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