This initiative is designed to fill a significant need. The National Academies report Beyond Bias and Barriers, chaired by University President Donna E. Shalala, documented that despite advances in the proportion of women and other underrepresented minorities in science and engineering graduate programs, the proportion who become faculty continues to lag behind.  
 
The inaugural SEEDS event is a luncheon with President Shalala on Tuesday November 18 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Hurricane 100 room, BankUnited Center. Woman and minority science, math, and engineering faculty are invited to RSVP for this event either on the SEEDS home page or at www.as.miami.edu/seeds/events.
 
SEEDS is directed by Kathryn Tosney, chair of biology; the co-directors are the deans of UM’s four schools with science programs: Michael Halleran, of Arts and Sciences; James Tien, of Engineering; Otis Brown, of the Rosenstiel School; and Pascal J. Goldschmidt, of the Miller School.

Celebrating a Milestone Lillian Cespedes, left, and Sandy Raff have more than 80 years of service between them as University of Miami employees. Last Wednesday, the two, along with 79 other workers in UM’s Business and Finance Division, were honored at the division’s Long Service Awards Luncheon for reaching different milestones in their UM careers. Both Cespedes, a manager in the computer operations division of Information Technology, and Raff, a manager in the payroll office, have worked at UM for 40 years. Other employees who were honored at the ceremony for achieving notable career milestones included Milton Davis, a maintenance mechanic for Real Estate and Facilities, and James Willis, a senior manager for Business Facilities, both of whom have now worked at UM for 35 years.

Knight Center launches World Cities anchor project
The Knight Center for International Media at the School of Communication has announced its second major project focusing on the transformation and challenges facing cities around the world. The announcement came last Thursday on the closing day of the United Nations Habitat for a Better Urban Future’s Fourth World Urban Forum, hosted this year by the Chinese government in the historic city of Nanjing, China.

According to the United Nations Habitat for a Better Urban Future report on “State of the World’s Cities,” cities now house 50 percent of the world's population. By 2050, the figure is expected to rise to 70 percent. Miami is one of the major cities at the core of this project. School of Communication Dean Sam L Grogg said the Knight Center World Cities Anchor Project will look at a broad range of issues worldwide as they relate to the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals and can lead to future action and ways to bring people together. Knight Center Executive Director Sanjeev Chatterjee said this is a long-term project, committed not only to identifying the challenges facing inevitable and rapid urbanization but also to creating and sharing knowledge aimed at the betterment of urban life.

This ambitious effort will take place in several areas of engagement, including research, publication and curriculum development, and conferences and meetings of international journalists to define best practices in contemporary urban reporting. Documentary filmmaking and high-level multimedia journalism training to encourage reporting in and about cities are other areas of engagement. The Knight Center plans to launch an interactive Web site to begin sharing its activities and findings in early 2009.

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The Launch Pad kicks off Global Entrepreneurship Week next Monday
The Launch Pad, UM's new interdisciplinary entrepreneurship resource center that is a component of the Toppel Career Center, marks the start of Global Entrepreneurship Week with several events November 17-21 that are geared toward exposing students and alumni to furthering their goals.

The Launch Pad opened at the beginning of the semester and teaches participants how entrepreneurship is a career choice that can be started right away. The center offers guidance in learning business basics, developing ideas, networking with industry experts and investors, and strategizing how to take your venture to the next level.

The events during Global Entrepreneurship are open to the public. For a complete schedule of events, click here.

Special football ticket offer for UM employees 
Get tickets to the final Miami Hurricanes home game of the season at Dolphin Stadium as the 'Canes take on rival Virginia Tech on Thursday, November 13 at 7:30 p.m. Special ticket pricing has been established for UM employees. Choose between lower-level end zone seats or upper-level midfield seats for $40 per ticket. This is a discount of $19 per ticket. For $22 per ticket, sit in the upper west end zone at a savings of $12 per ticket. As an added bonus, a halftime celebration will recognize Edgerrin James, Jim Kelly, Gino Torretta, Cortez Kennedy, and Jim Otto, who all have been named to the UM Ring of Honor. Secure your seats now and see the Hurricanes take the next step toward the ACC Championship. Click here and enter the password "SEBASTIAN" when prompted. Tickets will be available for pick up at the will call box office or choose to print them at home.

