Robotics and artificial intelligence expert Kagan Tumer explains the subtleties in defining a robot. For example, is an airplane a robot? How about an elevator? How is a robot different from an AI system?
Ethan Shaw
(707)-621-0989
Thursday, October 29, 2026
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
A Student's Path to Oregon's Semiconductor Future
A career in semiconductors doesn't start with a job offer. It starts with opportunity.
For Owen Pyle, that opportunity came through hands-on experiences at Oregon State, including a semiconductor camp hosted by Analog Devices. By connecting students with industry leaders and real-world challenges, OSU helps learners transform classroom knowledge into meaningful careers.
Those opportunities are growing through the NSF FAST Engine, an OSU-led coalition of nearly 100 partners working together to expand talent pipelines, accelerate innovation and strengthen Oregon's semiconductor future.
Ethan Shaw
(707)-621-0989
Sunday, October 18, 2026
Agriculture Is More Than Farming: Understanding Its Role in Everyday Life
Agriculture affects daily life in ways many people may not immediately recognize. It includes far more than planting and harvesting crops. Agriculture connects food production, natural resources, science, engineering, business, technology, and the people who help move products from farms to consumers.
Understanding this broad system reveals why agricultural knowledge remains important across many industries.
Agriculture Begins With Natural Resources
Food and many everyday products depend on resources such as soil, water, sunlight, and biological diversity.
Farmers and agricultural professionals work to manage these resources while producing crops and livestock. Their decisions may involve soil fertility, irrigation, pest management, animal care, crop selection, and weather conditions.
These decisions can affect productivity, operating costs, and the long-term condition of the land.
Sustainable resource management often involves balancing immediate production needs with the health and productivity of agricultural systems over time.
Science and Technology Shape Modern Agriculture
Agricultural work increasingly involves scientific research, data, and specialized equipment.
Soil testing can help inform nutrient management. Weather data can support planning. Precision agriculture tools can help producers monitor field conditions and apply certain inputs more selectively.
Plant science, animal science, agricultural engineering, and environmental research all contribute knowledge that can help address production challenges.
Technology does not remove every uncertainty. Weather, pests, market conditions, and biological variability remain important factors. However, better information can help agricultural professionals make more informed decisions.
Agriculture Includes Business and Logistics
Producing food is only one stage in a much larger system.
Agricultural products may need to be stored, processed, transported, marketed, and distributed. Each stage involves people with specialized skills, from equipment operators and scientists to supply chain managers, accountants, food safety professionals, and business owners.
Understanding the agricultural economy therefore requires knowledge of both production and the systems that connect producers with consumers.
Why Communication Matters
Agricultural professionals often need to explain technical information to people with different backgrounds.
A producer may need to communicate with a supplier, a researcher may present findings to a community, or a business manager may explain market conditions to a team.
Clear communication helps people collaborate, solve problems, and understand how decisions affect other parts of the agricultural system.
Leadership and Professional Development
Agriculture also depends on people who can work effectively with others, evaluate information, and adapt to changing conditions.
Students interested in agricultural fields can develop these abilities through coursework, practical experience, group projects, and participation in professional and community activities.
Learning to take responsibility, listen to different perspectives, and communicate thoughtfully can be useful regardless of the specific career path a student eventually chooses.
Alpha Gamma Rho at Oregon State University brings together students who share a connection to agriculture and an interest in personal development, fellowship, and professional success.
A Field With Many Paths
Agriculture offers opportunities across science, technology, production, business, education, and natural resource management. Its reach extends well beyond the farm gate.
By understanding the connections between these fields, students can gain a clearer picture of agriculture's role in society and the many ways they might contribute to its future.
Ethan Shaw
(707)-621-0989
Wednesday, October 14, 2026
How Fraternity Life Can Develop Leadership and Professional Skills
Leadership is built through practice. College provides opportunities to develop it in classrooms, student organizations, volunteer activities, internships, and everyday relationships. A fraternity can provide another setting where members learn to work together and take responsibility for a shared community.
