A new ‘spin’ on energy: Professor of Physics Stewart E. Barnes has collaborated on a “spin battery” that could lead to the creation of computer hard drives with no moving parts.

The device, created by UM physicist Stewart E. Barnes of the College of Arts and Sciences and collaborators at the Universities of Tokyo and Tohoku, Japan, can store energy in magnets rather than through chemical reactions. Like a wind-up toy car, the spin battery is “wound” by applying a large magnetic field—no chemistry involved.

The device is potentially better than anything found so far, according to Barnes. “We had anticipated the effect, but the device produced a voltage over a hundred times too big and for tens of minutes, rather than for milliseconds as we had expected,” Barnes said. “That this was counterintuitive is what led to our theoretical understanding of what was really going on.”

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Sculpted work: Joel Perlman’s Big Diamond, a gift from the Martin Z. Margulies Foundation, is being installed on the Coral Gables campus.

Faculty Senate announces Outstanding Teacher Award
The Faculty Senate is proud to announce that the recipient of the 2009 Faculty Senate Outstanding Teacher Award is Anita Cava, a professor in the School of Business Administration, Department of Business Law. Join in congratulating Professor Cava on this most prestigious award by attending the award ceremony with President Donna E. Shalala and Faculty Senate members on Monday, March 30 at 4 p.m. in the Storer Auditorium at the School of Business Administration. To RSVP, call 305-284-3721 or e-mail facsen@miami.edu.

Nation’s best high school basketball players hit the court at UM on April 1
Less than three weeks remain until the University of Miami’s BankUnited Center hosts the 2009 McDonald’s All-American High School Basketball Boys and Girls Games.
 
The games, which showcase the nation’s top high school basketball players, are scheduled for Wednesday, April 1, with the girls‘ game airing live on ESPNU at 5:30 p.m., and the boys‘ contest being broadcast live on ESPN at 8 p.m.
 
Related activities leading up to the games have been planned, including the Powerade Jam Fest on Monday, March 30, featuring slam-dunk, skills, and three-point shooting competitions.
 
A portion of the proceeds from the games will support Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of South Florida. Since the games were first played in 1978, more than $5 million has been raised for RMHC and other children’s charities.
 
For tickets and event information, visit www.mcdonaldsallamerican.com or call 1-866-909-GAME.

Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day
The annual Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day is Thursday, April 23. University of Miami employees who are parents and their children (ages 8 through 14) are invited to a luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Flamingo Ballroom at the Whitten University Center on the Coral Gables campus. Guests will include President Donna E. Shalala, College of Arts and Sciences Dean Michael R. Halleran, and Sebastian the Ibis. At the conclusion of the lunch program, parents will return to their offices while their daughters and sons participate in supervised career activities until 4 p.m. The program includes special activities sponsored by the College of Engineering, College of Arts and Sciences, School of Nursing and Health Studies, School of Communication, and others. Parents are to pick up their children in person promptly at 4 p.m. at the Ring Theatre check-out station. To register for this event, complete the registration form located here.  Space is limited to 80 children, and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. No exceptions. For more information, e-mail Lisi Carreno at lcarreno@miami.edu.

Pizza Lunch for Parents and Children:
Early Bird Registration (March 16-20):  $5 per person
Late Registration (March 23-April 15): $7 per person
Onsite Registration (April 23): $10 per person

Richter Library computers unavailable
Owing to student testing, the computers in the Richter Library Information Commons will be unavailable on Thursday, March 26 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., on Friday, March 27 from 1 to 3 p.m., on Thursday, April 2 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., and on Friday, April 3 from 1 to 3 p.m. For more information, visit this Web site, call 305-284-6466, or e-mail brittons@miami.edu.

Learn about patents and intellectual property during upcoming seminar
Attend a seminar presented by the Office of Technology Transfer and UM Innovation featuring Nicholas Zachariades, attorney at Darby & Darby, on Wednesday, March 18 at 3 p.m. The event, titled “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Patents and Intellectual Property,” will take place at the Lois Pope LIFE Apex Center, seventh-floor main conference room, #7-05. For more information, call 305-243-5689.

