Freshman applications to Institute of Technology rise sharply
The number of applications for freshman admission to the Institute of Technology is up 34 percent over last year, a rate that far exceeds this year’s 19 percent increase overall in applications to the University’s Twin Cities campus.
As of Feb. 4, the college had received 3,546 applications, compared with 2,647 at the same time a year ago, said Peter Hudleston, associate dean for student affairs. The target freshman class size for fall 2006 is 800, and Hudleston said the college expects to meet this target.
“The increase overall is surprising this year because there has been a drop in the number of high school graduates in the state,” said Hudleston. “We are bucking the demographic trend. In part, the increases for IT and other colleges reflect the ease of submitting applications via the Web.”
These numbers don’t tell the most dramatic story, however. A closer analysis reveals a surge in applications from members of underrepresented minorities (up 150 percent overall) and women (up 59 percent from last year).
“It is especially encouraging to see the numbers for women and minorities,” said Hudleston. “In the case of women, the number of applications had been declining for several years until last year, when we started a specific effort to recruit women as well as all high-ability students.”
Applications are up from residents in all states in the region. Applications from Minnesota students have increased by about 30 percent, while the rate of increase in applications from residents of other states varies widely, from 9 percent (the Dakotas) to 116 percent (Illinois).
New report urges coordinated and integrated oversight of nanotechnology
The Center for Science, Technology and Public Policy (CSTPP) at the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs released a new report in February on issues surrounding the oversight of nanotechnology. The report, “The Nanotechnology-Biology Interface: Exploring Models for Oversight,” focuses on nanoparticles that are used in or derived from biological systems. The report also incorporates conclusions and recommendations developed at a September 2005 workshop hosted by CSTPP.
According to the report, nanotechnology applications require revised risk models and standards of safety because nanomaterials have unique properties. The existence of these special properties suggest that data and information needed for ensuring safety will be different.
The report urges the public and private sectors to address the issue of oversight immediately because nanotechnology is a rapidly emerging area with hundreds of applications, many of them already in the marketplace. It recommends increased funding for health and environmental safety research on nanoparticles and requests that basic information on the nature and toxicity of nanomaterials be released to the general public before products enter the market. Much of this information is now considered confidential. The report also calls for an integrated approach to nanotechnology oversight that would address ethical, social, and cultural issues as well as science and safety.
More than 160 people attended the September workshop, including individuals from industry, academia, national organizations, and federal, state, and local governments. The workshop was moderated by Kenneth Keller, Charles M. Denny, Jr. Professor of Science, Technology, and Public Policy, CSTPP director, and a professor in the chemical engineering and materials science department. More…
Celebrate TechFest 2006 at The Works
The Works, a nonprofit hands-on science and technology museum in Edina, Minn., is celebrating National Engineers Week with TechFest 2006, a special event for the whole family, on Sat., Feb. 25, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
Visitors will have the chance to concoct various chemical potions, including a salt-based "lava" lamp, disappearing ink, and homemade ice cream. University of Minnesota chemists will wow young and old with chemical reactions that glow, pop, foam, and smoke.
Children can explore The Works' interactive exhibit gallery, where they can strum the laser strings of a light harp, distort their images with a face-warp machine, and even race cars they've designed themselves. Special guest Goldy Gopher will stop by from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. to greet visitors and pose for photos. Door prizes will be awarded.
Institute of Technology Dean Steven L. Crouch announces the appointment of Kim Dockter as the college’s new director of development, effective March 1. Dockter comes to the University with extensive leadership experience in fund-raising and advancement for institutions of higher education and nonprofit organizations. Most recently she served as director of principal giving at Macalester College, where she was responsible for managing top-level prospects and for cultivating and soliciting gifts of $1 million and up. She joined Macalester’s advancement staff as director of major and planned giving in 2001.
Before coming to Macalester, Dockter was director of capital gifts at William Mitchell College of Law, St. Paul, Minn., and director of development for the St. Paul chapter of the American Red Cross.
In memoriam: Stuart W. Fenton
Stuart W. Fenton, retired professor of chemistry and former department head, died Feb. 4, 2006. He was 83 and a resident of North Oaks, Minn.
Fenton was born April 29, 1922, in London, Ontario, Canada. From 1942 to 1945 he worked as a wartime fuel technologist for the Dominion of Canada and also studied chemistry at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, where he received a bachelor of science in 1945 and a master’s degree the following year. He was a research officer for Canada’s National Research Council from 1945 to 1946.
