U of M Alumni Association kicks off 2010-11 Statewide Speakers Tour in Marshall Aug. 19

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (08/16/2010) —Every year the University of Minnesota Alumni Association travels across the state talking about current university issues and the university’s impact on the state.

The Alumni Association’s 2010-11 Statewide Speakers Tour program, “Building and Sustaining a Strong Economy: The University of Minnesota’s Unique Role,” will highlight the connection between the university’s nine Research and Outreach Centers associated with the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) and their impact on teaching, discovery and the state’s economy.

Attendees will learn about the centers, which are strategically located throughout Minnesota. Faculty members will talk about such topics as feeding a growing world population, water, climate, the natural environment, reliable and accessible food growing and distribution systems, biofuels and bioproducts.

“The Research and Outreach Centers, affectionately known as ROCs, represent in a very real and practical way the university’s mission to respond to the needs of all Minnesotans,” says Greg Cuomo, CFANS associate dean for extension and outreach. “Each center has its own character and strengths responding to local needs, and we are excited to bring the ROCs story to communities across the state this year.”

The ROCs consist of the following entities: Northwest Research and Outreach Center, Crookston; West Central Research and Outreach Center, Morris; Southwest Research and Outreach Center, Lamberton; Southern Research and Outreach Center, Waseca; Rosemount Research and Outreach Center, Rosemount; Cloquet Forestry Center, Cloquet; Horticultural Research Center and the Landscape Arboretum, Chanhassen; Sand Plain Experimental Research Farm, Becker; and North Central Research & Outreach Center, Grand Rapids.

The first stop on the tour is at 7 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 19, at the Marshall Sunrise Lions, Marshall Area YMCA, 200 S. A St., Marshall, and will feature remarks by Cuomo.

Communities interested in bringing the program, “Building and Sustaining a Strong Economy: the University of Minnesota’s Unique Role,” to their community, may contact Mary Kay Delvo, Alumni Association advocacy director, at delvo003 [a] umn (p) edu or (612) 626-1417. For more information, including upcoming tour stops, visit the Statewide Speakers Tour webpage at www.MinnesotaAlumni.org/Statewide_Tour.

The University of Minnesota Alumni Association is a 60,000-member organization whose members are ambassadors for the excellent teaching and breakthrough research that happens at the University every day. For more information, visit www.MinnesotaAlumni.org or call (612) 624-2323.