Faculty and Staff from U at Capitol
The House Higher Education Committee heard from faculty from the University of Minnesota Crookston, Morris, Duluth and Twin Cities campuses. All did a nice job of describing their respective campuses, profiling their students, and expressing concern about what the future will hold unless there is a commitment of state funding. Professor Sullivan stated that the U is on the verge of a great leap forward, however the state’s financial commitment is essential if this is to happen.
University of Minnesota faculty continue to testify at numerous committees to share the impact of University research on the economy of Minnesota and the lives of Minnesotans:
The Center for Transportation Studies presented in front of the Senate Transportation Committee. Bob Johns, Director of the Center for Transportation Studies, gave a presentation entitled "Center for Transportation Studies" and answered several questions from the committee. Nick Ward, Director of the HumanFIRST Program at the University of Minnesota, gave a presentation entitled "Intelligent Technology for Safe Traffic.� The presentation highlighted research done on transportation planning and technological advancements for reducing traffic accidents.
Three faculty from the University of Minnesota participated in a historic joint House and Senate hearing held in the House Chamber of six House and Senate committees late Tuesday afternoon on global warming. The faculty members participating where Dr. David Tilman, Dr. Lee Frelich, Dr. Lucinda Johnson.
On Wednesday Morning Dean Bev Durgan presented the report from the Plant Licensing Task Force to the House Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs committee. The task force worked throughout the summer and fall discussing the licensing of germplasm at the University.
Dean Al Levine, Dean Bev Durgan, and Dean Jeff Klausner made a presentation about University of Minnesota agricultural research before the House Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Finance Division. The presentation highlighted the wide variety of research that affects Minnesota’s agricultural economy.
Dean Bob Elde made a presentation on the future of biofuels before the House Biosciences and Emerging Technology Committee on Wednesday morning emphasizing research being done at the University through IREE funding.
On Thursday morning Dean Elde was in front of a joint committee hearing of four different House committees. The topic was once again biofuels. This time Dean Elde was joined by faculty from Princeton, University of California, Berkley and a researcher from the National Biofuels Laboratory in Golden Colorado. The presentations focused on challenges and opportunities, for Minnesota and the country, of increased biofuel use.
