U News Releases

U of M students reveal results of experiments in 'near space'

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:33:00 GMT

How do solar panels work in space? Can you inexpensively measure cosmic radiation? University of Minnesota students will answer these questions and share their findings from scientific experiments recently carried by a weather balloon to an altitude of more than 100,000 feet.

The students will reveal the results at a special Spaceflight with Ballooning Open House from 11 a.m. -12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 24 in the lobby and main stairwell of Akerman Hall, 110 Union St. S.E., Minneapolis. An inflated weather balloon and payload boxes will be on display. A video of the recent launch near Hinkley, Minn., will also be on display.

Students conducted the experiments as part of the class “Spaceflight with Ballooning,” a freshman seminar that challenges students to design and build mini-spacecraft and use inexpensive high-altitude helium balloons to launch them into “near-space,” the upper reaches of the atmosphere where physical properties are the same as in outer space. Since the launch, students have been analyzing data from the balloon mission.

“Conducting experiments in space has always been difficult due to the tremendous expense of rocket launches,” said James Flaten, an aerospace engineering and mechanics faculty member who teaches the class. “Students in this class gained a new appreciation for space hardware and spaceflight by designing and building their own inexpensive, functioning spacecraft and flying it to the very edge of outer space. This memorable activity took them closer to space than they’ve ever been before.”

For more information about the class, visit the Web site at
http://www.aem.umn.edu/people/faculty/flaten/ballooningfreshmenseminar

University of Minnesota invention will help speed development of drug treatments for heart failure

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:53:00 GMT

Research conducted by University of Minnesota scientists, in collaboration with Celladon Corporation, has led to the invention of technology to more rapidly identify compounds for the treatment of heart failure.

Chronic heart failure is an increasingly important health problem. It is the leading medical cause of hospitalization and is expected to result in an estimated direct and indirect cost to the health care system of $37.2 billion in 2009 alone. About 5.7 million people in the United States have heart failure, and it contributes to or causes some 290,000 deaths annually. However, developing new treatments is an extremely costly and time-consuming process, taking nearly a decade to gain regulatory approval and requiring hundreds of millions of dollars.

The technology, developed by the universitys David Thomas and Razvan Cornea and Celladon Corporations Krisztina Zsebo, allows for increased screening efficiency of compounds capable of disrupting the interactions of proteins implicated in the development of heart failure. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) is used to measure disruption of the calcium regulatory system, which has long been implicated in cardiovascular disease. This will provide key information on a particular drugs likelihood of success early in the screening process, since compounds that decrease FRET are good candidates for further development.

"Dr. Cornea and I, along with our students, have worked for more than a decade developing methods for preparing membranes from purified components, and using FRET to detect changes in protein interactions," Thomas said. "Scientists from Celladon saw the potential for drug discovery, and this resulted in a breakthrough that has added an exciting new dimension to our research program."

The high-throughput assay, developed by the university team, is based on a reconstituted membrane system composed of purified lipid and protein components. This technique is especially important because the interactions of integral membrane proteins are more complex than soluble proteins, making it very difficult to produce a synthetic system that recapitulates the cellular interactions in a large-scale and reproducible manner.

Celladon, based in La Jolla, Calif., has acquired an exclusive license for the technology from the University of Minnesota for the development of molecular therapies for cardiovascular diseases. Celladon also provided funding for the research that allowed Thomas to further refine the assay.

"This technology is very important to the efficient selection and advancement of compounds with the potential to increase cardiac contractility and potentially accelerates product opportunities that will ultimately benefit patients and development partners alike," said Krisztina M. Zsebo, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Celladon Corporation. "Celladon's investigation and development of first-in-class CDN small molecules as intravenous and oral drugs for the treatment of acute and chronic heart failure sets us apart in the cardiovascular field and presents multiple partnering opportunities."

U of M plant scientist uncovers clues to yield-boosting quirks of corn genome

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:07:00 GMT

When it comes to corn, 1 + 1 = more than 2: The offspring of two inbred strains tend to be superior to both of their parents. Characterizing the gene-level variability that leads to this phenomenon, known as heterosis or hybrid vigor, could boost our ability to custom-tailor crops for specific traits, such as high protein content for human consumption or high glucose content for biomass fuel.

With help from the newly released DNA sequence of the common corn strain B73, University of Minnesota plant biologist Nathan Springer and colleagues from Iowa State University, Roche NimbleGen, and the University of Florida have begun doing just thatand come up with some surprising findings.

