U to house new $21 million fluid-power research center
Discovering ways to reduce fuel consumption, developing devices for people with mobility impairments and designing state-of-the-art rescue robots are just three of the goals of a new multimillion-dollar research center that will be based at the University.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) recently announced a $15 million, five-year grant that will support the new Engineering Research Center for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power. Industry partners will augment NSF funding with $3 million, and seven universities involved in the center will contribute an additional $3 million.
Professor Kim Stelson and Associate Professor Perry Li of the Department of Mechanical Engineering will serve as director and deputy director of the center. Professor Will Durfee will serve as the center's director of education and outreach.
Fluid-power technology encompasses most applications that use liquids or gases to transmit power in the form of mechanical work or pressure. The complexity of these systems ranges from a simple hydraulic car jack to sophisticated airplane controls that rely on high-pressure hydraulic systems. Fluid power is a $33 billion industry. Industry areas include aerospace, agriculture, construction, health care, manufacturing, mining, and transportation.
With help from the National Fluid Power Association, more than 50 companies have agreed to provide support for the research center. Seven of those companies have annual sales of more than $500 million.
“This kind of industry support for an NSF-sponsored research center is unprecedented,” said Steven Crouch, dean of the Institute of Technology. “It clearly shows that we have the support to ensure the center’s success.” More…
Legislature approves bonding bill with $158.4 million for new U projects
A new biosciences building at the Twin Cities campus and funding for University research and outreach centers are just two of the items included in the state bonding bill recently approved by the 2006 Minnesota Legislature. Lawmakers did not approve the University’s request for a new Science Teaching and Student Services Center. The bonding bill is now awaiting Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s signature.
The Legislature approved $158.4 million for new projects at the University—with $115.7 million coming from state funding and $42.7 million from University financing.
The Legislature recommended funding for a new $40 million biomedical research building at the University, which was included in the University’s original bonding request. However, the Legislature did not approve the creation of a new Minnesota Biomedical Sciences Research Facilities Authority, which would have resulted in allowing $330 million in state general obligation debt to go toward building five new research buildings at the University over the next decade and enabling Minnesota to compete with other states that have passed similar initiatives.
Other projects approved by the Legislature this year include an expansion of the Carlson School of Management ($26.6 million); a new Labovitz School of Business and Economics on the Duluth campus ($15.3 million); $3.5 million for the University's research and outreach centers ($500,000 for Cedar Creek, $500,000 for the Cloquet Forestry Center, and $2.5 million for the West Regional Outreach Center in Morris); and $300,000 for the Minnesota Poultry Testing Laboratory in Willmar. Lawmakers also approved $30 million in Higher Education Asset Preservation and Replacement (HEAPR) funds, which will be used for general repairs and maintenance projects.
The Legislature also approved a bill to finance a football stadium on the Twin Cities campus and a supplemental appropriation of $5 million to support academic programs at the University of Minnesota, Rochester. More…
Small Times ranks U second in nanotech industrial outreach
The University of Minnesota ranks second among U.S. universities in industrial outreach in nanotechnology and microtechnology, according to the results of a survey conducted by Small Times magazine in early 2006. The University was rated ninth in nanotech research, making it the highest-ranking Big Ten institution in these categories.
The May/June 2006 issue of Small Times includes a guide to the nation’s top universities in micro and nanotechnology, based on responses to the survey, which was sent to more than 100 research institutions. Fifty universities responded, answering questions about funding, facilities, research, courses, degrees, industrial partnerships, patenting, courses, and other issues pertaining to nanotechnology and microtechnology. Respondents also were asked to rank their peer institutions in the areas of nanotech research and commercialization. More...
IT Alumni Society launches Young Professional Series
The Institute of Technology Alumni Society is launching a new program designed especially for the next generation of technology leaders. The Young Professional Series (YPS), a networking and professional development opportunity for Institute of Technology graduates, makes its debut on Thursday, July 27, with a special event at University Enterprise Laboratories, 1000 Westgate Drive, St. Paul.
The inaugural event begins at 5:30 p.m. with registration and networking. The program follows at 6:30 p.m. and features keynote speaker Michael Berman, one of Minnesota’s most respected entrepreneurs and former Boston Scientific executive.
The cost is $25 per person before July 12 or $30 after July 12. A discounted registration of $15 is offered to Minnesota High Technology Association ACE Leadership Program participants.
Space is limited. To register or for more information visit www.it.umn.edu/yps.