One important skill is communication. Planning events, coordinating schedules, and working through disagreements require members to listen, explain their ideas, and reach decisions as a group. These experiences can strengthen communication skills that are useful in future careers.
Organization and accountability are equally important. Student leaders may need to manage budgets, delegate responsibilities, track deadlines, and communicate expectations. Learning to follow through on commitments helps build reliability and trust.
Professional development also grows through relationships. Members can learn from peers with different interests, experiences, and career goals. Alumni connections may provide opportunities to learn about industries, career paths, and workplace expectations, while recognizing that each person's professional journey is different.
Community involvement adds another dimension. Service projects and volunteer activities encourage students to think beyond their immediate circles and understand the needs of the communities around them.
For students interested in agriculture, a fraternity with an agricultural focus can create a shared environment for exploring topics such as food production, natural resources, agricultural business, and rural communities. Agriculture is a broad field, and collaboration among people with different interests can expand everyone's understanding.
Alpha Gamma Rho emphasizes lifelong personal development, fellowship, professional success, and the advancement of agriculture. These ideals reflect the idea that personal growth and community contribution can reinforce one another.
College leadership is not about having all the answers. It is about learning to listen, take initiative, accept responsibility, and help a group work toward a common goal. Those habits can continue to benefit members long after their college years.
Ethan Shaw
(707)-621-0989
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
Assistant Professor Morgan Giers leads the Giers Lab and the ORS Spine Section Translational Task Force and is co-founder and chief technology officer of OSU Advantage Accelerator spinout Spine by Design Inc., which harnesses artificial intelligence to improve surgical decision-making and reduce complications for patients.
Ethan Shaw
(707)-621-0989
Thursday, October 8, 2026
The Importance of Agriculture in Everyday Life
Agriculture touches nearly every part of daily life, even when we do not see it happening. The food we eat, the fibers used in clothing, many everyday materials, and a wide range of products depend on agricultural systems and the people who work within them.
Food production is one of agriculture's most familiar roles. Farmers and agricultural professionals manage crops, livestock, soil, water, equipment, and many other factors to produce the resources that support communities. Their work requires knowledge of biology, weather, economics, technology, and environmental management.
Soil health is an important part of this process. Healthy soil supports plant roots, stores water, cycles nutrients, and provides habitat for a wide range of organisms. Practices such as crop rotation, cover cropping, and reducing erosion can help protect soil, depending on the crop, location, and farming system.
Water management is equally important. Agriculture depends on reliable water supplies, but water availability varies by region and season. Efficient irrigation, careful monitoring, and responsible watershed management can help producers use water thoughtfully.
Modern agriculture also involves technology. Sensors, mapping tools, improved equipment, data analysis, and precision agriculture can help producers make more informed decisions about planting, irrigation, fertilization, and harvesting.
Agriculture is not limited to production alone. Food processing, distribution, agricultural finance, research, education, and natural resource management all contribute to the larger agricultural industry.
Alpha Gamma Rho at Oregon State University is a fraternity centered on a common bond within the broader agricultural community. Its stated purpose emphasizes personal development, fellowship, leadership, and professional success.
Learning about agriculture helps students understand the connections between natural resources, science, business, and society. It also highlights the many career paths available to people who want to contribute to the systems that sustain communities.
Ethan Shaw
(707)-621-0989
Monday, October 5, 2026
Why Agriculture Needs Future Leaders
Agriculture is much broader than farming alone.
It includes food production, natural resources, business, science, technology, environmental management, marketing, logistics, research, and many other fields.
Because agriculture is connected to so many parts of society, the industry needs people who can think critically, communicate effectively, and lead responsibly.
Leadership Starts With Character
Leadership isn't simply about holding a position.
A strong leader understands responsibility, follows through on commitments, communicates clearly, and considers how decisions affect others.
