$6.8M initiative to enable American laser renaissance
In an effort to improve American competitiveness in high intensity laser research, the U.S. Department of Energy has established LaserNetUS, a $6.8 million initiative that involves the University of Michigan — one of the field’s pioneers. High-intensity lasers have a broad range of applications in basic research, manufacturing and medicine. The new network is comprised of six universities and three national laboratories that operate high-intensity lasers. U-M will receive $1 million through the initiative for providing time on the HERCULES laser. LaserNet will enable access to HERCULES for scientists from outside U-M. The network will hold a nationwide call for proposals for access to its facilities. This call will allow any researcher in the United States to get time on one of the high intensity lasers at the LaserNetUS host institutions.
Michigan Radio launches podcast about Larry Nassar case survivors
Michigan radio and NPR has launched a new podcast called “Believed,” which tells the story of how a team of women — a detective, a prosecutor and an army of survivors — won justice against Larry Nassar, the former USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University doctor who sexually abused patients for more than 20 years. The podcast also explores how even well-meaning adults can fail to believe. Hosted by award-winning Michigan Radio reporters Kate Wells and Lindsey Smith, the podcast recently topped the Apple Podcast chart, just one week after the series launched. To subscribe to “Believed,” visit Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, NPR One, Pocket Casts, Spotify or other podcasting platforms. Listeners can also tune in at michiganradio.org/believed.
Nominees sought for Office of Research awards
The U-M Office of Research is now accepting nominations for its annual Research Administrator Recognition Award, Research Technical Staff Recognition Award and Research Faculty Awards. Nominations for the Research Administrator Recognition Award and the Research Technical Staff Recognition Award are due Jan. 30 and more information on the honors can be found at myumi.ch/6k5Wd. Nominations for the Research Faculty Awards, which recognize the achievements of research faculty at all levels, are due Feb. 14. For more information on the faculty awards, visit myumi.ch/JY8qM.
College of Pharmacy medication disposal event exceeds record
A record 501 pounds of non-controlled and controlled medication were safely disposed of through incineration during 10th Safe Medication Disposal Event hosted by the College of Pharmacy on Oct. 4. Students operated two collection locations on Ingalls Mall and at Michigan Medicine. Each safe medication disposal event has had considerable participation. Since the event’s inception in March 2014, students have collected almost 3,500 pounds of medication that are no longer in homes, landfills, or the water supply.
Taubman College launches international architecture internship fund
Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning has announced a new fund to support international internships, which will provide resources for students pursuing professional degrees in architecture to gain practical training in professional architecture practice with firms around the world. The first two students will travel to Kigali, Rwanda, in summer 2019 as interns with MASS Design Group. Over time, the program will expand with the goal of eventually placing students in multiple international locations each summer. Through the fund, Taubman College and host organizations will share the cost of providing the paid internships, so students can gain the valuable experience that internships provide without having to worry about managing their cost of living over the summer. The program is made possible in part through a generous gift to create an endowed fund at Taubman College, which has since been strengthened with a significant bequest to establish the Longo International Architecture Internship Fund.
— Compiled by Safiya Merchant, The University Record
