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

Freshman four-year graduation guarantee

U of M freshmen can participate in the University of Minnesota's Four-Year Graduation Plan. The guarantee is a partnership between you and the University. If you meet the expectations for eligibility, planning, and performance, we promise you will have access to the classes and advising you need to graduate in four years!

If you are a participant in this program and cannot graduate in four years because a class is unavailable, the University will approve a substitute course, waive the requirement, or pay the tuition.

All of the engineering, physical science and mathematics degree programs found in the Institute of Technology are designed to be four-year programs.

You will receive information about this program before freshman orientation. However, if you are interested in learning more now, you may explore details and guidelines online.

Freshman job guarantee

Working while you earn your degree is an excellent way to finance your education and gain valuable employment experience. We have over 10,000 student jobs on or near campus, and the University of Minnesota Job Center makes it easy and convenient to find a job you will like. In fact, we guarantee it.

In the spring, students who have been admitted to the University will receive a postcard and email about the Freshman Job Guarantee Program. The first 500 students who sign up for the program online are eligible to participate. In the fall, we hold a job fair with a variety of campus employers. Students participating in the job guarantee program can attend the fair and conduct interviews on-the-spot! Jobs include positions in recreational sports, landcare, food service, parking, and more.

You don't have to participate in the job guarantee program in order to find a job on campus. As an IT student you will have the opportunity to talk with your professional academic adviser, career counselors at the Career Center for Science and Engineering, your professors or even the student groups in which you are involved to learn more about on-campus jobs. 

Where did I work as an undergraduate student? I found my undergraduate research assistant position in the Multi-Axial Subassemblage Testing (MAST) Laboratory by talking with my professor outside of class one day!

(That's me in the blue shirt!)

-Dani

We guarantee it!

We all love to hear that phrase, right?

As Tommy from Tommy Boy so memorably puts it, "Guy puts a fancy guarantee on a box 'cause he wants you to feel all warm and toasty inside." Sure, guarantees give people the warm fuzzies, but here at the University of Minnesota we're a bit more serious about the guarantees we make.

Let's say you want to earn your degree in four years. You want to live on campus. You want a job on campus.

You're in luck! The University of Minnesota guarantees all three for new freshmen:

• Freshman housing guarantee
• Freshman four-year graduation guarantee
• Freshman job guarantee

Stay tuned to learn more about each of the guarantees that the University of Minnesota offers all admitted first-year freshman!

Dani

Freshman housing guarantee

As a University of Minnesota student, you can choose to live in a campus residence hall or apartment. By living on campus, you will find academic and social support to help you be successful. Currently, over 75 percent of new freshmen live in University housing.

The University of Minnesota guarantees housing to all admitted first-year freshmen who are willing to accept assignment to any space designated, and who:

• Submit the housing application-contract with the $25 non-refundable housing application fee to Housing & Residential Life no later than May 1; and
• Submit the enrollment confirmation fee to the Office of Admissions no later than May 1.

We encourage you to apply early! Housing assignments are based on the date your housing application-contract is received. When you apply early, you increase your chances of receiving your first-choice residence hall.

 Dani

Research in the Institute of Technology

The Institute of Technology (College of Science and Engineering) at the University of Minnesota is home to amazing research facilities.  IT has some great research labs outside of Minneapolis and Saint Paul (like the labs mentioned in previous blog posts found in Soudan, MN and the new lab being built in Ash River, MN), and research labs right on campus!

No matter what you are interested in studying, each degree program in the Institute of Technology offers laboratory experiences.  In fact, the Institute of Technology has a number of college and intercollegaite research centers where faculty members and students conduct cutting-edge research.

Check out the Saint Anthony Falls Laboratory...

-Dani

Update on my trip to the mines

A couple of weeks ago I was fortunate enough to be able to go up to Soudan, Minn. to tour the Sound Underground Mines and the Soudan Underground Laboratory. While there I learned all about the history of the mines (I definitely suggest stopping by for a tour if you are ever in the neighborhood!), and learning about all of the fantastic physics experiments being conducted underground.

I also learned that the University is building another lab for the School of Physics and Astronomy near the Ash River (about 40 miles southeast of International Falls) called the NuMI Off-Axis Electron Neutrino Appearance (NOvA) detector facility. Learn more about this brand-new facility by watching the video below:

Who knows? Maybe someday you'll be working on a research project in this lab!

-Dani

Snow days

Being a native Alabamian, this crazy Minnesota climate often facinates me...especially when I'm driving down snow-covered streets on my way to campus. 

I find myself wondering about what it takes to ensure the safety of the streets we rely on after all these big snowfalls. I guess this isn't a surprise considering the state of Alabama must only own a handful of snowplows (don't quote me on that!). I assume there must be a limited quantity due to the fact that I never once saw a snowplow in action growing up. Trying imagining that up here!

A snow plow on the streets of St. Paul, circa 1917. Oh, how technology has changed! (source)

It seems that I'm not the only one at the University of Minnesota that's thinking about snowplows!  Researchers in the mechanical engineering department are developing technology that will essentially create 'smarter' snowplows, which I'm sure we all agree could benefit Minnesotans.

Check out the new technology here.

Safe driving,

Dani

Physics Circus and trip to the mines

Don't forget--the Physics Circus in this Thursday, January 7, 2010, in Northrop Memorial Auditorium! I encourage you to come to campus for the fun, free event to see exciting physics demonstrations performed by Physics Force (you can also catch them online here).

As a side note, I am off to Soudan, Minnesota, to visit the Soudan Underground Laboratory at the Soudan Underground Mine State Park.  Despite the cold weather up north, I am so stoked to be visiting the lab--they may have detected 'dark matter'!

Dani

Exciting changes for the IT

Effective July 1, 2010, the Institute of Technology will be called the College of Science and Engineering!

The University of Minnesota Board of Regents has approved a name change for the Institute of Technology. IT, which houses the University's engineering, physical sciences, and mathematics majors, will become the "College of Science and Engineering" this summer.

This isn't the first name change for the college, which was established in 1884 as the College of Engineering. In fact, it was in 1935 that the present-day Institute of Technology was created by consolidating architecture, mines, and chemistry majors in one collegiate unit that already consisted of engineering, physics, geology and mathematics. 

Many things have changed since then (for instance, in 1989 the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture separated from IT to become its own college within the University). You can learn more about these important milestones by visiting the Historical Milestones portion of the college's Web site.
Dani