For college students preparing for professional careers, developing those habits can be just as important as developing technical knowledge.
Agriculture Is Constantly Changing
Modern agriculture continues to evolve.
Technology is changing how crops are grown, livestock is managed, information is collected, and products move through supply chains.
Environmental concerns, consumer expectations, global markets, and advances in science also influence the agricultural industry.
Future professionals therefore need more than knowledge of today's practices. They need the ability to adapt.
Education and Brotherhood
A social-professional fraternity can provide opportunities for students to develop academically, socially, and professionally.
Working with peers, participating in organizations, developing leadership skills, and building relationships can all complement classroom learning.
For students interested in agriculture and related fields, those experiences can become part of their preparation for life after college.
What Professional Development Looks Like for College Students
Professional development doesn't begin after graduation.
College is an important time to develop the habits and skills that can help students transition into careers.
Communication Matters
Employers need people who can communicate.
That means writing clearly, speaking confidently, listening carefully, asking useful questions, and adapting communication to different audiences.
These skills apply in nearly every agricultural profession.
Relationships Matter
Professional relationships are not simply about collecting contacts.
Good professional relationships are built through reliability, respect, shared interests, and genuine communication.
College organizations can provide natural opportunities to meet people with different experiences and career interests.
Leadership Is Practice
Students don't need to wait until they have a management position to practice leadership.
Organizing a project, helping a newer member, planning an event, taking responsibility for a task, or working through a disagreement can all provide leadership experience.
Agriculture Benefits From Well-Rounded Professionals
Technical knowledge is essential, but successful professionals also need judgment, teamwork, adaptability, and integrity.
That combination helps prepare students to contribute not only to their individual careers but also to the broader agricultural industry.
The future of agriculture depends on people who are prepared to learn, lead, adapt, and serve.
Ethan Shaw
(707)-621-0989
Friday, October 2, 2026
Oregon State University is built to serve everyone
At Oregon State University, we don’t wait around — we get to work. We’re not here to talk about what could happen. We’re here to make it happen. And let the results speak for themselves. Because progress has never belonged to the rule-followers. It belongs to those willing to dare.
Ethan Shaw
(707)-621-0989
Monday, September 28, 2026
NSF FAST Engine accelerates semiconductor innovation in Oregon
FAST — the Frontiers of Advanced Semiconductor Technology — a partnership led by Oregon State University — was selected for the National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engines program in July 2026.
With the NSF Engines award, FAST will help expand and strengthen the semiconductor industry that’s such a vibrant part of the Oregon economy. This transformational opportunity was built through years of hard work and collaboration with 95 partners in higher education, industry, government and nonprofits, and it’s expected to create 25,000 jobs, launch 180 new startups and add 4,000 graduates per year to meet workforce demands.
Ethan Shaw
(707)-621-0989
Friday, September 25, 2026
Agriculture Is More Than Farming: Understanding the Modern Agricultural Industry
When people hear the word agriculture, they often picture a farm. Farming is certainly a central part of agriculture, but the industry includes a much broader network of people, businesses, technologies, and services.
Production Is Only One Part
Agricultural production includes crops, livestock, dairy, forestry, and other areas. But producing food and fiber requires many supporting industries.
Equipment manufacturers, seed companies, financial institutions, transportation companies, food processors, technology providers, researchers, and agricultural consultants all play roles.
Science Is Central to Agriculture
Agriculture relies heavily on science. Soil science, plant science, animal science, biology, chemistry, environmental science, and genetics all contribute to modern agricultural practices.
Research can help producers understand how to improve productivity while managing resources responsibly.
Technology Is Changing the Industry
Modern farms can use technologies such as GPS guidance, sensors, drones, data analysis, automated equipment, and precision application systems.
Technology does not replace agricultural knowledge. Instead, it can give producers additional information for making decisions.
Agriculture Is Also a Business
Every agricultural operation must consider costs, markets, labor, equipment, risk, and long-term planning.
