The Global and Community Engagement Conference (formally D80) is a dialogue and celebration
of our efforts to solve issues that confront communities in need.
The Michigan Tech campus hosts this annual conference every fall to give a platform to the voices of those serving communities both domestically
and abroad. Faculty, staff, students, and local organizations share their work, projects,
or research. The conference is open to anyone interested in the development, design, and discovery of people
and communities.
Dream / Design / Develop / Deliver / Do something that matters.
This fall the Global and Community Engagement Conference was held on Saturday, October
29, 2022, from 9am-3pm in the Memorial Union Ballroom and lunch will be provided.
The conference was open to anyone interested in the development, design, and discovery
of people and communities! This year's theme is "Re-energizing Our Communities Through Service".
This year's conference featured keynote speaker Dr. Kurt Paterson. Paterson is responsible for organizing the first D80 conference at Michigan Tech
back in 2007 while he was an Adjunct Associate Professor in Civil and Environmental
Engineering.
Conference Keynote Speaker - Dr. Kurt Paterson
Kurt Paterson is a first-generation college graduate who grew up in a fairly humble Iowa neighborhood
but managed to wander into a life of global engagement. Currently, he is a professor
of engineering at James Madison University, where he was Head of Engineering for seven
years. He is also serving the U.S. Department of State as Senior Sustainability Advisor
and was recently named a Jefferson Science Fellow of the National Academies of Sciences,
Engineering, and Medicine. In these capacities, he has championed the development
of climate-sensitive operations to parallel the Department’s international climate
diplomacy.
Prior to these efforts, Kurt was on Michigan Tech’s environmental engineering faculty
and partnered with countless faculty, staff, students and communities on global engagement
programs and projects in more than 40 countries. Inspired by these successes at Tech,
Kurt helped launch a nationwide community of practice through the American Society
of Engineering Education, the Community Engagement Division.
In January 2023, to take engagement to a new scale, Kurt will become Director of The
Polytechnic School at Arizona State University’s Fulton Schools of Engineering. Kurt
currently lives in Washington, D.C. with his wife, two daughters, and Covid rescue
puppy, the latter of which also started life in humble circumstances and is good at
wandering.
Check out this year's Global and Community Engagement Conference list of sessions:
Registration
Location: MUB Ballroom
Session A
Title: Water Distribution System for Mocambo Arriba, Panama
Presenters: Malina Gallmeyer, Megan Lee, Victoria Bushard, and Nathan Weeden
Location: MUB Ballroom A1
Abstract: Senior Design team presenting a brief overview of our experiences abroad in Panama
and our design process so far. We will discuss our experience in the community, what
we gained from language immersion, and some of the conflicting interests we have run
into. We will also briefly discuss how we are approaching the design aspects of the
project.
Session B
Title: Fostering University-Indigenous Community Kinships: Co-creating Research with/by/as
the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community
Presenters: Ms. Maya Klanderman, Ms. Jenna Messer, Dr. Val Gagnon, Ms. Evelyn Ravindran, Ms. Dione Price, Ms. Rebecca
Costigan
Location: MUB Ballroom B1
Abstract: Fostering university-Indigenous community kinships is an ongoing commitment by Michigan
Tech and a critical foundation to co-creating research with/by/as the Keweenaw Bay
Indian Community (KBIC). In this presentation, we will share our experiences gained
through research with the KBIC in the summer of 2022. As Michigan Tech undergraduate
students in social sciences and engineering, mentored by Dr. Val Gagnon, we built
relationships with KBIC government staff and community members by engaging in community
events and assisting with fish consumption data entry. We also analyzed KBIC data
using the qualitative analysis software MAXQDA to co-create visual representations
of Ojibwa knowledge, stewardship, and practices within KBIC. These visuals will be
used as part of the KBIC knowledge guidance document so that KBIC can continue fostering
kinships with the land, and their research and governance partners. Supported by Michigan
Sea Grant, this document is expected to be published in January 2023.
