A particularly delightful summer pastime is lounging by a body of water, absorbed in a good book or podcast. Whether you tend to veer escapist or educational, comforting or challenging, here are some suggestions to add to your stack (literal or digital) as you soak up the final weeks of the season. 

If you read/listen to any of these, let us know what you think. We'd also love to hear what you have been reading, listening to, or even watching this summer!

*Disclaimer: Note that the language in podcasts, in particular, can get colorful. Listen at your own risk!

Editorial note: This letter from the office was created without the use of generative AI. It is our editorial policy that any uses of AI will be clearly cited and identified.  

"We live in the tension between what is and what is possible." --Robin Wall Kimmerer, The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World

In late June, the UO Board of Trustees convened a special meeting to discuss one topic: Can Associated Students of the University of Oregon (ASUO), the student government body, commit $15 million in debt capacity (to be repaid with student fees) to the eventual purchase of an electric boiler or other decarbonization technology?

Back up. UO's heating runs from natural gas, a.k.a. methane, a fossil fuel responsible for planetary heating and climate change. Heating is the largest single source of UO's carbon pollution, and the university has spent years exploring options for transitioning the heating system, while students and community advocates lobbied for changes. The estimated price tag for an electrode boiler ranged from $21.5 - $25 million.  This doesn’t include an estimated $4.6 - $6 million annual increase in additional annual electricity costs to run the electrode boiler.  Given the UO’s current budget crisis, the students came with a proposal, suggesting that they could commit some amount of students fees dedicated for building projects to help cover the capital costs.

At the special meeting on June 29th, members of the Board of Trustees discussed the proposal brought by ASUO and UO President Karl Scholz. Ultimately, they voted to approve it, with money to go to the purchase of the electric boiler or another decarbonization technology that may not yet be available. Now the funds are diverted into a "savings account," of sorts, while the university reviews technology options with students and works to source the remaining funds. 

Sarah Stoeckl was invited by Stanford to be an "Alumni-in-Residence" (AiR) for a second year, supporting the Teaching and Learning Studio (TLS) for the Hasso-Plattner School of Design, better known as, simply, the d.school. This year she facilitated a session, co-led a sub-cohort with a fellow AiR, and generally did whatever it took to engage over 40 educators and education leaders, from both K12 and higher education, participating from around the world.

"TLS is always so impactful for me," Sarah said. "I'm exhausted by the end but also inspired and full up with connections and exciting ideas to bring back to UO." And of course, she made sure to throw an "O" into the group shot. 

Passionate about recycling, reuse, and waste reduction? Apply to be a Surplus and Recycling Education Associate!

The Recycling Education and Campus Sustainability Operations Associate supports several projects and events organized by the Office of Sustainability that aim to improve recycling, reuse, and overall sustainability at the University of Oregon. This position supports waste reduction through staffing our surplus furniture operations, which includes moving, organizing, labeling, and cataloging surplus furniture and other items at our warehouse, managing digital inventory and sales equipment, interfacing with members of the campus and local community, and handling payments.  

Other projects include recycling and reuse education efforts throughout the year, including during campus Move-In and Week of Welcome, Move-Out, Street Faire and other tabling events. Due by this Wednesday, August 5!

Inspired by land restoration and getting others out in nature? Apply to be an Assistant Natural Areas Steward!

The Campus Natural Areas Program, housed within the Office of Sustainability, advances three core objectives: restoration, engagement, and research. Program activities are primarily conducted within the Willamette River Natural Area (WRNA) and Millrace Natural Area on the University of Oregon campus.

The Assistant Natural Areas Steward supports the day-to-day implementation of habitat restoration, research, education, and stewardship projects under the guidance of the Campus Natural Area Steward. Working primarily in the WRNA and occasionally in the Millrace Natural Area, the position contributes to efforts that enhance biodiversity, maintain ecological health, and expand opportunities for education, research, and community engagement. Due by Saturday August 15th!

An Oregon law aimed at reducing waste, the Plastics Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act (RMA), has been challenged in court. The RMA is known as an expanded producer responsibility (EPR) law and is the first of its scale in the US. The law adds a fee to distributors of common disposable items and uses the fee to fund recycling infrastructure. At the UO, the RMA has helped add more items that can be recycled, such as drink cartons, Aseptic containers (e.g. paper cartons), and plastic tubs, with more to come in the future.

The National Association of Wholesalers, the distributor’s association, brought a lawsuit against the RMA. In February, the courts dismissed significant portions of the distributor's lawsuit and oral arguments for the remainder wrapped up July 17. A final ruling in the case is expected in September. If the distributors are successful, there will be a drop in what can be recycled in Oregon while the state decides if it wants to seeks alternative regulations and methods. The RMA is also model legislation that other states have adapted, including California and Minnesota. If this lawsuit succeeds, it will strengthen challenges in those states as well.

While the distributors argue the RMA is unprecedented, it echoes the model that Oregon established with the container deposit system, administered by a similar framework through the Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative. Fun fact: In 1971, Oregon was the first state to implement a bottle deposit system. This case will be an important one to watch for all who are interested in recycling and waste management.

