Vol. XXXVII No. 35; Nov. 7, 2007
Editor: Gayla Marty, brief@umn.edu

Read Brief on the Web at http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Publications/Brief/Brief_11072007.html.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Brief will not be published Nov. 21. The deadline to submit items for the Nov. 14 issue is Nov. 9; the deadline for the Nov. 28 issue is Nov. 21.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE
--A new international physics lab will be built near Ash River, Minn., with a $45.6 million federal grant.
--Mellon Foundation grant will promote interdisciplinary research and publication through Quadrant, a new program of the U of M Press and IAS.
--Office of Public Engagement Seed Grants: 2007-08 cycle began Nov. 2.
--People: Associate VP Kvavik honored in Norway; Humphrey Institute professor Sam Myers elected to the National Academy of Public Administration; five McKnight Presidential Fellows named; and more.

Campus Announcements and Events
University-wide | Crookston | Duluth | Morris | Twin Cities

A NEW INTERNATIONAL PHYSICS LABORATORY will be built near Ash River, Minn., about 40 miles southeast of International Falls, with a new $45.6 million, four-year cooperative agreement from the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science to the UMTC School of Physics and Astronomy, announced last week. The lab is the first step in a $250 million project on the study of neutrinos, fundamental building blocks of matter than can help researchers discover how the universe is developing. The NOvA project will involve about 200 scientists and engineers from 33 institutions in seven countries. Construction is scheduled from fall 2008 to spring 2010, and detector installation will take two more years. Read more in "U goes small-game hunting in far north."

A GRANT FROM THE MELLON FOUNDATION WILL ESTABLISH QUADRANT, a new program to promote interdisciplinary research and publication. With $672,000 to the U of M Press and Institute for Advanced Study, Quadrant will develop a new model for press partnerships that brings humanities and social sciences scholars together with those in the sciences and professional schools. Four collaborative groups will be formed on design and architecture, environmental sustainability, global cultures, and health and society. Read more in "Crossing the lines."

OFFICE OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT SEED GRANTS, established in 2000, now fund about 20 projects a year. Improving access for low-income students and developing leadership in the nonprofit sector are the aims of two projects funded last year. Proposals for the 2007-08 cycle are due Dec. 7. Applicants are encouraged to propose projects related to broad U priorities and strategic initiatives. Read more in "Seeds of change."

PEOPLE: Associate VP Kvavik has been appointed First Knight of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit; Humphrey Institute professor Sam Myers has been elected to the National Academy of Public Administration; new McKnight Presidential Fellows are associate professors Marco Peloso, J. Michael Oakes, Chris Leighton, Wilma Koutstaal, and Andrew Scheil. Read about these and more awards and appointments in People.

CAMPUS ANNOUNCEMENTS AND EVENTS

University-wide:

BOARD OF REGENTS WILL MEET NOV. 8-9. Agenda items include review of policy on intellectual property and copyright and of an Area Health Education Center (AHEC) resolution; a report from the Faculty Consultative Committee; and recognition of Nobel Prize winner Leo Hurwicz. Action items include collective bargaining agreements with AFSCME and IBEW and purchase of 2001 Plymouth Avenue N., Minneapolis, for the Northside Partnership. See the agenda.

2008 CAPITAL BONDING REQUEST VIDEOS: A series of high quality video presentations about 10 projects has been produced by Government Relations in partnership with other U offices. See the videos.

FALL 2007 ASSEMBLY OF THE NETWORK OF INTERDISCIPLINARY INITIATIVES (NII), hosted by the Graduate School with support from the offices of the provost and the VP for research, will be Nov. 19, 3-5 p.m., Mississippi Room, Coffman Union. The network is an advocacy group for institutional transformation that seeks to identify and remove institutional barriers to the U's ability to successfully engage in interdisciplinary research, scholarship, education, training, and creative work. Faculty, administrators, and postdoctoral fellows who are participants and leaders in interdisciplinary initiatives are invited to attend and join. Learn more at NII.

