University of Oregon College of Arts and Sciences

07/30/2025

Early Wednesday morning, one of the largest recorded earthquakes struck off the coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia. Coastlines across the Pacific braced for powerful tsunami waves, as past earthquakes of this size led to extremely destructive tsunamis striking Indonesia in 2004 and Japan in 2011. Yet as time passed, no waves of any real concern came. What makes this earthquake different?

University of Oregon's Diego Melgar, a geophysicist, earth sciences professor, and CRESCENT director, explains the reasoning behind this, and gets into the details that spared the Pacific Coastline.

Get the full story here: https://nyti.ms/4odPCUJ

07/03/2025

Stephen Wooten, a global studies and food studies faculty member in the College of Arts and Sciences, began his work in Mali as a Peace Corps volunteer in the late 1980s. Life looks different for Wooten now, but he spent much of his time there studying the role of women and the work they do.

This work and research has led to Wooten's latest book, Cooking Culture: Women's Culinary Agency and Everyday Creativity.

What’s common to eat in Mali is a sort of porridge—a starch and sauce—a basic combination of grain and sauce that has been central to humanity, Wooten says. But what he finds compelling as a researcher is not only the beauty and holistic nature of simple dishes, but the community that the food preparation creates.

Get the full story here: https://bit.ly/4ehbn1g

04/09/2025

The April Edition of CAS Connection is here! And this one is all about climate change.

The effects of climate change are all around us. Hear from CAS students about how they're dealing with climate anxiety, find out how our researchers are working to innovate a new generation of green tech, discover how much climate change will actually cost Oregon households—and more!

Check it out: https://bit.ly/41THuOq

04/04/2025

In 2017, an all-girls robotics team from Afghanistan captured international attention as they fought for a chance to compete on the world stage. Now their story is on the big screen, brought to life by Jason Brown, a creative writing professor in the College of Arts and Sciences.

The film, "Rule Breakers", was released in March, and is inspired by the real-life story of the Afghan Girls’ Robotics Team, also known as the Afghan Dreamers.

The UO community will have the unique opportunity to see the film at a free screening on April 8, followed by a question-and-answer session with Jason Brown and director Bill Guttentag. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3G4lQ2X

03/31/2025

In 17th-century England, Eleanor Glanville wasn’t just collecting butterflies. She was challenging the conventions of science and society. At a time when Latin was the language of scientific authority, her use of specimen names in English was considered controversial, even leading to a court case.

UO History PhD candidate Michele Pflug’s award-winning research explores how women navigated the intellectual landscape of pre-Linnaean science, participating in discovery despite barriers to formal education. Pflug says, “Women are not ancillary to the history of science, but they are embedded in it in ways that I don't think have fully been recognized or acknowledged.”

Her essay, “Ha? Where the Devil Got You Names?” earned the prestigious Nathan Reingold Prize, highlighting how naming practices in early natural history reveal deeper gendered dynamics in scientific authority.

To learn more about Pflug’s work, check out the latest issue of CAS Connection using this link: https://cas.uoregon.edu/news/whats-scientific-name

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03/26/2025

From early neurodevelopment to age-related cognitive decline, researchers at CAS are advancing our understanding of human health, starting from infancy.

UO Psychology professor Sheila Crowell is investigating how infant sleep patterns shape long-term cognitive and emotional regulation, while other faculty explore the gut microbiome’s role in disease, the neural mechanisms of movement, and the link between vascular health and Alzheimer’s. Their work expands scientific knowledge and informs potential interventions for improved health outcomes.

Explore the latest research driving innovation in human physiology and disease prevention in the latest issue of CAS Connection. Click here to read: https://cas.uoregon.edu/sponsored-research-2023-2024/unlocking-secrets-lifelong-health

 Unlocking the Secrets of Lifelong HealthBy exploring causes and potential treatments for disease, CAS scientists are making an impact on human health across the entire lifespan Human health stems from a combination of countless factors, from genetic and environmental influences to all the pattern...

