Powered by Orange means protecting water quality

• In Portland, few natural resources are as important as the Willamette River. Years of industrial use have taken their toll, and clean up remains an ongoing process. Oregon State scientists Kim Anderson and David Williams are helping to restore the river by determining where pollution levels have dropped, where they haven’t and where contamination continues to threaten human and aquatic health.

Greg Sower and Angela Perez, when doctoral students at Oregon State University, helped sample water in the Willamette River near Portland, as part of an assessment of cleanup efforts at the Portland superfund site.

• Water quality in Portland reflects more than the city itself. Throughout the Willamette’s 11,000-square-mile watershed, climate patterns, roadways, land uses and other human activities influence the water we depend on. OSU scientists and volunteers have created an up-to-date full-color map that shows how these and other factors have affected the river over time. The idea is to inform the public about water issues and what people can do to improve water quality — everything from maintaining streamside vegetation to simply fixing water leaks at home.

• OSU Extension is teaching students, community leaders and volunteers how we influence water quality, both individually and as a society. Sam Chan and the Watershed Education Team work with Portland metro area schools, community groups and agencies. Not only do these programs explain the science of water quality, they show how low-impact development, streamside gardening, invasive species prevention and other sustainable practices can make us all better stewards of our water resources.

Powered by Orange means having an appetite for local food

Oregon State's Larry Lev visits the Corvallis Farmers' Market

• For many Portlanders, quality of life translates directly into the foods we eat. Portland is known for being a foodies’ paradise, with an abundance of farmers’ markets and restaurants featuring locally grown items on their menus. Oregon State agricultural economist Larry Lev is strengthening the local connection from producer to plate. Working with EcoTrust, Chefs Collaborative Portland and the local Farmer-Chef connection chapter, he helps to build relationships between local growers and chefs.

• Powered by Orange also means innovation and economic development, both of which are on the menu at the Food Innovation Center, a partnership between Oregon State and the Oregon Department of Agriculture. The center helps everyone from large-scale producers to entrepreneurs develop and test new food items. Scientists at the center also consult on production methods, packaging and marketing strategies. And you can see the results of their work at the grocery store, with products such as veggie burgers from Chez Gourmet by Marie and coconut yogurt from Gata Foods. Both companies are based in the Portland area.

• Food is also a great way for kids to see science in action. From sprouting beets to wiggling worms, students at Lane Middle School are learning biology by growing their own garden. Weston Miller and Beret Halverson from OSU Extension have teamed up with Portland State University to create a 12-acre Learning Gardens Laboratory near the school. And the garden has another practical use: Student-grown greens, tomatoes and cucumbers show up on the school cafeteria trays.

Powered by Orange means putting energy in sustainability.

Chemical engineers at Oregon State University are using extraordinarily small films at the nanostructure level to improve the performance of eyeglasses and, ultimately, solar energy devices.

In partnership with organizations across the city, Oregon State University researchers are exploring renewable energy sources. From building design to solar cell manufacturing, initiatives aim for energy efficiency and environmental benefit.

• Despite Oregon’s reputation for rain, solar cell manufacturers are coming to the state for its favorable business climate, high-tech workforce and research innovations. By converting discoveries in transparent electronics, thin film photovoltaics and nanotechnology into commercial products, Oregon State is helping to increase the efficiency and reduce the cost of solar cells. Making solar a more cost-effective energy source means they can be integrated into new and existing buildings, from roofs to windows.

• Sustainability has been part of Portland’s character for decades. Just look at plans for the new Oregon Sustainability Center. More than a dozen Oregon State faculty, including Gail Achterman of the Institute for Natural Resources and engineer Ken Williamson, are working on the project to build a 200,000+ square-foot mixed-use high rise that will produce 100 percent of its energy on site, integrate water reuse and have no carbon footprint. Once completed, the center will serve as a hub for education, research and entrepreneurship, strengthening Portland’s emerging green economy and creating high-quality jobs.

• Oregon State students are also applying their environmental research in Portland. One example is Erin Schroll, who as a graduate student, studied urban applications for green roofs. On the Portland Building downtown, Schroll and other students monitored temperatures, water flows and plant survival in combination with irrigation and weeds. They demonstrated that a green roof of carefully selected plants can reduce storm water runoff, reduce rooftop temperature changes and even provide new habitat.

