Officials to break ground on cutting-edge international physics lab in northern Minnesota
Two U.S. congressmen and top ranking officials from the U.S. Department of Energy, University of Minnesota, and Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory will break ground on May 1 for a new NuMI Off-Axis Electron Neutrino Appearance (NOvA) detector facility, the future home of the world’s most advanced neutrino experiment.
The NOvA Detector Facility is a new international physics laboratory of the University of Minnesota School of Physics and Astronomy. Construction of the cutting-edge detector facility, supported under a $45 million cooperative agreement for research between the Department of Energy and the University of Minnesota, is expected to generate 60 to 80 jobs in northern Minnesota over the next two years. Read more>>
New partnership with university in Abu Dhabi will foster energy research projects
The University of Minnesota Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science has entered into a partnership with the Petroleum Institute, located in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, to establish the Abu Dhabi-Minnesota Institute for Research Excellence (ADMIRE).
The Petroleum Institute has awarded the University of Minnesota a $6.1 million grant over the next three years to promote joint research projects between the two institutions and to foster the continued development of academic programs of the Petroleum Institute, specifically their programs in chemical engineering and materials science and engineering. Read more>>
Biobased plastics research is focus of new University of Minnesota center
The University of Minnesota has launched a new Center for Sustainable Polymers aimed at developing a new generation of environment-friendly products. The team of scientists and engineers will lead cutting-edge basic research aimed at developing commercially feasible products including pressure-sensitive adhesives, toughened plastics and polyurethanes from renewable resources. The center will also integrate science, technology, and public policy initiatives. Read more >>
U of M researchers help New York City generate clean energy
Researchers at the University of Minnesota's St. Anthony Falls Laboratory will help generate clean energy for New York City. Professor Fotis Sotiropoulos, director of the St. Anthony Falls Lab, will lead a team of researchers in developing computational models for optimizing underwater turbines to help Verdant Power generate power from tidal, river, and ocean currents.
Projects under way include the Roosevelt Island Tidal Energy (RITE) project in New York City’s East River. The University's research is jointly funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and the University of Minnesota’s Initiative for Renewable Energy and the Environment (IREE) in collaboration with Verdant Power, Sandia National Labs, and private industry. Read more>>
Two professors receive nation’s top scientific honor
University of Minnesota geology and geophysics professor David Kohlstedt and chemistry professor Donald Truhlar have been elected as members of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) for their excellence in original scientific research. Membership in the NAS is among the highest honor given to scientists in the United States. Kohlstedt was chosen for his internationally renowned research in rock deformation processes and his study of the physics and chemistry of minerals. Truhlar, one of the top physical chemists in the world, has enhanced the world's basic understanding of the mechanisms of chemical reaction and has developed new and powerful tools for using state-of-the-art supercomputers. Read more>>
Watch for next issue of Inventing Tomorrow
The Institute of Technology’s role in shaping innovative products at 3M, faculty involved in climate research, and student interns who are saving companies money and energy are showcased in the next issue of Inventing Tomorrow, the Institute of Technology’s magazine for alumni and friends. The magazine is scheduled to be mailed in May. Also included in the Spring/Summer 2009 issue is a story about the history of the Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering and stories on the latest faculty research. 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.
Freshmen applications to the Institute of Technology at all-time high
Applications for incoming freshmen students for fall 2009 at the University of Minnesota’s Institute of Technology hit an all-time high this year. The college received 5,810 applications (up 23 percent from last year). The target class size is 850 students. The University as a whole also reached a record high for freshmen applicants for fall 2009. This is the sixth straight year the University has broken application records, with 33,000 applicants (up 16 percent from last year) vying for only 5,350 spots. Admissions officials also said campus tours at the University are up 13 percent over last year, which is an indicator applicants consider the University one of their top choices. Read more>>
SCImagine event on May 8 features solar house team
Members of the University of Minnesota Solar Decathlon team will give a sneak preview of their solar house at a special SCImagine event sponsored by the University’s Science and Engineering Library on Friday, May 8, 3:30-4:30 p.m. in Walter Library, Room 101, 117 Pleasant St. S.E., Minneapolis. The event is free and open to the public. More than 150 students are part of the University’s first-ever team building a completely solar powered house that will compete in Washington, D.C. at the Solar Decathlon competition in October. Construction on the house is expected to be completed in September. The University of Minnesota was chosen to be part of the competition as one of only 20 international teams. Read more>>
IT Commencement Ceremony is May 8
About 900 students who have completed degree programs over the last year in the areas of engineering, physical sciences and mathematics will be recognized at the Institute of Technology’s annual commencement ceremony at 7 p.m. Friday, May 8, 2009 at Northrop Auditorium. Members of the Institute of Technology Class of 1959 who are celebrating their 50-year reunion will lead the procession. The commencement speaker is Paul Douglas, meteorologist, television broadcaster, and entrepreneur. Read more>>
Submit innovative business ideas in Minnesota Cup competition by May 22
The fifth annual Minnesota Cup is seeking the newest, most innovative business ideas from anyone in Minnesota. From high-tech to high-touch, biosciences to retail, and agriculture to social ventures, this competition is for entrepreneurs, inventors, and anyone with an innovative business idea.
