Partner Publications
UPP affiliates Cary Lindsey (USGS) and Erick Burns (USGS) authored a paper exploring conductive heat flow in the Great Basin: “New maps of conductive heat flow in the Great Basin, USA: Separating conductive and convective influences”. This paper illustrates conductive heat flow in the Great Basin region of the United States, and how these heat flows can impact hydrothermal and groundwater applications.
UPP affiliates Andrés Holz (PSU), Paul Loikith (PSU), and Andrew Fountain (PSU) were interviewed for an article on the 6th Biennial Oregon Climate Assessment, published last month, which they contributed to. The article, “Latest climate assessment says Oregon is getting warmer,” was picked up by various news outlets. Paul Loikith, an associate professor of geography and director of PSU's Climate Science Lab, noted that “Temperatures are warming across all four seasons,” with extreme heat events increasing and extreme cold events decreasing. Oregon saw more days per year topping 90 degrees and more nights per year warmer than 65 degrees between 2011 and 2020 than between 1951 and 2010, according to the report, the first since the June 2021 heat dome event. "Warmer temperatures really drive so many of the impacts that we see," Loikith added.
UPP affiliate Andrés Holz, a professor in PSU’s Department of Geography, co-authored a paper titled “Canary in the Forest? – Tree mortality and canopy dieback of western redcedar linked to drier and warmer summer conditions.” The paper examines the Western Red Cedar tree mortality events that have been occurring on the Pacific Coast. The Western Red Cedar is a culturally and ecologically significant species, and has been suffering from canopy diebacks in the last two decades. Andrés Holz’s research into this matter is among the first to examine the causes of these diebacks, and Andres found that extended periods of drought increased vulnerability to diebacks here in the Pacific Northwest. This research also found that climate change, which has led to an increase in average temperatures and reduced rainfall, is also a significant contributing factor to Western Red Cedar dieback.
UPP Affiliate Jim O’Connor (USGS) is a co-convener of the GSA Penrose Conference on the role of outburst floods in Earth and planetary evolution in June 2023. Read more about the conference here.
From our UPP partners at USGS, Ian Waite co-authored “Framework for the Development of the Columbia River Mainstem Fish Tissue and Water Quality Monitoring Program – Bonneville Dam to Canadian Border”, developed in collaboration with the USGS, EPA, and the Yakama Nation. The purpose of this framework is to provide guidance for the development of a long-term monitoring program that provides the basis for assessing the status and trends of contaminants in fish, sediment, water, and invertebrates along the 962-kilometer length of the Columbia River, from the Bonneville Dam upriver to the Canadian Border.
Additional Stories
Climate change and human health
UPP Affiliate Joe Needoba, a professor at the PSU-OHSU School of Public Health, was interviewed in the Portland Business Journal. In the article, “Climate change is making us sick. Here's how OHSU and PSU are responding”, Dr. Needoba discusses the various ways that climate change negatively impacts health, and how the healthcare profession should be prepared for these changes as we continue to further experience more extreme climatic events. Dr. Needoba’s course, “Concepts in Environmental Health” explores the various ways that climate change is impacting health, such as increased incidences of heat stroke (like we saw in 2021 during the heatwave), increased asthma from ozone and wildfire pollutants, reduced access to clean water during drought, and mental health impacts in younger generations who are anxious about climate change. The course focuses on how to become prepared for these new challenges that climate change poses for our health.
Announcements and Notifications
NSF Transect of the Americas
This is an exciting opportunity that is being funded through the National Science Foundation’s International Research Experience for Students. The program is seeking MS and Ph.D. students studying hydrology, geology, geography or social sciences to conduct research as part of the Transect of the Americas in Central and South America (Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, or Peru).Read more about the study, and what it entails, click here. A pre-application is due March 15, 2023. If you are invited to apply after the pre-application, the full application deadline will be due in July 2023. Click here to start the pre-application.
Call for Panels - MetroLab Network
The MetroLab Network works nationwide to connect local government leaders and researchers in effective partnerships. Its Annual Summit will take place on the PSU campus from June 26-28. They are seeking panel topics for afternoon breakout sessions on projects, ideas, and future collaboration opportunities in one of the four following tracks: 1) Partnership and Community Engagement; 2) Climate and Infrastructure; 3) Data: Using it and Protecting It; and 4) Special Initiatives. Submissions are due March 1st via this form. Please email info@metrolabnetwork.org with any questions.
2023 Student Cup - MetroLab Network
Established in 2020, MetroLab Network’s Student Cup Competition recognizes, amplifies, and supports impactful collaboration. A prize is awarded to students from MetroLab’s member universities/colleges working in partnership with government and/or community collaborators on civic technology, data, and innovation projects. The competition includes a $1000 prize and an opportunity to present at the MetroLab Annual Summit. Applications are open until March 1, 2023.
PSU awarded workforce grant
PSU was the recipient of a $224k grant from the Higher Education Coordinating Commission’s Future Ready Oregon Workforce Ready Grant Program. This program has awarded $10 million to over 40 projects focusing on innovation and removing barriers for historically underserved and marginalized students. PSU is using the grant to create a leadership model for the upcoming Center for Internships, Mentoring and Research, which will co-locate existing student support programs including BUILD EXITO, U-RISE, Ignite, Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP), McNair Scholars, S3-STEM, and TRIO STEM.