Virtual Events Archive

Oregon State Engineering Virtual Programming Archive

From faculty lectures to student project presentations, each year the College offers a host of programs that are free and open to the public.

Did you miss a recent College of Engineering virtual event? Are you interested in re-watching a program? Recordings and websites are available via the link under each event.

For questions or assistance: engineering.events@oregonstate.edu.

2023 Virtual Lecture: Geoff Hollinger

This lecture will discuss how a general framework that unifies information theoretic optimization and robot motion planning makes semi-autonomous information gathering feasible in marine environments.

Lecture recording

2023 Virtual Lecture: Dan Cox

The lecture will provide an overview of recent research to understand the risks to civil infrastructure and life safety by coastal communities who are faced with the multi-hazard threat of earthquakes and tsunami from the Cascadia Subduction Zone. There will be a focus on how building codes, elevation or relocation of critical infrastructure, and policy can play an important role in making coastal communities more resilient.

Lecture recording

2023 Virtual Lecture: Tala Navab-Daneshmand

Infections with enteric bacteria that exhibit resistance to most or, in some instances, all currently available antibiotics – referred to as the Silent Pandemic – are an emerging human health crisis that threatens the very core of modern medicine and are predicted as the leading cause of death by 2050. Navab’s lab builds knowledge to identify the prevalence and persistence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and associated genes in wastewater and receiving environments.

Lecture recording

2023 Virtual Lecture: Eduardo Cotilla-Sanchez & Yue Cao

In this talk, we will explore the frontier and opportunities of the networked systems of power electronic subsystems. Multiple topics will be discussed: 1) multi-physics multi-timescale modeling and optimization, 2) fault-tolerance, reliability, and health monitoring, 3) a more-electric airport charging optimization, and 4) marine microgrids. These fundamental applications, and many others, enlighten us to dive into future energy challenges.

Lecture recording

2023 Virtual Lecture: Desiree Tullos

Dam removal is now a common strategy for managing our nation’s aging infrastructure and correcting the environmental impacts of deadbeat dams. However, managers must make decisions regarding if and how to remove dams, and how to address stakeholder concerns about potential negative effects, regardless of whether these concerns are warranted at a particular site. This lecture will present an overview of how dams are removed, the cost drivers of dam removal, and the common concerns managers and engineers face when undertaking a dam removal. It will conclude with an update on the world’s largest dam removal, set to begin in 2023 on the Klamath River.

Lecture recording

2023 Virtual Lecture: Cory Simon

Inverse problems are ubiquitous in the sciences and engineering. Two categories of inverse problems pertaining to a physical system are (1) identify parameters in a model of the system from observed input-output pairs and (2) given a model of the system, determine the input to the system that caused some observed output. Applied inverse problems are challenging because a solution may (i) not exist, (ii) not be unique, or (iii) be sensitive to measurement noise contaminating the data.

Lecture recording

2023 Engineering Virtual Expo

See more than 200 student projects that use science and technology to take on some of the world’s biggest problems. Experience the depth and breadth of engineering talent and ingenuity at Oregon State University. Featuring virtual project display pages created by each 20223 Expo student team.

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2023 Virtual Lecture: Dorthe Wildenschild

"Engineered Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) – the Why? How? and When?" presented by Dorthe Wildenschild. The US has recently made a substantial commitment to solving the climate crisis via the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. A key component of that effort is carbon capture and storage (CCS), a scalable and technologically viable approach to sequester carbon dioxide (CO2) in the subsurface, and thus reduce the build-up of CO2 in the atmosphere. Simultaneously, the rapid development of direct air capture (DAC) technology is driving further interest in CCS for long-term storage of CO2 captured via these new technologies.

Lecture recording

2023 Virtual Lecture: Todd Palmer

"Pushing Particles – The Enduring Correlation between Monte Carlo Neutron Transport and High-Performance Computing" presented by Todd Palmer. During the Manhattan Project, physicists and mathematicians were driven to understand and predict the complex behavior of neutrons undergoing chain reactions as they built the first nuclear reactors and, subsequently, the first atomic weapons. Along the way, analog and digital computers were developed to automate many of the calculations associated with the transport and interaction of radiation with matter. Since the mid-1940s, both the fields of nuclear engineering and computer science have experienced exponential advances. Computers are ubiquitous and integrated into nearly every aspect of our daily lives, but the transcomputable nature of radiation transport still inspires the development of ever larger and more powerful computers.

Lecture recording

2023 Virtual Lecture: Nordica MacCarty

"Reverse Innovation to Protect Health and Climate: Advances in Cleaner Biomass Combustion for Household Energy in the Developing and Developed World" presented by Nordica MacCarty. Biomass energy is the oldest form of solar energy storage, and can be a renewable, local, affordable, low-carbon fuel if harvested sustainably and burned cleanly. Today nearly 40% of the world relies on woody fuels as their primary source of energy, with the majority using rudimentary three-stone fires for cooking and heating. Here at home, approximately 7.8 million Americans are using uncertified, polluting wood stoves to heat their homes. Both of these applications lead to health-related concerns about air quality and contributions to climate change, and many policymakers are pushing a shift away from wood for this reason. However, wood and other biomass can and should remain in the low-carbon energy mix, especially for low-income and rural users – the key is learning how to burn it more cleanly.

