Research at Portland State

Ask a skier and they’ll tell you the seasons are getting shorter. Ask a hunter and they’ll tell you herds are being driven out by fire. Ask a fisher and they’ll tell you salmon runs are smaller. Climate change is transforming the Pacific Northwest. 

“It’s helpful for us to be able to quantify what to expect so we can prepare for it,” says Kelly Gleason, an assistant professor of eco-hydro-climatology at Portland State University. “The future is going to be very different than what we’re used to."

Gleason is one of many Portland State researchers working to understand exactly what’s happening to our climate so scientists can develop effective mitigation strategies. 

As is fitting for a university in a city renowned for its bike infrastructure, Portland State is a hub of world-class transportation research. Much of this is conducted at PSU’s Transportation Research and Education Center (TREC). TREC is funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation and works with sister centers at partner universities to conduct research that improves mobility and builds strong communities. Here’s what recent studies by TREC researchers have revealed about getting around by bike.

Portland State scientists are tackling environmental issues around the globe. Recent research by faculty and students explores the future of forest ecosystems in Chile, preserving national treasurers in China, injustice and the rising tides in Japan, facing deforestation in Nepal and the relationship between wine, water and climate change in Australia.