The University of Oregon (UO) is a prestigious public research university with a rich history, located in Eugene, the second-largest city in Oregon. It is a member of the Association of American Universities and the Association of Pacific Rim Universities. UO has produced three Nobel Laureates and thirteen Pulitzer Prize winners. Two researchers have received the National Medal of Science, and nine are members of the National Academy of Sciences.

UO is renowned for its athletics, particularly football and track and field, and competes in the NCAA as the Oregon Ducks in the PAC-12 Conference alongside Stanford, UC Berkeley, USC, and others.

Eugene, Oregon, is known for its natural beauty, consistently ranking among the best cities to live in the U.S. It offers picturesque snow-capped mountains to the east (Cascade Mountain) and charming Oregon beaches to the west. Established in 1846, Eugene is the third-largest city in Oregon, known as the "Emerald City" and the "Track and Field Capital of the World."