In a study reported in the Nov. 20 issues of Science and PLoS Genetics, the researchers compared the genetic sequence of B73 with that of a second inbred strain, Mo17. They discovered an astonishing abundance of two kinds of structural variations between the pair: differences in the copy number of multiple copies of certain stretches of genetic material, and the presence of large chunks of DNA in one but not the other. In fact, at least 180 genes appearing in B73 arent found in Mo17, and Springer, an associate professor of plant biology in the College of Biological Sciences, suspects that Mo17 likely has a similar number of genes that B73 lacks.

"The genomes of two corn strains are much more different than we would have thought, Springer said. "What struck us is how many major changes there are between two individuals of the same species."

The researchers think that this diversity, which is almost as great as the difference between humans and chimpanzees, is whats behind the superiority of hybrids. When the genetic material from the two very different parents combines, the offspring end up with more expressed traits than either parent - the best of both worlds, gene-wise.

The findings are important because corn is important. Domesticated some 10,000 years ago, the crop produces billions of bushels of food, feed, and fuel feedstock each year in the United States alone. If we understand the molecular underpinnings of hybrid vigor, Springer says, we can potentially produce true-breeding lines of corn with specific traits for specific uses. That means better use of land, fertilizer, fuel, and other inputs needed to grow crops, and, ultimately, less environmental impact than might otherwise accrue as we work to meet the needs of a growing population.

The University of Minnesota College of Biological Sciences is one of the few colleges in the United States dedicated to all areas of biology, from molecules to ecosystems. To learn more, go to www.cbs.umn.edu.

University of Minnesota is awarded $2.7 million grant for forest biomass research project

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:30:00 GMT

A new $2.7 million grant from the federal agriculture and energy departments will fund a University of Minnesota-led multistate study of whether forest-based biofuels are viable and sustainable.

The study, led by Anthony D’Amato, an assistant professor in the U of M’s Department of Forest Resources, will involve analyzing the potential ecological and economic costs and benefits of harvesting woody biomass from the more than 50 million acres of forestland in the lake states of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. Harvesting woody biomass involves collecting and processing the leftover branches and leaves from logging large trees, as well as gathering smaller trees and shrubs from woody areas.

All three states currently have large-scale experiments under way to assess how different levels of woody biomass removal affect forest vegetation, soil nutrients, and carbon cycling over varying lengths of time as well as quantifying how much biomass is available and whether harvesting it makes sense logistically and economically. The newly funded project provides a more regional, comprehensive approach to those questions, D’Amato said, and also will help estimate the amount of fossil-fuel emissions that could be sustainably offset by using woody biomass as fuel.

The northern lake states, with their large tracts of forest land, have been identified as a region with great potential for supplying a woody biomass industry, D’Amato said.

“But the key is to make sure we’re not compromising the long-term sustainability of the benefits we value from forests to achieve short-term benefits,” he said

The grant is part of a $24 million, 12-grant package from the USDA and Department of Energy aimed at researching and developing technologies to produce biofuels, bioenergy and other high-value biobased products. Energy secretary Steven Chu said in announcing the grants that the goal of the projects is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50 percent.

Most of the grants are to private industry, but four were made to universities. Each grant recipient must contribute a minimum of 20 percent in matching funds; the U of M’s project is co-funded by the Minnesota Forest Resources Council and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Collaborators on this project include researchers from the University of Wisconsin USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station, and University of Missouri.

Minnesota high school students compete for "Golden Femur" in U of M YouTube video contest Wednesday

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:13:00 GMT

More than 350 students representing 10 high schools across Minnesota will gather Wednesday at the U of M to see who can make the best and most creative YouTube video to explain concepts of human anatomy and physiology. The winners of the contest – which is part of the university’s College in the Schools (CIS) program – will take home the coveted Golden Femur trophy.

The video awards ceremony will take place from 11-11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18 in the U of M’s Mayo Memorial Auditorium, 425 Delaware St. S.E., Minneapolis.

Teams produced 20- to 60-second videos that explain an anatomy or physiology concept. Students developed a script and a storyboard, selected or designed an appropriate setting and demonstrated creative shooting and editing.

The winner of the first-time video awards gets to inaugurate the Golden Femur, which will be a traveling trophy. Second place winners will earn a Silver Spleen, while the third team walks away with a humerus bone trophy. A number of runners up will also be honored during the ceremony.

Murray Jensen, associate professor in the U of M’s College of Education and Human Development, developed the video competition as the faculty coordinator for the U of M course "Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology" offered through CIS.

