Features

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September 30, 2011

Up, up and away!

The Center for Chinese Studies and the Confucius Institute recently hosted the New Millenium Kite Festival at Nichols Arboretum. Hundreds of people enjoyed kite demonstrations, music, lion dancing, and trying out kites that they had made themselves. The festive event and beautiful weather were a fitting way to mark the start of the Center for Chinese Studies’ 50th anniversary year.

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September 29, 2011

Making a big impact

Two College of Engineering students earned first place honors and $5,000 each in the 18th annual Tauber Institute for Global Operations’ Spotlight! team competition held recently at the Ross School of Business. The judges were impressed with the improvements and process changes that they had recommended during their 14-week summer project at BorgWarner Thermal Systems in Cadillac, Michigan.

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September 27, 2011

Going Green, Staying Blue

President Mary Sue Coleman has just announced ambitious new sustainability goals for the U-M campus. Her address highlighted research and academic achievements, as well as reported operational findings from the Campus Sustainability Integrated Assessment, a two-year project that examined environmental sustainability on campus.

Photo: Scott Soderberg, U-M Photo Services

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September 26, 2011

Celebrate the planet

The Diag will transform into a platform for sustainability with information, activities and entertainment at EarthFest 2011 on Sept 27. Prior to the event, U-M President Mary Sue Coleman will announce future goals in academics and operations that will expand upon the university’s current commitment to sustainability.

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September 23, 2011

Birds of America

The Audubon Room in the Hatcher Graduate Library Gallery displays some of the greatest treasures from U-M’s collections. One of which is John James Audubon’s “Birds of America.” Purchased by the Regents in 1838, this collection of scientifically accurate, as well as beautiful, hand-colored prints is featured one volume at a time with a page turned each week.

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September 22, 2011

Stable MABEL

Running up to 6.8 miles per hour, MABEL is believed to be the world’s fastest bipedal robot with knees. U-M researchers have been “training” MABEL to walk smoothly over flat surfaces, then on uneven ground, and now to jog. They accomplished this by progressively improving the feedback algorithms that enable the robot to keep its balance while reacting to its environment.

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September 21, 2011

Mozart of modern dance

Choreographer Mark Morris presents modern dance with a unique artistry that reflects his profound and sophisticated love of music. The Washington Post has even declared him “our Mozart of modern dance.” The University Musical Society is bringing his world-renowned company, the Mark Morris Dance Group, to the Power Center on Sept. 23 and 24.

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September 20, 2011

Uncommon Commons

The recent opening of the Robert B. Aikens Commons leaves little doubt about where the social heart of the Law School now lies. Built on the site of a disused courtyard, the commons features a striking curved glass roof supported by tree-like steel beams, gathering spots, spaces for student organizations, meeting rooms and a café.

Photo: Philip Dattilo Photography

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September 19, 2011

President’s Student Open House

Each fall U-M President Mary Sue Coleman participates in campus welcome events, including an open house at the historic President’s House on Sept. 20 that provides students the opportunity to visit with her. The President’s House is the oldest building on the U-M campus. It was constructed to house faculty in 1837 when the university moved from Detroit to Ann Arbor.

Photo: Austin Thomason, U-M Photo Services

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September 16, 2011

Three, two, one ... blast off!

Incoming College of Engineering freshmen compete in a ping-pong ball launcher contest the week before classes start. The contest was part of an experiential and innovative 36-hour program called Design Immersion that gives new students an introduction to the creative and collaborative problem-solving practices of engineering.

Photo: Marcin Szczepanski, Multimedia Content Producer/College of Engineering

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September 15, 2011

Last taste of summer

Campus bees and butterflies enjoy the butterfly garden planted by local children during the Exhibit Museum of Natural History’s Butterfly Festival last spring. The museum hosts a variety of special events throughout the year for school groups and the community where U-M student docents lead hands-on activities, experiments and presentations about nature and science.

Photo: Shelbey Roberts, U-M School of Public Health communications intern

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September 14, 2011

Today at Michigan

Associate vice provost and executive director of undergraduate admissions, Ted Spencer, was recently interviewed on campus by the Today Show for a segment on how to choose the right college that will air in late September. It is part of NBC News’ Education Nation initiative designed to engage the country in a “solutions-focused conversation about the state of education in America.”

Photo: Austin Thomason, U-M Photo Services

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September 13, 2011

Lighting the way

A new $13-million National Science Foundation center based at U-M will be developing high-tech materials that manipulate light in new ways. The Center for Photonic and Multiscale Nanomaterials involves U-M engineering and physics researchers, as well as collaborators at Purdue University and other institutions. Its research could enable advances such as invisibility cloaks, nanoscale lasers, high-efficiency lighting, and quantum computers.

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September 12, 2011

The Michigan Difference returns

A new Michigan Difference television ad highlighting C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital, which are scheduled to open a new building this fall, recently debuted. A website featuring the entire U-M Health System marketing campaign has also been created to share the stories of the patients, families, faculty, nurses and staff who make up the Michigan Difference.

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September 9, 2011

9/11: Ten years later

‘The tragic events of September 11, 2001, left the world with myriad questions. How do we fashion foreign and domestic policy? How do we balance security and liberty? How do we strive toward justice and peace? As a university community, we can honor those who lost their lives through our resolute pursuit of answers, of solutions, of understanding.’

—U-M President Mary Sue Coleman

Photo: Martin Vloet, U-M Photo Services

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September 8, 2011

Powering breakthrough technologies

U-M start-up Ambiq Micro’s energy-efficient microcontrollers are just one square millimeter in size and designed to last for dozens of years. Their power-frugal, miniature package will allow for high impact breakthroughs such as an implantable device to measure eye pressure in a glaucoma patient, or “smart paint” on bridges that can warn of impending failures.

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September 7, 2011

Getting involved at Michigan

Festifall, an event where more than 1,000 campus organizations and university departments showcase what they have to offer to the student community and recruit new members, will take over the Central Campus Diag on Sept. 8. Its North Campus counterpart, Northfest, will take place on the North Campus Diag on Sept. 13.

Photo: Austin Thomason, U-M Photo Services

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September 5, 2011

Big House salute and send off

The race crew from the U-M Solar Car Team was introduced to a crowd of cheering Michigan fans during the football season opener against Western Michigan on Saturday. Currently America’s #1 solar car team, they will be leaving town next week with their 11th car, Quantum, to participate in the 1,800-mile World Solar Challenge in Australia.

Photo: Scott Soderberg, U-M Photo Services

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September 2, 2011

Campus comes to life

Move-In, the annual ritual of unloading and unpacking students for another year at U-M, began on Wednesday. Nearly 30 percent of the student population lives in University Housing. Most first-year students choose to live in U-M residence communities. Facilities include 18 residence halls, a co-operative residence for women and apartments on North Campus that accommodate undergraduates, students with families and graduate students.

Photo: Marcin Szczepanski, Multimedia Content Producer/College of Engineering

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September 1, 2011

How did you spend your summer?

The William Davidson Institute sponsored 21 U-M students through its Global Impact Internship program this summer. The interns worked on innovative projects in 10 countries over four continents. They represented six schools and colleges, including: the Ross School of Business, the Ford School of Public Policy, the School of Public Health, the School of Natural Resources and Environment, the Medical School, and the College of Engineering.