Research, scholarship, and innovation activities are critical to the overall mission of Oregon State University. The first goal of the university’s Strategic Plan 4.0 focuses on establishing “OSU as a leader in conducting research, producing knowledge, and generating innovations that contribute to addressing global grand challenges.” Given this university priority, planning activities related to the impacts of COVID-19 must account for the unique needs of the university’s research, scholarship and innovation activities. Although much of this OSU work is carried out in a decentralized fashion, the unique nature of the current public health crisis will require increased levels of coordination and cooperation. This will ensure the continuity and resilience of the research enterprise in facing current and future challenges.

Oregon State has convened a task force representing diverse sectors of the university’s research enterprise. Its charge is to articulate core values and provide a framework to guide coordinated, responsible and effective decisions for OSU research. The task force will consider all OSU research conducted at university facilities, on campuses and throughout Oregon, including work in the field or on-location, nationally and internationally. It will also consider work with humans and other living subjects.

Task Force Membership

Shelby Walker
Oregon Sea Grant

Bob Cowen
Hatfiled Marine Science Center

Brady Gibbons
College of Engineering

Marie Harvey
College of Public Health and Human Sciences

Andy Karplus
College of Science

Adam Kent
College of Earth Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences

Andrew Ketsdever
OSU-Cascades

Amy Koehlinger
College of Liberal Arts

Chris Nichols
Center for the Humanities

Updates

The Task Force has completed a draft framework for guiding research re-engagement and provided it to the Research Office. This draft is now being considered by OSU leadership as part of OSU’s Pandemic Resumption Plan. - May12, 2020