In 1950 Fenton received a Ph.D. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and in 1951 joined the University of Minnesota faculty as a professor of organic chemistry. He served as chair of the chemistry department from 1960 to 1968, and retired in 1986.
Technical issues caused problems with January ITems
We apologize for any inconvenience caused by the multiple copies of the January ITems e-mail that some people received last month. We experienced unusual problems with our mail server during the process of sending the ITems e-mail to faculty, staff, alumni, and friends. As a result, some e-mail addresses received multiple copies of the message. We assure you that we are working to solve this problem so that it will not occur in the future.
If your e-mail address has changed recently or if you have multiple e-mail accounts, please send your current information to items@umn.edu, and we will update our list immediately.
Honors
Conrad Bergo (Chemistry Ph.D. ’72) has been appointed chair of the chemistry department at East Stroudsberg University, East Stroudsberg, Penn. A member of the university’s chemistry faculty for 25 years, Bergo today is developing new methods of teaching Green Chemistry, the design of methods for reducing or eliminating hazardous materials from laboratory processes. He is actively involved in the American Chemical Society’s Chemical Education Division’s program committee.
Professor John Bischof (mechanical engineering, biomedical engineering) has been elected a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE). He was elected by the AIMBE College of Fellows for outstanding achievements in medical and biological engineering. A formal induction ceremony will be held March 2 in Washington, D.C.
Eugene E. Covert (Aero ’46, M.S. ’48), professor emeritus of aeronautics and astronautics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has been awarded the Daniel Guggenheim Medal, one of the most prestigious awards in aviation. Established in 1929, the Guggenheim Medal recognizes individuals who make notable contributions to the advancement of aeronautics. Covert is being honored for "exemplary leadership in aeronautics teaching and research, development of significant state-of-the-art aerodynamic testing techniques and outstanding contributions to public service." He will receive the medal at the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Aerospace Spotlight Awards Gala in Washington, D.C., in April.
Associate Professor Rhonda Franklin Drayton (electrical and computer engineering) is featured in the new book Changing Our World: True Stories of Women Engineers, which is being released during National Engineers Week through the Extraordinary Women Engineers Project Coalition. The book is intended to “provide inspiration and encouragement for young women to pursue careers in engineering." Drayton also is one of six inaugural members of the Women’s Faculty Cabinet, established fall semester 2005 by E. Thomas Sullivan, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. The Cabinet’s mission is to provide a leadership base to improve and enrich the academic and professional environments for women faculty on the Twin Cities campus.
Professor Jiali Gao (chemistry) received the Albert Hoffmann Centennial Prize from the Organic Chemistry Institute, University of Zurich. Gao was honored for “his outstanding contributions to the area of computational enzymology.”
Gary H. Glover (Electrical ’64, M.S. ’65, Ph.D. ’69), professor of radiology and director of the Radiological Sciences Laboratory, Stanford University, was recently elected to the National Academy of Engineering for “research and engineering in the development of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.”
Assistant Professor Chun Wang (biomedical engineering) received the prestigious Faculty Early Career Development Award from the National Science Foundation (NSF). Chun was selected for the award based on his research proposal "Biomimetic Engineering of Responsive Biomaterials." The CAREER Program supports the early career-development activities of teacher-scholars who most effectively integrate research and education within the context of their organization's mission.
Media watch
Researchers unlock mystery of layer encircling Earth's core
University of Minnesota associate professor of chemical engineering Renata Wentzcovitch and her team of researchers have confirmed the properties of a mineral (post-perovskite) that may form near Earth's core in a layer called the “D” region. Jan. 31: PhysOrg.com; Feb. 1, newKerala.com (Kerala, India).
Renewable energy’s time has come
Regents Professor Lanny Schmidt (chemical engineering and materials science) discussed options for renewable energy and the implications for Minnesota during a public presentation at the University of Minnesota Rochester, Minn. Feb. 1–2: KTTC-TV News (Rochester/Mason City/Austin).
Chemistry professor achieves crossword glory
Professor George Barany (chemistry) is a classical music buff who enjoys spending his Sunday mornings solving the New York Times crossword puzzle. He put his hobbies to work by publishing his own Sunday New York Times crossword puzzle honoring Mozart’s 250th birthday. The Times ran the puzzle, "The Sound of Music," January 22. It appeared in the Star Tribune and Pioneer Press, among other newspapers, January 29. Feb. 5:Pioneer Press; Fort Wayne News-Sentinel; Feb. 7: Minnesota Moment.
