January 18, 2023

Inside This Issue
  • U of M announces MPact Health Care Innovation vision.
  • Feature: Who owns our water?
  • Awards and Recognition: Faith Miller and Amanda Sullivan have been awarded a $5.9 million Department of Education grant; and more.
Top News

U of M announces MPact Health Care Innovation vision

Artist rendering of proposed MPact vision area

The University of Minnesota and U of M Medical School recently announced the MPact Health Care Innovation vision, which will advance the University’s leadership and partnerships to strengthen Minnesota’s health care and health professions, and make Minnesota a leader in the health of all Minnesotans. The bold new vision is a key step toward advancing discovery and health care solutions and access.

 

Who owns our water?

Lake Superior shoreline

The water situation in the western part of the U.S. is getting desperate. That has led some to speculate about the idea of water-rich states—like Minnesota—being asked to share our liquid riches in the future. So is the West coming for our water? The fact is, water law in the Land of 10,000 Lakes is complex

 
 

Awards and Recognition

Faith Miller and Amanda Sullivan have been awarded a $5.9 million Department of Education grant to increase P12 student mental health support; Courtney Roberts has been awarded a $1.9M NIH grant for catalysis research; Damien Fair recently received the Eva King Killiam Research Award from the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology; Jisu Huh has been selected by Meta for its 2022 People’s Expectations and Experiences with Digital Privacy Grant program; more than 50 M Health Fairview doctors have been recognized as “Top Doctors for Women” by Minnesota Monthly; U in the News features highlights of University faculty and staff cited in the media.

Awards and Recognition

U-Wide News

Submit nominations for the Regents Professorship

The deadline for submitting nominations for the Regents Professorship is March 3. The Regents Professorship is the highest honor the University bestows on its faculty.

Submit nominations for the President's Award for Outstanding Service

The deadline for submitting nominations for the 2023 President's Award for Outstanding Service is March 3. This award recognizes exceptional service to the University, its schools, colleges, departments, and service units by any current or retired faculty or staff member. 

New campus climate survey on diversity, equity, and inclusion

The University of Minnesota system is undertaking its first systemwide diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) campus climate survey to assess the experiences of faculty, staff, and students, and to advance inclusive excellence at the University of Minnesota. The survey will open on Jan. 30.   

New mileage reimbursement rate

Effective Jan. 1, the mileage reimbursement rate is 65.5 cents per mile for business use of a personal vehicle. The new rate is in Chrome River. Expenses must be in accordance with policies (Using Vehicles for University Business, Business Expenses, Traveling on University Business) and mileage is paid at the rate applicable at the time the expense was incurred. 

Duo Mobile support changes

Effective Feb. 9, Duo Mobile will no longer support Android 8, Android 9, and iOS 13. These older operating systems on Android and iOS mobile devices will stop receiving important maintenance updates or security fixes and are considered to be at end-of-service/end-of-life status. Learn more about how these changes might affect you.

New Employee Assistance Program vendor

Lyra Health offers a wide range of services, from identity theft protection and legal assistance to mental health coaching and counseling. Lyra can help you build a personalized plan for your care and match you with someone in its diverse network of providers. Learn more on the Lyra/UMN website.

Clarion is newest U of M cold-hardy wine grape

wine grapes on the vine

The University of Minnesota is releasing its sixth cold-hardy wine grape, Clarion. Its grapes continually produce high-quality, dry white wines with fruity attributes of citrus, pear, melon, apricot, and chamomile. With a less vigorous growth habit than other cold-hardy varieties, it’s also easier for growers to manage in the vineyard.


 

TLI, Thermo King launch state’s first graduate credential in electrification engineering

The U of M Technological Leadership Institute (TLI) is collaborating with Bloomington-based Thermo King to launch the state's first ever graduate credential in electrification engineering. The program is driven by industry demand for a robust talent pipeline in fields including electrical, mechanical, and systems engineering; renewable energy policy; and energy conversion and storage. 

Talking blood donation with U of M

According to The Memorial Blood Centers, someone needs a blood transfusion approximately every two seconds. National Blood Donor Month brings awareness to this need during the month of January when the blood supply tends to be at its lowest. Claudia Cohn explains why donating blood is needed now more than ever. See more editions of "Talking with U of M."

Research Brief: Science and technology are becoming less disruptive

Despite exponential growth in recent decades of research papers and patents, a new University of Minnesota study suggests science and technology are becoming less disruptive. See additional recent Research Briefs.

