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U Legislative Request and CBS
Interim President Robert Bruininks presented his $96 million request
for new state support for the 2004-05 biennium to the Board of Regents
earlier this month. The request breaks down into four categories:
- $26 million for implementing academic directions
- $88 million for supporting talented faculty and staff
- $20 million for helping students realize educational goals
- $58 million to build and maintain academic infrastructure.
Unlike previous years, no programs or projects are specified because
of the state’s economic outlook, according to Donna Peterson,
Associate Vice President for Government Relations. Lawmakers will need
to address the budget deficit before awarding new funds. It’s
possible that the U will be asked to reduce its budget rather than increase
it, she added. Strategic emphasis will be on maintaining momentum.
However, support materials provided to regents to refer to building
on investments in molecular and cellular biology and to an investment
in biocatalysis. Following is a quote from those materials:
“Biocatalysis is an exciting new opportunity that builds upon
recent investments and University expertise in molecular and cellular
biology, chemical and bioengineering, and agriculture. This technology
holds the tantalizing promise of reducing the world’s dependence
on petrochemicals. At the heart of this technology is the understanding
that biological, rather than petroleum-based, processes, may be designed
and used to manufacture the materials and chemicals upon which society
relies. Beyond the national security interests in having nonpetroleum-derived
sources for plastics and chemicals, the potential for creating new markets
for the agricultural producers of the Midwest is compelling.”
Bruininks proposes a 50-50 financial partnership with the state in
which the
University would fund half of its needs, through cost savings and increased
revenue, and the state would fund the remaining half. Regents are expected
to act on his proposal at the November board meeting.
Vote for the U on November 5
| Minnesotans will soon elect a governor,
67 state senators, and 134 state representatives. Your voice, united
with others, can have a powerful impact on legislative support for
the U. The University encourages faculty, staff, students, and alumni
to promote the U to candidates and legislators. You can do this
in a number of ways: Let candidates know that you expect them to
support the U; volunteer time or money to a campaign; and vote on
November 5. To join the U legislative network, visit www.alumni.umn.edu/legnetwork.
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U can help get out the vote
The U of M Legislative Network needs volunteers to help remind U supporters
to get out and vote on Tuesday, November 5. Volunteers will hand out
buttons and flyers and encourage people to vote for the U. With a state
election around the corner, now is the time to show your maroon and
gold pride. A t-shirt and refreshments will be provided. Help is needed
from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, November 4 at
the McNamara Alumni Center, 200 Oak Street. Contact Nicole Bennett,
612-626-0913 or benne069@umn.edu.
CLA Dean to moderate gubernatorial debate
CLA Dean Steve Rosenstone will moderate a debate between Minnesota gubernatorial
candidates Roger Moe, Tim Pawlenty, Tim Penny, and Ken Pentel from 7
to 8 p.m. on Monday, October 28 at the Doubletree Park Place Hotel,
1500 Park Place Blvd. in Minneapolis. (St. Louis Park, near highways
110 and 394.)The debate is free and open to the public. It will be broadcast
live on more than 30 radio stations statewide, including WCCO 830 AM
and WMNN 1330 AM. Call 625-8837 with questions.
New faculty boost research enterprise
Hiring new faculty with the combined resources of the MCB Initiative
and reallocation has had a transforming impact on the research enterprise,
as evidenced by a dramatic surge in new grants awarded to faculty in
the core departments. In the Department of Plant Biology, 10 new faculty
hired in the past two years have obtained 12 grants (from NSF, USDA,
DOE, NIH, and the Packard Foundation). In the Department of Biochemistry,
Molecular Biology and Biophysics (BMBB), eight faculty hired in the
past three years have been awarded 11 multi-year national grants (AHA,
NIH, NSF). And in the Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development
nine new faculty have brought in 11 grants from national and local sources.
Another sign that things are changing: Five years ago, the Mass Spectrometry
Consortium for the Life Sciences processed fewer than 500 samples. Last
year they processed 3,000 samples, and expect to process 5,500 samples
this year.