Session C
Title: Improving Health Through Michigan Tech’s H-STEM Enterprise
Presenters: Olivia Luke and Tyler Ryynanen
Location: MUB Ballroom B2
Abstract: The Michigan Tech “H-STEM” Enterprise is a new student-run, multi-disciplinary team
committed to improving human health. H-STEM operates within the University’s Enterprise
Program, an educational program which aims to develop students’ technical, business,
and interpersonal skills through problem and project-based learning. The H-STEM team
works on projects relating to rehabilitation engineering, health science, and health
promotion. In this presentation, we will highlight current projects that aim to: 1)
improve mobility for clinical populations (e.g., stroke, osteoarthritis, joint replacement
surgery) and 2) develop cost-effective rehabilitation equipment. We will also identify
key health issues listed in the 2021 UP Health Needs Assessment Report and offer our
services to help pioneer solutions for these issues. Specifically, we can leverage
our health science and engineering training to be a key partner for healthcare systems,
public health departments, and/or companies to improve health in the rural UP of Michigan,
which is a medically unserved region.
Session A
Title: Gaining International Experience Through US Federal Government Internship and Fellowship
Programs
Presenter: Jennifer Rachels
Location: MUB Ballroom A1
Abstract: The process for applying to federal internship and fellowship programs may seem complex, and it is. However, there are a multitude of opportunities to do international work through
several paid federal programs. This session will cover 11 of them, and tips for successfully
applying to programs that give you the best opportunity to work internationally while
building your resume.
Session B
Title: Direct and Indirect Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Health and Society
Presenters: Gwyneth Hamlin and Tyler Hampton
Location: MUB Ballroom B1
Abstract: There have been over 560 million cases and 6 million deaths of COVID-19 worldwide.
It is imperative to understand both the direct and indirect effects the COVID-19 pandemic
has had on health.. For example, many health behaviors have worsened during the pandemic
including negative changes to diet, physical activity, body weight, smoking habits,
sleep and mental health. Even with certainty about no prior infection, it cannot be
assumed that individuals are unaffected by the pandemic. Additionally, society is
dealing with several coexisting pandemics, including COVID-19, physical inactivity,
and non-communicable diseases which have synergistic effects. Consequently, the health
outlook is not good and society will be dealing with long-term effects for the foreseeable
future. Here, we leverage the Healthy Living for Pandemic Event Protection framework
to reinforce the critical role of promoting and facilitating healthy living behaviors
to build resilience in the population during COVID-19 and beyond.
Session C
Title: Feeding Our Local Communities: The benefits of food assistance programs at local farmers
markets
Presenter: Courtney Archambeau
Location: MUB Ballroom B2
Abstract: For those living in rural areas, finding food that is good and affordable can be difficult,
especially for those that rely on assistance from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program or SNAP. How could the implementation of such programs at farmers markets
increase the purchasing power of those who receive SNAP benefits.
Session D
Title: Holistic Developmental Approach for Energizing Underprivileged Communities: A case
study from a slum in Bangalore, India
Presenters: Vafah Thekkeveetil and Aman Poovalappil
Location: MUB Ballroom B3
Abstract: Holistic approach to community development is necessary to uplift a downtrodden community
permanently. Poverty is a vicious loop and able communities need to lend a helping
hand to get the underdeveloped communities to break the chain of poverty transmitting
from a generation to the next. Firstly, the ground level realities and problems needs
to be studied and understood. Local community support and engagement by winning their
confidence is an essential part for any sustainable upliftment projects. Energizing
communities demands improvement in both the cultural and infrastructural aspects.
This can only be achieved by addressing the short term needs of the community while
preparing the next generation through education to come out of the poverty. This proposal
shares a holistic approach to community service developed based on the insights from
volunteering work with HWA Charitable Foundation in Bangalore, India for about 10
years as a case study.
Session A
Title: Studying Sustainability in Costa Rica
Presenters: Richelle Winkler, Ben Wireman, and Isadora Mitchell
Location: MUB Ballroom A1
Abstract: This six-week, faculty-led, study abroad program offers students the chance to learn
about global sustainability practices as they are situated in the practical context
of a rural community in the mountains of Costa Rica. Students who participated in
summer 2022 will share their experiences.
