October 27, 2025

Do you have an unpaid parking citation? Looking for an easy way to clear it while supporting the campus community?

Student Affairs, the Husky Food Access Network (HuskyFAN) and Transportation Services have teamed up for Can The Citation, a food drive that allows you to pay off your tickets with nonperishable donations to the HuskyFAN food pantry!

How to 'Can' The Citation
Donate non-expired, nonperishable food or personal care items between next Monday, Nov. 3, and Nov. 23 at the Dean of Students Office on the first floor of the Administration Building.

Your donation will remove a citation from your account based on the following tiers:

• One full brown grocery bag = $25 citation removed from your account
• Eight 12-oz. cans = $25 citation removed from your account
• Four 12-oz. cans = $10 citation removed from your account

Please note: A maximum of three citations are eligible for removal from your account during this donation period.

Bonus Raffle Entry!
Every person who donates will be entered into a raffle to win a free parking pass!

Don't have a citation but still want to donate and be entered into the raffle? We welcome and appreciate all donations to help stock the HuskyFAN food pantry for our students.

Questions about the program can be directed to the Dean of Students Office at deanofstudents@mtu.edu.

Thank you for supporting the HuskyFAN and our campus community!

Predatory publishing is a known and growing problem in academic publishing. Deceptive publishers offer timely and impactful results in exchange for high article processing charges (APCs). In actuality, their publications lack scientific rigor and fail to adhere to the best practices in academic publishing.

The Van Pelt and Opie Library’s Predatory Publishing library guide contains resources recommended by librarians, academics, and the scholarly ethics community to assist researchers in identifying and avoiding fraudulent journals and publishers. The guide also critiques some popular lists, explaining why these resources should be approached with caution. Additional information on predatory publishing and its impacts on individual authors and the larger scientific community is also provided.

To learn more or request assistance, contact library@mtu.edu.

Hello, MTU staff and faculty! Are you interested in being a judge for Winter Carnival this February? There are still opportunities to volunteer!

Blue Key National Honor Society is asking for volunteer judges for our Statue, Royalty, and Stage Revue competitions at Winter Carnival 2026. These traditions have been going on for many years, and we invite you to become part of the team that makes them possible! Please complete our Winter Carnival Judging Interest Form to sign up.

If you express interest in judging an event, you will also be added to a pool of potential judges for future Winter Carnival events.

If you have any questions, please reach out to bkvicepresident@mtu.edu.

Student Support and Mentorship and the Thompson Scholar Program have a new home in the Alumni House, and we're hosting a party to celebrate!

Join us for a Halloween-themed Open House today, Oct. 27, from 1-4 p.m.

Come and see the newly updated, student-centered space featuring comfortable areas perfect for studying and connecting with friends. We invite all students, faculty and staff to stop by for:

• Tours of our new space
• Cookies
• Fun Halloween-themed activities

We look forward to seeing you there!

Questions? Contact us at mentorship@mtu.edu.

Carved and Crafted Catering at Michigan Technological University is hosting the C-Cubed Luncheon for the 2025-26 academic year. C-Cubed will be held on Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Memorial Union Alumni Lounge (MUB 107). All faculty and staff, along with their guests, are invited.

Menu for Thursday, Oct. 30:

• Cauliflower General Tso's (V) — Contains Soy, Sesame, Gluten, Dairy, Egg
• Orange Chicken — Contains Sesame, Dairy, Gluten, Egg, Soy
• Basmati Rice (VG, AD, AG)
• Garden Salad (VG, AD, AG)
• Vegetable Stir Fry (VG, AD, AG)
• Vegetable Spring Rolls (V) — Contains Dairy, Sesame, Gluten, Egg

The C-Cubed lunch buffet menus are created and prepared by the catering culinary team. As the name suggests, the meals are meant to foster conversation, community and collegiality. Attendees may bring their lunch instead of purchasing the buffet. Fruit-infused water, coffee, tea and desserts are available free to all attendees.

The buffet lunch is $16 per person. Cash, credit cards and gift cards are accepted. Gift cards can be purchased in the Memorial Union office (MUB 101). Meals are dine-in only and personal containers/tupperware or to-go meals are not permitted.