Chimps on the big (and little) screen
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Jane Goodall’s “Wild Chimpanzees”
opened October 17 at the Science Museum of Minnesota’s Omnitheater,
and the media is paying attention. The film has been featured on
all four local TV stations and “CBS This Morning.”The
Star Tribune, Pioneer Press, USA Today, MPR, NPR and WCCO radio
have also done storieson the movie. Anne Pusey, EEB, served as chief
scientific adviser for the film. Pusey is head of The Jane Goodall
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| Institute's Center for Primate Studies
at CBS. The film also features EEB doctoral student Elizabeth Vinson
Lonsdorf. To learn more about the film visit www.wildchimpanzees.org.
To learn more about the Center for Primate Studies visit www.discoverchimpanzees.org |
CBS Class of ’06 in perspective
We assumed before and now we know; the incoming freshman class is one
the brightest and most diverse ever to enter CBS. Almost half of the
351 freshmen finished in the top 10 percent of their high school class.
Also, nearly 20 percent are minorities, including students from Egypt
and South Korea. Furthermore, almost 90 percent are from Minnesota or
Wisconsin and roughly 65 percent of CBS freshmen are female.
Minnesota counts on U to give back to the community
Do you want a chance to win an I-Mac computer? How about two round
trip tickets to anywhere in the Continental U.S.? Then visit http://www1.umn.edu/cfd/
and learn about how to be a part of the University Community Fund
drive. All University employees should have received a packet of materials
explaining the fund drive and listing a variety of charitable organizations
in Minnesota.The deadline to donate is October 31. To encourage participation,
prizes are given away each Monday and grand prizes will be given away
on November 15. To view a list of all of the prizes visit http://www1.umn.edu/cfd/prizes/tobewon.htm.
Computer facility open house
| The CBS Imaging Center showed off the
new Bioinformatics and Research Computing Facility (BRCF) at an
open house on October 9. The BRCF is the result of the joint efforts
of the Center for Computational Genomics and Bioinformatics and
the CBS Imaging Center. The lab consists of a dozen Apple G4 Powermacs,
each with dual 1GHz processors and 1.5GB |
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| RAM. The computers are configured with
bioinformatics software (BLAST,EMBOSS), visualization tools (Photoshop,
3-D visualization), and other software that advances biological
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Come see successful CBS grads
The November “Exploring Careers in the Life Sciences”
program will feature Michelle Anderson (B.S. biology ’92), an
interpretive naturalist with the Three Rivers Park District; Susan
Heffron (B.S. biology ’90), a policy analyst for the Minnesota
Pollution Control agency; and Tari Johnson (B.S. Zoology ’74)
a biology instructor at Normandale Community College. The series is
a great opportunity for students, but also gives faculty an excellent
chance to reconnect with former students. The program is at 5:30 p.m.
in 150 Ecology on November 6. For more info or to register visit
http://www.cbs.umn.edu/career/student/CCWorkshop.html.
Number of alumni mentors doubles
The CBS mentor program matched 73 students with alumni mentors this
year, more than twice the number of matches in 2001. Students, who
are paired with alumni based on career interests, meet with mentors
twice a month and are invited to different CBS events throughout the
year. Mentors and students will meet for the first time on November
7 at the mentor program kickoff.
CBS donors meet scholarship/fellowship recipients
Donors who contribute to CBS scholarships and fellowships met the
grateful recipients of their generosity at the annual CBS Recognition
and Appreciation Dinner, held October 10 in the McNamara Alumni Center.
Dean Elde spoke on investing in the next generation and introduced
all of this year’s scholarship and fellowship recipients. He
and Pete Snustad, plant biology, presented an Outstanding Achievement
Award to Julie Kirihara (B.S.’81 and PhD. ’88 Biochemistry).
Kirihara, founder of ATG laboratories and president of MNBIO, received
the award for her work in cloning and her efforts to promote Minnesota’s
biotech industry. If you would like information on establishing or
contributing to a CBS scholarship or fellowship fund, contact Janene
Connelly at connelly@biosci.cbs.umn.edu. Many funds were established
by faculty or alumni.
