UO Weekly Wrap for July 26 to Aug. 2

The Weekly Wrap is an update each Friday morning from the Office of Strategic Communications. It provides highlights of news you may have missed during the week and showcases UO stories about amazing students, faculty, staff and alumni.

UO in the News

Straub Hall remodel begins

The Register-Guard: 85-year-old Straub Hall will be completely renovated, including 1,000 classroom seats (700 new and 300 renovated) to increase instruction space.

Lifting up startup

The Register-Guard: The Regional Accelerator Innovation Network, or RAIN, will partner the UO, Oregon State University, cities of Eugene and Corvallis, with industry to help entrepreneurs.

Oregon team charts new understanding of actin filament growth in cells

Science Codex: UO biochemists have determined how tiny synthetic molecules disrupt an important actin-related molecular machine in cells, which may suggest a potential future route to therapeutic targeting.

UO on the Web

UO leads state, ranks high among U.S. public institutions in Forbes rankings

AroundtheO: The University of Oregon's selection this week as the state's top-ranked public university by Forbes magazine did not surprise the UO's chief enrollment officer. Nationally, the UO placed 65th among public institutions.

IntroDUCKtion paves way for new Ducks, families

AroundtheO: IntroDUCKtion brings incoming freshmen together before the start of fall term.

UO president joins colleagues in addressing national political leaders

UO Communications: University of Oregon President Michael Gottfredson is one of 165 university presidents and chancellors representing all 50 states who have signed an open letter to President Obama and members of Congress, expressing concern about federal budget cuts to research and higher education.

UO Research

Researcher tracks path of key proteins in health and disease

AroundtheO: University of Oregon biologist Joe Thornton’s long-running study of protein mutations and cancer has yielded another breakthrough.

McMorran Wins Department of Energy early career award

AroundtheO: UO physicist Benjamin J. McMorran is among 65 recipients of 2013 early career research awards from the U.S. Department of Energy. His research proposal was among 770 submitted for the highly competitive award by U.S. scientists who are less than 10 years into their careers.

UO Happenings

Mad Ducklings show Midas touch with play

The Register-Guard: The UO’s Mad Duckling Children’s Theater will perform “King Midas and the Golden Touch” through Saturday and August 6-10 in Amazon Park.

UO Athletics

Oregon unveils state-of-the-art Football Performance Center

Sports Illustrated: UO’s new Football Performance Center “is intended to help keep the Ducks in national-championship contention for years to come.”