala Chuck and Kay met in second grade CFA, which now has 12 employees. and provides bilingual patient care in in Forest Grove, Ore. and married in Spanish and English in the clinics. 1962, a year before Chuck earned McGrath received the College’s a B.S. in botany at OSU. They Distinguished Alumni Achievement They graduated from the dentistry moved to Ithaca, New York, where Award for exceptional achievements program at Western University Chuck earned a master’s degree at and leadership that bring honor, of Health Sciences, where Luisa Cornell University while Kay taught distinction and visibility to the finished top of her class and Nathan elementary school. Chuck became a College and OSU. graduated with honors. ■

science.oregonstate.edu/alumni-awards

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Science starred in the land-grant college’s first collegiate-level curriculum, with a general “Scientific Course,” “Geology of Oregon,” and courses in chemistry considered “the cornerstone of Scientific Agriculture.”

150 YEARS OF SCIENCE FOR SEA AND SPACE

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First radio transmitter on campus was built by Physics Professor Jacob Jordan.

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Three of the four first Ph.D. graduates at OSU were in science: Herbert L. Jones in “•Ž physics, Alfred Taylor in zoology Mathematics Professor Arvid and Karl Klemm in chemistry. Lonseth helped bring the first electronic computer to campus, the giant, room-sized ALWAC III-E, used for research “ in mathematics and science. He inspired his student Judith Allen The first woman to receive a to become the first and only Ph.D. at OSU was Chung Kwai woman in the first computer “•Ž Lui, who emigrated from China to programming class at OSC. earn a doctorate in physics. She In the 1960s, she became Chemistry Professor Wendell was involved in the top-secret a pioneer in the computer Slabaugh, a popular teacher Manhattan Project to develop industry, driving around Oregon who broadcast his chemistry the first atomic bomb. Her legacy in a bread truck converted into class on TV, could lay claim lives on through the Wei Family a computer lab, building and to being OSU’s first long- Foundation Scholarships (pg. 2). selling computers. distance educator.

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Mathematics and science have marine ecology for the last 30 years been at the heart of Oregon State have played a key role in the growth University since its designation as of marine sciences at OSU. Lubchenco a land-grant college in 1868. Early is Advisor to OSU’s Marine Studies records show that a liberal arts Initiative, a multi-million dollar curriculum at OSU (then Corvallis “transdisciplinary education, research College) included three years of and outreach program that explores mathematics along with a rigorous all facets of the marine environment.” course of study in Latin and Greek. Mathematician Joseph Emery was Our scientists have a global and one of three faculty in the first decade large-scale environmental impact of the College’s existence. Today, through their research on critical mathematics, physics, chemistry, challenges posed by climate biology and other fundamental change to ocean ecosystems. sciences contribute to some of the Ocean ecologist Bruce Menge’s most innovative and advanced centers research group plays a lead role in of research and programs at OSU. The the multi-university Partnership for sphere of influence that fundamental Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal science wields at the university Oceans, pioneering research on the is vast. It permeates and shapes impact of ocean acidification on every discipline from agriculture to coastal communities. The latter has oceanography, atmospheric sciences, led to globally recognized programs business and engineering while in environmental sciences and creating a blueprint for the future. conservation biology.

Science at OSU has always been Our marine scientists have made a trailblazer. Corvallis College was important discoveries that have been one of three land-grant institutions widely communicated to the public in the nation to offer scientific and the government about immediate courses to women in 1890. In 1941, crises faced by ocean systems resulting Chung Kwai Lui, a student from in important legislative measures. China, received a Ph.D. in physics becoming the first woman to earn Marine ecologist Francis Chan offers a doctorate at OSU. In this issue, a leading new voice in ocean advocacy. we focus on OSU’s space and sea His recent study on the threat to grants; in our spring issue, we take an marine organisms from hypoxia or low in-depth look at our contributions to oxygen in near shore Pacific Ocean Joseph Emery OSU’s sun and land grants. waters is waking up the public to the perils of low oxygen in water. The Oregon legislature has recognized Sea: Ocean research the threat and established an ocean Programs in biological and acidification and hypoxia council. quantitative sciences have shaped a half-century of marine science Our microbiologists and biologists research at OSU and continue to study diseases in aquatic animals define the present and future of ranging from corals and sea stars research on ocean ecosystems. to salmon, examine the marine microbiome to understand carbon Distinguished Professor and marine cycling and cloud formation and biologist Jane Lubchenco served as investigate how warming waters the first U.S. Science Envoy for the affect marine ecosystems across the Ocean for the U.S. Department of West Coast. Mathematicians and State and as Administrator of the statisticians employ environmental Chung Kwai Lui National Oceanic and Atmospheric big data, modeling and data Administration from 2009-13. She visualization to understand extreme was nominated by President Obama weather events, design marine for his “Science Dream Team.” Her protected areas and track the effects seminal contributions to research in of a warming climate in oceans. ►

