Multimedia Features | The University Record

January 13, 2014

Making cars lighter

Is it possible to cut the weight of a vehicle in half? Researchers at the College of Engineering are trying to do just that — using materials such as aluminum, steel or composites. In this video, Kazuhiro Saitou, professor of mechanical engineering, discusses the effort to make vehicles lighter and consume less fuel, while retaining the structure and safety standards of today’s automobiles.

January 12, 2014

Smoke-free signage

School of Public Health students Mark Huizenga, Tiffany Huang and Stephanie Nguyen help Chief Health Officer Dr. Robert Winfield affix new decals to trash cans across campus to reinforce the message that U-M is smoke free. The no-smoking rule took effect July 1, 2011, and most faculty, staff, students and visitors have honored the ban, but Winfield says these additional reminders will help people who are confused about boundaries or may be unaware of the policy. The SPH students were enrolled in a fall tobacco policy course. (Photo by Scott C. Soderberg, Michigan Photography)

January 8, 2014

Galactic collision

more images

U-M astronomers could be the first to witness a rare collision expected to happen at the center of the galaxy by spring. With NASA’s orbiting Swift telescope, the U-M team is taking daily images of a mysterious gas cloud about three times the mass of Earth that is spiraling toward the supermassive black hole at the Milky Way’s core. This image is a montage of all data obtained in the monitoring program from 2006-13. (Image by Nathalie Degenaar)

January 7, 2014

Predicting space weather

A U-M space weather model will be part of the national Space Weather Prediction Center’s forecasting toolbox. In this video, Gábor Tóth, a research scientist in atmospheric, oceanic and space sciences, explains the importance of space weather predictions, which can help prevent damage to communications satellites, and in extreme cases, prevent transformers from burning out and causing widespread, long-term power outages.

January 6, 2014

Native American repatriation

Elizabeth Ballew and Tony Perry, representatives of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, present Stephen Forrest, former vice president for research, with a “Spirit of Sovereignty” blanket to honor his leadership in committing the university to the repatriation of human remains and cultural objects from burial sites to tribes with legal claims to them. The presentation took place at a feast in late December marking progress in the transfer process. (Photo by Austin Thomason, Michigan Photography)

January 5, 2014

Digging out

As the weekend’s heavy snow let up Monday morning, U-M workers went about their jobs of digging out the campus and clearing sidewalks, parking lots and other areas in time for the start of Winter Semester classes Wednesday. This staff member was blowing snow from the sidewalk along South State Street in front of the LSA building. View more photos from the snow-covered campus. (Photo by Scott Soderberg, Michigan Photography)

December 14, 2013

Winter Commencement

Graduates give each other a congratulatory hug during Winter Commencement ceremonies Dec. 15 at Crisler Center. View more commencement images from the Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint campuses. (Photo by Austin Thomason, Michigan Photography)

December 12, 2013

E2Coach

E2Coach, a data-driven, personalized coaching program, is designed to improve student success in large introductory science and math courses. In this video, students and faculty discuss the program that developers say combines next generation learning analytics with the best of behavioral change theory.

December 11, 2013

Therapy dogs

Freshmen Hannah Fetner, right, and Anna Fowler play with Grizzly Bear, a golden retriever therapy dog, as owner Skip Davis look on. Students, faculty and staff had a chance to shake off end-of-semester stress with the dogs Wednesday at the Shapiro Undergraduate Library. Therapaws of Michigan will have dogs at the library’s first floor Browsing Collection again from 5-7 p.m. today and from 1-4 p.m. Friday. (Photo by Eric Bronson, Michigan Photography)

December 10, 2013

‘Rotations’

Commissioned by the U-M Health System to honor members of the transplant team who died in June 2007 while on a life-saving mission, the stainless steel sculpture “Rotations,” by Douglas Hollis, is located in the courtyard near the main entrance to University Hospital. The Record periodically highlights pieces of public art at U-M. Learn more about this piece, or browse an online collection of public artworks.