Contact: Colby Reade, APR

M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust

yr@murdocktrust.org">colbyr@murdocktrust.org

360.694.8415

 

M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust Honors Standout Educators and Students in Science Fields

 

Pacific Lutheran and Reed professors headline awards given for outstanding efforts in science research and education

Students from Whitworth University, University of Puget Sound, Walla Walla University, University of Portland, George Fox University, Whitman College, Trinity Western University, Pacific Lutheran University, Eastern Washington University, Willamette University and University of Alaska Anchorage recognized for outstanding research

 

For Immediate Release

 

November 11, 2019 – This week, the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust continued its commitment to support and honor the important work of scientific research at predominantly undergraduate Pacific Northwest Universities at the twenty-eighth annual Murdock College Science Research Program Conference.

 

This year’s conference, themed “Collaboration–A Key to Success in Undergraduate Research,” included multiple awards for outstanding college and university educators as well as exciting news about a new program designed to increase collaboration among scientific institutions.

 

“Our benefactor, Jack Murdock, believed deeply in the importance of scientific research as a source of innovation and inspiration to help improve the lives of all individuals, families and communities,” said Dr. Steve Moore, executive director, M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust. “We are grateful to have the opportunity to recognize, honor and celebrate the tireless work of the outstanding researchers and educators who seek to serve the common good of our region through science.”

 

Pacific Lutheran and Reed Professors Honored

 

Dr. Dean Waldow, Professor of Chemistry, Pacific Lutheran University received the Lynwood W. Swanson Scientific Research Award for his exemplary research in the field of polymer chemistry and his commitment as a mentor to students over more than 25 years. Dr. Alison Crocker, Assistant Professor of Physics, Reed College was honored with the Lynwood W. Swanson Promise for Scientific Research Award for her research regarding the relationship between star formation and galaxy structure and for her investment in involving undergraduate students in her work.

 

The prestigious honors were established in 2016 to recognize two exemplary educators from the Pacific Northwest. The “Swanson Award” highlights a senior faculty exemplar with an established, productive and nationally recognized research program, while the “Swanson Promise Award” calls out a junior faculty member who has demonstrated exceptional potential in these areas through early research and work with students. Both awards were named in honor of noted educator, researcher, entrepreneur, and former trustee, Dr. Lynwood Swanson, upon his retirement from the Murdock Trust.

 

“It is an honor to recognize the valuable work of both Dr. Waldow and Dr. Crocker,” said Dr. Moses Lee, Senior Program Director for Scientific Research and Enrichment Programs, M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust. “Throughout his career, Dr. Swanson inspired and engaged students and young people through his own passion for science and discovery. He believes strongly in the ability of science to solve real world challenges and for educators to serve as mentors to the next generation of researchers. We are so proud to be able to honor Dr. Swanson’s legacy and recognize the outstanding work of those who seek to continue that effort, such as Dr. Waldow and Dr. Crocker.”

 

Dr. Dean Waldow will receive a $15,000 cash prize as part of his award and Dr. Alison Crocker will receive a $7,500 cash prize. A portion of each cash award is set aside specifically to help fund further student research and supplies.  

 

The awards were formally presented at the 2019 Murdock College Science Research Program (MCSRP) Conference in Vancouver, WA. The annual conference drew hundreds of college students and science educators from across the Pacific Northwest.

 

In addition to the two faculty awards, The Murdock Trust also honored several college students for research presentations delivered at the event. They include:

 

The 2019 John Van Zytveld Award in the Physical Sciences

“A transparent UVA-1 biocompatible photoresin towards 3D printed lab-on-a-chip”

Name: Samartha Shrestha and Christopher Roberts

Institution: Whitworth University

Mentor: Dr. Philip Measor

 

The 2019 John Van Zytveld Award in the Life Sciences

 “Song recognition and hybridization in a new secondary contact zone of white-crowned sparrows, Zonotrichia leucophrys”

Name: Will Brooks

Institution: University of Puget Sound

Mentor: Dr. Peter Wimberger

 

Murdock Poster Prize 2019 - Ecology-Evolution-Biodiversity

“Potential Factors Impacting the Severity of Seagrass Wasting Disease in the Salish Sea”

Name: Kallan Richards (presenter) and Noah Cline

Institution: Walla Walla University

Mentor: Dr. Cecilia Brothers

 

Murdock Poster Prize 2019 - Ecology-Evolution-Biodiversity

“Structural and spatial characteristics of Acer macrophyllum influence epiphyte communities in the Hoh temperate rainforest”

Name: Kaela Hamilton

Institution: University of Puget Sound

Mentor: Dr. Carrie Woods

 

Murdock Poster Prize 2019 - Developmental Biology-physiology

“Identifying How Sonic Hedgehog Signaling Affects Cardiac Neural Crest Migration Following Fetal Alcohol Exposure”

Names: Pia Fornell

Institution: University of Portland

Mentor: Dr. Laura Dyer

 

Murdock Poster Prize 2019 - Molecular and Cell Biology

 “Regulation of Functional hERG Isoform Expression by Poly(A) Binding Protein N1”

Name: Laney Search and Rachel Drgastin (co-presenters)

Institution: George Fox University

Mentor: Dr. Matthew Stump

 

Murdock Poster Prize 2019 - Neuroscience-Psychology-Exercise Science

“'The Role of Endolysosomal Trafficking protein Rab7A in DLX 5/6 Interneuron Development”

Name: Andrew Neumann

Institution: George Fox University

Mentor: Dr. Jim Smart

 

Murdock Poster Prize 2019 - Biochemistry

“Quantitative NMR Analysis Reveals New Trends in Substrate Specificity of Benzoate Dioxygenase”

Name: James Bent

Institution: Whitman College

Mentor: Dr. Jon Collins

 