VICE PROVOST AND DEAN OF UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION CANDIDATE FORUMS at UMTC will be presented by professors Peter Hudleston, geology/geophysics, Nov. 7, 2-3 p.m., 402 Walter Library; Laura Gurak, writing studies, Nov. 14, 2:15-3:15 p.m., Ski-U-Mah Room, McNamara Alumni Center; and Robert McMaster, geography, Nov. 19, noon-1 p.m., 402 Walter Library. Each will be broadcast live via UMConnect (formerly Breeze) for U-wide participation. See also search information.

DIRECTOR SEARCH, U-WIDE OFFICE OF INSTITUTIONAL COMPLIANCE: The director provides independent oversight of operational compliance units and collaborates to ensure U employees know policies, procedures, and legal requirements relevant to their work and to identify and address potential compliance vulnerability. Apply by Nov. 26. See the position.

UREPORT is an independent confidential reporting service for faculty and staff who are concerned about a possible violation of law or policy and are uncomfortable raising it through normal channels. Reports can be made online at Ureport or by phone (866-294-8680), and follow-up is possible.

PRESIDENT'S FACULTY MULTICULTURAL RESEARCH AWARD (PFMRA) supports research on issues related to people of color, particularly in a North American context. Tenured and tenure-track faculty whose research focuses on issues related to people of color are eligible to apply. Award amounts vary, up to $7,000 per year for two years. Deadline for 2008-09: Dec. 7. Sponsored by the Office for Equity and Diversity. Get application information and forms.

INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION (IE) WEEK will be Nov. 12-16. Events will include fairs, workshops, lectures, an exhibit of international library collections, films, photo contests, and a reception for current and past U.S. and international Fulbright recipients. See the complete schedule of events on all the campuses.

UMORE PARK: Faculty, staff, and students are invited to forums on developing a new community in Dakota County. Nov. 8, 8-10:30 a.m., North Star Ballroom, St. Paul Student Center; Nov. 9, 8-10:30 a.m., theater, Coffman Union. Register online or by calling 612-626-3976. Written suggestions are also welcome.

Crookston:

A PASSPORT DRIVE for students and the public will be held during IE Week at UMC. Nov. 13, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Northern Lights Lounge, Student Center. See the news release.

THE COLLEGE IN THE HIGH SCHOOL (CIHS) program at UMC received national accreditation at the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships Fall Conference in Salt Lake City last month. CIHS at UMC is one of only four programs accredited in Minnesota. See the news release.

Duluth:

THE ROY LaBOUNTY CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP has been established to promote entrepreneurship and business development initiatives in northeastern Minnesota.The center will be created with a generous gift from Roy LaBounty, founder of LaBounty Manufacturing and longtime UMD supporter. It will be administered by the Labovitz School of Business and Economics dean's office. See the news release.

"SOWING SEEDS OF RESISTANCE: Colombia Flowers Unions, U.S. Policy, and the Struggle for Dignity" will be presented by Lydia Lopez, president of a Colombian flower workers union. She will speak about anti-union campaigns against flower workers and specific attempts to bust Untraflores in Columbia. Brown-bag lunch, Nov. 8, noon, rotunda, Library. Free and open to the public.

INTERNATIONAL TASTE OF UMD, featuring sample cuisines from more than 40 countries, will be hosted by the International Club as part of IE Week. Nov. 10, 2-4 p.m., Hope United Methodist Church, 301 W. Marie Street. Free and open to the public.

Morris:

THE 29TH ANNUAL UMM FESTIVAL OF THE WINDS will feature guest artist Mark Davis Scatterday, professor of conducting, Eastman School of Music, U of Rochester, with UMM's Symphonic Winds and the 2007 Festival High School Honor Band. Nov. 9-10, performances each evening at 7:30 p.m., recital hall, Humanities Fine Arts. See the news release.

INTERNATIONAL COUNTRY FAIR will be hosted by the Center for International Programs and the Study Abroad Advising Service as part of IE Week. Students and faculty will discuss their study, travel, and work experience abroad; opportunities for students will be showcased. Nov. 12, 5-7 p.m., Oyate Hall, Student Center. See event information.

Twin Cities:

LAW SCHOOL DEAN SEARCH COMMITTEE has selected five finalists and will begin interviews Nov. 12. See the news release.

I-35W BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION BEGAN NOV. 1, and loud pile-driving begins this week. Find information about the construction published by the Minnesota Department of Transportation or call the I-35W bridge hotline at 612-236-6901.

