Explore earth, ocean, climate, and environmental science through quarterly virtual conversations led by researchers from Oregon State University’s College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences (CEOAS). Each session delivers sharp insights and fresh discoveries—all in 30 minutes. No science background required—just curiosity.
Upcoming talk
Title: El Niño 2026: How Wild Could This Winter Be?
Speaker: Larry O’Neill, Oregon State Climatologist and CEOAS Associate Professor
When: October 8 at 6 p.m. (Pacific Time, North America)
Where: On Zoom
Summary: One of the strongest El Niño events on record is developing in the tropical Pacific. But changes in this distant ocean can rearrange weather patterns across the globe, shifting winter storms, temperature, drought and mountain snowpack across the United States, while also affecting conditions along our coastlines. So what happens when El Niño becomes exceptionally strong? In this talk, Larry will explore what past major El Niños can tell us about the winter ahead, why their impacts vary so widely across the United States and why the strongest events can sometimes produce surprising outcomes. We’ll then zoom in on Oregon, where there is a lot riding on this winter after a year of severe drought and historically low snowpack. Along the way, we’ll tackle a deceptively simple question: Does a stronger El Niño actually mean stronger impacts? The answer reveals the remarkable connections between the tropical Pacific and weather thousands of miles away, why predicting weather months in advance remains one of the most fascinating challenges in climate science and why getting these predictions right matters for water, agriculture, ecosystems and communities.
About the Curiosity Collective
If you love asking questions and exploring how the world works, you belong here!
The Curiosity Collective brings together alumni, lifelong learners, community members, and anyone curious about our planet. Through lively learning experiences, we open doors to the groundbreaking research taking place at OSU.
Developed in partnership with the scientists of CEOAS, the Collective connects you with bold new ideas, the latest discoveries, and the people behind them.
What to Expect
Quarterly Virtual Science Sessions
Every season, join us for a 30 minute virtual talk with a CEOAS researcher sharing cutting edge work, followed by live Q&A and interactive conversation. These sessions are designed to be approachable, deeply engaging, and easy to fit into your schedule.
Meet the Scientists Behind the Discoveries
Hear directly from experts who investigate oceans, climate systems, hazards, geoscience, and the environments that shape life on our planet. Learn what motivates their work, what new questions they’re chasing, and why their discoveries matter right now.
Future In-Person Experiences
As the community grows, we plan to introduce additional to explore science up close, such as:
- Behind the scenes lab tours
- Research poster mixers
- Field and facility visits
- Expedition related experiences
- Community science activities
Upcoming Events
Stay tuned for new opportunities to learn, connect, and explore with CEOAS researchers. Check back for the latest events and special opportunities as they are added throughout the year.
First event coming soon!
Who We Are
The Curiosity Collective is created and hosted by the College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences (CEOAS) at Oregon State University, a global leader in earth, ocean, climate, and environmental research.
We’re excited to explore, discover, and stay curious—with you.