A week of activities celebrating and showcasing the broad range of scholarship, programs, and research taking place across the University of Oregon related to human performance and sport within the context of the Olympic movement.
With a legacy of more than 100 alumni representing over 20 countries at the Olympic Games and a tradition of hosting elite competitions, the Olympic spirit is woven into the DNA of the University of Oregon.
Olympics Studies Week is about honoring and celebrating that legacy. Coordinated by the newly launched University of Oregon Olympic Studies Hub, the week is designed to showcase the breadth of research and activities taking place across the university related to sports and wellness within the context of the Olympic movement.
Several events, including an academic symposium and an industry session, are open for community members to attend. Professors and instructors are also incorporating lessons and research into their courses, as well as guest speakers, to explore topics related to Olympic studies.
Plus, there is an array of sporting events taking place on campus during the week, culminating in the Big Ten Track and Field Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field.
See full schedule of events: https://business.uoregon.edu/news/uo-olympic-studies-week-2025
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Highlights of Olympic Studies Week include
- Academic Showcase, May 12, 9:00 a.m. – noon, Beetham Family Seminar Room, Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact: Short presentations showcasing the array of courses, research, and scholarship taking place on campus connected to the Olympic movement. Speakers include the UO Athletics Archivist and scholars from different departments and units, including the Lundquist College of Business, School of Journalism and Communications, Human Performance, Bowerman Sports Science Center, College of Arts and Sciences, and more. This session will be live-streamed at https://www.youtube.com/live/2DZPjvS1iLg.
- Industry Panel, May 16, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.: Organized by the Warsaw Sports Business Center, this industry session will showcase the University of Oregon's hands-on learning approach to education. Representatives from various organizations will be on hand to share insights about how they have partnered to advance the Olympic movement and appreciation for sports and wellness. Open to the public.
- UO Olympics History Archives Tour, May 14, 10:00 - 10:45 a.m., Location: Knight Library, Special Collections and University Archives (2nd Floor, North Wing): Archivist Lauren Goss will share some of the hidden treasures the university keeps in its special collections, including writings from legendary track coach Bill Bowerman. Space is limited. UO students, faculty, and staff only. RSVP at https://uobiz.co/olympic-studies-archive-tour
- UO Olympics History Hayward Hall Tour, May 14, 11:00 - 11:45 a.m., Hayward Hall, Hayward Field, (Base of Hayward Tower): This museum within legendary track-and-field venue Hayward Field honors the university’s eight Olympic gold medalists and showcases the global reach of Oregon athletics. The tour will also include a visit to the top of Hayward Field Tower. Space is limited. UO students, faculty, and staff only. RSVP at https://uobiz.co/olympic-studies-hayward-tour
- Oregon Performance Research Lab Tour, May 14, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m., Esslinger Hall 156: Lab director Brad Wilkins will highlight how the lab's research and cutting-edge technologies advance the understanding and limitations of human performance. Space is limited. UO students, faculty, and staff only. RSVP at https://uobiz.co/olympic-studies-performance-tour
- Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance Spring Symposium, May 15, Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact: The Wu Tsau Human Performance Alliance includes research from the University of Oregon, Stanford University, University of California San Diego, University of Kansas, Boston Children's Hospital, and the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. The alliance is holding its spring symposium at UO. UO students, faculty, and staff are invited to join keynote sessions via Zoom (links available at https://business.uoregon.edu/news/uo-olympic-studies-week-2025)
10:00 a.m.
Join the Department of Cinema Studies for a talk with Dr. Stephanie Mastrostefano, Senior CG Animation Coordinator at LAIKA Studios, on Friday, May 16th at 10 am in the EMU Diamond Lake Room (Room 119). Free and open to the community!
Drawing on Dr. Stephanie Mastrostefano’s graduate research into women’s labor in the Ink and Paint Department at Walt Disney Studios during the 1930s, and her current role in production management at LAIKA Studios, this talk invites us to consider how we can bring the tools of academic scholarship into the everyday work of making, managing, and imagining animation’s future. Dr. Mastrostefano reflects on how historical labor patterns continue to influence the animation industry today, not only in organizational structures and workflows, but in whose voices are heard and whose work is seen. By blending historical research with personal experience, she addresses the ongoing challenges and opportunities for women in animation and explores how bridging scholarship and industry can lead to meaningful change.
Dr. Stephanie Mastrostefano (PhD 2024, University of Oregon) is a Senior CG Animation Coordinator at LAIKA Studios in Portland, OR. Her research examines how cinematic technologies, labor practices, and social attitudes shaped—and sometimes subverted—women’s roles in animation during its industrial development. After a decade researching women’s contributions to animation, Stephanie transitioned from academia to industry to actively promote pathways for women’s advancement from within. She now oversees CG animated shot production on LAIKA’s upcoming feature, Wildwood.
10:00 a.m.
Organized by the Warsaw Sports Business Center, this industry session will showcase the University of Oregon's hands-on learning approach to education.
Representatives from various organizations will be on hand to share insights about how they have partnered to advance the Olympic movement and appreciation for sports and wellness.
