Breakthroughs in Science: Houston

A BIG thank-you goes out to College of Science Board Member, Rusty Gorman (Zoology ‘73) and Ruth Spence for hosting our Breakthroughs in Science: Solutions for a Changing World event in Houston on May 9.

The event, held at The Grove Restaurant in Downtown Houston’s Discovery Green Park, was well attended by College of Science alumni in the Houston area. Guests were given an update about OSU’s Capital Campaign by Dean Sherm Bloomer. Dr. Aaron Wolf, Geosciences Professor at OSU and international expert on water resources policy and middle east geopolitics, gave a presentation entitled, “Conflict and Cooperation over Shared Waters.”

Rusty Gorman summed up the evening by pointing out the global impact of Dr. Wolf’s research. Rusty went on to say that Dr. Wolf is one of many Oregon State professors helping to create solutions for the issues facing the world today. He concluded his remarks by thanking all guests for attending and encouraging everyone at the event to get involved with Oregon State and support the University as he and Ruth have chosen to do.

Rusty and Ruth, we are grateful for your generous gifts of time and financial support. Thank you!

Ruth and Rusty at the 21st Annual Houston Art Car Parade on May 10th. The two were accompanied by Dean Bloomer and Assistant Director of Development, Ryan Robinson.

Zayed Prize awarded to Dr. Jane Lubchenco

Valued at $1 Million, the Zayed Prize is the world’s most valuable environmental award:

To recognize and promote major pioneering contributions in the field of environment and sustainable development, in accordance with the development philosophy and vision of the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and in support of global initiatives such as the Agenda 21, the Millennium Development Goals, and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation for Sustainable Development

For the fourth cycle (2005-2007), in the category of scientific or technological achievements, the award and prize of $300,000 is shared between Dr. Jane Lubchenco and Dr. V. Ramanathan, a climatologist from India. A ceremony was held in Dubai last week.

Transparent integrated circuit finds industrial use

In early 2006, OSU researchers announced that they had created a completely transparent integrated circuit from inorganic compounds.

Now, reports the Corvallis Gazette Times, that technology has found its first industrial use in solar panels:

Silicon-based solar cells — the heavy black panels currently in use — require mechanical devices to pivot them and track the sun across the sky. Transparent transistors can do that optically, making the sandwich of lenses, cells and electronics much lighter.

And since most of the panel is clear, architectural elements such as color and texture can show through them, opening up the technology to become an integral part of a building’s design.

(In the photo: OSU graduate student Rick Presley was instrumental in creating the transparent integrated circuit.)

Gift Annuity rates set to decrease

The OSU Foundation has information on their site about the suggested rates on gift annuities decreasing as of July 1, 2008, due to current economic conditions. If a gift annuity is in your giving plans, you can receive higher payments if you complete the gift before this date.

Charitable gift annuities are just one of the ways to give to OSU! You can learn more about them at the OSU Foundation’s website.

Chief pre-med advisor receives Founders Award

Congratulations to Chere Pereira, chief pre-med advisor at OSU for 21 years, for her receipt of the Founders Award from the Northwest Osteopathic Medical Foundation.

“Chere is an inspiring leader in promoting students’ interest in entering the osteopathic medical field,” said Dr. John Pham, a former OSU student who presented her the award.

Here, in a photo from the Founders Evening event, Chere explains how much it means to her to help students find careers in osteopathic medicine.

2008 Scholarship Dessert

On Thursday, May 22, the College of Science honored its exceptional students receiving scholarship awards for the academic year 2008-09 with a dessert and awards ceremony.

The event, held in the CH2M Hill Alumni Center’s Cascade Ballroom, was attended by students, their parents, donors and faculty, with opening and closing remarks by Dean Sherman Bloomer. Taralyn Tan, Biochemistry & Biophysics, gave a student presentation entitled “From Stethoscopes to Synapses – My Path at OSU”.

Over 165 students received scholarships for the 2008-09 academic year, and the College of Science is grateful to all of the generous donors over the years who have made these scholarships possible for our outstanding science students.