Lecture recording

2022 Oregon Stater Awards

On Nov. 17, 2022, the 24th Oregon Stater Awards celebrated the achievements of our alumni at the frontiers of engineering and their profound impact on our profession and our world. Presented by the College of Engineering at Oregon State University, the Oregon Stater Awards honor alumni whose contributions to the field exemplify Oregon State’s leadership over the past 150 years.

Event recording

2022 Engineering Virtual Expo

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2022 Celebration of Women in Engineering

Featuring presentations from three distinguished alumnae, each Oregon Stater award recipients, about the journeys that led them into their successful careers.

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2022 Virtual Lecture: Chih-Hung Chang

"Learning About Energy: The Fun Journey of a Chemical Engineer" presented by Chih-Hung Chang, Professor, Chemical Engineering. Energy is essential for our daily life; it is always at work. Energy manifests itself in all things via multitudinous forms. Our ability to control energy flow, including energy conversion, transmission, and storage, shapes the wellbeing of humanity. Chemical engineers play a vital role in the energy industry, including producing chemical and biological fuels, converting wastes to fuels, and designing energy storage systems to improving energy efficiency. This lecture will share a personal journey of exploring the energy universe as a chemical engineering faculty member at Oregon State University via teaching, research, and innovation activities.

Lecture recording

2022 Virtual Lecture: Camille Palmer

"Reducing Global Nuclear Threats – OSU’s Role in Nuclear Nonproliferation" presented by Camille Palmer, Associate Professor, Nuclear Science and Engineering. While the number of nuclear weapons has drastically reduced since the Cold War, the threat of a nuclear detonation remains a viable and concerning prospect. Several collaborative and interdisciplinary projects at OSU are actively addressing the prevention of nuclear terrorism and proliferation of nuclear weapons. The disciplines of robotics, analytical chemistry, nuclear science, and policy integrate to help reduce the possibility of nuclear material diversion for non-peaceful uses by state and non-state actors.

Lecture recording

2022 Virtual Lecture: V John Mathews

"Neuroprostheses for Amputees and Patients with Spinal Cord Injuries" presented by V John Mathews, Professor, School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Recent technological innovations such as functional neuro-muscular stimulation (FNS) offer considerable benefits to paralyzed individuals. FNS can produce movement in paralyzed muscles by the application of electrical stimuli to the nerves innervating the muscles.

Lecture recording

2022 Virtual Lecture: Christopher Daly

"Climate through a PRISM: Exploring the Spatial Patterns of Climate Across the United States" presented by Christopher Daly, Research Professor, School of Chemical, Biological & Environmental Engineering. Climate dictates so much of what we experience in our lives - the landscapes we encounter, the food we grow, the clothes we wear. The United States happens to be home to a rich diversity of climates. From the mountains and deserts of the West, to the humid southeast, and all points in between, the spatial patterns of climate in our country are fascinating to see and study. A computerized climate mapping system that allows us to visualize and quantify these patterns is called PRISM.

Lecture recording

2022 Virtual Lecture: Ted Brekken

"Earthquake Resilience of the Electrical Grid" presented by Ted Brekken, Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering. A Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake will cause widespread devastation across the U.S. Pacific Northwest. This presentation covers how earthquakes impact the grid and what mitigations can be applied.

Lecture recording

2022 Virtual Lecture: Kagan Tumer

"Long-Term Autonomy: Learning What Matters When" presented by Kagan Tumer, Professor of Robotics, College of Engineering. AI systems face unique challenges when deployed in open-ended, long-term real-world tasks. Unlike games like chess, real world problems do not have a well-defined concept of "win," nor do they always have a clear "end" of the task. In this talk, we'll discuss how long term autonomy requires a new paradigm, one focused on determining "what matters when" rather than how best to achieve a narrow task.

Lecture recording

2022 Virtual Lecture: Qiao Wu

"NuScale Integral System Testing Program at Oregon State University" presented by Qiao Wu, Professor, Nuclear Science and Engineering. This lecture covers the NuScale Integral System Testing Program at Oregon State University in the School of Nuclear Science and Engineering. A brief introduction will be provided about the Oregon State University Nuclear Science and Engineering Reactor Thermal Hydraulics research programs that established the fertile foundation for the start-up of NuScale.