03/17/2025

Senior neuroscience major Cinthia Muñiz Sanchez is one of many undergraduate researchers in the college of Arts and Sciences making real-world change. She studies brain waves of patients with Parkinson’s disease to see how their neural activity compares with healthy patients.

Muñiz Sanchez, who plans to attend medical school, says working in the lab has given her the opportunity to interact with patients and gain a greater understanding of Parkinson’s Disease, a disorder that leaves patients impaired in producing movement.

Learn more about Cinthia’s work: https://bit.ly/4ib2jwg

03/11/2025

When the next earthquake hits, ShakeAlert can buy you precious seconds of response time before strong shaking starts. The early warning system, which uses data from sensors installed by our very own Oregon Hazards Lab, turns 4 years old today!

So how can you make the most of those precious seconds of warning? Take a peek at CAS psychology Professor Dare Baldwin's research on how people respond to earthquake early-warning alerts: https://bit.ly/4hsjuYF

03/11/2025

One thing about us is we love to celebrate research. In the 2023-2024 academic year alone, College of Arts and Sciences faculty received $71 million in funding, 297 new awards were granted, with 585 active projects across all three divisions in CAS.

Diana Libuda is researching DNA repair zygote development that may change the face of fertility. Dare Baldwin is researching earthquake early warning systems to better prepare the public for emergency preparedness. Brice Kuhl is researching how memories are encoded, retrieved, and organized to determine which areas are most active when a memory is being made.

Not only do these amazing researchers contribute to the greater world, they also serve as mentors to undergraduates conducting their own research — just another reason UO is a Tier 1 National Public Research University.

Learn about all of the groundbreaking research happening in the College of Arts and Sciences: https://cas.uoregon.edu/sponsored-research-2023-2024

03/05/2025

The March Edition of CAS Connection is here! This edition is all about the groundbreaking research happening in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Can AI help predict the next earthquake? Will rights of nature laws continue to advance around the world? Can scientists manipulate the bacteria in your gut for better health? CAS faculty received $71 million in grant funding last year to help answer these big questions—and more.

Get all the details: https://bit.ly/41THuOq

02/28/2025

Bestselling author and UO creative writing professor Karen Thompson Walker is known for crafting stories that explore the unknown, blending everyday life with the uncanny. “Reality is full of uncanny mysteries, territory that science has not yet fully illuminated,” she says.

From “The Age of Miracles” to her upcoming novel, “The Strange Case of Jane O.,” Walker uses speculative fiction to push the boundaries of storytelling. Her work challenges writers to ask “What If?” She aims to inspire students to experiment with new perspectives and unexpected narratives.

Catch her at the UO Creative Writing Reading Series on March 12 at 4:30 p.m. in the Knight Library browsing room, and learn more about Professor Thompson Walker here: https://cas.uoregon.edu/news/creative-writing-professor-publishes-new-speculative-fiction-book

In Focus  |  Around CAS  |  Liberal Arts at Large  |  Q&A  |  In the News  |  Student Spotlight  |  Faculty Spotlight  |  Alumni Spotlight  |  Page Turners  |  Past Issues Karen Thompson Walker, creative writing professor and author of the bestselling book The Age of Miracles, writ...

02/26/2025

After decades in the professional world, Brian Hubbell found his way back to higher education with purpose and passion. Now a senior and sociology major, he’s not only thriving academically but also helping fellow students navigate their own career journeys through the UO Career Center.

Brian’s journey is one of resilience, growth, and the power of community. At UO, he launched the Student Career Ambassador Program, connecting with students and families to foster support and opportunity.

As he prepares for graduate school, Brian shares the advice that has shaped his own journey: “Pick a place that supports you and that you love.”

To learn more about Brian’s academic journey, check out the latest issue of CAS Connection here: https://cas.uoregon.edu/news/sociology-major-helps-fellow-students-find-career-paths

In Focus  |  Around CAS  |  Liberal Arts at Large  |  Q&A  |  In the News  |  Student Spotlight  |  Faculty Spotlight  |  Alumni Spotlight  |  Page Turners  |  Past Issues A Road Less TraveledAfter spending decades in the professional world, this sociology major has finally found ...