Kelley Christensen

Kelley Christensen

Contact

  • Science and Technology Publications Writer, University Marketing and Communications

Biography

Kelley writes university research stories and articles for university publications. She studied news-editorial journalism and American literature at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and holds a master's in technical communication from Montana Tech. She is pursuing her doctorate in environmental policy at Michigan Tech.

About Kelley

  • Her career includes writing for small-town newspapers in Montana and working as a public information officer, an events coordinator, and science editor for an IEEE publication, Earthzine.
  • She enjoys hiking and cross-country skiing with her family, reading voraciously, crocheting, and exploring the Keweenaw.

Recent Stories 

Be Brief: Lightning

Lightning streaks across the night sky, illuminating the clouds.

Since 2010, Michigan Technological University has hosted one of the antennae in a global network used to detect and triangulate lightning strikes. Located on top of the Dow building, the MTU station played an important role in locating lightning for a recently published paper about lightning strikes increasing in the Arctic due to climate change. . . . Read More

What Early-budding Trees Tell Us About Genetics, Climate Change

A building rises toward the sky, framed by three trees that are leafing out.

One of the surest signs of spring is the vibrantly lime-green tinge trees develop as their buds open and tiny new leaves unfurl. Bud-break is the scientific name for this process — a straightforward term for the grand genetic mechanism that allows trees to leaf out and do their summer work of photosynthesis to store up energy for the coming . . . Read More

Protein Power

Four bottles of different shapes and sizes that all have liquid measurement marks on their sides sit in a tray.

Though there are just 20 amino acids, they combine into thousands of sequences to make proteins. In turn, proteins are responsible for many of the biological functions that make life possible. Proteins allow cells to communicate with each other, serve as gatekeepers that let select substances in and out of cells, make many biochemical reactions possible, . . . Read More

MTU Celebrates World Water Day March 18-24

A stream flows through a snowy pine forest.

Michigan Tech’s annual celebration of the worldwide event focuses on the many ways that water is vital to life. This year, the community is invited to events that showcase the value of water from social, economic, cultural and environmental perspectives. Everyone is welcome to the virtual celebration. A community art show and screening . . . Read More