Oregon State sponsors the show’s seminar series, and experts from the university and environmental community teach people about everything from solar energy and climate change to raising chickens and greening the holidays.

It’s not a huge surprise that the show was created by an Oregon State alum, Michael O’Loughlin, who graduated in 1986 with a biology major. We at Powered by Orange were recently able to catch up with Michael (even amidst the pre-show controlled chaos) and ask him a few questions about Better Living, Oregon State and his dedication to sustainability.

What inspired you to create the Better Living Show?

I’m third generation at producing home and garden and boat shows. I was taking a look at that and realizing that shows as experiential marketing had to change, because society was changing.

Also my whole lot in life is to build sustainable food gardens in elementary schools. I’m really interested in the environment, and I was looking at the consumer shows and realizing that they really aren’t environmentally conscious. So I figured I’d take my passion and use my talents and create a green show.

How did you start planting school gardens?

I’ve always been interested in plants. I was at a meeting in California when I heard about school gardens. That was 12 years ago, and it really wasn’t anything that was done here. At that point we were doing a home and garden show, so I said, ‘why don’t we built a school garden in the show and donate it?’ We gave it to the Mary Woodward Elementary School in Portland. Now it’s huge and it pays for itself. Now I’m working on six of them, and I spend about 1,000 hours a year doing this.

How do you feel about the response to the Better Living Show so far?

We’ve been really blessed. Our very first year – three years ago, we doubled what we thought we were going to do in attendance. It was the most successful launch of any consumer show in Oregon, ever. I think all the stars just aligned.

My business partner, Stephanie, and I decided early on that we would make admission free. That was tough, because that’s 40 percent of your income. So that took a big bite. We had to change our lifestyles in order to do it. But we think that living sustainably and working for the environment are so important that we want to make a difference.

What are your best hopes for the show?

We would like to see the show grow a little bit. We’d like to see people embrace the programming that’s here. There are so many seminars, presentations and free concerts. We have a whole program dedicated to kids’ activities during spring break.

We also want to inspire people to get engaged. We want to meet people where they’re at. Wherever you’re at, we have gear that will fit your lifestyle. We have everything from high fashion to vegan food here. Hopefully we can get people to plug into realizing that this is an important issue. We can either face it now or face it when it’s too late. And so far the response has been good.

How do you decide who your presenters will be?

Staff at OSU and I brainstorm about the hot topics. Usually the Oregon State crew goes first, our professors or people working in that industry. If we’ve got some industry or ideas that are outside what OSU does, we tap into the community to get the rest.

How do you think OSU helped you be successful in your career and develop some of the values you hold today?

The biology background helped quite a bit. Going to college helps anyone realize what it takes to finish things. Being trained to stick it out helps you in any business situation.

At Oregon State we’ve really been trying to promote what we call the “3 Healthies,” which are healthy people, planet and economy. Can you comment on that?

I think it’s a comprehensive concept. If you weed any one of those out you have a problem. All of us want to regulate pollution, and environmental impact but you make sure you don’t hurt business. We have to learn in this new economy that you can look after people, the planet and the economy. That’s what the show’s about.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

I would encourage people to go online ahead of time to look at all the different presentations so they can plan their trip. Also, leave plenty of time for the great food and wine samples. If people follow us on Twitter, there will be lots of things given away by the 70-some exhibitors, which they can find out about on the feed.

Do you know a business that is Powered by Orange? If so, here’s your chance to shine a spotlight on deserving businesses.

And just what makes a business Powered by Orange? They’re owned by an Oregon State alum, have lots of OSU alums working there or are just friends of OSU. They also:

• Drive innovation.
• Support economic growth.
• Serve in the community.

Once a month, starting in April, one business will be selected for the Orange Spotlight. That includes:

• A feature story about the business on oregonstate.edu.
• Promotion on Oregon State’s social networks including Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube — reaching the 30,000+ OSU fans.
• Inclusion in a campaign to push OSU fans to Powered by Orange businesses through poweredbyorange.com.

