Synthetic Organic Chemistry Star Makes Headlines

Rich Carter is an Associate Professor of Chemistry at OSU. He studies synthetic organic chemistry, publishes like mad, runs a big lab, teaches and oh yes, raises a family. He’s one of those people who, when you meet him, you wonder what the heck you’ve been doing with your life. His latest achievement is his breakthrough with biaryl compounds, which are used in liquid crystal displays, computer monitors and even therapeutic drugs. A new approach to making these organic molecules could expand their range of uses, Rich says.

Thus far, he’s already produced siamenol, an agent being studied as a possible AIDS drug.

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Tell the truth: You wonder what ONAMI is and why you should care

A recent article in the Corvallis Gazette-Times about Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute (ONAMI) explains why the support of higher education is so key to the economic health of Oregon in the global market:

Oregon needs to start ramping up its support of higher education, or else the state will be unable to compete in the global marketplace. That’s both the fear and the mission of Skip Rung, executive director of the Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute in Corvallis. “This is the one thing that Oregon still doesn’t get enough,” Rung said during an interview Tuesday. “Higher education is absolutely critical to any region’s economic future.”

ONAMI’s mission is to support new research and to provide seed money to help small tech companies grow. Without its academic partners, the project couldn’t succeed. Likewise, Rung said, Oregon won’t be able to thrive without the research and development at public universities, which provide the talent and the ideas that produce new technology.

Read the entire article here: Tech exec: Higher Ed Lagging, by Theresa Hogue, Gazette-Times reporter.

$77M for new Science Center

Oregon State University has received $77 million in private and public commitments to construct the Linus Pauling Science Center and provide support for associated research and education programs.

The new facility, named for Linus Pauling, a 1922 OSU graduate and the only person to win two unshared Nobel Prizes, will house the Linus Pauling Institute and chemists from the College of Science. The facility will also contain classroom and laboratory space for undergraduates, graduate students, and researchers studying chemistry, biology, and life sciences.

”This investment will have a transformational impact on the sciences at Oregon State University,” said President Ed Ray. “It will advance health care research, spur the development of new discoveries and programs that will bolster our economy, and help educate the next generation of scientists, who will define the future of health care.”

Funding for the $62.5 million state-of-the-art building includes a $20 million commitment from the Wayne and Gladys Valley Foundation of Oakland, Calif., which was matched by gifts from other donors. These private commitments helped the university secure another $31.25 million in state bonds.

The Valley Foundation has also challenged OSU to raise at least $15 million in additional support for science research and education programs, including faculty positions and scholarships. To date more than $14 million has been committed from nearly 750 donors.

Approximately 120,000 square feet, the Linus Pauling Science Center will occupy the corner of Campus Way and 30th Street, next to existing science facilities.

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We are working with donors to offer naming opportunities in the new building for gifts designated for chemistry and life sciences. Naming can be acquired for a gift of $10,000 or more.