The Office of the Controller is on the move
The Office of the Controller, currently located on the second floor of the Max Orovitz Building, will move the offices of the Associate Vice President and Controller, the Associate Controller, General Accounting, Financial Reporting, User Systems, Training, Cost Studies, Property Accounting, and Document Management to Gables One Tower during the week of March 16.

The new internal address will be 1320 S. Dixie Highway, Suite 150, Coral Gables campus, Locator Code 2912, Coral Gables, Florida, 33146. Phone and fax numbers will remain the same. Offices that are moving will be closed from March 16-19. Please note that the areas of Payroll and Accounts Payable will remain at the Max Orovitz Building and at their current location at the Miller School of Medicine until mid-April when they too will be moving to the Gables One Tower. A separate announcement will be sent as this second move approaches. Also note that the Sponsored Programs Office (Post Award) located at the Gables campus will remain at the Max Orovitz building, 2nd floor, and the Sponsored Programs Office (Post Award) located at the Miller School campus will remain at Dominion Towers. For more information or questions, call 305-284-4877. 

Religious Traditions Course
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Miami and the Miami Shores Presbyterian Church are hosting a series of Religious Traditions Courses. Schedule is as follows: On Wednesday, March 18, Imam Foad Farahi, Shamsuddin Mosque, and Imam Nasir Ahmad, Liberty City Mosque, will present. On Wednesday, March 25 Sam Rutland, Miami Shores Presbyterian Church, will present. And on Wednesday, April 1 Fr. Seamus Doyle, Sister Rose of Lima Catholic Church, presents. Dinner is at 6:15 p.m., with presentations from 7 to 8 p.m. Participants must register in advance by e-mail or phone. To register and for more information, including cost and location, call 305-284-6554 or e-mail osher@miami.edu.

Nominations being accepted for Student Employee of the Year
If you have the good fortune of supervising a student employee who has shown extraordinary dedication and responsibility to his or her job, now is the chance to show how much it is appreciated. The Office of Student Employment is seeking nominations from supervisors for the UM Student Employee of the Year competition. The winning student will receive a $1,000 scholarship and will be recognized during National Student Employment Week, from April 13-17. Nomination forms and procedures are available online. Nomination forms are due to the Office of Student Employment by Monday, March 23. For more information, e-mail cadiaz@miami.edu or call 305-284-6641.

Purchasing update: Notice on standing orders
Because of the current economic situation, the University of Miami has implemented several policies and procedures in order to best prepare for the times ahead. Departments can help the University achieve this goal by reducing the number of standing orders. This will free up capital and reduce the number of encumbrances. Keeping this in mind: Standing orders will not be rolled over this year. Orders for supplies must be processed through UMeNET on an as-needed basis. If an existing UM vendor is not currently available in UMeNET, please e-mail the information to hjiang@miami.edu and the vendor can be added within one business day. Should you require UMeNET training, e-mail htyre@miami.edu. If a standing order is needed for recurring services and/or maintenance, an approved purchase requisition must be submitted along with supporting documentation. Requisitions should be forwarded to the campus Purchasing Department in a timely manner to ensure the purchase orders are ready in time for the new fiscal year. Committee approval may be required depending on the type of purchase. If you have any questions, please contact your campus purchasing department.

Sponsored Programs Roundtable Series
Join the Office of Research Transition Team for a brown-bag lunch covering essential resources available to the research community on Thursday, March 19 from 12 to 1p.m. in the Dominion Tower's 12th-floor conference room. Registration is required through ULearn. For questions, e-mail ResEDU@med.miami.edu.

Center for Nonprofit Management workshop: How to Write Successful Grant Proposals
Attend a workshop on grant writing on Thursday, March 19 from 8:30 to 11 a.m. in the Storer Auditorium at the School of Business Administration. Improve results in seeking foundation and corporate grants. Learn how to select the right funders and grant programs for your organization, overcome writer’s block, understand what the guidelines mean, learn basic tips to make proposals more compelling, and understand how corporate donors differ from foundations. The moderator for the event will be Ruth Shack, president, Dade Community Foundation, and panelists will include Kim Greene, executive director, Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation; Steven Marcus, president, Health Foundation of South Florida; Bernice Matalon Roth, principal, Shaping Solutions, LLC; and Jordan Bock, president, Jordan Bock, Inc. To register, visit nonprofit.miami.edu, e-mail nonprofit.eec@miami.edu, or call 305-284-6673.

