Ernest and Pauline Jaworski Summer Research Internship for Undergraduates in Plant Sciences

Ernest (College of Science ’50 and ‘52) and Pauline (College of Science ‘50) Jaworski of St. Louis, MO put in place a grant for summer internships almost 10 years ago. They have since endowed the account, guaranteeing this support for perpetuity. 

Terra featured a story on scholarships in the Winter 2008 article, and gave us a glimpse into the life of a student benefiting from the Jaworski’s philanthropic vision.

Nikki Marshall

Year and discipline: Senior, Bioresource Research

Hometown: Portland, Oregon
Scholarship: The Jaworski Scholarship has opened up opportunities or me in sustainable, organic farming and ecosystem restoration. Financially, it has enabled me to pay for childcare for my daughter. (Note: Marshall has also received the E.R. Jackman Scholarship, support from the Oregon Seed Trade Association and an award from the American Seed Trade Association with Future Seed Executives.)
Inspiration: My daughter Trinity is 8 years old. She is always asking questions and giving me hope.
Career goal: To own a farm and to restore lands harmed by invasive species or toxic chemicals.
Academic focus: I have been learning how to control seeds through heat treatments and consumption by beetles. Seeds of invasive species and other weeds pose problems for agriculture and environmental restoration.

Tell the truth: You wonder what ONAMI is and why you should care

A recent article in the Corvallis Gazette-Times about Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute (ONAMI) explains why the support of higher education is so key to the economic health of Oregon in the global market:

Oregon needs to start ramping up its support of higher education, or else the state will be unable to compete in the global marketplace. That’s both the fear and the mission of Skip Rung, executive director of the Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute in Corvallis. “This is the one thing that Oregon still doesn’t get enough,” Rung said during an interview Tuesday. “Higher education is absolutely critical to any region’s economic future.”

ONAMI’s mission is to support new research and to provide seed money to help small tech companies grow. Without its academic partners, the project couldn’t succeed. Likewise, Rung said, Oregon won’t be able to thrive without the research and development at public universities, which provide the talent and the ideas that produce new technology.

Read the entire article here: Tech exec: Higher Ed Lagging, by Theresa Hogue, Gazette-Times reporter.

John E. Smith and Willetta M. Smith Fellowship in Geosciences

 John and Willetta, each holding their daughter, Joan.

Having just gotten the blog up and running, we’re backlogged on announcements of some of the fantastic gifts that have been made to the College of Science during the Campaign for OSU.

Joan and Chuck McDougald of Corvallis made a commitment in honor of Joan’s parents, John E. and Willetta M. Smith. They designated The College of Health and Human Sciences and the Department of Geosciences. The fellowship in geosciences will support graduate students, which is a top priority for the department. Great graduate students elevate the undergraduate experience and support the research being conducted by our faculty.

Here’s a  lovely story about this multi-generational OSU family and their philanthropy:

John E. Smith and Willetta M. Smith Fellowship in Geosciences.

Quantum Leaps in Physics

 The Physics Department is celebrating it’s 100th anniversary this year. At right, a photo, taken sometime in 1928, of Professor Jordan (left), who built the first radio transmitter, KFDJ, 5 watts. Dr. Weniger (right) founded the department in 1908.

Also, chair and professor emeritus, Ken Krane, has been selected by the Honors College as 2008’s Eminent Professor.

In addition, the College of Science is pleased to announce the inception of the Ben and Elaine Whiteley Endowed Fund in Materials Research, recently established by long-time friends, donors, and volunteers, Ben and Elaine Whiteley. Elaine’s father was Dr. Edwin Yunker. Professor Yunker was a member of the OSU physics faculty from 1925 to 1968 and was department chair from 1949 to 1966. The Yunker lecture was established in his honor. Ben and Elaine live in Portland, and are delighted to have made this contribution in support of the materials science program, which has also been counted toward the challenge made by the Valley Foundation for the College of Science to raise $15 million in program support.

Dr. Janet Tate is one of the lead faculty members in the Materials Science group.

Finally, the Paradigms in Physics classroom remodel for first- and second-year students is on the way to becoming a reality.

That’s all for this nanosecond!