Additionally, a limited number of $19 tickets are available in the Family Zone. This area of the stadium is designated as alcohol-free. To order these tickets, visit www.hurricanesports.com or call 305-284-CANE.

M.A. in International Administration hosts question-and-answer session
The Master of Arts in International Administration (MAIA) is hosting a question-and-answer session for prospective applicants from 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, November 18, at the McKnight Building, suite 102.  MAIA is a University-wide professional international relations program that combines international relations theory with practice and coursework in administration, management, and economics.  It is a 30-credit program that can be taken on a full-time or part-time basis, with core courses generally offered weekday evenings.  Reservations are required by sending an e-mail to maiaprogram@miami.edu or call 305-284-8782.  For information about the MAIA program, visit www.miami.edu/maia.

Master of Arts in Liberal Studies Program information forum
The Master of Arts in Liberal Studies Program will host an information session for prospective applicants on Tuesday, November 11 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the CAS Art Gallery located in the Wesley Center. The 30-credit program is taught by leading faculty members and offers convenient evening class hours. The number of credits taken each semester is flexible and courses are offered during all semesters. To RSVP for the session, e-mail mals@miami.edu or call 305-284-6731. For more information, visit www.as.miami.edu/mals.

Learn about the undergraduate admission and tuition remission process
Employees and related qualified individuals interested in taking advantage of the tuition remission benefit should consider attending upcoming information sessions to learn about the admission policies and procedures for undergraduate degree programs.  Representatives from the Office of Admission, Office of Financial Assistance, and Office of Benefits Administration will conduct the following sessions:

• Coral Gables campus:  Tuesday, November 11, from 12 to 1 p.m. in the University Center’s Flamingo Ballroom A
• Medical campus:  Wednesday, November 12, from 12 to 1 p.m. in the Retter Auditorium
  

Looking for that special gift?
The Lowe Art Museum Gift Store is offering UM employees with a valid 'Cane Card a 15 percent discount on all purchases over $5 through Thursday, November 13. Find unique gifts for art lovers of all ages: coffee table books, one-of-a-kind jewelry designs, exquisite stationery, creative educational toys, and more. Museum hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday from 12 to 7 p.m.; and Sunday from 12 to 5 p.m. The store is closed on Monday. For more information, call 305-284-6988.

New location for Center for Aesthetic, Plastic, and Reconstructive Surgery
The Center for Aesthetic, Plastic, and Reconstructive Surgery, part of the Division of Plastic Surgery, has opened a new office at UM Hospital Professional Building West, suite 402. Appointments are available with the plastic surgeons and the para-medical aesthetician for cosmetic and reconstructive procedures, Botox, a full range of facial fillers, facials, and microdermabrasion treatments. The center carries five complete lines of “physician only” skin care products including OBAGI. UM employees qualify for a discount. For appointments and more information, call 305-585-5285.

Holiday cookie sale begins today, benefits students
The Miller School of Medicine Class of 2010 is now accepting orders for special big cookie tins full of decorated, holiday cookies, ideal as a thoughtful holiday gift. Proceeds benefit Miller School students. Select from an assortment of cookie types: Snickers Surprise, Cookies and Cream Fudge, Chocolate-dipped Almond Crescents, Jammed-up Oatmeal, Honey-soaked, and Caramel-Topped Chocolate Sugar. Individuals can also purchase a tin of a specific type of cookie. Prices range from $10 to $15 for a dozen cookies. Place orders through December 8 by visiting the Rosenstiel Medical Sciences Building beginning next week on Monday, November 17 and taste some of these delectables. But you don't have to wait until next week. For more information and to order before next Monday, e-mail EMBernal@med.miami.edu. Delivery will be December 15-19 outside the Rosenstiel Medical Sciences Building.

2008-09 Fact Finder now available
The 2008-09 Fact Finder is now available. It can be found on the Web at www.miami.edu/facts or can be ordered from Planning and Institutional Research. Single copies are free but orders of four or more are $.50 per copy. To order, submit an IDR to Planning and Institutional Research (Ungar 335, Locator Code: 4222) or call 305-284-FACT to place an order.