College in the Schools at the University of Minnesota develops partnerships between the University of Minnesota and high school teachers and administrators. Students get firsthand experience with a faster pace of study and increased academic rigor while earning university credits. For more information, visit http://www.cce.umn.edu/College-in-the-Schools

University of Minnesota Supercomputing Institute offers enhanced high performance computing resources to researchers with new Supercomputer powered by HP

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:18:00 GMT

The University of Minnesota Supercomputing Institute for Advanced Computational Research (MSI) announced today its addition of HP ProLiant blade servers for a new high performance computing (HPC) system to support research across a broad range of disciplines. This powerful new system placed No. 67 on the November 17 TOP500 list of the world’s most powerful supercomputers.

The new system will increase MSI’s high-performance computing capacity, improving its ability to support researchers at the University of Minnesota and across the state. Powered by 1,083 HP ProLiant BL280 G6 servers with 8,664 computing cores, the new supercomputer, named “Itasca” by MSI, delivers 97 teraFLOPS of theoretical computing performance—three times the aggregate theoretical peak performance of MSI’s other core

computing resources.

The HP supercomputer at MSI features 24 gigabytes of RAM per node, a 40 Gb QDR InfiniBand interconnect, and more than 150 terabytes of attached storage. With a dramatic increase in its number of cores, MSI anticipates substantially improved capacity for running applications to resolve research problems.

More than 4,000 active users across a wide range of disciplines utilize MSI's diverse computational resources, making MSI a focal point of collaborative research at the University of Minnesota. MSI currently supports almost 500 active research groups by providing complete high-performance computing environments including systems, software, storage, support, and services. MSI resources have helped these researchers to be awarded $103.9 million in external funding in the past year. With the new HP supercomputer, MSI will be well poised to expand its established role of serving engineering and the physical and life sciences, and to provide services to many disciplines not traditionally served by MSI.

“Today, high-demand computation is absolutely central to a wide array of important research areas that are vital to putting the University of Minnesota in a leadership position,” said Tom Jones, interim director of MSI. “This new computing system is a big step above what most other universities can call on, so our faculty and students are really excited by the big boost in computational resources they will have to drive the frontiers of knowledge.”

“To maximize the effectiveness of their new supercomputer, MSI needed high system performance combined with ease of deployment and energy efficiency,” said Steve Cumings, director of marketing, Scalable Computing and Infrastructure, HP. “MSI’s choice of HP ProLiant BL280c blade servers for their new system shows its value in a complex HPC environment, enabling MSI to expand their support and speed of active research, ultimately

driving innovation.”

Top 500 Rankings

The TOP500 ranking of supercomputers is released twice a year by researchers at the University of Tennessee, University of Mannheim, Germany, and at NERSC Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The list ranks supercomputers worldwide based on the Linpack N*N Benchmark, a yardstick of performance that is a reflection of processor speed and scalability.

About MSI

The University of Minnesota Supercomputing Institute for Advanced Computational Research (MSI) is celebrating its 25th anniversary as an interdisciplinary research program spanning across all colleges of the University of Minnesota. MSI has established itself as a vital resource to the University of Minnesota by facilitating groundbreaking research, attracting top faculty and students, and enhancing researchers’ competitive advantage in the search for external funding. For more information, visit www.msi.umn.edu.

MSI at SC09

Visit MSI in booth 155 at the SC09 supercomputing conference in Portland, Oregon, today through Nov. 20 for demonstrations showcasing research at the University of Minnesota. More information about MSI at SC09 is available at https://www.msi.umn.edu/events/sc09/.

University of Minnesota receives funding for development of EthicShare, an online research and collaboration site

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:26:00 GMT

A new research and collaboration Web site for scholars working in the field of ethics has received a 14-month, $264,000 grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, aimed at capitalizing on the site’s emerging success.

EthicShare (www.ethicshare.org), a partnership of the University of Minnesota Libraries, Center for Bioethics and Department of Computer Science and Engineering, aggregates relevant resources and provides an easy, accessible way for ethics scholars to share and collaborate with each other.

During the project's planning process, scholars identified the shortcomings of existing services. "Ethics scholars often find discovery of resources challenging because materials and resources in our fields are dispersed in multiple, diverse databases," said Jeffrey Kahn, director of the Center for Bioethics and project co-principal investigator. "Gathering relevant resources into one repository is a tremendous asset to scholars who can then use EthicShare's social features to connect with others interested in the same issues."

The grant, the third from Mellon, will support further development of the bibliographic database and enhanced collaborative features. Additional support for the project has been provided by the Council on Library and Information Resources and the National Science Foundation.

