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A young student peers into a microscope surrounded by the bustle of Discovery Days.
Events

Discovery Days excites with science outreach for young students

For two days, Oregon State welcomed over 1,000 elementary students to experience the thrills of science outside the classroom. Discovery Days, a biannual outreach event sponsored by the College of Science, brimmed with activities for kids to enjoy while they met graduate and undergraduate students eager to share their enthusiasm for the inspiring field.

A kid stands in the water holding wildlife.
College of Science

Building bridges: College of Science outreach creates pathways to science literacy and inclusion

The College of Science is committed to community service and fostering science literacy. Our recently launched Strategic Plan prioritizes impactful contributions at local, national and global levels. Across our seven departments, we are actively implementing outreach initiatives that align with our mission of engagement and societal impact. Last year, the College actively supported community-focused events, such as Discovery Days, Juntos Family Day and many others.

High school students stand around a microscope in a lab wearing lab coats.
Diversity in Science

Breaking down barriers to a future in science

This past summer, Ph.D. student Savanah Leidholt set out to create a summer “bootcamp” for area high school students to draw more students from BIPOC, LGBTQ+, low-income and other diverse backgrounds to the study of microbiology.

Elementary students participate in the Discovery Days event.
Events

Discovery Days inspires curiosity and a passion for science

Polar bears have black skin, and all the ants in the world would weigh more than all the people.

Elementary school students were shocked to learn these true science fun facts while participating in the fall 2022 Discovery Days outreach program.

Juntos Chemistry Overnight Camp group picture.
Diversity in Science

Youth explore, investigate and discover at fun-filled annual Juntos Chemistry Camp

On a sunny June afternoon, 20 high school students from across Oregon stood in a college chemistry laboratory watching a balloon. Their eyes widened as it began to shrink and turn into a wrinkled but rigid ball of rubber. No magic was involved — just liquid nitrogen.

Grace Petrina, a woman with long blonde hair, in a dark blue shirt.
OSU Press Releases

Volunteerism a way of life for biochemistry and biophysics student

Third-year Honors biochemistry and biophysics student Grace Petrina is committed to volunteering her time and talent, involved in a host of local community outreach efforts.

Bruno Salas Garcia sitting on the steps outside of Kidder Hall.
Students

Microbiology graduate gives back to communities that have shaped him

Oregon State's College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) made all the difference in engaging microbiology major Bruno Salas Garcia in his college experience. A first-generation student, he is on track to dental school and plans to serve rural communities similar to where he grew up.

A jug of Inpria's inorganic photoresist material.
Materials Science

OSU startup Inpria nets $514M acquisition for trailblazing chemical manufacturing

Inpria Corporation, which got its start at Oregon State and which has attracted investors such as Intel and Samsung with its revolutionary material used in microchips, has agreed to be acquired by Japanese firm JSR for $514 million.

Dam Proud Day logo above an image of two students studying in the Memorial Union lounge.
News

2021 Dam Proud Day to support College of Science students in need

On April 28, 2021, Oregon State will hold its second day of giving, called Dam Proud Day. This year, funds raised for the College of Science will support science students experiencing financial difficulties that may inhibit their ability to continue classes.

students in masks sit on a bench on OSU's campus
News

Oregon State University receives $2 million Packard Foundation grant to expand TRACE-COVID-19 nationally

Team-based Rapid Assessment of Community-Level Coronavirus Epidemics, or TRACE-COVID-19, was launched by OSU in April 2020 with door-to-door sampling in Corvallis and expanded to other cities around the state while also adding a wastewater testing component. In December, OSU received a $2 million grant from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation to create a national TRACE Center that will expand the OSU’s COVID-19 public health project to other states.

TRACE field staff walking along parking lot in Newport, Oregon on a cloudy and rainy day.
Students

Community, compassion motivate OSU & UO students to help with TRACE COVID-19 testing

Dozens of community members from the Willamette Valley are stepping up to address COVID-19 as part of 30 teams went door-to-door in Eugene offering free COVID-19 tests to up to 600 residents as part of Oregon State University’s TRACE Community testing project.