Popular Herbicide Could Be Impacting Infant Health
One of the most widely used herbicides in the United States—and across the world—could be harming infant health, according to PhD candidate Emmett Reynier and economics assistant professor Edward Rubin.
In agricultural counties with increased exposure to glyphosate have shown to lower birthweights and gestations. The College of Arts and Sciences economists published this research in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. A research fellowship with the US Environmental Protection Agency supported the research.
Glyphosate is used to kill plants that aren’t genetically modified to withstand the herbicide, such as weeds. Since the introduction of genetically modified crops, the annual use of glyphosate has increased by about 750%, according to the US Geological Survey.
“What this means is that, for whatever reason, if an infant is expected to be at the very low birthweight end of the scale, then glyphosate exposure could affect you more,” Rubin said. “It’s like being sick and then getting hit with another illness. You’re more vulnerable.”
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What’s Happening in CAS?
CAS goes to Hollywood! Peek behind the scenes with students who worked as interns on the set of an upcoming movie, and binge-watch hit shows and films featuring CAS faculty and alumni. Plus, hear from an alum who attended the world's biggest climate conference—and more!
Undergraduate Studies
Wherever your academic goals eventually take you at the UO, all Ducks begin their journey with foundational courses in CAS. More than 60 percent of students go on to pursue a major in a CAS department or program. With more than 50 departments and programs, there’s an intellectual home for almost any interest, talent, or career aspiration.
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The College of Arts and Sciences offers more than 30 master's programs and more than 20 doctoral programs across a diverse range of disciplines. Both as contributors to research teams and through their own scholarship and teaching, our CAS graduate students are indispensable to the vitality of the UO academic mission.
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We provide our students with a variety of resources to help you thrive inside and outside the classroom. Through Tykeson Advising, we provide comprehensive academic and career advising from the start of your journey at the University of Oregon. Learn about career preparation and get assistance in selecting the very best classes. Connect with labs, libraries, IT and tutoring. Find your community on campus.
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The College of Arts and Sciences faculty members are a driving force of the high-output, high-impact research activity that has earned the UO membership in the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU). Our world-class faculty members are inspiring teachers.
Among them are five members of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, four members of the National Academy of Sciences. They are committed to helping students discover their academic passion. Every day, they work to expand students’ intellectual horizons, preparing them for life after college with real-world knowledge and skills.
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In the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), we are committed to excellence in research and teaching, student success, and diversity, equity, and belonging.
A liberal arts education—one that offers a breadth of intellectual approaches and perspectives and depth in a major discipline—is the foundation to a purposeful life as a life-long learner, engaged citizen, and leader. The skills you will learn here—from written and verbal communication to analytical and quantitative reasoning, to compassion and understanding—are those that employers seek and will open the door to a wealth of opportunities.
You will find more than 50 majors and a multitude of minors within CAS, and seemingly endless opportunities for personal exploration and discovery. Whether you are an incoming first-year student, a grad student or a transfer student, you can map an exciting future and be part of a fun, warm, engaged liberal arts community here. Come join us. And go Ducks!
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Happening at CAS
Welcome back, Ducks! Cheers to a great summer term. 🎉#UOCAS pic.twitter.com/xmTL3jke4A
— UO College of Arts and Sciences (@uocas) June 24, 2024
4:00–5:00 p.m.
Join Global Education Oregon for an information session on our Summer 2025 Cinema Studies in Dublin program! This summer program is a fantastic opportunity to work both critically and creatively, taking courses on contemporary Irish cinema and digital filmmaking, as well as attending Ireland’s largest film festival held every year in Galway, the Film Fleadh. Weekly excursions and local outings in and around Dublin and the Irish countryside allow you to learn on location about the country’s rich film history and explore the sites where important historical events, and films about those events, took place.
This program has received high interest, and students are encouraged to apply early. The Cinema Studies in Dublin program is on a rolling admission application process, and the final deadline to apply in March 15.
4:30 p.m.
The Creative Writing Program invites you to a poetry reading with Peter Vertacnik.
Peter Vertacnik is the author of The Nature of Things Fragile (Criterion Books, 2024), winner of the 2023 New Criterion Poetry Prize. His poetry, translations, and criticism have appeared in journals such as 32 Poems, Bad Lilies, The Cortland Review, Hampden-Sydney Poetry Review, The Hopkins Review, Literary Matters, Poet Lore, and THINK, among others. With Chase Dearinger, Vertacnik is the co-director of the Cow Creek Chapbook Prize at Pittsburg State University. Currently he resides in northeast Florida where he teaches at Episcopal School of Jacksonville.
Free and open to the public.
For more information about the Creative Writing Reading Series, please visit https://humanities.uoregon.edu/creative-writing/reading-series
6:30 p.m.
The University of Oregon is hosting an immigration information and support session for our international, undocumented, and Dreamer students, faculty, and staff.
Essential Information: Gain up-to-date knowledge on immigration policies, and available resources for UO students. Expert Perspectives: Hear from legal professionals and university representatives on the evolving rules and policies. Community Building: Connect with fellow members of our diverse community and find support from peers and allies.Panelists:
Victor Essien, Immigration Attorney based in New York Betsy Boyd, senior associate vice president for federal affairs, UO Government and Community Relations Jessica Price, special counsel for research, ethics & international affairs, UO General Counsel’s Office Kristin Yarris, associate professor, Global Studies and Women's, Gender & Sexuality Studies, department head, Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies, College of Arts and Sciences Eric Garcia, assistant director, training director, UO Counseling ServicesRepresentatives from the Dean of Students, Division of Global Engagement, and Division of Graduate Studies will be available for questions and support.
7:00–9:30 p.m.
Join us for a screening of the award-winning documentary film SOS–The San Onofre Syndrome: Nuclear Power’s Legacy. The film chronicles how Southern California residents came together to force the shutdown of an aging, leaking nuclear power plant only to be confronted by an alarming reality—tons of nuclear waste left near a popular beach, only 100 feet from the rising sea. The solution for the waste, to ship it to a storage site on Indigenous land in the Southwest, causes the residents to rethink the decision to export their toxic waste. The film’s producer/directors Mary Beth Brangan and James Heddle will engage in discussion following the screening.
This talk is part of the “Anti-Nuclear Research and Activism in the US and Japan” film and speaker series that links nuclear accidents in Japan with the U.S. The series will bring three speakers, two filmmakers, and one film to campus in winter and spring terms to discuss nuclear issues and activism in the U.S. and Japan. This series is of particular importance in the Pacific Northwest because of the Hanford Site in Washington and the new push for Small Modular Nuclear Reactors along the Columbia River.