r

Melbourne leads the way in unravelling the typhoid gene

Recent research lead by a Melbourne research institute has found that people who carry a particular type of gene have natural resistance against typhoid fever. The Nossal Institute of Global Health at the University of Melbourne conducted the study in collaboration with the Genome Institute of Singapore and Oxford University Clinical Research Unites in Vietnam and Nepal. The research, which is the first large-scale one of its kind, investigated the human natural gene responses to typhoid and associated infectious diseases.




r

Internationally renowned Melbourne HIV scientist named Melburnian of the Year

Professor Sharon Lewin, the local co-chair of this year’s 20th International AIDS Conference, and internationally recognised HIV cure researcher, has been named Melburnian of the Year in an awards ceremony held on 15 November.




r

Australia and China sign historic free trade agreement

Australia and China have signed an historic free-trade agreement (FTA) which will increase opportunities for foreign direct investment in Victoria. The deal, which is suggested to be worth A$18 billion to Australia’s economy, was announced after almost a decade of negotiations between the nations. The agreement will increase the threshold at which private companies attract scrutiny by the Foreign Investment Review Board from A$247 million to A$1 billion. This will allow corporations to more easily take advantage of the competitive and dynamic business environment that Melbourne has to offer.




r

World football superstars to visit Melbourne

Melbourne will host world football superstars from Real Madrid, Manchester City and Inter Milan as part of the Australian leg of the third annual International Champions Cup in July 2015. The tournament, a friendly pre-season between the biggest teams in the world, will feature star players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Aguero, Gareth Bale, David Silva and James Rodriguez.




r

RMIT University and NICTA collaborate to open a new data analytics lab in Melbourne

The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), in collaboration with NICTA (National ICT Australia) have announced the opening of a joint data analytics lab in Victoria. The lab will be based at RMIT University’s School of Computer Science & Information (CSIT) in Melbourne. NICTA is Australia’s largest ICT organisation, and its Machine Learning Research Group has been independently rated amongst the top five groups of its kind in the world. In a collaboration valued at over A$1 million, NICTA will combine its expertise with RMIT University’s CSIT, which is widely recognised as a leader in data and information management.




r

Games blog: PAX Aus 2014 turns up the volume on games in Australia

For the second year in a row, the Penny Arcade Expo Australia (PAX Aus) was held in Melbourne from 31 October 2014 to 2 November 2014. It opened to the news that Melbourne had secured the right to continue to host the event for the next five years, a huge coup for Victoria and for all Australian digital gaming fans. The announcement meant that Melbourne would host the iconic event, which attracts the world’s biggest and most influential digital games developers, publishers, and enthusiastic players, until at least 2019.




r

Melbourne to host renowned science conference IPAC in 2019

The International Particle Accelerator Conference (IPAC) will take place in May 2019, and will see approximately 1,000 delegates visit Melbourne to discuss, collaborate and present on the latest scientific achievements in particle acceleration. Melbourne’s winning bid was presented in Korea, and was a direct result of collaboration between the Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) and the Australian Synchrotron, a particle acceleration research facility located in Melbourne.




r

AEREON expands its operations in Melbourne

AEREON, a global leader in combustion, vapour recovery and pollution-control technologies has announced the opening of a new 1250 square metre (13,000 square feet) operations facility in Melbourne. The large facility will create flares, thermal oxidizers and gas compression units that adhere to Australian code requirements in the oil and gas industries. Local fabrication of the materials will allow AEREON to better improve their customer experience and ensure consistency and quality in their product range.




r

Melbourne wins Major Cities Top 10 Human Capital and Lifestyle Award

Melbourne has been recognised as the top Major City in Human Capital and Lifestyle, according to the fDi Intelligence Global Cities of The Future 14/15 study. Cities in the study were categorised according to population and, as a Major City, Melbourne was awarded the top position in cities with populations less than 10 million. As winner of the Human Capital and Lifestyle category, Melbourne scored high results in categories such as; literacy rate, education expenditure, health, quality of life, percentage of population as labour force, number of students and numerous other indicators.




r

Monash and Takeda announce research partnership

The Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Melbourne has announced a research partnership with Japan’s Takeda Pharmaceutical Company to develop new medicines that address significant medical needs in gastroenterology. The strategic partnership will allow scientists from Monash University and Takeda to work together to better understand the causes of these gastrointestinal diseases, and work towards developing treatments and therapies for disorders that affect millions of people worldwide.




