Inside This Issue
- Board of Regents October meeting highlights.
- Features: Alumnus runs 600 miles to raise awareness for multiple sclerosis; Medical students tackle health through climate change.
- People: Mark Umbreit has been ranked among the top 50 most notable social workers in U.S. history; and more.
Top News
Board of Regents October meeting highlights
At its October meeting, the U of M Board of Regents approved the purchase of the Shriners Hospital property in Minneapolis, which would become a first-of-its-kind Institute for Child and Adolescent Brain Health. Regents also discussed future investments in the U of M’s research enterprise, including ways in which to grow the University’s impact as a top-10 research institution while incentivizing and promoting research that addresses challenges and opportunities facing Minnesota. Additionally, Regents approved President Gabel’s Recommended Six-Year Capital Plan. Read the news release for more details.
Alumnus runs 600 miles to raise awareness for multiple sclerosis
Chad Mickelson is running 600 miles from the southeast corner of Minnesota to the northwest tip. His motivation to do so came from a recent diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS), a progressively degenerative neurological disorder.
Medical students tackle health through climate change
Jack Inglis once thought he would pursue a career in environmental science or agriculture. When he instead decided to apply to the U of M Medical School, Inglis knew he needed to find a way to incorporate his passions for both advancing patient health care and caring for the environment. Today, Inglis is doing just that as one of seven co-chairs of Health Students for a Healthy Climate, the first-ever student organization (comprised of students from Public Health, Veterinary Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, and Medicine) focused on creating awareness about the relationship between health and climate change.
People
Mark Umbreit has been ranked among the top 50 most notable social workers in U.S. history by the International Association of Schools of Social Work; Laura Bloomberg has been named a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration; the College of Science and Engineering has received a $250,000 donation from Target to fund programs that will educate the next generation of cyber security experts; U in the News features highlights of U faculty and staff cited in the media. People.
U-Wide News
Make your voice heard through the Employee Engagement Survey
Share your experience working at the University of Minnesota through the 2019 Employee Engagement Survey. An email from UofMNSurvey@us.confirmit.com was sent on Oct. 14, which includes your unique link to take the survey. All responses are collected by an external vendor, Korn Ferry, to ensure confidentiality. If you have trouble finding the email, visit troubleshooting.
Conference Accounts to retire
Conference Accounts will be retired on Dec. 1. These accounts are no longer needed because, since its upgrade, the UofM-Guest network offers a stable connection for all visitors to U of M system campuses. Learn how to prepare for conference account retirement.
Oct. 22 - Webinar for supervisors: Driving Action through Accountability
A high level of accountability is correlated with higher performance and greater commitment to work. The actions you take when your employees exceed, meet, or do not meet expectations create standards for accountability. Register and learn more about what it means to integrate accountability into your work group’s culture and values. Noon-1 p.m.
Oct. 28-30 - Cyber Security Summit
The Technological Leadership Institute at the University of Minnesota is a founding partner of this multi-stakeholder consortium, which will bring together government, industry, and academic experts in an effort to improve the state of cyber security at a national and global level. Sessions will cover topics including women in cyber security, health care and medical devices, a small business track, artificial intelligence, and more. See the agenda and learn more.
Oct. 29 - Webinar: Designing Virtual International Learning In Any Discipline
In this webinar, faculty members from the U of M and the University of Iceland will describe an instructional partnership approach called COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning). Participants will learn how students in both countries engaged in deep intercultural learning and consider how to apply or extend COIL principles in their teaching. Noon-1:30 p.m.
Nov. 6 - Workshop: Navigating the Challenges of Industry Partnerships
During a lunchtime workshop, faculty and researchers will hear from several U of M experts on topics such as aligning sponsor interests with researcher expectations, preparing for the publication review process, understanding funding sources, and the impact on intellectual property. A box lunch will be provided. 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m., Laukka Room, McNamara Alumni Center and livestreamed via Zoom (link will be made available to registrants prior to the event).
Dec. 5 - Healthy Futures Summit
The 2019 Healthy Futures Summit (register) convenes a mix of public health practitioners, scholars, and innovators who are shaping a future of health. The summit is one of Minnesota’s largest public health conferences and features more than 40 experts tackling public health topics such as community resilience, structural racism, food policy, infectious diseases, and other persistent and emerging topics that affect human health. CE credits available. 8 a.m.-5 p.m., McNamara Alumni Center.
Talking fall flu vaccines with U of M
Flu season is here and can last until May. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends people should get the flu vaccine in October. Ann Philbrick with the College of Pharmacy talks about the flu vaccine and the health benefits of getting routine immunizations.
Research Brief: Nanoparticles may have bigger impact on the environment than previously thought
In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers from the Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology, led by scientists at the University of Minnesota, have shown that nanoparticles may have a bigger impact on the environment than previously thought. The study shows that non-antibacterial nanoparticles can cause resistance in bacteria, and the results could go far beyond just bacteria. Additional recent Research Briefs include “Minneapolis and St. Paul convenience stores increased healthy food options, improving access in low-income areas."
Crookston
Mendez carries family legacy forward
University of Minnesota Crookston alumnus Ken Mendez’s family legacy is integrally connected to the history of Northwest Minnesota, the University of Minnesota Crookston, and the people of the Red River Valley.
