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June 24, 2009

Universe in the Park 7/10-

Beginning this weekend, the University of Minnesota Dept of Astronomy and the state parks are offering presentations on astronomical topics and weather-permitting, an opportunity to view the sky through telescopes. This weekend's presentations are at the following parks beginning at 8:30 pm:

Friday, July 10 Dodge Nature Center
Saturday, July 11 Eastman Nature Center

For further information and future dates visit the astronomy department's web page.

June 8, 2009

Minnesota Bioblitz 2009 6/12-13

BioBlitz 2009 Friday, June 12th - Saturday, June 13th, 2009
5 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Crosby Farm Park

This year’s BioBlitz will take place in one of Minnesota’s five national parks—the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. The event, coordinated by the University of Minnesota Bell Museum of Natural History, is free and open to the public.

Every year BioBlitz attracts hundreds of families and scientists from around the state who use sonar detectors, bug lights, live traps and laptops to count and chronicle an area’s floral and fauna. Volunteers of all ages work alongside biologists to collect plants and insects and live-trap animals, which are identified before being released back into the wild.

FFI

May 28, 2009

Climate Change: Health Problems and Healthy Solutions 6/4

Location: VoTech Bldg R380, St Paul Campus
Time: 2:00 - 4:00pm

Paul R. Epstein, M.D., M.P.H. is Associate Director of the Center for Health and the Global Environment at Harvard Medical School and is a medical doctor trained in tropical public health. He has worked with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to assess the health impacts of climate change and develop health applications of climate forecasting and remote sensing. Paul received recognition for his contributions to the work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007.

May 20, 2009

Green Chemistry in Minnesota: Opportunities and Challenges for Leadership 5/28

Wednesday May 28, 2008
8:30-5:00
Cowles Auditorium
Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs

FFI

May 11, 2009

Cafe Scientifique: The Psychology of Dieting 5/19

Tuesday, May 19, 2009, 7 p.m.
Bryant-Lake Bowl, Uptown
810 W. Lake St., Minneapolis
$5 – $10; pay what you can
University of Minnesota associate professor of psychology Traci Mann tackles what the diet industry doesn’t want you to know—the psychological and biological reasons why diets often fail. An expert on the self-control of health behaviors, Mann will discuss the studies she conducts in her eating lab and what the results tell us about successful—and unsuccessful—diet programs.

May 7, 2009

Congratulations to 2009 IT Graduates! 5/8/2009

IT Commencement
Friday, May 8, 2009
7–9 p.m.
Northrop Auditorium
84 Church St. SE, Minneapolis

Doors open at 6 p.m.
Graduates assemble on Northrop Plaza at 6 p.m.
No tickets are required.

FFI

April 28, 2009

Dark Energy and the Runaway Universe 5/7

Alex Filippenko, Professor of Astronomy, University of California, Berkeley

Thursday, May 7, 2009, 7pm
Bell Museum Auditorium, East Bank

Observations of very distant exploding stars (supernovae) show that the expansion of the Universe is now speeding up, rather than slowing down due to gravity as expected. Other, completely independent data strongly support this amazing conclusion. Over the largest distances, our Universe seems to be dominated by a repulsive "dark energy"

April 23, 2009

Biochemistry of Biofuels 5/6

Wednesday, May 6th, 2009
1:00 - 5:00 pm
Mayo Auditorium

The efficient conversion of renewable materials, such as plant biomass, into fuel molecules will require new insights provided by biochemistry. This year's Bollum Symposium features four international leaders in the field of biochemistry pertaining to biofuels; they are: Dr. Tim Donohue, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Dr. Jay Keasling, University of California, Berkeley, Dr. James Liao, University of California, Los Angles, and Dr. Steve Ragsdale, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. FFI

April 20, 2009

Network Science: From the Web to Human Diseases 4/28

Albert-László Barabási
Department of Physics
University of Notre Dame

April 28, 2009
6:30pm Refreshments at Willey Hall Atrium
7:00 pm, Willey Hall 125 Lecture

Systems as diverse as the world wide web, Internet or the cell are described by highly interconnected networks with amazingly complex structure. Recent studies indicate that the evolution of these complex networks is governed by simple but generic laws, resulting in apparently universal architectural features. Barabasi will discuss this amazing order characterizing our interconnected world, and its implications to how we perceive the impact on communications and medicine.

April 16, 2009

Water, Culture and the Public: A Participatory Exploration 4/20-21

Part One: Monday, April 20, 3:30p–7:00pm, Science Museum of Minnesota

See the Water exhibition, a major exhibition on the beauty, fragility and essential nature of water in our lives and all life on Earth and participate in reflective small-group conversations immediately afterwards.

Part Two: Tuesday, April 21, 8:30am–12:00pm, Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs

Join us the following morning at the Humphrey Institute for presentations and small group discussions with scientists, designers, and policymakers. Participants will address future challenges of water scarcity and degradation, and then craft action steps to create a positive agenda for water in Minnesota.

Required registration for the events here.

April 7, 2009

Spintronics: electrons, spins, computers and telephones 4/8

5:00 p.m., Wednesday, Wednesday, April 8th
Tate Laboratory of Physics, Room 150, Van Vleck Auditorium

Albert Fert, 1Unité Mixte de Physique CNRS/Thales, 91767 Palaiseau, and Université Paris-Sud
We use everyday the "Giant Magnetoresistance" (GMR) to read the hard disc of our computer or listen to music on our I-Pod. The discovery of the GMR, 21 years ago, kicked off the development of spintronics which is expanding today in many very promising directions.

March 26, 2009

Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship Research Showcase 4/7

Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Noon—2 p.m.
The Great Hall
Coffman Memorial Union

Come view more than 65 posters representing 40 graduate programs. Meet the top recipients of the 2008–09
doctoral dissertation fellowships—outstanding, final-year Ph.D. candidates—as they describe their work in fields from
engineering to English.

March 11, 2009

Solar After Dark: Going Green at Night 3/24

Ada Comstock Distinguished Women Scholar Lecture
Professor Jane Davidson, Mechanical Engineering

Tuesday, March 24, 2009
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Cowles Auditorium
Hubert H. Humphrey Center

Jane's presentation, "Solar after Dark: Going Green at Night," will focus on one of the most pressing challenges facing humankind--the need to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions while simultaneously meeting an exploding global demand for energy. Dessert reception follows the lecture in the HHH Atrium. Event is FREE and open to the public, but RSVP is required at women@umn.edu or 612-625-9837.

March 4, 2009

An Evening of Science Trivia 3/10

March 10, 2009, 8 p.m.
Nomad World Pub
501 Cedar St., Minneapolis
$5-$10; pay what you can

Prepare for the IT Week Science Quiz Bowl and feed your need for science and nature at the Bell Museum's monthly Science Trivia Night. Teams of up to five people compete for prizes and questions range from basic biology to current events, from science fiction to science history.

Sponsored by the Bell Museum and the Nomad World Pub.

January 29, 2009

Superconductivity: High Science and High Technology 2/2

Monday, February 2, 2009
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Coffman Memorial Union Theater


Dr. Allen Goldman, Regents Professor and Head of Physics, will present the first talk of the semester in the Regents Professor Lecture Series. His talk will be followed by a reception.

