- New material could hold key to reducing energy consumption in computers and electronics.
- Features: New hope for transplantable organs; Learning as child's play.
- Awards and Recognition: Svitlana Mayboroda has been named the 2023 Blavatnik National Awards Laureate in Physical Sciences and Engineering; and more.
New material could hold key to reducing energy consumption in computers and electronics
A University of Minnesota team has, for the first time, synthesized a thin film of a unique topological semimetal material that has the potential to generate more computing power and memory storage while using significantly less energy. The researchers were also able to closely study the material, leading to some important findings about the physics behind its unique properties.
New hope for transplantable organs
More than 104,000 Americans are on a waiting list for a lifesaving organ transplant. Tragically, an average of 17 people die each day while waiting for an organ. A Minnesota company called Miromatrix hopes to address this crisis by using transplants from pigs that have undergone a procedure called perfusion decellularization and perfusion recellularization technology. The company’s 70 employees include many U of M alumni, including CEO Jeff Ross (MS ’02, PhD ’06).
Learning as child's play
When Jesse Ilhardt (BA ’08) was growing up, she began to recognize a key facet of raising children that still informs her career decades later: Bring creative, play-based learning into a child’s life as much as possible. Today, Ilhardt, whose popular Wrigley Field TEDx talk emphasized creative, play-based learning, is harnessing her past to inform her present and future. In 2014, she cofounded VOCEL (Viewing our Children As Emerging Leaders), a nonprofit that works with the adults who most impact young children’s brain development.
Awards and Recognition
Svitlana Mayboroda has been named the 2023 Blavatnik National Awards Laureate in Physical Sciences and Engineering; Bharat Jalan recently received the Schieber Prize from the International Organization of Crystal Growth; U in the News features highlights of University faculty and staff cited in the media.
New Minnesota Center for Electrification Opportunity aims to grow workforce in electric power industry
The University of Minnesota Technological Leadership Institute, in collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and others, recently announced the launch of the Minnesota Center for Electrification Opportunity. The pioneering consortium will lead workforce development training in electrification.
Canvas Essentials (asynchronous micro course)
This asynchronous micro course reviews the Canvas interface, tools, features, and general course design decisions needed to prepare your course site quickly and efficiently. The learning opportunity guides you through activities and action items to get your site ready for the start of semester. Engage at your own pace with support from academic technology professionals. Available from Aug. 14-Sept. 5.
Inclusive and Accessible Course Design Clinics
TeachingSupport@UMN is offering virtual Inclusive and Accessible Course Design Clinics to enrich and apply instructors’ recent learning experiences in Fundamentals of Disability Accommodations and Inclusive Course Design training. Participants meet with local and central support teams who can address questions about accommodations and help apply inclusive and accessible design strategies to courses. Faculty are invited to register to attend either the Aug. 15 or Aug. 30 clinic via Zoom.
Navigating mental wellbeing on the path to new parenthood
Becoming a new parent can be a transformative experience, but the transition after birth can also be overwhelming, especially for those facing isolation or lacking support. To better support postpartum parents’ mental health and wellbeing, a group of moms has created the 40-Day Project—an initiative promoting wellness and self-care for Somali postpartum parents. The project is a collaboration with U of M Extension and the Minnesota Association for Children's Mental Health.
A new home for homegrown food at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
The newly opened Burton and Virginia Myers Education Center at the U of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum fulfills a dream of U of M Extension Master Gardener volunteers to have a home base where they can teach and learn. Ten Master Gardener volunteers were part of the team that built The Foodscape surrounding the building, which includes a kitchen for cooking healthy foods and teaching food preservation.
Navigating public-private partnerships is key for shared mobility integration
Minnesota’s shared mobility systems are a patchwork of public and private entities loosely partnering with one another, often with differing or even conflicting aims, says a team of U of M researchers. The team has created recommendations and guidelines for better integrating shared mobility into the state’s transportation systems.
Research Brief: Fermented vegetables positively impact gut health
Fermented foods have grown in popularity and are widely consumed, in part due to claims regarding their positive effect on digestive health. However, these claims have lacked sufficient scientific support. A team of U of M researchers tested these claims by studying whether frequent consumption of lacto-fermented vegetables, such as kimchi or kraut, had any effect on the trillions of bacteria that make up the gut microbiome. See additional recent Research Briefs.
Talking summer pet safety with U of M
There are a number of seasonal hazards pets need to navigate during the dog days of summer, from thunderstorms and extreme heat to pesky parasites. Assistant Professor Kristi Flynn with the College of Veterinary Medicine discusses what pet owners should be on the lookout for the rest of the summer to keep their pets happy and healthy. See more editions of "Talking with U of M."
Aug. 17 - Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Sampler
Take high-quality noncredit courses and share social, cultural, and volunteer opportunities with a community of dedicated lifelong learners through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI). Register for this free, online OLLI Sampler to explore opportunities. 9:30-11 a.m.
U of M Crookston programs fundraising for mobile lab to offer opportunities to K-12 students
The Center for Rural Education in Science and Technology (CREST) was established at U of M Crookston in 2022 to allow surrounding underserved, underrepresented schools to afford equal opportunities in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math. CREST is currently fundraising to purchase the equipment and infrastructure needed to make a mobile lab possible. Visit CREST to make a gift.
