CSE 50-Year Reunion
Class of 1973: Mark Your Calendar for May 2023!
Wednesday, May 10, 2023
Thursday, May 11, 2023
Huntington Bank Stadium (formerly TCF Bank Stadium)
2009 University Avenue SE, Minneapolis
U of M East Bank
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: May 1, 2023
During the festivities, members of the Class of 1973 will be inducted into the College of Science and Engineering Golden Medallion Society and will receive a commemorative medallion.
All events are complimentary for you and a guest, but pre-registration is required at umnalumni.org/CSEReunion2023.
PLEASE NOTE: If you have registration questions or if your guest will not attend all of the same events/sessions as you, please e-mail us at csealumni@umn.edu or call Megan Orr at 612-625-3767 to register by phone.
Event Schedule & Session Descriptions
All events at Huntington Bank Stadium (formerly TCF Bank Stadium)
WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 2023
6-8 p.m. Class of 1973 Evening Welcome Reception
During this heavy appetizer and cash bar reception, the Class of 1973 will be inducted into the Golden Medallion Society.
THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023
9:30 a.m. Check-in/Light refreshments
10:15 a.m. Welcome by Dean Andrew Alleyne and Keynote
The University's Memory: Inside the University of Minnesota Archives
Kris Kiesling, Elmer L. Andersen Director of Archives and Special Collections; Erik Moore, University Archivist, Director, University Digital Conservancy
The University of Minnesota Archives is the official home for the University's valuable historical documents, collections, data, photographs, publications, and websites. Learn about the archives and the unique caverns carved into the Mississippi River's limestone bluffs that house them. You will also hear stories from the University's history, see photos showing how campus has changed over time, and see examples of Institute of Technology (now the College of Science and Engineering) history preserved in the archives.
11:15 a.m. Department-Hosted Research Showcase Sessions
Chemical Engineering and Materials Science—“Emerging Semiconductor Materials for Widespread Solar Energy Harvesting”
—Russell Holmes, Distinguished McKnight University Professor
Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering—“No Two Snowflakes Fall Alike...”
—Michele Guala, Associate Professor, Associate Director of Research, St. Anthony Falls Laboratory
Electrical and Computer Engineering—“DNA Storage: The World's Data in a Teacup”
—Marc Riedel, Associate Professor
Mechanical Engineering—“From Desalination to Kidney Disease: Engineering Design in Resource Constrained Contexts”
—Natasha Wright, Richard and Barbara Nelson Assistant Professor
12:15 p.m. Lunch
During this time, we will present medallions to members of classes prior to 1973 who have not previously been inducted into the Golden Medallion Society, as well as members of the Class of 1973 unable to attend Wednesday's welcome reception.
1:30 p.m. Breakout Sessions
Choose one of the following presentations:
"High Tech Trash: What Happens to Beneficial Bacteria in the Environment when Nanomaterials are Disposed of?"—Erin Carlson, Professor, Department of Chemistry
Nanomaterials are tiny structures that are used in a wide range of new technologies, such as cell phones and car batteries, because of their novel and powerful properties. Despite the use of enormous quantities of these materials, little is known about how they may affect the environment after disposal. Professor Carlson will discuss her research to understand the impact of these useful and widely used nanomaterials on bacteria that are vital to the environment, including the ability of bacteria to quickly become resistant to these materials.
"Progress on Sustainability of Energy and Materials"—Paul Dauenhauer, Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science
Hear about new processing technology to manufacture the sustainable materials of tomorrow including biorenewable soaps and detergents, biodegradable plastics, and acrylate chemicals derived from corn and trees for paints, coatings, and diapers. These ingredient chemicals will serve as the foundation of an entirely new materials industry that can be produced renewably as well as be recycled or composted at the end of life. Professor Dauenhauer will also speak about his Department of Energy research center focused on creating new chemical technology that can store wind and solar power as carbon-free liquid fuels that will allow the complete transition to zero carbon energy at low costs and abundant supply.
3 p.m. Breakout Sessions
Choose one of the following presentations:
"Engineering Intranasal Vaccines to Better Combat Infectious Diseases"—Brittany Hartwell, Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering
To combat evolving threats of global pandemics such as SARS-CoV-2, new immunization strategies are needed that activate immune protection in the nasal passage where traditional vaccines have not succeeded. We are developing an intranasal vaccine that hitchhikes on a naturally occurring protein to bypass the nasal tissue and mucosal barriers in the nose in order to promote a stronger immune response.
"Early Science Results from the James Webb Space Telescope"—Evan Skillman, Director, Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics (MIfA), Professor, School of Physics and Astronomy joined by fellow MIfA faculty
The James Webb Space Telescope (Webb) is now NASA's most powerful observatory in space. Through a highly competitive selection process, several U of M researchers obtained observations from Webb during its first few months. Hear about the telescope’s capabilities, its very successful launch, and some of the results of programs conducted by U of M researchers.
4-5 p.m. Closing reception
Close out the day with mingling over heavy appetizers and a cash bar.