r

Melbourne set to Scoot to Singapore

The Singapore based low-cost airline, Scoot, has announced that it will launch direct flights from Melbourne to Singapore in November 2015. Scoot is a low-cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines that flies to a variety of locations in China and Australia. The airline was founded in 2011 and has embarked on a new strategy in providing low fares and quality customer service to travellers. Travellers will be flying with Scoot on the latest Boeing 787 Dreamliner; the world’s most advanced aircraft.




r

HotelQuickly expands into Australia with a new Melbourne office

Hotel and accommodation booking app, HotelQuickly, has opened an office in Melbourne as part of its plans to expand its operations in the Australian market. The Hong-Kong headquartered company, which was launched in March 2013, has more than 600,000 users globally and offers last-minute discounted hotel and accommodation booking options for travellers.




r

Korea-Australia Free Trade Agreement begins

The Korea-Australia Free Trade Agreement (KAFTA) will enter into force on 12 December 2014, opening up new investment opportunities for Victorian and Korean businesses that will enhance their relationships. KAFTA will increase export opportunities across a wide range of industries: from beef, wheat, sugar, dairy, wine, horticulture and seafood, to automotive suppliers, and the resources and energy industries. It will also open up significant opportunities for service providers.




r

Global Pharma leaders Janssen collaborate with Melbourne’s Monash

Global pharmaceutical company Janssen-Cilag, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, has signed a three-year research collaboration agreement with Melbourne’s Monash University. The collaboration will focus on ground-breaking research at Monash University to develop potential new medicines to treat autoimmune diseases and disorders .




r

Japan-Australia FTA paves way for renewed Japanese investment

The Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement (JAEPA) entered into force on 15 January 2015. Japanese interest in Victorian and nationwide investment is continuing to grow, with major fast food chains and convenience store operators looking at investing in the agriculture sector, which will in turn support expansion into the South East Asia marketplace.




r

Equinix expands in Melbourne with launch of new data centre

The global data centre and software giant, Equinix, has recently opened a new state-of-the-art data centre in Melbourne, as part of its expansion plans throughout the Asia-Pacific region. The centre, which is strategically located in Port Melbourne, about 2.5 kilometres from the Central Business District, will help to meet the growing regional demand for premium data centre services, and comes amidst strong growth in Australia and Victoria’s IT markets. Equinix has invested A$60 million in the centre, known as ME1, and early reports indicate an successful launch.




r

Victorian wind farms bring power to Canberra

Two Victorian wind farms have won 20-year deals with the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), to supply a third of Canberra's electricity needs. In a deal worth A$68 million a year each, the alternative power venture is set to increase Canberra household power bills by A$93, however with 200 megawatts of capacity, the wind farms are expected to create a 580,000-tonne reduction to the city's yearly carbon emission each year (the equivalent of removing 157,000 cars).




r

Melbourne’s Metro Rail Project to transform its public transport system

The Victorian Government has announced it will begin work on one of Australia’s largest infrastructure projects, the Melbourne Metro Rail Project. The new Melbourne Metro Rail line includes a nine-kilometre twin rail tunnel from Melbourne's south, under the CBD, through to the university and health precinct in the city's north. It will include five new and expanded underground stations.




r

Melbourne makes history with world’s first 3D printed jet engine

Melbourne’s Monash University and Amearo Engineering have captured the attention of global aviation industry giants by creating the world’s first 3-D printed jet engine. The manufacturing breakthrough will lead to cheaper, lighter and more fuel efficient jets, and will result in advances in medical technology, according to engineers and researchers.




r

Moving Victoria – Australia’s number one destination for inter-state migration

Melbourne has reinforced its great reputation as the world’s most liveable city with new statistics showing Victoria as the number one destination for Australians moving inter-state.




r

Leading Victorian and US regenerative medicine institutes announce partnership

Regenerative medicine research efforts are set to strengthen in Australia with the recent announcement between Melbourne’s Monash University and leading US biomedical institution, MDI Biological Laboratory.




r

Bio blog: Dr Amanda Barnard grabs a bag of ‘firsts’ winning the Nobel Prize of nanoscience world: The Freynman Prize

The Feynman Prize for Nanotechnology was awarded last month to Dr Amanda Barnard. Often referred to as the Nobel Prize of nanoscience, the prize’s importance is remarkable in that it recognises prodigious talent in the sector and is a reliable predictor of scientific discoveries with a very high translational impact on industry.




r

Global tech company Square arrives in Melbourne

The global mobile payments company, Square, will open its Australian headquarters in Melbourne, which will be its fourth global base after the United States, Canada and Japan.




r

International buyers travel to Victoria to meet the winemakers

More than 150 international buyers and investors from Europe, the Middle East and Asia will travel to Victoria as part of a major inbound trade mission that showcases its diverse wine industry. Meet the Winemaker, will introduce international buyers to over 100 key winemakers from 21 diverse winemaking regions around Victoria, allowing the industry to develop new export opportunities and giving the world an insight into Victoria’s unique winemaking capabilities.




r

In a changing climate, information is power

The following story by Alexa Jay was originally posted on the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) news blog.