January 26, 2009

Science Priorities and Using Science for Decision Making at the U.S. EPA 1/29

11:00 a.m. Thursday, January 29, 2009
105 Cargill Building
1500 Gortner Avenue
St. Paul Campus

Dr. Pai-Yei Whung, Chief Scientist for the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) and head of the agency’s Office of the Science
Advisor, will speak on “Science Priorities and Using Science for
Decision Making at the U.S. EPA,� at 11:00 a.m. January 29 in room
105 Cargill Building for Microbial and Plant Genetics on the University
of Minnesota’s St. Paul campus. As the EPA’s lead scientist, Whung
oversees planning and implementing of cross-agency scientific efforts
including program management, coordination of independent scientific
opinions and science-policy functions.

FFI

January 20, 2009

Mathematics Making Sense of Sensors 1/22

IMA Math Matters Lecture

January 22, 2009
7:00 pm, Willey Hall 125
5:00pm-6:30pm Reception in 400 Lind Hall

Robert Ghrist
Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering
and Department of Mathematics
University of Pennsylvania

FFI

January 13, 2009

Physics Circus 1/15

Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Northrop Auditorium

The Institute of Technology’s Physics Force will present their largest public show of the year at the annual “Physics Circus.� The show is a unique mix of large-scale physics demonstrations and humor that is fun for adults and children of all ages. It is free and open to the public.

December 14, 2008

The Green House: New Designs in Sustainable Architecture & Design

Rapson Hall
East Bank, University of Minnesota
89 Church Street SE
HGA Gallery

The National Building Museum’s acclaimed exhibition The Green House: New Directions in Sustainable Architecture and Design is the first to explore the field of green residential design as it reaches a turning point of acceptance by both home builders and the general public.

Photographic images and drawings of 22 projects from around the world will document the emergence of a new brand of sustainable building.

FFI

November 30, 2008

SMART Commons Cram Slam 12/10

Date: Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Time: 1 pm - 6 pm
Location: SMART - Walter

(204 Walter Library, East Bank)

The SMART Learning Commons and the Multicultural Center for Academic Excellence present Cram Slam Fall 2008. Cram Slam is an opportunity to do some intensive study and review in preparation for final exams in a collaborative and resource-rich environment. Consultants from multiple SMART centers will be on hand to facilitate individual and group preparation, and valuable workshops are also scheduled to review key concepts involved in several discipines.

Look here for the schedule of workshops at SMART.

Perspectives on Technological Leadership: A panel discussion by women leaders

Foresight After Four
Perspectives on Technological Leadership:
A panel discussion by women leaders in science, engineering and business

Wednesday, 10 December 2008 at 4:30 p.m.
• Reception begins at 4:30 p.m.
• Program begins at 5:15 p.m.
• RSVP requested by December 5, 2008

Location: The Center for the Development of Technological Leadership (CDTL), University of Minnesota, 1300 S. Second Street, West Bank Office Building, Minneapolis, MN 55454-1082

FFI and registration visit the CDTL website

November 19, 2008

Investing in Infrastructure: The effects of our decaying infrastructure on our national security and culture 11/19

2008–09 Institute of Technology Public Lecture

Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008
6:30 p.m. Reception
7 p.m. Lecture
Mayo Memorial Auditorium
425 Delaware St., S.E.

This lecture by Professor Roberto Ballarini, head of the University of Minnesota Department of Civil Engineering, will highlight the effect of our nation’s infrastructure on our quality of life and national security, as well as our culture and pride. Ballarini will also discuss the results of an independent study by the University of Minnesota on the collapse of the I-35W bridge.

FFI

November 11, 2008

Cafe Scientifique: Electing Science: Science and Public Policy 11/18

Tuesday, November 18, 2008
7 p.m.
Bryant-Lake Bowl
$5 - $10; pay what you can

Join former state senator Steve Kelley, director of the Humphrey Institute's Center for Science, Technology, and Public Policy, for a conversation about science and public policy. Kelley will tackle such topics as whether our elected officials are prepared to make smart science policy decisions, how scientific leaders might better communicate their work on issues of public concern, and the future of science in America.

November 5, 2008

Incorporating and Protecting Intellectual Property 11/10

3M Seminars on Technology Commericialization

Monday, November 10th, 5-7 PM
Executive Conference Center at the Carlson School of Management
Registration required at hce@umn.edu

This seminar will present the key legal and intellectual issues for your
technology/science-based business and follow with an extended Q&A on each subject:
- Incorporating and other legal issues facing new ventures
- Overview of intellectual property
- Developing and securing intellectual property

FFI

October 28, 2008

A World of Change: Climate Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow 11/5

Dr. Susan Solomon, NOAA & UC Boulder

Wednesday, November 5, 2008 - 3:00 to 4:30 PM

Room 335 Borlaug Hall
University of Minnesota
St. Paul Campus

Changing attributes of climate and their relationship with greenhouse gases will be discussed, along with their associated time scales. There are numerous impacts of climate change that are anticipated and worthy of public discussion, as they pose a challenge for current societies as well as multiple generations of future citizens.

FFI

October 23, 2008

Surfing with Wavelets 10/29

7:00 pm, Willey Hall 125

IMA Math Matters Lecture
Ingrid Daubechies
Department of Mathematics
Program in Applied and Computational Mathematics
Princeton University

The talk will start by explaining the basic principles of wavelets, which are very simple. Then they will be illustrated with some examples, including an explanation of image compression.

FFI

Economic Impacts of Transitways: The Hiawatha Light Rail Line 10/28

3:30–4:30 p.m., Rm 1130
Mechanical Engineering Building

This presentation will discuss a University of Minnesota analysis of the property value impacts of the Hiawatha Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line in Minneapolis, in terms of the accessibility effect of proximity to LRT station and the nuisance effect of proximity to LRT track. The research findings will be discussed in this presentation. FFI

October 14, 2008

Cafe Scientifique: Designing Online Communities 10/21

Tuesday, October 21, 2008, 7 p.m., Bryant-Lake Bowl
$5 - $10: pay what you can

Computer science researcher and engineer Joseph Konstan studies the behavior of people as they participate in online communities like MySpace and Facebook. His research is uncovering how human socialization is affected by online communication and how further behavioral science research can help design Internet communities that facilitate positive dialogues about social issues.

October 9, 2008

Cafe Scientifique: Art and Aeronautics: A Conversation with Tomas Saraceno 10/14

Time: 5:30 p.m.
Location: Nomad World Pub, 501 Cedar Ave S. Minneapolis
Free

Artist Tomás Saraceno uses principles from engineering, physics, aeronautics, and architecture in his work to demonstrate the limitless possibilities when solar and human energy combine. As an artist in residence at the Walker Art Center, Saraceno will complete construction on Museo aero solar, a solar-powered sphere made from thousands of reused plastic bags. The Bell Museum and the Walker Art Center are partnering to present a discussion of art and aeronautics with Saraceno and University of Minnesota aerospace engineers.

October 1, 2008

Knovel University Challenge

Use Knovel to correctly answer 3 questions and enter the contest to win a Wii, iPod Nano or iTunes cards. The contest runs until November 7th. Visit the Knovel University Challenge to take the quiz and enter the contest.

