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Vol. XXXVIII No. 31; October 8, 2008
Editor: Adam Overland, brief@umn.edu
Inside This Issue
-- David Tilman named 2008 recipient of the International Prize for
Biology.
--A continuing resolution was signed into law, keeping federal
funding flat.
--Free U days at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.
--People: Donald Fosnacht was appointed by Governor Tim Pawlenty to
the Clean Energy Technology Collaborative; and more.
Campus Announcements and Events
University-wide | Crookston |
Duluth | Morris | Rochester | Twin Cities
DAVID TILMAN HAS BEEN NAMED THE 2008 RECIPIENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL PRIZE FOR BIOLOGY. Tilman will receive a medal, cash prize, and gift from Emperor Akihito of Japan in a ceremony in Tokyo on Dec. 8. The award is one of the most prestigious honors a scientist can receive. The last time it was given for ecology was in 1993, when Edward Wilson, the renowned Harvard evolutionary biologist, was the recipient. Tilman was selected for research proving that biodiversity makes ecosystems more productive and resistant to drought, disease, and pests. All of his research was carried out at Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve, operated by the College of Biological Sciences. For more information, see International Prize for Biology.
FUNDING OF FEDERAL AGENCIES IS CRUCIAL TO THE UNIVERSITY'S RESEARCH MISSION; the University relied on federal sources for 70 percent of its half-billion dollar research portfolio last year. A $630 billion continuing resolution was signed into law Sept. 30, keeping federal funding flat. The measure funds the government for the first five months of FY 2009, beginning Oct. 1, except for the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, and Veterans Affairs, all of which received yearlong appropriations. The Pell grant program received $2.5 billion in new funding to meet a projected shortfall. Nearly all other accounts, including those of research agencies, were frozen at the same level of funding as in FY 2008. For more information, see continuing resolution. For additional information, see Government Relations.
FREE U-DAYS AT THE ARBORETUM: From 8 a.m. to sunset on Oct. 10 and 11, U employees are invited to visit the arboretum free-of-charge for a weekend that promises to be the high point in fall color viewing. Oct. 4 saw the kickoff of the Pumpkin Palooza theme during the arboretum's aptly named "Autumn Unplugged" extravaganza. It marks the beginning of a busy and fun-filled fall. For more information, read A last hurrah.
PEOPLE: Donald Fosnacht of UMD was appointed by Governor Tim Pawlenty to the 15-member Clean Energy Technology Collaborative; UMD announced the appointment of Mindy Granley to the newly created position of campus sustainability coordinator; Ben Johnson will receive a Special Recognition award during Michigan's 23rd annual Governor's Awards for Arts & Culture; Marie Johnson has been appointed director of the University of Minnesota's new Medical Device Fellows Program; Julie Schumacher has received the first College of Continuing Education Distinguished Educator Award. Read about these and more awards and appointments in People.
CAMPUS ANNOUNCEMENTS AND EVENTS
THE MY VOICE, MY VOTE WEB SITE has been launched by the U's Institute on Community Integration (ICI) to help motivate and teach young adults with disabilities about voting and ways to participate in the political process. It provides information about accommodations and voting rights, shows how to register to vote, and features a video of a relevant workshop. The site is a collaborative project of ICI, the Humphrey Institute's Center for Democracy and Citizenship, Partnership Resources Inc., and Minneapolis Public Schools, with assistance from the Minnesota secretary of state's office. For more information, e-mail Chris Bremer, call 612-625-7595, or see My Voice, My Vote.
THE MINNESOTA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION (MAES) recently funded seven projects aimed at providing answers about prevention and control of bovine tuberculosis (TB), a disease that attacks deer and cattle. The Rapid Agricultural Response Fund, administered by MAES, provided $386,000 to close the knowledge gaps in Minnesota's fight against the disease. Because bovine TB has been discovered in Minnesota livestock, cattle producers now must observe costly federal testing requirements to protect against its spread. Bovine TB does not impact food safety. MAES is part of the University's System Academic Administration.