The contest, sponsored by Wells Fargo, the University of Minnesota and the State of Minnesota, will offer a total of $130,000 in cash prizes, up from $70,000 last year. Top prize in each division will be $20,000, except the student division, which has a top prize of $5,000. Institute of Technology alumni have won the top prize in three of the last four Minnesota Cup competitions. The deadline for submissions is May 22, 2009. Read more>>
Tech Tune-Up short course set for June 12
Fine tune your technology skills at the upcoming Tech Tune-Up: Technical Innovation to Ride Out the Economic Downturn, a short course offered by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE). The course is Friday, June 12, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., in room 3-180 of the University of Minnesota’s Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Building, 200 Union St. S.E., Minneapolis.
This year’s course will focus on breakthroughs and innovations coupled with insights and commentaries from internationally renowned researchers and practitioners. It will hone participants’ competitive edge and help professionals stay ahead of market and technology changes in today's competitive environment. The keynote speaker is John A. Hoschette, Technical Director, Tactical Avionics, Lockheed Martin. Hoschette is the author of Career Advancement and Survivor for Engineers and the soon-to-be-released The Engineer’s Career Guidebook.Read more>>
Honors
Professor Douglas Arnold (mathematics) was elected as a foreign member in the Norwegian Academy of Sciences and Letters, a non-governmental interdisciplinary body whose purpose is the advancement of science and scholarship in Norway.
Professor Will Durfee (mechanical engineering) received the Volunteer of the Year Award at the Minnesota FIRST Regional Robotics Competition for his ongoing work to promote robotics within Minnesota high schools.
Professor R. Lawrence Edwards (geology and geophysics) has been awarded a prestigious 2009 Guggenheim Fellowship. Edwards was given the honor for his research in establishing patterns of past climate change using cave deposits as recorders of the timing and nature of climate history. Read more>>
Associate Professor David L. Fox (geology and geophysics) has been selected as an Edward P. Bass Distinguished Visiting Environmental Scholar at Yale University. This highly competitive honor brings premier scholars in various fields dealing with the study of the environment to Yale for an extended period of time for research and study.
Assistant professor Christy Haynes (chemistry) has been named a 2009 Camille and Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar. The award recognizes her considerable body of scientific accomplishments and her dedication to education in the chemical sciences.
Professor Richard James (aerospace engineering and mechanics) has been selected to receive the Brown Engineering Alumni Medal, an award given to Brown University Division of Engineering graduates who have established exceptional records of accomplishment in their engineering careers.
Professor Vipin Kumar (computer science and engineering) was recently named the Alumnus of the Year by the University of Maryland's Computer Science Department. Kumar is internationally recognized for his research in the areas of parallel computing, graph partitioning, and data mining.
Assistant professor Sang-Hyun Oh (electrical and computer engineering) and professor Robert Tranquillo (biomedical engineering) were awarded state-funded grants from the Minnesota Partnership for Biotechnology and Medical Genomics. Oh is working with Mayo Clinic researchers to develop a nano–device to measure binding strength of antibodies on the surface of cells that could impact multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and spinal cord injuries. Tranquillo is working with the Mayo Clinic to discover cell–based therapies for arrhythmias.
Professor Hans Othmer (mathematics) has been awarded the 2009 Akira Okubo Prize and will deliver the Okubo lecture at the next Society for Mathematical Biology annual meeting in Vancouver, Canada in July. Othmer was also selected to address the next meeting of the Japanese Society for Mathematical Biology in Tokyo in September.
Associate professors Doreen Leopold (chemistry) and James Stout (geology and geophysics) received the University of Minnesota Morse-Alumni Undergraduate Teaching Award for their outstanding contributions to undergraduate education.