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Using environmental big with the NASA Space Grant, Milstein data to understand space advised students how to monitor “Ž and record the eclipse through high- Harold J. Evans, professor OSU Physics has been a formidable altitude balloons. of plant physiology and presence since its founding in 1908 biochemistry, was the first OSU with the hire of Willibald Weniger One of this century’s greatest faculty member elected to the as assistant professor of physics. physics discoveries—gravitational National Academy of Science Physics faculty, students and alumni waves—has an OSU connection. (NAS). Two of the three NAS have not only contributed to the Alumnus Shane Larson (’91), members at OSU today are in currents of modern research in associate professor of astrophysics the College of Science. 20th- and 21st-century physics, but at Northwestern University, is part have also brought these innovations of an international team of 1,000 and exciting global developments scientists working on the Laser to our campus, the region and the Interferometer Gravitational-Wave world. A wireless telegraphy radio Observatory (LIGO) that discovered “’ course led to the creation of the first gravitational waves in 2016. Alumnus Milton Harris (’26) wireless radio station on campus established the first endowed by physicist Jacob Jordan in 1922. This summer, a month before faculty chair at OSU, the Milton The first seismograph station was international scientists announced a Harris Chair of Materials Science. built by a physicist in 1950 and was game-changing detection of a short turned over to the Department gamma-ray burst, OSU theoretical of Oceanography in the 1960s to astrophysicist Davide Lazzati and develop a program in seismology. his team predicted the discovery. In a published paper, they challenged “’Ž After a 1939 Nobel Prize made previous calculations that short Microbiology alumnus Knute the cyclotron (particle accelerator) gamma-ray bursts associated with Buehler (’86) becomes OSU’s popular, the Physics Department gave gravitational emission of binary first Rhodes Scholar. the state its first cyclotron in 1954 neutron star coalescence could under the guidance of then-Chair be detected whether or not they Edwin Yunker. Physics alumna Chung pointed toward Earth. It’s a lucky set Kwai Lui (Ph.D.) was selected to be of circumstances for a theorist, when part of the Manhattan Project during you have a working theory to make ““” World War II to purify large quantities predictions and new instruments to First MacArthur Fellowship of uranium necessary for developing test them, says Lazzati. at OSU is awarded to marine the atomic bomb. biologist Jane Lubchenco for her foundational contributions A turning point for aerospace research Missions: Space and sea to marine conservation biology, and education arrived in 1991 when OSU’s 150th anniversary presents environmental research and policy. OSU joined the NASA Space Grant a perfect opportunity to celebrate Consortium and became home to its mission as a comprehensive, the Oregon Space Grant Consortium research-intensive public land-grant (OSGC). OSGC’s mission is “to university, one of two universities in implement a balanced program of the country with Land-, Sea-, Space- “ research, education and public service” and Sun-Grant designations. Each Chemist Mas Subramanian and support educational programs in has a separate focus, but a common discovers the first inorganic blue space science and STEM from middle thread integrates them into teaching, pigment in more than 200 years. school through graduate school. research and outreach. Across all four grants, the College of Science Randall Milstein, who teaches plays a foundational role through its astronomy courses at OSU, is an research and teaching. OSGC Astronomer-in-Residence. An  Ž expert on the history and science Oregon Sea Grant. Oregon Sea First ever 3-D virtual of solar eclipses, Milstein played a Grant was one of the nation’s first microscope launches by biologist leading role in public outreach on the four Sea Grant colleges formed after Andrew Bouwma, Ecampus and recent solar eclipse, presenting public President Lyndon Johnson signed others and wins three national talks on the cultural significance the NOAA Sea Grant program into awards recognizing innovation in and history, viewing safety and the law in 1966. For nearly 50 years, educational technology. physics of the solar eclipse. In his role Oregon Sea Grant has served the

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On the shoulders of giants Our faculty, students and alumni benefit from past leaders in science who once walked these halls and whose footsteps still reverberate today. Here are three giants who helped develop science as we know it today at Oregon State.