Lecture recording

2022 Virtual Lecture: Margaret Burnett

"Doing Inclusive Design: From GenderMag to InclusiveMag" presented by Margaret Burnett, Distinguished Professor, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. How can technology professionals assess whether their technology supports diverse users? And if they find problems, how can they fix them? Although there are empirical processes that can be used to find “inclusivity bugs” piecemeal, what is also needed is a systematic method to assess technology’s support for diverse populations.

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2022 Virtual Lecture: David Hill

"Crowd-Sourcing Snow: The Value of Community Science for Oregon’s Water Resources" presented by David Hill, Professor, Civil and Construction Engineering. Water and snow are incredible natural resources in the Pacific Northwest, contributing to recreation, water supply, and ecosystem services. We are fortunate to have a breathtaking array of sources of information on water and snowpack, both long-term and short-term. This talk will focus first on snow, the many ways that we learn about our snowpack, and just what exactly is changing, and by how much.

Lecture recording

2021 State of the College

Hosted by Scott Ashford, Kearney Dean of Engineering. Learn about recent developments happening across the College of Engineering.

Event recording

2021 Virtual Lecture: Tyler Radniecki and Christine Kelly

"Tracking COVID-19 Through the Sewers: From Theory to State-wide Implementation in Under Four Months" by Tyler Radniecki, Associate Professor of Environmental Engineering; and Christine Kelly, Professor of Bioengineering. In this presentation, Radniecki and Kelly discuss the wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) journey from a small research project to a state-wide surveillance program in cooperation with the Oregon Health Authority, OSU’s TRACE program, and wastewater utilities across the state.

Lecture recording

2021 Virtual Lecture: San Francisco’s Chinatown Through the Lens of Dick Evans

Following his award-winning book on San Francisco’s Mission District, Oregon State University alumnus Dick Evans (‘69 B.S. Industrial Engineering) turns his attention to Chinatown, the fifth of a square mile that attracts more tourists than the Golden Gate Bridge but where the median household income is a quarter of the citywide average.

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2021 Virtual Lecture: Robert L. Bertini

"Perspectives on the Future of Transportation: Data and Connectivity as Enablers" by Robert L. Bertini, School Head and Professor, Civil and Construction Engineering. Technological advances have always defined the evolution of our transportation system. Think about how and why you travel: how will advances in automation, information, and communications change, improve, or substitute for mobility? We will discuss the reasons for travel, the impacts of our travel, and consider the advancements that will change the way we think about transportation in our society.

Lecture recording

2021 Virtual Lecture: Meghna Babbar-Sebens

"Climate Change Resilience: A Case for Human-Machine Collaboration in Solving Humanity’s Most Urgent Threat" presented by Meghna Babbar-Sebens, Associate Professor of Water Resources Engineering. In this presentation, Babbar-Sebens examines whether a collaboration between humans and machines could create new ways for communities to create solutions for this intractable problem.

Lecture recording

2021 Virtual Lecture: Lewis Semprini

"A Treatment System for Groundwater Contamination — How Research at Oregon State University is Contributing to Sustainable and Passive Remediation Methods" presented by Lewis Semprini, Distinguished Professor of Environmental Engineering. Contamination of groundwater by volatile organic compounds is a widespread problem throughout the United States. Complex mixtures of chlorinated solvents and emerging contaminants such as 1,4-dioxane are of increasing concern. This talk discusses ongoing research at Oregon State University to develop more sustainable and passive remediation methods.

Lecture recording

2021 Oregon Stater Engineering Hall of Fame Award Ceremony

The Oregon Stater Awards celebrate achievement at the frontiers of engineering and its profound impact on the profession and our world. The 2020 Oregon Stater Awards virtual program honored the Engineering Hall of Fame Award recipient: Anton Thomas Skoro, ’81 B.S. Construction Engineering Management.

Ceremony recording

2021 Dean's Distinguished Lecture: Reginald DesRoches

“The 2010 Haiti Earthquake: A Story of History, Race, Inequities, and Natural Hazards” presented by Reginald DesRoches, Provost, Rice University. DesRoches discusses the historical seeds of this unprecedented disaster and illustrates how the earthquake reveals that history is not confined to the past, but continues to influence the lives of Haitians today.

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2021 Clean Water Virtual Conference

The Oregon State Clean Water Conference brings together scholars and stakeholders from diverse disciplines whose work is directed toward maintaining, preserving, and improving clean and sustainable sources of water for human and ecosystem use.

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2021 Celebration of Women in Engineering

In recognition of International Day of Women and Girls in Science, this virtual conference celebrates the achievements of College of Engineering faculty and alumnae. Featuring the premiere of the "Rooted in Community" mini documentary.

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2021 Engineering Virtual Expo

Featuring student capstone design projects focused on a broad range of areas including artificial intelligence, clean water, health, natural disaster preparedness, robotics, sustainable energy, and virtual reality. Keynote presentation by astronaut Ellen Ochoa, first Latina in space and former Johnson Space Center director.

Event site

Oregon State Engineering Virtual Programming Archive

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