September 11, 2008

Outdoor StreamLab Grand Opening and Tours 9/19

3-5 pm
St Anthony Falls Laboratory
2 Third Ave SE

The Outdoor StreamLab is a premier research facility developed by the St. Anthony Falls Laboratory (SAFL) and the National Center for Earth-surface Dynamics (NCED) at the University of Minnesota. It is designed to bring together river scientists, engineers, and managers to explore river flow and ecology in downtown Minneapolis. The public is invited for tours from 3-5 pm. Visit the OSL website for additional information.

September 4, 2008

Finding the Big Bang 9/23

Location: Van Vleck Lecture Hall, Room 150, Tate Lab of Physics
Time: 7 p.m.

Third Annual Misel Family Lecture

"Finding the Big Bang" with eminent cosmologist Jim Peebles, Albert Einstein Professor of Science Emeritus at Princeton University, presented by the William I. Fine Theoretical Physics Institute.

For more information visit the web site.

September 1, 2008

Redesigning Metropolitan Systems for Equity and Efficiency 9/11

Rutherford Aris Seminar Series on Design

John S. Adams
Professor Emeritus, Department of Geography
Co-Director, University Metropolitan Consortium

Thursday, September 11th 1:25 PM
The Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum

Redesigning metropolitan areas requires changes in the rules under which decisions and allocations are made, but understanding the rules of system structure and operation, and how they yield unwanted outcomes, remains a challenge. The Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area is discussed as an example.

FFI

August 5, 2008

Summer Sci-Fi Film Series: Research to the Rescue! 8/14-8/28

Thursdays, August 14–28, dusk
Bell Museum courtyard

Is your global climate in peril? Got alien invaders? Is a meteor threatening to end civilization as you know it? These campy sci-fi films put researchers up against natural disasters, unexplained phenomena, political bureaucracy, and even romance—will they save the day with science? Join the Bell Museum and Take-up Productions for the second annual Summer Sci-Fi Film Series featuring free outdoor films and related activities.
Films are free and start at dusk—popcorn and soda will be available for purchase. In the event of rain, films will be moved indoors to the Bell Museum Auditorium and begin at 8:30 p.m.

Fantastic Voyage (1966)
August 14
A medical team is miniaturized and injected into a scientist's brain in order to save his life.

The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms (1953)
August 21
A ferocious dinosaur awakened by an Arctic atomic test terrorizes the North Atlantic and ultimately New York City.

The Day the Earth Caught Fire (1961)
August 28
British reporters suspect an international cover–up of a global disaster in progress—and they are right.

July 24, 2008

UMN Solar Vehicle Project finishes 5th in the North American Solar Challenge!

Congratulations to the UMN Solar Vehicle project for their 5th place finish in the North American Solar Challenge. Learn more about their project and race here.

July 15, 2008

U of Minnesota Solar Vehicle Project is competing in the North American Solar Challenge 2008

The 2008 North American Solar Challenge (NASC2008) is a competition to design, build, and drive solar-powered cars in a cross-country time/distance rally event. Teams compete in a 2400 mile drive from Dallas, Texas to Calgary, Alberta.

The University of Minnesota Solar Vehicle Project (UMNSVP) is an organization of undergraduate engineering students who undertake the project of researching, designing, and constructing a solar vehicle every two years. The race is underway. Follow the U of M team's daily updates here.

June 16, 2008

Medical Devices Center open house 6/24

Tuesday, June 24th, 3:30pm-7:00pm
5th floor of Shepherd Labs, 100 Union St SE (East Bank Campus)

Take advantage of this opportuity to tour the state-of-the-art medical device laboratory facilities and experience connections to surgery suites in 3D. Other features include a CAD/Precision Instruments Lab and Mechanical and Electronics fabrication centers.

May 30, 2008

Seeing Mathematics Everywhere 6/12

6:30 p.m. Reception
7 p.m. Lecture
Digital Technology Center
Room 402, Walter Library

From medicine to entertainment, mathematics is critical to meeting the needs of our future. In this Institute of Technology Public Lecture world-renowned mathematician and University of Minnesota mathematics professor Doug Arnold will highlight interesting examples in which the University’s Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (IMA) has solved problems in contemporary life.

Register here for the presentation.

May 21, 2008

Green Chemistry in Minnesota: Opportunities and Challenges for Leadership 5/28

Wednesday May 28, 2008
8:30-5:00

Cowles Auditorium
Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs
University of Minnesota

Registration required, $25 to attend
For additional information and to register for the conference visit their webpage.

This conference will bring together researchers, teachers, business leaders, farmers, advocates and policy makers from around the state to discuss the opportunities and challenges for Minnesota to become a leader in green chemistry, in green engineering and in this more sustainable future.

May 12, 2008

Science Trivia Contest 5/21

Nomad World Pub, 501 Cedar Avenue S
$10 Registration Fee Per Team

Wednesday, May 21, 8 p.m.

Do you love science news? Can you name the first person to eat in outer space? Do you own copies of "Blade Runner" or watch "Star Trek" reruns? Then join the Nomad World Pub and the Bell Museum of Natural History for Science Trivia, hosted by Doomtree MC and self-professed science geek, Dessa. Test your knowledge of science and nature with questions ranging from current events to biology 101 to science fiction. Gather a group of up to 5 friends and compete for gift certificates, Bell Museum memberships and other prizes. Pre-registration is recommended but not required. Call 612-626-1897 to secure your spot!

May 1, 2008

The Semiconductor Industry's Nanoelectronics Research Initiative: Motivation and Challenges 5/6

Jeff Welser
Director, SRC Nanoelectronics Research Initiative
IBM Almaden Research Center

Tuesday, May 6, 2008
4:30 p.m. reception
5:00 p.m. seminar
101 Walter Library

In this talk, the scaling challenges facing current CMOS technology will be discussed, along with the ultimate limits for charge-switching based devices. From this motivation, the current status of the NRI program will be discussed, with an overview of the current research topics being investigated at the NRI centers.

FFI

April 30, 2008

Jane Goodall lecture 5/3

Renowned primatologist, Jane Goodall will give a public lecture on Saturday, May 3.

Public lecture: Mayo Memorial Auditorium, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis

Date: Saturday, May 3, 2008
Time: 11 a.m. to noon

April 28, 2008

Grant Writing for Interdisciplinary Research - Developing Successful Proposals 4/30

Date: Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Time: 3:00-5:00 PM
Location: Twin Cities: A.I. Johnson Great Room, McNamara Alumni Center

This workshop will discuss the unique issues and concerns in preparing proposals within interdisciplinary contexts. Through facilitated discussion and drawing upon the expertise of faculty panelists, this workshop will address:

* How can proposal conceptualizations be expanded to include the potential intellectual contributions that diverse disciplines offer?
* How can complementary expertise outside your discipline be identified and located?
* What is unique about writing interdisciplinary proposals?
* What are the characteristics of a successful interdisciplinary proposal?
* What are the pros and cons of alternative strategies for writing interdisciplinary proposals?
* How can disciplinary differences in language, methodology, and writing styles be addressed to communicate in a single voice?

FFI and registration visit the webpage.

April 15, 2008

Seeing Climate Change: Film & Video Festival 4/24-4/27

The Bell Museum of Natural History presents the Seeing Climate Change Film & Video Festival, a weekend of films, discussions, workshops, and social gatherings that focus a lens on climate change and global warming.

