The honors general chemistry sequence is one of the longest-running honors offerings at OSU, and the three-term series gives participating students access to advanced laboratory experiences, faculty mentorship and a learning community that often shapes their academic paths in their very first year.
Margie Haak, a senior instructor in Oregon State University’s Department of Chemistry, has received the 2026 Outstanding Educator – Higher Education Award from the Oregon Academy of Science, recognizing more than three decades of dedication to teaching, mentorship and science outreach.
From inspiring graduate and undergraduate classrooms to transformative academic advising, this year’s awardees exemplify the very best of the College of Science. Their passion, rigor and commitment to student success continue to shape an inclusive, high-impact learning community.
What do ocean currents, baseball statistics and insect populations have in common? These real-world systems have all become living datasets — transformed by students into interactive apps and digital stories in a new course in data visualization.
Science communication is a raging passion for Heather Kitada Smalley. From interactive statistics and data science workshops to impressive research related to archeology, she demonstrates the impact of data in the real world and inspires students of all ages.
This year, the College of Science stood out across multiple categories, with honorees recognized for advancing student success, championing affordability, sparking innovation and driving world-class discovery.
Students traded textbooks for tangible skills in a rural Mexican field clinic, dressing wounds, working alongside veterinarians and seeing up close what care animals truly need.
Professor of Physics Oksana Ostroverkhova is celebrated for her dedication to mentoring students and advancing interdisciplinary research in physics at Oregon State.
The College of Science is using research-backed pedagogy, interactive labs, and virtual kits to let students worldwide master science courses like chemistry, physics, and anatomy with the same rigor as in-person classes.
A decade ago, the College of Science launched the Learning Assistant Program at Oregon State. Students reap the benefits from STEM courses that are increasingly personal, inclusive and effective.
As part of the College of Science's innovative course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs), students aren’t just learning about science — they’re doing authentic science. CUREs are an innovative pedagogical model where students engage in original research within the context of a regular course. This offers a research-intensive learning experience that is more accessible than research opportunities outside the classroom.
Elise Lockwood, a professor in the Department of Mathematics in the College of Science, has been honored with the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government to outstanding early-career scientists and engineers.
