Natural Sciences

Two scientists discuss a topic

 

 

Our science departments are committed to creating and disseminating new knowledge in their fields by combining research and teaching. Our 300 faculty members — including fellows of many learned societies and academies — are engaged in research that spans a broad range, from questions about the foundations of quantum mechanics, to the development of cancer cells and the workings of the brain, to work resulting in the spin-off of high-technology companies. Faculty share their excitement about their research with their students, training them to become part of the next generation of scientists who will push the frontiers of human knowledge. Explore majors, minors, concentrations, and academic programs in the Natural Sciences. 

 


News from Natural Sciences

March 7, 2024
CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY - An assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Matthias Agne and his lab are using fundamental science—based on thermodynamics and microscopic physics—to improve solid-state battery developments. And his lab provides a space for students to tackle diverse technical and humanitarian problems.
March 6, 2024
HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY - Working with some of the world’s top marathon runners at Nike, human physiologist Brad Wilkins led the charge to break the 2-hour marathon barrier—an attempt that led to the National Geographic documentary Breaking2. Now head of the new Oregon Performance Research Laboratory, he’s using science to help athletes push past their perceived limitations and achieve new heights.
March 6, 2024
NEUROSCIENCE - The UO’s interdisciplinary program is the first of its kind at an Oregon public university—and it's already becoming a draw for students who are interested in studying the nervous system. Since its launch in 2020, the neuroscience major has grown from 19 students in its first term to 314 declared majors in the fall of 2023. “I knew I wanted to do research, and the University of Oregon is one of the only schools on the West Coast that has a neuroscience major," says second-year neuroscience major Tanner Rozendal.

All news »

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Your Gift Changes Lives

Gifts to the College of Arts and Sciences can help our students make the most of their college careers. To do this, CAS needs your support. Your contributions help us ensure that teaching, research, advising, mentoring, and support services are fully available to every student. Thank you!

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World-Class Faculty in the Natural Sciences

Bowerman Sports Science Center director Mike Hahn smiling into camera

Mike Hahn

Director of the Bowerman Sports Science Center, Professor of Human Physiology, and Associate Director of the Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance

Mike Hahn is an academic expert in sports science and biomechanics. His research interests have ranged from prevention of falls, to utilization of computational analysis tools (such as artificial neural networks, support vector machines, and genetic algorithms) for solving complex modeling and optimization tasks, to enhancing the performance of fly-casting. He lead a study seeking to identify athletes with the highest risk of developing stress fractures, which can keep athletes out of competition for multiple seasons. The project was supported by a $1.2 million grant from the Pac-12 Conference Student-Athlete Health and Well-Being Initiative.

Current research projects are focused in the areas of prosthetic engineering, treatment outcomes in ankle osteoarthritis, neural control of powered prosthetic/orthotic devices, and mechanisms of locomotor adaptation after lower limb injury. Mike also teaches courses in biomechanics and capstone research.

Tien-Tien yu portrait

Tien-Tien Yu

Associate Professor of Physics, Institute for Fundamental Science

Tien-Tien is a theoretical particle physicist working at the interface of theory and experiment. She is particularly interested in understanding the nature of dark matter, whose existence is known through its gravitational effects on ordinary matter. She co-founded the SENSEI collaboration, an experiment utilizing silicon chips, much like those found in digital cameras, to search for dark matter. She was recently appointed to P5, an advisory group convened once a decade by the Department of Energy and National Science Foundation to help determine the next funded projects in particle physics.

A founding member of the group Particles for Justice, Yu is also a leader in advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in the physics field. In collaboration with the Comics and Cartoon Studies program, Yu created the UO Science and Comics Initiative. Read more about the initiative here.

Professor Nick Allen professional headshot

Nick Allen

Ann Swindells Professor of Clinical Psychology, Director, Center for Digital Mental Health

Nick Allen has more than thirty years of experience in clinical psychology, social neuroscience, research and education. His research works to understand the interactions between multiple risk factors for adolescent onset mental health disorders, and to use these insights to develop innovative approaches to prevention and early intervention. As the director of the Center for Digital Mental Health and leader of the ADAPT Lab, his group holds multiple NIH funded grants for work focusing on the use of mobile and wearable technology to monitor risk for poor mental health outcomes including suicide, depression, and bipolar disorder. He is currently leading a project with Google to determine the effect that smartphone usage has on mental health.

Nick is also the co-founder and CEO of Ksana Health Inc, a company whose mission is to use research evidence and modern technology to revolutionize the delivery of mental health care through remote behavioral monitoring and adaptive, continuous behavior change support.

 

 

The new School of Computer and Data Sciences will be open in fall 2023 to students throughout the UO, with the goal of serving 2,000 undergraduate majors and students in existing and new undergraduate and graduate programs.

School of Computer and Data Sciences

The mission at SCDS is to empower a diverse population of students and faculty working to advance knowledge in computer and data science, train the next generation of scholars, and engage with the wider world to tackle interdisciplinary challenges.

To do this, we start by applying our knowledge and experience at home across the University of Oregon campus.

Explore the SCDS

Research in the Natural Sciences

Natural scientists use data to understand, predict, and work with naturally occurring phenomena on earth and in the universe. From highly controlled experiments in the lab to observations collected in the field, our findings help make sense of the natural world while driving advancements in society and technology that touch everyone. By expanding the limits of human knowledge, we provide a scientific foundation for helping people live better, longer lives.

