UO faculty presented to policy committees at the Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) annual conference in Eugene. UO Professor of Geophysics Doug Toomey presented to AOC’s Public Safety Committee on the importance of investment in earthquake detection and in an earthquake early warning system. Professor Toomey highlighted an opportunity for the state to purchase several strategically located sensors to maintain its current detection capability. The National Science Foundation, which owns the sensors, is scheduled to relocate them in 2015 if the state does not act to purchase them.  Professor Toomey and UO have also made the case to Congress that the U.S. Geological Survey should invest in earthquake early warning. Toomey was followed by Joshua Bruce, director of the UO’s Oregon Partnership for Disaster Resilience (OPDR).  Housed in the UO’s Community Service Center, OPDR employs a service learning model to increase community capacity and enhance disaster safety and resilience statewide.

To highlight the University of Oregon’s commitment to the state, UO Government and Community Relations organized the UO’s presence at the Association of Oregon Counties Conference. In addition to presentations to policy committees, UO’s presence included participation with exhibitors to highlight the UO’s impact on the state and create opportunities for discussion with attendees about new areas for collaboraiton.

More information about the UO’s impact on Oregon is highlighted in the Oregon Impact Map.