The relationship between ARCS Foundation Oregon and Oregon State University has “sprouted” a new leaf – the College of Agricultural Sciences. National ARCS Foundation has given approval for ARCS Oregon to offer scholar awards for PhD candidates in Ag Sciences, making it the fifth approved college at Oregon State.

The approved departments within Agricultural Sciences are:

• Biological and Ecological Engineering
• Botany and Plant Pathology
• Crop and Soil Science
• Environmental and Molecular Toxicology
• Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences
• Food Science and Technology
• Microbiology

“We are delighted to become part of the ARCS Oregon family.  Graduate student training is at the nexus of our mission areas of education, research, and outreach and engagement.  Great graduate students make for great educational and research programs,” said Dan Arp, the Dean of Agricultural Sciences.

Arp explained that the Ph.D. programs in Food Science & Technology and Crop and Soil Science exemplify the breadth of the graduate programs.  The research, education, and outreach covers the spectrum from "soil to shelf."  In Crop and Soil Science, work focuses on sustainable production practices for a variety of crops and the critical roles that soils play.  Food Science & Technology takes the handoff from Crop and Soil Science and adds value to the crop products, while keeping an eye on food safety and the variety of factors that consumers are looking for in healthy and nutritious foods.  

The ARCS Oregon Chapter organized a field trip to Oregon State in 2013 and members sampled some of the fruits of Food Technology and Science – beer, cheese and wine – while learning about fermentation, wine research and touring the creamery and dairy products lab.  The chapter members also toured the OSU Food Innovation Center in Portland this January.

Two ARCS scholar awards have been donated to the College of Agricultural Sciences for the 2014-15 academic year. The other ARCS approved colleges at Oregon State are: Engineering; Forestry; Science; and Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences. 

Photos courtesy of Oregon State University