Multimedia Features | The University Record

December 4, 2023

2024 MLK Symposium

The theme of the 2024 MLK Symposium is “Transforming the Jangling Discords of Our Nation into a Beautiful Symphony.” Recalling a line from the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic “I Have a Dream” speech, statement encapsulates a profound vision of unity, peace and reconciliation in the face of discord and division. Michelle Alexander, legal scholar, social justice advocate, columnist at The New York Times and visiting professor at Union Theological Seminary, will deliver the symposium’s memorial keynote lecture at 10 a.m. Jan. 15, 2024, at Hill Auditorium.

Composting game day waste

Compost from U-M football games could be used to grow produce at the student-run Campus Farm, if a recent experiment goes well. This approach to managing the Michigan Stadium waste stream would capture valuable nutrients for the Campus Farm and provide experiential learning and research opportunities. In this video, participants in the pilot project discuss how it works and its potential benefits.

Automated vehicle testing

A driverless May Mobility vehicle stops automatically to let a simulated passerby cross the street during the first day of testing to support the city of Detroit’s Automated Driving Systems shuttle. Testing of a new automated shuttle is underway at U-M’s Mcity Test Facility to ensure the technology is ready to safely serve older adults and people with disabilities in Detroit. (Photo by Marcin Szczepanski, College of Engineering)

Presidential portrait

President Santa J. Ono applauds as President Emerita Mary Sue Coleman views her official portrait, which was unveiled at a ceremony Nov. 27. The work of portrait artist Ellen Cooper, the painting will hang outside the President’s Office in the Alexander G. Ruthven Building, joining other presidential portraits. Coleman served as president from 2002-14 and again in 2022. (Photo by Erin Kirkland, Michigan Photography)

November 18, 2023

The Middle East and U-M

In his November video message, President Santa J. Ono offered the hope that during these dark days of violence in the Middle East, the U-M community will renew its commitment to respecting one another, reach across communities and create a campus where all people of all backgrounds and faiths can join together in creating a brighter world of peace.

November 16, 2023

Solar cells breakthrough

Clare Langhan, a Ph.D. student in mechanical engineering, spincoats thin-film perovskite samples in a glovebox, a key step in the creation of perovskite solar cells. A new breed of semiconductors that could enable breakthroughs in solar cells and LEDs will benefit from cutting-edge manufacturing approaches, through a new project led by U-M. Backed by $3 million from the National Science Foundation, it includes partners at the University of California, San Diego. (Photo by Marcin Szczepanski, College of Engineering)

‘Glittering kaleidoscope of joyful creativity’

Artist and creative provocateur Machine Dazzle has been awarded the 2024 Roman J. Witt Residency with the U-M Museum of Art and the Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design. His solo exhibition “Machine Dazzle: Ouroboros” will open at UMMA on March 14, 2024. It will transform in increasing maximal iterations, unveiling again in April and in June, when the sculpture will become animated and wearable by a team of 15 U-M students. (Photo by Amy Touchette)

Read more about “Machine Dazzle: Ouroboros”

November 14, 2023

One soccer ball at a time

Michal (Mike) Lorenc, clinical assistant professor of sport management in the School of Kinesiology, takes a selfie at the Help Ukraine Center in Lublin, Poland. After the war with Russia started, Lorenc brought soccer balls to his birthplace of Lublin, Poland, to help children smile and temporarily forget the horrors of war. The impact of the soccer ball distribution wasn’t just about giving away the balls; it was about integrating them into a more comprehensive experience. Each child also received two wristbands in the colors of the Ukrainian flag. (Photo courtesy of Michal Lorenc)

Read more about Michal Lorenc’s efforts in Poland and Ukraine

November 12, 2023

Academic freedom

Jonathan Friedman, director of free expression and education programs at PEN America, delivers the 33rd annual Davis, Markert, and Nickerson Lecture on Academic and Intellectual Freedom. Friedman highlighted the impact on higher education of increased legislation censoring the teaching of race, gender and sexuality in public schools during the lecture. (Photo by Scott C. Soderberg, Michigan Photography)

Read more about the academic freedom lecture

November 10, 2023

Beaver dam

This fall, Matthaei Botanical Gardens staff discovered a beaver dam being built at the Fleming Creek overlook, the first recorded occurrence of a beaver along Fleming Creek since the Botanical Gardens were established in 1907. Beavers are a native keystone species in Michigan and shaped waterways and wetlands statewide for centuries until they were nearly eliminated through trapping more than 150 years ago. The public can view the dam from the Fleming Creek overlook on the west side of the creek along the trail, but visitors are encouraged to stay on established routes. (Photo by Jeff Plakke, Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum)