A week of activities celebrating and showcasing the broad range of scholarship, programs, and research taking place across the University of Oregon related to human performance and sport within the context of the Olympic movement.
With a legacy of more than 100 alumni representing over 20 countries at the Olympic Games and a tradition of hosting elite competitions, the Olympic spirit is woven into the DNA of the University of Oregon.
Olympics Studies Week is about honoring and celebrating that legacy. Coordinated by the newly launched University of Oregon Olympic Studies Hub, the week is designed to showcase the breadth of research and activities taking place across the university related to sports and wellness within the context of the Olympic movement.
Several events, including an academic symposium and an industry session, are open for community members to attend. Professors and instructors are also incorporating lessons and research into their courses, as well as guest speakers, to explore topics related to Olympic studies.
Plus, there is an array of sporting events taking place on campus during the week, culminating in the Big Ten Track and Field Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field.
See full schedule of events: https://business.uoregon.edu/news/uo-olympic-studies-week-2025
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Highlights of Olympic Studies Week include
- Academic Showcase, May 12, 9:00 a.m. – noon, Beetham Family Seminar Room, Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact: Short presentations showcasing the array of courses, research, and scholarship taking place on campus connected to the Olympic movement. Speakers include the UO Athletics Archivist and scholars from different departments and units, including the Lundquist College of Business, School of Journalism and Communications, Human Performance, Bowerman Sports Science Center, College of Arts and Sciences, and more. This session will be live-streamed at https://www.youtube.com/live/2DZPjvS1iLg.
- Industry Panel, May 16, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.: Organized by the Warsaw Sports Business Center, this industry session will showcase the University of Oregon's hands-on learning approach to education. Representatives from various organizations will be on hand to share insights about how they have partnered to advance the Olympic movement and appreciation for sports and wellness. Open to the public.
- UO Olympics History Archives Tour, May 14, 10:00 - 10:45 a.m., Location: Knight Library, Special Collections and University Archives (2nd Floor, North Wing): Archivist Lauren Goss will share some of the hidden treasures the university keeps in its special collections, including writings from legendary track coach Bill Bowerman. Space is limited. UO students, faculty, and staff only. RSVP at https://uobiz.co/olympic-studies-archive-tour
- UO Olympics History Hayward Hall Tour, May 14, 11:00 - 11:45 a.m., Hayward Hall, Hayward Field, (Base of Hayward Tower): This museum within legendary track-and-field venue Hayward Field honors the university’s eight Olympic gold medalists and showcases the global reach of Oregon athletics. The tour will also include a visit to the top of Hayward Field Tower. Space is limited. UO students, faculty, and staff only. RSVP at https://uobiz.co/olympic-studies-hayward-tour
- Oregon Performance Research Lab Tour, May 14, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m., Esslinger Hall 156: Lab director Brad Wilkins will highlight how the lab's research and cutting-edge technologies advance the understanding and limitations of human performance. Space is limited. UO students, faculty, and staff only. RSVP at https://uobiz.co/olympic-studies-performance-tour
- Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance Spring Symposium, May 15, Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact: The Wu Tsau Human Performance Alliance includes research from the University of Oregon, Stanford University, University of California San Diego, University of Kansas, Boston Children's Hospital, and the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. The alliance is holding its spring symposium at UO. UO students, faculty, and staff are invited to join keynote sessions via Zoom (links available at https://business.uoregon.edu/news/uo-olympic-studies-week-2025)
A week of activities celebrating and showcasing the broad range of scholarship, programs, and research taking place across the University of Oregon related to human performance and sport within the context of the Olympic movement.
With a legacy of more than 100 alumni representing over 20 countries at the Olympic Games and a tradition of hosting elite competitions, the Olympic spirit is woven into the DNA of the University of Oregon.
Olympics Studies Week is about honoring and celebrating that legacy. Coordinated by the newly launched University of Oregon Olympic Studies Hub, the week is designed to showcase the breadth of research and activities taking place across the university related to sports and wellness within the context of the Olympic movement.
Several events, including an academic symposium and an industry session, are open for community members to attend. Professors and instructors are also incorporating lessons and research into their courses, as well as guest speakers, to explore topics related to Olympic studies.
Plus, there is an array of sporting events taking place on campus during the week, culminating in the Big Ten Track and Field Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field.
See full schedule of events: https://business.uoregon.edu/news/uo-olympic-studies-week-2025
--
Highlights of Olympic Studies Week include
- Academic Showcase, May 12, 9:00 a.m. – noon, Beetham Family Seminar Room, Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact: Short presentations showcasing the array of courses, research, and scholarship taking place on campus connected to the Olympic movement. Speakers include the UO Athletics Archivist and scholars from different departments and units, including the Lundquist College of Business, School of Journalism and Communications, Human Performance, Bowerman Sports Science Center, College of Arts and Sciences, and more. This session will be live-streamed at https://www.youtube.com/live/2DZPjvS1iLg.