Pluimer receives testing and materials engineering award
Michael Pluimer, director of the advanced materials center in the civil engineering department, has received the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Award of Merit. This peer-nominated award comes with the title of Fellow of ASTM International. Pluimer is recognized for his contributions in the field of materials testing and his leadership.
UMD scientists receive Chandler-Misener Award
UMD scientists Cody Sheik (biology), Kathryn Schreiner (chemistry and biochemistry), and Byron Steinman (earth and environmental sciences), along with Chris Filstrup and Elizabeth Alexson (both at NRRI), have received the Chandler-Misener award for the most notable and impactful manuscript published in 2022 in the Journal of Great Lakes Research. The paper used molecular tools to sequence the genome of the cyanobacterium, Dolichospermum lemmermannii, which has caused blooms from Duluth to the Apostle Islands in recent years.
Aug. 7-12 - Dark Sky Caravan
The Marshall W. Alworth Planetarium (MWAP) will host star parties along the North Shore to celebrate Minnesota’s dark skies. The group will gaze through telescopes while staff members give a live tour of stars, constellations, and potential meteor showers. The free-of-charge caravan will stop at MWAP, Tettegouche State Park, Split Rock Lighthouse, North House Folk School, Seagull Lake Community Center, and the Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center.
Morris Model wins DOE competition to energize rural communities
The Morris Model, an award-winning group made up of partner organizations working toward a shared vision of advancing a sustainable community in Morris and west central Minnesota, is among 67 winners in the first phase of the Department of Energy’s $6.7 million Energizing Rural Communities Prize. The Morris Model will receive a $100,000 prize, in-kind-mentorship services, and eligibility to compete for another $200,000.
A census that can sting
Violet Musta ’25 is spending her summer in Morris counting bugs. Musta, an environmental studies major, is working with Associate Professor PZ Myers researching what type of land management practices promote the best insect biodiversity.
Aug. 15 - Fall Professional Development Day
Faculty and staff are encouraged to register for an exciting schedule of events during the fall Professional Development Day. Sessions will include “ECHO Implicit Bias and Microaggression training,” “Learning Support Central: Sharing Questions, Concerns, & Opportunities to Connect,” Integrating Career Development into Your Work for Students,” “Native American Student Success in the Classroom: How can instructors help close the gap?”, and more.
Beyond the Nest - Season 5, episode 1
In this episode of UMR’s podcast Beyond the Nest, UMR alumni Evan Doyle ’13 and Rachel Seisler ’14 reminisce and reconnect about what brought them to UMR, their capstone experiences, and where their careers have taken them today.
Submit fall textbook and course materials requests
University Bookstores and Libraries Course Materials Services are accepting fall 2023 course materials requests. Early submissions can positively impact affordability. Request textbooks for purchase from the bookstores, and Canvas reading lists containing articles, e-books, and more from the libraries. The libraries and bookstores partner to provide some e-books required for courses at no cost to students. Email requests and questions to [email protected] (bookstores) and [email protected] (libraries).
Changing up the internship game
The College of Liberal Arts (CLA) is partnering with GREATER MSP on an audacious goal: to make the Twin Cities a national hotspot for college internships and early talent development. This spring, GREATER MSP launched an internship hub to encourage employers to create more—and higher impact—internship opportunities in the Twin Cities region.
The carbon problem
Minneapolis startup company Carba, cofounded by U of M chemical engineering professor Paul Dauenhauer and a former student, has developed a portable reactor that converts plant waste into a charcoal-like substance called biochar. The company was recently named a finalist for an incubator program by Minnesota clean energy accelerator Grid Catalyst, and is partnering with trash and recycling giant Waste Management to deploy its first reactor at a Twin Cities waste facility.
Share your Walter Library memories
U Libraries is kicking off a series of events and celebrations for 2023 and 2024 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Walter Library. Share your memories of Walter Library—be they funny, heartwarming, or strange—and learn more about Walter Library at 100.
Little Gophers Summer Cheer Clinics
The University of Minnesota cheerleading team will offer its first-ever Little Gophers Summer Cheer Clinics, welcoming kids ages 4 to 10 of all ability levels. Each day, participants will learn basic cheerleading skills like motions, jumps, and beginner stunts from Gopher Cheer’s elite athletes. Sessions take place Aug. 8, 9, and 10. Participants can register for one or all three sessions.
Featured events
Aug. 4 - KDI Exchange: Interconnectedness and Open Dialogue
Aug. 5 - 2023 Summer Chorus Performance
Aug. 7 - Growing and Using Wild and Cultivated Plants
Aug. 9 - U of M Farmers Market
Aug. 10 - Statewide Star Party Virtual Kickoff
Aug. 10 - 2023 Alumni Summer Band Performance
Aug. 14-Sept. 1 - Teaching Enrichment Series
Sept. 28-Oct. 26 - Designing and Delivering Online Learning
Through Sept. 29 - ICI’s 'Art for All' new exhibition: my life