Sponsored Programs Roundtable Series: NIH eRA Commons Demo
Come and learn how the NIH eRA Commons system can help you view the status of your NIH applications. The eRA Commons is an NIH Web-based system, a necessary tool for principal investigators and administrators to view and manage their awards.  Please register at ULearn.miami.edu. For more information, e-mail ResEDU@med.miami.edu. The event occurs on Thursday, November 20 from 12 to 1 p.m. at the Batchelor Building, Baxter Conference Room.

InfoEd Proposal Development: hands-on workshop
Learn how to use the InfoEd Proposal Development System to prepare and submit your proposal electronically to the NIH. InfoEd streamlines the proposal development process. It is web-based and accessible almost anywhere by Mac and PC users. No additional software is required. InfoEd populates agency forms, includes built-in agency validations, stores proposals in a secure environment, and provides a database of all proposals submitted. This session will help participants create, route, submit, and track proposals using the InfoEd System. The event occurs on Wednesday, November 19 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Dominion Towers, tenth-floor training room. To register, visit ULearn.miami.edu. For more information, e-mail ResEDU@med.miami.edu.

UM's Semester in Israel scheduled for Spring 2009 still accepting applications
The deadline for applying to UM's Semerster in Israel is Saturday, November 15. The semester includes classes team-taught by UM faculty and Israeli scholars. Attendees will have an opportunity to participate in an archaeological survey and take study trips to Jerusalem, the Golan Heights, Caesarea, Nazareth, the Sea of Galilee, Masada, and more. Accommodations are provided by the beautiful and modern ORT-Braude College in Karmiel. Some funding is available to support flight costs, and individuals will take a total of five UM courses for 15 UM credits while participating. For more information, call 305-284-8180 or e-mail aberezin@miami.edu.

UM's FedEx shipping rates lowered
The University of Miami is now benefiting from additional discounts with FedEx through the Educational and Institutional Cooperative agreement. The cooperative negotiated steep discounts on FedEx Priority and Standard Overnight services as well as Ground Service.  If you are currently placing orders with another carrier, please consider shipping with FedEx to ensure you get the best pricing. Individuals can continue to place orders through FedEx.com or via 1-800-GO-FEDEX with your existing FedEx account number. Remember to monitor your FedEx activity in DMAS in the Purchasing Menu/FedEx Tracking section. For more information about shipping with FedEx, e-mail tsyed@miami.edu or call 305-284-5368.

Sprint/Nextel at the Coral Gables Campus
A Sprint/Nextel representative will be on the Coral Gables campus on the third-floor of the Max Orovitz Building from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month, beginning in December. The representative will be able to go over plans, phone features, place orders, and handle billing questions. To make an appointment, call 305-796-6400.

Genetic Analysis of Complex Human Diseases course
The Miami Institute for Human Genomics is accepting applications from UM graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty members for the upcoming course, Genetic Analysis of Complex Human Diseases. This is a comprehensive four-day course that will introduce state-of-the-art approaches for the mapping and characterization of human inherited disorders, with an emphasis on the mapping of genes involved in common and genetically complex disease phenotypes.

The primary goal is to provide participants with an overview of approaches for identifying genes involved in complex human diseases. At the end of the course, participants should be able to identify the key components of a study team and communicate effectively with specialists in various areas to design and execute a study. The course will be held April 20-23, 2009 at the Miami Beach Resort and Spa, Miami Beach. The application deadline is February 1, 2009. Additional details and applications are available online or by e-mailing dmclean@med.miami.edu.

• Cirque du Soleil: The tents are going up at Bicentennial Park, and Floridians from all over are gearing up for Corteo by Cirque du Soleil. For the first time in just under three years, Cirque du Soleil is returning to South Florida with this enchanting production. The show premieres on Thursday, November 13 but discount tickets and preferred seating have been reserved exclusively.
   
