OSU will operate a new oceanographic research vessel based out of Newport. Learn more here.

By OSU

HOUMA, La. – The first of three new oceanographic research vessels dedicated to advancing marine science along U.S. coasts was successfully launched Thursday.

The ship, R/V Taani, is being constructed as part of a project, led by Oregon State University and funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation, to provide scientists with valuable new tools to study critical issues such as rapidly changing ocean conditions and human impacts on the marine environment.

The Regional Class Research Vessel project, supported by more than $390 million in grants, is charged with delivering three nearly identical ships to the U.S. Academic Research Fleet. The ships…

New proposals in the Oregon Senate focus on easing educator shortage. Learn more here.

Original article by NATALIE PATE

Schools nationwide and across Oregon have been facing educator shortages for years, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Oregon lawmakers are considering bills this session they believe will address the problem’s root causes. Among them are Senate Bill 279, which would make it easier and less cost-prohibitive for teachers from other states to work in Oregon, and Senate Bill 283, an omnibus bill that would tackle retention, pay and several aspects of educator recruitment and hiring practices.

Lawmakers said these bills would address staff and substitute shortages,…

Construction has begun on the new Redmond Library. Learn more here.

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The new Redmond Library is officially under construction after six years of planning and preparation, officials said Thursday. The 40,000-square-foot library is slated to open in the fall of 2024.

“It’s an exciting time as we look toward the library’s future in Redmond,” said Library Director Todd Dunkelberg. “We have heard the community ask for more meeting spaces, work spaces and areas for both children and teens, as well as more books and collections in general. We are responding with a new building that will provide all of that, plus essential library resources and tools for our digital age.”

A temporary Redmond Library location…

Bend High School has been awarded a large grant from the American Welding Society. Learn more here.

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Bend Senior High School has been awarded a $24,510 grant from the American Welding Society to upgrade its welding program and give students the opportunity to earn an entry-level, Level 1 welder certification while still in high school.

“We are really excited, since this will allow us to provide our students hands-on experience with the tools and equipment that are being used in the workplace right now, and create a pipeline for local businesses who desperately need these trade professionals,” instructor Chuck Hill said.

The funds were provided through the AWS Foundation as part of a nationally competitive…

The Under the Snow exhibit at High Desert Museum opens Dec. 17. Learn more here!

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — In the depth of winter, a deep layer of snow quiets the High Desert’s forests. But under the surface, a secret world comes to life. A new High Desert Museum exhibit dives into the snow, where voles, shrews, insects and porcupines build a matrix of tunnels to survive the winter and hide from the predators that lurk just above the surface.

Under the Snow opens at the Museum on Saturday, Dec. 17. The original exhibit explores the “subnivium” environment, what scientists call this seasonal habitat. In the subnivium, the temperature stays a toasty 32-degrees Fahrenheit, which protects plants and animals from the winter’s frigid temperatures.

English, science and math proficiency scores in Oregon dropped dramatically since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s according to numbers released by the Oregon Department of Education Thursday morning looking at state assessment results.

School districts in Deschutes, Jefferson and Crook counties did not buck the trend. Some were able to note achievements in specific categories and even, in some cases, finishing above state averages.

Oregon Department of Education officials say 2022 testing shows students who were already behind before the pandemic had the most learning loss but all children overall lost ground when compared to 2019 test scores.

Energy is high on community college campuses across the state as students stream back in and presidents view the academic year’s start as a glass half-full.

Students have returned to school buildings hollowed out by the pandemic, taking advantage of ramped-up in-person class offerings. Administrators are again having to scramble for parking spaces in what Portland Community College enrollment dean Ryan Clark called “the best first-world problem to have.”

“Seeing that energy come back has been invigorating,” Clark said.

Here’s the…

Students at R.E. Jewel Elementary will learn about solar energy and build their own solar-powered cars! Find out more here.

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — On Friday, fifth-graders at R.E. Jewell Elementary School in southeast Bend will take a deep dive lesson into solar energy, learn about how it’s generated and get to build their own solar-powered cars as part of a celebration of the school’s new grant-funded solar array.

The solar array is expected to produce 56 megawatt hours of electricity annually and is on the roof of the school’s new multi-purpose building, funded by the 2017 construction bond.

“I’m excited to walk students through how solar panels work and check out the monitoring system so students can…

The Pacific Power Foundation is donating more than 300K for education and STEM learning. Find out more here.

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Research shows that learning happens best when social, emotional and cognitive growth are connected. High-quality, evidence-based programs are also critical to positive academic outcomes, better attendance and improved graduation rates.

That’s why Pacific Power puts funding and resources behind schools and organizations that work toward these goals and open the doors of opportunity for learners of all ages.

The Pacific Power Foundation, a nonprofit arm of Pacific Power, is donating more than $300,000 in new grant funding across the three states it serves to support organizations that provide education and STEM learning opportunities. From financial literacy classes and early educational intervention programs to…

OSU Cascades received more than $5.7 million for research and other grant funding this past fiscal year. Find out more here!

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Research and other grant funding at Oregon State University – Cascades reached more than $5.7 million during the past fiscal year ended June 30, a record for the Bend campus.

“OSU-Cascades researchers and experts increasingly fulfill our commitment to Central Oregon, the state and nation, advancing regional economic development priorities and contributing to a growing and innovative branch campus of OSU,” said Andrew Ketsdever, interim vice president of OSU-Cascades.

Research at OSU-Cascades contributes to Oregon State’s leadership as the state’s top comprehensive public research university. This past fiscal year research funding…