University of Michigan Features

Engineering blood vessels

Mon, 20 May 2013 08:00:00 -0400

One of the obstacles to growing new organs — hearts, lungs and kidneys — is the difficulty researchers face in building blood vessels that keep the tissues alive. U-M researchers are addressing this roadblock. They have revealed how one of the current approaches is making leaky tubes and demonstrated how adult stem cells could help solve this problem.

UMS celebrates Hill

Fri, 17 May 2013 08:00:00 -0400

Hill Auditorium hosted its first concert 100 years ago this week. To mark this occasion, the University Musical Society (UMS) has produced an original, feature-length documentary called “A Space for Music, A Seat for Everyone: 100 Years of UMS in Hill Auditorium.” It is scheduled to air on Detroit Public Television on May 19 at 5 pm (WTVS – Channel 56.1).

Photo Credit: Scott R. Galvin, Michigan Photography

Creating a healthier environment

Thu, 16 May 2013 08:00:00 -0400

For the seventh consecutive year, the U-M Hospitals and Health Centers has received the Environmental Leadership Circle Award, Practice Greenhealth’s most prestigious honor. In 2012, 3.5 million pounds of trash were diverted from the landfill through UMHHC’s recycling efforts and energy efficiency was increased by 5 percent in existing buildings.

Photo Credit: Austin Thomason, Michigan Photography

Ground lines

Wed, 15 May 2013 08:00:00 -0400

An installation called “Re Framing Nature,” created by a Stamps School of Art & Design student, was recently on display at Work • Detroit. Made up of collected and altered plant materials, this senior project explored how manipulation could transform the perception of decaying plants into something beautiful and full of life.

Designing the future

Tue, 14 May 2013 08:00:00 -0400

Students, staff and faculty recently attended the U-M College of Engineering’s Design Expo at the Duderstadt Center on North Campus. The expo gives students the opportunity to showcase their achievements in engineering design and prototyping, and also to demonstrate the applications of studies that solve real-world problems.

Road Scholars 2013

Mon, 13 May 2013 08:00:00 -0400

The Michigan Road Scholars’ 14th annual five-day journey recently took 30 faculty and staff members from Detroit to the Upper Peninsula, and from Grand Rapids to Bay City to learn how the state is adapting to the new knowledge-based economy. This “seminar on wheels” allows scholars to identify ways U-M can contribute expertise to local and regional initiatives.

Inspiring creativity

Fri, 10 May 2013 08:00:00 -0400

Creativity is considered the life force behind great art, music and literature, but it also guides innovation and advancement across academic fields. Five U-M faculty members from engineering, art & design, music, theatre & dance, and architecture are helping undergraduate students from all fields tap into their creativity through a hands-on Creative Process course.

Photo Credit: Scott C. Soderberg, Michigan Photography

Entrepreneurial impact

Thu, 09 May 2013 08:00:00 -0400

Members of Centricycle take pictures of a sample from the group's manual centrifuge. CentriCycle is dedicated to bringing appropriate, simple medical technology to rural India. Its first product is a portable manual centrifuge that runs without electricity. Business Insider recently named the group one of the best college startups in the country.

Inside the tower

Wed, 08 May 2013 08:00:00 -0400

It’s such a part of campus life that the melodies coming from Burton Memorial Tower may go unnoticed. Most people don’t even realize that there is someone up there making music. A new LSA Today video provides a tour of the Charles Baird Carillon and its 43,000 pounds of bells on the tenth floor of the tower.

Photo Credit: Eric Bronson, Michigan Photography

Déjà vu all over again

Tue, 07 May 2013 08:00:00 -0400

The No. 10 U-M softball team recently defeated Northwestern at the Wilpon Complex, home of Alumni Field, to lock up a 2-1 victory and its sixth consecutive Big Ten championship. The Wolverines have the most conference titles of all-time with 16 and are the only team ever to have won six consecutively.

Educating clinical educators

Mon, 06 May 2013 08:00:00 -0400

A new master’s degree program in Health Professions Education at the U-M Medical School will help doctors, nurses and other health professionals learn how to educate future members of their professions — and address the worldwide shortage of many types of health care providers. This unique program will admit its first 12 students for this fall.

Photo Credit: Leisa Thompson, University of Michigan Health System

Congratulations Class of 2013!

Fri, 03 May 2013 08:00:00 -0400

The U-M Spring Commencement took place at Michigan Stadium on May 4. Richard (Dick) Costolo, Twitter CEO and U-M alumnus addressed graduates as they became part of the largest (and proudest) living alumni group in the world. Many schools and colleges will also hold separate ceremonies on campus for their graduates and candidates May 2-5.

Photo Credit: Austin Thomason, Michigan Photography

Michigan glee

Thu, 02 May 2013 08:00:00 -0400

Founded in 1859, the multi-platinum U-M Men's Glee Club is one of the oldest collegiate choruses in the United States. Its graduate and undergraduate members, who are chosen by audition, represent a wide spectrum of majors from U-M’s 19 schools and colleges. The club gives them the opportunity to perform all over the country and the world.

Photo Credit: Eric Bronson, Michigan Photography

A candid look

Wed, 01 May 2013 08:00:00 -0400

Students from the U-M Department of Screen Arts & Cultures recently took a deep dive into the U-M Library’s largest archive, the Robert Altman collection. The result is an expansive exhibit, “The Many Hats of Robert Altman: A Life in Cinema,” which will be on display in the Hatcher Graduate Library Gallery through June 30.

Finding the right formula

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 08:00:00 -0400

The U-M School of Education’s Dean Deborah Ball, one of the nation's leading math education experts, spends two weeks each summer leading the Elementary Mathematics Laboratory. A recent video features her work with this effort that combines research, education and community outreach to develop teaching techniques that can be applied to a variety of subject areas.

Record-breaking algae

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 08:00:00 -0400

U-M researchers have found that a series of intense spring rainstorms and runoff events resulted in high levels of phosphorus, a nutrient in crop fertilizers, washing into western Lake Erie. These conditions created a record-breaking algae bloom that covered about 2,000 square miles by the time it peaked in October 2011.

Photo Credit: Michigan Sea Grant

Google Art Project

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 08:00:00 -0400

The U-M Museum of Art recently began participating in the Google Art Project, an online virtual journey to a front-row seat to some of the most fascinating artworks in the world. Launched two years ago, the project now features more than 150 renowned art museums in 40 countries. More than 40,000 high-resolution objects are available to be viewed.

Photo Credit: Scott Soderberg, Michigan Photography

Gymnastics champs

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 08:00:00 -0400

The Wolverine gymnasts have had a stellar year. The U-M men’s gymnastics team recently captured its fifth NCAA title, and junior Sam Mikulak took two individual national crowns, winning the parallel bars and high bar titles. Junior Joanna Sampson won the floor exercise title at the women's NCAA championships. Go Blue!

Photo Credit: Michigan Photography

Sharing solutions

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 08:00:00 -0400

Each spring, the Ford School of Public Policy faculty and staff nominate outstanding student research and service projects for recognition at the Gramlich Showcase of Student Work. The event, which began in 2008 to honor renowned economist and former Ford School dean, Ned Gramlich, features work focused on a broad range of local, national and international policy challenges.

UROP turns 25

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 08:00:00 -0400

Today, more than 1,300 students and 700 faculty researchers participate in U-M’s Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program. It is ranked among U.S. News & World Report’s top programs. To celebrate its silver anniversary this year, there will be a series of events beginning with the UROP Spring Research Symposium on April 24 at the Michigan League.

Photo Credit: Scott R. Galvin, Michigan Photography