© 2024 KLCC

KLCC
136 W 8th Ave
Eugene OR 97401
541-463-6000
klcc@klcc.org

Contact Us

FCC Applications
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Eureka! Oregon Ranks High For Innovation

Oregon State University

Oregon is one of the top ten states in the nation for scientific innovation, according to a new report.  KLCC’s Brian Bull has more.

The Beaver State overall ranks tenth, according to personal finance website WalletHub. Researchers used several metrics, including projected growth of jobs in science, technology, engineering, and math – or STEM for short.

Credit Brian Bull / KLCC
/
KLCC
Todd Schliemann of New York-based Ennead Architects presents the design of the Knight Campus for Accelerated Scientific Impact at the U of O last October.

WalletHub researcher Jill Gonzalez says in some cases, Oregon rated better than tenth…such as ranking sixth for its share of science and engineering graduates.

“About 10 percent of all graduates are in the STEM field. That means there’s a little bit of a drop between those that actually go into the STEM profession. 

"So obviously we want to make sure that there is no drop, maybe try to lessen that as the years go on, but since there is so many STEM jobs projected and in demand by 2020, I don’t think that’s going to be a problem in Oregon.”

Credit Oregon State University
Cassie the walking robot, part of OSU's research and development.

Oregon also ranked tenth for research and development spending per capita. The University of Oregon’s Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact, and $8 million in funding for Agility Robotics, a company launched at Oregon State University, are apt to help the state’s innovation ranking.

Copyright 2018, KLCC>

Brian Bull is an assistant professor of journalism at the University of Oregon, and remains a contributor to the KLCC news department. He began working with KLCC in June 2016.   In his 27+ years as a public media journalist, he's worked at NPR, Twin Cities Public Television, South Dakota Public Broadcasting, Wisconsin Public Radio, and ideastream in Cleveland. His reporting has netted dozens of accolades, including four national Edward R. Murrow Awards (22 regional),  the Ohio Associated Press' Best Reporter Award, Best Radio Reporter from  the Native American Journalists Association, and the PRNDI/NEFE Award for Excellence in Consumer Finance Reporting.
Related Content