The science, politics and future of pandemics will be the topic of the Oct. 12 Oregon State University - Cascades Science Pub.

The virtual event, a joint effort of Oregon State University in Corvallis and OSU-Cascades in Bend, will feature a talk by Chunhuei Chi, a professor in OSU’s College of Public Health and Human Sciences and director of the Center for Global Health.

A new course focused on how mindfulness can help people navigate challenging times is being offered at Oregon State University – Cascades this fall.

Students and community members can learn about theories of mindful practices and develop personal insight into their responses to life events. Topics include healthy and unhealthy coping mechanisms, how personal or family narratives limit thinking, relationship challenges, and implicit bias, including social justice implications.

Oregon State University – Cascades fall 2020 move-in for students living on campus will feature enhanced health and safety measures, including COVID-19 testing.

Nearly 140 students are anticipated to move in to the residence hall over a four-day period from Sept. 18 to Sept. 21 in keeping with OSU’s physical distancing policy.

In the year since construction began to expand the Oregon State University – Cascades campus, sheer cliffs of a 100-foot deep former pumice mine have been transformed into gradual slopes, and the structure of a second campus academic building has emerged.

Campus planners also recently concluded a study that confirmed a major sustainable energy source for the expanded campus. A ground water based geo-exchange system will connect to an aquifer 500-feet beneath the campus surface for year-round heating and cooling of campus buildings.

Andrew Ketsdever, an academic leader and aerospace engineer, has been promoted to dean of academic affairs at Oregon State University – Cascades. He will serve as chief academic officer for the campus with responsibility for expanding degree programs to meet industry needs, advancing research efforts and leading 110 faculty instructors and researchers.

Oregon State University – Cascades has announced its annual employee awards for outstanding contributions to key university initiatives ranging from teaching excellence to diversity, equity and inclusion.  

The recipients of the 2020 employee awards are:

Oregon State University – Cascades is launching a new laboratory dedicated to advancing social equity and inclusion in Central Oregon by providing business owners and managers tools to foster diversity and inclusivity in the workplace.

Erika McCalpine, a business faculty member at OSU-Cascades, who has championed social justice issues within OSU and Bend, will lead the new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Laboratory.

When most people find that their actions have resulted in an undesirable outcome, they tend to rethink their decisions and ask, “What should I have done differently to avoid this outcome?”

When narcissists face the same situation, however, their refrain is, “No one could have seen this coming!”

In refusing to acknowledge that they have made a mistake, narcissists fail to learn from those mistakes, a recent study from Oregon State University – Cascades found.

Oregon State University – Cascades will host a three-day diversity, equity and inclusion workshop for business leaders and community members interested in furthering their knowledge of social equality.

OSU-Cascades business instructor Erika McCalpine will lead the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Intensive workshop. It will be offered via Zoom from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 3-5and Aug. 17-19.

The influence of the Black Lives Matter movement, which has gained prominence this year with protests over killings of Black people in the United States, will be the focus of a virtual Oregon State University Science Pub on July 13.

Christopher Stout, associate professor in the OSU School of Public Policy, will analyze the movement, its origins and political impacts. He will also reflect on why there was a lull in racial activism after the civil rights movement and on how Black Lives Matter has reshaped American politics and will influence the upcoming presidential election.