U takes first steps toward implementing task force recommendations
Initial decisions are beginning to emerge from the first wave of strategic positioning task force recommendations, which were received in Feb. 2006.
A newly appointed strategic positioning advisory committee will take the first steps toward establishing a system-wide Institute on the Environment. The committee will issue recommendations for designing and implementing a plan to create the new institute, which would coalesce the University’s exceptional resources in environmental research and education.
Institute of Technology professors Efi Foufoula (civil engineering), Peter McMurry (mechanical engineering), and Harvey Thorleifson (geology and geophysics) are among the members of the advisory committee, which is expected to make its recommendations by early September.
By the end of June, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost E. Thomas Sullivan will appoint committees to develop plans for a campus-wide honors program and a campus-wide writing initiative. More…
Balas to lead Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics
Institute of Technology dean Steven L. Crouch has appointed Professor Gary Balas head of the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics, effective July 1, 2006. He will succeed Professor William Garrard, who has served as department head for 14 years.
A leader in the field of experimental and theoretical control systems, Balas has been a faculty member at the University since 1990. He currently is co-director of the University’s Control Science and Dynamical Systems Center. His research focuses on the application of software-enabled control to uninhabited aerospace vehicles and on the development of robust, state-of-the-art algorithms and tools for control engineering. He has been a visiting scholar and lecturer at institutions around the world and is a consultant to government and industry.
In addition to his research, Balas teaches courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels and serves as director of graduate studies for the Control Science and Dynamical Systems Center.
CEMS to celebrate its history and achievements
The Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science (CEMS) will commemorate its distinguished history, achievements, and legacy June 23–24 with Celebration FIRST, an event-filled weekend for CEMS alumni, faculty, and staff.
Former department head Neal Amundson, who led CEMS for 25 years and who is considered “the father of modern chemical engineering,” will be among the alumni attending the festivities. Other noted alumni on the guest list include Art Fry, the inventor of Post-it Notes; Robert W. Gore, chairman of W.L. Gore & Associates and inventor of Gore-Tex; and Lee Raymond, retired CEO of ExxonMobil.
The schedule includes an open house, tours of CEMS labs, a seminar entitled “CEMS Today,” campus tours, and a host of optional activities ranging from a Minnesota Twins game to museum exhibits. The weekend’s highlight is a semi-formal closing event on Sat., June 24, featuring a reception, dinner, historical presentation, and dancing to music by Bozo Allegro.
Registration is available online. To request a paper copy of the registration form or for more information, contact Bev Harren at 612-625-4580 or bjharren@umn.edu.
Last chance to enter 2006 Minnesota Cup
May 26 is the deadline to enter the second annual Minnesota Cup, the statewide competition for breakthrough business ideas in all industries. Top prize includes $25,000 in seed capital and professional services to help bring the idea to fruition. A student award of $5,000 is also given as part of the competition. Visit www.breakthroughideas.org to learn more and submit your idea.
Honors
Subir Banerjee, professor of geology and geophysics and director of the Institute for Rock Magnetism (IRM), has been elected a 2006 Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (AAAS). An Institute of Technology Distinguished Professor, Banerjee is a renowned leader in the field of rock magnetism and its use as a tool to solve environmental and archaeological problems. He will be inducted into the AAAS on Oct. 7 at the academy’s headquarters in Cambridge, Mass.
Professor Ken Heller (physics) has been elected president of the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT).
Professor Kenneth Keller (chemical engineering and materials science, Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs) has been named director of Johns Hopkins University's SAIS Bologna Center in Italy. He will be on a leave of absence from the University for this important assignment.
Theresa Krack (AEM ’06) was presented with the Paul A. Cartwright/Institute of Technology Alumni Society Student Service Award at the college’s commencement ceremony May 5.
Yunquian Ma (EE Ph.D. ’03) has received the 2006 International Neural Network Society (INNS) Young Investigator Award, which recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the field of neural networks. Ma’s advisor during his Ph.D. research was Associate Professor Vladimir Cherkassky (electrical and computer engineering).
Professor Lou Pignolet (chemistry) has received the 2006 President’s Award for Outstanding Service from the University of Minnesota. The award recognizes exceptional service and commitment beyond the normal duties of a faculty or staff member.
John Gardner (mechanical engineering, industrial and systems engineering) received the 2006 Best DGS Assistant Award from the Graduate School. The University-wide honor recognizes the vital contributions of the assistant to the director of graduate studies (DGS), who ensures that a department’s graduate studies office functions smoothly and who offers outstanding support to current and prospective graduate students.
