Conover to deliver annual talk on UO research accomplishments

First published in Around the O on October 7th. Scholarship, scientific inquiry and innovation will receive top billing at the State of Research talk, scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 14, in the Erb Memorial Union Crater Lake rooms. David Conover, UO vice president for research and innovation, will deliver the annual address, which will take a closer look at the growth and impact of the university’s research enterprise in 2018-19. “It’s an opportunity to recognize faculty who have won significant research awards or made great discoveries and to look forward to the year ahead,” Conover said. “Our researchers and scholars had some outstanding achievements, and it’s because of them that our research profile continues to increase.” In his talk, Conover will highlight accomplishments, drill down on performance metrics and offer a road map for the future of research and innovation. Open to all members of the university community and the public, the talk will include opening remarks by UO President Michael H. Schill. The 2020 fiscal year has only just begun, but the UO is already off to a fast start, Conover said. Major investments are being made in research tools, infrastructure improvements, research administration software and other resources. And large research grants addressing the epidemic of opioid abuse, earthquake preparedness and the expansion and modernization of UO zebrafish facilities have been awarded. As the UO looks ahead to the opening of the Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact in 2020, research and innovation will continue to play a central role, Conover said. “Research creates jobs, improves human health, generates new knowledge and creates solutions to some of our most vexing challenges,” Conover said. “It’s a great time to celebrate our accomplishments and prepare for the exciting developments that lie ahead.”

SPICE will hold its annual Science Open House on Oct. 9

First published in Around the O on October 3rd. Science lovers of all ages will descend on the UO science complex Oct. 9 to join in the ninth annual UO Science Open House. Kids, families and teachers can choose from more than 20 hands-on activities presented by science outreach groups from on and off campus. Activities include the amazing egg drop, skulls and bones, rock detectives, and the science pentathlon. Pentathletes who participate in five or more activities can collect a prize — while supplies last.

Astronomy Research: An Asteroid Revealed

First published in around the O, As dusk creeps over the high desert of central Oregon on a cool September evening, a small but fiercely enthusiastic group of University of Oregon students can hardly contain their glee. Obsessed by stars, gaga over galaxies, drawn to the infinite mysteries of the universe, they are planning to stay up all night at the UO Pine Mountain Observatory.

October abounds with art and entertainment options

First published in Around the O. With campus abuzz at the start of a new academic year, you won’t have to look far for fall art and culture. Straddling the months of September and October is Latinx Heritage Month. Be sure to check out the many events celebrating this rich culture, including the “Common Seeing” exhibition that complements the 2019-20 Common Reading of “Under the Feet of Jesus” by Helena Maria Viamontes. Take a break from class and do some coloring at Freebie Friday in the Erb Memorial Union, check out the legendary “gonzo” artwork of Ralph Steadman at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art or enjoy an array of music events on tap this month.

UO is leading an effort to speed up tsunami warnings

First published in Around the O. A sea change may be coming in the way tsunami warnings are issued worldwide, and University of Oregon researchers are steering the effort — with a project using GPS in the Cascadia subduction zone — to deliver them within five minutes of an earthquake.

Community Welcome block party returns Friday, October 25 with Homecoming Parade and pep rally

'Dreamer' campaign raises matching funds for scholarships

First published in Around the O on September 17th. The Supreme Court will hear arguments on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program in November, but the Dreamers Working Group at the University of Oregon isn’t waiting to take action.

UO provost awarded $1.8 million to study evolutionary genetics

First published in Around the O on September 10th, 2019. Patrick Phillips, professor of biology and the UO’s recently named provost, has received a $1.8 million Outstanding Investigator Award from the National Institutes of Health.