Panelists Include:
- Adam Wood, Director, High Performance Pathways, U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee
- Brianne Theisen-Eaton, Olympic bronze medalist; former UO track-and-field student-athlete.
- Rob Mullens, University of Oregon Athletic Director; member, U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee Collegiate Advisory Council
- Lauren Anderson, Director, Warsaw Sports Business Center (moderator)
A Q&A with audience members is also planned.
Open to the Public
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This event is part of UO Olympic Studies Week. See the full schedule of events at https://business.uoregon.edu/news/uo-olympic-studies-week-2025.
1:00–3:00 p.m.
Do you have questions about your fall term schedule? Phi Alpha Theta Honor Society and faculty from the Department of History are partnering to provide students with excellent advising and a free pizza party! Bring your questions and your appetite! Open to all history majors and minors.
1:30–2:30 p.m.
Are you an incoming/prospective graduate (Master's/Doctoral student) or a current first-year graduate student? Then consider attending this online information session on the National Science Foundation-Graduate Research Fellowship (NSF-GRFP).
Please RSVP at https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/0196263723367ecf87e548ae6d98e9dd
NSF-GRFP is a prestigious national award program given each year to a select group of master’s and doctoral students in science and engineering fields in recognition of their academic and professional excellence. Students who receive the NSF-GRFP benefit from a generous stipend, opportunities for international research and professional development, and the freedom to conduct their own research at any accredited U.S. institution of graduate education to which they are accepted. The University of Oregon offers competitive benefits meant to augment and support NSF Fellowships.
NSF Graduate Research Fellows who choose UO as their affiliate graduate institution will receive full tuition and mandatory fee support, and subsidized health insurance benefits under UO's graduate assistant and fellow health insurance plan during their active tenure years. UO will also reserve a portion of the annual cost of education allowance for the Fellow to use for research expenses. Must be an incoming student or in your first year of study to apply. For more information see our UO NSF page.
3:00 p.m.
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Organic/Inorganic/Materials Chemistry Seminar Boekelheide Lecture Series
Professor Neil Garg, University of California, Los Angeles Hosted by Mike Haley
Transforming Organic Chemistry Education Through Community and Innovation
Organic chemistry courses have a bad reputation, despite having a tremendous impact on our everyday lives. Organic chemistry has remained a notorious “weed-out” class for decades – striking fear in the hearts of students – and has long been viewed as a gatekeeper course for those interested in pursuing a career in medicine.
In this presentation, Professor Garg will examine the underlying philosophies and practices through which he transformed organic chemistry into one of the most popular classes on the UCLA campus. He will also discuss efforts to promote organic chemistry education on a global scale through chemistry-themed music videos, educational websites, interactive games, and children’s books. The lessons described in this lecture, focusing on the importance of community and innovation in education, are broadly applicable well beyond the subject of organic chemistry.
A week of activities celebrating and showcasing the broad range of scholarship, programs, and research taking place across the University of Oregon related to human performance and sport within the context of the Olympic movement.
With a legacy of more than 100 alumni representing over 20 countries at the Olympic Games and a tradition of hosting elite competitions, the Olympic spirit is woven into the DNA of the University of Oregon.
Olympics Studies Week is about honoring and celebrating that legacy. Coordinated by the newly launched University of Oregon Olympic Studies Hub, the week is designed to showcase the breadth of research and activities taking place across the university related to sports and wellness within the context of the Olympic movement.
Several events, including an academic symposium and an industry session, are open for community members to attend. Professors and instructors are also incorporating lessons and research into their courses, as well as guest speakers, to explore topics related to Olympic studies.
Plus, there is an array of sporting events taking place on campus during the week, culminating in the Big Ten Track and Field Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field.
See full schedule of events: https://business.uoregon.edu/news/uo-olympic-studies-week-2025
--
Highlights of Olympic Studies Week include
- Academic Showcase, May 12, 9:00 a.m. – noon, Beetham Family Seminar Room, Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact: Short presentations showcasing the array of courses, research, and scholarship taking place on campus connected to the Olympic movement. Speakers include the UO Athletics Archivist and scholars from different departments and units, including the Lundquist College of Business, School of Journalism and Communications, Human Performance, Bowerman Sports Science Center, College of Arts and Sciences, and more. This session will be live-streamed at https://www.youtube.com/live/2DZPjvS1iLg.
- Industry Panel, May 16, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.: Organized by the Warsaw Sports Business Center, this industry session will showcase the University of Oregon's hands-on learning approach to education. Representatives from various organizations will be on hand to share insights about how they have partnered to advance the Olympic movement and appreciation for sports and wellness. Open to the public.
