Mines in a Minute 4/13/11

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Mines in a Minute is a weekly e-newsletter from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Office of University and Public Relations. For more information call (605) 394-2554 or e-mail Sarah.Chen@sdsmt.edu.

In This Issue

	Congratulations, Honorees! Congratulations to all the honorees at the School of Mines' 60th Annual Honors Convocation and Luncheon, held Thursday, April 7, at the Surbeck Center Ballroom. The School of Mines hosts the convocation annually to recognize the outstanding achievements of our students and friends of the university. More
	School of Mines to Host Spring Concert School of Mines Department of Music will host the annual Spring Concert on Saturday, April 16, at 7:30 p.m. at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Theatre. The concert will feature the concert choir, brass choir, string ensemble, master chorale and symponic band. Join in for this SDSM&T tradition of supporting creativity and sound. Admission is free. More
	Jazz Concert Tomorrow Bring your lunch and join the School of Mines Jazz Band for a free concert in the Surbeck Center Ballroom at 12:05 p.m. on Thursday, April 14. The event is free and open to the public. Contact Dr. Ken Drobnak, director of bands, for more information. More

More News

Announcements

Coffee Sale
The School of Mines Hardwokkers are selling a limited-time speciality coffee brew - Dark Canyon Relay Roast - for $10 per bag. The Hardwokkers are fundraising for breast cancer awareness. Many flavors are available including: Rattlesnake Brew, French Creek Coffee French Roast, Dakota Roast Breakfast Blend and Genuine Black Hills Roasted Gold. Contact Beth Riley at (605) 394-2257.

Student Presentations at MAA
Three School of Mines students presented at the Rocky Mountain Section of the Mathematical Association of America regional conference, held April 8-9 at the University of Colorado - Boulder. John Meyers presented "An Algorithm for Unitary Equivalence of Matrices and a Path-Connectedness Application," Tara Dadah presented "Real-Time Tracking of the International Space Station" and Lara Heiberger presented "Classic Paper Folding Myth." All research was conducted in consultation with department professors.

Waste = Resource
Ameet Pinto, Ph.D., University of Michigan, will be on campus this week as a guest of Jennifer Benning, Ph.D., assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering. Dr. Pinto will deliver a seminar titled "Sustainable Waste Management: Waste as a Resource" on Wednesday, April 13, at 4 p.m. in Room 328, Classroom Building. Contact Dr. Jennifer Benning for more information.

Dating Safe?
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Campuses Community Wellness Coalition, STEPS, and the School of Mines Counseling Department are teaming up to present sexual assult views by law enforcement, prosecution and victim advocacy on Wednesday, April 13, at 6 p.m. in Room 204 West, Classroom Building. Contact Mark Urban for more information.

Plan for Your Future
The South Dakota Retirement System will be available to meet with you on Wednesday, April 13, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Surbeck Center Ballroom. Presentations will include: SDRS/SDRS Supplemental and Special Pay Plan, Social Security Administration, DSS/Division of Economic Assistance Long Term Care and Parnership and the Office of the Attorney General Division of Consumer Protection. Retiring in the next five years? Call Human Resources at (605) 394-1203 to schedule an individual appointment with a retirement planner.

Double Atmospheric Science Seminar Week
The Department of Atmospheric Sciences seminar series will host Joshua Brewer, atmospheric sciences graduate student, as he presents "Improved Representation of Low-Level Meteorological Fields in Forecasts and Analysis" on Thursday, April 14, at 3 p.m. in Room 320, Mineral Industries Building. The series will also host Dan D'Amico, atmospheric sciences graduate student, as he presents "Influence of Vegetation Cover on Convection" on Tuesday, April 19, at 3 p.m. in Room 320, Mineral Industries Building. Contact Connie Crandall for more information.

Civil/Environmental Engineering Poster Session
On Tuesday, April 19, from 11 a.m. to noon, students enrolled in the environmental engineering process analysis course will present semester research/composition projects at a poster session on the second floor of the Computational Mechanics Building. Please stop by to chat, observe and learn. Contact Dr. Henry Mott for more information.

