Natural Sciences News

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 - Franklin W. Stahl, a molecular biologist who helped create a methodology to confirm how DNA replicates that was so elegant, it has been remembered for more than five decades as “the most beautiful experiment in biology,” died on April 2 at his home in Eugene. He was a professor in the College of Arts and Sciences.

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.

EARTH SCIENCES - An undergraduate’s discovery of ash from an underwater volcano will shape scientific research for years to come. Marcus Chaknova, then a marine biology and geology major in the University of Oregon College of Arts and Sciences, stumbled across a massive deposit of ash sediment while on a research cruise with the UO's Oregon Institute of Marine Biology, the University of Rhode Island and Western Washington University.

NEUROSCIENCE- For decades, scientists have believed that the outermost layer of our brain is divided into distinct areas, each responsible for performing different, separate information processing tasks. But recent research suggests the reality is more complex than that—and Evan D. Vickers wants to find out why.

The graduating class of 2025 represents the diversity of thought that is a hallmark of a liberal arts education. With 2,936 students graduating with a degree—including bachelor’s, master’s and PhD levels—this year’s group of CAS graduates is about 13% larger than class of 2024. Equipped with a liberal arts degree, these three graduating seniors are prepared to forge their own path.

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.

From teachers so beloved they’ve built a cult-like following to innovative researchers who are raking in patents, meet the recipients of the 2025 CAS Awards.

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. 

CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY - As the effects of climate change become increasingly apparent, scientists around the globe are racing the clock to mitigate its impact. Although time is running out to meet the original goal outlined in the Paris Agreement—achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius—CAS chemists are hard at work tackling the problem from a variety of angles.

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.