2008 CMOP Open House: Reaching out to Oregon Undergrads

Left to Right: Dr. Nirupama Bulusu (Portland State University) leading a small group discussion; Undergraduate visitors from George Fox Univeristy; Vanessa Green, Director of Higher Eduation and Diversity, introduces Antonio Baptista, Director of CMOP, who greeted visitors via videconference.

On Tuesday, February 19th, The National Science Foundation Science and Technology Center for Coastal Margin Observation and Prediction (CMOP) hosted its 2008 Open House, welcoming students and faculty from across several local institutions. Participants came from Oregon Health & Science University, Oregon State University, Portland State University, George Fox University, and Lewis & Clark College.

Organized by CMOP's Director of Higher Education and Diversity, Vanessa Green, the first half was an open hour for socializing and networking, and included a greeting and overview of CMOP from its Director, Dr. Antonio Baptista, who made his appearance by videoconference from the OHSU Marquam Hill campus.

The second portion of the Open House allowed participants to participate in one of several guided, small group discussions: "What do chemistry, biology and physics have to do with oceanography?" led by Drs. Robert Duncan, Fred Prahl, and Murray Levine, College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences, OSU; "Information Processing for CMOP," Led by Dr. Nirupama Bulusu, Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science, PSU; "Usage of web-based software and bioinformatic resources for analysis of microbial populations in environmental samples," led by Dr. Mariya Smit, Department of Environmental and Biomolecular Systems, OHSU; and " Applications of math to problems in biology," led by Dr. Karen Watanabe, Department of Environmental and Biomolecular Systems, OHSU.

Multi-institutional and interdisciplinary by definition, CMOP seeks to strengthen its mission by building more relationships with four-year institutions and welcomes further inquiries about its various programs and activities in the areas of Education, Research, and Outreach. CMOP has academic partnerships with Oregon Health & Science University, Oregon State University, Portland State University, University of Washington, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Studies, and University of Utah, each of which hosts CMOP faculty and graduate students. Undergraduate interns have come from Brown University, Evergreen State College, Pacific University, Reed College, and Willamette University.

Unlike the conventional academic research center, CMOP provides learning opportunities for all grade levels—the "entire K-through-gray" "educational pathway"—plus offers K-12 teacher development workshops in environmental science. Paid high school and undergraduate internships, graduate programs, post-doctoral appointments, and professional opportunities are available.

The academic research environment at CMOP is described by some as unexpectedly "congenial and low-key," yet distinctly world-class, with experts from several fields converging to lend their expertise to its interdisciplinary focus. Experts in microbiology, oceanography, computer science, data management, ecology, modeling collaborate to answer questions such as, "How do human activity and climate affect the land-river-ocean interface we call coastal margins, the most biologically active zones on earth? How do coastal margins, in turn affect us?"

The National Science Foundation "Science and Technology Center," or STC, designation of CMOP is a distinction given to only 17 such Centers nationwide, and is based on stringent criteria involving federal NSF review, support and recognition of a unique and outstanding interdisciplinary program with distinctive research, education, diversity and knowledge transfer goals.

CMOP seeks to increase our diversity among our faculty, staff and student pools, especially as federal research center focused on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathemetics (STEM) disciplines. Recognizing that we cannot start too early (and that our success, in part, depends on providing opportunities for youth) CMOP provides educational programs via youth programs as well as within higher education. CMOP affiliates with youth programs including Saturday Academy, SMILE, and CoaCh, which focus on K-12, as well as providing undergraduate, graduate, and professional opportunities—Throughout all levels, we seek to increase diversity.

If you missed our Open House, or simply would like more information, we welcome you inquiries. Please contact Vanessa Green, Director of Higher Education and Diversity; for K-12 programs, Karen Wegner, Director of K-12 Education; or any of the CMOP Team.