Category Archives: Events

Blair Paulik Receives SRP Trainee Award for SETAC Europe Meeting

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The SRP Training Core is pleased to support externship opportunities for SRP trainees to provide added experiential training specifically benefiting the trainee’s career goals. This new funding opportunity began in 2014.

Blair Paulik, a Trainee with Project 4, is the first to receive an Externship Award. Blair is receiving travel and lodging support to attend SETAC Europe 25th Annual Meeting, which will be held in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, from May 3-7 2015.  

Blair Paulik
Blair Paulik

Attending this meeting will build her leadership and networking skills. She will also have the opportunity to present a part of her PhD research at this international meeting. Blair will be presenting about the impact of unconventional natural gas extraction on air quality.

Blair was elected to be the Vice Chair of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) North America Student Advisory Council (NASAC) for a 3-year term beginning fall 2014. She will be one of only a few students from North America to formally represent NASAC and SETAC North America on this global stage.

Blair will come back and share her experience with other SRP Trainees through the upcoming OSU SRP-led quarterly “brown-bag” web conferences with other SRP programs. She also plans to write about her experience to support other students. This opportunity will help Blair become a stronger mentor and bring visibility to our NIEHS SRP Trainee network.

SRP Trainees Share Research at State of the University Address

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Blair Paulik photo credit: Tyler Moss, Oregon State University
SRP Trainee Blair Paulik
photo credit: Tyler Moss, Oregon State University

Oregon State University Superfund Research Program trainees Blair Paulik and Lane Tidwell were selected to represent the College of Agricultural Science at the annual State of the University Address 2015 held in Portland Oregon on January 30th.

 Only one department from each college was selected to represent important work and trainee development that occurs in the college. PhD candidates Paulik and Tidwell highlighted the research the Food Safety and Environmental Stewardship Program in the Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology has been conducting for last 15 years in the Portland Harbor Superfund site.

Lane Tidwell photo credit: Hannah O’Leary, Oregon State University
SRP Trainee Lane Tidwell
photo credit: Hannah O’Leary, Oregon State University

While at the event the trainees were able to talk with many OSU alumni, stakeholders and supporters. Conversation topics ranged from current research occurring in the EMT department, the FSES program and the College of Agricultural Sciences to what the individual trainees hoped to do after graduation. Trainees Paulik and Tidwell were proud to represent the FSES program, the EMT Department and the College of Agriculture at this important outreach and engagement event with about 800 attendees.

State of the University Ballroom photo credit: Tyler Moss, Oregon State University
State of the University Address Ballroom
photo credit: Tyler Moss, Oregon State University

2014 Fidalgo Bay Science Conference Participation

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Blair with clam
Blair Paulik out in the field with the butter clams.

The Samish Indian Nation invited Blair Paulik (OSU SRP Project 4 Trainee) and Diana Rohlman (OSU SRP CEC Coordinator) to the 3rd annual Fidalgo Bay Science Conference on October 23, 2014.

Our SRP presented a poster highlighting the recent butter clam sampling performed with the Samish and Swinomish tribal communities. In addition, governmental agencies, university researchers, citizen scientists and Tribal scientists presented on restoration projects (Custom Plywood Mill), the surf smelt spawning study (Salish Sea Stewards) and the Samish Natural Resources Program projects (Current Projects).

Two Samish Tribal members opened the Fidalgo Bay Science Conference floor with song and traditional stories to explain the importance of a healthy environment.

Tribal events such as this give our SRP Trainees valuable professional development experiences, exposing them to the history and culture of our Tribal partners and ways to work successfully with them.

 

Poster Presentation:

Paulik LB, Rohlman D, Donatuto J, Woodward C, Kile M, Anderson KA, Harding A. Improving techniques for estimating butter clam (Saxidomus gigantean) contamination in the Salish Sea. Poster presented at: Fidalgo Bay Science Conference, hosted by the Samish Indian Nation; 2014 October 23; Anacortes, WA.

Butter Clam Sampling Process
Butter Clam Sampling Process

See the story “Tribes partner with OSU to study clam contamination” on the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission web site.

Portland Harbor Superfund Site Paddle to Educate OHSU Students

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OHSU Students getting ready to paddle.
OHSU students join Oregon Health Authority and Oregon DEQ as they get ready to paddle

Dr. Dave Stone, co-leader of the Research Translation Core, paddled in the Portland Harbor Superfund Site as part of an innovative educational event designed for Preventative Medicine students at Oregon Health and Science University.

Approximately fifteen MD/MPH and Medical Toxicology students attended the tour in which Dr. Stone and representatives from the Oregon Health Authority and Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, discussed issues related to Portland Harbor and environmental health. Dr. Stone highlighted risks associated with PAHs in the sediment, as well as persistent pollutants in fish tissue.

The tour began at the iconic St. John’s Bridge and continued to some of the most PAH polluted PAH  in the Harbor.  Dr. Stone discussed the on-going research and activities of OSU’s Superfund Research Program and how it relates to Portland Harbor and public health.

Paddling in the Harbor
Paddling in the harbor
St. John's Bridge canoes
St. John’s Bridge canoes
FishAdv_2014
Fish advisory at the site