And just for submitting a business for consideration, you will be entered in a drawing to win two OSU Football season tickets. Make sure to fill out the form below, incomplete entries will not be entered to win.

The Virginia Carter Smith Grand Crystal Award

After having won a Grand Gold award last week from the Council for Support and Education (CASE), Oregon State’s Powered by Orange campaign won the Virginia Carter Smith Grand Crystal award – the highest honor possible in regional competition. PBO will soon move on to national competition. Our success, in large part, is due to the students, alumni and friends who have all supported Powered by Orange and made it so visible and successful. So we’d like to extend our thanks to you for being such strong supporters of Oregon State, Powered by Orange and our community!

Morrison Bridge is Powered by Orange

The lights of Portland’s historic Morrison Bridge turned OSU orange on Monday night to rally the city’s more than 41,000 Beaver alumni in advance of the Dec. 3 Civil War.

Part of OSU’s “Powered by Orange” campaign, the lighting was sponsored by two well-known Beaver Believers – Bob Miller, morning radio host for KPAM, the Portland flagship station of the Beaver Sports Radio Network, and Pat Reser, co-chair of The Campaign for OSU, a $625-million fund-raising effort that has brought more than $540 million in donations thus far. The lights will stay on through the annual football showdown between OSU and the University of Oregon.

As most fans already know, OSU is ranked no. 16 this week in the Associated Press poll, while Oregon is ranked tenth. OSU has won six of its last seven games, Oregon, nine of its last 10. This year’s Civil War winner earns more than bragging rights: A Rose Bowl invitation is on the line.

Morrison Bridge’s lights shone as brightly as Beaver Nation hopes on Monday, with more than 1,000 light-emitting diodes glowing orange under a clear Portland sky. In the best spirit of OSU, known for its environmental values and alternative energy research, the eye-catching display uses only 82 watts of electricity for each of 32 fixtures on the span. Built in 1954, the bridge was formerly illuminated by halide lights that drew 1,000 watts each.

Happy backyard chickens

If you’re in Hillsboro on Saturday morning, Oregon State’s Extension Service is holding a harvest festival at 9 a.m., with a focus on urban poultry. That means…eggs!

James Hermes, Extension poultry specialist, will talk about backyard flocks and how to keep them safe and healthy.Other sessions will be on home food preservation, edible lanndscaping, pest management in food gardens and gardening in the Pacific Northwest. There also will be activities for children.

The event is free and open to the public at the Wasington County Fairplex floral building.

Now, if you’re urban chicken fix needs to be satisfied before Saturday, check out the awesome and informative Urban Chickens blog…they’re on Facebook, too, and their wall has all kinds of great advice from fans on how to raise happy, healthy birds.

And if you’re doubting the appeal of an urban birds, check out a recent NPR piece on their growing appeal. Enjoy!

Beth Appert

Beth Appert, an Oregon State alum with a Master’s in public health with a focus on international health, is working as an AIDS Program Coordinator at Medical Teams International in Portland. An advanced degree from Oregon State helped her land a job in a down economy. In a year, she will move to Mozambique to develop programs there with community organizations. Beth is just one Oregon State graduate who is Solving Global Problems.

Tell me about your position in Portland.

I work at Medical Teams International (MTI) as an AIDS Program Coordinator. In a year, I will be moving to Mozambique to work with our local partner, Kuwangisa. My department at MTI, Technical Services, does a lot of backstopping for different projects to ensure research is done accurately and programs are run effectively. We really try to understand what the people in the area we are working with want and what they feel that they need. Then we partner with community organizations to achieve their goals. Essentially, I am working myself out of a job by empowering local partners to develop, monitor and evaluate their own HIV/AIDS projects.

Why do you think Portland is an ideal area to work in?

I love Portland. People are so open. It is a very practical, realistic and passionate place, and I think that lends to a mentality that is necessary to do what we do. I believe that our work is particularly beneficial to the region because we offer a way for Portland to be connected with people all over the world.

Did you do an internship?

I did an internship with a different non-profit organization and I think my experience there really helped me to get a job.

How did you find a job?

I applied to many organizations in the Northwest as well as overseas. Some positions I didn’t get. But, I think, in the long run, the company I work for is a good fit for me.