Professor Guillermo Sapiro (electrical and computer engineering) has been selected to present the prestigious Science Lecture at the 2009 Abel Prize awards ceremony in Oslo, Norway. In his lecture, Sapiro will review how he revealed the impact of this year’s Abel Prize winner Mikhail Gromov’s mathematics on image and shape analysis.
Regents professor Donald Truhlar (chemistry) has been named a fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry for his outstanding contributions to the field of chemical sciences.
Three Institute of Technology undergraduates have been named 2009 Barry M. Goldwater Scholars. The prestigious national scholarship is awarded annually to outstanding sophomores and juniors in mathematics, science and engineering who intend to pursue research-oriented careers. The students are Matthew Coudron, a physics and mathematics sophomore, Peter Lofgren, a mathematics and computer science sophomore, and Rebecca Szarkowski, a biomedical engineering junior. Read more>>
University of Minnesota aerospace engineering and mechanics students took first place for the second year in a row at the SAE Aero Design East international competition. Sixty-five teams from all over the globe, including South America, Mexico, Canada, Poland, and India, participated in the competition. Read more>>
Media Watch
Institute of Technology people in the news
Road salt seeps into rivers, lakes
Civil engineering professor Heinz Stefan discusses his research on the effect of road salt on our lakes and rivers. March 3: Discovery Channel
Professor explains the science behind the ‘Watchmen’ movie
Computer science and engineering assistant professor Daniel Keefe is creating virtual reality environments to help researchers visualize and interact with data, which is useful in many areas of research including development of medical devices. March 9: Minnesota Daily
Faculty speak out against Grad School reconstruction
Institute of Technology Dean Steven Crouch is leading a team that is gathering input on the University’s proposed plan to decentralize graduate education. March 11: Minnesota Daily; March 29: Minnesota Daily; April 27: Minnesota Daily
The University of Minnesota chapter of Engineers Without Borders has received a $50,000 grant for environmentally friendly engineering projects in Haiti and Uganda.
March 18: News Release; March 25: Twin Cities Finance and Commerce
How enormous batteries could safeguard the power grid
Chemical engineering and materials science professor William Smyrl and electrical and computer engineering professor Ned Mohan are researching better ways to store wind energy. March 22: Christian Science Monitor; March 31: Minnesota Daily
Computer science and engineering professor Jaideep Srivastava is part of a team of researchers who have revealed that online, interactive gaming communities are now so massive that they mirror traditional communities. March 23: WCCO–TV; KSTP–TV; Pioneer Press; Worthington Daily Globe
Heating up magnetic memory
Electrical and computer engineering professor Randall Victora comments on the growing demand for magnetic data storage. March 23: Technology Review
Mathematics professor and Digital Technology Center researcher Andrew Odlyzko served on a panel about innovation of optical products at a national conference. March 25: Test and Measurement World
University of Minnesota expert on smart grids and smart grid security speaks on Capitol Hill
Electrical and computer engineering professor Massoud Amin spoke to members of the U.S. Congressional Research and Development Caucus during a briefing on the U.S. power grid and energy in the nation's capitol. March 26: Eurekalert;
Science Mode
Red Wing Project turned on the lights of Minnesota farms
As the Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering celebrates its centennial, professors discuss the University’s landmark achievement in helping to bring electricity to farms in Minnesota. March 26: Minnesota Moment; March 30: Rochester Post Bulletin
Geological forces are stacked against the Red River Valley
Civil engineering professor John Gulliver was among the experts who were called upon to help explain the reasons behind the recent Red River Valley flooding. March 29: Star Tribune; March 30: Star Tribune; MinnPost; Canada East; Associated Press; March 31: Houston Chronicle; Kent News Net
Global warming topic barely mentioned in Minnesota's proposed science standards
Astronomy professor Larry Rudnick says the proposed K-12 science education standards are fundamentally flawed in that they fail to address one of the most pressing science issues of our time—global climate change. March 31: MinnPost
Young innovator untangling the Web
Former University of Minnesota's Talented Youth Mathematics Program student Louis Wang has developed an algorithm to improved the efficiencies of Internet search engines. March 31: Star Tribune
U making good on energy promise
The University of Minnesota will compete in the 2009 Solar Decathlon competition where students are building a solar-powered house on the Washington, D.C. capitol mall. April 2: WCCO–TV
Robots take over University sports arenas
The University of Minnesota Institute of Technology is hosting more than 100 high school teams who are coming to campus to compete in the FIRST Robotics Minnesota Regional Competition. A team mentored by Institute of Technology students was one of the competition winners. April 2: WCCO–TV; KSTP–TV; April 3: KMSP–TV; KMSP–TV; KARE–TV; April 4: Rochester Post Bulletin; April 5: Minnesota Daily
Hacked or hyped: Have foreign cyber-spies infiltrated the U.S. electricity grid?