Nursing Lunch and Learn Series
Attend a lecture on "Cervical Cancer and the HPV Vaccine: An Approach to Prevention," designed to educate participants in the role of pap screening and human papillomavirus (HPV) in the etiology of cervical cancer on Friday, March 20 from 12 to 1 p.m. Treatment options for pre-cancerous conditions will be reviewed as well as staging and treatment of invasive cancer. Finally, the HPV vaccine will be discussed as the most recent prevention tool. To attend this brown-bag lunch and learn session, you must register via uLearn. Nurses must submit their license information to receive 1.0 contact hour toward renewal. Nurses arriving more than five minutes late are not eligible to receive contact hours credit.

Human Subjects Protections Program Series: “Vulnerable Population in Research”
Register now for a brown-bag lunch on Tuesday, March 31 from 12 to 1 p.m. in the Human Subjects Research Office, Dominion Tower, 12th-floor conference room. This program is intended to inform researchers and any others who have an interest in research at the University about a broad range of subjects pertaining to Human Subjects Protections. Seminars are presented on a monthly basis by experts who either work directly in the field of Human Subjects Protections or have experience in certain aspects of Human Subjects Protections. These seminars are presented in an informal manner with the expectation of interactions with participants. This is a brown bag lunch seminar. Registration is required through ULearn. For questions, please email ResEDU@med.miami.edu.

Software training on-demand
Need training in programs such as Excel, Access, or Outlook? Want the convenience of being trained at your location and on your own schedule? The End User Support group offers End User Training On-the-Go. Choose from existing courses or create a customized class based on topics relevant to your department’s needs.  For more information, visit this Web site, e-mail microtrainers@miami.edu, or call 305-284-9318.

Take Steps to support UM research funding
On Saturday, April 18 at 3 p.m., Team UMGI will walk in the Take Steps for Crohn’s and Colitis 1.5-mile walk at Crandon Park, Key Biscayne. To join or donate to the team, visit www.cctakesteps.org. Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are chronic diseases that afflict millions of people of any age. The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America is at the forefront of medical research in these diseases, including funding research at the Miller School of Medicine. Raise money for important research, raise awareness of two painful and unpredictable diseases, and help promote UM by participating.

UGlobe: Participate in study abroad programs
The world can be your summer classroom. In addition to students, faculty and staff members can also take advantage of the following study abroad programs. For information, call 305-284-8783 or visit www.miami.edu/maia.

IGS 599: Russia in the World
June 14 -27
Explore Russia’s relations with the US, EU,
and global civil society.  (English)

IGS 599: Latin America in the World
May 17- 30    
Insider views on Latin America’s relations
with its neighbors and the world. (English/Spanish)

IGS 599: China in the World
May 31-June 12
China 1979-2008: A story of trade, investment,
and growth. (English)

IGS 599: Africa in the World
July 25-August 5
Focus on Africa’s social, political, economic,
and cultural issues. (English)

Dermatology services available at UHealth Coral Gables practice
Dermatology services are now  available at the UHealth Coral Gables Practice (Daystar). George Elgart, professor and vice chair of education at the Miller School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, is available twice per month to provide care to University staff, students, and others.  The UHealth Coral Gables Practice accepts many insurance plans. Appointments and additional information are available by calling 305-243-6704. Annual free skin cancer screening appointments for UM employees and their dependents insured with AETNA are also available by calling 305-243-3729.

SEEDS-sponsored speed mentoring
Scientists and Engineers Expanding Diversity and Success (SEEDS) will sponsor a speed mentoring event on Friday, April 3 at 3 p.m. in the Rosenstiel Medical School Building (RMSB) 3109. Junior faculty engaged in basic or translational science will meet with senior faculty mentors for an intense hour-long session. The hour will be divided into eight-minute one-on-one interactions, followed by a social hour. Junior faculty will bring a brief (one page) document as a focal point of their discussion/concern. Follow-up sessions as an off-shoot of this event will be planned. For more information, e-mail vfernandez3@med.miami.edu or visit the SEEDS Web site at www.as.miami.edu/seeds.

