Registration is now open for the 2006 Science & Technology Banquet, Tues., April 11, at the Hilton Minneapolis. The banquet will begin with a reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by a program and dinner. Keynote speaker is Dr. Paul M. Horn, senior vice president and director of IBM Research, who will address “The Changing Nature of Innovation.”
The Institute of Technology’s premier annual event, the Science & Technology Banquet is a fund-raiser, a social event, and a business-networking opportunity for alumni, faculty, staff, students, and corporate friends in the Minnesota business community. All proceeds are designated for Institute of Technology student scholarships. Last year the banquet raised $25,000 for scholarships.
Full tables with seating for eight, half tables for four, and individual tickets are available. For best seating, reserve tables now and submit a guest list by the April 5 registration deadline. For more information call 612-626-1802 or e-mail stbanquet@umn.edu.
Three college faculty named McKnight Professors
Mechanical engineering professor John Bischof and chemistry professors Karin Musier-Forsyth and J. Ilja Siepmann have received the 2006 Distinguished McKnight University Professorship, which recognizes and rewards outstanding mid-career faculty.
Recipients of the University-wide honor are chosen on the merit of their scholarly achievement and potential for greater attainment, the quality of their teaching and advising, and their contributions to the wider community. Three of the four individuals chosen to receive the award this year are Institute of Technology faculty.
Bischof, who holds a joint appointment in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, is a world leader in the area of cryobiology and thermal therapies. Musier-Forsyth is being honored for her work on biochemical and biophysical studies of protein-nucleic acid interactions and Siepmann for his research on molecular simulation of complex chemical systems and processes.
As the college’s recent Founders Survey documented, Institute of Technology alumni have an entrepreneurial bent. Students don’t have to wait until after graduation to get started on the path to entrepreneurship, however. “Entrepreneur Idol,” a unique student competition, is offering full-time undergraduates at the University of Minnesota the chance to pitch their breakthrough business ideas and win a $500 grand prize.
On Thurs., April 13, from noon to 1:00 p.m. at the Carlson School of Management, contest finalists will deliver a 90-second elevator pitch to a panel of judges during a lively competition that resembles the popular TV show “American Idol.” The audience will get into the action by voting for the Overall People’s Choice Champion, who will take home $100. In addition, winners in the Most Creative and the Social categories will each win $100.
Winners will also receive access to advisory services through the Carlson Business Hatchery to help them launch their business ideas, which must be original and developed by the student presenter. To enter “Entrepreneur Idol,” students must file an application by March 24. Finalists will be notified by March 31.
Minnesota Cup competition seeks innovative business ideas
“Entrepreneur Idol” is the prelude to the second annual Minnesota Cup, a statewide competition that seeks out the newest, most innovative business ideas from anyone in Minnesota. Top prize includes $25,000 in seed capital and professional services to help bring the idea to fruition. A student award of $5,000 is also given as part of the Minnesota Cup contest. One of the contest’s chief goals is to connect contest entrants with leaders in Minnesota’s business and investor community. Primary sponsors of the competition are Wells Fargo and the University of Minnesota, including the Institute of Technology, the College of Liberal Arts, and the Carlson School of Management.
The contest begins March 28 with applications due May 26.
Anyone interested in learning more about the Minnesota Cup competition is invited to attend an information session on Mon., April 17, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the Honeywell Auditorium, Carlson School of Management.
Winners of last year’s Minnesota Cup were Institute of Technology alumni John Berger and David Emmons, who won the top award for their invention, Arcswitch, a new low-cost optical switch and attenuator for rerouting information carried on fiber-optic networks.
Twenty members of Twin Cities Deans Council endorse strategic plan
Institute of Technology Dean Steven L. Crouch is one of 20 Twin Cities campus deans who endorsed the recently released recommendations to reshape the University’s academic programs. In a letter to University president Robert Bruininks, the deans joined 31 regents and Distinguished McKnight University Professors in supporting the plan to make the University among the top three public research universities in the world.
The first 11 of 34 task forces working to transform the University have submitted their revised recommendations. Developed by 113 faculty, staff, students, and community members who served on the 11 task forces, the recommendations are now being reviewed by University leaders. Among the task forces are those charged with the redesign of six Twin Cities campus colleges into three new entities and systemwide task forces on diversity, international, and preK-12 strategy.
Complete information on the University’s strategic positioning plan can be found on the Transforming the U Web site.