Tastier water coming soon to a tap near you
Civil engineering graduate student Robert "Bo" Johnston and faculty advisors Ray Hozalski and Michael Semmens have found a solution to a chronic taste and odor problem with St. Paul's water supply. Feb. 7: Pioneer Press; Bradenton Herald(Bradenton, Fla.).
Traffic drives U team’s project
A University mechanical engineering team led by Associate Professor Rajesh Rajamani might well have the answer to traffic congestion: narrow, tilt-control commuter vehicles. Standing about 5 feet long and 3 feet wide, these new vehicles promise to combine the mobility and fuel economy of a motorcycle with the safety and stability of a car. Feb. 14: Minnesota Daily.
Powerball Drawing
Professor Douglas Arnold, director of the Institute for Mathematics and its Applications, talked about the odds of winning the Powerball jackpot. Feb. 15: WFTC-TV (Minneapolis/St. Paul); Feb. 17: WCCO-TV; Feb. 18: WCCO-TV, WFTC-TV, KTLK-FM (Minneapolis/St. Paul). Arnold also was featured on KSTP-TV, UPN 29-TV, WCCO-AM, and KARE-TV, and was interviewed by the Associated Press and the Minnesota News Network.
Events
ITAS Day at the Works: TechFest 2006
Feb. 25: The Works, a hands-on science and technology museum, is celebrating its 11th anniversary with TechFest, a special event for the whole family. Visitors will learn about the mysteries of chemistry and conduct fun experiments, and they also can explore the world of science and technology featured in the museum's unique ongoing exhibits. Special guest Goldy Gopher will stop by from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. to greet visitors and pose for photos. Door prizes will be awarded. Sponsored by the Institute of Technology Alumni Society, the Society of Women Engineers, and corporate sponsors. Free. For more information call 952-848-4848 or visit www.theworks.org. Free. 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., 5701 Normandale Road, Edina.
National Engineers Week
Feb. 19–25: TechFest is just one of the many events across the U.S. and in other countries marking the 55th annual National Engineers Week. Programs and activities during Engineers Week are dedicated to raising public awareness of engineers’ positive contributions to the quality of life and to motivating young students to pursue engineering careers. Engineers Week was initiated in the United States, but related programs and materials are now available in other countries.
March 6: Barbara Ryder, professor of computer and information sciences at Rutgers University, will discuss her group’s research on change impact analysis, presenting the algorithms and empirical results obtained with its CHange Impact ANalysis Tool (CHIANTI). Her lecture is part of the free Unisys Lecture Series. For more information call 612-625-4002. 11:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m., 3-125 EE/CSci.
Shocker Lecture: The Future of Design
March 7: Don Norman, professor of electrical engineering and computer science, psychology, and cognitive science at Northwestern University, discusses the future of design and the interrelatedness of intelligent devices, social interaction, and communities. Nelson is the author of In Praise of Good Design. Free but RSVP to enissen@csom.umn.edu. 3:30–5:00 p.m., 3M Auditorium, Carlson School of Management.
Author Reading: Physicist Michio Kaku
March 6: Michio Kaku, professor of theoretical physics at the City University of New York, will read from his book Parallel Worlds: A Journey Through Creation, Higher Dimensions, and the Future of the Cosmos. In his book Kaku discusses the mysteries of the cosmos as he explores black holes and time machines, multidimensional space, and the possibility that parallel universes may lie alongside our own. Kaku is the cofounder of string field theory and hosts a nationally syndicated radio science program. 7:00 p.m., University of Minnesota Bookstore, Coffman Memorial Union.
Foresight After Four: Big Winners, Big Losers
March 9: Alfred Marcus, Edson Spencer Chair in Strategic Management in the Center for the Development of Technological Leadership and professor of strategic management and organization in the Carlson School of Management, will share his research on companies that considerably outperformed the stock market from 1992 to 2002. He’ll describe the characteristics of the “big winners” and compare them to companies that were unable to achieve comparable success. Free. For registration or more information call 612-624-5747 or e-mail foresight-cdtl@umn.edu. 4:30 p.m., wine and cheese social; 5:15 p.m., program; 150 West Bank Office Building.
IMA Public Lecture: Gravity's Cosmic Shadows: A Mathematical Unveiling
March 22: Arlie Petters, professor of mathematics and physics, Duke University, reveals some of the secrets behind shadow patterns cast throughout the universe by gravitational fields of stars and galaxies. Free. For more information call 612-624-6066. 7:00 p.m., 125 Willey Hall.
