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The UO’s Environment Initiative, after three foundational and pathbreaking years of work, is transitioning to a new, sustainable model. This new endeavor, known as UO Environment, will leverage institutional expertise in education, research, and impact on the major environmental issues facing our world.

Through UO Environment, the College of Arts and Sciences will work with other colleges and schools to carry forward curricular and other work begun under the initiative to grow educational and research opportunities at UO. In addition, the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation is working with faculty leaders to explore the creation of a new center on climate change solutions policy, as well as a number of other areas of research. This web site will serve as a communications hub for news and events across the entire campus.

 

CURRICULUM

The College of Arts and Sciences will continue the transdisciplinary curricular work begun under the initiative in conjunction with other colleges and schools.

POLICY

The exploration of a new center under OVPRI is underway, intended to work with communities on climate solutions, policies, and research.

RESEARCH

Learn about the work UO faculty are conducting that is making an impact in the world.

NEWS & EVENTS

See the noteworthy environment-related updates and events happening on campus and in the community.

Events

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Book talk | ¡Juntes por la justicia climática! Together for Climate Justice!
Join SCR Associate Dr. Catalina De Onís this month when she will lecture on her SCR Small Grant Program funded bilingual children's book “¡Juntes por la justicia climática! Together for Climate Justice!". During her book talk and signing she will describe the role of her student coauthors and the importance of teaching climate justice to new generations.
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BE Passionate with Steph Littlebird
Join the SAB Arts & Culture team as we welcome Steph Littlebird for her free dinner presentation BE Passionate in the EMU Ballroom on November 21st. Doors & Dinner: 5:00pm Presentation: 6pm-7:00pm followed by Q&A 7-7:30pm
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Oregon Wildfire Resilience Hoopathon
Meet community fire organizations and local artisans, shoot free throws, and support wildfire resilience and Indigenous land management! Open to students, faculty, staff, community members, and more.

Faculty Excellence

See the work that University of Oregon faculty are producing to make an impact on the world »

A researcher working with students in virtual reality

Danny Pimentel

Pimentel's work in virtual reality seeks to make a global problem like climate change into something you can experience on a personal level.

greg dotson

Greg Dotson

Dotson will work towards situating the Environment Initiative in the community of researchers, policy advocates and policymakers who are focused on climate mitigation in the energy sector.

marsha weisiger

Marsha Weisiger

Weisiger will advance several projects focused on environmental history that analyze and interpret the ways humans and nonhuman nature have shaped each other over time.

 

News

Collection of images representing the Mojave Desert
An expedition through Kim Stringfellow's Mojave
High Country News: Emily Eliza Scott, assistant professor of history of art and architecture, and Marli Miller, senior instructor of earth sciences, of the University of Oregon, participated in The Mojave Project. 
Virginia Roslyn Beavert signs a copy of her book, "Anakú Iwachá: Yakama Legends and Stories" at Yakama Nation Cultural Center in Toppenish, Washington
Yakima Nation elder Virginia Beavert celebrates new book and her 101st birthday
Yakima Herald-Republic: Beavert has a doctorate in linguistics from the University of Oregon.
A VR headset
Extended reality can be empathic reality
Computer Weekly: Cites research from Danny Pimentel, assistant professor of journalism at the University of Oregon who uses virtual reality technology to build understanding of climate change. 
APRU's team visits Iolani Palace in Hawai'i
UO Students Explore Place-based Climate Solutions across Pacific Rim
University of Oregon's Environment Initiative partnered with APRU Sustainable Cities and Landscape Hub to support students exploring place-based climate resilience solutions across the Pacific Rim.
Thick wildfire smoke billows from a mountainside as trees burn to stumps.
University Pairs Towers, Cameras to Track Wildfires
Inside Towers: University of Oregon professor of earth sciences Doug Toomey leads the Oregon Hazards Lab. 
Silas Thoms, Multi-Hazards Field Technician with the Oregon Hazards Lab, is perched high up in a telecommunications tower overlooking an wide expanse of forestland.
New wildfire camera in Eugene bolsters fire-spotting network

The Oregon Hazards Lab is part of ALERTWildfire, a multischool consortium helping scientists, emergency responders, and government agencies detect and monitor wildfires and other hazards. widl

A wildfire burns on a forested mountainside, producing thick clouds of smoke.
Jackson County is getting help from UO for wildfire smoke management plan
KDRV-TV: University of Oregon community and regional planning graduate students Anna Murphy and Stuart Warren are featured. The Center for Wildfire Smoke Research and the Institute for Policy Research and Engagement are mentioned. 
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Health, wellness, and fitness: The 10 next big things, from surgical AR to a better bike computer
Fast Company: NatureDose, an app created by NatureQuant, is named a "winner" in the Wellness and Fitness category. Research by Chris Minson, professor of human physiology at the University of Oregon, helped develop NatureDose. 
Danny Pimental engages with student using virtual reality device.
Professor is using virtual reality to make climate change personal
Danny Pimental, assistant professor of immersive psychology at the University of Oregon, works at the intersection of media psychology and human-computer interaction.
A colorful illustration depicts a semi-natural scene and a person holding the end of a green braid-like object.
The intricate weaving of knowledge and narrative in 'Braiding Sweetgrass'
Daily Emerald: Robin Wall Kimmerer's Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants is the focus of the UO Common Reading program for the second consecutive year.