There are more miles of shoreline in Minnesota than in Hawaii, California, and Florida combined. Minnesota is defined by water, but that doesn't mean we are immune to the challenges currently facing it. At the University of Minnesota Duluth, we’re conducting research to understand and protect this valuable resource. From tracking invasive species and identifying harmful toxins like heavy metals and PFAS, to studying the energy in Lake Superior's waves or working to understand our changing climate, UMD is perfectly positioned to shape the environment of tomorrow.Learn more about research at UMD: https://research.d.umn.edu/

Anna Metcalfe, a Minneapolis-based ceramic artist and University of Minnesota Twin Cities alumna, unveiled her new permanent art installation in A.B. Anderson Hall at the University of Minnesota Duluth in March. The artwork is a wall-mounted relief tile installation of geometric ceramic shapes and sculptures featuring animals and plant species unique to the region. The clay used to form the artwork is also specific to the region, and is sourced from the grounds at Glensheen Mansion, Brighton Beach, and a core sediment sample from the bottom of Lake Superior near Isle Royale. The overall goal of the project, Metclafe said, is to celebrate the resilience of the ecosystem along the North Shore of Lake Superior.Learn more about this project: https://news.d.umn.edu/articles/reliquary-north-shore

UMD’s Black Student Association (BSA) hosted their annual Soul Food Dinner event on February 17 in tribute to Black History Month. The event featured a dinner in the Kirby Ballroom, followed by performances in Weber Music Hall. BSA President Elizabeth Manly-Spain is studying marketing, and put the knowledge she is gaining in the classroom into practice by organizing and promoting the event. She also performed a dance with the BSA Dance Team.

The University of Minnesota Duluth's mascot, Champ, sported a few hair styles in tribute to the Minnesota boys high school hockey state tournament.

Communication Sciences & Disorders students at UMD get hands-on experience at the Robert F. Pierce Clinic on campus as they train to become speech-language pathologists.Learn more about Communication Sciences & Disorders at UMD: https://cehsp.d.umn.edu/departments-centers/departments/csd

UMD PhD Student Alia Benedict works in Assistant Professor Ted Ozersky’s lab at the Large Lakes Observatory (LLO). One research focus of the lab is to fill a current gap in knowledge of Minnesota’s lakes during the winter. Working towards that, Benedict and Undergraduate Biology Student Drew Check visited Pike Lake during a sub-zero day in January to sample water and zooplankton and add to the lab’s collection of data.Learn more about UMD's Water Resources Science program: https://scse.d.umn.edu/large-lakes-observatory/graduate-studies/water-resources-scienceLearn more about UMD's Large Lakes Observatory: https://scse.d.umn.edu/large-lakes-observatory

Rory Westerman, a biology student at the University of Minnesota Duluth, is researching plants and their ability to remove toxins like PFAS from the environment. PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of long-lasting synthetic chemicals used in a variety of commercial products. Westerman, under the guidance of Assistant Professor Luke Busta, is searching for a plant that can absorb PFAS and a fungi that can break it down.Learn more about Biology at UMD: https://academics.d.umn.edu/biology-bs

UMD recently refurbished much of AB Anderson Hall, resulting in a positive impact on the community of students and faculty who utilize the spaces.

Mady Larson, a first-year chemistry master’s student at the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD), is researching drought tolerance mechanisms in agricultural plants in an effort to combat the negative effects of climate change. Larson began doing research as an undergraduate student at UMD his sophomore year, and credits that experience with solidifying his career path and helping him earn scholarships to continue his education.Learn more about the chemistry and biochemistry at UMD: https://scse.d.umn.edu/about/departments-and-programs/chemistry-biochemistry-department

Learn more about sustainability at UMD: https://sustainability.d.umn.edu/