Linus Pauling (’22): American chemist, biochemist, peace activist, author, educator; father of quantum chemistry and molecular biology; author of more than 1,200 papers state, region and nation through an integrated and books; winner of the 1954 program of research, outreach and education Nobel Prize in Chemistry and that helps people understand, rationally use 1962 Nobel Peace Prize. and conserve marine and coastal resources. Francois A. Gilfillan: OSU’s Sea Grant has been involved in the urgent Renaissance man, his career issues facing the Oregon coast: the rise, spanned more than 50 years as fall and recovery of regional fisheries; the a student, chemistry professor need to create new seafood products; and (1927–39), acting president ways changing economies, resources and (1941–42) and dean of science demographics affect coastal communities. For (1939–62). In addition to more than half a century, Oregon Sea Grant extensive contributions to has become a trusted resource for coastal pharmacy and chemistry communities and for state lawmakers and research, he was fluent in agencies that rely on them to engage coastal German, Russian, French, Italian residents on volatile, timely topics. It remains and Chinook and translated Latin, a critical part of OSU’s research and public- Greek, Chinese and Sumerian engagement portfolio: stationing Extension inscriptions on clay tablets. faculty along the coast, supporting marine educators at Hatfield Marine Science Center Warren Washington (’58, ’60): and cultivating scientists and communicators. An internationally renowned climate scientist who spent his Oregon Space Grant. The OSGC is part career at the National Center of the National Space Grant College and for Atmospheric Research From top: MacArthur Fellowship Program created in 1988. The (NCAR); served on President’s Fellow Jane Lubchenco, Milton-Harris Professor statewide network of universities, colleges, National Advisory Committee of Materials Science museums, educators, researchers, students on Oceans and Atmosphere; and Mas Subramanian and and science professionals promotes held appointments in Carter, Alumnus Shane Larson STEM education through cooperative and Reagan, Clinton, and Bush interdisciplinary programs while recruiting Administrations. His group at and training NASA’s next diverse workforce. NCAR shared the 2007 Nobel OSU is home to OSGC’s administrative Peace Prize for contributions base and diverse programs, recruiting and to Inter-Governmental Panel of training professionals—especially women, Climate Change Assessment. He underrepresented minorities and persons with was awarded the 2010 National disabilities—for aerospace-related careers. ■ Medal of Science.

science.oregonstate.edu/150

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NEWS From the College of Science

Dean Roy Haggerty successful bid to host the Antarctic adaptive courseware in high and Southern Ocean core repository enrollment general education and advocated for women in courses, including college algebra. science and to make fieldwork safer Welcoming a new dean for women. He is a Fellow of the Six mathematics instructors and of Science Geological Society of America. OSU’s Equal Opportunities Program The College of Science welcomes spent more than 300 hours working its new dean Roy Haggerty, who Dean Haggerty will initially focus together to redesign five sections recently served as Associate Vice on fiscal matters, specifically of the College Algebra course last President for Research and previously developing and implementing a spring. The adaptive courseware as Interim Dean of the College of financial plan aligned with the uses Learning Catalytics, a web- Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric College’s instructional, research based student response tool, and Sciences (CEOAS) at Oregon State. and engagement goals; deepening ALEKS, an adaptive courseware his knowledge about the College’s platform that enables teaching in Joining OSU 22 years ago, Haggerty programs, faculty and students; and College Algebra/Math 111 to adapt was part of the College of Science meeting with alumni and friends. to student needs. faculty for 15 years and later part of CEOAS faculty where he held “Universities are one of the greatest the Hollis M. Dole Professorship in things human beings have ever Second highest year Environmental Geology for seven invented. Science is at the heart of of scholarship funding years. In 2016, he was appointed that achievement,” said Haggerty. New and returning College of AVP for Research, where he was the Science students received the chief operating officer for OSU’s second highest amount, more than Office of Research. Math course excels with $7.5 million, of the $39.5 million in adaptive learning scholarships that OSU awarded this An exceptional scholar and earth Failure rates in college algebra academic year. This represents the scientist, Haggerty’s research courses are soaring across the College’s highest total ever, triple in hydrology and geology has country and present roadblocks to the amount awarded two years ago. been applied to nuclear waste degree completion in STEM fields. Reasons for the surge are increases disposal problems, to groundwater Using adaptive courseware—an in university scholarships and in the contamination, and to transport innovative and collaborative active number of high-achieving students of nutrients, carbon, and heat in learning tool blending in-class enrolling in the College. Thanks to streams. His research has been and online activities—instructors our generous alumni and friends for cited among the most influential in in the Mathematics Department their support. groundwater since the founding of implemented bold new solutions to the science in the mid-1800s. help students not just survive, but Nearly $5 million is allocated to 1,344 thrive in algebra and beyond. scholarships for returning students. Haggerty brings strong leadership The remaining awards went to 570 skills to his new position. During Oregon State is one of eight incoming/new students, including his tenure as interim dean, he led universities to receive a Gates nine who received Presidential CEOAS to a record year of private Foundation grant through the Scholarships. This year more than half philanthropy, advanced their $40M Association of Public and Land of the College’s first-year students research mission, initiated OSU’s Grant Universities to implement received scholarship support.