• AMC movie tickets: Get the perfect stocking stuffer with an extra-special discount on a combo pack including sodas and popcorn. AMC is offering a combo pack. For just $26, employees can purchase two unrestricted AMC Gold Experience Tickets, two small sodas, and one small popcorn. Both the soda and popcorn vouchers can be exchanged for credit toward a larger size. The movie tickets and concession vouchers never expire.
  
  
• Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at the Walt Disney World Resort: Be enchanted by the all new Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade and thrilled by the fireworks spectacular Holiday Wishes: Celebrate the Spirit of the Season. Employees can save on admission to select nights between November 10 and December 19.
  
  
• Miami Heat tickets: Enjoy great seats and save 50 percent off regular admission prices.
  

Please visit TicketsAtWork.com for more offers and ordering details. More information and featured offers are also highlighted in the Savings Bulletin. Tickets can be ordered online or can be placed by calling 1-800-331-6483. The UM company code is CANES.

Financial consultants to visit University
Need help with retirement plans? Two of the financial companies that are approved as official service providers by the University will be offering individual financial consultations this month.

TIAA-CREF will be at the Coral Gables campus on November 10, 11, and 18 at the Max Orovitz Building's Human Resources conference room. A representative will be at the Miller School campus in the Human Resources Benefits Office, suite D on November 12, 13, and 20. To schedule an appointment, visit www.tiaa-cref.com/moc or call 1-866-842-3357, extension 261304.

Fidelity Investments will visit the medical campus on November 10 and 11 in the Human Resources Benefits Office. A representative will be available on the Coral Gables campus on November 12 and 13 in the Max Orovitz Building's Human Resources conference room. To schedule an appointment, call 1-800-642-7131.

November is American Diabetes Month
Did you know that more than 20 million Americans have diabetes and that 6.2 million Americans are unaware that they are suffering from the disease? Diabetes is a condition in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin, the hormone that regulates blood sugar, or glucose; it can affect many parts of the body and lead to serious complications if kept undiagnosed or untreated.

As part of the UMatter Wellness Programs, the University is offering a series of Lunch and Lectures during American Diabetes Month this November. Attend one of the sessions below to learn the facts about diabetes from UM faculty experts and to find out what preventive steps can be taken to avoid getting the disease.

• Miller School campus on Wednesday, November 12 from 12 to 1 p.m.
  Dominion Parking Garage, Professional Development and Training Office Training Room
  RSVP by visiting www.miami.edu/benefits/RSVP.
  
  
• Coral Gables campus on Monday, November 17 from 12 to 1 p.m.
  Whitten University Center, Flamingo Ballroom D
  RSVP by visiting www.miami.edu/benefits/RSVP.
  
  
• Rosenstiel campus on Tuesday, November 18 from 12 to 1 p.m.
  Rosenstiel School Auditorium
  RSVP by visiting www.miami.edu/benefits/RSVP.

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

Make your donation, be eligible for raffle prizes All UM employees who make an online donation to the University’s United Way campaign via myUM before the end of today, Monday, November 10 will be automatically entered into a raffle for great prizes. The winner will be selected from a random drawing and will be announced in e-Veritas. Prizes include: two round-trip tickets on American Airlines; $100 Cane Express debit card; free parking for one year on the Coral Gables and Miller School campuses; and President Donna E. Shalala’s personalized Hurricanes baseball 25-year reunion national championship jersey and ’08 Florida Marlins jersey as well as a Marlins visor. For information on making an online donation, visit www.miami.edu/unitedway. Participate in the Business Services online silent auction Excellent holiday gifts are now available at the Business Services silent auction Web site. Participating is easy, fun, and benefits the United Way. UM employees, staff, and students can browse auction items and take advantage of the opportunity to obtain great items such as airplane tickets, hotel stays, restaurant certificates, an mp3 player, cameras, and more. Bidding ends today, Monday, November 10 at 5 p.m. UM Police and United Way present the Segway Charity Ride Ever want to ride a Segway? This is a chance to do it for a good cause. For a donation of $5 (larger donations are welcome), take a five-minute ride on a UM Police Department Segway with one-on-one instruction from a UM police officer. The event will be on Thursday, November 13 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Whitten University Center Green (in between the Richter Library and the University Center). Students, faculty, and staff are all welcome to participate. For more information, visit www.miami.edu/police, call 305-284-3075, or download the flyer. Editor's Note: e-Veritas will include submissions for United Way fundraising events or sales in the Monday edition only. Send items to e-veritas@miami.edu.

