ECONOMICS - Ed Whitelaw — University of Oregon economics professor emeritus, founder of the ECONorthwest consulting firm, adviser to governors and presidents, and tirelessly rigorous-but-entertaining educator for a half-century’s worth of UO students — died April 27 at age 80.

ANTHROPOLOGY - A review of evidence on islands around the world has led researchers, including the University of Oregon’s Scott Fitzpatrick, to pour water on the long-held notion that modern humans drove the extinction of large animals more than 12,000 years ago.

Twelve UO researchers and scholars pursuing research on subjects ranging from rock and roll music to data science to COVID-19 have received 2021 Faculty Research Awards, which support scholarship, creative projects and quantitative or qualitative research from all disciplinary backgrounds.

SOCIOLOGY - Eating poultry and fish to reduce the production of land-based meats that come with a higher energy cost is an environmentally friendly idea, but it’s not working, says University of Oregon sociologist Richard York. That conclusion comes from an analysis of 53 years of international data.

HISTORY - Dining out has for generations been a fun way to celebrate special occasions, meet friends or just enjoy a quiet evening with someone special. But for many, that ended almost overnight last year as the spread of COVID-19 shuttered businesses and forced people to stay home.

ENGLISH, ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES - UO professor Sarah Wald hasn’t gone down the TikTok rabbit hole, but she’s explored just about every other storytelling medium to examine issues of equity and diversity in outdoor recreation and public land use.

The Glacier Lab is a group of graduate students, CHC undergrads and postdocs who study the societal impacts of glaciers, icebergs and snow worldwide. Members of the lab come from diverse academic backgrounds, including environmental studies, anthropology, history and English.

In a state known for its inspiring landscapes — its beauty, how its residents both embrace and rely on it for sustenance — University of Oregon faculty, staff and students bring that same passion and fervor toward studying our environment and tackling the biggest challenges facing it.

Four interdisciplinary teams have been awarded seed funding through the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation to pursue interdisciplinary research projects. The Incubating Interdisciplinary Initiatives awards, known as I3 awards, will provide up to $50,000.

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES - During the tumultuous summer and fall of 2020, a photojournalist needed more than cameras and lenses to cover the news. Kevlar jackets, ballistic helmets, and gas masks were also standard operating equipment.