That means agricultural careers can involve business management, accounting, marketing, sales, finance, and entrepreneurship.
Alpha Gamma Rho at Oregon State University emphasizes agriculture while also focusing on personal development and professional success. That combination reflects the broad nature of today's agricultural industry.
Students interested in agriculture have opportunities that extend well beyond the farm. The industry needs people with many different skills, and understanding those possibilities can help students explore careers that match their interests and strengths.
Ethan Shaw
(707)-621-0989
Tuesday, September 22, 2026
Why Agriculture Needs the Next Generation of Leaders
Agriculture is much larger than planting crops or raising livestock. Modern agriculture involves science, technology, business, environmental stewardship, engineering, communications, food systems, and countless other areas.
That complexity creates an ongoing need for knowledgeable and adaptable leaders.
Agriculture Is Always Evolving
Farmers and agricultural businesses have always adapted to changing conditions. Today, technology plays an increasingly important role in areas such as data collection, precision agriculture, equipment, genetics, irrigation, and resource management.
The people entering agriculture need to understand both traditional practices and emerging technologies.
Leadership Requires More Than Technical Knowledge
Technical skills are important, but successful leadership also requires communication, teamwork, decision-making, and the ability to work with people who have different perspectives.
Students develop these abilities through experiences outside the classroom as well as through their academic studies.
Professional Relationships Matter
Agriculture is a relationship-driven industry. Farmers, suppliers, researchers, processors, financial professionals, educators, government agencies, and other participants rely on one another.
Building professional relationships early can help students understand the many career paths available within agriculture.
Fraternity Life Can Support Development
Alpha Gamma Rho describes its mission around developing members personally and professionally while strengthening connections within agriculture.
For students studying agriculture, being part of a community of peers with shared interests can create opportunities for collaboration, friendship, leadership, and professional development.
The future of agriculture will require people who understand the industry and are prepared to adapt. Developing those skills during college can help students prepare for the many opportunities that exist across the agricultural sector.
Ethan Shaw
(707)-621-0989
Saturday, September 19, 2026
Saving Beezus: A First in Phage Therapy
Beezus, a beloved Pacific Northwest show horse, developed a life-threatening antibiotic-resistant co-infection after successfully undergoing emergency colic surgery.
Follow the Oregon State University team whose groundbreaking precision bacteriophage therapy not only saved her life but also marked the first successful use of this treatment for a complex polymicrobial surgical site infection in an equine patient.
This breakthrough highlights the connection between animal and human health. It offers a framework for customized, topically applied treatments that could improve care for millions of animals and people at risk of surgical site infections each year.
Ethan Shaw
(707)-621-0989
Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Agriculture Is Changing—And College Students Are Part of That Change
Agriculture has always adapted to new technology, changing markets and environmental conditions.
Today's agriculture students are preparing to enter an industry that continues to evolve.
That makes college about more than learning established practices. It is also about learning how to think about new challenges.
Technology Is Part of Modern Agriculture
Modern agriculture can involve data, equipment technology, automation, mapping, monitoring systems and other tools.
Students entering agricultural careers may find themselves working with technology that would have looked very different to previous generations.
Business Knowledge Matters
Agriculture is also a business.
Understanding markets, costs, logistics, management and communication can be valuable regardless of whether someone ultimately works on a farm, in agribusiness, government, research or another area of the industry.
Natural Resources Are Connected
Agriculture and natural resources are closely connected.
Questions involving soil, water, land use and environmental stewardship can affect agricultural decisions and communities.
That means future agricultural professionals need to understand both production and the resources that make production possible.
Students Bring New Ideas
College students are not simply preparing to enter an existing industry.
They will eventually help shape it.
Curiosity, willingness to learn and exposure to different perspectives can help students approach agricultural challenges with fresh ideas.
That is one reason organizations such as Alpha Gamma Rho can be valuable during college. A professional agricultural fraternity can create opportunities for students to learn from one another while developing personal, academic and professional skills.