Consumers are aware, concerned and taking precautions over H1N1, University of Minnesota study finds

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:04:00 GMT

Nearly 98 percent of consumers are aware of the H1N1 virus and many are concerned about it, according to new data from the University of Minnesota’s Food Industry Center.

Since April, researchers at the center have been tracking consumers’ knowledge and attitudes about the H1N1 flu via an online survey in which a new group of about 175 consumers from across the nation is surveyed each week.

In the latest survey, taken in late October, nearly three-quarters of respondents (73 percent) rated H1N1 as a serious threat to the country, meaning they ranked the threat 4 or higher on a scale of 6, where 6 was the most serious. About 42 percent said they had the same level of concern about H1N1 in their own households.

Consumers also said they’ve changed some of their behaviors since the outbreak of H1N1 last spring. Hand-washing and use of hand sanitizers has risen dramatically; about 78 percent now say they wash frequently, up from 67 percent earlier. About 55 percent use hand sanitizer, compared with 41 percent earlier. The percentage of people who say they avoid public places due to concerns about the H1N1 flu rose from 16 percent in the first 13 weeks of the survey to 20 percent in October.

More consumers now apparently understand that eating pork does not cause the flu; while 3.7 percent said at the beginning of the survey that they were avoiding pork, 1.7 percent answered the same way in October.

The late-October survey asked consumers for the first time about their vaccination plans. Of those who said they had not had an H1N1 vaccination, 19.5 percent said they would seek one. About 8 percent said they had tried to get an H1N1 vaccination but were unsuccessful. (The base for these questions did not include 24.9 percent of respondents who said they had already had an H1N1 shot, most of whom were probably confusing the H1N1 vaccine with seasonal flu vaccine, said Dennis Degeneffe, research fellow at The Food Industry Center.)

The ongoing survey monitors consumer concerns, expectations and perceptions of the safety of the food supply from natural/accidental contamination. The study is funded by the National Center for Food Protection and Defense, which has an interest in tracking consumer awareness and concern over H1N1 as well as food safety and defense. It is being conducted in collaboration with the LSU Ag Center, and is fielded using the TNS national online panel of consumers.

The indicator is unique because of its continuous tracking feature, said Jean Kinsey, director of The Food Industry Center.

Degeneffe noted that “the continuous nature of the study also enables us to understand how news coverage of H1N1 affects consumer concern and behavior. We saw consumer concerns increase as the WHO declared H1N1 a pandemic back in June, and again when school started in the fall.”

"Open Doors" report shows U of M near top in study abroad participation, international student enrollment

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:47:00 GMT

The annual "Open Doors" report on international study abroad, released Monday by the Institute of International Education (IIE), shows that the University of Minnesota's Twin Cities campus ranks third in the nation among research institutions in the number of students who participated in an education experience abroad in 2007-08, with 2,521 students.

This is the highest the university has ever ranked on this list, up from fourth place and 2,079 students in last year’s report (which included statistics from the 2006-07 school year).

In addition, the university ranked 20th among research institutions with 4,120 international students in 2008-09, up from 23rd place with 3,756 students in last year’s report. (Study abroad statistics are reported one year behind international student statistics.)

The Open Doors report measures international student mobility — the official report on the number of American students going abroad to study and international students coming to the United States.

“This report confirms that our hard work is paying off,” said Meredith McQuaid, associate vice president and dean for international programs. “On the study abroad side, we are continuing our successful project to integrate education abroad into the curriculum, while emphasizing longer-term programs and participation by non-traditional study abroad students. For international students, we have implemented a strategic recruitment program that is bringing the best and brightest students to Minnesota from around the world.”

Other University of Minnesota campuses also ranked high in the report:

•    The Crookston campus ranked 36th among baccalaureate institutions in the number of international students, with 144 students.
•    The Morris campus ranked 37th among baccalaureate institutions in study abroad, with 270 students.
•    The Duluth campus ranked 40th among master’s institutions in study abroad, with 385 students.

The Open Doors report is published by the Institute of International Education, the leading not-for-profit educational and cultural exchange organization in the United States. A full press kit and further details on the Open Doors 2009 surveys and their findings can be accessed on www.opendoors.iienetwork.org

TCF Bank Stadium to host U2 concert in June 2010

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:54:00 GMT

Rock band U2 will be playing at the University of Minnesota's new TCF Bank Stadium, concert producer Live Nation announced today. As part of U2's "360* Tour", the iconic band, formed in Dublin, Ireland, will appear at an evening concert on Sunday, June 27, 2010.