Digital Technology Center: Data Mining Open House
March 23: The Data Mining Open House features a keynote address by Dr. Usama Fayyad, chief data officer and senior vice president of Yahoo; a poster presentation on University research; panel discussions featuring University faculty and members of industry. Free. Registration required by March 16. For more information e-mail olesen@dtc.umn.edu or call 612-625-6414. 9:00 a.m.–3:15 p.m., 402 Walter Library.
CDTL Short Courses: Innovation and Technology Analysis
March 28–29: Dr. Lockwood Carlson, president of the Carlson Consulting Group, will teach two related short courses on innovation and technology analysis. In “Leveraging Innovation to Power Corporate Growth” (March 28), participants will explore the innovation successes of their organizations, examine innovation best practices within the high-tech industry, and learn ways to translate innovation into business opportunities. Participants in “Using Technology Foresight to Maximize Technology Investments” (March 29) will focus on developing strategies for projecting technology needs, creating a technologies map, and identifying growth opportunities. Fee. Register for both courses and save $100. Call 612-624-4380 or e-mail training-cdtl@umn.edu. 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. 150 West Bank Office Building.
Looking ahead
Senior Send-Off
April 3: Members of the Classes of 2006—undergraduate and graduate—are invited to celebrate their upcoming graduation at the Senior Send-Off. Features include a humorous and entertaining talk by Geek Squad founder and chief inspector, Robert Stephens; lunch by D’Amico; and a chance to win prizes. Students can register online and receive a complimentary, one-year alumni association membership, which awards each new member with instant benefits and a continued connection to the U. Free. For more information contact Susan Zarambo at 612-625-9180 or zaram006@umn.edu. Noon to 1:30 p.m., Memorial Hall, McNamara Alumni Center.
2006 Science &Technology Banquet
April 11: Dr. Paul M. Horn, senior vice president and director of IBM Research, will be the keynote speaker at the Science & Technology Banquet. IT’s premier annual event, the banquet is a fundraiser, a social event, and a business networking opportunity for alumni, faculty, staff, students, and corporate friends in the Minnesota business community. Banquet proceeds benefit the Institute of Technology Alumni Scholarship Fund. The banquet will begin with a 5:30 p.m. reception followed by a program and dinner. Register now for best seating. Fee. 5:30–8:30 p.m., Hilton Minneapolis.
Design of Medical Devices Conference
April 19–21: The fifth annual Design of Medical Devices Conference brings together medical-device designers, manufacturers, researchers, public-sector representatives, and students to share perspectives on medical devices. Program includes technical/clinical sessions, student poster sessions, student/industry job fair, and the third annual President's 21st Century Interdisciplinary Conference on Medical Device Policy and Planning. Fee. Early registration discount and special student opportunities. Online registration ends April 10. Radisson University Hotel, Minneapolis.
Distinguished Teaching Awards Ceremony
April 24: All members of the University community are invited to a special ceremony and reception to honor this year’s recipients of the Horace T. Morse-University of Minnesota Alumni Association Award for Outstanding Contributions to Undergraduate Education and the Award for Outstanding Contributions to Graduate and Professional Education. This occasion recognizes the significance of excellent teaching by inducting the faculty members into the Academy of Distinguished Teachers. Recipients of the 2005–06 awards will be announced in February. Mark your calendars and register online. For more information contact Jocelyn Brekken at 612-625-9174 or brek0045@umn.edu. 3:30–6:00 p.m., Memorial Hall, McNamara Alumni Center.
2006 Institute of Technology Commencement
May 5: Celebrate commencement with graduating students, their families and friends, and the Institute of Technology community. 7:00 p.m., Northrop Auditorium.
UMAA 2006 Annual Celebration
May 23: Sandra Day O'Connor, recently retired justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, will be the special guest and featured speaker at the University of Minnesota Alumni Association’s Annual Celebration. NOTE: Tickets for the pre-program reception and dinner are sold out, but plenty of good seats remain for the program and O'Connor's keynote address in Northrop Auditorium. Tickets are available by calling the University of Minnesota Arts Ticket Office at 612-624-2345. 8:00 p.m., Northrop Auditorium.
The Campus Club, located on the fourth floor of Coffman Memorial Union, is offering a special May 23 dinner open to the public. The meal, with menu to be determined, is available for $40, and includes tax and tip. The price does not include a program ticket to O’Connor’s speech. Reservations are required. Call Barbara at 612-626-1510 for information and reservations.