Traveling Geologists
The Geology, Geological Engineering and Paleontology seminar series will host the class of geology 403/503, as they present "A Recap of our Spring 2011 Trip to Aotearoa" on Friday, April 15, at 4 p.m. in Room 222, Mineral Industries Building. Cookies and soda provided by the SEG student chapter. Contact Dr. Kurt Katzenstein for more information.

Nano Expo
The Department of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering will present Nano Expo 2011 on Saturday, April 16, from 1-3 p.m. in the Hard Rock Room, Surbeck Center. Drop in for information on nano-materials with applications in social cells and more. Contact Dr. Steve Smith for more information.

A Very "Dynamics" Seminar
The Chemical and Biological Engineering seminar series will host Jeff Heys, Ph.D., Montana State University, as he presents "Application of Computational Fluid Dynamics to Biological Systems" on Tuesday, April 19, at 11 a.m. in Room 252, Electrical Engineering and Physics Building. Contact Dr. Lew Christopher for more information.

Lunch-N-Learn
The Office of Youth Programs and Continuing Education will host Dr. David Salem, director of the Composites and Polymer Engineering Laboratory, as he presents a lunchtime seminars on polymers and composites on Wednesday, April 20, in the Surbeck Center Ballroom. Arrive at 11:30 a.m. for check in, networking and lunch followed by a noon presentation. SDSM&T campus community pays a reduced $10 admission.

Men Can Stop Rape
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Nationally recognized expert Joseph Vess, Men Can Stop Rape, Inc., will present a morning conference "Mobilizing Men to Prevent Violence Against Women." The conference will be held on Thursday, April 21, in Rooms 252, 253 and 254, Electrical Engineering and Physics Building. Arrive at 9 a.m. for registration with a presentation from 10 a.m. to noon following. Pre-registration required, and a $10 fee will be charged for social workers and counselors seeking CEUs. Contact Mark Urban for more information.

Hardrocker Discounts: Faculty, Staff and Students*
1) AJ's Wicked Salon and Spa is offering Hardrockers 20 percent off all services when you present your School of Mines ID card.
2) Movie tickets to Carmike Cinemas are available for a discounted $7.50 per ticket, valid until Dec. 31, 2011.
3) Perkins on Mount Rushmore Road offers 10 percent off purchases to SDSM&T ID card holders.
4) Rapid City Area Chamber of Commerce discount cards are available, accepted at more than 75 local businesses for employees, valid until December 31, 2011.
5) Employees can receive exclusive discounts on assorted home services. Call (888) 545-6412 or visit this website for details and restrictions.
6) K-Mart coupons are available for $5 off a $50 purchase, offer expires May 1, 2011.
7) The Pizza Hut on Saint Patrick St. selected SDSM&T as the Business of the Month. All students and employees can receive a large, one topping pizza for $6. Offer expires May 15, 2011.

*All coupons and booklets available in HR. HR does not promote individual companies or products. Rather, HR provides information, services, discounts and/or opportunities that have been provided by various companies, organizations and/or individuals specifically as a benefit for the SDSM&T community.

Mines in the News

General
4/7: Public Invitation: Learn About Your State Water Resources - United States Geological Survey
4/11: Layoffs at Black Hills Developing Lab - KDLT News
4/13: SDSU Getting $1.7 Million in Bioenergy Research Grants - Ag Week

Sports
4/7: SDM Netters Add MH from Minnesota - Hardrocker Athletics
4/8: College Track: BHSU Women, Mines Men Shine - Rapid City Journal
4/11: Butler Invitational Track - KOTA News
4/11: College Golf: BHSU Women Rolling Along - Rapid City Journal
4/13: College Football: Familiarity Abouds for Hardrockers - Rapid City Journal
4/13: Hardrockers Have High Hopes this College Season - KOTA News

Personnel

Change
Charing Townsend (DUSEL) is now Charing Hage.