May 1, 2024
- 2024 commencement ceremonies begin systemwide.
- Awards and Recognition: Announcing the 2024-27 McKnight Presidential Fellows; and more.
2024 commencement ceremonies begin systemwide
In the coming weeks, the University of Minnesota System will host numerous commencement ceremonies to recognize thousands of students across its five campuses for their academic achievements and congratulate them as they take the next step toward productive lives and careers. See the complete commencement schedule.
Awards and Recognition
Vladimir Sverak has been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; Philip Zelazo and Joshua Feinberg have been elected to the 2023 American Association for the Advancement of Science class of fellows; announcing the 2024-27 McKnight Presidential Fellows; announcing the recipients of the President's Award for Outstanding Service; Magdalena Wojtczak has been awarded a more than $2.5 million NIH grant for research aimed at unraveling the impacts of age and hearing loss on declines in communication abilities; a collaborative project has received a nearly $900,000 grant to enhance workforce development and training for health care professionals caring for persons with opioid use disorder; U in the News features highlights of University faculty and staff cited in the media.
MN-GEMS grants management system is live
MN-GEMS, the University's new grants management tool, is now live. MN-GEMS, which replaces EGMS, a custom platform built 25 years ago, will bring the U of M's proposal submission and award process in line with other top-25 research universities. The University's Sponsored Projects Administration, which oversaw the MN-GEMS implementation, works directly with approximately 3,000 faculty and administrative staff systemwide and processes more than 20,000 transactions a year representing more than $1.2 billion in annual research expenditures.
Seeking nominations: Research Technical Staff Award
The Research and Innovation Office is seeking nominations for its Research Technical Staff Award, which recognizes research staff for their distinguished service and significant contributions to the U of M research community. Ten personal honorariums of $2,000 each will be awarded to eligible staff who are involved in the practice of research or in support of faculty who are performing research. The nomination deadline is June 14. Awardees will be announced in August.
Deer-vehicle collisions in Minnesota research project
Each year, deer-vehicle collisions take a profound economic and emotional toll across Minnesota. Leveraging their complementary expertise, U of M professors Ron Moen and Raphael Stern have teamed up on a new research project to zero in on the risk factors for these collisions.
Phenology data tool helps optimize timing of invasive plant management
U of M researchers with the Minnesota Invasive Terrestrial Plants and Pests Center have developed a new online tool to ease management planning for wild parsnip and Japanese knotweed despite fluctuating weather patterns in Minnesota.
CFANS Insights Survey: Planet vs. Plastics
As the global population continues to grow and consumerism rises, the issue of waste management becomes increasingly critical. A College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) Insights Survey offers a view into Americans’ concerns for the impact of waste on our planet, particularly plastics.
Talking hearing loss and aging with the U of M
Many Minnesotans experience changes to hearing and speech as they age. One-third of adults over 65 have hearing loss that significantly affects their lives. Professor Matthew Winn, a speech, language, and hearing scientist, shares insights about hearing loss and aging. See more editions of "Talking with U of M."
Research Brief: Scientists use ‘leaf glow’ to understand changing climate
New University of Minnesota research suggests “leaf glow” provides vital information on vegetation dynamics in Arctic and boreal ecosystems like Minnesota’s forests and wetlands, which are among the fastest warming in the world. Using remote sensing to monitor the natural glow may help scientists better track climate change and its impact on our natural resources. See additional recent Research Briefs.
Aug. 12-30 - Teaching Enrichment Series
Teaching Enrichment Series webinars focus on practical approaches to teaching and learning that faculty, instructors, and TAs can implement in fall classes. Session topics include using generative AI, setting up Canvas gradebook, designing better discussions, and more.
Aug. 22 - New TA Orientation webinar
In this interactive new TA orientation webinar, new teaching assistants (Twin Cities and Duluth campuses) will be introduced to University resources for teaching and will reflect on and discuss teaching strategies, roles, and responsibilities. Participants will be introduced to key policies around FERPA, working with students with disabilities, and responsibilities in reporting Title IX violations, among others.
Register for Designing and Delivering Online Learning
This four-module seminar will guide faculty and instructors systemwide in exploring and making plans to implement effective pedagogical practices in their online courses. Delivered completely online, participants will engage through Canvas activities and Zoom meetings. Thursdays, Sept. 23-Oct. 25.
U of M Crookston to celebrate graduates at May 4 commencement
Julie Borlaug will be the keynote speaker at U of M Crookston’s May 4 commencement. Borlaug is a visionary leader in the field of agricultural innovation and sustainability with a profound legacy rooted in her grandfather Norman Borlaug's pioneering work in the Green Revolution.
