Nominations for classified or professional faculty to receive a monthly Merit Award are now being accepted. The award recognizes and encourages outstanding performance in the work place. The nominator may be anyone from the campus community. Potential qualities include great working attitude, cooperation, courtesy, creativity, flexibility, professionalism, quality of work, sense of humor, and other qualities the nominee admires. Nominations are due by Dec. 15. For more information: http://oregonstate.edu/aop/awards-recognition.  November awardee’s were Debi Furay of Hatfield Marine Science Center (Newport) and Sharon Betterton of College of Science.

December 4, 2015, By: Debbie Farris, COS

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State University chemistry professor Walter D. Loveland has been elected a 2015 Fellow to the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the world’s largest general scientific society and a publisher of peer-reviewed journals, including Science.

Election as a Fellow of AAAS is an honor bestowed upon members by their peers. The distinction recognizes notable work to advance science or its applications in areas such as research, teaching, technology, industry, government in addition to communicating and interpreting science to the public.

Loveland was recognized for his pioneering contributions to nuclear chemistry, radioactive beams and heavy residues as well as for service to the profession and for mentoring future leaders in science. He joins more than 23 colleagues across Oregon State, who have also held this honor since 1965. Nationwide, the 2015 cohort includes 347 new Fellows, honored for their contributions to innovation, education, and scientific leadership.

The accomplishments of the new Fellows will be celebrated February 13 at the AAAS Fellows Forum during the 2016 AAAS Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.

Since joining OSU’s College of Science in 1968, Loveland has spent his career studying large-scale nuclear collective motion, through observations of heavy ion fusion, other ways of preparing hot heavy nuclei and studies of the fission process.  Through his work as a chemist at a reactor lab, Loveland used activation analysis to study meteorites, particulate air pollution and stable activable tracers. His systematic study of the nuclear reactions that create superheavy elements has provided powerful tools for scientists.

“I am thrilled to see our faculty being recognized nationally for their excellence in research, teaching and service to the profession and the public,” said College of Science Dean Sastry G. Pantula. “This is another feather in Walt’s cap, to add to the wonderful Glenn T. Seaborg Award for Nuclear Chemistry.”

Loveland received the 2014 Glenn T. Seaborg Award for Nuclear Chemistry, the American Chemistry Society’s top honor. He was honored for his pioneering work on the use of radioactive beams for producing neutron-rich nuclei and his investigations of heavy residues in nuclear reactions. Prior to the 1980s, scientists had mostly collided stable isotopes together in their quest to create new elements. Loveland devised ways to use radioactive isotopes as projectiles, thus greatly expanding the range of nuclear reactions possible.

Loveland has received national recognition for his achievements and research. He was elected into the ASE Mentor Hall of Fame and has been recognized by the Sigma Xi, the American Physical Society and others. He has also made a significant impact on nuclear chemistry education through The Living Textbook of Nuclear Chemistry, The Elements Beyond Uranium and as coauthor of Modern Nuclear Chemistry.

Loveland earned his bachelor’s degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he discovered his passion for nuclear and radiochemistry and his Ph.D. from the University of Washington where he studied nuclear fission. He was a Postdoctoral Fellow at Argonne National Laboratory, the first science and engineering research national laboratory in the United States.

Click here to read the full list of 2015 AAAS Fellows.

We would like to invite you and your students to participate in a unique opportunity this winter term – The Oregon State University “Human Library.” A human library functions similarly to a regular library, however, the Books are real, human beings, who teach others about themselves and their experiences through interpersonal dialogue.  Experiencing a discussion with a human Book creates an opportunity for constructive interpersonal dialogue and learning between people who may normally not interact.  Human Books are those who are members of groups frequently confronted with prejudices and stereotypes, may have experienced or witnessed social exclusion or indifference at some time in their lives, or are those who have participated in unique life experiences.   The Human Library offers a comfortable environment for diverse people to meet, ask questions, and learn from each other. We would like to encourage students to participate. This could be an opportunity for a student to learn from someone on a topic related to your curriculum, fulfill a diversity requirement, demonstrate an ability to have a thoughtful intercultural dialogue, or earn extra credit for a class.

