Humanities

Heritage language learning opportunities expand at University of Oregon

LINGUISTICS - Ichishkíin, also known as Sahaptin, is a severely endangered Native American language of the Pacific Northwest. Several Tribes from the region are working diligently to revitalize the language and a committed group of educators, linguists and Tribal members at the University of Oregon are working to support those efforts. The latest achievement is the extension of the two-year language learning program to include a third year of instruction in Ichishkíin.

Pigeons vs. AI: Should We Ever Replace Doctors with Pigeons?

PHILOSOPHY - Pigeons and AI share something in common: They can’t care about patients. In Ramón Alvarado’s latest paper published in the American Journal of Bioethics, he and co-author Nicolae Morar, a bioethicist and environmental philosopher at the UO, underscore that health care isn’t just about finding results. It's about actually caring for patients. That’s a level of engagement from providers not easily replicated by a machine.

From Curiosity to Impact

Faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences are on the frontline of addressing the world's most pressing issues, including AI, Alzheimer's, ice sheet loss in Greenland—and more. These are big problems, and our faculty members are relying on millions of dollars in grant funding to explore solutions for a better tomorrow. Read more in the 2023-24 annual report, out now.

Defying the odds

ECONOMICS, SPANISH - Adrianna Vaca-Navarro has spent her life fighting against a system that was built against people like her. Now, she is a law student working to help others in need. Vaca-Navarro graduated in 2021. Now, she's a law student at the University of California, Berkeley. She is working to leverage her identity to help communities in need, aiming to fill the gaps within the legal system that she is studying.

Advancing representation in theatre

THEATRE ARTS – Olga Sanchez has dedicated her career to creating, directing and teaching theatre that amplifies underrepresented voices. After 20 years working in theatre, she wanted to share her work in an academic setting. She found her place in the doctoral program in University of Oregon's Theatre Arts department and is now a professor at Middlebury College.

Experts panel to discuss Octavia Butler, Afrofuturism

ENGLISH, WOMEN'S, GENDER AND SEXUALITY STUDIES - From noon to 1:30 pm Monday, Feb. 17, experts will discuss on the works by Octavia E. Butler's work and her legacy, as well as Afrofuturism, and how her literature can inspire us to see new futures and view the past through a new lens. “Octavia E. Butler’s work remains as urgent and essential as ever,” said Kemi Balogun, one of the organizers and an associate professor in CAS.