Increase student engagement with FeedbackFruits

There are several upcoming opportunities to learn about FeedbackFruits (FbFs), a new tool integrated in Canvas. Each session will cover a tool functionality, how to set it up in Canvas, and the opportunity to experience the tool from both the student and instructor perspectives. Already experimenting with FbFs? Join Academic Technology Support Services staff at weekly labs to gain feedback on your FbFs assignments.

Jan. 20-Apr. 14 - Spring Webinar Series: How to Support Multilingual & Intercultural Students

This online series of workshops and conversations centers the multilingual and international student experience in classrooms. The series aims to support instructors in establishing inclusive spaces and interactions in order to realize the full potential of globally diverse classrooms.

Jan. 23 - Early Stage Investment Instruments

This interactive, online event (register) will explore investment instruments most commonly used by entrepreneurs, including crowdfunding, when to choose one form of investment over another, how much of a discount to provide to the earliest investors, trends in investment vehicle usage, and more.  

Jan. 25 - Understanding the Administrative Policy: Discrimination

In February 2022, the University established a new administrative policy on discrimination. Learn about the policy and available resources as panelists delve into the FAQs related to reasonable accommodations for disabilities, pregnancy, childbirth and lactation, and religious beliefs, among other topics. This event will feature a short presentation followed by a Q&A and discussion session with panelists.

Spring Intercultural Workshop Series

Faculty and staff interested in working effectively with international students and colleagues can now register for the Intercultural Workshop Series, organized by International Student and Scholar Services. All workshops will be held virtually.

Crookston

Jan. 24 - 'Build Your Brand' event open to small businesses

The University of Minnesota Crookston, Crookston Area Chamber of Commerce, and Veden Center will host “Build Your Brand,” an event for small businesses. U of M Crookston marketing lecturer Courtney Bergman will lead the session. No charge. 5:30-7 p.m., Irishman’s Shanty. 

Jan. 28 - 48th annual Ag Arama

Photo of group in front of a barn with text overlay reading Ag Arama

The annual Ag Arama is back with traditional events along with some new additions. Specialty classes in 2023 include two new species—rabbit and llama. Ag Arama president Melissa Hammer says the addition of specialty classes gives individuals a chance to show more of a variety of species and they hope to get more students involved. 

Duluth

UMD is off to the Kennedy Center Festival

Advert reading Stupid F##king Bird

UMD Theatre’s Stupid F##king Bird, loosely based on the Chekhov play The Seagull, was chosen for the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, the sixth time the program has earned the honor. The cast will perform at the Region V portion of the festival on Jan. 22-28 in Des Moines, IA.

 

 

Chamber Orchestra performs in Trinidad and Tobago

String orchestra members

Members of the UMD Chamber Orchestra performed in January at the National Academy for the Performing Arts, the Christ Church in Cascade, the University of the West Indies-St. Augustine, the U.S. Embassy in Port of Spain, and the University of the Southern Caribbean. This 16-person, strings-only ensemble is led by Director of Orchestras Jean R. Perrault.

 

UMD professor on NASA team for a new satellite

Sam Kelly

NASA's SWOT (Surface Water and Ocean Topography), launched Dec. 16, 2022, is the first satellite dedicated to observing nearly all the water on the earth’s surface. Associate Professor Sam Kelly, Large Lakes Observatory (LLO) and UMD’s Physics & Astronomy Department, has been part of the effort leading up to the launch. Kelly called NASA’s attention to the previously “understudied” Great Lakes. The satellite will produce high-resolution maps of the earth’s oceans, lakes, and rivers.
 

All voices matter: Shaping the future of UMD

UMD campus aerial shot

UMD is developing a Campus & Climate Action Plan to guide the evolution of the campus and identify pathways to decarbonize and build resilience. All of UMD is asked to provide input via the MyCampus interactive mapping tool by Jan. 22. Participants can enter a raffle for one of ten $25 gift cards.

Morris

U of M Morris and CBS receive Sloan Foundation Grant

3 women working on a project around a table

The University of Minnesota Morris, in partnership with the U of M College of Biological Sciences (CBS), has been awarded a one-year planning grant to increase the number of Native American students participating in graduate-level STEM programs.

 

 

Jan. 23 - Rev./Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Economic Justice

The annual MLK Day program will feature ClipDart CEO and founder Kyle Parker and barber Gil Jordan, who will be sharing their personal stories and business approach of both filling a need and providing mental health and well-being for underrepresented communities.