Social networking Web sites “No one is going to hire the consultant doing the keg stand or the lawyer that belongs to the anarchist forum.” Patricia Sanchez-Abril, expert on privacy and networking sites and professor of business law at the School of Business Administration, on the reputation that is documented on social networking sites and employers who may research an individual before hiring them. CNN November 6 The future of social programs “The one thing Senator Obama is not going to do, and neither would [Senator John] McCain, is create more poor people and create more sick people and the last thing you want to do is pick on the most vulnerable elderly and pregnant women with children, because that’s essentially who is covered by these programs.” Donna E. Shalala, University president and former secretary of health and human services during the Clinton Administration, on the need to cut federal spending while avoiding using a "budget axe" on critical social programs. The Jewish Week November 4 Changing demographics “Currently, there is once again (since 2000) a process of Cubanization taking place here in Miami-Dade County. The proportion of all Hispanics who were Cuban in 2000 was about 50 percent. Now that has risen to almost 54 percent. So, Cubans are once again asserting themselves through heavy immigration to South Florida.” Thomas Boswell, professor of the Department of Geography and Regional Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences, on the political, social, and cultural implications of shifting trends in South Florida population demographics. EurekAlert November 4

Various Dates. The George Feldenkreis Program in Judaic Studies Lectures. Professor Mordechai (Motti) Aviam, who is visiting in Miami this month, will teach a mini-course titled “The Land Jesus and the Rabbis Walked,” which will consist of two remaining lectures. Aviam will be the Israeli faculty member leading UM's Galilee Semester Program at Ort-Braude in Karmiel, Israel during the Spring 2009 semester. On Wednesday, November 12, attend “Who Lived in the Galilee?” and on Wednesday, November 19 attend “The Pagan and Jewish Cities.” The two lectures will take place at the Miller Center auditorium in the Merrick Building, room 105 from 2:30 to 5 p.m. For more information and to RSVP, call 305-284-8180 or e-mail aberezin@miami.edu.

Today, Monday, November 10 Department of Microbiology and Immunology Seminar. Daniela Frasca, research associate in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, presents “Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms for B Cell Defects in Aged Mice” at 12 p.m. in the Rosenstiel Medical Science Building, room 3109.

Today, Monday, November 10 Biology Departmental Seminars. Christopher Lowe, assistant professor of organismal biology and anatomy at the University of Chicago, presents "Early Evolution of Deuterostomes and Chordate Origins: Insights from Hemichordate Development." If you would like to arrange a time to meet with Lowe, please contact his host Julia Dallman at 305-284-3512. The seminar will take place at 12:20 p.m. at the Cox Science Center, room 166.

Tuesday, November 11 Department of History Speaker Series. Pamela Ballinger, associate professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Bowdoin College, presents “Nationalizing the Colonial Family: Repatriation from Italian Africa after World War II” at 3:30 p.m. in the third-floor conference room, Richter Library.

Tuesday, November 11 The Jay Weiss Center for Social Medicine and Health Equity Grand Rounds Series. Arthur Fournier, professor and associate dean, Office of Community Health, and vice chair, Department of Family Medicine at the Miller School of Medicine, will present “Service Learning in Global Health: What Medical Students Can Do” at 12 p.m. in the Rosenstiel Medical Sciences Building, third-floor auditorium. Lunch will be provided. For more information, e-mail Katie Houghton at Khoughton@med.miami.edu or visit www.jayweisscenter.org.

Wednesday, November 12 “Why Not Be Judgmental?” The Department of Philosophy presents its Friends of Philosophy Dialogue with Bradford Cokelet, assistant professor of philosophy at the University of Miami. Cokelet’s current research centers on the nature of and relations between virtue, rational agency, autonomy, and respect for persons, and he has side interests in Buddhism and Christian debates about sin and free will. His talk will be held from 7:30 to 9 p.m. in room 110 of the Learning Center. For more information, visit www.miami.edu/phi, or call 305-284-4757.