Charles Swan (CompE ’06) delivered the student address at the Institute of Technology commencement on May 5.
Graduate student Mohac Tekmen (physics) received the 2006 John Bowers Excellence in Teaching Assistance Award.
Four Institute of Technology undergraduates have been honored with the 2006 President’s Student Leadership Award. Graduating senior Santhi Elayaperumal (BME ’06) and students Alexander Kado (mechanical engineering), Akash Kumar (chemical engineering), and Eric Varghese (biomedical engineering) were recognized for their exceptional leadership and service to the University and the surrounding community.
Student Jaymes Grossman will receive the Congressional Award Gold Medal at a presentation in Washington, D.C., June 21. His sister, Jansina, has also won the award, which fosters leadership and community involvement in people ages 14 to 23. Grossman is pursuing a double major in electrical engineering and computer engineering.
Media watch
Telescopes catch comet break-up
Giant telescopes around the world are capturing more spectacular views of the near-Earth disintegration of Comet 73P/Schwassman-Wachmann 3. “We hadn't seen that with this comet," said astronomer Michael Kelley, a doctoral student at the University of Minnesota and a member of the team that made the Spitzer telescope observations. "It's been suspected because it's associated with a meteor shower." May 11: DSC.discovery.com; April 12: ABC Science Australia; May 18: The News Record (University of Cincinnati).
Project Energy: The evidence exists
If people are going to wait for the scientific community to reach total consensus on the issue of global warming, they will wait forever, said Professor Kenneth Keller (chemical engineering and materials science, public affairs). Keller now teaches energy policy and has become a leading figure in the debate over global warming. April 15: WCCO–TV (Minneapolis-St. Paul).
Scientists unlock secrets of crystal formation
Using some of the most advanced microscopes available, a team of researchers has discovered some clues as to how zeolite crystals—porous minerals used as filters and purifiers—form. Chemical engineering professor Michael Tsapatsis, graduate student and lead author Tracy Davis, and their colleagues reported their findings recently in the journal Nature Materials. April 18: Monsters and Critics.com; April 19: Photonics.com.
Math is truly magical
The University of Minnesota Institute for Mathematics and its Applications (IMA) recently hosted Stanford University math and statistics professor Persi Diaconis, who revealed the fascinating mathematics behind performable card and magic tricks. The event was part of the Math Matters Public Lecture Series presented by the IMA. April 19: KARE-TV News (Minneapolis/St. Paul).
Neutrinos: The universe's “ghost particles”
University researchers are currently working with the U.S. Department of Energy in an effort to make sense of neutrinos, sometimes referred to as the universe’s “ghost particles” because they have little or no mass, no electrical charge, and rarely interact with other matter. Physics professor Ken Heller says much of the Main Injector Neutrino Oscillation Search project (MINOS) plays out at the Soudan Underground Mine, 100 miles north of Duluth. April 19: University of Minnesota Moment.
U vies for $100 million research donation
Research universities across the country are vying for one of 12 $100 million endowments from California billionaire Alfred Mann. The Alfred E. Mann Foundation for Biomedical Engineering wants to use this money to establish biomedical research institutes at selected universities. The University has not yet responded to a formal invitation to participate because it is still learning about the program. "There’s not a lot of opinion because (the information) is so preliminary,” said Professor Robert Tranquillo, head of the biomedical engineering department . “Most faculty members haven’t even heard of it.” April 19: Minnesota Daily
Ethanol-to-hydrogen fuel cells may power bus demo
The Upper Midwest Hydrogen Initiative (UMHI), a public-private partnership run under the auspices of the Great Plains Institute, is pursuing about $2 million to fund a hydrogen-fuel-cell bus demonstration project in Minnesota. The UMHI project will use as a starting point the technology of Regents Professor Lanny Schmidt (chemical engineering), who demonstrated how ethanol could be used as a source for hydrogen in a fuel cell in 2004. April 26: FuelCellWorks.com.
With rising Internet traffic, spare fiber-optic lines fill up
For years, the fiber-optic communications industry has been awash in spare capacity that sent prices for data transmission plunging. Now, thanks to continued growth in Internet traffic, demand is beginning to catch up with supply in many areas of the active global network. "We're in the stage where people don't have extra ‘lit’ capacity," says mathematics professor Andrew Odlyzko, director of the Digital Technology Center. April 27: Wall Street Journal.
Is bottled water better than tap?