Visit the Experts at UHealth Sports Medicine and Save Money
UM/Aetna members pay less in copays and save money when visiting UM physicians and facilities.  If you need treatment to prevent an injury, recover from an injury, or learn how you can safely enhance your athletic performance, consider UHealth Sports Medicine. UHealth Sports Medicine offers a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to the evaluation and care of patients with injuries or other medical conditions that affect their ability to exercise, participate in sports, or maintain an active lifestyle.

UHealth Sports Medicine is the official sports medicine provider for the University of Miami Hurricanes, and is the only academic-based sports medicine program in South Florida that is part of a comprehensive orthopaedics department. The chief of the Division of Sports Medicine, Lee Kaplan, is a renowned specialist in sports medicine and arthroscopic surgery, and an expert on conditions resulting from sports-related injury. Kaplan is the author of multiple articles on sports medicine and articular cartilage, as well as a wide range of other orthopaedic disciplines. His articles have been published in numerous medical journals in the United States, Canada, and abroad. A member of many professional and honorary organizations, such as the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, the American College of Sports Medicine, and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Kaplan has received many prestigious honors and awards.

To learn more about UHealth Sports Medicine, visit www.uhealthsportsmedicine.com.

To find UM physicians or to make an appointment online, visit www.uhealthsystem.com. Members can also make an appointment by calling the UM employee dedicated appointment line at 305-243-CARE. If you need further assistance, contact a benefits expert by completing the form at www.miami.edu/benefits/ask.

UM/Aetna medical claims and billing assistance
UM/Aetna medical plan members may contact UM’s on-campus Aetna claims representative for assistance with billing and claims issues at 305-243-7167. If you receive a bill for covered services from an Aetna provider, you must do the following:

In-Network

• Make a copy of your Aetna ID card (front and back) and a copy of the bill. Send a copy of both to the provider who is sending you the bill. This will alert the provider to bill the insurance company. Provide an explanation of the issue.
• Follow the same steps as above, but mail the information to the Aetna claims address on the back of your ID card. Provide an explanation of the issue.
  
  Out-of-Network
  
  
• Complete the claim form located at www.miami.edu/benefits/forms.
• Send Aetna a copy of your Aetna ID card and a copy of the itemized bill. When filing a claim you will need to provide: member ID, billed charges, patient date of birth, procedure code(s), diagnosis code(s), provider name and address or tax ID, and indicate on the bill if the charges were paid.
  Before a UM or Aetna representative can assist you with your claim issues, you must complete the online HIPAA authorization. The Health Insurance  Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) provides rights and protections for participants and beneficiaries in group health plans. HIPAA includes protections for coverage under group health plans that limit exclusions for preexisting conditions and prohibit discrimination against employees and dependents based on their health status. To complete the authorization, log on to myUM, click “employee,” then “benefits,” under “UMatter Benefits” click “HIPAA Authorization.”

If you have questions about any of your UMatter benefits, visit www.miami.edu/benefits/ask and complete the online form.

On new stem cell policy “We know we're on the right path, and now we just have to accelerate this research, and we believe it will result in us having something akin to a cure when we can transplant these cells and reverse the disease.” Robert Pearlman, president of the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation, the fundraising arm of UM's Diabetes Research Institute, which has a privately funded lab where scientists try to coax embryonic stem cells into insulin-producing cells. St. Petersburg Times March 10 Child abuse on the rise “In general, any kind of stressor does contribute. If you take a family who's already under financial stress and then you add the turmoil with the economy now, I think you push them over the edge.” Rita Doval, case manager and registered nurse in the Department of Pediatrics, Child Protection Team, on various stress factors that could be contributing to a recent increase in child abuse cases. Nurse.com March 9 Cancer drug research “In the future, relapse after treatment with temozolomide could be prevented by inhibiting these pathways. This could open doors to treatment. This is exciting stuff.” Ronald Benveniste, assistant professor of neurosurgery at the Miller School of Medicine, on a brain tumor drug that may help spur the return of cancer after treatment. The realization has led to methods for adapting the treatment. ABC News March 6

Today, Monday, March 16 The Enrique Cepero Memorial Lecture Series. Lynn McCormick Matrisian, Ingram Distinguished Professor of Cancer Research and professor and chair in the Department of Cancer Biology at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, presents "The Hills and Valleys of Biomedical Research: The Matrix Metalloproteinase Experience from a Professional and Personal View” at the Rosenstiel Medical Science Building, third-floor auditorium. For more information, call 305-243-5682 or e-mail iduarte@med.miami.edu.

