ITems | November/December 2008

IT Public Lecture focuses on infrastructure needs and results of U’s I-35W bridge collapse study

The need for investing in our nation's infrastructure and preliminary results of the University's independent study of the I-35W bridge collapse are the focus of the next University of Minnesota Institute of Technology Public Lecture, "Investing in Infrastructure," 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19, in the Mayo Memorial Auditorium, 425 Delaware St., S.E., Minneapolis. The lecture is free and open to the public, but online registration is recommended.

This lecture, presented by U of M civil engineering professor and department head Roberto Ballarini, will highlight the effect of our nation's infrastructure on our quality of life and national security, as well as our culture and pride. Ballarini also will discuss the preliminary results of the University of Minnesota's independent study of the I-35W bridge collapse. Read more>>

Incoming students are most academically prepared in history

A recently released profile of the 821 first-year students in the Institute of Technology’s fall 2008 freshman class shows that the incoming students are better prepared academically than previous classes. The percentage of women also has reached an all-time high.

The average ACT composite score of incoming Institute of Technology students increased from 28.7 last year to 28.9 in fall 2008, the highest ever in the college. Almost 63 percent of the 2008 IT freshman class graduated in the top 10 percent of their high school class (compared to about 62 percent last year). The college has 34 freshman who are National Merit Finalists, the largest number of National Merit students of any freshman admitting college. In addition, the Institute of Technology saw a 13.6 percent increase in the number of women enrolled in the incoming class. This year the 200 women in the freshman class make up 24.4 percent of the first-year students, the highest percentage ever for the college. Last year, there were 176 women in the first-year class, which was 22 percent.

Across the Twin Cities campus, the average ACT composite score continued a six-year trend of improvement, reaching 26.2, which is up from 25.9 last year. The percentage of new students who graduated in the top 10 percent of their high school class rose from 43.9 percent to 44.8 percent (up from 33.1 percent five years ago). Read More>>

Four professors chosen to advise college on improving undergraduate education

Four renowned Institute of Technology professors have been named to three-year appointments as Taylor Distinguished Professors to work as a team of key advisors on matters related to improving undergraduate education within the college. The professors are Lorraine Francis (chemical engineering and materials science), James Kakalios (physics), James Leger (electrical and computer engineering), and Kenneth Leopold (chemistry). They will work together with the Institute of Technology associate dean for undergraduate programs to form the Taylor Committee. The first charge of the Taylor Committee will be to explore the benefits of establishing a required freshman experience for Institute of Technology students with the primary goal of increasing student retention and graduation rates. Read more>>

Donors again provide generous support

In the most recent fiscal year, more than 5,900 Institute of Technology alumni, friends, corporate, and foundation donors gave gifts and pledges totaling more than $13.3 million. These gifts will enable the college to strengthen its faculty and student support and improve its ability to recruit the best and brightest.

Highlights of the giving include a gift to establish a new collegiate chair in environmental engineering, $1 million toward the fund to renovate Lind Hall, $1 million to establish the Robert E. Rice Scholarship Fund for electrical engineering students, $1.6 million to support graduate students in chemical engineering and materials science, and secured gifts of $3.7 million to establish 11 new undergraduate scholarships and 11 new graduate student fellowships. At the University level, donors gave a record amount in gifts and pledges for the second year in a row. The total was $289 million, a 15 percent increase from a total of $251 million given in fiscal year 2006. Read more>>

Watch for next issue of Inventing Tomorrow

Undergraduate students engaged in ground-breaking research and alumni who are making an impact around the world are highlighted in the next issue of Inventing Tomorrow, the Institute of Technology’s magazine for IT alumni and friends. The magazine is scheduled to be mailed in December. Other features in the Fall/Winter 2008–09 issue include a story about faculty researchers at the forefront of nanotechnology and the past, present, and future of Lind Hall, formerly known as Main Engineering. To update your mailing address or to order a free subscription to Inventing Tomorrow, e-mail itmag@umn.edu. The online edition will also be available soon at www.it.umn.edu/inventing.

