Over and out!

Today is my last day working in the Office of Admissions as the Institute of Technology freshman admissions counselor. Acknowledging this fact, I have bittersweet feelings about only having a few more hours here.

I have enjoyed working with students, parents, and educators to introduce you all to the college I love – the Institute of Technology (or, the College of Science and Engineering as it will be known in July!). This was the best transition I could have had to my future – I am on my way to become a high school mathematics teacher!

My undergraduate education in the Institute of Technology inspired me to ask questions, discover new ideas, and stretch myself intellectually. It fueled my passion for mathematics. After working with high school students for almost two years in this position, I know that I am ready to inspire minds at the high school level, just as I was inspired here at the University of Minnesota in IT.

On that note – I will leave you here:

If you are driven to discover, if you're excited to learn and ask questions, if you ask yourself What is my unrelenting passion?, then check out how the Institute of Technology can help you discover greatness!

Click here to learn more about Mobius Transformations!

Dani

Unveiling of the Centaurus II

The Solar Vehicle Project (a student group and competitive project team in the Institute of Technology) just unveiled it's new solar powered endeavor -- the Centaurus II!  This project gets a lot of publicity in the news, not only due to the innovative engineering ideas that current students in the Institute of Technology use to build and design the car, but also because of the historical stellar performance of the car and team.  For instance, last year they placed first overall at the 2009 Formula Sun Gran Prix with the Centaurus I!

The car was unveiled to the public last Friday, April 7th, and I was able to get some inside facts from Solar Vehicle Project team member, Gareth Westler, a senior in Material Science and Engineering.  Take a look:

You can learn more about the Solar Vehicle Project by checking out their Web site here: Solar Vehicle Project and YouTube site.  Check out the official University of Minnesota - Solar Vehicle Project Centaurus II unveiling video below to learn even more about this facinating project that you could be a part of as a student in the Institute of Technology (College of Science and Engineering)!

Enjoy!

Dani

Turning Science Fiction into Reality

Students participating in the Institute of Technology's Solar Vehicle Project (SVP) are turning science fiction into reality! Through the years, students at the U of M studying engineering, physical sciences and mathematics have come together to build and race cars powered only by the sun.  The University of Minnesota’s car, the Centaurus II, is a completely new generation design from the university’s previous seven solar vehicles. Take a look at last year's solar car, the Centaurus I:

Centaurus I

The all-new Centaurus II will be unveiled to the public on Friday, May 7, 2010, from 2:30-4:00 p.m. behind Lind Hall on the U of M campus.  For more information on the public viewing, click here.

Come take a look at a project that you could be working on as a student in the College of Science and Engineering!

Dani

I.T. Week

There are many traditions to be found in the Insitute of Technology -- from celebrating 'Pi Day' (3.14) to celebrating the end of that first year of engineering, mathematics and science courses -- IT students are ready to show their pride for the Institute of Technology!

That's where IT Week comes in. This is one week celebrating all things IT! This year's IT Week is an especially important one -- this is the last IT Week that the college, students, faculty and staff will celebrate, as the college name will change on July 1, 2010 to the College of Science and Engineering.

Check out the Insitute of Technology Student Board website, as well as the Plumb Bob website, to learn all about this week's celebration of IT!

Dani

"Water for Mulobere"

 you have visited campus recently, more than likely you saw this video during your admissions information session.  The video features Brian Bell, a civil engineering student in the Institute of Technology, who worked with Engineers without Borders (EWB) to research ways to alleviate trash problems in developing countried like Haiti.

Institute of Technology student Brian Bell of Engineers Without Borders

Every time I see this video clip, I have to remind myself that these are University of Minnesota students, studying engineering and the sciences, who are developing these innovative ways to solve global problems.  Just think, this could be your future -- using what you are learning in the Institute of Technology to have a positive impact on the world!

The project in Haiti isn't the only real-world issue that our students are working on. In fact, a new documentary film produced by the University of Minnesota's Institute on the Environment features science and engineering students who are part of the University's student chapter of Engineers Without Borders that traveled to Uganda to install a solar-powered water pump at the Hope Integrated Academy.  This film will premiere this Tuesday, April 27th at Coffman Memorial Union Theater on the U of M campus. Check it out: "Water for Mulobere".

"Water for Mulobere" trailer

-Dani

Driven to Discover

Today while I was browsing through the University of Minnesota's Driven to Discover webpage, I came a across a question that instantly caught my attention: "Why is math called the 'queen of sciences'?"  Having graduated from the Institute of Technology with a degree in mathematics, this shouldn't be much of a surprise.

The answer to this question came from assistant mathematics professor, Marta Lewicka, pictured above. (You can find out more about her here, along with 31 other professors in the Institute of Technology who are passionate about mathematics, science and engineering.)

Here's her answer to the question:

"In mathematics, we formulate conjectures and discover principles attesting to the world's order, beauty, and harmony. What is specific to math is that we achieve this through rigorous deduction! One who practices math will know to distinguish between objective statements and guesses or assumptions.  Therefore, mathematics may provide the firm ground to our empirical understanding of the physical phenomena."

Beautifully said, Professor Lewicka-- math is elegant and powerful!

Dani

A smashing time

Have you ever read a news article about science research that was so fascinating that you couldn't stop thinking about it?  Maybe you were thinking about the implications that the research results would have on the science community. Perhaps you were seeing yourself as one of those researchers...on the edge of innovation!

Physics majors Brian Walstrom (seated), Nathan Mirman,

Martin Schroeder, and Tanner Prestegard

Students in the Institute of Technology have a world of opportunity in front of them. For example, the four students pictured above are now helping to put together a physics experiment for the world's biggest particle collider: the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in Geneva, Switzerland.

To learn more about their research experiences with some of the world's top physicists, click here.

Dani