Tuesday, March 17 Cardiology Grand Rounds. Eduardo de Marchena, professor of medicine, chairman of UM Medical Group, director of the International Medicine Institute and International Cardiology, and medical director of UM Cardiovascular Center, will present "Percutaneous Mitral Valve Repair” from 12 to 1 p.m. at the University of Miami Hospital, South Building, first-floor Seminar Center, A and B.  For more information, call 305-243-1998 or e-mail ytabraue@med.miami.edu.

Tuesday, March 17 Hospital Medicine Grand Rounds. Robert Wachter, professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, will present, "The Hospitalist Movement 10 Years Later" at 12 p.m. at Jackson Memorial Hospital's second-floor auditorium. By attending this lecture, participants will be able to explain the forces promoting the unprecedented growth of hospitalists in the United States, formulate two other “Site-defined Specialties,” and analyze the economic model supporting most hospitalist practices. The lecture is designed for family practitioners, emergency physicians, surgeons, internists, and hospitalists. This activity has been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit.  Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. For more information, please contact Janette Jurado at jjurado2@med.miami.edu or visit www.cme.med.miami.edu.

Wednesday, March 18 Plastic Surgery Grand Rounds. Erick G. Martell, senior resident of the Plastic Surgery Division, will present “Reconstruction of the Distal 1/3 Lower Extremity” at UMH, seminar C, from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. For more information, call 305-585-5285.

Thursday, March 19 “Gbeta5-RGS7 Complex: From Protein-Protein Interactions to Obesity and Anxiety.” Vladlen Slepak, professor in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology at the Miller School of Medicine, will deliver a seminar in the Rosenstiel Medical Science Building, Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology Conference Room 6018.

Friday, March 20 “Brazil’s Economy and the Global Economic Downturn.” This panel discussion, hosted by the Center for Hemispheric Policy, will feature Edmilson Dos Santos, associate professor of the graduate energy program at the University of São Paulo; Paulo Leme, managing director of emerging markets economic research at Goldman Sachs; and Joel Velasco, chief representative for North America of the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA). The event takes place from 8 to 9:45 a.m. at the Hyatt Regency Coral Gables. The program fee is $30; faculty and students are free with a valid ID. RSVP to chp-rsvp@miami.edu. For more information, call 305-284-9918 or visit www.miami.edu/chp.

Friday, March 20 Neuroscience Center Seminar: “Molecular Mechanisms of Fear:  From Mice to Men.” Kerry Ressler, investigator for the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and associate professor for the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at Emory University, presents from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Lois Pope LIFE Center, seventh-floor auditorium. For more information, call 305-243-7108 or visit www.themiamiproject.org/lectures.

Monday, March 23 Department of Medicine Research Conference Series. Peter Mundel, professor of medicine, will present “The Role of the Podocyte in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Proteinuria” at 12 p.m. at the MTSL conference room. Lunch will be provided. For more information, e-mail zrodriguez@med.miami.edu or visit this Web site.

Monday, March 23 The Department of Rehabilitation Medicine Grand Rounds. David Gater, Jr., chief of Spinal Cord Injury and Disorders and professor of PM&R at JJ McGuire VAMC/Virginia Commonwealth University, will present “Metabolic Dysfunction in Spinal Cord Injury” at the Lois Pope LIFE Center, seventh-floor Apex Center, from 4 to 5 p.m. The Miller School of Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 credits. 

Monday, March 23 “Most Likely Solution.” The Center For Computational Science Distinguished Lecture Series presents Osamu Watanabe of the Tokyo Institute of Technology. As a framework for solving simple but basic statistical inference problems, the discussion will introduce a generic most likely solution problem, a task of finding a most likely solution (MLS in short) for a given problem instance under some given probability model. The event occurs at 3:30 p.m. at the McArthur Engineering Building, annex 202. Co-sponsors for this event include the Department of Computer Science and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Tuesday, March 24 The Mary Bartlett Bunge Distinguished Women in Cell Biology Lecture Series. Susan L. Lindquist, member of the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, professor of biology at MIT, and investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, will present “Protein Folding Mechanisms Propelling Rapid Evolutionary Change” at 12 p.m. in the seventh-floor auditorium of the Lois Pope LIFE Center. In addition, Lindquist will host a mentoring event titled “Yes We Can!  A Woman’s Perspective on a Life in Science” at 4 p.m. in the fourth-floor auditorium of the Rosenstiel Medical Science Building. For more information, please call 305-243-6691 or e-mail mpenton@med.miami.edu.