Electrical and computer engineering professor Massoud Amin comments on the recent reports that spies from China, Russia, and other countries have hacked into the U.S. electricity grid and installed software that could cause mass outages. April 9: Scientific American
Prof wins prestigious award for years of climate research
Geology and geophysics professor Larry Edwards received a prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship for his research in establishing patterns of past climate change using cave deposits as recorders of the timing and nature of climate history. April 14: Minnesota Daily
Keeping children entertained needn't cost fortune; some free activities for kids
Astronomy graduate student Pete Mendygral said universities are a good resource for educational and fun activities for kids.
April 16: Canadian Press; April 18: Pantagraph.com
Mentors teach students about technology at Mall of America
The University of Minnesota Solar Vehicle Project team showcased their solar-powered car at an event at the Mall of America aimed at inspiring young students to explore science and technology. April 18: WCCO–TV
Illinois comes up a big winner in transportation projects
University of Minnesota civil engineering professor David Levinson comments on transportation projects being funded by federal stimulus funds. April 20: Miami Herald; McClatchy
U of M partners with Abu Dhabi on energy research
The University’s Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science is partnering with the Petroleum Institute in Abu Dhabi to study energy issues.
April 21: News release; Minnesota Daily; Biz Journals; April 22: AME Info
U students do home energy audit
Institute of Technology students involved in the Active Energy Club and the Engineers Without Borders groups are involved in an energy audit of a home with the goal of finding low-cost ways to improve efficiency. April 22: Minnesota Daily
Simply Science: Space Junk?
Aerospace engineering and mechanics professor Bill Garrard comments on what happens to debris left behind on space missions. April 23: KARE–TV
Caves and controversy
Geology and geophysics professor Calvin Alexander comments on a new book that chronicles the beauty and mystery of Minnesota caves, as well as the political struggle over ownership and exploration of the geological wonders. April 29: Minnesota Public Radio
Events
Spring Senior Design Show
May 5: Institute of Technology engineering students present their problem-solving innovations and cutting-edge research projects. 2–4:30 p.m. Coffman Memorial Union, Great Hall.
Frederick J. Bollum Biochemistry Series: Biochemistry of Biofuels
May 6: Leading bioenergy experts from across the country will discuss the latest advances in biofuels research and technology. 1–5 p.m. Coffman Memorial Union Theater, Minneapolis. Visit the Web site.
LIFE: A Journey Through Time Exhibit Walkabout
May 6: Join two entertaining University professors—David Fox, an associate professor and paleontologist in the department of geology, and Franklin Barnwell, a professor of ecology, evolution and behavior—for a gallery walk and exploration of Frans Lanting’s spectacular photographic exhibit. 5:30 p.m. Bell Museum of Natural History. Visit the Web site.
Kaufmanis Lecture Series
May 7: Alexei Filippenko, professor of astronomy at the University of California, Berkeley, will present "Dark Energy and the Runaway Universe" where he will explore the expansion of the universe and the origin of dark energy. 7 p.m. Bell Museum Auditorium. Visit the Web site.
50 Year Reunion
May 7–8: The University of Minnesota Institute of Technology Class of 1959 will enjoy campus tours and participate in the 2009 Institute of Technology Commencement. Minneapolis campus. E-mail Anastacia Davis at aqdavis@umn.edu, or call 612-625-4509.
Golden Medallion Society Reunion
May 8: Institute of Technology alumni who have graduated more than 50 years ago join the Class of 1959 for a reunion. This year's gathering includes various tours and a reunion picnic. 10 a.m.–6:30 p.m. Minneapolis campus. Visit the Web site, e-mail Liz Stadther at stadt001@umn.edu, or call 612-626-1802.
SCImagine
May 8: Members of the University of Minnesota Solar Decathlon team will give a sneak preview of their solar house that will compete in Washington, D.C. at an international competition in October. Refreshments will be served. Learn more about the project at www.solardecathlon.umn.edu. 3–4:30 p.m. Walter Library. Visit the Web site.
