What People are Saying
“I’ve experienced firsthand the power of pairing science with entrepreneurial innovation. Penny and I are proud the Knight Campus is tackling the challenges of tomorrow with the tenacity that defines both the state and university we love.”
Philip H. Knight, BBA ’59
“The Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact brings together the state’s best minds through creative partnerships that combine our state’s collective strengths, leading to discoveries that will positively impact the health and economic prospects of all Oregonians.”
Oregon Governor Kate Brown
“The Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact at the University of Oregon shapes this outstanding public research institution for the next century by driving discovery and innovation. As a proud UO alum, I know this campus plays an essential role in defining the future of this institution, our community, Oregon, our region and the nation.”
Ron Wyden, JD ’74, U.S. Senator, Oregon, 2003 Champion of Science, The Science Coalition
“Simply put: this is a seminal moment for the state and the University of Oregon. The Board of Trustees challenged faculty and leadership to think boldly and imaginatively to solidify the university’s place as a premier public research institution. Phil and Penny Knight’s unmatched generosity and visionary spirit inspired us to dream big, and the result is the Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact. A faculty member once told us that ‘innovation occurs at the intersection of disciplines,’ and this has become one of my favorite sentiments. The Knight Campus fosters that interdisciplinary work, accelerates that innovation, and is already resulting in positive impact.”
Chuck Lillis, PhD ’72, Chair, UO Board of Trustees
“Our future depends on the ability to transform scientific discovery into solutions that will address the many challenges we face in our state, country, and world. The University of Oregon’s Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact will play a critical role in fostering innovation and inspiring students to dream and create and invent.”
Suzanne Bonamici, BA ’80, JD ’83, U.S. Representative, Oregon 1st District, 2020 Champion of Science, The Science Coalition
“The generosity of Phil and Penny Knight is well known, especially at the University of Oregon. The opening of the Knight Campus brings tremendous promise for our state, but also the world. Progress and innovation often start in the classroom, and the new campus will play a pivotal role in the training of the next generation. I believe that the Knight Campus will lead to life-changing advancements worldwide as scientific research and training the next generation are the keys to better health and greater prosperity.”
Greg Walden, BS ’81, U.S. Representative, Oregon 2nd District, 2020 Champion of Science, The Science Coalition
“From the perspective of an industry partner, I am an enthusiastic advocate of the Knight Campus integrating impact into the traditional academic goals of discovery and dissemination. I am also very pleased their strategic plan and visioning includes a strong emphasis on inclusion and diversity, recognizing the need for institutional support to strengthen individual capacity from recruitment to retention and career advancement. Through their systems-based research approach and active community-building programs, Knight Campus researchers will accelerate the identification of solutions to current and emerging societal needs.”
Cheryl Bartel, Senior Director, Research and Development, Thermo Fisher Scientific's Chief Scientific Office
“Many clinical challenges will be addressed by therapies and medical devices based on novel functional materials and 3D-structures created by bioengineers. Drawing from strengths in biology and materials science, the Knight Campus is poised to marry basic science discovery with biomedical engineering to pave the way for many biologically inspired medical technologies and devices.”
David J. Mooney, Robert P. Pinkas Family Professor of Bioengineering, Core Faculty Member, Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University
“It is with great pleasure that I welcome the Knight Campus into the community of engineering researchers and academics in the Pacific Northwest. It is terrific to see the UO taking its place at the PAC-12 Engineering Dean’s meetings for the first time with Bob Guldberg at the helm. We look forward to the Knight Campus’ unique contributions particularly at the interface of biomaterials where new technologies will bring great benefit to societal health and quality of life.”
Nancy Allbritton, Frank and Julie Jungers Dean of the College of Engineering, University of Washington
“Oregon is thoughtfully acting on its unique strategic position within American academia, which gives it the rare capacity for transformative change. The Knight Campus vision is a playbook for the 21st Century—the Bio-Century. Innovations produced by the Knight ecosystem will create unprecedented societal benefits, enhancing well-being, performance, and human dignity.”
Tom Skalak, Joe and Clara Tsai Foundation
“The Knight campus is in a unique and exciting position to lead the world in the commercialization of university based research. The bold campus vision and commitment to building a startup culture from the ground up are key advantages compared to traditional university systems.”
Kenneth A. Gall, Associate Dean of Entrepreneurship and Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University
“When I attended the UO, it was a team-oriented program. From what I can see, it’s still very collaborative. That’s the key to taking academics to the level of creating new ideas.”
Dennis Beetham, MS ’67
“I look forward to launching a unique partnership between the Center for Art Research (CFAR) and the Knight Campus to create an artist residency program featuring Oregon artists that is called the CFAR Project Incubator (CPI). Thanks to the support from The Ford Family Foundation’s 'Golden Spot’ designation, the CPI will afford artists working in any medium the opportunity to explore and conceptualize new work as a part of a vital, interdisciplinary research community, which is supported by cutting-edge facilities and technical staff.”
Brian Gillis, Professor, Art Department and Director, Center for Art Research (CFAR)