Tuesday, March 24 Cardiology Grand Rounds. Martin S. Bilsker, associate professor of medicine in the Division of Cardiology and director of the Echo Doppler Laboratory and Cardiology Outpatient Clinic at Jackson Memorial Hospital, will present from 12 to 1 p.m. at University of Miami Hospital, South Building, first-floor Seminar Center, A and B. For more information, call 305-243-1998 or e-mail ytabraue@med.miami.edu.

Wednesday, March 25 Tribal Arts Society Illustrated Lecture. The Lowe Art Museum presents Rebecca Trautmann, from the National Museum of the American Indian, who will lecture on "Fritz Scholder, Indian/Not Indian: A New Look at the Artist’s Work at the National Museum of the American Indian" at 7:30 p.m. at the Lowe. Scholder's distorted figures and jarring colors changed the idea of “Indianness” that was left over from the paining of the19th century. This lecture assesses Scholder’s continuing relevance to contemporary and Native American art. The museum galleries will be open from 6 p.m. for a tour in the North American Indian gallery. The lecture is free to students and members of the Tribal Arts Society; $10 for others. For more information, e-mail l.chapin@miami.edu or call 305-343-5757.

Friday, March 27 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Seminar. Thomas P. Burris, professor in the Department of Molecular Therapeutics at The Scripps Research Institute, presents “Identifying Physiological Ligands for Orphan Nuclear Receptors” at 12 p.m. in the Gautier Building, Room 118. To meet with the speaker, e-mail Zafar Nawaz at znawaz@med.miami.edu.

Tuesday, March 31 Cell Biology and Anatomy Seminar Series. Karoline J. Briegel, assistant professor of biochemistry and molecular biology and a faculty member of the Braman Family Breast Cancer Institute at the Miller School of Medicine, presents “Transcription Factor LBH is a Direct Target of the Oncogenic Wnt Signaling Pathway and a Novel Marker for Aggressive Basal-type Breast Cancer” at 12 p.m. in the Rosenstiel Medical Science Building, fourth-floor auditorium. For more information, call 305-243-6691 or e-mail naviles@med.miami.edu.

Friday, April 3 Annual Bioethics Conference. The Florida Bioethics Network's (FBN) annual spring conference takes place in Miami Beach and will have special presentations on geriatrics, literature, and the medical humanities and pandemic preparedness.  The conference will also feature a panel presentation on clinical futility and the roll-out of the FBN's new "Guidelines for Ethics Committees." The program is in conjunction with the UM Ethics Program's 17th annual Florida Ethics: Debates, Decisions, Solutions conference. The gathering has emerged as the largest community bioethics conference in the nation, with upwards of 400 attendees annually. The program is regularly approved for continuing education credits for nurses, physicians, social workers, psychologists, guardians, and lawyers. For more information including a program and registration form, visit www.miami.edu/ethics or e-mail ethics@miami.edu.

Friday, May 15 Third Annual Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute Symposium. The Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute holds its Third Annual Symposium at the Retter Auditorium in Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, second floor. This symposium brings together leading experts to discuss novel data on the latest cutting-edge advancements in the field of stem cell research. Prominent speakers will include Evangelos Badiavas, associate professor in the Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery and I.S.C.I.; Linzhao Cheng, associate professor at Johns Hopkins University; W. Dalton Dietrich, III, scientific director at The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis; Eli Gilboa, Dodson Professor of Microbiology and Immunology and director of the Dodson Interdisciplinary Immunotherapy Institute, and more. Attendance is free, but registration is required.  For more information and registration, e-mail spettigrew@med.miami.edu.