Session B
Title: Global Engineering Body of Knowledge
Presenter: David Watkins
Location: MUB Ballroom B1
Abstract: Despite large investments in international development, progress towards the UN Sustainable
Development Goals has been slow, and many low- and middle-income countries are not
on track to meet targets set for 2030. Approaches to global development must change,
and the work of engineers must evolve to account for structural and systemic barriers
to poverty reduction. With the growth in Global Engineering programs in the United
States and Canada, there is an opportunity to coordinate across universities and align
programs with the development sector's needs. This presentation gives an overview
of outcomes from a two-day workshop to develop a consensus Global Engineering body
of knowledge, including the information, skills, and attitudes engineering students
need to effectively engage with communities in development programming.
Session C
Title: Servant Leadership
Presenter: Chethan Magnan
Location: MUB Ballroom B2
Abstract: To re-energize our communities, we need to meet their needs and train students on
how they can give back, along with providing them opportunities to do so. I plan to
outline how we, as members of higher education, can lead organizations by describing
my leadership experience in Scouting and National Youth Leadership Training. This
will be done through an in depth description of servant leadership, techniques used
by servant leaders to improve team work and accomplish more service, connecting with
the community to accomplish projects the community members want done, and finally
empowering future students to do the same by leading their own service projects or
being proactive in becoming future leaders.
Lunch
Location: MUB Ballroom A2
Keynote Speaker
Introduction: Dr. David Watkins
Title: “Global Engagement, Problem-Solving, or Impact?”
Presenter: Dr. Kurt Paterson
Location: MUB Ballroom A2
Session A
Title: An Introduction to GivePulse
Presenter: Claire Nicholas
Location: MUB Ballroom A1
Abstract: GivePulse is a website, with an active community in the area, that is dedicated to
providing a place where you can list, find, coordinate, and measure impacts in the
community. You can join as a singular user, or an organization, to sign up to volunteer
and track your impacts. It is used extensively by Student Leadership and Involvement,
along with various Registered Student Organizations on campus, to create an impact
in the community that is able to be quantified.
Session B
Title: Sustainability Pedagogy Aboard Amtrak: New Pathways of Transdisciplinary and Applied
General Education
Presenters: Dr. Mark Rhodes, Dr. Kathryn Hannum, Maya Klanderman, Janelle Freeman, and Clare Fidler
Location: MUB Ballroom B1
Abstract: Study abroad, global experience, and experience-based field-work have all become ubiquitous
within higher education as universities scramble to meet globalized workforce demands
and lure students through their doors by guaranteeing such (often) exotic experiences.
The role of colonialism, imperialism, racism, environmental impact, and economic exploitation
revolve around these decisions and their impacts upon student and destination communities.
Cognizant of these legacies, we draw upon the literature of community-based research
outlined elsewhere in geography to offer a study away experience for students that
not only studies sustainable tourism, but practices it. This applied case builds upon
the Community-Based Learning Framework to complicate rigid educational structures
by offering a 20-day Amtrak-based exploration of sustainable tourism and planning,
landscape analysis, and urban deindustrialization. Using a combination of detailed
fieldnotes and course pre- and post-assessment, we ask how applied field-based programs,
such as our Amtrak-based study away may show significant curricular application.
Session A
Title: Engaging Communities to Combat Obesity in Rural America
Presenter: Rish Rao
Location: MUB Ballroom A1
Abstract: If you can solve problems at extremes, you can solve all other problems in between.
Obesity is rampant in America; in rural communities, 6.2 times higher than in urban
America. Solving obesity in rural America will solve it nationwide. This research
outlines a plan to combat obesity in rural America. Based on my prior literature review,
I propose that a long term financial incentive be established through tracking monitored
by a wearable device. This will be coupled with a partnership with community stores
and local facilities. The entire program will be overseen by the user’s health care
provider as well as metrics tracked through a public-private partnership. The proposed
program has the potential to manage weight loss and sustain healthy living in Rural
America.
Session B
Title: Engineers Without Borders MTU Chapter Updates
Presenters: Dylan Lane and Arika Booms
Location: MUB Ballroom B1
Abstract: Overview of Engineers Without Borders - USA, a brief history of our projects with
the two communities in Guatemala and the one in Bolivia, an in-depth look at our two
implementations that took place in 2022, what we are doing presently in the chapter,
and future plans for the projects and our chapter as a whole.
Closing Remarks
Location: MUB Ballroom A2