WATER RESOURCES SCIENCE WILL HOLD ITS DISTINGUISHED VISITOR LECTURE SERIES on both the Twin Cities and Duluth campuses. J?rg Imberger, director of the Center for Water Research and internationally recognized environmental engineer, will speak on the theme "Life in a Changing Climate," Oct. 14, 4 p.m., 110 Green Hall, St. Paul campus, and Oct. 16, 7 p.m., August Fitger's Room, Fitger's Bldg, Duluth. On Oct. 15, 3:30 p.m., in St. Anthony Falls Laboratory Auditorium, Imberger will lecture on "Real Time, Adaptive Self Learning Management of Aquatic Natural Systems," and again on Oct. 17, 3:15 p.m., 185 Life Science, UMD campus. For more information about each event, see Distinguished Visitor.
THE MINNESOTA LANDSCAPE ARBORETUM'S SUMMER 2009 EXHIBITION THEME IS WATEROSITY: Go Green with a Splash, opening June 6. It features a juried exhibition of 10 designs that explore the interplay of people, plants, and water. Those interested in submitting a design must attend the mandatory pre-proposal meeting, Oct. 9., 1-3 p.m., Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. RSVP Oct. 8 by e-mail to Thom Dreeze or by calling 952 443-1425. For more information, see Waterosity.
UMC WILL HOST A PRESENTATION AND CONVERSATION WITH DAN McELROY, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). DEED is the state's lead agency focusing on business creation, relocation, expansion, and retention. Oct. 14, noon, Bede Ballroom, Sargeant Student Center.
A GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY FOR THE NEWLY APPROVED RESIDENCE HALL will be held Oct. 15, 11:30 a.m., near Brink Hall. UMC administration, faculty, and staff will be joined by Crookston mayor David Genereux, as well as representatives from the Crookston Convention and Visitors Bureau, Community Contractors, and Michael J. Burns Architects.
UMD'S HOMECOMING CELEBRATION "Dawg Days 2008: Bulldogs Lead the Pack!" will be held Oct. 8-11. The events kick off Oct. 8 with the annual Department Decorating Contest and continue Oct. 9 with the Cardboard Boat Races on Bagley Pond and a homecoming bonfire at Fitger's courtyard. An Oct. 10 homecoming carnival followed by a 50th reunion dinner, women's volleyball and hockey games, and Oct. 11 events including a 5K trail run in Bagley Nature Area, tailgating, and home games of UMD football and women's volleyball and hockey conclude the celebration. For more information, see Homecoming Celebration.
THE POLITICS OF ECONOMICS: CONSERVATIVE AND LIBERAL VIEWPOINTS will be presented by Curt Anderson, professor of economics, Labovitz School of Business and Economics (LSBE). The talk will present a nontechnical look at the basic economic beliefs and emphasis of analysis of conservatives and liberals and how these lead to general micro and macro economic policies. The current financial crisis will be described and discussed in the context of these two viewpoints. The presentation is part of the LSBE Department of Economics seminar series. Free and open to the public. Oct. 14, 3:30 p.m., Rafters, Kirby Student Center. For more information, see Viewpoints.
THE FOURTH INDO-U.S. LECTURE SERIES ON DISCRETE MATHEMATICAL CHEMISTRY with Osmania University in Hyderabad, India, will be held at Nizam College, Jan. 6-9. Subhash Basak of UMD's Natural Resources Research Institute is organizing the lecture. Oct. 10 application deadline. Oct. 31 abstract submission deadline. Discrete mathematical chemistry is an emerging interdisciplinary research area with applications for the protection of the environment, new drug discovery, and understanding the molecular basis of property, bioactivity, and toxicity of chemicals. For more information, see lecture series.
MORRIS BIOMASS GASIFICATION PLANT: UMM dedicated its new biomass gasification plant on Oct. 3. A video segment produced by the News Service on the facility and UMM's sustainability efforts can be viewed at Biomass Dedication.
UMM's ACADEMIC CENTER FOR ENRICHMENT was established in 2008. As the only University of Minnesota campus with such a program, UMM joins a unique community of other higher education schools with similar programs. For more information, see Enrichment.
SIXTY-SIX INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ARE STUDYING AT UMM THIS YEAR. The International Student Association and Office of International Programs sponsored a reception for scholars Sept. 19. A slideshow is available online. For more about UMM, see Morris News.