Featured Films

Everything’s Cool (USA, documentary, 2007)
Thin Ice: Saattuq (France, documentary, 2007)
Arctic Tale (USA, family documentary, 2007)
From Sea to Rising Sea (Canada, documentary, 2005)
Kilowatt Ours (USA, documentary, 2004)
The Last Winter (USA/Iceland, fiction, 2006)

Admission per film

$8 for adults
$5 for students, seniors, and members
Children under 3 years old free

FFI

Minnesota Supercomputing Institute Open House 4/23

April 23, 2008
Walter Library, University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus
1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

All members of the University community and their guests are invited to this free event.

MSI will hold an open house on April 23, 2008 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. to increase awareness of our services throughout the University of Minnesota community and to showcase the work of the researchers who use our resources.

FFI and registration.

April 10, 2008

Biometric Recognition: A New Paradigm for Security 4/16

DTC science and technology innovators Lecture Series
Anil Jain
Michigan State University

Wednesday, April 16, 2008
4:30 p.m. Reception
5:00 p.m. Seminar
402 Walter Library

This talk will present an overview of biometric recognition, its advantages and limitations, and the challenges in dealing with accuracy, individuality, fusion and security issues.

FFI

April 9, 2008

Urban sprawl: Observations on urban form, environment, and health 4/14

April 14, 2008
12:15 pm to 01:15 pm
MPC Seminar Room, 50 Willey Hall

Julian Marshall, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Minnesota

This talk will explore how neighborhood- and regional-scale urban form can influence energy, environmental, and health impacts of cities. The talk will present a scaling rule for urban land area expansion over time, offering quantification of urban sprawl (i.e., declining population density), and discuss implications for population exposure to urban air pollution.

April 8, 2008

Cafe Scientifique: The Science of Happiness 4/15

Tuesday, April 15, 7 p.m.
Bryant-Lake Bowl, Uptown
$5-$10 (pay what you can)
Advance Tickets Available. Visit bryantlakebowl.com.

It's often been said that happiness is a state of mind, and most of us spend considerable time and effort trying to achieve it. What have scientific researchers learned about happiness? Is our individual outlook, for better or worse, something we've inherited? Does each of us have a happiness "set-point" that we return to despite circumstances? Join us for a discussion with faculty from the University of Minnesota's Center for Twin & Family Research, which explores how genes and environment interact to influence individuals.

April 1, 2008

Cafe Scientifique: Fueling the Future 4/8

Tuesday, April 8, 6 p.m.
Kitty Cat Klub, Dinkytown
Free ($5 suggested donation)
Despite evidence of global warming and its environmental impacts, our demand for energy is steadily rising. In order to close the gap and address the problem, we will need not one but many solutions—from cleaner, more efficient energy sources to creative conservation efforts. A panel of researchers and business leaders will discuss possible ways that we might fuel the future—from increased use of wind and solar power to electricity from microorganisms found in our waste.

A Universe Full of Nothing 4/9

"A Universe Full of Nothing: An exploration with Lawrence Rudnick"

Wednesday, April 9, 2008 4:00 PM
Cost: Free! Refreshments will be served.
Room 125
Nolte Center for Continuing Education
Minneapolis Campus

This talk will explore the empty spaces in the universe, and what they teach us about its origins and evolution, from the big bang 13.7 billion years ago, to the present-day birth of new stars and planets. Professor Rudnick will recount his team's recent discovery of a billion light-year void and some of the bizarre time- and space-bending alternatives suggested by cosmologists.

March 4, 2008

Cafe Scientifique: Global Warming and Environmental Equality 3/18

Tuesday, March 18, 7 p.m.
Bryant-Lake Bowl, Uptown, $5–$10 (pay what you can)
Advance Tickets Available. Visit bryantlakebowl.com.
The environmental impacts of global warming are felt by communities worldwide—from droughts and floods that disrupt food systems to the rising sea levels that can displace entire populations. But will global warming disproportionately affect poorer, less developed nations and communities? How might discussions about global warming and political or economic development take this imbalance into account? Join local environmental justice advocates Cecilia Martinez and Shalini Gupta a discussion about global warming and environmental equality. Cosponsored by the Headwaters Foundation for Justice.

Robots: A New Type of Companion 3/31

Ada Comstock Distinguished Women Scholars Lecture
Professor Maria L. Gini, Department of Computer Science and Engineering

Monday, March 31
Cowles Auditorium, Hubert H. Humphrey Center
4:00 p.m.

Reception follows in the Hubert H. Humphrey Center Atrium.

RSVP: women@umn.edu or 612-625-9837

Plastic electronics: New science and new technologies 3/25

Kolthoff Lectureship in Chemistry

Richard Friend, University of Cambridge, pioneered the study of organic polymers as semiconductors, and his research group has demonstrated that these materials can be used in wide range of semiconductor devices, including light-emitting diodes and transistors.

Tuesday, March 25, 4:15 pm
100 Smith Hall, Minneapolis Campus
Wine and Cheese reception following this lecture in 117 Smith

FFI

March 2, 2008

Adaptation Strategies for Climate Change 3/13

Dr. Stephen Pacala; Frederick D. Petrie Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Director, Princeton Environmental Institute
Dr. Anne Kapuscinski; Professor, Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology; Director, Institute for Social, Economic and Ecological Sustainability

THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2008
12:00pm - 1:15pm

Princeton ecologist Stephen Pacala and Institute on the Environment founding fellow Anne Kapuscinski introduce the science and policy of climate change adaptation and explore ideas for interdisciplinary research.

For further information visit the Institute on the Environment website.

February 25, 2008

Role of Engineers in Poverty Reduction: Challenges and Opportunities 3/4

Presented by Bernard Amadei
Founding President, Engineers Without Borders–USA

Tuesday, March 4, 2008
6:30 p.m. Reception
7 p.m. Lecture
Tate Laboratory of Physics, Van Vleck Auditorium

Register online now! This lecture is free and open to the public.

This lecture by Bernard Amadei, founding president of Engineers Without Borders–USA, will present the challenges and opportunities associated with practicing engineering in developing nations.

January 29, 2008

When Will We Discover the Extraterrestrials? 1/30

Wednesday, January 30th 2008 4:00 pm:
Physics and Astronomy Colloquium in 131 Physics
Speaker: Seth Shostak, SETI Institute
Subject: When Will We Discover the Extraterrestrials?
The scientific hunt for extraterrestrial intelligence is now into its fifth decade, and we still haven't uncovered a confirmed peep from the cosmos. For that matter, we still don’t know if life – at any level of intelligence – exists beyond Earth. Could this mean that finding aliens, even if they’re out there, is a project for the ages – one that might take centuries or longer?

New technologies and new strategies for use in the search for extraterrestrial biology suggest that, despite the continued dearth of hard evidence for life elsewhere or signals from other societies, there is good reason to expect that success might not be far off – that within a few decades we might find evidence of sophisticated civilizations.

Why this is so, what contact would tell us, and what such a discovery would mean, are the subject of this talk on the continuing efforts to establish our place in the universe of thinking beings.

January 24, 2008

LivePCs: Consumerizing PCs, from Research to Product 2/1

Presenter: Monica Lam
Affiliation: Stanford University
Time: 11:15 - 12:15
Location: EE/CS 3-180

LivePC is a new platform whereby managed virtual desktops are delivered to end users using any PCs (Windows, Linux, and Mac) over the network and on USB drives. The talk describes the journey of how her research group developed the concept of LivePC, starting with research on thin-client computing, and spun out of Stanford in 2005 to commercialize the technology.

