News for faculty and staff WEEK OF OCTOBER 19, 2015 VOL. 70, NO. 7 Four to receive honorary degrees at Winter Commencement Compiled by Jillian A. Bogater from material submitted by the Office of University and Development Events One of the nation’s most respected and innovative art museum directors, a renowned leader in the pharmaceutical industry, a legal scholar and education advocate, and an acclaimed operatic tenor are sched- uled to receive honorary degrees at Winter Commencement 2015 on the Ann Arbor campus. Martha Minow, the Morgan and Helen Chu Dean and Professor of Law at Harvard Law School, University of Michigan alumna, author and MICHAEL JAYRED Minow human rights advocate, will Graduate students Carli Arendt and Sarah Aarons, and faculty member Sarah Aciego, hold one of the ice core samples the team collected on Taylor Glacier in Antarctica in 2013. Aciego and Aarons return to the glacier in November, to collect more receive an honorary Doctor samples to support climate change studies. of Laws degree and deliver the Winter Commencement address at 2 p.m. Dec. 20 at Crisler Center. U-M Antarctic researchers study Also receiving honorary degrees are Graham Beal, Beal Doctor of Humane Letters; climate change where penguins roam Dr. Pedro Cuatrecasas, Doctor By Kevin Brown Taylor Glacier The University Record of Science; and George U-M researchers will return to Antarctica Shirley, Doctor of Music. s it Antarctica, or heaven? next month to collect ice samples. The degrees were approved You can eat all the chocolate and other calorie-laden by the Board of Regents at its foods you want. That’s because a busy researcher camped I Australia meeting Oct. 15. on a glacier needs energy, to drill and carry 60-pound ice core Beal, recently retired samples. Cuatrecasas director, president and chief It’s expected to stuff your parka pockets with Clif Bars, New Zealand executive officer of the Detroit granola bars and more. Thick buttered pancakes for breakfast, Taylor Glacier Institute of Arts and cur- and steak fried in butter with chilies for dinner also are good rently the Hannah Visiting to consume. Antartica Distinguished Professor at It’s also quiet and peaceful. Michigan State University, In the Antarctic spring, the sun never sets. Checkerboard is one of the nation’s most clouds can hang high in the sky. Ice crystal rainbows circle the sun. SOURCE: GOOGLE MAPS respected and innovative art See Antarctica, Page 16 STEVE CULVER, THE UNIVERSITY RECORD Shirley museum directors. See Honorary, Page 14 Random coffee meet-ups spurring innovation across campus By Greta Guest “As soon as Nick said decision-making with com- Michigan News More online peting interests, I realized that’s our sweet spot right He designs algorithms to optimize ship speeds for there,” Segar said. “I thought the intersection of our n Innovate Brew: innovateblue.umich.edu/ competing needs. She studies the science of motiva- research/innovate-brew/ work would make a good pilot project, exploring tion to understand what makes people stick to their how to create a decision-making tool to help clini- health and fitness goals. n Innovate Blue: innovateblue.umich.edu/ cians and patients.” These University of Michigan professors — n Video: https://youtu.be/I2TC_zlCFhA Last summer, more than 260 U-M faculty took Nickolas Vlahopoulos, professor of naval architec- part in the pilot phase of the social networking ture and marine engineering, and Michelle Segar, experiment to spark research innovation. The per- director of the Sport, Health, and Activity Research Innovate Brew is a first-of-its-kind program that manent program kicked off this fall and is open to and Policy Center — appeared to have little in randomly matches U-M faculty for 30-minute coffee all U-M faculty. common. But once they connected through Innovate meetings once a month to foster more innovative Brew, things got interesting. thinking on campus. See Brew, Page 18 Kevorkian papers acquired STAFF SPOTLIGHT Page 13 President initiates selection and appointment process for vice president for research Page 2 The Bentley Historical Library has acquired the papers of “Theatre is important. White House honors James Sayer Dr. Jack Kevorkian, a controversial Art is important. Ballet is for innovation in transportation Page 3 Detroit-area native best known for his important. Music is important. advocacy of physician-assisted suicide Global M-Prize music competition and terminal patients’ “right to die.” Make some art everybody — will award $100,000 grand prize Page 4 it’s important.” INSIDE Page 11 Four biological kingdoms influence disease – Beth Sandmaier transmission in monarch butterflies Page 8 2 OCTOBER 19, 2015 THE UNIVERSITY RECORD record.umich.edu President initiates selection and appointment process for vice president for research By Jillian A. Bogater reporting directly to the president and The University Record also works closely with the provost to President Mark Schlissel has initi- fully