Agriculture has always been an industry of change.
The next generation will be responsible for deciding what comes next.
Ethan Shaw
(707)-621-0989
Tuesday, September 15, 2026
What an Agricultural Fraternity Offers Beyond the Classroom
College education does not happen entirely inside a classroom.
For students studying agriculture, natural resources and related fields, experiences outside class can help connect academic concepts with relationships, leadership and professional development.
Alpha Gamma Rho at Oregon State combines fraternity life with an agricultural and professional focus. Oregon State describes Alpha Gamma Rho as both a social organization and a professional society, while the chapter emphasizes agriculture, natural resources, personal growth, academic excellence and professional development.
Agriculture Is a Community
Agriculture includes far more than one career path.
The industry involves production, science, business, technology, natural resources, communications, finance and many other areas.
Being around students with different interests can help broaden a student's understanding of where an agriculture education can lead.
Leadership Is Learned Through Participation
Leadership is not something students automatically acquire by earning a degree.
It develops through experience.
Organizing events, taking responsibility for projects, working with peers and learning how to communicate with different personalities can all provide useful leadership practice.
Professional Relationships Start Early
College is also a time when students begin building professional relationships.
Fraternities with a professional focus can provide opportunities for members to meet people who share interests in their field and to learn from experiences beyond their individual coursework.
Brotherhood Adds Another Dimension
Of course, a fraternity is also about relationships.
The friendships formed during college can become an important part of the college experience.
For students interested in agriculture and natural resources, Alpha Gamma Rho provides an environment where professional interests and fraternity life can exist together.
That combination can make college more than a list of classes. It can become a period of personal growth, leadership development, networking and lifelong friendships.
Ethan Shaw
(707)-621-0989
Friday, September 11, 2026
Why You’re Always Tired (Even After 8 Hours of Sleep)
You're sleeping 7–8 hours… but waking up tired, unmotivated, and low on energy.
In this video, I break down the real reasons you feel tired all the time, even when you get enough sleep — and how simple habits can boost your energy, focus, and productivity fast.
This isn’t medical advice.
Just practical, science-backed lifestyle fixes you can use to feel more awake, more focused, and more productive every day.
Ethan Shaw
(707)-621-0989
Monday, September 7, 2026
Why Community Service Belongs in Fraternity Life
College students have plenty of opportunities to focus on themselves.
Classes, careers, internships, social lives, and personal goals all require attention. But college can also be an ideal time to learn what it means to give time and energy to something larger than yourself.
That's where community service can make a difference.
For fraternities, service projects can bring members together around a shared purpose. Whether they're volunteering at a nonprofit, organizing a donation drive, supporting a community event, or helping with a local project, members have the opportunity to see the direct impact of their work.
Service can also build skills.
Planning a fundraiser requires organization. Coordinating volunteers requires communication. Working with a nonprofit requires professionalism. Solving unexpected problems requires flexibility.
Those are skills that can carry into future careers.
Perhaps most importantly, service can change perspective.
When students spend time helping others, they may encounter people and circumstances different from their own. That can encourage empathy, gratitude, and a broader understanding of the community.
A fraternity's reputation should not be defined only by its social activities.
It can also be defined by the people it helps, the leaders it develops, and the positive contribution its members make.
Brotherhood is about supporting one another—but it can also mean using that collective strength to support the community.
Ethan Shaw
(707)-621-0989
Friday, September 4, 2026
What Fraternity Life Can Teach You Beyond College
When people hear the word "fraternity," they may immediately think of college social life.
But fraternity membership can offer much more than social events.
At its best, fraternity life can provide opportunities to develop leadership, teamwork, communication, organization, and community involvement. Members often have responsibilities that require them to work together and make decisions as a group.
Leadership is one example.
A fraternity needs people to organize events, communicate with members, manage responsibilities, coordinate activities, and represent the organization. These experiences can give students opportunities to practice leadership in a real-world setting.