World Water Day film: One Water screens Tuesday, March 24. World Water Day celebration includes screening of One Water Celebrate during the week of World Water Day by attending a screening of One Water, a movie produced to show the increasing depletion of clean water sources throughout the world. The event takes place at the Cosford Cinema on Tuesday, March 24 at 3:30 p.m.   Following the screening, a question-and-answer session will take place featuring filmmakers Sanjeev Chatterjee, vice dean of the School of Communication and producer, writer, and co-director; and Ali Habashi, editor and co-director.   World Water Day, Sunday, March 22, was established in 1992 at a United Nations Conference in Environment and Development as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. For more arts and culture events at UM, visit UM Presents.

Tuesday, March 17 Collegetown at Cosford. Looking for a family-friendly alternative to the usual St. Patrick’s Day celebrations? Attend the inaugural “CollegeTown at Cosford” night with a free screening of Bolt at the Cosford Cinema at 6:30 p.m. Thanks to his starring role on a hit television show, Bolt has become a household name. The dashing German shepherd believes that he and his TV character are one and the same and that he actually possesses super-canine powers. When he's accidentally shipped to the East Coast, he must rely on help from his new friends as he embarks on a cross-country quest to get home to his owner in Hollywood. Nominated for a Best Animated Feature Academy Award, this animated adventure includes the voices of John Travolta and Miley Cyrus and is rated PG. Refreshments will be served. For more information, call 305-284-5500 or e-mail umneighbors@miami.edu.

Thursday through Sunday, March 19-22 Art of Table Decorating. The annual Art of Table Decorating Showcase comes to the Lowe Art Museum and includes a cocktail party on Thursday, March 19, followed by three days of viewings (Friday through Sunday, March 20-22). Proceeds from the cocktail party and general admission sales will go to Beaux Arts of the Lowe Art Museum. This year, the theme for the event will be “Nature” and is sure to inspire many innovative designs. This event highlights 30 beautifully decorated tables created by Beaux Arts members, luxury brands, and a range of designers, and is situated among the art collections in the Beaux Arts Gallery at the Lowe. Tickets to the opening night party are $75 each and include hors d’oeuvres by Thierry’s Catering, full open bar featuring specialty nature-inspired Oronoco cocktails presented by Diageo, a Ghurka cigar lounge, live music, and VIP gift bags by Tory Burch. Admission to the daytime table viewing is $15. For more information or to purchase advance tickets, visit www.beauxartsmiami.org, e-mail carol@thepattongroupinc.com, or kentmissy@gmail.com.

Friday, March 27 Concert Jazz Band performs with Sam Rivers. The Frost Concert Jazz Band, under the direction of Dante Luciani and with special guest Sam Rivers, will perform at 8 p.m. at Gusman Concert Hall on the Coral Gables campus. Rivers is an 83-year-old multi-instrumentalist who began gaining notice in the jazz world as a member of Herb Pomeroy’s legendary big band in Boston in the '50s. He also played with the Miles Davis Quintet. Tickets: $15 donation. For more information, call 305-284-5813.

Monday, March 30 Opera-In-Progress by Stamps Series Visiting Artists. The Frost School of Music continues the Stamps Family Distinguished Visitors Series with Anthony Davis, Dafnis Prieto, and Charles Koppelman: In Conversation, discussing their opera-in-progress, Revolution of Forms. The opera examines the rise and fall of Cuba’s National Art Schools. The work is presented through the eyes of architect Ricardo Porro, who helped design these national schools. The creative team—Davis, Prieto, and Koppelman—will visit UM for a conversation on the genesis and development of Revolution of Forms. The talk will take place at 8 p.m. in Victor E. Clarke Recital Hall on the Coral Gables campus. Admission is free. To RSVP, call 305-284-4940. In addition, excerpts from Revolution of Forms will be performed on Tuesday, March 31 at 8 p.m. by composer/jazz pianist Davis, composer/percussionist Prieto, and featured guest artist, tenor Thomas Young at Gusman Concert Hall. The performance is free and open to the public, and no RSVP is required. For more information and directions to the events, visit http://music.miami.edu or call 305-284-4940.

Wednesday, April 8 Arts Networking Night. Join the Toppel Career Center for an opportunity to network with professionals and UM students who are interested in the arts. The event takes place at 6:30 p.m. at the CAS Gallery, 1210 Stanford Drive. RSVP to Ali Rodriguez at 305-284-1819 or alrodriguez@miami.edu.