In a variable and changing climate, information may be the key to unlocking successful adaptation strategies. How can millions of farmers access climate information services that support adaptation to climate variability and change?

Climate information services are a powerful tool in helping farmers adapt to the impacts of climate variability and change, to both protect against drought and extreme events and take advantage of good conditions. A new report presents lessons learned from 18 case studies across Africa and South Asia that have developed and delivered weather and climate information and related advisory services for smallholder farmers, demonstrating that scaling up these services for millions of farmers is possible today. This infographic highlights what kind of information is being provided to farmers, and how it expands the range of management options available.




r

Taking stock of national agricultural R&D capacity in Africa South of the Sahara

This report is a timely input into the ongoing development agenda for Africa South of the Sahara (SSA). The 2013 report on agriculture and food systems by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Solutions Network released a set of post–2015 development goals, including recommendations that low- and middle-income countries increase their spending on agricultural research and development (R&D) by a minimum of 5 percent per year during 2015–2025, and that they allocate at least 1 percent of their agricultural gross domestic product (GDP) to public agricultural R&D. More recently, the Science Agenda for Agriculture in Africa was adopted at the African Heads of State Summit, necessitating the development of a continent-wide implementation plan. This report, which summarizes SSA’s recent progress in developing its national agricultural R&D systems, is intended to serve as an important input into, and potential benchmark for, the implementation of the science agenda in SSA and the broader development agenda for the region. The analysis is based on comprehensive primary datasets by Agricultural Science and Technology Indicators (ASTI), the most recent of which was compiled during 2012–2013.

PDF file: 




r

Finding a middle ground

Adopting integrated soil fertility management (ISFM)—practices that combine organic inputs and judicious amounts of inorganic fertilizer and improved seeds—offers farmers a higher profit and is more sustainable than using inorganic fertilizer. Yet its adoption rates across Africa south of the Sahara (SSA) are among the lowest worldwide.

As I presented at an Ag Sector Council seminar earlier today, a recent study conducted as part of an IFPRI economics of land degradation project has revealed an inverse relationship between profit and adoption rate of most non-ISFM fertility practices (see figure below). In the same study, ISFM was shown to reduce climate-related production risks.

Why are African farmers not adopting ISFM practices? One reason is that agricultural extension agents simply don’t have sufficient capacity to advise farmers on ISFM, climate change, and other global change-related farming practices. In addition, ISFM requires more labor than other practices, and governments are not investing in developing and supporting them.

How can farmers be encouraged to switch? An experiment conducted in Malawi showed that, without exception, all farmers responded to ISFM incentives offered on the condition that they plant agroforestry trees or adopt conservation agriculture. This implies that adoption of ISFM could be increased by:

  • offering short-term training for agricultural extension agents on ISFM, climate change, and other new farming technologies;

  • conditioning benefits to easily verifiable organic soil fertility management practices, such as agroforestry, that will more than reduce the current cost of subsidies, yet increase yield and profit; and

  • promoting agroforestry and other plant-based organic soil fertility management practices to reduce the high labor intensity of ISFM.




r

IFPRI Roundtable on Next Harvest II

Time: 
12:00 pm to 2:00 pm EST (please join us at 11:45 am for a light lunch)

Presenter(s): 
Judy Chambers, Director, Program for Biosafety Systems, IFPRI | Patricia Zambrano, Senior Research Analyst, IFPRI | Virginia Kimani, Lead Consultant, Pesticides and Agricultural Resource Centre | Sylvia Uzochukwu, Professor of Food Microbiology and Biotechnology, Biosafety Specialist, Faculty of Science, Federal University, Oye-Ekiti | Muffy Koch, Global Biosafety Specialist | Geofrey Ariaitwe, Plant Genetic Engineer, National Plant Biotechnology Center, National Agricultural Research Laboratories | Jose Falck-Zepeda, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI.
Contact/RSVP: 

Please contact Pilar Rickert (202 862-4647; p.rickert@cgiar.org) to RSVP for the live event or for the webinar login information.