Rochester

Regional education leaders sign on to UMR editorial

Nine Rochester-area education leaders signed on in support of an editorial written by UMR’s Chancellor Carrell for the Rochester Post Bulletin. The letter describes the value of college as a next step for young people making critical decisions about their futures. “We want you to have a good life and make a good living, and we also need you and other young people to work for the greater good of humanity,” says Carrell in the editorial.

Emerging Health Technologies Pathway

Kadie Ketchum

Discover how Kadie Ketchum navigated her time at UMR to prepare for her current role as a medical writer supporting Johnson & Johnson Medical Operations. UMR's innovative degree programs and integrated curriculum provide students with a foundational health sciences education into six distinct health career pathways. Learn more about UMR’s Emerging Health Technologies Pathway.

Twin Cities

Northrop and parking garage, section of Gopher Way, remain closed

On Jan. 11, a small section of the Northrop roof collapsed. The Northrop building and parking garage and a nearby section of the Gopher Way remain closed until further notice. Engineers, facilities, and health and safety personnel are continuing their work to assess damage and ensure the building is safe before it is reopened to employees and the public. Visit the Northrop website for programming updates

Campus decarbonization and resilience planning survey

The Office of Sustainability is seeking input on the strategies the University should take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build resilience to climate change. Fill out the 10-minute confidential survey by Jan. 29. By participating, you'll be entered to win a $25 gift card. 

Apparel Design partners with Cancer Care Foundation MN on onesie for infants with cancer

two baby onesies

In the fight against cancer, even the smallest things can make a world of difference. Cancer Care Foundation MN and Professor Lucy Dunne’s technical design studio class collaborated to create a comfortable garment for infants undergoing cancer treatment at Children’s Minnesota. The outcome? A onesie with pre-designed pockets for easy access to treatment ports.

 

Researchers discover new process to create freestanding membranes of 'smart' materials

A U of M-led team of scientists and engineers has developed a new method for making thin films of perovskite oxide semiconductors, a class of “smart” materials with unique properties that can change in response to stimuli like light, magnetic fields, or electric fields. The discovery will allow researchers to harness these properties and even combine them with other emerging nano-scale materials to make better devices such as sensors, smart textiles, and flexible electronics.

Chemical researchers discover catalyst to make renewable paints, coatings, and diapers

a cataylist model and a baby wearing a diaper

A team led by U of M researchers has invented a groundbreaking new catalyst technology that converts renewable materials like trees and corn to the key chemicals used in paints, coatings, and superabsorbent polymers. The new catalyst technology is also highly efficient, which means lower costs for manufacturing renewable chemicals.

 

New research shows dynamics of memory-encoding synapses in the brains of live mice

A University of Minnesota researcher is part of an international team that used imaging technology to show, for the first time, the creation and elimination of synapses between neurons in the brains of live mice. The research provides insight into what happens when memories are created and forgotten and could help scientists better understand and treat conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder.

Firms with more retail investors face less SEC monitoring, more enforcement

Some retail investors—individuals who buy stock, often through online brokers—may be getting less monitoring protection from the Securities and Exchange Commission compared to large, institutional investors, according to new research from the University of Minnesota.

Hot, dry, and burning

Amital Shaver with a colleague in the forest

Only 5 percent of wildland firefighters are women, and only 2 percent are in leadership. U of M student Amital Shaver spent the summer in Alaska learning to fight fires with an all-female crew. Shaver was part of a newly launched, all-women conservation corps crew hosted by the National Park Service in conjunction with the Student Conservation Association.

 

UMTC featured events

Ada Limon

Announcing the spring 2023 IAS Thursdays Series

Jan. 19 - Drop-in Flu and COVID Vaccination Clinic

Jan. 19 - Exhibit closing reception: The Eyes See What the Heart Feels

 Jan. 21 - Fred Joel Larson: A Celebration of Life and Art 

Jan. 23 - Mindful Mondays: Free Drop-In Sessions 

Jan. 25 - How did the COVID-19 pivot affect students’ approaches to learning? 

Jan. 26 - U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón & Krista Tippett 

Jan. 26 - A Feast of Words: Tribal Environmental Knowledge and Partnerships Solving 21st Century Challenges

Feb. 3-26 - Landscape Arboretum Spring Flower Show 

Feb. 18 - DAWN | 2023 Senior Apparel Design Showcase 

See the full Events Calendar