Bob Butler

Retiring Faculty Ceremony, Reception, April 22

April 15, 2016

gold watch DT The following faculty members have announced their retirement at the conclusion of the spring 2016 semester, according to Kathleen Staten, provost’s office:

Robert Butler, environmental sciences
Howard Feldman, business
Drew Harrington, library
Rev. Thomas Hosinski, C.S.C., theology
James Seal, business
Larry Lewis, business.

A ceremony for all 2016 retirees will take place on Friday, April 22, at 3:30 p.m., in Buckley Center Auditorium, followed by a reception in the Bauccio Commons board room.

For more information contact Staten at 7105 or staten@up.edu.

Bob Butler Wins 2015 Neil Miner Award

August 28, 2015

University of Portland environmental science professor Robert F. Butler has received the Neil Miner Award from the National Association of Geoscience Teachers (NAGT). The award honors individuals for their exceptional contributions to the stimulation of interest in Earth sciences. The NAGT has presented the award since 1953 and is named after Neil Miner, who was known for his contagious enthusiasm for geology and unselfish dedication to his students and his profession. Butler was nominated by fellow geoscience professors and will be honored November 3 at the annual NGAT luncheon.

Butler has been a professor of geophysics at the University since 2004. He teaches earth system science, natural hazards, and oceanography and is known locally as an expert in the field of earthquakes and earthquake preparedness. He is also the project director of Teachers on the Leading Edge (TOTLE), a K-12 Earth Science teacher professional development program featuring Pacific Northwest geology and geological hazards. Among his many awards, Butler was named the Oregon Academy of Science 2013 Outstanding Higher Education Teacher in Science and Mathematics and received the 2014 Fred Fox Distinguished Service to Science Education Award from the Oregon Science Teachers Association.

Oregon Academy of Sciences Meeting, Feb. 28

February 23, 2015

The University will host the 2015 Oregon Academy of Sciences Meeting on Saturday, February 28, according to Steve Kolmes, environmental science. Kolmes serves as president of the OAS. Faculty, staff, students, and the public are welcome to attend a talk by Bob Butler, environmental science, “Animating Cascadia Earthquake Risk,” at 1 p.m., in Buckley Center Auditorium, and are also welcome for a lecture by 2014 OAS Outstanding Scientist Scott Burns, “The Mystique of Terrior,” at 7 p.m.

The Oregon Academy of science promotes scientific research and education in Oregon, and represents all areas of the natural sciences and social sciences. The annual OAS meeting acknowledges contributions by outstanding university and K-12 educators demonstrating dedication to the advancement of science education, and also acknowledges an Oregon scientist who has made outstanding contributions in his or her field.

For more information contact Kolmes at 7291 or kolmes@up.edu.

Bob Butler Honored By Oregon Science Teachers Association

September 12, 2014

Bob Butler, environmental science, has been selected to receive the Fred Fox Distinguished Service to Science Education Award from the Oregon Science Teachers Association. The award honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions to mentoring and developing new teachers, and is based on career longevity, breadth of influence, enthusiasm for science and the profession of science education, and the demonstrated ability to motivate.

Butler has been a professor of geophysics at the University since 2004. He teaches Earth System Science, Natural Hazards, and Oceanography, but is probably best known as an expert in the field of earthquakes and earthquake preparedness. Butler is also the project director of Teachers on the Leading Edge (TOTLE), a K-12 Earth Science teacher professional development program featuring Pacific Northwest geology and geological hazards.

Butler was a professor of geosciences at the University of Arizona from 1974 to 2001, and was recognized as Distinguished Professor of Geosciences there from 2001 to 2004. Among his many awards, Butler was named the Oregon Academy of Science 2013 Outstanding Higher Education Teacher in Science and Mathematics. This award will be presented during the annual Oregon Science Teachers Association conference on Friday, October 10, at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel (1919 NE 181st, Portland, OR 97230).

For more information contact the environmental science department at 8342 or inanb@up.edu.

Sr. Angela Hoffman, O.S.B., Outstanding Higher Education Teacher in Science and Mathematics

February 24, 2014

Sr. Angela Hoffman, O.S.B., chemistry, has been named the Oregon Academy of Science 2014 Outstanding Higher Education Teacher in Science and Mathematics. Hoffman has helped undergraduate students with more than 150 projects involving the ingredient Paclitaxel and the anti-cancer drug Taxol (marketed by Bristol-Myers Squibb). University of Portland environmental science professor Bob Butler was the recipient of the same award in 2013.

Paclitaxel is found originally in the rare and rapidly vanishing Yew tree, native to the Pacific Northwest. Taxol is used to treat ovarian cancer, breast cancer, the AIDS-related cancer Kaposi’s sarcoma, and other conditions. Hoffman currently has four patents from 1997, 2003, 2006, and 2010, all pertaining to recovering taxanes (including Taxol) from soil around yew trees and other plants that are grown to produce Taxol.

This past November, several dozen yew trees were planted on the University’s River Campus. Known as “Sr. Angela’s Yew Garden,” the garden is home to more than 10 different varieties of the yew tree, which Hoffman and her students will use for their research.

Hoffman was recognized in 2012 as an American Chemical Society (ACS) Fellow for her “outstanding achievements in and contributions to Science, the Profession, and the Society.” In 2007, Hoffman was chosen as an American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow in 2007.

The Oregon Academy of Science promotes scientific research and education in Oregon representing all areas of the natural sciences and social sciences. To see a video interview with Sr. Angela go to http://youtu.be/KbVC2xYcfVU. For more information, contact Steve Kolmes, environmental studies, at 7291 or kolmes@up.edu.