Before I moved from Minneapolis to Kansas City, Missouri, to participate in the Teach for America program, I had never gone on a road trip longer than an hour by myself. I quickly became used to the seven-hour drive between KC and Minneapolis. The hardest part was the middle four hours through Iowa. I always knew I was getting close to Minneapolis when I passed the field of windmills near the Iowa-Minnesota border!

A research project currently underway at the U of M reminded me of that long drive...and also reminded me of how happy I am to be back in my home state again. A team of researchers led by Perry Li, professor of mechanical engineering, recently won a $2 million grant from the National Science Foundation. The team will be studying how to store energy produced by off-shore wind turbines.

A problem with wind energy right now is that it is inefficient. More energy is created at night, when wind is stronger, but the energy is needed for use during the day. The goal of this research project is to find a way to compress and store air for use during the day.

Currently, only 2 percent of the nation's energy comes from wind power, and the Department of Energy has made it a goal to have 30 percent of our energy created from wind power by the year 2030. Hopefully the research taking place at the U of M will make that a reality!

You can read more about the project in this Minnesota Daily article.

Photo courtesy College of Science and Engineering.

If you are interested studying biology abroad, the College of Biological Sciences has a fantastic program for you. Each May, Professor Sehoya Cotner leads students on an exploration of the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador! This three-week learning abroad program gives students the unique opportunity to walk to steps of Charles Darwin and explore first-hand the origins of evolutionary biology.

The Biology of the Galapagos is one of 300+ study abroad programs offered by the University of Minnesota's Learning Abroad Center (the largest study abroad program in the nation!) No matter what or where you are interested in studying, the Learning Abroad Center has programs to fit your academic goals, travel dreams, and budget.

Even if you are only remotely thinking about studying abroad, talk to you academic adviser about it right when you get on campus. Planning ahead is key! The Learning Abroad Center offers First-Step Meetings that give basic information about programs, services, and resources available through their office. No need to make an appointment, just show up. I highly recommend taking advantage of the amazing experience to explore the world while earing your degree!

Why do we go to college? There are lots of reasons, but one of the most important is to build the knowledge and skills needed to secure a fulfilling job upon graduation (and hopefully one that can pay your rent, too). It's a pretty daunting task, but the U of M offers some fantastic resources for students to help them navigate the job search process--whether for a volunteer position, an internship, or a full-time professional career.

When I was initially developing my resume, I read many resume-writing website with tips and examples. I even sent my draft to my parents and older brother to edit. I can tell you from experience, though, that nothing was more helpful than the advice of a professional.

The Career Center for Science and Engineering (CCSE) is an amazing resource for College of Science and Engineering (CSE) students. CCSE helps current students find internships and co-ops, connect with professionals in the technical fields, write resumes, and develop interview skills. In fact, recruiters recently ranked schools which produce the best graduates and the University of Minnesota is within the top 10 best engineering schools. You can view the rankings here.

Real world experience as an undergraduate is essential when applying for professional jobs after graduation and we really encourage students to participate in internships, co-ops, and research as undergraduates at the U of M. In fact, 80% of CSE students do at least one internship or co-op during their time here. Read more about internships and co-ops on the CCSE website.

CCSE even has two one-credit classes for students to help prepare them for careers in science and engineering. One class is designed for first- and second-year students who aren't sure which science and engineering major is right for them. Another class is designed for third- and fourth-year students who have already chosen a major and are preparing for their careers.

I know that as high school students you're probably undecided about what you want to study in college, let alone what you want to do for the rest of your life. Rest assured that the College of Science and Engineering offers a lot of fantastic resources and advisers to help you find your direction!

The University of Minnesota offers freshman seminars to all first-year students. These small, discussion-oriented courses are developed by faculty and are usually based on topics that are relevant to popular culture and what is happening in today's society. Freshman seminars usually meet once a week and are a great way to get to know a faculty member and other first-year students with similar interests.

One seminar being offered this year explores the life and music of Bob Dylan. Mr. Dylan is known as one of the greatest musical artists of all time and is a personal favorite. Did you know he attended the U of M for a year before he moved to New York and became famous? He is also from the Minnesota iron range, just like me!

The Bob Dylan course examines the many contributions he has made to music, popular culture, literature, and film. Class time is spent listening to music; viewing videos, concert footage, and films; and having topical discussions. It is taught by Alex Lubet, a professor of music and American and Jewish Studies. The best part of this class? No exams! 

Learn more about freshman seminars at the U of M.

The photo above is labeled for reuse with modification at http://bit.ly/bOo9QI via Wikimedia Commons.

I want to let you all know about a great event happening on campus this Saturday, October 16.

The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) is hosting Technically Speaking, an event for young women who are interested in science and engineering. I am really excited for Technically Speaking because of all the activities SWE has planned for the day. The former president of SWE, who graduated this spring, will be speaking about her experiences in the College of Science and Engineering. Also speaking about her experiences in industry will be a professional female engineer. There will be a really neat science demonstration and a design project for students.

Throughout the day visiting students will be meeting current members of the Society of Women Engineers and learning more about opportunities in science and engineering. I think this day will be really fun--I'm most excited for the design project!

If you are interested in science and engineering, this will be a great opportunity for you to connect with other women who share your same interests and learn more about the U of M.  You can register for the event online, or call me for more information. I hope to meet you and your family on campus this Saturday!