Campuses:
A century and a half ago, university scientists and agriculture had few direct communication channels. Advances were being made in the applied sciences, but bringing those advances to the farms where they could make a difference in people’s lives was not always easy.
The passage of the Morrill Act changed all that.
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Named for its sponsor, Rep. Justin Morrill of Vermont, the act gave large tracts of land to states with the provision that the land be sold and the proceeds used to establish colleges in agriculture, engineering and military science. That’s why they’re called “land-grant” colleges.
Here in Minnesota, the university had already been established in 1851 but had fallen on hard times; thanks to Minneapolis businessman John S. Pillsbury, the school received federal support through the Morrill Act and became Minnesota's land-grant university. Today, CFANS is one of the university’s most visible examples of the land-grant mission, with our three pillars of teaching, research and outreach.
So, 150 years later, why do we still care about the Morrill Act? Because its core idea remains important: to take the innovations that can only be created in university laboratories and classrooms and turn them over to the citizens who can use the innovations and build on them. Because agriculture and natural resources remain of primary importance to the state, national and global economies and quality of life.
This year, our college, the University of Minnesota and other land-grant colleges around the country will collaborate on a wide-ranging celebration of the Morrill Act’s 150th anniversary with a series of events, forums and other activities highlighting the successes made possible through the Act. We’re still looking for ideas from our stakeholders, so please share any celebration suggestions you'd like us to consider. You’ll hear more about the details of our celebration soon, and I hope you’ll join me in recognizing its importance.
The University of Minnesota's annual Legislative Briefing provides advocates for the University of Minnesota with a preview of the U’s legislative agenda while preparing them to advocate for the university with their legislators. This year's briefing, led by new U of M president Eric Kaler, will be at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 1, in McNamara Alumni Center and includes a light dinner. Please pre-register by Jan. 24.
Seeley to speak at 'Classes Without Quizzes'Save the date! Classes Without Quizzes is coming to the St. Paul campus on Saturday, March 31. This year's program features Minnesota meteorologist, climatologist and media personality Mark Seeley as keynote presenter. The annual half-day event sponsored by the CFANS Alumni Society also includes presentations from additional CFANS faculty on a range of topics, aimed at helping the public understand how research in the college affects Minnesotans' daily lives.
This year’s James P. Houck Lecture on Food and Consumer Policy addresses the role of economics in addressing the nation’s obesity epidemic and how various proposed economic policy solutions might work. Laurian Unnevehr, director of the Food Economics Division in the U. S. Department of Agriculture’s economic research service, will be the keynote speaker. The lecture will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, in the Cargill Building for Microbial and Plant Genomics. The event is free and open to the public, but reservations are requested.
Photographer Jim Brandenburg spent 90 days in the deep woods around the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness taking just one image a day; the result was "Chased by the Light," a book full of images that represented Brandenburg’s feelings about the essence of wild places—a raven feather in the rain; a tree marked by a bear; a vibrant view of aurora borealis. From now through May 13, visitors to the Bell Museum of Natural History can see all 90 of Brandenburg's images from his photo journey, as well as a collection of images of the same locations, revisited years later. A video theater will provide a behind-the-scenes exploration of method and meanings of Brandenburg's remarkable images.
Want more frequent updates on what's happening at CFANS? Become a fan on Facebook or follow us on Twitter. You can also keep up on alumni/friends gatherings with CFANS Alumni & Friends on Facebook.
Winter Hearty party, 2 to 5 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 29, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Chanhassen
Environmental Internship and Career Fair, 1 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1, St. Paul Student Center
Roland Peterson Agricultural Education Science Fair, 8 a.m., Thursday, March 15, Ruttan Hall. (Registration begins Jan. 31)
For a complete list of events, visit the CFANS Events Calendar.
Adrian Hegeman of the Department of Horticultural Science has received the Arthur C. Neish Young Investigator Award from the Phytochemcial Society of North America.
Jim Linn, recently retired from the Department of Animal Science, received the Bruce Cottington Friend of Dairy Award from the Minnesota Milk Producers Association.
Don Wyse, professor in the Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, has been recognized with the Honorary Premier Seedsman Award by the Minnesota Crop Improvement Association.