Considering electrifying your transportation to save money or reduce carbon pollution? The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality announced the Oregon Clean Vehicle Rebate Program will reopen on Tuesday, August 25 and remain open through Wednesday, November 4. Based on strong demand and available funding, DEQ expects the program will be fully subscribed and will suspend rebates on Thursday, Nov. 5. 

Image credit: Portland.gov

The City of Portland's Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS)  hosted a "Free Brick Day" on June 21, 2026, in collaboration with the University of Oregon, as part of the deconstruction of Centennial Hall on the UO Portland campus. In just four hours, community members collected nearly 3,000 historic bricks,  rather than sending them to the landfill. Reusing them conserves the significant energy required to manufacture and transport new bricks.

Popular uses for the bricks included garden paths, flower bed borders, patios, and mementos of the historic campus. The city advised attendees to bring gloves and closed-toe shoes, line their vehicles with tarps due to loose mortar and dust and noted that while asbestos and lead abatement had been completed, some residual dust might remain. Volunteers from the Master Recycler program, helped to remove metal and glass from the brick pile, keeping it safe for participants to collect.

As more communities recognize the environmental and historic value of salvaging construction materials, brick, and building material recovery efforts are becoming more popular nationwide.  By keeping these reusable materials in circulation, communities can reduce waste and preserve those pieces of their communities’ architectural heritage.

UO researchers collect soil samples from a landslide that was part of the study

Hilly and mountainous landscapes have a much greater ability to store carbon in the soil than previously thought, according to a new study co-led by scientists at the University of Oregon.

The finding, published June 12 in Science Advances, could help scientists better target natural approaches to addressing atmospheric carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.

Soil can hold onto carbon that might otherwise exist as atmospheric carbon dioxide, but the amount varies based on the soil’s thickness, texture and mineral composition.

“There was a misconception that mountainous areas would not hold much carbon because they’re so rapidly eroding and there’s not much soil,” said Josh Roering, an earth scientist at the UO. “What we’re saying is, it’s actually the opposite. These areas can be impressive reservoirs of soil organic carbon.”

Still screenshot from the UO and UOPPPM article below.

So you're thinking about biking to campus and immediately imagining rain, hills, and showing up sweaty to class or work. Yeah, that's fair. But this is Eugene, and biking here — that's basically like unlocking easy mode.

Eugene ranks eighth in the country for bike commuters per capita, which means that somehow we beat Portland. Don't tell them I said that. Like Portland, this place is built for bikes. We've got more than 70 miles of shared use paths, and you can ride across town without biking next to traffic. But if you have to bike around cars, Eugene has 190 miles of bike lanes, plus nearly 10 miles of protected bike lanes, helping you feel safe on your daily commute.

Here's a fun fact: Eugene has more bridges across the Willamette River for bikes and pedestrians than for cars. Cars have three. We get five. It's one of the many reasons Eugene is a gold-ranked city by the League of American Cyclists.

CAMPUS EVENTS

UO Natural Areas Restoration Day: Thu., Aug. 6th, 9am - 11am - Want to help restore the UO natural areas this summer? Join us for Invasive Species Removal Day on the Millrace every other Thursday. Water and snacks are provided. No experience necessary, wear closed-toed shoes and weather-appropriate clothing. Meet in front of Wilkinson House, 1291 Franklin Blvd. See you there! 

Campuswide Electrical Testing: Wed., Aug. 12, 8am-7pm-  The Utilities and Energy department will disconnect the Eugene campus from the Eugene Water and Electric Board power source in a series of tests over two days. Your building will experience brief 10-second power outages or nothing at all if tests are successful. For more info, visit https://cpfm.uoregon.edu/2026-electrical-testing-day

The Buzz about Bees: Have you heard the buzz? Bees are powerful pollinators essential to a healthy ecosystem. Come discover the vast variety of Oregon’s bees and learn about bee behavior with up-close photographs and hands-on activities. Museum of Natural History on view through January 3, 2027. 1680 East 15th Eugene OR 97403

New exhibits at the JSMA - Collecting America: Recent Acquisitions. Also, Black Marat and the Aesthetics of Liberation, on Display June 13, 2026-December 6, 2026 1430 Johnson Lane, Eugene, OR 97403-1223

The UO Natural Areas are proving to be a wonderful place for wildlife families to thrive gives its abundant flowers, berries, nuts, and year-round access to water. This spring and summer we’ve observed bushtit chicks, raccoon kits, juvenile beavers, and many other young animals exploring the Millrace and Willamette River Natural Area.

Our goal is to support even more wildlife families as we continue to improve habitats and expand native food resources throughout the natural areas.

Are you interested in helping these young critters thrive? Join us for a Millrace Restoration Day on Thursday, September 3 or September 17, from 9:00–11:00 a.m. We’ll meet in front of 1291 Franklin Blvd. We’d love to see you there!

Have a UO or Eugene/Springfield-related delight or a story idea to share? Send to sstoeckl@uoregon.edu.