IT students are finalists in national Collegiate Inventors Competition

A team of two recent graduates and a current student are among the 12 finalist teams in the National Inventors Hall of Fame Foundation's 2008 Collegiate Inventors Competition for their Solar LED Lighting Innovation—a low-powered economical device that could bring light to thousands of people around the world without electricity. The team will vie for the competition's grand prize of $25,000 to be announced Nov. 19. The team includes Patrick Delaney, who received a degree in electrical engineering in May 2008; Matthew Beckler, who received a degree in computer engineering in May 2008; and Caleb Braff, a current electrical engineering student. The team is advised by electrical and computer engineering professor Paul Imbertson. Read more>>

U of M geology researchers uncover surprising effects of climate patterns in ancient China

University of Minnesota geology and geophysics researchers, along with their colleagues from China, have uncovered surprising effects of climate patterns on social upheaval and the fall of dynasties in ancient China. Their research identifies a natural phenomenon that may have been the last straw for some Chinese dynasties: a weakening of the summer Asian Monsoons. Such weakening accompanied the fall of three dynasties and now could be lessening precipitation in northern China. The work rests on climate records preserved in the layers of stone in a 118-millimeter-long stalagmite found in Wanxiang Cave in Gansu Province, China. The study, led by researchers from the University of Minnesota and Lanzhou University in China, appears in the Nov. 7 issue of Science. Read more>>

Honors

Jon Anderson (physics and astronomy), an instructor in the University’s PhysTEC program, has won second prize from the 2008 Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics Teachers Conference for the best presentation by a secondary school teacher on the subject of Particle Physics in the Age of the Large Hadron Collider.

Professor Jeffrey J. Derby (chemical engineering and materials science) has been elected as president of the American Association for Crystal Growth for a three-year period from 2008 to 2011. The American Association for Crystal Growth (AACG) is a national, non-profit organization that supports the technical and professional interests of approximately 600 members involved in crystal growth and characterization research.

Professor and department head Vipin Kumar (computer science and engineering) has been awarded the 2008 IEEE International Conference on Data Mining (IDCM) Outstanding Service Award. The award is given to Kumar for his contributions that have promoted data mining as a field and ICDM as the world's premier research conference in data mining. The award will be presented at the ICDM 2008 conference in Pisa, Italy, Dec. 15-19.

Professor Jaijeet Roychowdhury and adjunct associate professor Nikos Sidiropoulos (electrical and computer engineering) were recently elected Fellows by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Board of Directors. Professor Roychowdhury was honored for his contributions to simulation and automated macromodeling of integrated circuits. Professor Sidiropoulos was honored for his contributions to signal processing for communications. Currently, Professor Sidiropoulos is a faculty member at Technical University of Crete in Greece but continues his association with the University of Minnesota Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering as an adjunct professor.

Media Watch

U of M receives $16.8 million for materials research center

The University of Minnesota Materials Research Science and Engineering Center announced that it has received $16.8 million in renewed funding over the next six years from the National Science Foundation (NSF). Oct. 8: University News

U rocket club tries to lift off

Aerospace engineering student David Kittel started the University Rocket Club this fall with the goal of building and launching a rocket that will break Mach 1, the speed of sound. Oct. 12: Minnesota Daily

Study abroad works toward lofty goal

The Institute of Technology was one of the pilot colleges involved in the University of Minnesota’s efforts to double the percentage of students who study abroad. Oct. 12: Minnesota Daily

Artists to discuss solar balloon at forum

Aerospace engineering faculty member James Flaten was part of an event at the University’s Bell Museum with artist Tomas Saraceno about art and aeronautics. Oct. 13: Minnesota Daily

U of M climate experts help hundreds of middle schoolers prepare for robotics competition

