OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY CORVALLIS, OREGON 97331
The Daily Barometer
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DAILYBAROMETER
WEDNESDAY MAY 14, 2014 VOL. CXVI, NO. 136
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Researchers study radioactivity in tuna n
Researchers calculate radioactivity from Fukushima in albacore tuna to gauge food safety, understand migration patterns By McKinley Smith THE DAILY BAROMETER
Sometimes science smells. “Imagine that you’ve got boiling meat — liquid, boiling meat that’s burning,” said Delvan Neville, a graduate researcher with Oregon State University’s radiation health physics program. “It’s disgusting; it’s this black, bubbling sludge.” The product of this “sludge” lies within stacked plastic containers on Neville’s lab table: albacore tuna, reduced to ash. Neville slowly heats the albacore to 450 degrees Celsius in a Pyrex dish using a pottery kiln. It’s a low-budget solution, and it’s effective.
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Architect Chris Downey talks at Linus Pauling Science Center Tuesday, shares lessons from life as a blind professional By Tori Hittner
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By Emma-Kate Schaake THE DAILY BAROMETER
See CONSTRUCTION | page 4
THE DAILY BAROMETER
OUTsights on accessible design
Washington Way, 15th Street realignment projects slated for completion in September
The collaborative city and OSU realignment construction project at the intersection of Washington Way and 15th Street is in full swing, with street and sidewalk closures surrounding the major work sites. The project is running slightly ahead of schedule, and 15th Street was able to close earlier than the expected date in mid-May. “We’re on schedule to meet the tight deadline of September,” said project manager Nathan Patterson, who is an associate civil engineer for OSU Capital Planning and Development. Everything should be completed around Sept. 12, in anticipation of campus refilling for fall term. “I’ve been really happy with the contractors and construction,” said City
MCKINLEY SMITH
See RADIOACTIVITY | page 4
Construction slightly ahead of schedule n
Delvan Neville, a graduate researcher with Oregon State’s radiation health physics program, holds an ashed sample of albacore tuna in his lab.
Neville said he has nearly 100 percent recovery of the particles he’s studying: Cesium 134 (Cs-134) and 137 (Cs-137). “When I first started working on this, I did not know much about radioecology, but believed we would be able to find some trace radionuclides from Fukushima,” said Jason Phillips, a researcher in the College of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences. “After we teamed up with Delvan and he found cesium 134, it became the obvious choice, because it was detectable and has a short half-life (~2 years) compared to cesium 137.” Phillips provided the albacore background information and the dried samples. Albacore fascinated him even before college, Phillips said. Phillips gave his graduate thesis defense on albacore stocks shortly before the Fukushima disaster. Now, he
Theresa Hogue
| OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
Last year’s annual Klatow Eena Powwow brought members of Oregon’s nine confederated tribes, among many others, to campus May 18, 2013.
Salmon bake, Powwow this weekend THE DAILY BAROMETER
The Eena Haws Native American Longhouse will host two annual cultural events on campus this weekend. The first event consists of a public salmon bake in the Memorial Union quad Friday between 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m., followed by the 38th annual Klatowa Eena Powwow at Gill Coliseum Saturday. The powwow will commence at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. when the grand entry begins. The powwow will feature host drum
Blacklodge Singers, honor drum Little River Singers and Anthony Bluehorse as the arena director. Nick Sixkiller will serve as the master of ceremonies for the event. In addition to the traditional ceremonies, the powwow will feature performances from the Native American sketch comedy group, the 1491s. Saturday’s powwow will feature a 5 p.m. meet-and-greet with the comedy group. Both events are free and open to the public. managing@dailybarometer.com
Renowned architect Chris Downey uses innovative acoustic and sensory research to design and create accessible spaces for people of all abilities. He has adapted his own version of PowerPoint to employ screen reading technology and enjoys avid bike riding, skiing and competitive rowing. He also happens to be blind. Downey lost his sight unexpectedly after undergoing necessary brain surgery several years ago. He had two degrees in architecture and 20 years of field experience before being suddenly forced to modify his outlook and approach on life. He shared his story with students Tuesday night in the Linus Pauling Science Center. Despite his struggle with the initial transition, Downey never allowed himself to give up. Rehabilitation was, for him, a necessity rather than an option. “I got back to work before any of (my rehabilitation) started happening,” Downey said. “I went back really to get to work before people could decide for themselves that I couldn’t
Douglas Keszler to be associate dean for research and graduate studies Douglas Keszler will be associate dean of research and graduate studies starting Friday. COURTESY OF THE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE
Softball full of youth for 2015
Sports, page 5
THE DAILY BAROMETER
The College of Science announced Douglas Keszler as the new associate dean for research and graduate studies Tuesday. Keszler will officially join the dean’s leadership team Friday, according to the College of Science’s press release. Recognized as a distinguished professor in the department of chemistry, Keszler has been an adjunct professor in the physics department and the director of the Center for Sustainable Materials Chemistry. In his new position, Keszler will identify and facilitate academic research at the graduate and faculty
Davis propels OSU to win against UP Sports, page 5
levels. He is also charged with cultivating collaborative research projects, identifying potential industry partners and establishing start-up opportunities for the college. “I look forward to enhancing a supportive and creative research environment, advancing high quality graduate programs that support broad professional development of students, and enriching the scientific research community at OSU,” Keszler said in the press release. Keszler came to OSU in 1984 with a Ph.D. from Northwestern University and a bachelor’s from Southwestern Oklahoma State University. managing@dailybarometer.com
work, that I couldn’t be an architect.” That sense of determination has propelled Downey to the forefront of accessible architecture, a field he describes as design with the blind in mind. Downey works to provide designs that are enjoyable for people of all abilities, both mental and physical. In doing so, he focuses on the utilization of all senses, particularly sound and touch. “What changes is your mind’s capacity to focus in ways you wouldn’t otherwise be able to,” Downey said. “The mechanics are the same. It’s the focus that’s different.” This approach leads to a richer, more engaging space, according to Downey. Working with the ARUP architectural company, Downey has been able to take virtual spaces and mimic what the acoustics will sound like in the finished, physical space. “I want to see what it sounds like,” said Downey, who relies often on acoustics to determine where he is in a building. “We get to see how a building speaks to us in digital form.” Downey still utilizes his knowledge and architectural talents, despite needing to adapt to new tools. Using a 3-D embossing printer, screen reading technology and wax sticks, Downey is able to create and modify blueprints. Heralded for his innovative techniques, Downey has given a TED talk and taught classes to high school students to empower others and prove that people exist behind the socially constructed facades of those with disabilities. “You should think of the person first,” Downey said. “A disability is not the defining aspect of a person.” Labeling his presentation “OUTsights,” Downey served as a living representation of the beliefs and guidelines he espoused. Living without sight has given Downey a new, more vibrant outlook on life — one that he appears to apply to his daily life, in addition to his professional one. “At the root of it all is the creative process,” Downey said. “Visuals are just tools.” Tori Hittner Higher education reporter managing@dailybarometer.com
Time for Oregonians to celebrate craft beer
Forum, page 7