Natural Science

DATA SCIENCE, SOCIOLOGY — When Hunter Everton BS '25 (sociology), BS '25 (data science) arrived at the University of Oregon, he had little idea where his undergraduate education, let alone his career, would take him. Four years later, he is preparing to begin a master’s degree at Oregon Health and Science University in epidemiology.

SCHOOL OF COMPUTER AND DATA SCIENCES — It is more important than ever that students put what they’re learning in the classroom into practice outside the classroom. Joining student groups, taking advantage of external partnerships, studying abroad — and more — all help students in The School of Computer and Data Sciences graduate with the real-world experience they need to succeed in the workforce.

SCHOOL OF COMPUTER AND DATA SCIENCES — The School of Computer and Data Sciences (SCDS) in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) has entered a new era. Beth Plale has taken the helm as its inaugural executive director, bringing with her a distinguished record of research, education and visionary leadership.

COMPUTER SCIENCE — Over the past few terms, computer science professors Hank Childs and Aye Thuzar have been working on reworking the entry level computer science class, “Fluency with Information Technology,” to incorporate AI-assisted programming. The idea is that allowing AI to take care of smaller details allows students to cover more ground in a single introductory class.

In a capstone course piloted by the School of Computer and Data Sciences, fifteen computer science majors worked on real-world projects under the mentorship of industry professionals from some of the Pacific Northwest’s most prestigious tech workplaces, including Intel, Pipeworks Studios and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

Researchers and tech professionals from around the world gathered on campus for a hands-on programming workshop with Advanced Micro Devices, an industry leader in high-performance computing. Research teams from universities such as MIT, Stanford, and more traveled to the School of Computer and Data Sciences for the three-day hackathon, the first of its kind in North America.

The College of Arts and Sciences’ Computer Science Department received a $500,000 grant through the Future Ready Oregon program to strengthen UO’s cybersecurity program and fund an outreach initiative in Oregon high schools that will help encourage students to pursue cybersecurity careers.