Natural Sciences News

EARTH SCIENCES - An analysis of the Columbia River Gorge, which runs along the border between Oregon and Washington, shows that steep, rocky watersheds in that area have been prone to debris flows and rockfall for thousands of years. Those events didn’t measurably increase after the Eagle Creek Fire, which scorched 47,000 acres of the gorge over three months in 2017. CAS Earth scientist Josh Roering and members of his lab published their findings Aug. 8 in Science Advances.

BIOLOGY - New in 2025, the Coastal Quarter program allows undergraduates from all majors to spend winter term living at the coast and taking classes in marine biology, environmental studies, anthropology and science communication. Out of the nine students who participated this year, five are majoring in either environmental sciences or environmental studies; four are marine biology majors; and one is a sports journalism major.

BIOLOGY - An AI-based imaging system that is a collaboration between researchers at the University of Oregon and Oregon State University, funded by the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement Inc., is working to monitor bee populations without harming the insects. The technology could solve a key paradox in bee conservation efforts. The collaboration includes CAS biologist Lauren Ponisio.

HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY - A new study from University of Oregon College of Arts and Sciences researcher John Halliwill shows that blocking histamine at high levels interferes with fitness gains. It remains to be seen if lower-dose, over-the-counter antihistamine drugs have the same effect. The study was published May 30 in the Journal of Applied Physiology.

Celebrate the class of 2025 with a slideshow featuring some of their favorite moments!

EARTH SCIENCES - The Cascadia Region Earthquake Science Center (CRESCENT) has awarded 11 new grants to researchers studying the Cascadia subduction zone as part of its ongoing effort to help build community resilience against earthquakes along the West Coast’s massive fault line.

CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY, PHYSICS - One mathematical equation can open a world of possibilities. And that's what this College of Arts and Sciences graduate student is finding. Jesse Hall, a physics doctoral candidate, worked with theoretical physical chemistry professor Marina Guenza to develop the new model that could help advance the development of new drugs and sustainable materials.

MATHEMATICS, CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY - Professors Ben Elias of the Mathematics Department and Mike Pluth of the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department received the prestigious CAS Collegiate Faculty Award, the highest honor the College of Arts and Sciences awards to active tenure-track faculty members. The award recognizes faculty who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and made outstanding contributions to their field and the broader UO community.

HISTORY, THEATRE ARTS, PSYCHOLOGY - Three University of Oregon professors in the College of Arts and Sciences have received teaching awards for their excellence in the classroom. The 2025 awardees include Associate Professor Jeanette deJong in the Department of Theatre Arts, Senior Instructor II Alexander Dracobly in the Department of History and Associate Professor Sara Weston in the Department of Psychology. 

NEUROSCIENCE - Valerie Owusu-Hienno, a third-year College of Arts and Sciences student who aspires to be a physician, researcher, and global health advocate, has been named a Goldwater Scholar. It's a nationally prestigious award for undergraduates conducting research in the natural sciences, engineering, and mathematics.

CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY - After serving four years as undersecretary for science and innovation at the U.S. Department of Energy, College of Arts and Sciences chemistry professor Geraldine “Geri” Richmond is back at the University of Oregon. Richmond was one of the top science officers in the federal government, overseeing billions of dollars in research spending on some of the nation’s highest science priorities, including quantum computing, clean energy and national security.

CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY, ANTHROPOLOGY - Two University of Oregon faculty members have been named 2024 fellows by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), joining 471 other newly elected members whose work has distinguished them in the science community and beyond. This year’s fellows and their areas of research are Darren Johnson, chemistry and biochemistry, and Stephen Frost, anthropology.

PSYCHOLOGY - Dare Baldwin, a psychology professor in the College of Arts and Sciences, is working with undergraduate researchers to better understand how people behave during an earthquake. The research team will bring in families to campus to have them participate in an earthquake simulation. Observing how long it takes families to mobilize and how their behavior unfolds will help researchers determine the best way to educate people to take appropriate protective action.

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.

HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY, NEUROSCIENCE - Using functional MRI brain imaging, or fMRI, University of Oregon researchers have unraveled some of the neural circuitry behind basic human actions. Their insights, described in a paper published in the journal eNeuro, can be used to improve the design of brain-computer interface technologies, including brain-controlled prosthetic arms that aim to restore movement in people who have lost it.