IT Commencement
May 8: About 900 students who have completed degree programs over the last year in the areas of engineering, physical sciences, and mathematics will be recognized at the Institute of Technology’s annual commencement ceremony. Doors open at 6 p.m., and tickets are not required. 7 p.m. Northrop Memorial Auditorium. Visit the Web site.
CTS Spring Luncheon Presentation: "Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do"
May 19–20: New York Times best-selling author, Tom Vanderbilt, is the featured luncheon speaker at the 20th Annual CTS Transportation Research Conference. In his most recent book, he explores some of the remarkable dynamics of traffic. Sheraton Hotel, Bloomington. Contact Sara Van Essendelft, 612-624-3708.
Plasma-Aided Manufacturing
May 19–20: This two-day course on the fundamental concepts for characterizing processing plasmas will include insights from world-renowed experts and will emphasize bio-medical and photovoltaic applications. The course is presented by the Department of Mechanical Engineering’s High Temperature and Plasma Lab. Mechanical Engineering Building, Room 1130. Visit the Web site.
IPrime Annual Meeting
May 26–28: The Industrial Partnership for Research in Interfacial and Materials Engineering (IPrime) will hold its annual meeting at the University of Minnesota. Researchers will present on their previous year's work. A poster session and reception provide the opportunity for informal interactions and discussions about ongoing projects. University of Minnesota's Minneapolis campus. Visit the Web site.
Looking Ahead
2009 Tech Tune-Up: Technical Innovation to Ride Out the Economic Downturn
June 12: Fine tune your technology skills at the upcoming Tech Tune-Up: Technical Innovation to Ride Out the Economic Downturn, a short course offered by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE). The keynote speaker is John A. Hoschette, author of Career Advancement and Survivor for Engineers and the soon-to-be-released The Engineer’s Career Guidebook. 7:30 a.m.–5 p.m. EE-CSci Building, 3-180. Visit the Web site.
International Transport Economics Conference: Incorporating the International Conference on Funding Transport Infrastructure
June 15–16: This conference brings together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers interested in questions of transport economics. Minneapolis campus. Visit the Web site.
Engineering the Future of Biomedicine
Sept. 2–6: The 31st Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBC'09) technical program will consist of plenary and keynote lectures, workshops, symposia, and invited sessions, in which the leading experts from around the world will present state-of-the-art reviews of rapidly-developing and exciting areas, report the latest significant findings and developments in all the major fields of biomedical engineering, and discuss government and industry related issues. Hilton Minneapolis. Visit the Web site.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota's St. Anthony Falls Laboratory will help generate clean energy for New York City. Professor Fotis Sotiropoulos, director of the St. Anthony Falls Lab, will lead a team of researchers in developing computational models for optimizing underwater turbines to help Verdant Power generate power from tidal, river, and ocean currents. 
Applications for incoming freshmen students for fall 2009 at the University of Minnesota’s Institute of Technology hit an all-time high this year. The college received 5,810 applications (up 23 percent from last year). The target class size is 850 students. The University as a whole also reached a record high for freshmen applicants for fall 2009. This is the sixth straight year the University has broken application records, with 33,000 applicants (up 16 percent from last year) vying for only 5,350 spots. Admissions officials also said campus tours at the University are up 13 percent over last year, which is an indicator applicants consider the University one of their top choices. 
Members of the University of Minnesota Solar Decathlon team will give a sneak preview of their solar house at a special SCImagine event sponsored by the University’s Science and Engineering Library on Friday, May 8, 3:30-4:30 p.m. in Walter Library, Room 101, 117 Pleasant St. S.E., Minneapolis. The event is free and open to the public. More than 150 students are part of the University’s first-ever team building a completely solar powered house that will compete in Washington, D.C. at the Solar Decathlon competition in October. Construction on the house is expected to be completed in September. The University of Minnesota was chosen to be part of the competition as one of only 20 international teams. 
About 900 students who have completed degree programs over the last year in the areas of engineering, physical sciences and mathematics will be recognized at the Institute of Technology’s annual commencement ceremony at 7 p.m. Friday, May 8, 2009 at Northrop Auditorium. Members of the Institute of Technology Class of 1959 who are celebrating their 50-year reunion will lead the procession. The commencement speaker is Paul Douglas, meteorologist, television broadcaster, and entrepreneur. 
The fifth annual 