Location: 

International Food Policy Research Institute
2033 K Street, NW, Washington, DC
Fourth Floor Conference Facility

IFPRI’s 2014 report “GM Technologies for Africa: A State of Affairs” identified the lack of standardized and uniformly collected biotech data as a main constraint in assessing the overall state of Africa’s agricultural biotechnology capacity and in the ability to draw policy recommendations regarding countries’ strengths and needs. IFPRI designed and implemented Next Harvest II, a John Templeton funded initiative that gathered detailed information for four of the leading biotechnology countries in Africa: Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Uganda. The information collected has enabled the systematic evaluation of the status of African biotechnologies in these countries. A panel of participants will give an overview of the results for each country, highlighting their differences and similarities, and will discuss the capacity of the biotechnology innovation system to produce and deliver these technologies, the opportunities and challenges faced, and will give policy recommendations to address current limitations.

Go-to-Meeting available for those unable to join the meeting in Washington, DC. Please contact Pilar Rickert (p.rickert@cgiar.org) for more information.

PreviewAttachmentSize
Roundtable Invitation 251.81 KB




r

Botswana: Agricultural R&D Indicators Factsheet

Botswana: ASTI Agricultural R&D Indicators Factsheet

Overall, the number of researchers holding PhD degrees doubled in Botswana during 2000–2011, and the number of researchers qualified to the BSc-degree level tripled.

Agricultural R&D in Botswana is almost entirely funded by the government. Spending on operating and program costs increased significantly during 2005–2007, but contracted again from 2008, when government funding to many public-sector agencies was cut due to spiraling inflation.

Botswana invests a relatively high share of its agricultural GDP in agricultural research. Nevertheless, such a high intensity ratio is not uncommon in countries with small populations and relatively high per capita incomes. Small countries are not able to benefit from economies of scale to the degree that larger countries can, so basic research infrastructure and staffing constitute greater shares of investment.

PDF file: 




r

Democratic Republic of Congo: Agricultural R&D Indicators Factsheet

Democratic Republic of Congo: ASTI Agricultural R&D Indicators Factsheet

Despite rapid growth in recent years, DR Congo’s agricultural R&D spending remains well below the levels required to sustain its needs; in fact, spending levels as a share of AgGDP are among the lowest in Africa.

Agricultural researcher numbers also grew rapidly in recent years, particularly at INERA and CRAA, although most of this growth occurred among researchers trained to the BSc or MSc levels.

Accounting for just 9 percent of total researchers, women are severely underrepresented in agricultural R&D in DR Congo, especially given that the country’s agricultural labor force is predominantly female.

PDF file: 



  • Democratic Republic of Congo
  • English
  • Environment and Production Technology
  • Policies
  • Institutions and Markets
  • Agricultural Science and Technology Indicators (ASTI)
  • Agricultural Science
  • Technology
  • and Innovation Policy
  • ASTI Country Note
  • Science & Technology

r

République démocratique du Congo: Fiche d’information sur les indicateurs de la R&D agricole

République démocratique du Congo: Fiche d’information sur les indicateurs de la R&D agricole

Malgré la forte croissance au cours des dernières années, les dépenses de R&D agricole de la RDC sont encore en deçà des niveaux requises pour subvenir aux besoins du pays. Le ratio dépenses/PIB agricole est parmi les plus bas en Afrique.

Les effectifs de chercheurs agricoles connaissent également une croissance rapide depuis quelques années, notamment à l’INERA et au CRAA. Cette croissance est due à l’augmentation des chercheurs de niveau licence/ BSc ou master/MSc.

En RDC, les femmes ne représentent que 9 % de l’effectif total des chercheurs travaillant dans la R&D agricole : elles sont donc gravement sous-représentées, d’autant plus que la main-d’oeuvre agricole du pays est caractérisée par une prédominance féminine.

PDF file: 



  • Democratic Republic of Congo
  • Français
  • Environment and Production Technology
  • Policies
  • Institutions and Markets
  • Agricultural Science and Technology Indicators (ASTI)
  • Agricultural Science
  • Technology
  • and Innovation Policy
  • ASTI Country Note
  • Science & Technology

r

Achieving Food Security in Africa South of the Sahara Through Food Value Chains

Time: 
12:15 pm to 1:45 pm EDT (Please join us for lunch beginning at 11:45 am); Live webcast coming up at the scheduled time.