CBS Students named Pre-Med Scholars
This year, three of the five students selected for the Pre-Medical
Scholars Program are from CBS. The winners are biology majors Andrea
Gaetz and Forum Kamdar, and Genetics, Cell Biology and Development
major Mohamed Moussa. Pre-Med Scholars are matched with mentors from
the Medical School who will help them finish their undergraduate work
and prepare them for the rigorous requirements of medical school.
They also receive conditional acceptance to the U of M Medical School.
Lab maintenance
The U of M Instrument Services Department (E.I.S.) is offering a complete
centrifuge maintenance plan to go with regularly scheduled maintenance
plans. At a low yearly price, this plan includes everything necessary
to ensure the proper operation of your centrifuge. Also, E.I.S. can
now calibrate and repair pipettes in your lab.
Are the U of M and CBS wordmarks on your Web site?
Did you know that the University requires the U wordmark on all print
and electronic publications? CBS also encourages the use of its college
wordmark. Consistent use strengthens the College's identity, which
is important for fundraising, student and faculty recruitment, and
connecting with the business community. The new CBS logo includes
the University wordmark, so by using the CBS logo you will comply
with the U's policy. For a copy of the logo, please contact Peggy
Rinard,
Event promotion
Are you promoting an event you really want to be noticed? The Dean’s
Office provides specially designed paper to use for CBS event fliers.
The colorful paper, which features the CBS logo, will help attract
attention to your event.
West Bank Parking
Beginning November 1, reciprocal parking on the West Bank moves to
lot 86, and will no longer apply to the 21st Avenue ramp. If you have
any questions contact Parking and Transportation services at 626-7275.
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Janet Dubinsky and Carrie MacNabb,
neuroscience, received a $1.6 million grant from the National Institutes
of Health which will allow them to expand their “BrainScience
on the Move” program. The program brings neuroscience education
and activities into middle school classrooms.
Stuart Goldstein, GCD, received $36,180 from Tulane
University to study integrative models of microorganism motility.
Karen Oberhauser, EEB, received $17,675 from the
Medtronic Foundation to support her Monarchs in the Classroom project.
Vivek Kapur, microbiology, received the 2002 Schofield
Medal from the University of Guelph, Canada. The award is presented
to a person who has made significant contributions to veterinary medicine
worldwide and also is inspirational to students by his or her character,
career and ideas.
Elsie L. Hanson, a longtime CBS employee, passed away
on October 15 at the age of 78. Hanson was secretary to Dean Richard
Caldecott when CBS was established in 1965 and worked for him for many
years.
CALENDAR
October 25-27
Neuroeconomics conference
Honeywell Auditorium, Carlson School of Management. Learn how brain
structure and function affects economic decisions. .
October 30
Conflicting Roles in the Biomedical Research Agenda
3 p.m. 3-120 MCB.
October 31
Adult Stem Cells: Pluripotent or Not? Featuring Catherine
M. Verfaillie
12 p.m., 2-101 BSBE.
November 6
Exploring Careers in the Life Sciences
150 Ecology 5:30 p.m. for more info visit
November 7
Mentor Program Kick-off,
6:00 p.m., 150 Ecology. Contact CBS Alumni Relations, denz0018@umn.edu,
or 624-4770 .
November 7
Yeast Tails: Morphogenesis and Senescense in Two Budding Yeasts.
12 p.m., 2-120 BSBE. Contact Judith Berman,
November 11
My Life with Cytochrome C, featuring Fred Sherman from
the University of Rochester; 12:00 p.m. Mayo Auditorium Contact Judith
Berman,
February 12
NSF Workshop 7:30 a.m. rooms 135 B and D Earle Brown
Center
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Visit the CBS Web site at www.cbs.umn.edu.
The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.
This publication is available in alternative formats upon request.
Contact 612-624-0774.
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