Community service can provide another valuable experience. Volunteering teaches members that being part of an organization also means contributing to the community around them.
Then there are the relationships.
College can be an exciting but sometimes overwhelming period of life. Having a group of people with whom you share experiences can create a valuable sense of connection and belonging.
Of course, fraternity membership also comes with responsibility. Members represent their organization through their choices and behavior, both on campus and in the community.
The strongest organizations understand that brotherhood isn't simply about having fun together.
It's about holding one another accountable, supporting one another, giving back, and helping members become better versions of themselves.
Those lessons can last well beyond graduation.
Ethan Shaw
(707)-621-0989
Monday, August 31, 2026
What is depression? - Helen M. Farrell
Depression is the leading cause of disability in the world; in the United States, close to ten percent of adults struggle with the disease. But because it’s a mental illness, it can be a lot harder to understand than, say, high cholesterol. Helen M. Farrell examines the symptoms and treatments of depression, and gives some tips for how you might help a friend who is suffering.
Lesson by Helen M. Farrell, animation by Artrake Studio.
Ethan Shaw
(707)-621-0989
Friday, August 28, 2026
Fraternity: Brotherhood Is About More Than College Years
When people hear the word "fraternity," they may immediately think of college traditions, social events, and campus life.
But for many fraternity members, the experience is about something much bigger: relationships that continue long after graduation.
A fraternity can provide opportunities for members to develop leadership skills, build friendships, participate in community service, and become part of a network that extends beyond their college years.
Some of the most meaningful memories aren't necessarily the biggest events. They can be the late-night conversations, group projects, volunteering together, cheering on a brother at an important event, or simply knowing that there are people in your corner.
Fraternities can also create opportunities for alumni to stay connected. Years after graduation, former members can continue participating in events, mentoring younger members, supporting their chapter, and maintaining friendships.
At Alpha Gamma Roe, brotherhood is about creating those lasting connections.
College may only last a few years, but the relationships, experiences, lessons, and traditions developed during that time can last a lifetime.
That's what makes brotherhood worth celebrating.
Ethan Shaw
(707)-621-0989
Tuesday, August 25, 2026
Beyond the Letters: What Fraternity Life Can Teach You About Brotherhood and Leadership
When people hear the word fraternity, they may immediately think of college traditions, social events, or Greek letters.
But fraternity life can represent much more than that.
At its best, a fraternity gives members opportunities to build relationships, develop leadership skills, serve their community, and create friendships that extend far beyond their college years.
Brotherhood Is About Connection
One of the most valuable parts of fraternity life is the relationships members build with one another.
College can be an overwhelming experience. Having a group of people who share experiences, traditions, responsibilities, and goals can create a meaningful sense of community.
Leadership Is Learned Through Experience
Leadership isn't simply holding a title.
Members can learn leadership by organizing events, managing responsibilities, working with other people, solving problems, and helping newer members become involved.
Those experiences can become valuable long after graduation.
Service Creates a Bigger Purpose
Many fraternities participate in charitable activities, fundraising, volunteer opportunities, and community service.
Giving members opportunities to contribute beyond themselves can help develop a stronger connection to the community.
Traditions Create Memories
Every organization has its own traditions.
Some are serious. Some are funny. Some have been passed down for generations.
Traditions give members a connection to the people who came before them while helping create experiences that future members will continue.
Friendship Can Last Beyond College
One of the unique things about fraternity membership is that graduation doesn't necessarily end the relationships.
Former members can remain connected through alumni organizations, professional networks, reunions, events, and lifelong friendships.
The college years eventually end.
The relationships don't have to.
It's About Becoming Part of Something
Fraternity membership can offer students a place to build connections, accept responsibility, discover leadership abilities, and create memories.
The letters may be what people see first.
But the people, experiences, values, and relationships behind those letters are what can make fraternity life meaningful.
Ethan Shaw
(707)-621-0989
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