Presenter(s): 
Moderator: Rajul Pandya-Lorch, IFPRI | Welcome: Astrid Jakobs de Pádua, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany | Paul Mwafongo, Embassy of the United Republic of Tanzania | Speakers: Khamaldin Mutabazi, Sokoine University of Agriculture SUA in Morogoro, Tanzania | Ephraim Nkonya, IFPRI | Stefan Sieber, Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research ZALF
Contact/RSVP: 

RSVP to Simone Hill-Lee - s.hill-lee@cgiar.org, 202-862-8107.

Location: 

International Food Policy Research Institute
2033 K Street, NW, Washington, DC
Fourth Floor Conference Facility

This seminar will present findings of food and nutrition security research projects in Africa south of the Sahara (SSA) funded by German federal ministries. The presentations will highlight results of the projects, share success stories of food value chains, and outline key policies required to achieve food and nutrition security through the value chain approach.

Stefan Sieber will present an overview of German research programs and related projects conducted in SSA. Khamaldin Mutabazi and Ephraim Nkonya will present empirical evidence of both success stories and challenges of the value chain approach in Tanzania, as well as discuss policies that enhance or pose challenges for market development in SSA.




r

Agriculture in Africa -- Telling Facts from Myths

Time: 
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EDT
Presenter(s): 
Keynote Speakers: Chris Barrett, Cornell University | Gero Carletto, World Bank, Living Standards Measurement Study | Luc Christiaensen, World Bank | Klaus Deininger, World Bank | Makhtar Diop, World Bank Africa Region | Shenggen Fan, IFPRI | Francisco Ferreira, World Bank | Ethel Sennhauser, World Bank | Stan Wood, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Contact/RSVP: 

Simone Hill-Lee, s.hill-lee@cgiar.org; 202-862-8107

Location: 

International Food Policy Research Institute
2033 K Street, NW, Washington, DC
Fourth Floor Conference Facility

• Are women in Africa doing all the farming?
• Can Africa’s postharvest loss really be that high?
• Is input use still dismally low? Is land still abundantly available and land rental non-existent?
• Are Africa’s youth exiting agriculture en masse?

More information

For presentations, video and other related materials please visit the World Bank project page

Come and join us at an IFPRI-World Bank conference featuring 15 revealing Ignite-style presentations. The panel discussions are based on research conducted by an international consortium of universities and international organizations led by the Chief Economist Office of the Africa Region of the World Bank, and are intended to scrutinize conventional wisdom about African agriculture. Co-hosts Shenggen Fan, Director General of IFPRI, and Makhtar Diop, Vice President of the Africa Region of the World Bank, will make opening remarks, and the expert panels will reflect on the research findings and their implications.

Registration for this event is now closed. Conference will be streamed in its entirety on this page.

PreviewAttachmentSize
June2015EventAgendaFinal.pdf34.63 KB




r

Fulbright Student Association (November 21, 2024 6:00pm)

Event Begins: Thursday, November 21, 2024 6:00pm
Location: Weiser 455
Organized By: Sessions @ Michigan


The Fulbright Student Association warmly invites you to our Friendsgiving Dinner! Join us for a night of great food, lively conversations, and exciting prizes. Let’s celebrate, connect, and enjoy a festive evening together!




r

PwC China Sourcing Initiative (CSI) Information Session - Hong Kong (November 14, 2024 8:30pm)

Event Begins: Thursday, November 14, 2024 8:30pm
Location:
Organized By: University Career Center


This CSI information session will focus only on PwCHong Kong based positions.This info session will invite professionals and partners from the following service lines of PwC Hong Kong:Core AssuranceRisk AssuranceTaxConsultingThe PwC Hong Kong professionals and partners will share business insights, their career development experiences and help you prepare for interviews and future careers with their teams and PwC Hong Kong.We have many positions available across the line of services in assurance, tax, and consulting in our Hong Kong office. Positions are forfull time Associate roles with a start date in fall/late of 2025. ​Application Eligibility:Bachelor and Master students who graduate from universities in the United States or Canada between August 2023 and August 2025 are eligible to apply. ​Mandarin or Cantonese language skills as well as English are required.PwC will provide Hong Kong working visa sponsorship for selected associates. ​We welcome STEM major students who are interested in getting professional training and professional service experiences in Hong Kong to join our program. ​Please join the CSI Virtual Information Session - Hong Kong on November 14, 2024 from 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm US Eastern Time to learn more about the opportunities in PwC Hong Kong. For all current CSI openings, please visit: https://app.mokahr.com/campus-recruitment/pwc/148260#/page/CSI




r

Driving into UMix (November 14, 2024 8:00pm)

Event Begins: Thursday, November 14, 2024 8:00pm
Location: Pierpont Commons
Organized By: Center for Campus Involvement CCI


Get ready for an evening packed with hands-on fun and good vibes! Join us for an exciting UMix featuring personalized license plates, Lego car building, free food from Great Greek, crafts, Mario Kart, and the Cars movie to top it all off. This is the perfect chance for everyone to connect, unwind, and get creative. Come for the fun, stay for the memories—see you there!