Coleman to be commencement speaker
Institute of Technology Dean Steven L. Crouch announced that Minnesota Sen. Norm Coleman has accepted an invitation to be the featured speaker at the college’s commencement ceremonies at 7 p.m., Fri., May 5, in Northrop Memorial Auditorium. Commencement will begin with a faculty procession leading the graduates from Northrop Mall into the auditorium and will conclude with the presentation of degree candidates. Family and friends of the graduates, faculty, staff, students, and members of the general public are invited to attend. No tickets are required; seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Disability accommodations are available.
CURA invites proposals for Faculty Interactive Research Program
The Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA) is accepting proposals for its Faculty Interactive Research Program, which supports projects that involve a significant public policy issue for Minnesota or its communities. Projects must also include interaction and engagement with groups, agencies, or organizations in Minnesota that are involved with the issue. Each award will provide support for one month of the faculty member’s time in summer 2006 and for a half-time graduate research assistant for the 2006–07 academic year. Limited support for miscellaneous research expenses also can be provided, where appropriate. Application deadline is April 13, 2006. For more information contact Professor Thomas Scott at 612-625-7340 or e-mail scott001@umn.edu.
Beautiful U Day
Spring is almost here, and that means Beautiful U Day is just around the corner. This year the University community will mark Beautiful U Day on April 20, with hands-on beautification efforts and activities that celebrate our campus environment. The Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science (CEMS) has received one of 36 Beautiful U Day grants awarded to University departments and student groups across the state for projects taking place on or around Beautiful U Day. CEMS will use its grant to beautify the Amundson Hall entry and foyer to make it more inviting. A tradition since 1997, Beautiful U Day is an annual initiative celebrating the University of Minnesota's natural resources, buildings, and grounds.
Honors
Professor Massoud Amin (electrical and computer engineering), director of the Center for the Development of Technological Leadership, has been appointed a member of the scientific advisory committee for the Computational Sciences and Engineering Division of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory for January 2006–May 2010.
Assistant Professor Daniel Cronin-Hennessy (physics) has been named an Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow for 2006. The Sloan Research Fellowship is a highly competitive award intended to enhance the careers of the very best young faculty in chemistry, computational and evolutionary molecular biology, computer science, economics, mathematics, neuroscience, and physics. The fellowship includes a grant of $45,000 for a two-year period.
Professor Dennis Hejhal (mathematics) has received the prestigious Eva and Lars Gårdings Prize in Mathematics for 2005 from the Royal Physiographic Society in Lund, Sweden. His paper “On a Result of Selberg Concerning Zeros of Linear Combinations of L-functions,” which was published in International Mathematics Research Notices in 2000, was the primary basis for the prize. The awarded paper is related to the Riemann hypothesis, one of the most famous open problems in mathematics. Hejhal also is a professor of mathematics at Uppsala University, Sweden.
Professor Ken Heller (physics) was installed as president of the American Association of Physics Teachers at the organization’s winter 2006 meeting.
Professor Alon McCormick (chemical engineering and materials science), director of undergraduate studies in chemical engineering, has received the 2006 John Tate Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Advising, which recognizes and celebrates the role that academic advising plays in the University’s educational mission. He will be recognized at the May 12 meeting of the University of Minnesota Board of Regents.
Media watch
Questions still linger over Spray record muskie saga
Dr. Douglas N. Arnold, director of the Institute for Mathematics and its Applications, is one of three mathematicians who are recommending that an independent group of experts in math and photogrammetry determine whether a world-record muskie was as large as claimed. Feb. 23: DuluthNewsTribune.com, Pioneer Press; March 2: Outdoor News.
Geologist provides kids with up-close look at penguin habitat
An afternoon kindergarten class at St. Gertrude School in Madeira, Ohio, is getting up-close information on the penguin habitat in the Falkland Islands, thanks to e-mail. The reports are coming from Carrie Jennings, a glacial geologist from the Minnesota Geological Survey at the University of Minnesota. Jennings is aboard the ship Clipper Adventurer on an expedition to Antarctica and the Falkland Islands. Feb. 22: Cincinnati Enquirer.
Making an explosive case for bonding money
University president Robert Bruininks and Assistant Professor Lee Penn (chemistry) appeared on an “explosive” “Minute Man” segment of Almanac: At the Capitol to explain why the University needs a new science teaching and student services center. March 1: KTCA-TV (Twin Cities Public Television).
