June 21, 2016, Vol. 22, No. 21

Tech in the News

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“Michigan Tech is the best kept secret in Michigan!”

We’ve heard that a few times. A lot of times. But, with the largest incoming first-year class in Michigan Tech history, maybe we’re not such a big secret after all.

Actually, we do get a lot of great press, and having a lot of great stories to tell never hurts.

You can catch our press through our social channels (see the last edition of TechAlum), and on our new News Site but in case you missed it, here is some of the good news about Michigan Tech that’s been read and seen around the world.

Thanks to Jenn Donovan, Tech’s Director of News and Media Relations for this roundup.

Enjoy!

Nature, an international science journal, featured an article about Project Baseline and resurrection ecology that quoted W. Charles Kerfoot, professor of biology at Michigan Tech and a pioneer of the field of resurrection ecology.

Associated Press (AP), an international wire service, published a news story about winter tire testing at Michigan Tech’s Keweenaw Research Center. It was carried by newspapers and web news sites all over the country, including WorldNews.com.

The Weather Channel’s co-anchor, Jim Cantore, also broadcast a segment on the KRC winter tire testing.

Crain’s Detroit Business published an article about SmartAsset.com’s new ranking of the educational value of state universities, noting that Michigan Tech placed second in the state when the cost of an education is compared to the average starting salary of graduates.

The London Daily Mail, a major British newspaper, published an article about Michigan Tech alumni Bob and Trish Evans, who travel the world doing acro-juggling, a combination of acrobatics and juggling.

The Catholic World Report published an article about Michigan Tech’s Winter Carnival “ice mass” statue, which took first place in the overnight statue-building competition.

Associated Press (AP), an international wire service, published a news story quoting Wayne Pennington, dean of Michigan Tech’s College of Engineering and an earthquake expert, on the cause of a 360-foot long crack in the ground that opened up in Menominee five years ago. The story was carried by newspapers and other news outlets throughout the Midwest.

At Tech

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Portage Health Foundation Helps Tech Grad Earn Prestigious Postdoc Fellowship

Larson is one of the first recipient of a PHF Graduate Assistantship that enabled him to focus on finishing the requirements for his doctorate. That helped him win the competitive Lundbeck Postdoctoral Research Fellowship from the American Autonomic Society to do research with Mark Chapleau, a professor of internal medicine, molecular physiology and biophysics at . . . [ Full Story ]

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ISSRM: Bridging Society and Natural Resources

Embracing the complexity of those intersections is a key part of the ISSRM research community, says conference co-organizer Richelle Winkler, a Michigan Tech sociologist specializing in environment, population and rural community development.  The conference—an initiative of the International Association for Society and Natural Resources (IASNR)—occurs once a year and changes location each time.

Winkler says . . . [ Full Story ]

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Michigan Tech Undergrad Wins EPA Research Fellowship

Fiser, a fourth-year applied ecology and environmental sciences major in Michigan Tech’s School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, has been named a winner of the EPA’s Greater Research Opportunities Undergraduate Fellowship. The award provides financial support as well as a summer internship with the EPA at one of three locations.

In Fiser’s case, Colorado . . . [ Full Story ]

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Carbon Dioxide Biggest Player in Thawing Permafrost

The study, published today, was led by Northern Arizona University assistant research professor, Christina Schädel. One of her collaborators is Evan Kane, an assistant professor of soils at Michigan Technological University.

“Having the chance to be involved with such a large collaboration is important,” Kane says, adding that getting a more complete understanding . . . [ Full Story ]

Alumni Around the World

Alumni reunion

Alumni Reunion Starts Thursday!

Explore a Coast Guard vessel, try paddleboarding, make your own stuffed Husky, learn something new at a Tech Talk, run/walk a 5K, and more! There’s fun for Huskies of all ages during Michigan Tech’s Alumni Reunion this week, August 4-6.

Visit mtu.edu/reunion for more information. You can also call toll free 1-877-688-2586.

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Still Time to Give to the Annual Fund

As we near end of the 2015-16 fiscal year, we want to take a moment to remind our alumni and friends that there is still time to make an annual contribution in support of Michigan Tech – and place your name on the annual Honor Roll of Donors.

You can phone the Michigan Tech . . . [ Full Story ]

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Kimberly-Clark Names Scott Usitalo ’81 Chief Marketing Officer

Kimberly-Clark Corporation announces that Scott Usitalo ’81 has been named chief marketing officer, reporting to Tony Palmer, president of global brands and innovation.

Usitalo joined Kimberly-Clark in 2008 and has held several global and regional leadership roles across the company. Most recently, he served as president for Kimberly-Clark’s family care business in North America.

. . . [ Full Story ]

Alumni Profile

Robert G. (Bob) Wojcik ’91

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Why did you choose Michigan Tech? I wanted a small personal experience, I never really was an outdoor person growing up, but upon the initial visit to the campus, I knew this was the place to be. Plus, Michigan Tech had a reputation for having one of the top 10 EE programs at the time! . . . [ Full Story ]

Tech Sports

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Golf memories 1960s

Husky golfers, a Plymouth station wagon, and John MacInnes

As the weather gets better, more people are hitting the links at Portage Lake Golf Course. I found this cool account and photo in our archives. Any other former Husky golfers out there? -SB

I was on the Varsity Golf Team from 1965-1968 and our coach was John MacInnes (pictured).

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. . . [ Full Story ]

From the Email Bag

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A Look at the Lift Bridge through a 1950s Lens

The documentary film produced by the Michigan Department of Transportation, “Keweenaw Crossing: Michigan’s Elevator Bridge,” details the history and the engineering challenges of building one of the world’s heaviest and widest double-deck vertical-lift spans – the Portage Lake Lift.

https://youtu.be/4D6Vx8XHMu0

The massive double-decked Portage Lake Lift Bridge serves as the sole link between the . . . [ Full Story ]

Featured Alumni Benefits

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Around the Keweenaw

Job Opportunities

On Campus

Miss the great Keweenaw lifestyle? If you’re looking for a way to get back to this awesome corner of the world, check out these positions available right here at Michigan Tech.

View a listing of our on-campus career opportunities.