More than 250 students, ages 9 to 14 from across Minnesota, participated in hands-on sessions at the University of Minnesota to learn more about global climate issues and begin preparing for "Climate Connections," the 2008 Minnesota FIRST LEGO League robotics competition.
Oct. 14: University News; Oct. 17: WCCO-TV

Cyclopath simplifies biking around the metro

Computer science graduate student Reid Priedhorsky is one of the creators of Cyclopath, a new online resource for bicyclists that functions similarly to Mapquest designed with bikers in mind. Oct. 14: KMSP–TV; Oct. 20: Minnesota Daily

ANGST In the Milky Way neighborhood

University of Minnesota's astrophysicist Evan Skillman discusses new findings regarding research of nearby galaxies. Oct. 15: Space Daily

Turning the corner on auto efficiency

Mechanical engineering professor David Kittelson said that improving our fuel economy is the best way to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Oct. 18: Star Tribune

Computer science activist to talk computing freedom at U

Controversial free software activist Richard Stallman spoke at the University of Minnesota. Oct. 20: Minnesota Daily

Good Question: Why do some text rather than talk?

Computer science and engineering professor Joseph Konstan says the top reasons people use text messaging instead of call on their cell phones is to avoid interrupting others and because they don’t want their conversations overheard. Oct. 21: WCCO–TV

PTC underscores commitment to STEM and expands partnership with FIRST

Parametric Technology Corporation (PTC) will expand its sponsorship of the FIRST organization and will join others to sponsor the regional robotics competition at the University of Minnesota. Institute of Technology alumnus James Heppelmann, executive vice president and chief product officer of PTC, is a member of the national FIRST executive advisory board. Oct. 22: Cadalyst

New jobs in Rushford

Nanotechnology developed by a team of researchers within the University of Minnesota’s Institute of Technology has resulted in a new high-tech business in flood-ravaged Rushford, Minn.
Oct. 23: KAAL-TV Rochester

IT students among Collegiate Inventors Competition finalists

Institute of Technology electrical and computer engineering students and current graduates Patrick Delaney, Matthew Beckler, and Caleb Braff, along with their advisor Paul Imbertson, are among the finalists in the National Inventors Hall of Fame Foundation's 2008 Collegiate Inventors Competition for their Solar LED Lighting Innovation—a low-powered economical device that could bring light to thousands of people around the world without electricity. Oct. 23: Nanowerk; Nov. 3: Star Tribune; Nov. 13: University News; Nov. 16: Eau Claire Leader-Telegraph

U of M tackles bugs in $50 million accounting system

Computer science and engineering professor Joe Konstan is among the many University of Minnesota employees trying to adjust to the University’s new computerized financial system. Oct. 23: Minnesota Public Radio

Renowned female mathematician to speak on wavelets

The Institute for Mathematics and its Applications (IMA) hosted a public lecture by Ingrid Daubechies, a math professor at Princeton Univeristy, considered to be one of the most important mathematicians of our time. Oct. 24: University News

Mendota Heights traffic complaints inspected

University of Minnesota engineering students were involved in a Mendota Heights traffic study that was recently released at the City Council meeting. Oct. 27: Southwest Review News

Solar energy efficiency is topic of workshop at the University of Minnesota

Solar energy experts and mathematicians from across the country gathered at the University of Minnesota for a workshop to discuss ways to improve the efficiency and economic viability of solar energy for the future. Oct. 27: University News; Nov. 2: Minnesota Daily

Examining the science gender gap

Mechanical engineering professor Caroline Hayes, co-chair of the University’s Women’s Faculty Cabinet, and chemistry professor Wayne Gladfelter, the Institute of Technology associate dean of academic affairs, are developing a program to teach faculty search committees about recruiting women, to counteract the disproportionate lack of women in science faculty positions. Nov. 5: Minnesota Daily

Dump site cleanup

University of Minnesota geology professor E. Calvin Alexander and his students are cleaning up a sinkhole in southeastern Minnesota and finding some artifacts in the process. Nov. 5: Grand Forks Herald