Thursday, November 13 “Synaptic Homeostasis in a Zebrafish Glial Glycine Transporter Mutant.” Julia Dallman, professor in the Department of Biology, will present at 12 p.m. in the Rosenstiel Medical Sciences Building, Pharmacology Conference Room, room 6018. For more information, call 305-243-1078.

Thursday, November 13 Orthopaedic Grand Rounds. James Weinstein, director of the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice and professor and chairman at Dartmouth Medical School-Hitchcock Medical Center, will present “Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial,” the largest study funded by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases at the National Institutes of Health. The presentation takes place from 7 to 8 a.m. at the Mailman Center for Child Development, eighth-floor auditorium. For more information, call 305-243-6566 or e-mail lfigueroa@med.miami.edu.

Friday, November 14 Seminar Series: “Mechanisms of Transcription-Driven DNA Supercoiling: What Have We Learned So Far?” Fenfei Leng, associate professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Florida International University, presents at 12 p.m. in the Gautier Building, room 118. For more information, call 305-243-6265 or e-mail sperez6@med.miami.edu.

Friday, November 14 Center for Computational Science Distinguished Lecture Series. The center will launch this new series at 2 p.m. at the Storer Auditorium at the School of Business Administration. Daniel A. Reed, an expert in high-performance computing, multicore architectures and scientific applications, and information technology research policy, will speak on “ManyCore, Clouds, Research and the Future.” A reception will follow. Reed is Microsoft Research’s Scalable and Multicore Computing Strategist, responsible for re-envisioning the data center of the future and coordinating Microsoft’s external multicore research program. He is a member of President Bush’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, chair of the board of directors of the Computing Research Association, and former member of the President’s Information Technology Advisory Committee. He was also one of the principal investigators and chief architect for the National Science Foundation TeraGrid. For more information, RSVP for the event by calling 305-243-4962 or e-mailing pwedderburn@med.miami.edu.

Sunday, November 16 through Wednesday, November 19 XXX Inter-American Course in Clinical Ophthalmology. The course, designed for practicing ophthalmologists in Latin America and the Caribbean, provides maximum emphasis on practical approaches to select clinical problems. In addition to the course material presented with simultaneous English-Spanish translation, more than 60 commercial exhibitors participate in an accompanying trade show. The course takes place at the Intercontinental Hotel in Miami. For more information, call 305-326-6110, fax 305-326-6518, or e-mail curso@med.miami.edu.

Monday, November 17 Department of Microbiology and Immunology Seminar. Kurt Schesser, associate professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, presents “To Die Another Day: How to Survive Close Encounters with a Macrophage” at 12 p.m. in the Rosenstiel Medical Sciences Building, room 3109.

Monday, November 17 Biology Departmental Seminar. Margie Oleksiak, professor of marine biology and fisheries at the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, presents "Genomic Analyses of Individual Variation" at 12:20 p.m. at the Cox Science Center, room 166.

Tuesday, November 18 “Europe’s Constitution: the EU Treaties.” The Jean Monnet Chair and the European Union Center of Excellence present two panel discussions at the Merrick Building from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Opening remarks will be delivered by Bruce Bagley, chair of the Department of International Studies. For more information, e-mail ASTRIDBOENING1@aol.com, marialorca@yahoo.com, or call 305-284-3266.

Tuesday, November 18 Cardiology Grand Rounds. Robert J. Levy, director, at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's Specialized Center of Clinically Oriented Research in Pediatric Heart Disease and Genetic Mechanisms in Pediatric Heart Disease at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, presents “Stent-Based Molecular Therapies: Gene Delivery from Bare Metal Surfaces and Magnetic Targeting” 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, November 18 Sylvester Transgenic Seminar Series. Peter H. Mundel, physician at The Miami Institute of Renal Medicine in the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, presents along with Glen Barber, professor in the Division of Hematology/Oncology at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Peter Sobieszczuk, professor and core leader of the Transgenic Animal Core Facility, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, at 1 p.m. in the Medical Training Simulation Lab. Lunch will be provided and seating is limited. For more information, call 305-243-2272, e-mail psobies@med.miami.edu, or visit www.sylvester.org/TACF.