Solar energy in Nicaragua
Electrical engineering student Patrick Delaney visited a remote mountainous region of Nicaragua and found people frustrated by their lack of electricity to provide light for nighttime activities such as reading and cooking. Back in Minnesota, Delaney and other engineering students are now in the process of developing a reasonably priced solar lantern. March 2: Minnesota Moment.
Teaching the physics of superheroes
Physics professor James Kakalios found a great way to get through to his freshman students by teaching a course called Everything I Needed to Know About Physics I Learned from Reading Comic Books. Now he has condensed the class into a very accessible book for the lay reader. March 3: Rocky Mountain News.
If disaster strikes, walk to safety
Leaving the car behind is the recommended evacuation option for Twin Cities residents living within a one-mile radius of a disaster, according to Shashi Shekhar, professor of computer science and engineering. Shekhar, one of the key individuals involved in developing the state’s official evacuation plan, ran computer models of evacuation routes for the metropolitan area and determined that pedestrians would arrive faster than drivers during a one-mile evacuation. March 9: Pioneer Press.
The "butter side down" school of science
Can people swim faster in water than syrup? Contrary to intuition, "most engineering correlations predict that a swimmer's speed should be unchanged," says Edward Cussler, professor of chemical engineering and materials science. Cussler and co-author Brian Gettelfinger received a 2005 Ig Nobel Award for their academic paper "Will Humans Swim Faster or Slower in Syrup?" March 13: news.bbc.co.uk.
Front-end blind spots
Most drivers habitually check their blind spots. But new research from the University of Minnesota shows that two major blind spots in the front of the car may be the cause of serious accidents, particularly on wide-open rural intersections. Curtis Hammond, a researcher at the U's Intelligent Transportation Systems Institute who studies the way people drive, says many drivers are completely unaware of these front-end blind spots. March 15: Minnesota Moment.
Events
IMA Public Lecture: Gravity's Cosmic Shadows
March 22: Arlie Petters, professor of mathematics and physics, Duke University, reveals some of the secrets behind shadow patterns cast throughout the universe by gravitational fields of stars and galaxies. Free. For more information call 612-624-6066. 7:00 p.m., 125 Willey Hall.
Digital Technology Center: Data Mining Open House
March 23: The Data Mining Open House features a keynote address by Dr. Usama Fayyad, chief data officer and senior vice president of Yahoo; a poster presentation on University research; panel discussions featuring University faculty and members of industry. Free. Register online. For more information e-mail olesen@dtc.umn.edu or call 612-625-6414. 9:00 a.m.–3:15 p.m., 402 Walter Library.
Math and Science Family Fun Fair
March 25: Students in grades 3–12, their families, and teachers are invited to attend the Family Fun Fair, a day of activities, exhibits, and presentations showcasing math, science, engineering, and technology. The schedule includes a 2 p.m. performance by Physics Force: The Next Generation. Admission. Teachers may attend for free if they pre-register. Presented by the Institute of Technology Center for Educational Programs. For more information call 612-625-2861 or e-mail itcep@umn.edu. 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m., Coffman Memorial Union.
NCED Distinguished Lecturer Series: The Role of Herbivorous Fossorial Mammals as Keystone Consumers and Ecosystem Engineers
March 28: The National Center for Earth-surface Dynamics (NCED) presents Dr. James Reichman of the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis at the University of California–Santa Barbara, who will discuss the impacts of mammalian bioturbation and the role of animals in ecosystem processes in North American and southern Africa. For more information call 612-624-4606 or e-mail info@nced.umn.edu. 3:30 p.m., auditorium, St. Anthony Falls Laboratory.
CDTL Short Courses: Innovation and Technology Analysis
March 28–29: Dr. Lockwood Carlson, president of the Carlson Consulting Group, will teach two related short courses on innovation and technology analysis. In “Leveraging Innovation to Power Corporate Growth” (March 28), participants will explore the innovation successes of their organizations, examine innovation best-practices within the high-tech industry, and learn ways to translate innovation into business opportunities. Participants in “Using Technology Foresight to Maximize Technology Investments” (March 29) will focus on developing strategies for projecting technology needs, creating a technologies map, and identifying growth opportunities. Fee. Register for both courses and save $100. Call 612-624-4380 or e-mail training-cdtl@umn.edu. 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., 150 West Bank Office Building.
