Four months later and 62 miles away, University of Oregon student Marcus Chaknova was sailing around the Lau Basin with marine biologists from the College of Arts and Sciences’ Oregon Institute of Marine Biology and other universities, looking for snails and other organisms at hydrothermal vents—deep-sea hot springs where seawater and magma combine and enable a rare set of organisms to thrive without any sunlight.
In his 2022 book Red Leviathan: The Secret History of Soviet Whaling, the Department of History professor and Ann Swindells Chair explores the fascinating history of Soviet whalers who secretly contributed to the near extinction of endangered whale populations while also ironically providing the necessary scientific research for these whales’ salvation.
Many students at the University of Oregon’s College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) feel driven to extend their studies outside of class, taking advantage of the many hands-on learning opportunities the college offers. CAS spoke with three students in the college who are taking their education abroad, whether it’s studying Italian in a small village, podcasting with marine biologists or gathering research for a doctoral dissertation.
David McCormick, who teaches the popular elective course Happiness: A Neuroscience and Psychology Perspective, offered in the College of Arts and Sciences, has some tips for incorporating mindfulness into everyday routines.
