Our Impact

PSU biologist Anne Thompson studies picocyanobacteria, tiny ocean-dwelling phytoplankton that produce oxygen and drive global nutrient cycles. Her work explores how these microbes survive, who eats them and their role in climate resilience, inspiring new science education from high school to graduate research.

This July, thousands of Oregonians could lose their mental health counselors due to a critical change in CareOregon insurance coverage. But PSU's Community Counseling Clinic offers hope by providing low-cost counseling services for individuals, couples and families in need.

The climate crisis has increased the frequency and intensity of wildfires in the western United States. At PSU, researchers are working to increase wildfire awareness, prevention and mitigation in the Pacific Northwest, undertaking their effort from different angles, which fits the complexity of the issue.

The Performing Art + Culture Center planned for the PSU campus will include a Broadway-capable theater owned and operated by the City of Portland alongside educational facilities and a community theater, plus room for a privately owned hotel and other arts facilities. It's a once-in-a-generation chance to energize our arts and culture ecosystem.

PSU Architecture students designed and built a new, zero-waste performance venue for Pickathon 2025. Inspired by nature and movement, “The Water Serpent” wraps around the Cherry Hill stage, blending artistry, sustainability and immersive design. After the festival, its materials will be repurposed for local community projects.

A PSU study finds little evidence that Measure 110 drove rising crime or overdose deaths, instead pointing to COVID-19 and fentanyl as major factors. The three-year project examined multiple Oregon drug policy shifts and underscores the need for well-resourced treatment services to make future reforms effective.