Murdock Poster Prize 2019 - Organic Chemistry

“A practical synthesis of fluorinated catechol derivatives using silver(I) fluoride”

Name: Alan Brooke

Institution: Trinity Western University

Mentor: Dr. Chadron Friesen

 

Murdock Poster Prize 2019 - Analytical-Inorganic-Physical Chemistry

“Physicochemical properties of 2,5-dihydroxy-1,4-quinones appended with phosphonato groups”

Names: Kailin Mooney

Institution: University of Portland

Mentor: Dr. Eugene Urnezius

 

Murdock Poster Prize 2019 - Analytical-Inorganic-Physical Chemistry

“Endothermic singlet fission in di-benzoic acid perylene oligomers”

Name: Jennica Kelm

Institution: Pacific Lutheran University

Mentor: Dr. Nadia Korovina

 

Murdock Poster Prize 2019 - Environmental Science-Geology

“sUAV Mapping of the Porcupine Bay Road Landslide Complex”

Names: Ethan Ducken

Institution: Eastern Washington University

Mentor: Dr. Chad Pritchard

 

Murdock Poster Prize 2019 - Microbiology

“Microbial community composition of Oregon marine sediment: In search of novel archaea”

Name: Helen Madeen (presenter), Cassie Cosler, Jamie Smith, Mayely Polanco, and Alexandra Bless

Institution: Willamette University

Mentor: Dr. Rosa Leon Zayas

 

Murdock Poster Prize 2019 - Physics and Engineering

“PIC Simulations of Multipole Plasma Trap Diagnostics and Loading Methods”

Name: Henrique Miller

Institution: University of Alaska Anchorage

Mentor: Dr. Nathaniel Hicks

 

Inspiring Collaboration

 

In addition to honoring work completed by faculty and students, the 2019 MCSR Conference introduced a renewed commitment to inspire and support new research that has yet to begin. Leaders from numerous scientific institutions joined together to unveil RAISE (Research Across Institutions for Scientific Empowerment).

 

Formerly known as the Collaborative Research Alliance, RAISE seeks to create opportunities for researchers at mainly private colleges and universities and a few public research-active, primarily undergraduate institutions around the Pacific Northwest to connect and collaborate on new projects.

 

“Science does not exist in a vacuum,” said Dr. Lee. “The best research and findings often come when teams working on similar areas of research are able to combine their efforts, share their findings, and inspire one another to pursue new and cutting-edge tracks of discovery. RAISE will present a variety of opportunities for educators and researchers around the Pacific Northwest to grow and expand their work.”

 

For more information about the MCSRP Conference and how the Murdock Trust invests in science education and research, please visit www.murdocktrust.org.

 

About the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust

The Murdock Trust, created by the will of the late Melvin J. (Jack) Murdock, provides grants to organizations in five states of the Pacific Northwest—Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington—that seek to strengthen the region’s educational and cultural base in creative and sustainable ways. Since its inception in 1975, the Trust has awarded more than 6,700 grants totaling more than $1 billion of which about $200 million supported projects in scientific research. For more information, find the Murdock Trust on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and on our website.

 

About Dr. Lynwood Swanson

After starting his career as a professor and administrator at Linfield College, Dr. Swanson moved to Oregon Graduate Institute before co-founding FEI, a world-leader in electron optics and focused ion beam technologies in scanning and transmission electron microscopies. In conjunction with his extensive career in science education and research, Dr. Swanson served as a tireless advocate for these fields as a trustee for thirty years.

 

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MEDIA ADVISORY — Nov. 8, 2019

Who:   The Bonneville Power Administration

What:   Tour of BPA’s award-winning recycling program and mechanical laboratory in recognition of the upcoming National Recycling Day

Where: The Bonneville Power Administration’s Ross Complex, ABC parking lot located south of the Ross Complex at NE Ross St, Vancouver, WA 98663

When:  Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019

Time:    1 to 3 p.m.      

For security purposes, please RSVP to David Wilson at 503-230-5607 by noon Tuesday, Nov. 12.      

 

Vancouver, Wash. The Bonneville Power Administration’s innovative approach to recycling saved northwest electric ratepayers nearly $3 million in 2018, and the agency projects even more savings in 2019. The agency’s sustainability efforts – from recycling transmission conductor and tower parts to auctioning off used equipment – have won national awards.

On Thursday, Nov. 14, BPA invites members of the media to tour its Investment Recovery Center and the Mechanical Lab. Visitors will see a machine that uses choppers and magnets to separate and recover aluminum and steel from used transmission wire. Since March of 2018, the machine has recovered more than 750,000 pounds of aluminum valued at $700,000.

Those on tour will also experience a mechanical testing lab and a corona and arc flashover that ends with a boom. Visitors are also invited to watch BPA lab engineers test and break a piece of high-voltage transmission wire.

Background: In 2018, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency honored BPA with the Federal Green Challenge Materials Management Award. The EPA is honoring BPA again in 2019 for its outstanding sustainability efforts and care for the environment.

About BPA: The Bonneville Power Administration, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, is a nonprofit federal power marketer that sells wholesale, carbon-free hydropower from 31 federal dams in the Columbia River Basin. It also markets the output of the region’s only nuclear plant. BPA delivers this power to more than 140 Northwest electric utilities, serving millions of consumers and businesses in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, western Montana and parts of California, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming. BPA also owns and operates more than 15,000 circuit miles of high-voltage power lines and 262 substations, and provides transmission service to more than 500 customers. In all, BPA provides nearly a third of the power generated in the Northwest. To mitigate the impacts of the federal dams, BPA implements a fish and wildlife program that includes working with its partners to make the federal dams safer for fish passage. It also pursues cost-effective energy savings and operational solutions that help maintain safe, affordable, reliable electric power for the Northwest. www.bpa.gov