On February 9th and 10th, 2016, the Valley Library, University Ombuds Office and Graduate School, are co-hosting Human Library “reading” sessions, from 12:00pm-5:00pm on Tuesday, and 10:00am-3:00pm on Wednesday.  The event is titled “Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover.”  Participants who wish to “check out” a Book can schedule a 45 minute discussion session with a specific Book or drop by the library for a 30 minute discussion with an “on call” Book.  Light refreshments will be available.

We look forward to working with you as part of this year’s inaugural event! If you have questions regarding how the Human Library might fit into your curriculum, or any general questions about the event, please contact the University Ombuds Office at 737-4537. University-wide announcements regarding the event will begin in January 2016.

Sue Theiss, University Ombuds Office & Brenda McComb, Dean of the Graduate School

Check out the OSU Libraries’ free Graduate Student & Faculty Winter Break Workshops.   Registration is encouraged, but not required. For complete session descriptions, visit: http://guides.library.oregonstate.edu/Library-Workshops-for-Grad-Students-Faculty  Can’t make it to a session?  Some of the sessions have handouts or online tutorials:  http://guides.library.oregonstate.edu/WorkshopHandouts

Intro to Zotero: A Web-Based Way to Manage Your Citations
Monday, December 14, 9:00  – 10:00 a.m., Autzen Classroom

Intermediate/Advanced Zotero
Monday, December 14, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m., Autzen Classroom

Intro to Qualtrics – Making Great Surveys
Monday, December 14, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m., Autzen Classroom

Advanced Qualtrics
Monday, December 14, 3:00 – 5:00 p.m., Autzen Classroom

Basic EndNote Workshop
Tuesday, December 15, 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., Autzen Classroom

Intermediate/Advanced EndNote
Tuesday, December 15, 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., Autzen Classroom

Intro to Data Management Workshop
Tuesday, December 15, 1:00 – 2:30 p.m., Autzen Classroom

Questions?  Ask Hannah Rempel, hannah.rempel@oregonstate.edu

The Research Office Incentive Programs is accepting applications for FRT Spring 2016 release. The program provides limited funding for individuals developing external grant proposals or who wish to further their scholarly activities. Program description and application: http://research.oregonstate.edu/incentive/faculty-release-time. Information: Debbie Delmore, debbie.delmore@oregonstate.edu. Deadline: Dec. 14.

The OSU Graduate School is presenting an information session for those interested in learning more about graduate education and advanced degrees. The session will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 8 at 5:30 p.m., at the Asian & Pacific Cultural Center. See our flyer or call 541-737-4881 for more information.

To the OSU Community:

I write to invite you to consider submitting a proposal for an OSU Women’s Giving Circle grant.  Founded in the spring of 2003 by a group of OSU alumnae and friends, the Women’s Giving Circle has awarded more than $700,000 in grants to enhance the undergraduate student education and experience at OSU. Last year, the Women’s Giving Circle awarded more than $80,000 to thirteen OSU programs.

To apply for a grant please visit http://www.osufoundation.org/s/359/foundation/index.aspx?sid=359&gid=34&pgid=4389

Please note all proposals are due by Friday, January 15, 2016.  Grants will be awarded in May 2016.

Sabah Randhawa
Provost and Executive Vice President

Thanks to all of your generous donations, we were able to get a large bag of gifts for each of our sponsor children this year as well as having a little left over to give a gift card to the parents for other holiday needs.

The Research Office is accepting applications for the Undergraduate Research, Innovation, Scholarship and Creativity (URISC) program for Summer term 2016. This program supports undergraduate research activities from all academic disciplines within the university. Program description and application: http://research.oregonstate.edu/incentive/undergraduate-research-innovation-scholarship-creativity-urisc. Information: Debbie Delmore at debbie.delmore@oregonstate.edu. Deadline: Jan. 19, 2016.

Applications for URSA Engage will be accepted until Jan. 15, 2016. The program provides support ($ 1,000) for undergraduate (first year, second year and early transfer students only) engagement in research/creative activity under mentorship of an OSU faculty member. Participation by a diverse group of undergraduates with a variety of abilities is encouraged. Undergraduates across all OSU colleges/schools/ majors are eligible.  No prior experience required. Details at: http://undergraduate.oregonstate.edu/research/ursa-engage). Contact: Sujaya-ugr@oregonstate.edu