Endowment strengthens Oregon forestry sector

Dr. John Sessions John Sessions likes to refer to forestry as "a bio-energy puzzle."

Harvesting wood in sensitive ecosystems makes up one set of puzzle pieces, explains Sessions, holder of the endowed Richard Strachan Chair of Forest Operations Management at OSU. The other has to do with earning a living in a volatile economy and a competitive global marketplace. How can foresters maximize efficiency without sacrificing ecology?

In support of Oregon Department of Forestry efforts, Dr. Sessions designed a computer modeling software program that allows foresters to compare one harvest strategy against another — before bringing in the loggers and loaders.

It's one example of the ways holders of endowed faculty positions at OSU work to make Oregon economically strong.

The Richard Strachan Chair is one of 28 endowed positions created to date through gifts to The Campaign for OSU.

Learn More

Profile of John Sessions' work in Terra magazine

Spring 2009 Focus on Forestry, centered on the impact of faculty endowments

College of Forestry campaign priorities

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