- Industry Panel, May 16, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.: Organized by the Warsaw Sports Business Center, this industry session will showcase the University of Oregon's hands-on learning approach to education. Representatives from various organizations will be on hand to share insights about how they have partnered to advance the Olympic movement and appreciation for sports and wellness. Open to the public.
- UO Olympics History Archives Tour, May 14, 10:00 - 10:45 a.m., Location: Knight Library, Special Collections and University Archives (2nd Floor, North Wing): Archivist Lauren Goss will share some of the hidden treasures the university keeps in its special collections, including writings from legendary track coach Bill Bowerman. Space is limited. UO students, faculty, and staff only. RSVP at https://uobiz.co/olympic-studies-archive-tour
- UO Olympics History Hayward Hall Tour, May 14, 11:00 - 11:45 a.m., Hayward Hall, Hayward Field, (Base of Hayward Tower): This museum within legendary track-and-field venue Hayward Field honors the university’s eight Olympic gold medalists and showcases the global reach of Oregon athletics. The tour will also include a visit to the top of Hayward Field Tower. Space is limited. UO students, faculty, and staff only. RSVP at https://uobiz.co/olympic-studies-hayward-tour
- Oregon Performance Research Lab Tour, May 14, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m., Esslinger Hall 156: Lab director Brad Wilkins will highlight how the lab's research and cutting-edge technologies advance the understanding and limitations of human performance. Space is limited. UO students, faculty, and staff only. RSVP at https://uobiz.co/olympic-studies-performance-tour
- Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance Spring Symposium, May 15, Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact: The Wu Tsau Human Performance Alliance includes research from the University of Oregon, Stanford University, University of California San Diego, University of Kansas, Boston Children's Hospital, and the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. The alliance is holding its spring symposium at UO. UO students, faculty, and staff are invited to join keynote sessions via Zoom (links available at https://business.uoregon.edu/news/uo-olympic-studies-week-2025)
1:00–2:00 p.m.
Join us for a special seminar hosted by the Graduate Student Association at the Knight Campus: Innovation and Entrepreneurship with the Graduate Student Association. This session will explore how students can engage in translational research, develop entrepreneurial mindsets, and connect their academic work with broader societal impact.
All are welcome. A short reception will follow.
1:00–2:00 p.m.
Enjoy stress-free time together online with disabled and neurodivergent graduate students from across campus. Share experiences, exchange resources, or consult with a GE from the Accessible Education Center.
Join us for the PhD defense of Andrew Holston, a Chemistry doctoral candidate in the Plesa Lab at the University of Oregon's Knight Campus. Andrew will present his research on the large-scale engineering of chimeric histidine kinases, offering new insights into the design and manipulation of these key signaling proteins. All are welcome to attend.
2:00–3:00 p.m.
Please join us for the PhD defense of Natanya Villegas, a Biology doctoral candidate in the Plesa Lab at the University of Oregon's Knight Campus. Natanya will share her work on advancing programmable nucleic acid libraries and CRISPR enrichment techniques to expand possibilities in molecular biology research. All are welcome.
10:30–11:30 a.m.
Join us for a compelling talk by Elliot Reed, co-founder and CEO of Sensate Biosystems, as part of the Spring 2025 Entrepreneurship Speaker Series. In “Disruption Decoded,” Reed draws on over two decades of experience to illuminate the path from groundbreaking research to successful commercialization. Attendees will gain practical insights into identifying promising innovations, navigating complex licensing deals, and securing diverse funding sources—including federal grants and venture capital.
This session is a must for entrepreneurs, researchers, and students interested in transforming disruptive technologies into thriving ventures while avoiding common commercialization pitfalls.
10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Strengthen connections and unplug on Oregon’s beautiful coast while hiking Hobbit Trail and spending time at the ocean near Florence. Transportation, lunch, and snacks provided.
A $5 deposit through the Outdoor Program (OP) is required to secure your seat. Space is limited to the first 20 students, with priority given to international students.
Please call the Outdoor Program at 541-346-4365 to reserve a spot, or sign up in person at OP's DIY Bike Space in the EMU.
1:00–2:00 p.m.
Join the Knight Campus Department of Bioengineering for the final seminar of the Spring 2025 BioE Seminar Series, featuring an invited research talk and the 3rd Annual Awards Ceremony recognizing outstanding trainee presentations.
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Guest Speaker: Dr. Laurel Hind, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder Inflammation-on-a-Chip: Redefining How We Study Immune Responses
Following the seminar, awards will be presented for Best Postdoctoral Presentation and Best PhD Student Presentation from across the 2024–25 series.
All are welcome. A short reception will follow.
1:00–5:00 p.m.
Please join the Knight Campus Graduate Internship Program during the tracks designated ceremony time on Sunday, June 15, at the Knight Campus.
- 1-2pm – KCGIP Polymers & Sensors Programs Commencement Ceremonies
- 2:30-3:30pm – KCGIP Semi & Optics Programs Commencement Ceremonies
- 4-5pm – KCGIP Bioinformatics & Genomics Program Commencement Ceremony
Graduates please RSVP here by May 30, 2025.
BIOE Science Seminars
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