January 22, 2008

Focus the Nation - Focus Minnesota 1/30-1/31

Focus The Nation
Wednesday, January 30, 7 p.m.
Bell Auditorium

Free

This national, interactive webcast will feature Stanford climate scientist Stephen Schneider, sustainability expert Hunter Lovins, and green jobs pioneer Van Jones. Following the webcast the Bell Museum and University of Minnesota partners will present a panel discussion on local climate change solutions.

Focus Minnesota: An Evening with Will Steger and Friends
Thursday, January 31, 6-9 p.m.
First Avenue, Minneapolis

Free

Join Will Steger, local bands and entertainers, climate movement activists and experts, and state and local politicians at 6 p.m., January 31, 2008 for "Focus Minnesota: Climate Change Solutions," a public event for all ages at First Avenue in downtown Minneapolis. More than 20 environmental student-based and non-profit organizations will be on hand with information and resources on global warming solutions and citizen action. The event is organized and sponsored by the University of Minnesota Bell Museum of Natural History and co-sponsored by the University of Minnesota Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs' Center for Science, Technology and Public Policy, Focus the Nation, Focus the U and Metro Transit. Learn more about Focus the Nation.

January 16, 2008

Physics Circus 1/17

Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Northrup Auditorum

The University of Minnesota’s Physics Force will present a unique mix of physics demonstrations and humor in its annual “Physics Circus.� The show is suitable for adults and children of all ages. It is free and open to the public.

December 15, 2007

CAFE SCIENTIFIQUE: Looking at Lichens 1/8

Tuesday, January 8, 6 p.m.
Kitty Cat Klub, Dinkytown
Admission $5
We’ve all seen lichens growing on rocks, trees, or buildings. Yet their unusual and complex structure often goes unnoticed. Though they appear to be a single entity, lichens are actually complex and versatile organisms. Bell Museum Curator of Lichens, Imke Schmitt, will discuss the evolution of lichens, which species provide food, medicines and clothing dyes, and which help out nature by cleaning the air and adding color to the landscape.

December 13, 2007

Cafe Scientifique: Re-Greening Cities 12/18

Tuesday, December 18, 7 p.m.
Bryant-Lake Bowl, Uptown
Admission $5
City parks characteristically define urban nature—an oasis of the natural world in a man-made environment. But urbanites are craving new ways to experience nature and are interested in exploring emerging trends in green infrastructure and park design to redefine urban nature. Join Laura Musacchio, Associate Professor in the University of Minnesota’s landscape architecture, conservation biology and water resource science programs for a discussion about the redefinition of urban nature.

December 3, 2007

MPGI's Fall Colloquia Series: Biofuels and Bioenergy 12/12

Michael Tsapatsis will discuss "Molecular Sieve Catalysts, Adsorbents and Films for the Production of Fuels and Chemicals," and Peter Lefebvre will discuss "Hydrogen Production by the Unicellular Green Algae Chlamydomonas."

Noon–1 p.m.
105 Cargill Building for Microbial and Plant Genomics.
1500 Gortner Ave.
St. Paul Campus

November 27, 2007

Cafe Scientifique: Tough Ceramics at the Seashore 12/11

Tuesday, December 11, 6 p.m.
Kitty Cat Klub, Dinkytown
Admission $5
What secrets do seashells hold? For University of Minnesota Civil Engineering Professor Roberto Ballarini, the natural strength of materials found in seashells may be the key to improving the design of bridges and other human structures. Join Ballarini for a discussion of science, seashells and the potential of bio-inspired design.

Sustainable Cities: A Conversation on Sustainability 11/29

What: Professor Lance Neckar, Department of Landscape Architecture, John Carmody, Director of the Center for Sustainable Building Research and Paula Pentel, Geography Department and Urban Studies Program and Golden Valley City Council member discuss how urban areas now and in the future can become greener and more livable.

When: November 29, 12:45 - 1:45 in the Mississippi Room, Coffman Union.

Why: In 2007, for the first time in human history, the world's population is more urban that rural. What are the consequences of urban living on our environment and what role do we, as cities and citizens, have in achieving broader sustainability?

FFI

November 14, 2007

Cafe Scientifique: Computational Biology 11/20

Tuesday, November 20, 7 p.m.
Bryant-Lake Bowl, Uptown
Admission $5
Marc Riedel, Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Minnesota will discuss his research, which uses computational models and methods inspired by biological systems.

November 13, 2007

Civil Engineering Open House 11/15

The Department of Civil Engineering's Open House, is sponsored by Barr Engineering, on November 15 beginning at 3 p.m.

3:00 - 4:00 p.m. - Tours of Civil Engineering Building including the Minnesota Traffic Observatory, student research exhibits and ASCE career fair.
4:00 - 5:00 p.m. - Keynote Seminar by Dr. Ballarini: "Bioinspired Design of Structures: Tough Ceramics at the Seashore"
5:00 - 7:00 p.m. - Open House Social with introductions by Dr. Ballarini, Outstanding Achievement Awards ceremony, graduate student presentations, food and door prizes.

For further information visit the CE website.

November 1, 2007

Minnesota Nanotechnology Conference 11/13-11/14

On November 13 - 14, 2007, the University of Minnesota will be hosting the 3rd Annual Minnesota Nanotechnology Conference, offering presentations and discussions on Nano Energy, Devices, Sensors and Materials.

Registration for the workshop is due by Thursday, November 8, 2007. The poster session and conference talks are free, but registration is required. FFI

October 29, 2007

Achieving the Unachievable 11/1

Math Matters Lecture
Thursday, November 1, 2007
7:00 pm, Willey Hall 125

M.C. Escher is among the most mathematical of artists. In 1956 he challenged the laws of perspective with his graphic Print Gallery, and found himself trapped by an impossible barrier. Half a century later, mathematician Hendrik Lenstra took everyone by surprise by drawing a fantastic bridge between the intuition of the artist and his own, and completed Escher's work mathematically. This story is presented in the 52 minute film Achieving the Unachievable by documentary filmmaker Jean Bergeron. After the screening, the film's U.S. premier, Bergeron will be available to answer questions.

The showing is free and open to the public.

October 24, 2007

A Discovery of Cosmic Proportion 11/1

Thursday, November 1, at 7 p.m.
University of Minnesota Continuing Education and Conference Center, St. Paul campus.

Last August, Larry Rudnick announced the discovery of a gaping hole in space, far larger than any previously found. Join University of Minnesota Distinguished Teaching Professor Larry Rudnick, as he shares the story of his fascinating discovery and discusses its cosmic implications.

For further information and tickets look here.

October 20, 2007

What Einstein Did to Time 10/25

Conversation between philosopher Oliver Pooley and historian of physics Michel Janssen. This event is also part of the Thursdays at Four series.

4:00 p.m., 125 Nolte Center

October 15, 2007

Water & Fire: Technologies for Poor Communities in Developing Countries 10/19

Speaker: Dr. Ashok Gadgil
Senior Staff Scientist, Environmental Energy Technologies Division,
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
Date: Oct. 19, 2007
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Location: Civil Engineering Building Room 210

Dr. Gadgil will illustrate the role of technology in improving livelihoods in developing countries: safe and affordable drinking water for poor communities and improved stoves in refugee camps in Darfur. For further information look here.