"To have a band of this caliber be the first large-scale concert in TCF Bank Stadium really is a great opportunity for the University of Minnesota and the entire Twin Cities community," said university Athletics Director Joel Maturi. "I'm particularly pleased that 10,000 tickets to this concert will be available for pre-sale to U of M students. From the beginning, we've said TCF Bank Stadium was bigger than football - and this really proves that point."

U of M, Twin Cities campus students should have already received an email communication explaining how and when they can access the pre-sale opportunity. The public on-sale will be on November 21 through Ticketmaster.

For the concert, U2 has a state-of-the-art sound system that Maturi said is "arguably the best in the world right now." The group has been successful with outdoor concerts in urban venues around the world and engineers with the group will be on-site to balance noise levels throughout the seating bowl and to minimize noise spillover.

U of M horticulture students' Floral Grave Blanket honoring Michael Jackson put on display at AMC Theatres Rosedale

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:41:00 GMT

Moviegoers headed to the AMC Theatres Rosedale 14 this weekend will get a chance to view a unique tribute to Michael Jackson. A “Floral Grave Blanket” created by the University of Minnesota Floral Design class has been installed outside the theater showing the film "Michael Jackson’s This Is It." The AMC Rosedale 14 Theaters are located at 850 Rosedale Shopping Center, Roseville.

Often students enrolled in the U of M department of Horticultural Science’s floral design class work individually on their creations, but the grave blanket project brings them together as team, said horticultural science professor Neil Anderson. "Working as a team, they share ideas and build on one another’s creativity," he said.

A class of 22 undergraduate students built the floral grave blanket during lab on Nov. 9. The class, worked in four teams, creating designs for four connected panels that make up the 4’ x 16’ blanket.

Description of the blanket

One part of the panel depicts the Jackson 5 who launched Michael Jackson’s career. Students used sphagnum moss to create the Afro hairdos, along with Magnolia grandiflora leaves and marigolds to create their costumes.
Another panel piece depicts Jackson’s dancing shoes and socks along with lettering ‘MJ 09’. Carnations, magnolia leaves and palm fronds were some of the floral materials used to make this panel.
Another panel features a silhouette of Michael in concert on a shiny stage with floral spotlights above (made out of Stephanotis flowers and rose hips), floral fireworks (consisting of Pittosporum leaves) and yellow lights at the base of the stage made from Craspedia flowers.
The right-hand panel honors the ‘King of Pop’ with a crown of marigolds and carnations, a boom box and various stars in his shows or music.

In the past, Anderson has overseen similar blanket projects to commemorate victims of the Interstate 35W bridge collapse and for 'El Dia de los Muertos' (the Day of the Dead).

University of Minnesota achieves second-best year on record for philanthropy

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:43:00 GMT

More than 83,000 donors to the University of Minnesota gave $267 million in gifts and pledges in fiscal year 2009, which ended June 30, 2009. This follows the best year of giving to the university. The total given in FY 2008 was a historic $289 million.

"I'm humbled every day by the generosity of the people of Minnesota, our donors, friends and alumni," said university President Robert Bruininks. "Despite the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, donors to the University of Minnesota seek to fund research that changes our lives, to support talented students who feed our economic vitality as a state and to build assets only the university can bring to our state and our world."

The giving total was boosted by the second- and third-largest gifts ever made to the university. Caroline Amplatz, pledged $50 million to name University of Minnesota Amplatz Children's Hospital. Her gift was inspired by the work of her father, longtime university professor and medical device pioneer Kurt Amplatz. The Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation pledged $40 million to cure type 1 diabetes. Richard Schulze, the founder of Minnesota-based Best Buy Co., Inc., has a daughter with type 1 diabetes.

Donors also gave $11 million during the fiscal year for TCF Bank Stadium, for a total of $89 million raised in private gifts and sponsorships for this historic capital project, surpassing the fundraising goal.

The $267 million raised in FY 2009 includes gifts made to all U of M campuses, colleges and departments, including gifts made through the University of Minnesota Foundation, the Minnesota Medical Foundation, the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Foundation and the 4-H Foundation. It includes current cash gifts, pledges and other future gift commitments.

The foundations distributed more than $160 million to the university in FY 2009 -- up 16 percent compared with FY 2008 -- for the purposes designated by donors. This includes funds for facilities, student scholarships and fellowships, faculty support, research and academic programs. Disbursements come from current cash gifts and payouts on endowed funds.