  • Social / Informal Gathering

r

Creative Arts Orchestra (November 14, 2024 8:00pm)

Event Begins: Thursday, November 14, 2024 8:00pm
Location: Earl V. Moore Building
Organized By: School of Music, Theatre & Dance


This is a unique, largely improvisation-based group that invites interaction with other performance fields such as dance, theatre, and music technology.

Marcus Elliot, director




r

Couzens Hall (2024-2025) (Housing) (November 14, 2024 8:00pm)

Event Begins: Thursday, November 14, 2024 8:00pm
Location: Couzens HALL
Organized By: Sessions @ Michigan





r

Arts Chorale (November 14, 2024 8:00pm)

Event Begins: Thursday, November 14, 2024 8:00pm
Location: Walgreen Drama Center
Organized By: School of Music, Theatre & Dance


PROGRAM

Sydney Guillaume, *Karnaval*
Florence Price, *Poem of Praise*
Stephen Paulus, *Pilgrim's Hymn*
Eleanor Daley, *Upon your Heart*
Rosephanye Powell, *The Word was God*
William Dawson, *Soon ah Will be Done*
Aaron Copland, *Zion's Walls*
Stephen Chatman, *Remember*
arr. Arnold Sevier, *Precious Lord*
Healey Willan, *Rise Up my Love my Fair One*
Daniel Pinkham, *Wedding Cantata*
Aaron Copland, *The Promise of Living*

The Arts Chorale is the official choir of the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. It provides a fun and enriching environment for students who enjoy singing. A mixed choir that is open to any U-M student, the Arts Chorale is a musical and social group that has existed at the University for over 60 years. Although affiliated with SMTD, most members are not music majors.




r

Adam Ezra Group (November 14, 2024 8:00pm)

Event Begins: Thursday, November 14, 2024 8:00pm
Location: ARK Reserved
Organized By: Michigan Union Ticket Office (MUTO)


Spontaneous roots-based music that makes a connection

Welcome to Adam Ezra Group, who, along with nonprofit organization RallySound, host a free festival every summer that raised $143,000 for homeless veterans in 2023. During the pandemic, Adam live-streamed for 500 nights in a row. The group co-produced an album with 163 fans, and Adam takes a month out of each year to visit the living rooms of his fans around the country.

If you haven’t connected with Adam Ezra Group yet, these are just a few examples to help understand how this underground, Americana songwriter and his bandmates seem to have popped out of nowhere, establishing a connection with their fans unlike any other, and are suddenly selling out theaters throughout the Northeast.
Adam Ezra will joke with you that while the “nowhere” part might be accurate, nothing has ever just “popped” for this folk musician, activist. Without resources, connections, or any kind of clue how the music world works, Ezra began playing shows over 20 years ago. He played bars, bookstores, fields, and parking lots, often raising money for causes he cared about; a practice that grew into his nonprofit organization RallySound.

So how did this band operating so far outside the traditional music world come to win New England Music Award’s “Americana Act of the Year” in 2023? What could have happened to inspire John Oates to call Adam and invite him to begin a songwriting friendship that would lead to John producing their upcoming release and co-write, “Hold Each Other Now”? What happened to catch the attention of The Wallflowers, who recently invited AEG to join them on their spring tour, or SPIN Magazine who recently proclaimed, “This Independent Underground Folk Band Is Blowing Up Without Selling Out”?

If you ask Adam, he’ll tell you: “One person at a time, over many years and thousands of shows, decided to turn their heads to listen… It’s no fairytale, but it sure makes me proud and humbled when I look out from the stage to watch theaters full of people singing along to our music.”

