Portland State Magazine Spring 2008

AROUND THE PARK BLOCKS Asian clams and 49 other plants and animals have invaded our waters, pushing out native species. Fifty invaders find a pathway TH E TINY , lacy crustaceans look innocuous, but they are invaders, say scientists surveying nonnative aquatic animals and plants in the middle Columbia and lower Snake rivers. The survey, conducted by Portland Scace and University ofWashington scientists, documented 50 species introduced in the rivers, including three crustaceans not reported previously. Funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife ervice, the survey found fish, such as the common carp and eastern brook trout, the most frequendy introduced species. The list also include aquatic plants, mollusks, worms, and more crus– taceans, all brought to Northwest waters since the 1880s. Often nonnative animals and planes are introduced to waterways through commercial ship hulls and their ballast water. Bue chis study, which was con– ducted farther up both rivers, discov– ered chat these invaders were brought in through wildlife enhancement and intentional stocking of fisheries. "Oregon has come a long way in addressing the aquatic invasive species issue in ballast water, bur chis study shows we have a lot more work to do," says Mark Sytsma, PSU director of the Center for Lakes and Reservoirs and main investigator on che project. For the full report, visit www.clr.pdx.edu . 4 PORTLAND STATE MAGAZINE SPRING 2008 Children living in an orphanage in India are benefiting from new caregiving practices developed by PSU educators. ..... Helping children a world away THE CIRCLE OF ADULTS , including PSU's Christine Chaille, rolled a ball back and forth as a sad, suspicious-looking group of children watched. The children live in an orphanage in Chennai, India, and play is not a normal part of their day. They eventually joined in and ended up sitting on adult laps, smiling and laughing. "Ir was a magical moment," says Chaille, education faculty, who was in India chis winter with Frank Mahler, a teacher in PSU's Helen Gordon Child Development Center. The pair was testing their curriculum, which includes introducing more playtime, for a Pordand-based nonprofit, Hands to Hearts International. Usually, early childhood programs focus on developmental milestones, but Chaille and Mahler's model empowers parents and caregivers by reaching chem to change the way they nurture, care for, and interact with children on a day-co-day basis in developing countries. "International aid organizations are already contacting us to discuss how they can use our curriculum co train caregivers in their own early child health programs," says Laura Peter on, Hands co Hearts founder and director. What's new? ' (he University recently added new centers and programs of statewide interest. ■ Oregon Translational Research and Drug Development Institute (OTRADI) ■ Center for Design and Innovation for Business and Sustainability ■ Health Care Management Leadership Certificate program ■ U.S. Geological Survey Oregon Water Science Center