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New leadership for Chemistry Department

Michael Lerner has been selected as the new Head of the Department of Chemistry. Lerner is a Professor in Chemistry, the longtime director of online education From top: Gilfillan and head graduate advisor in Awardee Corinne Manogue the department. and Early Career Impact Awardee Thomas Sharpton With extensive research and teaching experience, Lerner will lead the academic and research mission. Chemistry is home to 40 internationally Fall Faculty and Staff renowned faculty and staff Award winners with an outstanding graduate The College of Science program of 120 students and celebrated research, teaching and state-of-the-art research. administrative excellence at its 2017 Fall Faculty and Staff Awards. “I am grateful to former This year, the College announced Department Head Rich Carter several new awards: the Dean’s for his five years of service. Early Career Impact Award, College Under his tenure, the department of Science Impact Award with a hired exceptional new faculty, $10,000 stipend and two Faculty grew the number of chemistry Scholar for Teaching Excellence majors, graduated a record Awards, which each carry an award number of undergraduates and of $12,500 for three years. guided the largest research College Impact Award for creating program in the College.” These awards are possible an internationally recognized hub thanks to generous philanthropic focused on elucidating the multiple With a passion for support of alumni and friends and essential roles of intrinsically undergraduate education, matching funds from the Provost’s disordered proteins. Lerner has taught inorganic Office. Congratulations to these and general chemistry courses exceptional faculty and staff! Mary Beisiegel, Department for more than 25 years since of Mathematics, Ben and Elaine joining OSU in 1990. He has Michael Freitag, Department of Whiteley Faculty Scholar Award for also worked in industry at the Biochemistry and Biophysics, Milton Teaching Excellence battery company PolyStor and Harris Award in Basic Research at Intel (2001–02) and consults Lori Kayes, Department of for the battery industry. Corinne Manogue, Department Integrative Biology, College of of Physics, F.A. Gilfillan Award for Science Faculty Scholar Award for Distinguished Scholarship in Science Teaching Excellence

Thomas Sharpton, Departments of Sharon Betterton, graphic Microbiology and Statistics, Dean’s designer in the College of Science, Early Career Impact Award for Gladys Valley Award for Exemplary exceptional achievement in research Administrative Support and education Jamie Bridenstine, accountant in A research team of biochemistry finance and administration, ASBC and biophysics faculty Elisar Barbar, Exemplary Service Award Afua Nyarko and Viviana Perez; physicist Weihong Qiu; and Jonathan Robinson, Department Peter Eschbach in the Electron of Integrative Biology, Outstanding Microscopy Facility received the Faculty Research Assistant Award ■ Chemistry Head Michael Lerner