These days you’ll find Adam and his bandmates, Corinna Smith (Fiddle), Poche Ponce (Bass), and Alex Martin (Percussion), constantly out on the road. If you look at their tour schedule now, you can buy tickets to see them at festivals, rock venues, and theaters around the country, but you will also see their tour continuously peppered with activism and grassroots events; a testament to an artist who will never forget where he came from, and whose mission is about much more than music.

https://www.adamezra.com/

Please visit https://mutotix.umich.edu/5059/5060 for more detail.




r

Violin Studio Recital (November 14, 2024 7:30pm)

Event Begins: Thursday, November 14, 2024 7:30pm
Location: Earl V. Moore Building
Organized By: School of Music, Theatre & Dance


Violin students of Professor Fabiola Kim perform a recital.




r

Hänsel und Gretel (November 14, 2024 7:30pm)

Event Begins: Thursday, November 14, 2024 7:30pm
Location: Power Center for the Performing Arts
Organized By: School of Music, Theatre & Dance


A fairy-tale opera with a folk-inspired score, Hänsel und Gretel – by German composer Engelbert Humperdinck, with a libretto by his sister, Adelheid Wette – has been loved by audiences of all ages since its first performance in 1893. This production, situated in the 1970s with echoes of classic TV shows The Brady Bunch and Bewitched, emphasizes the darker undercurrents in the familiar tale of Hänsel and Gretel being sent into the forest by their frustrated mother. They gather berries and frolic in the woods, soon realizing they are lost as darkness descends. In the morning, Hänsel and Gretel spot an enticing house made of sugary cereal. As they nibble on the house, a frightening witch appears from within and captures the children, threatening to fatten Hansel up and use him to make confections. The clever children must keep their wits about them to avoid a fiery fate.

Composed by Engelbert Humperdinck; libretto by Adelheid Wette
Based on the fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm
Conductor Kirk Severtson
Directed by Gregory Keller




r

Chef Demo (November 14, 2024 7:30pm)

Event Begins: Thursday, November 14, 2024 7:30pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Spectrum Center


Join Spectrum Center and the Maize & Blue Cupboard for a virtual chef demo! You'll be able to cook the same meal alongside a chef (virtually), from your kitchen. Plus, you'll be able to enjoy a nice meal and be in community while doing so. All core ingredients will be provided and you will be able to pick them up from the Maize and Blue Cupboard, prior to the event. Further details about pick-up will be emailed to you.




r

Pre-Concert Lecture: Arts Chorale (November 14, 2024 7:15pm)

Event Begins: Thursday, November 14, 2024 7:15pm
Location: Walgreen Drama Center
Organized By: School of Music, Theatre & Dance


DMA candidate Sydney Mukasa, conductor of the Arts Chorale, presents a pre-concert talk. This lecture begins at 7:15 pm before the 8:00 pm Arts Chorale performance.




r

Women's Basketball vs Central Michigan (November 14, 2024 7:00pm)

Event Begins: Thursday, November 14, 2024 7:00pm
Location: Crisler Arena
Organized By: Michigan Athletics


Women's Basketball vs Central Michigan




r

Women's Basketball vs Central Michigan (November 14, 2024 7:00pm)

Event Begins: Thursday, November 14, 2024 7:00pm
Location: Crisler Arena
Organized By: Michigan Athletics


Women's Basketball vs Central Michigan




r

Virtual Transfer Student Panel (November 14, 2024 7:00pm)

Event Begins: Thursday, November 14, 2024 7:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: LSA Transfer Student Center


Join a panel of LSA Transfer Student Ambassadors to learn more about the transfer student experience. The Ambassadors will be chatting about the academic transition to U-M, how to get involved on campus, housing, all the amazing programs and support for transfer students, and any other questions that you have. Join us even if you don't have specific questions.

Please register with link at the right. After you register you will receive the Zoom login.




r

Undergraduate Teacher Education Info Session (November 14, 2024 7:00pm)

Event Begins: Thursday, November 14, 2024 7:00pm
Location: Museum of Art
Organized By: School of Education


Please join us in person to learn more about how Marsal Education can help you reach your education goals through our teacher certification program!




r

Star Wars Backstroke of the West! Watch Party (November 14, 2024 7:00pm)

Event Begins: Thursday, November 14, 2024 7:00pm
Location: West Hall
Organized By: Maize Pages Student Organizations


Join us in watching the bootlegged version of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. Containing hilarious English subtitles translated poorly from Chinese.




r

Chamber Music Forum: Nikolaas Kende, piano and Jolente De Maeyer, violin (November 14, 2024 7:00pm)

Event Begins: Thursday, November 14, 2024 7:00pm
Location: Earl V. Moore Building
Organized By: School of Music, Theatre & Dance


The Departments of Chamber Music and Piano present this Belgian piano/violin duo in a master class, coaching U-M students on the performance of piano chamber music.