Senior Send-Off
April 3: Members of the Class of 2006—undergraduate and graduate—are invited to celebrate their upcoming graduation at the Senior Send-Off. Features include a humorous and entertaining talk by Geek Squad founder and chief inspector, Robert Stephens; lunch by D’Amico; and a chance to win prizes. Students can register online and receive a complimentary, one-year alumni association membership, which awards each new member with instant benefits and a continued connection to the U. Free. For more information contact Susan Zarambo at 612-625-9180 or zaram006@umn.edu. Noon to 1:30 p.m., Memorial Hall, McNamara Alumni Center.
Science Quiz Bowl
April 9–11: Institute of Technology students in four-person teams will test their quick recall and compete for prizes in the Science Quiz Bowl. Individual students and student groups are invited to participate. Register by April 3. Faculty, students, staff, and the public are welcome to attend. The competition is sponsored by the Mathematics Library and the Science and Engineering Library. Free. For more information call 612-624-9395. April 9, 2:00–7:00 p.m.; April 10, 5:00–7:00 p.m.; April 11 (championship match), 5:00 p.m., Walter Library.
Unisys Lecture Series: Self-Organizing Robot Systems
April 10: Daniela Rus, associate professor of computer science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is the featured speaker. Free. For more information call 612-625-4002. 11:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m., 3-180 EE/CSci.
James L. Oberstar Forum on Transportation Policy and Technology: Transportation Choices: The Important Role of Walking and Biking
April 10: The Center for Transportation Studies presents the 2006 Oberstar Forum, which will explore the value of integrating non-motorized transportation into communities and discuss key aspects of investing in these modes. Featured speaker is Berthold Tillman, mayor of Munster, Germany. Munster resembles the medieval village it once was, but it also features a highly effective transportation network and recently received a global “Most Livable Community” award. Free but registration is required. For more information call 612-624-4754 or e-mail conferences2@cce.umn.edu. 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., Great Hall, Coffman Memorial Union.
2006 Science & Technology Banquet
April 11: Dr. Paul M. Horn, senior vice president and director of IBM Research, will be the keynote speaker at the Science & Technology Banquet. IT’s premier annual event, the banquet is a fund-raiser, a social event, and a business-networking opportunity for alumni, faculty, staff, students, and corporate friends in the Minnesota business community. All banquet proceeds will be designated for Institute of Technology student scholarships. The banquet will begin with a 5:30 p.m. reception followed by a program and dinner. Register now for best seating. Fee. 5:30–8:30 p.m., Hilton Minneapolis.
Initiative for Renewable Energy and the Environment: Biotechnology and Renewable Energy in China
April 12: Conference explores opportunities for biotechnology development in China. Keynote speaker is Dr. Hongguang Wang, director general of the China National Center for Biotechnology Development and the highest-ranking biotechnalso will be webcast from http://www1.umn.edu/iree/events.html. For more information call 612-624-6566 or e-mail amayhew@umn.edu. 8:00 a.m. to noon, St. Paul campus.
ME Founders Day 2006
April 12: The fifth annual ME Founders Day focuses on the topic of plasma heat transfer and highlights the research activities of Emil Pfender. Keynote speaker is Pierre Fauchais, professor of plasma processes and director of the Surface Treatment Processes Team within the Science of Ceramic and Surface Treatment Processes Laboratory, University of Limoges, France. The schedule also includes lab tours and a reception. For more information call 612-625-0705. Tours: 2:00 p.m., 1130 Mechanical Engineering Building; lecture: 4:00 p.m., 2-690 Moos Tower; reception: 4:30 p.m., lounge corridor, Campus Club, Coffman Memorial Union.
Entrepreneur Idol Competition
April 13: Contest finalists in “Entrepreneur Idol,” a unique student competition, pitch their breakthrough business ideas to a panel of judges. All full-time University of Minnesota undergraduates are eligible to apply for the competition. Application deadline is March 24. Finalists will be notified by March 31. Noon to 1:00 p.m., Carlson School of Management.
DTC Annual Bioinformatics Symposium
April 13–14: Bioinformatics: Building Bridges, a two-day symposium sponsored by the Digital Technology Center, supports the field of bioinformatics and the University’s graduate program in bioinformatics. Schedule includes tutorials, world-renowned speakers, poster session, exhibits, and demonstrations. The program is free, but pre-registration is required. For more information call 612-624-9510 or e-mail lynda@umn.edu. Tutorials and initial talk: April 13, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Digital Technology Center; poster sessions and speakers: April 14, 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m., 402 Walter Library.