Where Does The Water Actually Go? 10/23

Tuesday, October 23, 2007 5:00 PM
Room 100, Rapson Hall

The Mississippi River is a Connected Bio-physical System: A talk with Professor Chris Paola on the river as an ecosystem. Chris Paola is a Professor of Earth Sciences, Geology and Geophysics and a principal investigator at the National Center for Earth-Surface Dynamics at the University of Minnesota.

October 6, 2007

Cafe Scientifique: St. Anthony Falls Research Lab 10/9

Tuesday, October 9, 6 p.m.
Kitty Cat Klub, Dinkytown
Admission $5
Across the river from downtown Minneapolis, the St. Anthony Falls Laboratory (SAFL) sits just below the Stone Arch Bridge. Experts from SAFL will discuss current research projects and innovative, sustainable engineering solutions to major environmental, water-resource, and energy-related problems.

October 5, 2007

Cafe Scientifique: Experiments in Fluid Mechanics 10/16

Tuesday, October 16, 7 p.m.
Bryant-Lake Bowl, Uptown
Admission $5
University of Minnesota researcher Ed Cussler (Chemical Engineering & Materials Science), whose quirky experiments have included filling a University swimming pool with a gooey concoction and then testing how it affects swimming speed and outfitting his own dog with artificial gills, will discuss how these experiments and others help us to understand fluid mechanics: the properties of gasses and liquids.

October 4, 2007

Cybersecurity: Opportunities and Challenges 10/8

Pradeep Khosla
Time: 11:15 - 12:15
Location: EE/CS 3-180

This talk will address the current state of cybersecurity and argue that this is one of the fields that requires an integration of technologies from various disciplines to create a solution. For further information.

October 1, 2007

Making a Splash; Breaking a Neck 10/4

The Edythe and Irving Misel Family Lecture Series
Thursday, October 4, 4:45 p.m., Tate Lab of Physics

Leo P. Kadanoff, University of Chicago
John D. and Catherine T MacArthur Distinguished Service Professor of Physics and Mathematics

In this talk, we examine the development of complexity in fluid flow. Examples include splashing water, necking of fluids, swirls in heated gases, and jets thrown up from beds of sand. In following these specific problems, we soon get to broader issues: predictability and chaos, mechanisms for the generation of complexity and of simple laws, and finally the question of whether there is a natural tendency toward the formation of complex 'machines'. FFI.

September 26, 2007

Honeywell-Nobel lecture: Electricity in Biology 10/1

4 pm
Monday October 1
University of Minnesota McNamara Alumni Center, Memorial Hall
Dr. Roderick MacKinnon will highlight the modern understanding of electrical systems in living organisms, specifically the electricity in living cells.

For further information on the events involved in the Honeywell-Nobel Initiative and to register for the lecture visit this website.

September 24, 2007

Speaking Science 2.0: New Directions in Science Communications 9/28

Friday, September 28, 2007
7:30 p.m.
Bell Museum Auditorium
$5 Suggested Donation
Seed magazine writers and influential science bloggers gather to discuss new directions in science communication. This lively panel discussion will cover a range of topics, including science and culture, public engagement with science, the role of scientists in the public discussion of science, and communication via the Internet, film, museums and other media. Author and journalist Chris Mooney, American University communications professor Matthew Nisbet, and University of Minnesota anthropologist Greg Laden will join moderator Jessica Marshall, a U of M science journalism professor. A reception in Dinkytown will follow the event. Co-sponsored by the Bell Museum of Natural History; Seed Magazine/ScienceBlogs; The Humphrey Institute's Center for Science, Technology and Public Policy; and the Minnesota Journalism Center.

September 11, 2007

IT Career Fair 9/18-9/19

More than 100 employer representatives will be on hand to talk informally with students in all science, engineering and information technology fields. The event will be held 10 a.m.-4 p.m. in the Great Hall of Coffman Memorial Union. For further information see this website.

September 5, 2007

Biofuels: Breaking the Barriers for Biomass Conversion 9/19

Wednesday, September 19th
12:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Northstar Ballroom
St. Paul Student Center

Prof. Charlie Wyman (UC-Riverside) and Prof. Simon Harvey (Chalmers University, Sweden) will share their perspectives on technical challenges and potential opportunities, and then answer questions in a panel discussion with U of M professors Simo Sarkanen and Roger Ruan, both from the Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering.

August 23, 2007

CAFE SCIENTIFIQUE: The Future of Science 9/10

Monday, September 10, 2007
7:00 p.m.
Loring Pasta Bar, Dinkytown
$5 Admission
Café Scientifique explores the future of science with a panel of University of Minnesota experts. In the coming decades, what new questions and challenges might researchers address? How will new technologies influence the way that we understand the world around us? What role will society play in the future of science, from public discussion to science education and policy?

August 20, 2007

Bell Museum Summer SciFi Series: The Killer Shrews 8/23

Thursday, August 23, 2007
Dusk (8:30 p.m.)
Bell Museum Courtyard
Free Admission

A disparate group of people is trapped on a remote island where a doctor is working to make humans twice as small, in order to prevent the problems of over-population. Unfortunately, his experiments have also created some giant shrews (played by dogs wearing carpet remnants). As the shrews run out of smaller animals to eat, they move in on the stranded people.

August 1, 2007

Bell Museum Summer SciFi Series: Attack of the Giant Leeches 8/16

Bell Museum Courtyard
Thursday August 16, Dusk (8:30 pm)
Free

Directed by Bernard L. Kowalski
Produced by Roger Corman/Gene Corman
Crawling horror... unleashed by the depths of hell to kill and conquer!
When local moonshine-swilling trapper Lem Sawyer sees a giant creature in a swamp near his home, his story is dismissed as a tall tale—but when people start disappearing, the good-looking game warden begins an investigation that ends in terror! 62 minutes

June 13, 2007

Rat Fest 7/14

July 14, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Bell Museum

“Rat Fest� is an all-day expo celebrating one of the most maligned and misunderstood creatures: the rat. Rat breeders, scientists, rat enthusiasts, and prize winning rats from around the state will come together to celebrate the rodent’s agility and intelligence, as well as its history and place in our ecosystem. “Rat Fest� goers will get a chance to meet Bell Museum Curator of Mammals Sharon Jansa and talk about current university research on wild rodent populations. Adoption representatives from Animal Humane Society will be on hand to answer questions about rats as pets, and experts from the museum’s Wildlife Information Line will be available to answer questions about living with wildlife. The event is part of the museum’s summer of celebrating “Animals Behaving Badly� —a series of events that playfully explores the quirks and calamities that can happen when wildlife and humans share each other’s backyards.

Catastrophe: Imaging and Imagining Disruptions of Time 7/6

Friday, July 6, 2007 2:00 PM
Room 155, Nicholson Hall

The symposium "Catastrophe: Imaging and Imagining Disruptions in Time" will open with a workshop intended to explore time through "catastrophic" events that challenge linear, stable, and continuous models of time.

Participants include Dr. David Odde and Dr. Victor Barocas, from the University of Minnesota Department of Biomedical Engineering, Dr. Tomas Co and Dr. Faith Morrison, from the Michigan Technological University Department of Chemical Engineering, Dr. Thomas Odde from the University of Florida Department of English

For further information.