U of M geology researchers uncover surprising effects of climate patterns in ancient China

University of Minnesota geology and geophysics researchers, along with their colleagues from China, have uncovered surprising effects of climate patterns on social upheaval and the fall of dynasties in ancient China. Nov. 7: Science, University News, NewsPost Online, Newstrack India; ScienceDaily; Kazinform; Vancouver Sun; Scientific American; The Boston Globe; Los Angeles Times

U takes part in effort to improve physics teaching

Many secondary schools lack qualified physics teachers, but a grant is helping the University try to fix that. Nov. 10: Minnesota Daily; Nov. 13: Minnesota Daily

Researchers present work at U nanotech conference

The Fourth Annual Nanotechnology Conference at the University of Minnesota featured presentations by the country’s leading nanotechnology researchers on nanoenergy, nanodevices, nanosensors, and nanomaterials. Nov. 12: Minnesota Daily

Xcel looks to harness wind energy for use even when there's no wind

Electrical engineering researchers at the University of Minnesota are working with Xcel Energy, the state of Minnesota, and a Virginia-based technology firm to test the first battery in the country capable of storing wind energy. Nov. 12: Star Tribune

Events

Institute of Technology Public Lecture: Investing in Infrastructure

Nov. 19: This lecture by Professor Roberto Ballarini, head of the University of Minnesota Department of Civil Engineering, will highlight the effect of our nation’s infrastructure on our quality of life and national security, as well as our culture and pride. Ballarini will also discuss the results of an independent study by the University of Minnesota on the collapse of the I-35W bridge. Registration is recommended. Register online. Free and open to the public. 6:30 p.m. Reception; 7 p.m. Lecture. Mayo Memorial Auditorium. Visit the Web site.

Minnesota's Hidden History in Computing: Lives and Legends at Control Data Corporation

Nov. 19: This informal evening talk sponsored by the Institute of Technology’s Charles Babbage Institute examines the history of the Control Data Corporation, a prominent Twin Cities company that built the world’s fastest computers and developed innovative educational computing. This talk also unveils the Charles Babbage Institute’s Web site where visitors can document Control Data photographs that will become part of a massive archive. 7–8 p.m. Andersen Library 120. Call 612-624-5050 or visit the Web site.

Cardiac Valves: Past, Present, and Future

Dec. 8–9: Second Annual Bakken Surgical Device Symposium This program will explore the early innovations and current practice of cardiac devices with an eye to future developments in cardiac valve design and technique. Register online. Mayo Memorial Auditorium. Visit the Web site.

Foresight After Four: Perspectives on Technological Leadership

Dec. 10: A panel of five women in top leadership positions in science and technology companies will discuss their backgrounds, positions, and perspectives on the keys to success as leaders in their respective fields. This event is sponsored by the Center for the Development of Technological Leadership (CDTL). 4:30 p.m. reception; 5:15 program. Register online. West Bank Office Building, Suite 110, Visit the Web site or call 612-624-5747.

Looking Ahead

Legislative Briefing

Jan. 28, 2009: Alumni, faculty, staff, students, and friends of the University can get an insider’s view of this year's University of Minnesota legislative request at the 2009 Legislative Briefing. At the event, President Robert Bruininks and other members of the University community will explain how the projects in this year’s legislative request will benefit the University and the entire state. 5:30–8 p.m. McNamara Alumni Center. Visit the Web site.

Design of Medical Devices Conference

April 14–16, 2009: This three-day conference includes two days of technical/clinical sessions plus a one-day Annual President's 21st Century Interdisciplinary Conference. The conference promotes the medical device industry and provides a forum to bring together medical device designers, manufacturers, researchers, and representatives from the public sector. The Institute of Technology is one of the sponsors of this event. Radisson University Hotel-Minneapolis. Visit the Web site.