How did OSU prepare you for the working world?

At OSU, I worked in teams a lot. When you work with a multi-dimensional team, as I do now, and find the strengths of each individual, you will have a positive outcome. We also covered many international issues in my classes and most of my projects were directly applicable to what I am doing now.

How were you able to set yourself apart from other applicants?

Having a Masters in Public Health (MPH) is a great qualifier. Making connections is essential, as well. Ultimately, having an education combined with some of my life and work skills really paid off.

What advice would you give other OSU students that are about to try and enter the working world?

I think you can find your road by tapping into what you’re passionate about and being determined to find your way. Don’t be afraid to try classes that don’t pertain to your major. Volunteer work also looks great on a resume, is a great way to make connections and works as an avenue to discover whether or not you have chosen the right field.

How do you see the impact you will make within the field of public health?

On a community level, I want to get people involved in a vision for people with HIV/AIDS, so that the same standards are kept regardless of the region. I’m providing technical solutions for projects so they can learn how to flourish on their own. A global impact I would like to have, therefore, is that the job I have won’t be needed anymore not just because others are doing the work, but because HIV/AIDS will be eradicated.

Cory Smith

Even in a challenging economy, Oregon State graduates are managing to find great jobs in the Portland Metro area. Engineer Cory Smith’s Q&A is the fourth in a series that profiles recent OSU grads and how they found their positions.

Who: Cory Smith
Construction Engineering Management
Alumnus Spring ‘09

You just landed a job with Tice Electric Co., in Portland. Can you talk about that?

My job is with the power resources division, which builds electrical substations in support of wind, hydro, and other generation and transmission.

You are a Construction Engineering Management major. What were your goals when you started school?

I did not begin at the University until I was 25. I had been working in construction, and it came to the point when I realized I needed an education. I found that Oregon State had an excellent Construction Engineering Management program. I am excited to have landed here at Tice Electric. I was an intern with Tice last summer, where I worked on several different projects – like the light rail extension on the I-205 South Corridor, an electrical substation connecting to a wind farm in the Columbia River Gorge and a bid for a solar array with a few small wind-turbines near PSU.  It was terrific. Tice Electric is an excellent progressive company full of wonderful people, and I feel very fortunate to be joining the team.

Why is Portland an ideal city to work in as you help to create a more sustainable environment?

In terms of green living, I have heard that Portland has been ranked at the top. Everywhere you turn there are bicycle riders and hybrid cars.  Portland is a very diverse and interesting place to live.

How did you  land your position?

Last spring term, a number of electrical contractors affiliated with the National Electrical Contractors Association came to recruit at the university. They held in informational lecture with interviews the following day.  I attended both, and there were many others students interviewing for the same internships. I received more than one offer and after doing my research and speaking with the Tice, I decided to go with them.

How did you make yourself stand apart from the other applicants?

I think I stood out because I made my personal beliefs and my morals very clear. I want to be a good person and feel good about what I do.  I mentioned this and told them I wanted to work for a company that I felt was making society and the world a better place.

In what ways to you think OSU has prepared you for this position and for the working world?

The Construction Engineering Management program is excellent. The professors care and the class sizes are not too large. The workload is pretty heavy, which forces us, like most engineering students, to be organized. If students are not motivated and self starters they won’t last in the program.

Do you have any advice for OSU students, either in the engineering program or otherwise?

Try to be the best person you can, work hard at what you do, and be helpful when asked.  Also, delayed gratification is quintessential, however challenging it may seem.

Janelle Hyter

Even in a challenging economy, Oregon State graduates are managing to find great jobs in the Portland Metro area. Accountant Janelle Hyter’s Q&A is the third in a series that profiles recent OSU grads and how they found their positions.

Who: Janelle Hyter
Senior in Accounting
Graduation Spring ‘09

Can you tell me about the accounting position in Portland you will soon be starting?

It is a full-service accounting firm called AKT, LLP. They have a variety of niches that they work with, including agriculture and health care. I will be starting in a training position. AKT trains their incoming accountants in both tax and audit, which makes them unique because a lot of firms steer their employees in one definitive direction from the start.