SPECIAL OFFER FOR DIAL-UP SERVICE: The U modem pool will be decommissioned Dec. 31. If you use the U modem pool for Internet access, consider using one of the Internet Service Providers (ISPs) offering discounted U rates through UMart. One vendor, Velocity, will give new customers three months of free Internet access; to receive this offer, you must make the conversion to Velocity by Dec. 1. If you need assistance or have questions, call 1-HELP (612-301-4357) or e-mail modem@umn.edu.

A PANEL ON GENDER AND PAY EQUITY will examine the persistence of unequal pay for equal work, despite decades of attention. Panelists will be Minnesota Women's Consortium executive director Bonnie Watkins and Pay Equity Coalition president Patty Tanji. Nov. 7, noon-1 p.m., 31 Rapson Hall. Cosponsored by the CSBU Woman's Programming Planning Committee and the Office for U Women. Contact women@umn.edu or 612-625-9837 for more information. See the news release.

WORLD USABILITY DAY IS NOV. 8. The Office of Information Technology and the Digital Technology Center will cosponsor a free program to promote the benefits of usability engineering and user-centered design. Events include speakers on usability (noon-1:30 p.m.) and Web accessibility (1:45-3:15 p.m.) and an open house (11 a.m.-noon and 3:30-5 p.m.) at the Usability Service Laboratory in Walter Library. See more information.

A SYMPOSIUM ON FRONTIERS IN PROTEOMICS AND NANOMEDICINE will feature 2003 Nobel Prize winner and Duke U professor Peter Agre, M.D. Free, but preregistration is required by Nov. 10. Presented by the U, Mayo Clinic, and Sweden's Karolinska Institute. Nov. 12-14, Mayo Auditiorium. To learn more, see the course calendar or call 612-626-7600.

THE ADA COMSTOCK DISTINGUISHED WOMEN SCHOLARS LECTURE for fall 2007, "Beyond the F Word: Fashion, Dress, and Cultural Meaning," will be given by Joanne Eicher, Regents Professor Emerita of Design, Housing, and Apparel and renowned researcher of cultural aspects of dress, with special interest and expertise in Africa and Asia. Eicher is the editor of a forthcoming 10-volume encyclopedia of dress and fashion. Nov. 13, 7 p.m., Cowles Auditorium, Humphrey Center. A reception will follow. Register by contacting women@umn.edu or 612-625-9837. See more event information.

STUDENT VETERANS APPRECIATION DAY, Nov. 14, Northrop Plaza, will include a chili lunch at 11:30 a.m. (in the atrium, while supplies last); a program with Gov. Pawlenty, Regent Johnson, President Bruininks, the ROTC joint-service color guard, and U of M Marching Band at 12:15 p.m.; and an F-16 flyover salute by the U.S. Air Force at 1 p.m. Faculty, staff, and students are invited. See event information.

MORE EVENTS include an international expert panel on "Diplomacy and Peacekeeping" in Africa (Nov. 7); Dispatches from the Color Line: The Press and Multiracial America author Catherine Squires (Nov. 7); "Simulations of Time and Life in Medieval Automata: Islamic Symbolism, Teleological Mechanisms, and Ontological Difference," by Ayhan Aytes (Nov. 8); U Opera Theatre's double bill of Kurt Weill's Seven Deadly Sins and Giacomo Puccini's Suor Angelica (Nov. 8-11); "Subtitling Abusively: The Case of Memories of Agano" with U of Michigan professor Markus Nornes (Nov. 9); Day of Learning, CEHD's sixth annual Saturday Scholars program for personal and professional growth (Nov. 10); "The Silk Road," a concert with pipa soloist Gao Hong (Nov. 11); "'Check All That Apply' and Then What? Working With the New Race Question," a seminar on federal data collection policies (Nov. 12); Fearproof Your Life author Joe Bailey (Nov. 13); Transgender Commission open house (Nov. 13); Third Annual Minnesota Nanotechnology Conference (Nov. 13-14); College of Design dean Thomas Fisher on "The Design of a New Bridge" (Nov. 14); and Mayflower author Nathanial Philbrick (Nov. 14). SEE THESE AND MORE TWIN CITIES CAMPUS EVENTS.

Published by 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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