TRACE sampling in Bend suggests one person in 1,000 infected with SARS-CoV-2

Oregon State University; Oregon State University - Cascades; OSU-Cascades; TRACE-COVID-19; Coronavirus; Pandemic

Results from two days of door-to-door sampling by Oregon State University and OSU-Cascades suggest that one person in 1,000 in the Bend community during the weekend of May 30-31 had the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

OSU's TRACE COVID-19 project team worked in Bend neighborhoods May 30-31, as part of a joint effort to determine the prevalance of the virus in the Bend community.

OSU-Cascades students and alumni contribute to COVID-19 testing in Bend

Oregon State University; Oregon State University - Cascades; OSU-Cascades; TRACE-COVID-19; Coronavirus; Pandemic

Risa Christie, Alaric Hartsock and Jessica Thomas were among 70 trained field staff knocking on doors of randomly selected homes in late May in Bend as part of Oregon State University’s TRACE-COVID-19 study to help understand the prevalence of the virus in the community.

For Christie, Hartsock and Thomas, all former or current OSU-Cascades students, the project provides hands-on experience and the potential to make a local and global public health impact.

Risa Christie, a biology major and one of the OSU-Cascades undergraduate students who worked on the TRACE-COVID-19 study in Bend.

Noted writer Elizabeth Powell to give reading with OSU-Cascades faculty authors, students

Oregon State University; Oregon State University - Cascades; OSU-Cascades; MFA Creative Writing; Low-Residency MFA Creative Writing

Award-winning writer and poet Elizabeth A.I. Powell will share readings from her literary works on June 13 as part of the Hazel Hall Memorial Reading, a semi-annual event hosted by Oregon State University – Cascades.

The virtual event is sponsored by OSU-Cascades Low-Residency Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program. The program begins at 6 p.m. and will be livestreamed via Facebook Live and YouTube. 

Writer and poet Elizabeth A. I. Powell will read at the Hazel Hall Memorial Reading, sponsored by the Low-Residency MFA in Creative Writing.

Sewer surveillance: OSU researchers to comb Bend’s wastewater for evidence of COVID-19

Researchers at Oregon State University will look in Bend’s sewer system for genetic evidence of the virus that causes COVID-19 in an effort to help determine the virus’ prevalence in the city.

Researchers will analyze “sewer sets” collected from six sewer line locations, looking for genetic material from the novel coronavirus that traveled from infected people into the city’s wastewater system. Researchers will also look at water samples from the city’s treatment plant.

The water reclamation facility in Bend. Photo by Scott Nelson/Courtesy City of Bend.

Oregon State University expands coronavirus prevalence study to Bend

Oregon State University; Oregon State University - Cascades; OSU-Cascades; TRACE-COVID-19; Coronavirus; Prevalence esearch Study; Virus

TRACE-COVID-19, the groundbreaking Oregon State University project to determine community prevalence of the novel coronavirus, is expanding to include two days of sampling in Bend.

Random door-to-door sampling in 30 Bend neighborhoods will occur May 30-31 as a joint effort of OSU-Cascades, OSU faculty researchers in Corvallis and Deschutes County Health Services.

“As Bend and other Oregon communities reopen, it is important that we have baseline information regarding the prevalence of COVID-19 in our communities,” said Becky Johnson, OSU-Cascades vice president.

OSU's TRACE COVID-19 project team will be in Bend neighborhoods May 30-31, as part of a joint effort to determine the prevalance of the virus in the Bend community.

OSU-Cascades Innovation Co-Lab hosts summit on reopening Central Oregon economy

Oregon State University; Oregon State University - Cascades; OSU-Cascades; Innovation Co-Lab; Innovation Summit; Reopening Central Oregon

Oregon State University – Cascades will host a free, virtual summit on May 19 to provide business owners a framework for decision-making as the economy reopens amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Reopening Central Oregon” will take place from 9 a.m. to noon via Zoom.

The Innovation Summit will provide Central Oregon businesses a framework for decision-making as the economy reopens.

Virtual Science Pub features screening of “Heceta Bank: Oregon’s Hidden Wonder” and discussion

Oregon State University; Oregon State University - Cascades; OSU-Cascades; Heceta Bank; Marine Science; Science Pub

At Oregon State University - Cascades' rescheduled virtual Science Pub, OSU marine scientists will host a screening and discussion on a documentary depicting how a submerged rocky bank 35 miles off the Oregon coast has beneficial impacts on our state’s coastal environments.

The event was originally scheduled in early March, but canceled due to social distancing requirements created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Science Pub will take place from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, May 18 and will be streamed live on YouTube and Facebook Live.

Virtual OSU Science Pub focuses on runners and their shoes

Oregon State University; Oregon State University - Cascades; OSU-Cascades; FORCE Lab; Christine Pollard; kinesiology

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Oregon State University’s campuses in Corvallis and Bend have collaborated to host a virtual science pub talk on May 11 about how runners perform in different running footwear.

Christine Pollard, associate professor of kinesiology and director of the FORCE Lab at OSU-Cascades, will discuss her research on heavily cushioned soles, so-called “maximal shoes" in a virtual Science Pub.

OSU-Cascades offers virtual admissions events for prospective students, parents

Oregon State University; Oregon State University - Cascades; OSU-Cascades; Benny Beaver

High school juniors and seniors engaged in college searches can meet with Oregon State University – Cascades faculty and staff to learn about degree programs, the student experience and career exploration during a series of upcoming virtual events.

The Bend Beavs Live Chat events enable prospective students and their families to learn more about the college search process and OSU-Cascades’ offerings while maintaining social distancing in keeping with OSU’s commitment to reduce the risk and spread of COVID-19.