A GENERATIONAL DIVERSITY IN THE WORKPLACE workshop will take place Oct. 8, 1-4:15 p.m. with a social event from 4:15-5:30 p.m., 417 University Square. For more information, see Generational Diversity.
THE CITY, THE RIVER, THE BRIDGE symposium is a retrospective on the aftermath of the I-35W bridge collapse and reconstruction. What lessons have been learned from the disaster and the response? What policy and planning changes have occurred or are likely? What are the long-term consequences for the city and its relationship with the Mississippi River? President Bruininks will give the capstone comment. Oct. 9-10, various locations. For more information, see City, River, Bridge.
STEAM SERVICE TO SEVERAL UNIVERSITY BUILDINGS WILL BE SHUT OFF FOR UP TO 24 HOURS next weekend as Facilities Management extends utility service to the East Gateway District. The project will connect the new deep steam tunnel to the existing campus distribution system. The shutoff will take place from 7 p.m., Oct. 10, until 7 p.m., on Oct. 11. For more information, see Steam Service.
FREE ASSESSMENTS DURING NATIONAL DEPRESSION SCREENING DAYS will be held on the Minneapolis and St. Paul campuses Oct. 9-10. Assessments provided by mental health professionals from University Counseling & Consulting Services: Oct. 9, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Eddy Hall; Oct. 10, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Coffey Hall; Oct. 10, 9 a.m.-11 a.m., Eddy Hall. University Counseling & Consulting Services can be reached at 612-624-3323. For more information, see consulting services.
THE TUCKER CENTER FOR RESEARCH ON GIRLS & WOMEN IN SPORT has announced its fall 2008 Distinguished Lecture Series, featuring Minnesota track & field Olympians Janis Klecker, Carrie Tollefson, and Shani Marks. The lecture, titled "Minnesota Female Olympians: Stories, Experiences & Inspirations" and moderated by U professor Doug Hartmann, will be held Oct. 22, Humphrey Center, 7-9 p.m. For more information, see the Tucker Center.
THE INSTITUTE FOR MATHEMATICS AND ITS APPLICATIONS PRESENTS "SURFING WITH WAVELETS." The public lecture will explain the principles of wavelets, give examples, and explain image compression. Oct. 29, 7 p.m., 125 Willey Hall. For more information, see Wavelets.
THE SECOND-ANNUAL EXPERIENCE MINNESOTA: AN OPEN HOUSE FOR MULTICULTURAL STUDENTS will be held Nov. 15, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Northrop Auditorium. A joint effort of the undergraduate Office of Admissions, the Office of Equity and Diversity, and the Multicultural Center for Academic Excellence, Experience Minnesota is an opportunity for diverse prospective students and their families to learn about the University's academic opportunities, student organizations, and financial aid; meet top faculty and current students; and tour campus. Twin Cities staff and faculty will take part. E-mail Sara Stearns or call 612-625-3274 with questions. For more information and registration, see Experience Minnesota.
THE SECOND ANNUAL BAKKEN SURGICAL DEVICE SYMPOSIUM will spotlight cardiac valves. The program will explore the early innovations and current practice with an eye toward future developments in cardiac valve design and technique. Dec. 8-9, Mayo Memorial Auditorium. For more information and registration, see Bakken Symposium.
MORE EVENTS include Graduate and Professional School Day (Oct. 8); "Beyond Just Whiteness: Cultural Identity and European Americans" (Oct. 8); "Engaging Controversies Technology Enhanced Learning: Is Google Making Us Stoopid? and Other Burning Questions" (Oct. 10) Nature Tots: Duck Stamps and Waterfowl Wonders (Oct. 11); Faculty BallRoom Dance Club: Swing with the Red, White and Blue! (Oct. 11); Artist Dialogue: Net Work: The Art of Mining Data and Meaning (Oct. 12) ACADIA 2008: Silicon + Skin (Oct. 13); Cafe Scientifique: Art and Aeronautics--A Conversation with Tomas Saraceno (Oct. 14). SEE THESE AND MORE TWIN CITIES CAMPUS EVENTS.
Published by Internal Communications in the Office of University Relations at the University of Minnesota. Please send comments, questions, or submissions to the editor at brief@umn.edu. The deadline for submissions is noon on the Friday before publication. All Twin Cities event submissions are handled through the events calendar at http://events.tc.umn.edu.
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