Bottled water isn’t any better than the water that comes from your tap, according to William Arnold, an associate professor of civil engineering who studies water quality. "There isn't a whole lot of difference.” May 2: WCCO-TV (Minneapolis-St. Paul).
Kumar received Goldwater Scholarship
Akash Kumar of Plymouth is one of four University of Minnesota-Twin Cities students named 2006 Barry M. Goldwater Scholars. Goldwater Scholarships are awarded annually to outstanding sophomores and juniors in mathematics, science and engineering who intend to pursue graduate study and research-oriented careers. The scholarships provide up to $7,500 per year for up to two years of undergraduate study. May 5: Asian American Press.
Multifunctional gold nanoparticles show promise in combination therapy
Gold nanoparticles, which can turn light into intense heat, are showing significant promise as targeted nanoscale thermal scalpels capable of killing cancer cells without damaging healthy tissue. Two new reports now suggest that gold nanoparticles may also be able to deliver additional therapeutic payloads to provide a simultaneous two-pronged attack on malignant cells. Mechanical engineering professor John Bischof and his colleagues at the University used coated gold nanoparticles to deliver a molecule known as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) to breast tumors in mice. May 15: Physorg.com.
Catching red light runners: A new challenge
University physics professor Marvin Marshak evaluates the effectiveness of Photo-blocker, a spray-on product being marketed as a way to prevent traffic cameras from photographing the license plates of cars that run red lights. May 15: KARE-TV (Minneapolis-St. Paul).
New laser technique that strips hydrogen from silicon surfaces
A team of researchers has achieved a long-sought scientific goal: using laser light to break specific molecular bonds. Instead of heat, the process uses laser light to strip hydrogen atoms from silicon surfaces, a key step in the manufacture of computer chips and solar cells. The new technique was developed by electrical and computer engineering professor Philip Cohen, who worked with researchers from Vanderbilt University and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The process is described in the May 19 issue of Science. May 19: Innovations Report. (Germany).
Slab of sunken ocean floor found deep within Earth
Deep within Earth lies a massive folded slab of rock that once was the ocean floor, reports a team of researchers that includes geology and geophysics professor Justin Revenaugh. The slab, which sank beneath North America some 50 million years ago, holds important clues as to the behavior and composition of the deep interior of Earth and it could help explain how surface features such as volcanoes and earthquakes form, the researchers say. The report was published recently in Nature. May 17: Physorg.com
Events
2006 American Control Conference
June 14–16: Minneapolis is the site of the 2006 American Control Conference (ACC), an opportunity for meetings and discussion among academic and industrial professionals working in the fields of control, automation, and related applications areas. The technical program includes topics ranging from control theory and industrial applications to interactive sessions, tutorials, and control education. Prior to the conference, workshops will be held on Mon., June 12, and Tues., June 13. Fee. For more information about registration e-mail John.Watkins@wichita.edu. Hilton Minneapolis Hotel, 1001 Marquette Avenue South.
Deadline for MSSE Degree Program Applications
June 15: The University of Minnesota Software Engineering Center is accepting applications through June 15 for fall 2006 enrollment in the Master of Science in Software Engineering (MSSE) program. The two-year curriculum is designed for working professionals who are employed full-time in a software development field. Students in the MSSE program attend classes on alternating Fridays and Saturdays for four semesters. New students are admitted only in the fall term. For more information call 612-625-1381 or e-mail kkramer@cs.umn.edu.
Celebration FIRST
June 23-24: The Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science (CEMS) will commemorate its distinguished history and achievements with Celebration FIRST, an event-filled weekend for CEMS alumni, faculty, and staff. The schedule includes an open house, tours of CEMS labs, campus tours, a semi-formal closing event, and much more. Fee. Register online or contact Bev Harren at 612-625-4580 or bjharren@umn.edu.
Tech Tuneup: Nano VLSI
June 26–28: As the feature sizes of integrated circuits enter the nanometer realm, all aspects of VLSI design and manufacturing are undergoing a transformation. This three-day short course, geared toward industry professionals, focuses on the applications and problem areas associated with nano VLSI generation. Fee. Seating is limited, so register early. Hosted by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. For more information call 612-625-2855 or e-mail techtuneup@ece.umn.edu. 402 Walter Library.
Oct. 20: Mark your calendar for the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering’s open house. Schedule and details will be posted on the department Web site as they become available. For more information contact Josette Barsness at 612-625-2855 or barsn031@umn.edu.
