Oregon State University – Cascades will honor Central Oregon community, higher education and family advocate, Loren Irving during its 15^th annual commencement ceremony on Sunday, June 12.

Irving will receive the Distinguished Service Award from the university. The award honors individuals, businesses or organizations who have made exceptional contributions to OSU-Cascades, Central Oregon, the State of Oregon or the world.

An intense stable blue pigment is hard to find. For centuries, artists relied on the rich hues of a precious mineral, lapis lazuli, mined in Afghanistan, to produce the bluest of skies and sacred garments. At Oregon State University – Cascades Science Pub on Tuesday, May 17, OSU professor Mas Subramanian will present “Colorful Materials World: New Color Pigments Discovery for Art and Industry.”

It is well understood by scientists that environmental contaminants affect normal development in humans and other vertebrates by interacting with hormone systems, but the genetic basis for this is still largely unknown

In a lunchtime lecture on Wednesday, May 4, Ann Petersen, an Oregon State University - Cascades instructor and researcher in the biology program, will share her research on how a particular pollutant found in Pacific northwest rivers affects development in fish species.

In his annual State of the University Address in Bend on May 3, Oregon State University President Edward J. Ray will provide an update on the university’s worldwide accomplishments in the past year.  He will also highlight OSU-Cascades, its four-year degree programs and new campus, as well as opportunities for the campus in the future.

Conservatives’ attitudes toward climate change and other environmental concerns shift when the issues are reframed in terms more closely aligned with their values, a new study from Oregon State University indicates.

Researchers found that people who identified as conservative were more likely to support “pro-environmental” ideals when the issues were framed as matters of obeying authority, defending the purity of nature and demonstrating patriotism.

Oregon State University – Cascades has hired a transportation program manager to oversee multi-modal transportation efforts and parking management for the new Bend campus.

Casey Bergh recently joined the university and will be responsible for creating programs that promote active transportation options to lessen campus community members’ dependency on single occupancy vehicles.

Steve Amen, executive producer and host of Oregon Public Broadcasting’s Oregon Field Guide, will provide the commencement address at the Oregon State University - Cascades commencement ceremonies on Sunday, June 12.

“Steve is a champion for Oregon’s natural wonders,” said OSU-Cascades Vice President Becky Johnson.  “For more than three decades he has made it a priority to educate Oregonians about the natural resources around them, including many of the incredible resources here in Central Oregon.”

With huge investments made locally and nationally in educational technology, understanding the impact of technology solutions on student achievement can help teachers and administrators.

In a lunchtime lecture on Wednesday, April 13, Rachael Schuetz, an Oregon State University - Cascades instructor and researcher in the Master of Arts in Teaching program, will share discoveries she made during an experiment using iPads in a second grade classroom.

The Oregon State University - Cascades Board of Advisors will meet on Tuesday, April 5 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Graduate & Research Center, Rm. 227.

The meeting will update board members on progress toward academic, enrollment, development and marketing goals for the campus, and provide an overview of the expansion effort.

Oregon State University – Cascades Master of Counseling degree recently received full accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs, the national body that accredits counseling and similar degree programs.