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

EARTH SCIENCES - Carol Paty, a comparative planetologist in the College of Arts and Sciences helped develop one of the scientific instruments aboard NASA’s Europa Clipper, which blasted off Oct. 14, on the world’s first mission to conduct a detailed study of Jupiter's moon Europa. Paty, an Earth sciences professor, is a member of the research teams behind two of the nine scientific instruments the spacecraft will use to confirm and measure what scientists strongly suspect is a vast sea of salty water buried under a sheet of ice enveloping the moon’s surface.
CINEMA STUDIES, MATHEMATICS - Abby Lewis, a fourth-year mathematics and cinema studies major, hopes to address the divide between mathematics vs. arts students in her second children’s book, Moose and the Math Fairy, earlier this year. “Math is in patterns, and it’s all around us in the world," Lewis said.
BIOLOGY, ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES - Associate Professor Lauren Hallett is one of three faculty members to receive a Fulbright US Scholar Program award. Hallett will use her Fulbright award to further her research on restoration ecology in Australia and Spain.

All news »

We Love Our Supporters

students walking and holding possessions during Unpack the quack day

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!

Give to CAS

World-Class Faculty in the Natural Sciences

Thien Nguyen, Associate Professor of Computer Science

Thien Nguyen

Associate Professor of Computer Science

Thien Nguyen is an expert in natural language processing, or the ability of artificial intelligence to understand, interpret and generate meaningful human language. He aims to enable computers to perform cognitive language-related tasks. His lab is among the first to develop deep learning algorithms for information extraction and text mining in natural language processing and data mining. His research on using natural language processing for multilingual learning earned him a Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) award from the National Science Foundation.

Nguyen's recent research focuses on programming computers to improve the efficiency and safety of large language models (LLMs) across human languages while extracting valuable information about events like natural disasters, cyberattacks, disease outbreaks, and protests from news articles and other sources. His work seeks to deliver useful insights from diverse data and make these technologies accessible in low-resource languages that lack adequate data sets for training AI models.

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

Oct 17
Indigenous, Race, and Ethnic Studies PhD Information Session 3:00 p.m.

Courtney Cox, Indigenous, Race, and Ethnic Studies IRES Director of Graduate Studies, will host a virtual informational session where she will provide an overview of the PhD...
Indigenous, Race, and Ethnic Studies PhD Information Session
October 17
3:00 p.m.

Courtney Cox, Indigenous, Race, and Ethnic Studies IRES Director of Graduate Studies, will host a virtual informational session where she will provide an overview of the PhD program, the application requirements, and answer any questions attendees may have about the process.

Prospective students can register for the Zoom informational session using this link

The session will be recorded for those unable to join and available immediately on YouTube.

Oct 17
2025 Japan Exchange & Teaching (JET) Program Info Session 5:00 p.m.

TEACH ENGLISH IN JAPAN 2025! The JET Program is a competitive employment opportunity that allows young professionals to live and work in cities, towns, and villages throughout...
2025 Japan Exchange & Teaching (JET) Program Info Session
October 17
5:00–6:30 p.m.
Fenton Hall 110

TEACH ENGLISH IN JAPAN 2025! The JET Program is a competitive employment opportunity that allows young professionals to live and work in cities, towns, and villages throughout Japan. Being a JET is a chance to teach English and represent the United States and other participating countries as a cultural ambassador to Japan. Most participants serve as Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs) and work in public and private schools throughout Japan; some work as Coordinators for International Relations (CIRs) as interpreters/translators.

Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree in any field by the time of departure for the program and Coordinators for International Relations must also have a high level of proficiency in the Japanese language.

Before attending the info session please watch an important video on how to write a great JET Statement of Purpose at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eaq-rxLLUg4

Connect with Matt Turner on the UO campus for his in-person JET Program info session. For more information contact Matt Turner at: matthew.turner@se.mofa.go.jp or visit https://jetprogramusa.org

Oct 17
Women in Economics Club 6:00 p.m.

Join the UO Women in Economics Club at our weekly meeting! We host faculty talks and guest lectures, provide career development opportunities, as well as peer support. All are...
Women in Economics Club
October 10–September 18
6:00–7:00 p.m.
Allen Hall 140

Join the UO Women in Economics Club at our weekly meeting! We host faculty talks and guest lectures, provide career development opportunities, as well as peer support. All are welcome, regardless of major, minor, or gender identity!

The UO Women in Economics Club (WiE) was established in 2023 to support and meet the unique needs of women and gender-diverse individuals in the male-dominated economics field. WiE strives to build community, empower, and increase participation in economics through academic and social events. The club hosts guest speakers, roundtable discussions, professional development workshops, and more. Students undergraduate through PhD are welcome.

Meetings: Thursdays from 6-7pm in Allen 140. Hope to see you there!

Oct 18
Career Tour-Tech 9:00 a.m.

Want to see what it's like to work for some of the most innovative tech companies in Oregon AND explore Eugene all at the same time?! Have we got a Friday morning for you! Hop...
Career Tour-Tech
October 18
9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

Want to see what it's like to work for some of the most innovative tech companies in Oregon AND explore Eugene all at the same time?! Have we got a Friday morning for you! Hop on the bus and let’s go explore!

Students will have the opportunity to tour local companies passionate about creating innovative solutions for complex problems, and helping YOU learn more about all the different types of job functions needed to keep this growing industry booming. They are excited to introduce you to careers and internships at their companies, meet alumni and leaders, and show off some of their innovations in action! This event is FREE, open to all majors, faculty/staff, and bring a friend! Register on Handshake to save your spot & get updates! Our last tour had a waitlist, so sign up today!

OUTLINE OF TOUR:

Meet at Ford Alumni Center Lobby (near Matt Knight Arena Duck Statue) NO LATER THAN 9am; We'll walk over to the bus stop (Agate) to catch the EMX to downtown Eugene. All our sites are within walking distance of one another, so be prepared to get some exercise! While at the stops, you'll get an opportunity to tour their facilities as well as meet with leaders in the field. At 1 we'll be done with the tour and you can stick around downtown to keep exploring and grab lunch OR a group will be getting on the bus to head back to campus you can join.

ABOUT OUR TOUR STOPS:

Pipeworks Studios Video Game Developers of awesome apps and well-known video games like Madden 24 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 

Nexus Business Lounge Tech Coworking Space 

Twenty Ideas: Software Dev for Health tech, Med ted, Ed tech 

Code Chops Tech coworking space located in Nexus Business Lounge  

Technology Association of Oregon: Non-profit focused on the regional tech industry, empowering entrepreneurs and fostering connections to position the Northwest as a global innovation hub. 

Open Eugene: community connectors providing access and opportunities to create, collaborate and innovate to solve problems and invest back into the community 

NOTE: make sure you have your FREE LTD bus pass loaded on your phone https://transportation.uoregon.edu/bus

questions, email htate@uoregon.edu for more info or if you don't have a Handshake account and want to join us!