GUEST ARTIST BIOS

One of the leading Belgian violinists, JOLENTE De MAEYER, has brought her virtuosity and passionate interpretations to diverse global audiences. She is recognized as an exceptionally gifted artist, reflected in the numerous awards and effusive reviews she has received for both her live performances and recordings.

Prizewinner of several international competitions in Portugal (Cardona Competition), Russia (Liana Issakadze Competition) and London (Benjamin Britten Competition), the international career of Jolente started with a successful participation at the Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels. Performances with all major Belgian orchestras and concert tours in Europe and the United States followed. She made her debut in Florida, Vermont, California, Washington DC and Canada in 2017. This was followed by an extensive tour in South Africa. Future engagements include concert tours in Europe, Canada, United States and China.

Her recordings include concerti by Saint-Saëns and Vieuxtemps with the Philharmonic Orchestra of Liège with Christian Arming, awarded an ‘Editors Choice’ from Diapason, and the CD *Kreutzer Sonata* with duo partner Nikolaas Kende, awarded a ‘Gold Label’ from Klassiek Centraal.

After an invitation from Yehudi Menuhin when she was 14 years old, Jolente studied at the Yehudi Menuhin School near London. She continued her studies in London, Berlin and Waterloo where she graduated in the class of Augustin Dumay in 2013.

Since 2018 Jolente is professor violin at the Conservatory of Tilburg, the Netherlands and since 2021 also at the Royal Conservatory of Antwerp. Jolente has given masterclasses in Belgium, Germany, Italy, Texas and California.


“Poet in every inch of his fingers” - *Le Progres*

NIKOLAAS KENDE has been praised for his poetic playing and honest, passionate musicality. Critics have honored his sensitive and visionary musicianship and his flawless skills always serving the music. Both as soloist and chamber musician he is a highly demanded pianist on international concert stages.

A winner of several competitions, including the Cantabile, EPTA, Vriendenkrans Concertgebouw Amsterdam and Tenuto competitions, Nikolaas started performing in all major halls in Belgium and the Netherlands. Highlights included the performances of the piano concertos by Brahms, Beethoven, Chopin, Schumann and Bartok with Brussels Philharmonic, Antwerp Symphony Orchestra, National Radio Orchestra Romania, among others.

After a concert at the Festival de Dansa y Musica Granada in 2019 *Ideal* wrote: "This promising pianist caresses the keyboard, expressive with colors and tender with the melody and all the degrees of affection that typify the romantic soul."

Besides being a regular guest at the Festival of Flanders, he has also performed at festivals in Italy (Ravello, Rome, Bari), France (Menton, Montpellier, Vexin), Portugal (Coimbra), Germany (Görlitz, Munich, Bad Berleburg) , Austria (Salzburg), Ireland (Westport), UK (Cotswolds), Czech Republic (Prague), Spain (Zaragoza, Madrid).

Nikolaas made his debut in America in 2009 with the 1st piano concerto of Brahms. This debut was well received in the press, “One could almost imagine a young Brahms at the keyboard doing precisely the same thing: more intent on communicating his piece than dazzling listeners with his performance.” Since then he has returned to America annually and has toured in Texas (Houston, Austin, San Antonio), California (San Francisco, Fresno, LA) and Vermont, Florida, California, Texas, Washington DC and New York. In 2019 amongst others his debut for the 'Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concerts' in Chicago. He also performed in the Netherlands Antilles, Canada and South Africa, where several tours followed.

In 2018 he made his debut in China with recitals in Bejijng, Harbin, Chongqing and Chengdu. Concerts in Shanghai, Xi'An, Yangzhou and Guangzhou followed in 2019. Also for the next seasons, concerts are planned in North America, Canada, South Africa and China.

As a chamber music partner he was a member of the Narziss und Goldmund trio and the Rubens Ensemble. His duo with violinist Jolente De Maeyer, which exists for almost 20 years, is often praised in the press for its exceptional synergy and harmony. The duo's debut CD *Kreutzer Sonata* was released by Warner and won a Golden Label from Klassiek Centraal for best chamber music album of 2016. De Standaard wrote about this: "You want to listen to this captivating recital album again immediately after the last track." In 2020 their next CD *Remains* was released by Evil Penguin Records.

Nikolaas studied in Antwerp with his parents, Heidi Hendrickx and Levente Kende, in Amsterdam with Jan Wijn and in Munich and Fiesole with Elisso Virsaladze. In addition he studied with such artists as Murray Perahia, Aldo Ciccolini and Radu Lupu.

In 2015, Nikolaas was appointed professor of piano at the Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp. He has given masterclasses in Belgium, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Texas, California and China.