June 10, 2007

From Image Analysis to Content Extraction: Are We There Yet? 6/22

IEEE Signal Processing Society Distinguished Lecture
1:30 p.m., 402 Walter Library.
Tsuhan Chen, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University
Based on the bag-of-words representation, topic models have recently become a popular approach to object discovery, i.e., extracting the "object of interest" from a set of images in a completely unsupervised manner. The talk will outline this approach, and extend it from still images to motion videos.

June 4, 2007

Graduate Women in Science: 86th Annual Conference 6/13-17

U of M Continuing Education & Conference Center
1890 Buford Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108

This National GWIS Conference will explore the prevailing myths about women in science and discuss how leadership roles of women scientists in education, academia, and the greater community can enhance the achievement of women in science. For further information visit their website.

May 21, 2007

Science on Screen: Contested Streets 5/24

7 p.m. Thursday, May 24
Bell Museum, Auditorium
This documentary explores the rich diversity of New York City street life before the introduction of automobiles and shows how New York and other cities can follow the example of places that have reclaimed their streets as vibrant public spaces.

May 20, 2007

Conflict of Interest: Perception vs. Reality 6/6

Wednesday, June 6, 2007, 4 - 5:30 p.m.
215 Ben Pomeroy Student-Alumni Learning Ctr
1964 Fitch Avenue, St. Paul campus

Join University experts on conflict of interest for a discussion of the outside relationships that could impact research and scholarship in your field. Register here.

May 14, 2007

Cafe Scientifique: Theory Slam II

Tuesday, May 15, 6:30 p.m. (Doors open at 5:30 p.m.)
Bryant-Lake Bowl, Uptown
$5 admission
Back by popular demand, the Café Scientifique Theory Slam is your chance to take the stage and to present your own theory—scientific or not! Think that lint arises from spontaneous generation in the belly button? Do you have a way to test that theory? Competitors will each have three minutes to present their data to audience judges. A panel of science experts will be on hand to discuss the plausibility and creativity of these odd and often hilarious “theories,� as well as how the process of scientific research helps us to understand the world.

May 7, 2007

Rebuilding After Katrina 5/16

2006–07 IT Public Lecture

Craig Johnson (M.S. CivE '79)
Vice President, Stanley Consultants, and Senior Project Manager, Task Force Guardian

Wednesday, May 16, 2007
6:30 Cookies & Coffee Reception
7 p.m. Lecture
Coffman Memorial Union Theater

Institute of Technology alumnus Craig Johnson will discuss rebuilding the hurricane protection system in New Orleans and restoring the public's trust in the city's infrastructure

April 15, 2007

Biofuels: Economic Prospects and Environmental Implications 5/1

May 1st, 2007
1:00 - 3:30 p.m.
335 Borlaug Hall

Economic Impacts: Markets, Consumers, and Communities
Keynote Speaker - Bruce Babcock (Iowa State)

Environmental Challenges and Opportunities in Biofuel Feedstock Production
Keynote Speaker - Wally Wilhelm (UNL - USDA)

Increased renewable energy production from bio-resources will significantly increase competition for agricultural and natural resources. It also will intensify land use issues among food, fuel, fiber, urbanization, and environmental services. These complex changes will produce global economic and environmental impacts that will not be universally beneficial.

For additional information look here.

April 11, 2007

Epidemics in Technological and Social Networks: The Downside of Six Degrees of Separation 4/18

Jennifer Tour Chayes
Manager of the Theory Group and Research Area Manager for Mathematics and Theoretical Computer Science
Microsoft Research

April 18, 2007
7:00 pm, Willey Hall 125

For further information check here.

April 2, 2007

Cafe Scientifique: Happy Birthday Linnaeus 5/8

Tuesday, May 8, 6 p.m.
Loring Pasta Bar, Dinkytown
$5 suggested donation
Carl Linnaeus is often called the father of taxonomy. His system for naming, ranking, and classifying organisms is still in use today, 300 years after he was born in Sweden. On the eve of Linnaeus’ 300th birthday, Café Scientifique explores his life and legacy with University of Minnesota history of science professor Sally Gregory Kohlstedt and University of Minnesota entomology graduate student Greg Setliff.

March 5, 2007

Knovel University Challenge

Take the University Challenge!
You Could Win a $1500 Scholarship or one of eight iPod prizes!
Answer 5 questions correctly here and you will be entered in the Knovel University Challenge. The contest ends April 5, 2007.

March 4, 2007

Patterns Patterns Everywhere 3/7

IMA Public Lecture:
Patterns Patterns Everywhere
Martin Golubitsky, Cullen Distinguished Professor of Mathematics
University of Houston

March 7, 2007, 7:00 pm, Willey Hall 125

In this lecture, Professor Golubitsky will show some of these fascinating patterns and explain how mathematical symmetry enters the picture.

March 1, 2007

Shake, Rattle, and Roll 3/22

Ada Comstock Distinguished Women Scholars Lecture

Shake, Rattle, and Roll: Testing Structures to Their Limits
Catherine French, professor of civil engineering at the University of Minnesota.

Free and open to the public. RSVP to 612-625-9837 or women@umn.edu. 7:30 p.m., Cowles, Auditorium, Hubert H. Humphrey Center.

Probing Einstein's Universe 3/21

Barry C. Barish, Ronald and Maxine Linde Professor of Physics, Emeritus
CALTECH, Pasadena, CA
2007 Abigail and John Van Vleck Lectures
4:00 p.m., Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Tate Laboratory of Physics, Room 150, Van Vleck Auditorium

As a consequence of his theory of general relativity, Einstein predicted the existence of a new physical phenomenon called gravitational radiation. The science of gravitational waves, the status of the searches and the prospects for detection will be discussed.

Nature and Nanotechnology 3/13

CAFÉ SCIENTIFIQUE
Tuesday, March 13, 6 p.m.
Varsity Theater, Dinkytown
$5 suggested donation
What is nanotechnology? U of M researchers discuss how nature and technology work on an ultra-small scale. From medicine to environmental science, what are some of the possible applications of new nanotechnologies, and how do researchers assess the possible risks?

February 26, 2007

Science on Screen: To Dream Tomorrow 3/1

Bell Museum Auditorium
Thursday, March 1, 2007, 7 pm
$7; $5 students, seniors and Bell Museum members

To Dream Tomorrow
A documentary on Ada Byron Lovelace, her work with Charles Babbage, and their contributions to computing over one hundred years before the start of the computer age. Daughter of a mathematically gifted mother and the poet Lord Byron, Ada's life was unconventional, daring, and short.

February 21, 2007

Transportation Career Expo 3/1

12th Annual Transportation Career Expo
March 1, 2007, 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Coffman Memorial Union

This afternoon event provides information to students on transportation-related careers. Sessions highlight transportation career alternatives and preparation strategies.

February 15, 2007

IT celebrates National Engineers Week

The Institute of Technology will host engineering-related events for students on Fri., Feb. 23, at 3-180 Electical Engineering/Computer Science Building:

11 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.: Lunch
11 a.m. – 2 p.m.: Student group booths
12:10 p.m. – 12:15 p.m.: Welcome from Institute of Technology Dean Steven Crouch
12:15 p.m. – 12:45 p.m.: Professor Jim Leger discusses engineering majors
12:45 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.: Student panel of juniors, seniors, and recent alumni in engineering majors discuss their experiences, give tips for succeeding in engineering programs, and answer questions from the audience.

