Natural Sciences News

POLITICAL SCIENCE, ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES - Amy Bowers Cordalis will speak at the University of Oregon's commencement on Tuesday, June 20. Cordalis is the co-principal of the Ridges to Riffles Indigenous Conservation Group, a nonprofit that represents Indigenous tribes, organizations and people in natural and cultural resource matters. She graduated from the UO in 2003 with a bachelor's degree in political science and minor in environmental studies.

BIOLOGY - Using data science applied to plant and animal records at natural history museums, UO graduate student Jordan Rodriguez is finding new ways to study the evolution of key proteins.

By mid June, the smiling faces of nearly 60 UO faculty members will soon be flying on banners on campus and into town, highlighting outstanding teaching and scholarship. Each of the 59 banners will feature a portrait of a faculty member, a quote, and the reason the person is being featured, such as excellence in teaching, research, mentorship or leadership.

NEUROSCIENCE, HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY - Exposure to opioids in the womb affects the development of important circuits in the brain and spinal cord that control breathing, according to new research by University of Oregon Associate Professor Adrianne Huxtable. The findings could lead to better treatments and interventions for at-risk infants.

PSYCHOLOGY - The language that adolescent girls use in texts and on social media reflects day-to-day changes in their moods, according to new research by a team of adolescent mental health researchers at the University of Oregon. The study was published in Clinical Psychological Science in January 2023.

CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY- In the new course titled Techno-Economic Analysis for Decarbonization, chemistry and business majors explore what it would take for the U.S. to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The class is a combination of business and science.

For the winter term, 4,556 University of Oregon students made the Dean' List. To qualify, a student must be an admitted undergraduate and complete at least 12 credits with a letter grade and with a grade-point average of at least 3.75.

BIOLOGY, THEATRE ARTS - On Thursday, May 25, around 450 UO students and recent graduates presenting their projects at the Undergraduate Research Symposium. The annual event showcases student research across all academic fields; 67 majors across all the UO’s schools and colleges will be represented.

NEUROSCIENCE, CHEMISTRY, GLOBAL HEALTH - Third-year Clark Honors College undergraduate student Nayantara Arora was recently awarded a $5,000 Key into Public Service Scholarship from Phi Beta Kappa.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and the University of Oregon has several mental health resources for students, including anonymous mental health screening, peer connection services, group and individual short-term therapy — and more.

PHILOSOPHY, COMPUTER SCIENCE - Four University of Oregon faculty members will chat about the rise of chatbots and artificial intelligence at an upcoming interactive forum Thursday, May 11.

CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY - In a new study, University of Oregon Professor Kenneth Prehoda and postdoctoral researcher Bryce LaFoya show how ready-to-divide stem cells create a reservoir of extra membrane, which accommodates the increased surface area necessary for two cells. The research was published April 27 in the scientific journal Developmental Cell.

The University of Oregon is making significant strides towards becoming a designated Hispanic-serving institution with the release of a comprehensive report and the recent appointment of a special adviser — Laura Pulido, professor of indigenous, race and ethnic studies — to lead the initiative.

PSYCHOLOGY - Jointly run by the College of Arts and Sciences and UO Online, the Online Master’s in Psychology Program allows its students to apply academics to practical settings while offering a flexible schedule. The priority application deadline for the next six-term program is Monday, May 15, for students entering in fall term. 

BIOLOGY, NEUROSCIENCE - Research led by neuroscientist Shawn Lockery shows worms exposed to a cannabinoid become even more interested in food they'd already prefer, similar to craving potato chips after a few puffs of marijuana — known scientifically as “hedonic feeding” but colloquially called “the munchies.”