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Improved genomic tools Hypoxia poses annual Highlights Biologist Virgina Weis is one of eight threat on Oregon Coast researchers selected for a new $14 The Oregon coast is now facing annual million National Science Foundation threats from hypoxia, or low oxygen, program aimed at helping according to marine ecologist Francis Chan scientists better understand the and Jack Barth, director of the Marine relationship between gene function Studies Initiative. In summer 2017, the and the physical and functional ocean measured off Yaquina head was George Poinar, Jr. characteristics of organisms. down to 0.5 milliliters of oxygen per liter discovers 100-million-year- of water, classified as “severe” hypoxia. old flower frozen in amber Weis will use her $1.8 million award The Oregon Department of Fish and to further study the microscale Wildlife collected videos of crabs dying cellular, molecular and genetic from lack of oxygen, and survey ships mechanisms that underpin the caught almost no juvenile fish. Luckily, a symbiosis between corals and algae, September storm “flushed” the system the foundation of the entire coral and eased the threat – until next year. reef ecosystem. Weis will develop a Hypoxia is caused by warming oceans variety of genetic techniques to test and over the last 15 years has become a Ammonium puts diatoms hypotheses about the involvement seasonal event, similar to wildfires. in the mood to have sex of specific genes in coral health and per Kimberly Halsey stress, including coral bleaching, “We are now living on a knife edge in terms in which the host polyps lose their of hypoxia, and this year we crossed the symbiotic algae. threshold into danger,” said Chan.

Sarah Henkel surveys seafloor to assess potential renewable energy site. Research Highlights

Bleached coral at Pulau Tioman, A better way to predict rust, Malaysia or how metals react with water, from Doug Keszler and Paul Ha-Yeon Cheong

Erin Abernethy sheds light on critical role carrion plays in foodweb

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Stressors like antibiotics or diabetes, your neighborhood barbecue won’t Research funding for example, can cause different put much strain on you. trends up people’s microbiomes to react in very College of Science faculty were different ways. The paradigm has key But if you’re hungry and food and awarded $18.7 million in research implications for a more personalized drink supplies are running low grants and awards this fiscal year, approach to antibiotic therapy, when the moocher shows up, it’s a an increase of 54% from last year management of chronic diseases and different story. and the second highest year since other aspects of medical care. FY2013. Our three-year moving New research by microbiologist average of awards continues on an Martin Schuster indicates bacteria upward trajectory. In terms of the Towards a gene therapy know just how you feel. number of grants and contracts, the cure for deafness College was awarded nearly 3.7% A longstanding challenge in pursuing Microbes that produce important more than last year. a gene therapy cure for human secretions for use in a community deafness has been the large size of suffer a blow to their own fitness Most of the College’s research the gene responsible for otoferlin, for supplying the non-producing funding for this past year was from which mediates neutransmitter “cheater” bacteria – but only when federal agencies, with the National release from the cochlear inner ear production requires the same Science Foundation alone awarding hair cells to the auditory nerves and nutrients that would otherwise go 61% of the grants. Looking ahead, eventually the brain. Mutations in into growth and biomass. ■ the College is seeing strong early the gene cause profound congenital momentum this year with awards deafness in children and adults. already totaling more than $700K. Biochemist Colin Johnson and Hello, Bluetiful! colleagues, including biophysicist Weihong Qiu, have identified a It’s Bluetiful. That’s the name The Anna Karenina truncated form of otoferlin which of Crayola’s new blue crayon principle of microbiomes can function in place of the longer inspired by YInMn blue, A new paradigm suggested by version in the encoding of sound, the pigment discovered by microbiologist Rebecca Vega enabling it to be packaged into chemist Mas Subramanian. Thurber and her team – that delivery vehicles for potential gene The announcement came bacterial communities that live therapy cures. Johnson was recently after many months and more inside everyone are quite similar awarded a 5-year $1.7 M NIH grant than 90,000 submissions and stable when times are good, but to support his pioneering work. by fans around the world, react very differently from person beating out four other to person under stress – is called finalists, Blue Moon Bliss, the “Anna Karenina principle” after Cooperate or cheat? For Dreams Come Blue, Reach for the opening line of Tolstoy’s famous bacteria, it depends the Stars and Star Spangled novel: All happy families are alike; If you’ve got plenty of burgers Blue. Replacing the retired each unhappy family is unhappy in and beers on hand and your own yellow crayon Dandelion, its own way.” stomach is full, an uninvited guest at Bluetiful will debut in crayon boxes this winter.

Last May, at the Colorful World Pigments event hosted by the College of Science, Crayola announced to the world that YInMn Blue, the first inorganic blue pigment in 200 years, would be the inspiration for its new crayon.

Crayola’s new blue crayon “Bluetiful,” inspired by chemistry

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