CALENDAR ALERT

Oregon Tech student projects showcased June 5

WHEN: Friday, June 5, 2026, at 9 AM. Community members and media are invited to attend.

WHERE: Oregon Tech Library, 3201 Campus Drive, Klamath Falls, OR 97601

WHAT: Oregon Tech welcomes the public to the IDEAfest project symposium on Friday, June 5, from 9 AM- 12 PM. This is an annual event where students present their junior, senior, or capstone project posters and demonstrations. Staff and faculty projects will also be presented on June 5 from 1 PM to 4 PM in Boivin Hall.

Students at Oregon Tech are known for creating interesting, innovative projects. This year, many students chose to work with local businesses to solve real-world problems. A few of the 60+ projects include:

· VECTOR: A robot that compacts roadside trash to one-third its size, making cleanup transport more efficient and practical.

· Data-Driven Trail Alignment Optimization (Running Y Ranch): A study using LiDAR and least-cost path analysis to design a safer, more sustainable trail route through difficult terrain while minimizing environmental impact.

· Cat-Tech: A smart pet-tracking system that combines GPS, Wi-Fi, and motion sensing to monitor a cat’s location and behavior in real time, even detecting unusual activity patterns.

· FishLens: An AI-powered system that automatically identifies and counts salmon and trout passing through local Oregon rivers where dams have recently been removed, replacing time-intensive manual video review for biologists.

· Parasites and Mule Deer Decline: Assesses the role of parasitic roundworm infections as a contributing factor to ongoing mule deer population declines in the Klamath Basin, where herds have decreased by approximately 7.6% annually since 2020.

The community is encouraged to attend to see what Oregon Tech’s inventive and innovative students are creating.

HOW: IDEAfest entry and parking during the event are free. A full list of projects is available at www.oit.edu/academics/ideafest.

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_Submitted by Ashley Van Essen, Public Affairs, Oregon Tech (541-885-1162, ashley.vanessen@oit.edu)._