Why is Portland an ideal city to work in?

For me, Portland is comfortable. It is a big city but it has a smaller town feel because you don’t have the hustle and bustle of a lot of bigger cities. I love the people, the culture, and the mindset.

Is your field very competitive in terms of finding a job?

Accounting is a very rewarding field to go into.  It is one of the more resilient industries because it doesn’t matter if the economy is booming or if it is in a recession—people rely on their accountants in both instances.

What steps did you take to get a job?

Getting my face out there is not something that I am very comfortable with. But the accounting department at OSU has a co-ed accounting fraternity—Beta Alpha Psi. Every year they put on “Meet the Firms.” The accounting department here has one of the highest placement rates of their graduates in the country. I think that is due largely to events like this. I had an opportunity to meet about 25-30 firms from all over. I spoke with a couple firms and really hit it off with the people I talked to. Right away I emailed them, and from there I interviewed with them.

What has OSU done to prepare you for the working world?

I think the accounting department staff is incredible. They have some of the smartest professors who I have ever encountered. A lot of the professors have experience so they aren’t teaching just from the book. They are truly gifted and talented. Also, to become a certified accountant, you have to take what is called the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam. Year after year, OSU has a higher CPA pass-rate than PSU and U of O and often has a higher pass-rate than the national average.

What advice would you give other OSU students or those that are soon-to-be graduating?

Get your face out there. Don’t be afraid and don’t be intimidated. I think in more recent times it is not only the firm that is interviewing the candidate, but also the potential employee is interviewing the firm. You are looking for a perfect fit. There are a lot of opportunities out there and as an employee you have to be just as aggressive as the employers that are seeking you out. You can’t be afraid to seek opportunity. Also, take advantage of professors. What helped me to succeed is the time I spent in office hours—there’s a real benefit to it.

Oregon State pharmacy graduate Scott Nakashimada

Who: Scott Nakashimada
Undergrad degree in general science with an option in pre-pharmacy
Undergrad Alumnus Spring 2005
Graduate Alumnus, Pharmacy, 2009

You recently applied for a pharmacy position in Portland. Can you tell me a little bit about it?

I have been a pharmacy intern with Kaiser Permanente for the last four years. As graduation was approaching, I applied and got a full-time position with them. Now, my plan is to continue interning there for the next couple of months until I take my national board and state law exams to become a licensed pharmacist. After that is taken care of I will transition to a full-time pharmacist with Kaiser.

What were your long-term goals as an undergraduate in general science?

During my senior year in high school I did a health careers program at Beaverton High School. I got to spend some time working in the pharmacy. I liked it, so I pursued it all through college. I got a job at Kaiser as a pharmacy technician and pursued that as I was pursuing my pre-pharmacy requirements. Everything just seemed to fall into place after that.

Is pharmacy a competitive field? How do you think you set yourself apart from others vying for the same position?

There used to be plenty of openings for pharmacists, but now, with the economy and a pharmacy school that opened in Forest Grove, we are competing more.

As a pharmacy student, I tried to be as involved in pharmacy student groups as possible. I try to get my face out there in order to represent myself and OSU. I was the committee chair of a diabetes awareness group, where I was exposed to many different pharmaceutical opportunities. Being involved in the community and working with other pharmacists has allowed me to build relationships. I was constantly told “pharmacy is a small world.” The further I got into school, the more I realized it’s true.

I think it’s about the people you know and making sure you get face-time with them. The benefit of being a student is that you get the opportunity to either intern or volunteer at a lot of pharmacies, hospitals, clinics and health-related industries. Taking advantage of those opportunities to interact, express your interest and, more importantly, meet the right people, is invaluable.

How do you think that OSU prepared you for the working world?

I was able to network quite a bit while I was at OSU. I made many friends and I think that helped me out quite a bit. One of the first things I did was find a professor or advisor who I could think of as a mentor. That helped me do what I needed to do to find the aspect of pharmacy that was right for me. As it turns out, all the professors and staff at the College of Pharmacy have been great mentors to me.

What advice would you offer OSU students?

Anything is possible as long as you set your mind to it and make sure that you put in a good effort.

Anything you would like to add?

Go Beavs!