Wednesday, November 19 “Mathematical Modeling and Some Infectious Diseases.” The Department of Epidemiology and Public Health Grand Rounds presents Shigui Ruan, professor at the Department of Mathematics, who will discuss mathematical modeling and predicting the patterns of infectious diseases. The event will be held at the Broad-Bussel Auditorium located on the first floor of the Clinical Research Building. No RSVP is required. Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. For more information, call 305-243-2346 or e-mail fkuchkarian@med.miami.edu.

Friday, November 21 “Latin America 2009: Economic, Business, and Trade Forecast.” The Center for Hemispheric Policy hosts a conference with panelists Ernest “Chip” Brown, head, Economics Research, Santander Investment Securities, Inc., New York; Russell Crandall, associate professor of political science, Davidson College, North Carolina and former director for the Western Hemisphere, National Security Council, Washington, D.C.; Jerry Haar, associate dean, international affairs and projects, College of Business Administration at Florida International University; and additional speakers. The program fee is $100; faculty and students are free with valid identification. To RSVP, e-mail chp-rsvp@miami.edu. The event occurs from 7:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the JW Marriott Miami. For more information, call 305-284-9918, or visit www.miami.edu/chp.

Monday, December 1 College of Engineering Distinguished Speaker Series. Keith Hipel, professor of systems design engineering at the University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada and vice president of the Academy of Sciences, (part of Royal Society of Canada), will present from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the McArthur Engineering Annex, MEA 202. For more information, call 305-284-2908, or e-mail Aschaerli@miami.edu.

Through November 22 Vernacular Photography in Miami: This Is Wynwood. UM presents an exhibition of contemporary vernacular photography at the Wynwood Project Space. In October, the Department of Art and Art History distributed disposable cameras to residents of Wynwood. The cameras were returned to a drop-box at the gallery, the film was developed, and the resulting images constitute the exhibition. The exhibition presents Wynwood through the eyes of those who live and work in the neighborhood. A closing reception will be held on Saturday, November 22 from 6 to 9 p.m. The exhibit is curated by Carsten Meier, a photographer who exhibits internationally and who joined the art department in 2008. For more information, e-mail logan@miami.edu or visit www.vernacular-photography.org.

November 12 through November 22 The Winter's Tale. Jealousy, rage, intrigue, love, revenge, and comic mishaps abound in one of Shakespeare’s most intriguingly plotted plays. The king of Sicily suspects his best friend of having an illicit love affair with his wife, the queen. In a fit of jealous revenge, the king orders his wife to prison and sends his infant daughter into exile in Bohemia. Covering a span of 16 years and culminating with one of the most stunning and surprising endings in all of Shakespeare's dramas, The Winter’s Tale — with its unique blend of tragedy, farce, fairy tale, and romance — is a timeless affirmation of the power of forgiveness, love, and redemption. The play is staged at the Jerry Herman Ring Theatre. For more information and to obtain tickets, click here.

Saturday, November 15 and Sunday, November 16 Otello. The Bill Cosford Cinema presents Guisseppe Verdi’s Otello. Verdi’s last tragic opera, like Shakespeare’s play, is a shattering psychological drama. The new production for the Salzburg Festival is directed by Stephen Langridge, who in 2006 attracted attention with his production of Offenbach’s Bluebeard in Bregenz. Alongside the Spanish baritone Carlos Alvarez as Iago, two rising international singers of the younger generation can be heard as Otello and Desdemona: the Latvian spinto tenor Aleksandrs Antonenko and the Russian soprano Marina. Admission is $18 for all UM alumni, faculty, and staff, and is free for students. General admission is $20. The opera screens on Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. For more information visit, www.cosfordcinema.com.

