Wildlife Organizations Turn to PSU Student Experts

L: Trevor Sheffels, R:Tess McBride

When National Geographic Television needed an expert on nutria, a large semi-aquatic mammal native to South America, they turned to Trevor Sheffels. A PhD candidate in the Center for Lakes and Reservoirs, Sheffels shared his research and insight on regional, non-native nutria.

The three-part series, Animal Invasions, airs this spring. Until then, watch Sheffels now in the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's video Scouting Nutria - created by another talented Portland State student, Tess McBride. McBride is a graduate student in the Communication Department. She filmed the piece as part of her Communications and Outreach internship at the Regional Office Division of Fisheries Resources.

NSF Fellow to Increase Native STEM Participation

Adam Murray (R) with his Father

Even in the midst of severe budget cuts, President Obama sees the benefit of investing in our nation's Science, Teaching, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields. Unfortunately, many underrepresented communities still find themselves falling behind.

Doctoral student in Applied Industrial Psychology Adam Murray is working to change this. Thanks to a prestigious Graduate Research Fellowship from the National Science Foundation (NSF), his research focuses on increasing Native American awareness and participation in STEM fields.

Inspired at a young age by his father's work with Native American communities, Murray knew that he wanted to help improve the economic development of America's indigenous people. Today, in addition to his NSF research, he is also actively involved in Professor Keith James's Pacific Northwest Native Sustainability Project.

Antarctica's Uncertain Future

Dr. Christine Hulbe

As greenhouse gases continue warming the Earth, what's going to happen to Antarctica? Inquiring young minds want to know and turn to Professor of Geology Christina Hulbe for answers.

Read the Glaciologist's response in Chicago's Daily Herald article Global warming is altering Antarctica. You can learn more about Hulbe in her PSU Faculty Profile Ice Field.

CLAS Around the Web: Ooligan's Press

Thanks to an article in Publisher's Weekly, Ooligan is getting some much deserved press of its own. Read PW's article Ooligan Press Turns Students Into Publishers and then check out this publishing blogger's Ooligan awakening in Ooh La La Ooligan: Creating Books AND Publishers.

With over two dozen books ranging from nonfiction to young adult, it's easy to see why this student-run press has captured the attention and admiration of the publishing world. Learn more on Ooligan's website.

Upcoming CLAS Events

Susan Morrill

As part of the Religion Matters Series, the Portland Center for Public Humanities presents Susana Morrill "I Can Control Myself: The 'Twilight' Saga as an American Mormon Tale of Perfection".

The free lecture is on Thursday, February 24th at 7:00pm in SMSU 329. Visit PCPH's website for more information.

Imperial Japan at Its Zenith

Celebrate the Center for Japanese Studies's 10th Anniversary with a reading and discussion by Professor Ken Ruoff on his new book "Imperial Japan at Its Zenith".

The free lecture is from 6:00pm - 7:30pm in Lincoln Hall 75 on Friday, February 25th. Learn more about this Japanese History Lecture Series event here.

 

The Oregon State Hospital

Watch Psychology Professor Jan Haaken's moving new documentary Guilty Except for Insanity: Maddening Journeys through an American Asylum on the Main Stage at Portland Center Stage on Saturday, Feb 26th, at 2:00pm.

$5-10 suggested donation. No reservation required. Seating is first-come, first-served. For more information, please call 503-445-3795 or email PCS.

Kicked Out Anthology

Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies presents the lecture "Queer Homeless Youth" by Sassafrass Lowrey. Her new anthology, Kicked Out, gives voice to the narratives of queer youth experiencing homelessness. It was recently awarded a place on the American Library Association's Over the Rainbow booklist for 2011.

Meet Sassafras and hear more about her award-winning book on Thursday, March 10th at 5:30pm in SMSU 296. Read more here.