IMPACT

The College of Science community recently gathered to celebrate this year's Alumni Award recipients. These individuals have enriched many lives through their professional achievements, impact and service. They embody our vision to extend the reach and impact of science by improving life for the people of Oregon and beyond.

The College of Science honors the extraordinary legacy of Warren Washington (’58, ’60), a pioneering climate scientist and one of the university's most distinguished alumni. Washington, who passed away on October 18, 2025, earned degrees in physics and meteorology from Oregon State, laying the foundation for his groundbreaking career.

Paula and Kenneth Krane are in the business of granting dreams.

On October 21, the College of Science will award the Kranes the 2022 Distinguished Service Award, recognizing the distinguished service of alumni or friends of the College.

2005 physics alumna and planetary geologist Briony Horgan's research was key to determining the location on Mars for the Perseverance rover to explore. Explaining the challenge her team faced, she said, "“If we had to choose just one spot on Earth to gather all the data about the entire history of the planet — well, where would you go?”

Meet Drew Haven, physics and engineering physics graduate and current Research & Development Manager for Luxium Solutions.

Pioneering climate scientist and alumnus Warren Washington to present the 2019 Distinguished Lecture on October 11, 2019.

Edward and Janet Chen along with John Donnelly, on behalf of the Wei Family Foundation, will receive the College of Science Distinguished Service Award for their extraordinary commitment to the university and institution.

Pioneering climate scientist and alumnus Warren Washington is a co-recipient of the 2019 Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement, often referred to as the Nobel Prize for the Environment.

The College of Science welcomes Dr. Jie Shan, professor of applied and engineering physics at Cornell University, to campus to present the first Wei Family Private Foundation Lecture. She will present a talk entitled “Atomic sandwich: Photonics and optoelectronics of two-dimensional materials.”

Physics Professor Corinne Manogue will present the College of Science 2018 F.A. Gilfillan Memorial Lecture on April 5.

Physics alumnus Shane Larson is part of the LIGO team behind the revolutionary astronomy discovery of the merger of two neutron stars.