ANN ARBOR—A virtual microscope, a new chem lab concept, a novel way of teaching English to non-native speakers and 11 other University of Michigan projects that use computer technology in innovative ways were honored in a special ceremony here today. Dan Morrow, Computerworld Smithsonian Program executive director, congratulated the U-M faculty, researchers and staff who developed the projects, all of which will be part of the Smithsonian Institution’s Permanent Research Collection on Information Technology.

“The University of Michigan Laureates represent a community of outstanding individuals who are using information technology to benefit society,” said Morrow.

A total of 472 projects from 23 countries and 42 states—including the 14 from the U-M—were formally presented to the Smithsonian’sNational Museum of American History last April in a ceremony on the National Mall in front of the Smithsonian Castle in Washington, D.C. One U-M project, the Virtual Microscope, was among 50 finalists in the awards competition; the other 13 were named Computerworld Smithsonian Program Laureates.

The U-M projects represent the work of a number of teams from College of Literature, Science, and the Arts; the Medical School; the College of Pharmacy;

M-Pathways; the Office of Instructional Technology; the School of Art and Design; theSchool of Education; the School of Social Work; and the U-M-Dearborn‘s College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters.

“We are delighted at the recognition of U-M faculty, researchers and staff for their innovative work in using information technology to advance the education of our students,” said U-M Chief Information Officer Jose-Marie Griffiths. “The Computerworld Smithsonian Program is specifically dedicated to identifying the individuals, organizations and institutions that are leading the information technology revolution. We continue to work at the U-M to ensure that our community stays in the forefront of technology development, use and advancement. We are very pleased that those efforts continue to be recognized nationally.”

Founded in 1988, the Computerworld Smithsonian Program recognizes projects that use information technology to “address real problems, affecting real people, in the real world.” To document and provide access to these examples, the program maintains an online archive of oral histories, transcripts, images, artifacts and case studies at http:/innovate.si.edu/.

College of Literature, Science, and the ArtsM-PathwaysJose-Marie Griffithshttp:/innovate.si.edu/