“This is the true measure of the impact that donors make on the university through their giving," said Steve Goldstein, president and CEO of the University of Minnesota Foundation. "And we are particularly proud that, despite a year of economic uncertainty, we maintained support for all U programs supported through endowed funds. Strong investments in previous years and careful management of the endowment made this possible."

Donors made new gifts and pledges totaling $35 million for student support in FY 2009, and $27 million was distributed in scholarships and fellowships during the year. Helping students meet the cost of their education is a major university goal that is being addressed through fundraising as well as through state and university grant programs to help low- and middle-income families.

Psychologist Andrea Braverman to speak at U of M on the how the Internet is reshaping assisted reproduction

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:00:00 GMT

Renowned psychologist and professor Andrea Braverman will speak on “How the Internet is reshaping assisted reproduction" 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 18 at the University of Minnesota’s Coffman Union, 300 Washington Ave. S.E., Minneapolis. Braverman’s lecture is the second in the 2009-10 Lecture Series on Law, Health & the Life Sciences on “How the Internet and Computers Are Changing Biomedical Practices and Policy” and is sponsored by the U's Consortium on Law and Values in Health, Environment and the Life Sciences.

Braverman’s lecture will focus on how — in the traditional medical model — assisted reproductive technologies featured the doctor acting in the role of the primary decision-maker choosing what was in the best interests of the patient. In the past, patients were passive participants in the building of their families — in fact, it was frequently the doctor or nurse who selected the sperm donor for an infertile couple. In the past few decades, however, options for family building have grown. Intended parents have evolved from passive patients to informed consumers. Braverman will argue that the biggest change is only now coming into view, as offspring themselves become active, seeking information about their conception, looking for information about their gamete donor, and trying to find other offspring who share the same donor. Braverman’s lecture will analyze these changes, explore future implications for policy and practice and discuss the importance for the practitioner, intended parents and people conceived through the donor process.

A clinical assistant professor in the department of Obstectrics & Gynecology at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Braverman is a licensed psychologist in the state of Pennsylvania, and director of the Psychological and Complementary Services at Reproductive Medicine Associates of New Jersey. She has written extensively on assisted reproduction and the psychological effects of infertility, and leads a complementary care program addressing the needs of patients who may be experiencing infertility.

The lecture is free and open to the public. It is co-sponsored by the University’s Consortium on Law, Health & the Life Sciences and Joint Degree Program in Law, Health & the Life Sciences.

University of Minnesota to host Midwest's Premier Energy, Economic and Environmental Conference

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:57:00 GMT

How do we provide sustainable fuel, food, fiber and freshwater to a global population of 9 billion people in our lifetime? That’s one of many urgent questions on the agenda during E3 2009: The Midwest’s Premier Energy, Economic and Environmental Conference, taking place Nov. 17 in St. Paul.

Hosted annually by the University of Minnesota’s Initiative for Renewable Energy and the Environment (IREE), a signature program of the Institute on the Environment, the E3 conference explores current technologies, environmental benefits and market opportunities in renewable energy. Each November since 2004, representatives from academia, business and industry, government and other sectors join together to share new knowledge and discoveries.

Lawrence Kazmerski, executive director of science and technology partnerships at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, will deliver the keynote presentation. The former director of the National Center for Photovoltaics, Kazmerski joined NREL (formerly called the Solar Energy Research Institute) in 1977 as the first staff member in photovoltaics. He’ll offer an overview of the latest photovoltaic technologies, as well as the inside scoop on his work at NREL.

Other highlights include a “super panel” discussion, moderated by Institute on the Environment Director Jonathan Foley, with representatives from all sides of the food-versus-fuel debate: Michael Doane, director of agricultural economics and sustainability with Monsanto; Kevin Stringer, director general of petroleum resources with Natural Resources Canada; Nathanael Greene, director of renewable energy policy with the Natural Resources Defense Council; and Rick Tolman, chief executive officer with the National Corn Growers Association.

Along with a variety of research posters and exhibitor displays, the conference will feature 15 breakout sessions focused on a series of big questions in five different tracks: Renewable Fuels and Products; Renewable Electricity; Energy Policy, Environment and Economy; Special Topics; and Workshops.

The big questions range from “What’s the best use for biomass?” and “What are the biggest bottlenecks to the deployment of solar energy systems in the United States?” to “Where is the climate change debate headed?” and “What can we learn from renewable energy leaders in other countries?” And, as a new highlight this year, a series of workshops will showcase student-led renewable energy projects, sustainable campus initiatives and energy-efficient business efforts.