align research with the overall ZELL VISITING ated the selection and appointment academic mission of the university. process to fill the position of vice The vice president for research leads president for research. the Office of Research consisting of S. Jack Hu has served as interim vice eight research units and six service WRITERS SERIES president for research since January units that support research and 2014. research-related activities. The vice president for research is the The President’s Office is overseeing 2015 chief research official overseeing the the selection and appointment process Bringing the world of literature to Ann Arbor university’s $1 billion research portfo- and is accepting nominations and lio, plays a leadership role in national applications for the position. and international activities regard- The position description and ing research policy and guides the an option to submit nominations university in defining research goals and applications online are at and identifying emerging research president.umich.edu/vp-research-2015. opportunities. Inquiries can also be directed to The position is an executive officer [email protected]. OCTOBER FOR THE RECORD events An Oct. 12 story in the Record titled “Radrick Farms Golf Course celebrates 50 years and place in history” erroneously stated L.L. Woodworth designed CATHY PARK HONG Ann Arbor’s landmark Michigan Theater. The theater, in fact, was designed by Poetry Reading and Book Signing Maurice Finkel. Thursday, Oct. 1, 5:30 pm Helmut Stern Auditorium U-M Museum of Art Is your 2 for 1 match hiding poor investment performance? Q & A You are not alone... 2 pm, Hopwood Room SARAH SHUN-LIEN BYNUM Fiction Reading and Book Signing Thursday, Oct. 22, 5:30 pm Call today for a complimentary consultation Helmut Stern Auditorium U-M Museum of Art Phone 734.998.0746 • Fax 734.780.3003 2950 S. State St, Suite 340 • Ann Arbor, MI 48104 Q & A John L. Evangelista, CFP® www.university-wealth.com 2 pm, Hopwood Room Registered Representative of INVEST Financial Corporation (INVEST), member FINRA/SIPC. INVEST and its affiliated insurance agencies offer securities and certain insurance products and are not affiliated with Evangelista & Associates or Executive Wealth Management. Advisory Services are offered through LOUISE GLÜCK INVEST Financial Corporation and Executive Wealth Management, registered investment advisors. Zell Distinguished Poet in Residence Poetry Reading and Book Signing Tuesday, Oct. 27, 7 pm Apse U-M Museum of Art In Conversation with Linda Gregerson REGENTS Todd McKinney (must be in writing or via e-mail) is 5 p.m. Mike Behm, Grand Blanc sales manager Tues., six days before the publication date. Mark J. Bernstein, Ann Arbor [email protected], 734-764-4342 Send Events, Accolades, Briefs and Letters Laurence B. Deitch, Bloomfield Hills submissions to [email protected]. Thursday, Oct. 29, 5:30 pm Kevin Brown Shauna Ryder Diggs, Grosse Pointe associate editor Denise Ilitch, Bingham Farms TO SUBSCRIBE Helmut Stern Auditorium [email protected], 734-764-4266 Andrea Fischer Newman, Ann Arbor A SUBSCRIPTION to the University Record, U-M Museum of Art Andrew C. Richner, Grosse Pointe Park Steve Culver delivered by USPS First Class mail, Katherine E. White, Ann Arbor graphic designer may be purchased for $70/year payable ex officio Mark S. Schlissel, [email protected], 734-764-0105 to The University of Michigan, Mark S. Schlissel Jordan Swope and sent to the Record editorial office. president, University of Michigan reporting intern TO ADVERTISE Lisa Rudgers EDITORIAL OFFICE vice president for global communications THE RECORD accepts display advertising on and strategic initiatives 412 Maynard St. a contract basis. Publication does not imply Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1399 endorsement of advertiser’s goods or ser- Kallie Bila Michels phone: 734-764-0105 vices. Details at record.umich.edu/advertise. associate vice president for communications Reserve space at 734-764-4342 The Zell Visiting Writers Series is presented by the Helen Zell Writers’ fax: 734-764-7084 [email protected] or [email protected]. Program in partnership with the University of Michigan Museum of Art, STAFF THE UNIVERSITY RECORD (USPS 559-510) Rick Fitzgerald PUBLICATION DATES with support from the Department of English Language & Literature, is published weekly except May, June director of public affairs and the Office of the Vice President for Research, and Janey Lack. 2015 Feb. 1, 8, 15, 22 and July (bi-weekly) and once in August internal communications Sept. 8, 14, 21, 28 March 7, 14, 21, 28 by the Regents of the University of Michigan. [email protected], 734-615-1563 Oct. 5, 12, 19, 26 April 4, 11, 18, 25 All events are free and open to the public. Jillian Bogater Nov. 2, 9, 16, 23 May 2, 23 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: editor Dec. 7, 14 June 6, 20 The University Record , 412 Maynard St., For additional information visit lsa.umich.edu/writers.