State House District 59

Teen learning experiences transformed by dive into VR app creation

Coupled with broad, societal misconceptions about food and agriculture, an aging crisis is threatening farming. According to the 2017 Census of Agriculture, the average age of an American farmer is 57, 10 years older than the ...

Feb 2022 | Impact Story

OSU researcher provides insight for hemp resilience to extreme heat

Recent extreme summer heat waves in the Pacific Northwest – such as the 2021 heat dome that resulted in record-setting high temperatures across the state – have been detrimental to the hemp growers of Oregon. Many farmers ...

Feb 2022 | Impact Story

Institute provides nature experiences, education for Portland-area youth

Research shows that people of color are far less likely to engage in nature-based outdoor recreation activities, with historic discrimination being a large underlying factor. People of color are three times more likely than white ...

Feb 2023 | Impact Story

Juntos helps shy eighth-grader transform into historic student body president

Latino/Hispanic students comprise the largest minority group at The Dalles High School – 37% of the total enrollment. In 2012, Oregon State University Extension’s Open Campus program launched Juntos (“together” in Spanish), ...

Feb 2022 | Impact Story

OSU hemp center leads environmental sustainability and equity efforts

Hemp has the potential to become a major agricultural commodity in Oregon and the United States, with hemp plant fiber being used in manufactured products, including clothing, construction materials and packaging. Meanwhile, hemp ...

Feb 2022 | Impact Story

'Healing Through Art' show provides outlet for Portland-area youth

In the summer of 2020, with the COVID-19 pandemic in full swing and marches for social justice taking place across the United States, youth in the Portland metro area were turning to art to express themselves. Around the ...

Nov 2021 | Impact Story

Agrivoltaics research could lead to more sustainable farming

Agrivoltaics is the concept of using arable land to simultaneously grow crops and generate solar power. Co-developing land for both solar photovoltaic power and agriculture could provide 20% of total electricity generation in the ...

Sep 2021 | Impact Story

Gardens address pandemic food insecurity in Warm Springs community

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, it became clear that it wouldn’t be possible for the Oregon State University Extension Service to conduct in-person learning garden classes at the Warm Springs K-8 Academy and OSU ...

May 2021 | Impact Story

Hazelnut stewardship initiative highlights Oregon’s sustainable practices

As Oregon continues to flex its muscles in the hazelnut industry, the need for promoting sustainable practices has accelerated. To strengthen an already-strong market share – Oregon leads production in the U.S. and is third in...

May 2021 | Impact Story

Virtual Walk With Ease class increases accessibility to disabled adults

Walk With Ease is an evidence-based exercise program developed by the Arthritis Foundation that can help adults build confidence in being physically active while reducing pain and improving their overall health. The Oregon State ...

Apr 2021 | Impact Story