Looking ahead
Minnesota Cup Competition Information Session
April 17: Find out how to enter your innovative business idea in the second annual Minnesota Cup competition. The top prize includes $25,000 in seed capital and professional services to help bring your idea to fruition. The contest also includes a student award of $5,000. The contest officially begins March 28, and applications are due May 26. 3:00–5:00 p.m., Honeywell Auditorium, Carlson School of Management.
IMA Public Lecture: Mathematics and Magic Tricks
April 19: Persi Diaconis, Mary V. Sunseri Professor of Statistics and Mathematics, Stanford University, will illustrate the mathematics of magic tricks with some performable tricks that seem to fool magicians. The math involved has application to breaking and entering, robot vision, cryptography, random number generation, and DNA sequence analysis. For more information call 612-624-6066. Free. 7:00 p.m., 125 Willey Hall.
William E. Larson and Raymond R. Allmaras Lecture on Emerging Issues in Soil and Water: Defining a Future Bioeconomy
April 19: Dr. Bruce Dale of Michigan State University and Dr. Richard Cruse of Iowa State University are the featured speakers in the Larson-Allmaras lecture series. Dale will discuss "Biomass Supply and Biofuels: Some Perspectives," and Cruse will present a lecture entitled "Future Bioeconomy and its Impacts on Soil and Water Resources." Free. For more information call 612-625-1241 or e-mail sgupta@umn.edu. 2:00–4:30 p.m., 335 Borlaug Hall, St. Paul campus.
Design of Medical Devices Conference
April 19–21: The fifth annual Design of Medical Devices Conference brings together medical-device designers, manufacturers, researchers, public-sector representatives, and students to share perspectives on medical devices. Program includes technical/clinical sessions, student poster sessions, student/industry job fair, and the third annual President's 21st Century Interdisciplinary Conference on Medical Device Policy and Planning. Sponsored by the Biomedical Engineering Institute and the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Fee. Early registration discount and special student opportunities. Online registration ends April 10. Radisson University Hotel, Minneapolis.
Distinguished Teaching Awards Ceremony
April 24: All members of the University community are invited to a special ceremony and reception honoring this year’s recipients of the Horace T. Morse-University of Minnesota Alumni Association Award for Outstanding Contributions to Undergraduate Education and the Award for Outstanding Contributions to Graduate and Professional Education.
Associate Professor Mark Distefano (chemistry) and Professor Jim Leger (electrical and computer engineering), both of whom received the Morse-UMAA Award, are among those being honored.
This occasion recognizes the significance of excellent teaching by inducting the faculty members into the Academy of Distinguished Teachers. Mark your calendars and register online. For more information call 612-625-9174 or e-mail brek0045@umn.edu. 3:30–6:00 p.m., Memorial Hall, McNamara Alumni Center.
Distinguished Women Scientists and Engineers Speakers Program: Jane Maienschein
April 27: Dr. Jane Maienschein, Regents' Professor and Parents Association Professor in the School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, specializes in the history and philosophy of bioethics and bio-policy, focusing on social and political aspects of genetics and embryology. The topic of her lecture will be announced soon. Free and open to the public. 1:30–3:00 p.m., 133 Tate Laboratory of Physics.
2006 Institute of Technology Commencement
May 5: Celebrate commencement with graduating students, their families and friends, and the Institute of Technology community. Minnesota Sen. Norm Coleman will be the keynote speaker. No reservations are necessary. 7:00 p.m., Northrop Memorial Auditorium.
ISW4: Fourth Intelligent Storage Workshop
May 9–10: The Fourth Intelligent Storage Workshop focuses on applications and architectures for intelligent (object-based) storage but will also add presentations on storage and high-performance computing. Register by April 9 for discounted fee. For more information call 612-624-9510 or e-mail isw4@dtc.umn.edu. Digital Technology Center, Walter Library.
UMAA 2006 Annual Celebration
May 23: Sandra Day O'Connor, recently retired justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, will be the special guest and featured speaker at the University of Minnesota Alumni Association’s Annual Celebration. Tickets for the pre-program reception and dinner are sold out, but seats still remain for the program and O'Connor's speech. For information or to order tickets call the University of Minnesota Arts Ticket Office at 612-624-2345. 8:00 p.m., Northrop Memorial Auditorium.
New dinner option: The Campus Club, located on the fourth floor of Coffman Memorial Union, is offering a special May 23 dinner open to the public. The meal, with menu to be determined, is available for $40 and includes tax and tip. The price does not include a program ticket to O’Connor’s speech. Reservations are required. Call Barbara at 612-626-1510 for information and reservations.
