President Bruininks on:

Access and Affordability

The Future of Higher Education

Human Capital and Economic Impact

Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation

Organizational Excellence

PreK-12 Education

Public Engagement

Transformational Leadership

About President Bruininks

About the Office of the President

News and Communications

Contact Us

Office of the President Home

President's 21st Century Interdisciplinary Conferences

In recognition of the University of Minnesota's recent completion of its 150th year of service to the State and the people of Minnesota, a new University-community conference series is being developed to celebrate the research, historical contributions, and the impact of the University on society. These working conferences are intended to stimulate future interdisciplinary academic investments through the compact planning process and encourage applications of research to important areas of economic development, community development, and public policy.

These conferences must address broad thematic ideas, ideally involving faculty from multiple colleges (or campuses), important interdisciplinary research issues that are of high public and community interest, and topics that will capture the imagination and interest of our students, faculty, staff, and our broader community.

The conference series is overseen by Alfred Sullivan, Executive Associate Vice President (alsull@umn.edu or 612-625-0051),and Jeanie Taylor, Director of Special Initiatives in the Office of the President (taylo133@umn.edu or 612-626-1616).

2003

October 9, 2003

Transforming Healthcare in Minnesota

2004

April 2, 2004

Environmental Threats to Children's Health: Legal and Policy Challenges
(Also April 2005)

April 7, 2004

Conference on Medical Devices: What is the shared vision for medical device development in the state of Minnesota?

April 20, 2004

The Power of Water: Integrating the Social, Economic and Environmental Dimensions

April 29, 2004

Intellectual Property Rights for the Public Good: Obligations of U.S. Universities in Developing Countries

June 8 and 9, 2004

Symposium on Small Towns: Rural Communities Adapting to the New Century
(Also June 2005)

June 15 - 17, 2004

The Summit: Quality Health Care

Sept. 28, 2004

Evaluation and Out-of-School Time: Building Accountability and Sound Public Policy
Part 2 of From Inquiry to Impact: Youth Development in Out-of-School Time, a conference series
(Also October 2004 and January 2005)

Oct. 11, 2004

The Power of Water: Consumptive Water Use to Feed Humanity: Curing a Blind Spot

Oct. 15, 2004

Conference on Disability: The Balkanization of Disability
(Also in Dec. 2004; Jan., March, and May 2005)

Oct. 19 and 20, 2004

50th Anniversary of Open-Heart Surgery by Cross Circulation

Oct. 28, 2004

Out-of-School Time and Positive Adjustment
Part 2 of From Inquiry to Impact: Youth Development in Out-of-School Time, a conference series
(Also September 2004 and January 2005)

Nov. 2 and 3, 2004

Healthy Foods, Healthy Lives: Setting the Agenda

Nov. 8, 2004

Access to Destinations: Rethinking the Transportation Future of Our Region

Dec. 1, 2004

Conference on Disability: The Economics of Disability
(Also in Oct. 2004; Jan., March, and May 2005)

Dec. 2 - 5, 2004

Reclaiming the Arts: Strategies for Commitment

2005

January 20, 2005

Conference on Disability: Ethics, Genetics, and Disability
(Also in Oct. and Dec. 2004; March and May 2005)

January 28, 2005

Out-of-School Time Programs: Rich Contexts for Development
Part 3 of From Inquiry to Impact: Youth Development in Out-of-School Time, a conference series
(Also September 2004 and October 2004)

March 22, 2005

Conference on Disability: Care Versus Empowerment
(Also in Oct. and Dec. 2004; Jan. and May 2005)

April 14 - 15, 2005

Leading Change: Strategies for a Vital Health Professions Workforce

April 14 - 17, 2005

Promoting Interactionism Within and Among the Disciplines
An Interdisciplinary Joint Faculty and Graduate Student Conference

April 15, 2005

Conference on Medical Devices: Lead the Change for Breakthroughs in Health Through Medical Device Advancements
(Also in April 2004)

April 15 - 16, 2005

Globalization, Modernities, and Violence

April 15 - 16, 2005

Governing the Global Workplace

April 19, 2005

Publication, the Public University, and the Public Interest: A University-wide Conference on Scholarly Communication in the Digital Age

April 22 - 23, 2005

Pathways of Development: Perspectives from Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience

May 17 - 19, 2005

Information, Technology, and Everyday Life

Late May 2005

Conference on Disability: The Politics of Disability
(Also in Oct. and Dec. 2004; Jan., and March 2005)

June 7 - 8, 2005

Symposium on Small Towns: Shaping Our Future
(Also June 2004)

Sept. 26 - 27, 2005

Promoting Healthy Communities for Children: the Social and Physical