E3 2009 takes place Nov. 17 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Saint Paul RiverCentre, 150 Kellogg Blvd. W. St Paul. Free transportation to and from the event is available on both the Minneapolis and St. Paul campuses. E3 attendees can also receive a discount registration rate for a half-day conference on Nov. 18: "Putting Minnesota on the Map: Next Steps for Building a Smart Grid Coalition."

The E3 conference is presented by IREE, in partnership with lead sponsors Faegre & Benson and Piper Jaffray, in addition to more than a dozen category sponsors. Proceeds from E3 2009 will help fund scholarships for University of Minnesota students studying renewable energy and the environment.

Visit www.iree.umn.edu/e3 for complete details, including the agenda, speaker bios, shuttle schedule, conference hotel and more.

University of Minnesota's Deborah Swackhamer receives international award for Environmental Leadership and Research

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:04:00 GMT

Deborah L. Swackhamer, co-director the University of Minnesota's Water Resources Center (WRC), is the 2009 recipient of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry's (SETAC) Founders Award.

The highest honor given by the international organization, the Founders Award recognizes outstanding career accomplishments that promote research, education, communication and training in the environmental sciences. Swackhamer was chosen for her research on the behavior and bioaccumulation of persistent organic pollutants in the Great Lakes, as well as her contributions to environmental education and leadership in key environmental science organizations.

In addition to her position at the WRC, Swackhamer is an environmental chemistry professor in the university's School of Public Health and holder of the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute's Charles M. Denny Jr. Chair in Science, Technology, and Public Policy. She chairs the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Science Advisory Board, is a member of the Science Advisory Board of the International Joint Commission of the United States and Canada and she serves on various committees of the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences. She also chairs the Editorial Advisory Board of the Journal of Environmental Monitoring and serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of the journal Environmental Science & Technology. She is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Swackhamer was recently appointed by Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty to Minnesota's Clean Water Council and is the project leader for the Minnesota Water Sustainability Framework, a project commissioned by the 2009 Minnesota State Legislature to develop a 25-year investment framework for the sustainable use of Minnesota’s water resources.

“I am delighted that the 2009 SETAC Founders Award has been awarded to Professor Swackhamer of the University of Minnesota,” said SETAC President Mike McLaughlin. “Swackhamer is a highly deserving recipient whose impressive level of commitment, achievement and service deserves the highest recognition. It also gives me great pleasure to announce this award to her as a longstanding SETAC member and superb scientist.”

The award will be presented at SETAC North America's 30th annual meeting this month.

Mondale course "once in a lifetime" experience for students

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:46:00 GMT

When University of Minnesota students begin Spring 2010 registration today, they will have a unique opportunity to enroll in a public affairs course taught by former U.S. Vice President and U graduate Walter Mondale.

The course, PA 1005: Topics in Social Policy: America's Constitutional Crisis with Walter Mondale, will examine the ongoing battle between the President and Congress over control of the country's most vital decisions. Students will have the opportunity to learn from someone who was in the middle of many of these crisis and who current Vice President Joe Biden recently described as the "single most prominent vice president in American history."

To watch Mondale and co-instructor Humphrey Institute professor Larry Jacobs discuss the course, go to http://www1.umn.edu/urelate/newsservice/Multimedia_Videos/mondale_class.htm

Harper's Magazine former editor and author Lewis H. Lapham to speak at University of Minnesota

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:27:00 GMT

The New York Times has likened him to H.L. Mencken; Vanity Fair has suggested a strong resemblance to Mark Twain and best-selling author Tom Wolfe compared him to Montaigne. On Thursday Dec. 3, author and editor Lewis H. Lapham will speak at the University of Minnesota about the tribulations of the printed word in the wilderness of cyberspace.

"Mixed Media" will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Elmer L. Andersen Library, 222 21st Ave. S., Minneapolis, and will be followed by a reception and book signing.

Lewis Lapham is editor emeritus of Harper's Magazine and the founding editor of Lapham's Quarterly, a journal of the history of ideas. The author of 13 books, among them "Theater of War" and "Money and Class in America," Mr. Lapham is the host of Bloomberg Radio's weekly program, "The World in Time."

Presented by the Friends of the University of Minnesota Libraries, the event is free and open to the public. Reservations are requested by Nov.25 at (612) 624-9339 or stangret@umn.edu.