U of M Crookston honors students at 2024 awards ceremony
U of M Crookston recently held its annual Student Awards Ceremony, honoring outstanding students for their hard work and dedication over the school year. Among those recognized were UMC Students of the Year Jackie Calderon, Tristan Morneault, and Gracie Rouland.
NXT GEN AG ready for the next generation of professionals
A scholarship made possible by a grant the Rotary Club of Crookston received from Polk County for job training assistance could cover up to 100 percent of NXT GEN AG tuition and course costs for Polk County, MN, residents with employer-paid benefits. NXT GEN AG is a certificate program established in 2022 for individuals who are currently in the workforce and may have had some previous higher education experience.
NRRI at UMD receives two DOE grants for industry decarbonization projects
The Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI) has received nearly $1.5 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to help develop transformative technologies in the iron and steel industries. The funding is managed by DOE’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy under the Revolutionizing Ore to Steel to Impact Emissions program. NRRI is funded for two projects that will evaluate Minnesota iron ore and underutilized iron resources for higher-value iron products.
‘Office Hours’ with Ryan Goei
In this episode of “Office Hours,” UMD talks with Ryan Goei, an associate professor of communication and director of the UMD University Honors program. He loves the outdoor opportunities in Duluth and the applicability of communications across disciplines. Watch Goei’s “Office Hours” video to learn more about his work and the communications program.
Burks receives Alumni Association Teaching Award
U of M Morris professor of economics Steve Burks has earned the 2024 University of Minnesota Morris Alumni Association Teaching Award. The award honors individual faculty members for outstanding contributions to undergraduate education by calling attention to educational philosophies, objectives, and methods. Burks received the award during the annual faculty and staff recognition celebration on Apr. 23.
Cai named Mestenhauser Award recipient
Morris student Dongting Cai ’24, Shanghai, China, is one of three students systemwide to receive the 2024 Mestenhauser Student Award for Excellence in Campus Internationalization. The award recognizes outstanding student contributions to international education at the University of Minnesota.
May 11 - U of M Rochester commencement
University of Minnesota Rochester will hold commencement May 11 at the Mayo Civic Center. The following individuals will speak at the ceremony: Shannon Anderson, UMR Center for Learning Innovation faculty; Brandi McParland, Bachelor of Science in Health Professions graduate; and Puja Chhetri, Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences graduate.
The Kettle: Faculty profile - Abraham Ayebo
Abraham Ayebo first learned of his love for mathematics and teaching in high school after hearing from classmates that they understood concepts better when explained by him. Today, he brings this love of teaching to U of M Rochester and engages students in his favorite subject to challenge and inspire their growth. Read more about Ayebo’s impact on student learning in UMR’s alumni magazine, The Kettle.
Join the U of M Golf Club
The U of M Golf Club season begins May 4 and the club is looking for more players to join in friendly competition at Les Bolstad Golf Course. Last year the club had over 150 members from the University community. The club holds approximately 13 Saturday events during the season, as well as season-long match play and four-ball competition. Fill out an application or email league president Eric Vegoe at [email protected] for more information.
What makes a good still life?
On the second floor of the Regis Center for Art, there is a small room filled with the stuff of nightmares. Open the door and turn on the lights, and you’ll find staring back at you a cluttered menagerie of mannequins, skulls, bones, a plastic merry-go-round horse, and shelf after shelf of strange old bric-a-brac. But these items don’t just sit around collecting dust—they get put to use: this is the stuff of still-life paintings.
Automated machine-learning robot unlocks new potential for genetics research
Researchers have constructed a robot that uses machine learning to fully automate a complicated microinjection process used in genetic research. The technology will save labs time and money while enabling them to more easily conduct new, large-scale genetic experiments that were not possible previously using manual techniques.
U of M researchers lead NASA’s first solar flare observation campaign
For the first time, a team of U of M researchers launched a sounding rocket to study solar flares in real time. The rocket, named Focusing Optics X-ray Solar Imager (FOXSI-4), is equipped with an X-ray telescope that gathers precise measurements of this solar phenomenon. In NASA’s first solar flare observation campaign, researchers only had five minutes to collect the data after the FOXSI-4 rocket was launched from the Poker Flat Research Range in Alaska.
Featured events
May 2 - Chinese Social Media in Times of Crises
May 2 - Product Innovations Lab | PLAYsentations
May 4 - The Art of Medicine: Intersections
May 8-12 - WAM Shop Spring Sale 2024
Opening May 9 - Adam Turman: Did You See That?
May 21 - Withdrawing and Withholding: Distinctions and Controversies in End of Life Care
May 22 - Social Media and Your Mental Health with Kit Breshears
May 22-24 - Data Science Initiative Spring Research Workshop
June 1 - Caring for People with Memory Loss
Through June 7 - Exhibit: The Global Reach of Local Activism: Minnesota’s Human Rights Stories