How to Create a Great Hybrid Course: Hands-on workshop offered on Monday, Nov. 10, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in Milam 215. All faculty are welcome to learn about best practices in blended learning, and to try out tools for redesigning an on-campus course as a hybrid course. Funding for hybrid course development will also be discussed. Registration is now available: http://bit.ly/1u2oLwI.

with Cub Kahn (CTL). A growing number of OSU faculty are redesigning classroom courses as hybrids, which combine significant online learning activity with a reduced amount of on-campus “seat time.”  This webinar will demonstrate effective methods for designing and teaching a hybrid course, as well as reasons that you might consider a blended approach.  Mon. Nov. 3, 2-2:50 p.m. Register: http://bit.ly/1v0wwSr

The department will once again be participating in the Joy Drive!  Stay tuned for more information.

The annual OSU Childcare and Family Resources Joy Drive is right around the corner. The Joy Drive pairs OSU sponsoring departments/individuals with OSU students who have children and are in need of help creating a joyful winter holiday season. Last year 52 student families were helped by the drive.  You may sponsor the children of a student family by emailing familyresources@oregonstate.edu by Nov. 5. You will then receive information on your sponsor family by Nov. 14, and should purchase and deliver gifts to the office by Dec. 1.

The OSU Diversity Development and Student Events & Activities present an evening of Halloween fun. Starting at  6:30 p.m.  on Oct. 31, there is trick-or-treating for children of students, staff, faculty and administrators. From 8:30 – 11:30 p.m. there will be activities for OSU students. Memorial Union Ground Level- Ballroom.

Name: Vince Remcho

Area of Study / Position Title: Analytical Chemistry / Professor and Patricia Valian Reser Faculty Scholar

Why chemistry? (What about it initially interested you?): For me, it all started with a great summer job in high school: we developed analytical methods to determine the onset of dormancy in loblolly pine tree seedlings by quantifying polysaccharides.  Following that, it was great mentorship from my undergraduate research advisor (Tom Sitz, a nucleic acid biochemist) and a true gentleman-scholar of a doctoral mentor (Harold McNair, a “founding father” of modern chromatography and chemical analysis).

Research focus (in non-science terms) or basic job duties? We design, model and build tools that solve complex biochemical and environmental chemical puzzles. Most of this involves microfluidics, a field that builds the chemical analogues to integrated circuit chips. For example, we have built “lab-on-a-chip” devices to detect antimalarial drug adulteration, measure disease biomarkers in biological fluids, synthesize genes and detect toxins in the environment.

One thing you truly love about your job? There are many things I love about my work! If I had to select only one, it would be the people I am fortunate enough to work with: inspiring and inventive graduate and undergraduate students, capable and accomplished postdocs, and wonderful collaborators whose abilities complement those of the group.

One interesting/strange factoid about yourself. I am an instrument rated commercial pilot; I also enjoy trail running – very long, quiet runs through the forest. (That’s two!)

Open Oregon State: Open Oregon State is a new unit that works with faculty to create online educational resources (OERs) that can be accessed freely by students and teachers in digital media collections worldwide. Attend a luncheon Oct. 27 at 11 a.m. in the CH2M Hill Alumni Center to learn about our goals, projects and partnerships. Register today on the Open Oregon State website.

Make A Difference Day: Registration for service projects for Make A Difference Day is now open! Students, faculty, and staff are invited to participate this year’s Make a Difference Day on Saturday, Oct. 25. On Make A Difference Day millions of volunteers across the nation will unite with a common mission – to improve the lives of others. Learn about OSU’s 2014 projects and register for projects here: http://sli.oregonstate.edu/cce/events/make-difference-day/2014-make-difference-day-projects. Projects will take place at various times and check-in will take place in Snell 149. Sponsored by the Center for Civic Engagement.