Explore Other Majors and Minors in the College of Arts and Sciences

 

Meet our Dean

Welcome to the natural sciences, where our top-flight researchers bring students in to experience the biological, physical, and computational sciences. Working side-by-side with faculty who are equally committed to student success and scientific discovery, students learn valuable critical thinking skills through hands-on research in the lab, field, and classroom—from studying marine biology at the Oregon Institute for Marine Biology on our beautiful campus on the coast to coding advanced systems and analyzing complex data in the School of Computer and Data Science.

The research we’re conducting at the UO makes a tangible difference in our communities, our nation, and the world. For example, our chemists are pioneering the materials and techniques that will inspire the next generation of batteries for energy storage. Our psychologists are developing and testing cutting-edge interventions to improve mental health and wellbeing. Our geologists and environmental scientists are collaborating with governments, tribes, and industry partners to protect communities from earthquakes and wildfires.

You may or may not end up in a science career, but either way these experiences will change the way you experience and interact with the world. A healthy society depends on people who know how to gather evidence and critically analyze data. No matter what field you enter, scientific thinking will help you become a more thoughtful, engaged, and critical citizen in modern society.

We’re excited to explore the natural world with you.

Elliot Berkman  
Divisional Associate Dean, Natural Sciences

elliot berkman

Happening at CAS

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

UO College of Arts & Sciences (@uocas) • Instagram photos and videos

Mar 28
2024 Student Organization Leadership Graduation Cord

Did you hold a student organization officer/leadership position? Are you graduating Winter 2024, Spring 2024, Summer 2024, Fall 2024? If so, you are eligible to receive a FREE...
2024 Student Organization Leadership Graduation Cord
March 27–June 30

Did you hold a student organization officer/leadership position? Are you graduating Winter 2024, Spring 2024, Summer 2024, Fall 2024? If so, you are eligible to receive a FREE Student Organization Leader Cord. To receive your cord, fill out this form https://oregon.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1zRIfukUZUz1EGO before July 1, 2024.  

To be eligible for a Student Organization Leadership Cord a student must:   

be graduating Winter 2024, Spring 2024, Summer 2024, Fall 2024,   be in a UO Student Club that is officially registered or recognized and verified through the Engage system,   hold a Student Leadership position and that position should be indicated in the Engage system,  fill out the form completely,   submit it by July 1, 2024, and  have not been given a student organization leadership cord in a previous year. 

Cords can be picked up or mailed to you, your choice. Questions about cords should be directed to Center for Student Involvement csi@uoregon.edu, 541-346-2631 

Mar 28
Ablaze (With Destruction and Abundance)

Presented by the Center for Art Research Adam DeSorbo: Ablaze (With Destruction and Abundance) March 1- May 19, 2024 CFAR billboard project at 510 Oak Street,...
Ablaze (With Destruction and Abundance)
March 1–May 19
510 Oak

Presented by the Center for Art Research

Adam DeSorbo: Ablaze (With Destruction and Abundance)

March 1- May 19, 2024 CFAR billboard project at 510 Oak Street, Eugene, OR 97403

Ablaze (With Destruction and Abundance) depicts ochre-tinted maple leaves nailed to wood planks that have been strengthened through a traditional Japanese charring process known as the Yakisugi method. The burned boards and maple leaves allude to transitional states, both benign and seasonal, and the more destructive forces of increasing wildfire activity. The embedded relationship between preservation and destruction as it relates to the Anthropocene brings our paradoxical tendencies as a species into full relief. The image is activated through original text by the artist, making explicit the process of grieving a burning world. The interaction between the image and the text proposes an embrace of our ecological cracking, the necessity to witness, the urge to preserve, and the radical act of finding joy while existing in the cracks.

This CFAR billboard project is supported by the University of Oregon Department of ARt’s Center for Art Research in conjunction with the exhibition series Embrace Fearlessly the Burning World.

Mar 28
Spring into Science Membership Discount

Visit the museum during Spring Break and receive 20% off Family and Individual, new or renewing memberships. Show your Oregon Trail or other EBT/WIC card for an even deeper...
Spring into Science Membership Discount
March 23–31
Museum of Natural and Cultural History

Visit the museum during Spring Break and receive 20% off Family and Individual, new or renewing memberships. Show your Oregon Trail or other EBT/WIC card for an even deeper discount.  

Investigate Oregon's amazing fossils and ecosystems, and delve into its cultural history—from the First Americans at Paisley Caves to the dynamic cultures of today's Tribes. 

Discount applies to in-person membership purchases only. Learn more about the benefits of membership on our website

Mar 28
Art Exhibit: UO Printmaking Student Art Show 8:00 a.m.

Come view the stunning artistic work from students in UO Printmaking classes in the UO Art Department. This exhibit displays an incredible assortment of pieces provided by over 20...
Art Exhibit: UO Printmaking Student Art Show
March 25–May 16
8:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Erb Memorial Union (EMU) Adell McMillan Gallery

Come view the stunning artistic work from students in UO Printmaking classes in the UO Art Department. This exhibit displays an incredible assortment of pieces provided by over 20 student artists. Be sure to join us for our reception on April 18th @6:00 p.m. Meet these talented artists while enjoying free refreshments and fun DIY activities. The show will be on view through May 16th.