Multimedia Features

  1. December 7, 2020

    Hollywood in the house

    You may have seen recent news stories that the new Steven Soderbergh film, which is set in 1950s Detroit, is also being shot in Detroit. It’s generated a bit of local buzz because of its big name cast, which includes John Hamm, Ray Liotta, Don Cheadle, Brendan Fraser, Matt Damon and Julia Fox ("Uncut Gems"). The crew is using several locations for the film, and it turns out one of them is Political Science Professor Dale Thomson and CEHHS Lecturer Anne Thomson’s Northwest Detroit home. Recently, we caught up with Dale to dish about the experience — and, of course, see if they got to meet any celebrities.

    Steven Soderbergh is directing “No Sudden Move,” a new movie set in 1950s Detroit, and went looking for locations to film. He found one in the northwest Detroit home of Dale Thomson, UM-Dearborn professor of political science, and Anne Thomson, lecturer II in education operations. The film includes a cast of A-listers such as John Hamm, Ray Liotta, Don Cheadle, Brendan Fraser and Matt Damon, and the Thomsons’ house was selected to be the one Liotta’s character in the film occupies. While the Thomsons did not get to meet any celebrities, Dale Thomson said it was a neat experience.

    Read more about the house and the new movie
  2. December 4, 2020

    Native Americans and photography

    The exhibition, “‘No, not even for a picture’: Re-examining the Native Midwest and Tribes’ Relations to the History of Photography,”

    A new online exhibition called “‘No, not even for a picture’: Re-examining the Native Midwest and Tribes’ Relations to the History of Photography” investigates the complex balance between violation of privacy and the quest for self-identification felt by Native peoples during the early era of photography. It includes these photos of Chief David Shopp-en-a-gon from Grayling, Michigan (left), and Prairie Band Potawatomi women. The photos are from the Richard Pohrt Jr. Collection of Native American Photography at U-M’s William L. Clements Library.

    Read more about the online exhibition
  3. December 3, 2020

    Vaccine volunteers

    Photo of Njira Lugogo talking with Matthew Wixson

    Njira Lugogo (left), associate professor of internal medicine and a principal investigator for a COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial underway at Michigan Medicine, talks with Matthew Wixson, assistant professor of anesthesiology and a volunteer in the study. Michigan Medicine is hosting two phase III clinical trials for a COVID-19 vaccine — the final phase before a vaccine is approved and made available to the world. (Photo by Bryan McCullough and Hunter Mitchell)

    Read more about why volunteers signed up to be part of the trials
  4. December 2, 2020

    Helping aging pipelines

    U-M researchers are designing and deploying a long-term monitoring system to assess the strain, temperature and pressure inside a 100-year-old water pipe in Detroit. Partnering with Great Lakes Water Authority and Structural Technologies LLC, the research team will reinstall and bury the pipe with the sensors, as well as a reinforcement liner, and monitor its condition for a full year. This video explains the nuances and applications of the project.

    Read more about extending the life of aging pipelines
  5. November 24, 2020

    Maize and Blue Cupboard

    College students are experiencing food insecurity and lack of access to adequately healthy foods at an alarming rate. U-M’s Maize and Blue Cupboard is offering students immediate and comprehensive resources to remedy this. In this video, Jessica Thompson, program manager, explains Maize and Blue Cupboard’s mission and how it works.

    Read more about addressing food insecurity
  6. November 20, 2020

    Virtual productions

    The School of Music, Theatre & Dance has announced its first fully online season. Beginning Dec. 2, SMTD will release six innovative, student-driven productions over the course of three weeks. A new production will be released every Wednesday and Friday through Dec. 18. All performances will be free and available to the public for a limited time. This video shows a trailer for the fall 2020 season, which features highlights from the departments of Musical Theatre and Theatre & Drama, as well as two releases from the University Opera Theatre.

    Read more about SMTD’s digital season
  7. November 19, 2020

    Expanding hurricane tracking

    NASA officials are re-upping investment in the Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System by extending the mission through Sept. 30, 2023, with a commitment of more than $21 million. CYGNSS is a research project led by U-M and designed to improve hurricane forecasting that is demonstrating a knack for helping solve problems on land. This video explains how the satellite system helps bolster predictions of storm severity and measures moisture content over land.

    Read more about CYGNSS
  8. November 18, 2020

    Phosphorus and agricultural runoff

    Water treatment plants currently use ferric chloride to absorb phosphorus runoff in wastewater. The result is a heavy sludge that builds up in the water and is removed and incinerated or thrown in a landfill. This video shows how Glen Daigger, professor of engineering practice, and civil and environmental engineering at U-M, and his research team are developing a biological system that can capture the phosphorus in the water without use of chemicals.

  9. November 17, 2020

    Honoring staff milestones

    University Human Resources hosted a virtual Service Awards event Nov. 16, honoring 422 staff members who celebrated 30, 40, 45, 50 or 55 years of service in 2020. This video of this year’s virtual Service Awards featured live and recorded performances and messages from university leaders and colleagues at all levels.

    Read more about the service awards
  10. November 16, 2020

    COVID on the rise

    With cases of COIVID-19 increasing in Michigan and across the United States, medical and public health experts are urging people to remain vigilant and not let up on mitigation procedures they’ve already been following for several months. In this video, Marschall S. Runge, executive vice president for medical affairs, offers advice not only for students who preparing to return to their permanent residences, but all members of the U-M community considering their holiday plans.

    Read more about U-M’s COVID-19 strategy