Grant funds initiative to recruit underrepresented students
A project to increase participation by women and minorities from rural areas in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics as well as food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences has been funded by the USDA.
Duluth
Beaulieu honored with lifetime achievement award
David Beaulieu, UMD’s Ruth Myers Endowed Chair of American Indian Education, recently received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Indian Education Association (NIEA). In honor of Beaulieu’s commitment to Native education, the NIEA also launched the Dr. David Beaulieu Legacy Scholarship. Beaulieu, an enrolled member of the White Earth Band of Chippewa, earned his PhD from the University of Minnesota.
New BA in Cognitive Science
The College of Liberal Arts’ new BA in Cognitive Science draws upon multiple disciplines. Students study philosophy, psychology, linguistics, medicine, neuroscience, and artificial intelligence in order to gain insights into the mind, consciousness, intelligence, and more. UMD is the first campus in the U of M system to offer this major.
Oct. 29 - Visual Culture Lecture Series: Masha Zavialova
Masha Zavialova will present as part of the Visual Culture Lecture Series. Zavialova is the chief curator and head of exhibitions and collections at The Museum of Russian Art in Minneapolis. Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, she received her PhD from the University of Minnesota. 6-7 p.m., 80 Montague Hall.
Morris
2019-20 Performing Arts Series
The University of Minnesota Morris has announced its 2019-20 Performing Arts Series. This year’s season features performances by Hiplet Ballerinas, Shapeshift, David L. Harris, and the Russian String Orchestra. The season opens Nov. 9.
Rochester
EcoliteracySCHOOL 2019
Rochester's EcoliteracySCHOOL focuses on the development of future leaders by taking students out of the classroom and encouraging them to take risks within an interactive experience. A team of upperclassmen is responsible for the implementation of a three-day environmental and public health immersion event for high-school students hosted at Tettegouche State Park in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. This year, EcoliteracySCHOOL is also partnering with a third-grade science class in the Pine Island school district.
Twin Cities
Cooking for Wellness: 2-Hour Basics
Cooking for Wellness is a program available to U of M faculty and staff offering hands-on cooking classes focused on making healthy meals from whole food ingredients. These 2-hour basics courses cover a variety of topics including sauces, soups, whole grains, and more, as well as kitchen techniques applicable to all dietary preferences and restrictions. U of M employees are eligible for Wellbeing Program points. See upcoming sessions and register.
Oct. 21 - Samuel Russell Chair in the Humanities lecture
Nabil Matar, professor of English, will present this year's Samuel Russell Chair in the Humanities lecture exploring Arabic sources and telling the stories of an Iraqi family that was captured by Maltese pirates and of a Moroccan woman whose piety empowered her to liberate coreligionists from her home in Fez. 4 p.m., 101 Walter Library. RSVP requested.
Software Carpentry workshops
Seats remain in two Software Carpentry workshops from the Digital Arts, Sciences, & Humanities (DASH) program. Software Carpentry workshops are hands-on, two-day events that cover the core computational research skills needed to be productive as an individual scientist or in small research teams. R, Bash (Unix) and Git will take place Oct. 24-25, 120 Andersen Library; Python, Bash (Unix) and Git will take place Nov. 7-8, 555 Diehl Hall.
Oct. 31 - Ergonomics Program open house
The University Health and Safety Ergonomics Program open house will feature experts available to demonstrate chairs, desks, and other equipment, answer your questions, and help you feel better at work. All are welcome, including students interested in ergonomics. 9 a.m.-noon, W-37 Boynton Health.
Nov. 6 - Data-Driven Solutions for Youth Voting and Civic Engagement
Minnesota led the nation in 2018 for youth voter turnout, but even with a more-than 20 percent rise from 2014, that turnout was still under 45 percent. Join the Humphrey School in an exploration of the successes in youth voter turnout and the data that show what has worked, as well as a look at how a more engaged young electorate may challenge the traditional approach to policy making and require new tactics for political outreach and engagement efforts. 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m., Humphrey School.
Nov. 7 - Book Week: A celebration of children's literature
This annual celebration of children’s books and authors has been organized at the University of Minnesota since 1941. This year's guest (RSVP to attend) is award-winning author Donna Jo Napoli. She is best known for her emotionally gripping retellings of premodern folk and fairy tales, but her prolific work ranges across genres and formats. Napoli will speak on "How I Choose What to Write About: Artistic Freedom and the Quest for Social Justice in the Children's Literature World." 5:30-8:30 p.m., McNamara Alumni Center.
In the UROC gallery: ‘She Inspires Me’
Female artists of all ages and skills share portraits and narratives of the women and girls they admire most in the world in "She Inspires Me," a mixed media art exhibit at the University's Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center (UROC) through Jan. 4.
UMTC Featured Events
Oct. 17 - CMS/James Ford Bell Lecture: Poverty and Prestige: Food and Social Status in Pre-Modern Europe
Oct. 19 - EXHIBITION: Creativity in Everyday Life
Oct. 19 - Dorrance Dance
Oct. 19 - University Symphony Orchestra with Minnesota Orchestra
Oct. 24 - Science Under the Stars
Oct. 25 - Technology Commercialization: Moving Design Ideas to the Marketplace
Oct. 25 - Ghostly Garden