University of Minnesota Board of Regents to meet this week

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:07:00 GMT

At this month's meeting, the University of Minnesota Board of Regents will hear a report on private giving to the U in fiscal year 2009, including two of the largest gifts in the history of private support at the university, and review the six-year capital improvement plan. Part of the plan is the proposed 2010 Twin Cities East Bank Recreation Center expansion, a project which will add approximately 140,000 additional square feet to the current center in order to help meet student demand for recreational space. The Board will also act upon the first phase of financing for the new Biomedical Sciences Research Facilities.

Other highlights of the meeting include:

Thursday, Nov. 12

8:45 - 10:15 a.m., Audit Committee, East Committee Room
The committee will hear from the Office of Institutional Compliance and discuss changes to the university's conflict of interest policies.

10:30 - 11:30 a.m., Work Session, Boardroom
President Robert Bruininks will present the first in a series of reports that outline the university's performance through select indicators and measurements.

1:30 - 3:30 p.m., Finance and Operations Committee, East Committee Room
Committee members will review and act upon a variety of issuance of debt matters including the first allotment of funding for the Biomedical Sciences Research Facilities, a $292 million research hub which seeks to find the cures for some of the world's most prolific diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's.

1:30 - 3:30 p.m., Faculty, Staff and Student Affairs Committee, West Committee Room
Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education Robert McMaster will present a report on university transfer students and what the school is doing to engage them. Additionally, the committee will discuss a presentation on trends in retirement and how late-career workers might reinvent the next phase of their lives.

3:45 - 4:45 p.m., Work Session, Boardroom
A discussion will be held about the role of private giving in the university's financial future after a report by University of Minnesota Foundation president Steven Goldstein and Minnesota Medical Foundation president Becky Malkerson.

Friday, Nov. 13

9 - 11:30 a.m., Board of Regents Meeting, Boardroom
Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics professor Graham Candler will first be recognized as a McKnight Presidential Professor.

Goldstein and Malkerson will report that the university has had a successful year of giving, including two of the largest gifts in the history of private support.

President Bruininks, chief financial officer Richard Pfutzenreuter and vice president of University Services Kathleen O'Brien will outline the six-year capital improvement plan which includes the 2010 Twin Cities East Bank Recreation Center expansion. The Twin Cities campus has not added recreation space since 1993 despite student enrollment growing by 38 percent. This project begins to address shortages of recreation, fitness and wellness space for the student body, as well as faculty and staff who use the facility.

Finally, the Board will act on the appointments of the dean of the College of Education and Human Development, Jean Quam, and the Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Education, Henning Schroeder.

More information on the Board of Regents meeting can be found at www.umn.edu/regents. The Friday meeting will be webcast on that site.

Local foods and consumer eating trends spotlighted at U of M symposium

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:50:00 GMT

“Locally grown” is one of the hottest phrases in the food industry today, but what does it really mean? Is local necessarily healthier or safer? A seminar at the University of Minnesota next week will address those questions.

The conference, “Local Food and Consumer Demand,” will take place beginning at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, at Coffman Union, 300 Washington Ave. S.E., Minneapolis.

Speakers from the university include economist Robert King, who will discuss local food supply chains; food safety expert Francisco Diez-Gonzalez, who will talk about the microbial risks of natural and organic foods; and Rebecca Monro, associate director of the university’s Institute for Research in Marketing, who will talk about cooperative business models.  

For more information, including registration and the conference agenda, visit http://foodindustrycenter.umn.edu/Events.html. The conference is hosted by the university’s Food Industry Center; the Institute for Research in Marketing at the Carlson School of Management; and the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture. Corporate sponsors include CHS, Inc.; General Mills, H. Brooks & Co.; and Nash Brothers Trading Co.

U of M students to construct a 'This is It' floral display blanket to honor Michael Jackson

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:47:00 GMT

Students enrolled in a University of Minnesota floral design class are creating a “grave blanket” this year to honor singer Michael Jackson, who died last summer. Construction of the blanket will begin at about 4 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 9 in Room 423 Alderman Hall, 1970 Folwell Ave., on the university’s St. Paul campus. Photo opportunities will be available anytime after that.

The ‘This Is It’ Grave Blanket will be installed Tuesday, Nov. 10 at the AMC Rosedale 14 Theaters, 850 Rosedale Center, Roseville. It will be on display for a week near the theaters showing the movie about Jackson, ‘This Is It.’

The grave blanket project is under the direction of horticultural science professor Neil Anderson, who in the past has overseen similar blanket projects to commemorate victims of the Interstate 35W bridge collapse and for 'El Dia de los Muertos' (the Day of the Dead). The class, working in teams, will gather flowers, newspaper clippings and photographs for the memorial.