CAS Connection - Oct 2025 Issue

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Human Physiology intern, Ally Smith, on the track

Soaring from the sidelines

Thanks to human physiology internships, these students are getting hands-on lessons in medicine and helping Ducks' sports soar.

By Nicole Krueger and Henry Houston

Experiential Learning  |  Research & Innovation  |  Community Impact  |  Career Preparation  |  Teaching Excellence  |  21st Century Liberal Arts  |  Building Community  |  Good Vibes  |  CAS Spotlights  |  All Stories  |  Past Issues
 

Comics exhibition - Captain American by Jack Kirfy

Good Vibes

All hail the King of Comics

Only one comics artist has influenced so much of our culture and it’s not the name people know best.

By Jenny Brooks

chlorate antibiotic treatment comparison

Research & Innovation

CAS gives antibiotics a boost

Researchers have tested a new combination drug therapy that could dismantle difficult-to-treat bacteria.

By Leila Okahata

europa moon by nasa

Experiential Learning

NASA team ignites curiosity at UO

A next generation of scientists joined a meeting with 265 professionals guiding a NASA spacecraft.

By Henry Houston

an illustration collage of people's faces

CAS Spotlights

How race shapes everyday life

A new book by Professor Jessica Vasquez-Tokos uncovers how race influences personal experiences.

By Grace Connolly

Computer Science Alumni Fedi Aniefuna giving keynote at Hackathon

CAS Spotlight

Computer science alum weaves together ambition and generosity to kickstart his career

When Fedi Aniefuna arrived at the UO, he still hadn’t decided whether he wanted to major in political science and go to law school, or study computer science and head straight into the workforce. Five years later, he’s beginning his second year as an engineer with Amazon Web Services after choosing math and computer science.

Learn Fedi’s Story

Where athletes maximize performance

The Oregon Performance Research Lab in the Department of Human Physiology is designed to drive significant scientific advancements in human performance and remove barriers for all individuals .

“When we first had the vision for this lab, it was not only understanding mechanisms that might be limiting human performance, but we also really wanted to translate that out into the community,” said Professor Brad Wilkins, founder and director of the Oregon Performance Research Lab. “Our community testing services program is really taking the research and translating that to people in the community that really want to improve their performance.”

The lab offers a number of fee-based testing services including threshold testing, VO2 max, hemoglobin mass and sweat testing.

Explore the Lab’s Research

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CAS News

a person threading a needle
Home Flight program sets Native students up for success
NATIVE AMERICAN AND INDIGENOUS STUDIES - Funded through federal, state and institutional grants, the University of Oregon Home Flight program provides financial support, academic advising and culture-rich activities for qualifying American Indian and Alaska Native undergraduates. Now in its fourth year, the program has more than tripled in enrollment, to 170-plus students, while increasing the number of Native graduates.
a person standing in a lab with scuba gear
Sports injuries helped shape an undergrad’s approach to research
HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY - When he was still an undergraduate, Tucker Orman served in an uncommon role: as first author on a paper published Sept. 4 in the European Journal of Applied Physiology, looking at the factors that affect a scuba diver’s ability to maintain core body temperature. Now a College of Arts and Sciences alumnus, Orman reflects on how experiential learning as a human physiology student and love for scuba diving came together.
headshot of marli miller
Marli Miller goes the extra mile for her geology students
EARTH SCIENCES - In spring 2025, Marli Miller received a Herman Award for Specialized Pedagogy. Taking a liberal arts approach, Miller’s focus is on helping students think about and work through problems, which they have a chance to put into practice on a yearly field camp in southwestern Montana.

All news »

From the Media

a movie poster on a wall
50 years later, screening celebrates power of the film ‘Cuckoo’s Nest’
Fifty years ago, "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" hit theaters. Set in an Oregon state hospital, the movie based on Ken Kesey's novel received critical acclaim and told a history of Native Americans in the Oregon area. College of Arts and Sciences cinema studies senior instructor Stephen Rust spoke at a panel at an anniversary screening of the film. Rust highlighted Will Sampson’s role as Chief Bromden for his textured performance that came after producers were looking for a stereotypical tall, stoic Native American.
a snow packed mountain top
$224 for a lift ticket in Oregon? Where prices are rising or staying put, as ski resorts absorb insurance hikes
Ben Hansen, a University of Oregon College of Arts and Sciences economics professor and avid skier, has watched the intricate and complex system of pricing at Oregon’s ski resorts evolve over the years. As of Friday, the highest priced season stood at $1,499, at Mt. Bachelor. But there are many discounts to be had for buying months earlier, online, on Black Friday or Cyber Monday at Mt. Bachelor and resorts across the state. Hansen spoke with Oregonian/OregonLive.
a person skiing
How Cold Weather Impacts An Athlete’s Training (And How To Use It To Your Advantage)
How can skiers train for the cold? The Weather Channel spoke with Chris Minson, the Kenneth M. and Kenda H. Singer Endowed Professor in the Department of Human Physiology. Minson is one example of the department's many faculty experts who are on the forefront of increasing sports performance.

All media news »

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