ARCS Foundation Oregon has added another academic partner at Oregon State University – the College of Science. With approval from ARCS National, the College of Science becomes the fourth partner at OSU for ARCS Oregon – joining the colleges of Engineering, Forestry, and Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences. Two scholar awards have been earmarked for the College of Science for the 2014-15 academic year.

Six departments within the College of Science are approved:

• biochemistry and biophysics
• chemistry
• mathematics
• microbiology
• statistics
• integrative biology (zoology)

The new dean for the college is the energetic Sastry Pantula, who made it a point to meet with ARCS Oregon President Jean Josephson in his first weeks on the job. His enthusiasm on the subject of science makes it clear why this partnership with ARCS is a good fit.

Dean Pantula says, “Science is the key to innovation and inventions. Science, behind many tools and technologies, at times may be invisible, is having an impeccable impact on sustainability, quality of life, and healthy ecosystems. Science is the backbone of innovation in all other sciences, technology, arts, business, engineering and education.” 

Chemistry is the largest department within the College of Science, with 120 PhD students in fall 2013.  Chemistry has the largest PhD program at OSU.