- UO Olympics History Archives Tour, May 14, 10:00 - 10:45 a.m., Location: Knight Library, Special Collections and University Archives (2nd Floor, North Wing): Archivist Lauren Goss will share some of the hidden treasures the university keeps in its special collections, including writings from legendary track coach Bill Bowerman. Space is limited. UO students, faculty, and staff only. RSVP at https://uobiz.co/olympic-studies-archive-tour
- UO Olympics History Hayward Hall Tour, May 14, 11:00 - 11:45 a.m., Hayward Hall, Hayward Field, (Base of Hayward Tower): This museum within legendary track-and-field venue Hayward Field honors the university’s eight Olympic gold medalists and showcases the global reach of Oregon athletics. The tour will also include a visit to the top of Hayward Field Tower. Space is limited. UO students, faculty, and staff only. RSVP at https://uobiz.co/olympic-studies-hayward-tour
- Oregon Performance Research Lab Tour, May 14, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m., Esslinger Hall 156: Lab director Brad Wilkins will highlight how the lab's research and cutting-edge technologies advance the understanding and limitations of human performance. Space is limited. UO students, faculty, and staff only. RSVP at https://uobiz.co/olympic-studies-performance-tour
- Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance Spring Symposium, May 15, Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact: The Wu Tsau Human Performance Alliance includes research from the University of Oregon, Stanford University, University of California San Diego, University of Kansas, Boston Children's Hospital, and the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. The alliance is holding its spring symposium at UO. UO students, faculty, and staff are invited to join keynote sessions via Zoom (links available at https://business.uoregon.edu/news/uo-olympic-studies-week-2025)
A week of activities celebrating and showcasing the broad range of scholarship, programs, and research taking place across the University of Oregon related to human performance and sport within the context of the Olympic movement.
With a legacy of more than 100 alumni representing over 20 countries at the Olympic Games and a tradition of hosting elite competitions, the Olympic spirit is woven into the DNA of the University of Oregon.
Olympics Studies Week is about honoring and celebrating that legacy. Coordinated by the newly launched University of Oregon Olympic Studies Hub, the week is designed to showcase the breadth of research and activities taking place across the university related to sports and wellness within the context of the Olympic movement.
Several events, including an academic symposium and an industry session, are open for community members to attend. Professors and instructors are also incorporating lessons and research into their courses, as well as guest speakers, to explore topics related to Olympic studies.
Plus, there is an array of sporting events taking place on campus during the week, culminating in the Big Ten Track and Field Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field.
See full schedule of events: https://business.uoregon.edu/news/uo-olympic-studies-week-2025
--
Highlights of Olympic Studies Week include
- Academic Showcase, May 12, 9:00 a.m. – noon, Beetham Family Seminar Room, Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact: Short presentations showcasing the array of courses, research, and scholarship taking place on campus connected to the Olympic movement. Speakers include the UO Athletics Archivist and scholars from different departments and units, including the Lundquist College of Business, School of Journalism and Communications, Human Performance, Bowerman Sports Science Center, College of Arts and Sciences, and more. This session will be live-streamed at https://www.youtube.com/live/2DZPjvS1iLg.
- Industry Panel, May 16, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.: Organized by the Warsaw Sports Business Center, this industry session will showcase the University of Oregon's hands-on learning approach to education. Representatives from various organizations will be on hand to share insights about how they have partnered to advance the Olympic movement and appreciation for sports and wellness. Open to the public.
- UO Olympics History Archives Tour, May 14, 10:00 - 10:45 a.m., Location: Knight Library, Special Collections and University Archives (2nd Floor, North Wing): Archivist Lauren Goss will share some of the hidden treasures the university keeps in its special collections, including writings from legendary track coach Bill Bowerman. Space is limited. UO students, faculty, and staff only. RSVP at https://uobiz.co/olympic-studies-archive-tour
- UO Olympics History Hayward Hall Tour, May 14, 11:00 - 11:45 a.m., Hayward Hall, Hayward Field, (Base of Hayward Tower): This museum within legendary track-and-field venue Hayward Field honors the university’s eight Olympic gold medalists and showcases the global reach of Oregon athletics. The tour will also include a visit to the top of Hayward Field Tower. Space is limited. UO students, faculty, and staff only. RSVP at https://uobiz.co/olympic-studies-hayward-tour
- Oregon Performance Research Lab Tour, May 14, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m., Esslinger Hall 156: Lab director Brad Wilkins will highlight how the lab's research and cutting-edge technologies advance the understanding and limitations of human performance. Space is limited. UO students, faculty, and staff only. RSVP at https://uobiz.co/olympic-studies-performance-tour
- Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance Spring Symposium, May 15, Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact: The Wu Tsau Human Performance Alliance includes research from the University of Oregon, Stanford University, University of California San Diego, University of Kansas, Boston Children's Hospital, and the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. The alliance is holding its spring symposium at UO. UO students, faculty, and staff are invited to join keynote sessions via Zoom (links available at https://business.uoregon.edu/news/uo-olympic-studies-week-2025)
2:00 p.m.
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Physical Chemistry Seminar
3rd Year Talks
Speakers:
ZOE JOHNSON “A phonon wave-particle duality model to investigate thermal fluctuations”
ALEX BATELAAN “Dynamics of Bio- Macromolecules”
4:00–5:30 p.m.
Join us for the next Native American and Indigenous Studies Research Colloquium. UO PhD student Jasmine Penate shares her work examining the factors that influence the separation from Indigenous identity and acculturation into Western culture among Maya individuals in Guatemala and the U.S. Through interviews in regions like Antigua and Sololá, this research highlights how Indigenous communities navigate cultural change and continuity.