Football and school tie for the lead in Justin Herbert's playbook

First published in Around the O on September 18th 2019. Even casual Oregon fans are familiar with the outlines of the Justin Herbert story. A three-sport star at Eugene’s Sheldon High School, he was the first freshman to start at quarterback for the Ducks in more than 30 years. Last spring, he passed on a chance to be a first-round NFL draft pick so he could come back and play one more year at Oregon. Now a senior, he’s a Heisman hopeful with an NFL body and movie star hair who leads a powerful Oregon squad aiming for a Pac-12 title and more. But what’s less well known about Herbert is that he is something of a nerd — a biology nerd specifically — and an academic star. Now in his fourth season as the Ducks quarterback, the 6-foot-6, 237-pound Herbert has already completed his degree requirements and walked in last spring’s commencement ceremonies. He earned a degree in biology and finished with a 4.01 grade-point average, and his list of academic accomplishments rival his on-field feats. He’s a two-time Academic All American first-team honoree and the reigning Google Cloud Academic All-America Team Member of the Year. He’s twice been named to the Pac-12 All-Academic first team. As a sophomore, he tutored fellow students in a demanding biology class. Herbert said he’s proud of his academic achievements and attributes them to good study habits fostered by his parents. “I think it’s pretty cool,” he said. “It’s a good product of all the hard work I’ve put in.” Herbert is dedicated to football, but biology might be his first love. “It really explains a lot of things that go on around us,” he said. “It explains how you breathe and how your cells work together. It explains everything, and I think it’s really cool to have an understanding of how things work.” Growing up in Eugene, biology was always in the background, and in the backyard. “I really grew up around biology,” he said. “My grandfather was a biology teacher and my father was a biology teacher.” His paternal grandfather, Roger Herbert, was a biology teacher for 34 years at Sheldon High School, where he was also the track and field coach. His maternal grandfather, Rich Schwab, was a leading receiver for the Ducks in the early 1960s, and went on to coach football at Sheldon, Churchill and Marist high schools. “He always had biology activities around the house,” Herbert said of his grandfather. “Growing up, we’d spend a lot of time over there just hanging out and learning from him.” Herbert and his brothers, Mitch and Patrick, raised a veritable Noah’s ark of animals in their grandfather’s backyard, including but not limited to hermit crabs, parakeets, quail, chickens, lizards and yes, ducks. When he got to the UO, “I wanted to study something I was interested in, and biology was the best choice,” he said. As a sophomore, Herbert served as a teaching assistant for Biology 212, a challenging class covering plant and animal physiology and development. Herbert had previously taken the class, and that spring he would attend classes and hold office hours twice a week to help fellow students understand some of the challenging concepts. “It really helped me understand and master the stuff we talked about,” he said. “It was fun and I met some good people and really enjoyed the experience.” It’s not easy playing quarterback for a Pac-12 school while also excelling in a demanding major, but Herbert said he’s figured out how to make it work. “It’s really tough, but fortunately having these good (study) habits before coming to college was really helpful,” he said. “It’s football and school, those are the top two priorities here and everything else has to come after that.” Herbert’s academic leadership extends to the football team as well. He’s known to compete with teammates for the best grades on the team. “We definitely have a battle when it comes to team GPA and stuff like that,” said offensive lineman Calvin Throckmorton, a human physiology major and aspiring surgeon. “We compete.” Senior tackle Brady Aiello roomed with Herbert last year and saw first-hand the work he puts in. “I knew he was an amazing student, but living with him I actually saw what he does off the field and how much work he really puts in toward his studies and it’s very impressive,” he said. “He’s just grinding in his office. … Justin is very, very into his studies.” Defensive tackle Drayton Carlberg said he appreciates Herbert’s leadership on the field and off. “I’m not sure how he does it,” he said. “I’m pretty good in the classroom and for him to be a biology student and be a 4.0, that blows my mind. So I know that sets a standard for me, and I know it’s affecting everybody else on the team. He improves our culture as far as academics.” With the bulk of Herbert’s academic rigors behind him, he can concentrate on playing football this fall, something he does very well. He began this season having thrown a touchdown pass in 28 straight games, the longest such streak in the nation. His 63 career touchdowns at the start of the season placed him fifth in the nation among active players. The Ducks enter the season with great expectations, and Herbert is expected to carry much of the load for a team aiming for a Pac-12 title and beyond. “There’s going to be some times this year where a guy like that is going to have to take over a football game,” head coach Mario Cristobal said. Herbert has matured not just as a player but also as a team leader, his teammates say. As a freshman, he led by example but didn’t speak up much. “Each year, he’s becoming more and more confident,” senior lineman Shane Lemieux said. “He’s always been a leader by example, but now he’s a vocal leader too. He’s assertive now.” “He’s a guy that everybody respects and listen to when he opens his mouth,” Throckmorton said. —By Tim Christie, University Communications