Friday, November 14 through Sunday, November 16 The Birds. Alfred Hitchcock couples a tone of rigorous morality with dark humor to create a thriller that begins as a light comedy and ends as an apocalyptic allegory. Tippi Hedren carries the picture in her first film role ever. The Birds also features groundbreaking special effects that, in 1963, surprised and delighted audiences. This beautiful and rare Technicolor print is part of the Raymond J. Regis Film Collection in the School of Communication’s Moving Image Archives and is being presented with generous support from the University of Miami Citizens Board. Admission is $6 for all UM alumni, faculty, and staff, and is free for students. General admission is $8. The film screens on Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at 4 p.m. For more information visit, www.cosfordcinema.com.

Friday, November 14 through Sunday, November 16 Momma's Man. Directed by Azazel Jacobs, Momma's Man chronicles the increasingly anxious dilemma of Mikey, a young husband and father who stops off at his parents’ loft during a business trip to New York and finds himself emotionally unable to leave. Unsure of his own motivations, he makes up excuses about why he’s staying. Admission is $6 for all University of Miami alumni, faculty, and staff, and is free for students. General admission is $8. The film screens on Friday at 9 p.m., Saturday at 4 and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 6 and 8 p.m. For more information visit, www.cosfordcinema.com.

Monday, November 17 through Saturday, November 22 Miami Short Film Festival. The seventh annual Miami Short Film Festival and the UM School of Communication are partnering for the second-straight year to screen one- to 30-minute short film entries from around the world, including Australia, Iran, Brazil, and Spain. This year’s Sea of Shorts film series will run at the Bill Cosford Cinema. The festival kicks off at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, November 17 with a red carpet gala at the Cosford Cinema. A $12,000 grand prize will be presented to the best overall short film at an awards ceremony on Saturday, November 22 at 7:30 p.m. at the Miami Museum of Science and Planetarium. Cosford screenings are free for UM students with 'Cane Card, and $10 for faculty and staff. Tickets for the opening gala and closing awards ceremony can be purchased for $20 each, and a $50 VIP pass grants access to all screenings and film venues. For a complete schedule of the Miami Short Film Festival, visit www.miamishortfilmfestival.com, or call 305-854-2229.

Wednesday, November 19 Tribal Arts Society Lecture. Attend the Richard S. Kaplan Lecture titled "The Dragon’s Gift: The Sacred Art of Bhutan" presented by Ramon Prats, professor and senior curator at the Ruben Museum of Art in New York City. The event occurs at 7:30 p.m. at the Lowe Art Museum. Admission is $10, except for members and students who are admitted for free.

Friday, November 21 The Comedy With a Purpose Tour. Join comedians Earthquake, J. Anthony Brown, Melanie Comarcho, Marvin Dixon, Gary Owen, and Damon Williams as they take the stage to raise money for the Tom Joyner Foundation and have a lot of laughs along the way at the BankUnited Center at 8 p.m. The Tom Joyner Foundation provides funds directly to Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Tickets can be purchased at the BankUnited Center Box Office Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Also, call 305-358-5885 and at Ticketmaster.com or any TicketMaster Outlet.

Friday, November 21 Exhibition Preview: Charles Biederman: An American Idealist. Attend a lecture and opening reception at the Lowe Art Museum featuring Lyndell King, director and chief curator at Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum, University of Minnesota. King will discuss Charles Biederman as an artist, his background and training, as well as his artistic muses and his theories of art. In addition, she will talk about Biederman as a person consumed by art and by paranoia, based on her personal experiences of having known him for more than 20 years and many conversations with him. The lecture begins at 7 p.m. followed by a recption until 10 p.m. The exhibition runs November 22 through January 18. The reception is $10 for non-members, $5 for students, and is free for Lowe members.

Sunday, December 7 Choral Studies Program Holiday Dinner. The Choral Studies Program at the Frost School of Music presents its 16th annual Holiday Dinner. The gala banquet is filled with music to celebrate the holiday season, with more than 200 talented student singers accompanied by harp, brass, and percussion performing throughout the evening and creating a musical night to remember. The event takes place at the Treetop Ballroom at Jungle Island, Watson Island, beginning with a reception at 6:30 p.m. The dinner and program begin at 7:30 p.m. For reservations, call 305-284-4162 or e-mail littacecchi@miami.edu.