February 14, 2007

Making (Virtual) Friends and Influencing (Virtual) People

DTC Science and Technology Innovators Lecture Series
Making (Virtual) Friends and Influencing (Virtual) People: Building Rapport in Humans and Virtual Humans

Justine Cassell
Northwestern University

Tuesday, February 20, 2007, 4:30 p.m. reception, 5:00 p.m. seminar
402 Walter Library

Ms. Cassell describes the kinds of verbal behaviors — such as small talk and using the same accent — and non-verbal behaviors — such as attention, positivity, and coordination — that function together to establish a sense of rapport between two people in conversation.

February 8, 2007

Understanding Evolution 2/13

Tuesday, February 13, 6 p.m.
Varsity Theater, Dinkytown
$5 suggested donation
A panel of University of Minnesota researchers discusses evolutionary biology and the history of America's cultural response to teaching evolution. Learn about new research from Professor and science blogger PZ Myers, Bell Museum Director Scott Lanyon, and historian and biologist Mark Borrello.

January 31, 2007

Fluid Power Lecture Professor Kim Stelson 2/6

2006–07 IT Public Lecture
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
6 p.m. Reception, 7 p.m. Lecture
402 Walter Library

In this lecture, U of M Mechanical Engineering Professor Kim Stelson, who also serves as director of the Institute of Technology’s new NSF Center for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power, will explain how researchers at the center are working on new ways to save energy and improve our lives by using fluid power.

January 27, 2007

The Road to Reality: A Complete Guide to the Laws of the Universe 2/2

Best-selling author and noted physicist Roger Penrose, a Professor of Mathematics at Oxford University, will discuss his book The Road to Reality: A Complete Guide to the Laws of the Universe on February 2 at 7:00 p.m. at the University of Minnesota Bookstore in Coffman Memorial Union

January 23, 2007

Pathways Toward a Renewable Energy Future 2/1

Biofuels Symposium

Pathways Toward a Renewable Energy Future

This symposium brings together experts to discuss how we can reduce our dependence on fossil fuels by producing sustainable, environmentally-friendly, and abundant biofuels. Register online. Free and open to the public. 1:30 p.m. –4:30 p.m., Cargill Building for Microbial and Plant Genomics, St Paul Campus.

FFI: 612-624-7258 or here.

The Future Is Not What It Used to Be 1/25

Science on Screen
Bell Museum Auditorium
Thursdays at 7 p.m., $7; $5 students, seniors and Bell Museum members

The career of Finnish visionary Erkki Kurenniemi encompasses music, film, computers and robotics, and explores the interrelationships between art, nature and technology. Today, he pursues the most significant of all his projects: the task of collecting everything.

January 11, 2007

Making Sense of a Complex World 1/18

IMA Public Lecture: Making Sense of a Complex World
Christopher J. Budd, Professor in Applied Mathematics and
Director of the Centre for Nonlinear Mechanics
University of Bath, England

January 18, 2007, 7:00 pm, Willey Hall 125

Professor Budd will explain how simple properties often emerge from seemingly very complex systems, and how we can use these properties to gain understanding.


January 10, 2007

Scientific Challenges in Sustainable Energy Technology 1/17

George L. Argyros Professor and Professor of Chemistry, Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering,
California Institute of Technology.

3:30 p.m., 402 Walter Library.

FFI: jhd@me.umn.edu

The Art of the Start: Guy Kawasaki 1/19

Friday, January 19, 2007 1:00 PM

Guy Kawasaki, one of the individuals behind the success of the Macintosh, is an innovation evangelist, entrepreneur, and a venture capitalist. He will speak on the fundamental knowledge needed to start a new organization. The event is full but you can attend the simulcast in the Carlson School 3M auditorium.

December 15, 2006

Physics Force 1/11

University physics professor Dan Dahlberg and several current or retired Twin cities high school physics teachers use imaginative and humorous stunts to illustrate how the physics that govern our lives work and to show that their favorite science can be fun.

Time: 7 p.m.
Place: Northrop Auditorium, 84 Church St. S.E., Minneapolis
Cost: Free

For further information check this webpage.

December 13, 2006

Cafe Scientifique: The Cannabis Controversy 1/9

Tuesday, January 9, 2007, 6 p.m.
Varsity Theatre, Dinkytown
$5 suggested donation

One of the earliest known cultivated plants, Cannabis sativa has long been used for disparate purposes. In the form of hemp, Cannabis produces nutritious seeds and strong, resilient fibers that are used to make rope and clothing. In the form of marijuana, Cannabis is the most abundant illegal drug in the United States. Minnesota farmers once supplied the hemp industry but today all hemp fiber is imported from abroad because state and federal law bans all Cannabis plants. Interest in hemp as a renewable resource and in medical marijuana has fueled a Cannabis controversy with political implications. Several states recently passed laws in direct conflict with federal regulations. Can the controversy be resolved? What can science contribute? Bell Museum curator of plants George Weiblen discusses the science and politics of this most controversial plant.

December 5, 2006

Cafe Scientifique: Comet Dust and Wind from the Sun 12/12

Tuesday, December 12, 6p.m.
Varsity Theatre, Dinkytown
$5 suggested donation
How do researchers study the makeup of comets and other phenomena that are literally “out of this world?� U of M physics and astronomy professor Bob Pepin tells how he examines comet dust and particles from the sun that have been collected by NASA's Stardust and Genesis missions.

November 29, 2006

Green Green Water 11/30

Science on Screen
Bell Museum Auditorium
Thursday, November 30, 2006, 7 p.m.
$3-10 (pay what you can)
The Bell Museum and EcoWatch present a special screening and appearance by local filmmaker Dawn Mikkelson. Green Green Water explores the environmental and cultural impact of hydroelectric power in Manitoba. For further information check here.

November 8, 2006

The Relationship of Science and Politics in Environmental Policy Making 11/14

Lunch Series on the Societal Implications of the Life Sciences

Date: November 14, 2006
Time: 12:15pm-1:30pm
Location: Theater, Coffman Memorial Union

Prof. Holly Doremus, JD, PhD (University of California, Davis)

For further information check this website.

October 26, 2006

The Social Web, John Riedl, 11/2 7 p.m.

What is the social Web? How did it happen? And why is it so important? John Riedl, professor of computer science and engineering at the University of Minnesota, will discuss these and other questions at the next Headliners discussion series at 7 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 2, at the Continuing Education and Conference Center, Room 135, Buford Ave., St. Paul. Tickets cost $10 and can be obtained by calling (612) 624-4000, following the link or at the door.

IMA Public Lecture: How Hard Can It Be? Margaret H. Wright 11/2

IMA Public Lecture: How Hard Can It Be?
This lecture looks at look at easy problems, hard problems, the sources of hardness, and puzzling instances where problems are invariably easier than today's math says they should be.
Margaret H. Wright, Silver Professor of Computer Science, Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University
November 2, 2006 7:00 pm, Willey Hall 125

October 1, 2006

Moving Toward Sustainable Energy Systems - Center for Science, Technology and Public Policy

October 24- 25 Moving Toward Sustainable Energy Systems: Exploring Global Pathways to a Common Destination
Center for Science, Technology and Public Policy, Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs

Workshop will compare constraints on and opportunities for creating economically viable and environmentally sound energy futures around the globe, particularly in the Upper Midwest and India.

FFI: albot@002@umn.edu or 612-626-1593