Submit C-Cubed Feedback • Sign Up to Receive Weekly Menus

Hurry! Registration for the 2025 MTU Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition closes this week on Thursday, Oct. 30!

Register for Three Minute Thesis.

This year's MTU 3MT Competition will take place next Tuesday, Nov. 4. The 3MT competition is open to all MTU graduate students, as it challenges you to present your research to a general audience within three minutes. Graduate Student Government invites you again to present your work at this exciting event.

Increased Prize Money
Great news! Cash prizes have doubled! The winner and runner-up will now receive cash prizes of $600 and $400, respectively, while the People’s Choice award winner selected by the event’s audience will be given a cash prize of $200. In addition, the winner of the local Michigan Tech competition will earn the opportunity to present at the regional 3MT competition.

For more information on the competition, please send an email to gsg-research@mtu.edu.

John Wallin from Middle Tennessee State University will present at this week's Physics Colloquium. Wallin's presentation is titled "Physics in the Age of Intelligent Machines."

The seminar will be presented  at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 30, in Fisher 139. The coffee hour will be held at 3:30 p.m. in the Fisher Lobby.

Read Wallin's abstract and bio on the University Events Calendar.

The Department of Psychology and Human Factors will host Hannah Brinza at the Applied Cognitive Science and Human Factors (ACSHF) Forum, being held today, Oct. 27, from 3-4 p.m. in the M&M Third Floor Coworking Space.

Brinza, a team lead in injury prevention at Sandalwood Engineering & Ergonomics, will present "Ergonomics in Industry."

Discussion topics will center around what it is like to work in the field as an ergonomist, including which industries tend to utilize ergonomists and the tools that are commonly used, as well as the kinds of projects and activities ergonomists are involved in.

Attendees will have the opportunity to walk through a sample case study and work with ergonomics assessment tools. This will be followed by a Q&A session.

Please join the College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science (CFRES) for our Friday Seminar Series. This week's presentation will be held on Friday, Oct. 31, from 3-4 p.m. in Noblet 144, followed by a social in the Forestry Atrium.

Adrienne Keller, a Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science team member and assistant research professor in CFRES, will discuss how an integrated above- and belowground perspective of carbon and nutrient cycling can provide new insights to understanding plant-soil-microbial feedbacks and how anthropogenic forces alter such feedbacks.

Keller's presentation is titled “An integrated above- and below-ground perspective of carbon and nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems.”

Job Posting for Monday, Oct. 27, 2025

Staff and faculty job descriptions are available on the Human Resources website. For more information regarding staff positions, call 906-487-2280 or email humanresources@mtu.edu. For more information regarding faculty positions, contact the academic department in which the position is posted.

Department Chair – Humanities, Humanities.

Michigan Technological University is an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution/Equal Opportunity Employer that provides equal opportunity for all, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Accommodations are available. If you require any auxiliary aids, services, or other accommodations to apply for employment or for an interview at Michigan Technological University, please notify the Human Resources office at 906-487-2280 or humanresources@mtu.edu.

WLUC TV6 quoted Kent Cyr (VPA) in a story about Michigan Tech Theatre’s “Haunted Smelter: Descent into Madness” experience, held Oct. 23-25 at the Quincy Smelting Works in Hancock. The article highlighted the immersive Halloween attraction run by MTU students and faculty, featuring automation, sound, lighting and themed scenic elements. Lake Superior Magazine also mentioned the Haunted Smelter event in its weekly “Around the Circle This Week” newsletter.

*****

PR Newswire and 26 additional news outlets nationwide mentioned Michigan Tech as a collaborator on a project that received $10.5 million through the Gates Grand Challenges Program. The funded project, led by the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL), aims to develop low-cost manufacturing methods for monoclonal antibodies.

*****

The Detroit News mentioned Michigan Tech’s Center for Artificial Intelligence in coverage of Wayne State University’s creation of a new Institute for AI and Data Science. The article noted that Tech’s Center for AI, established in 2022, has contributed $12.8 million in research projects since its launch.

*****

WZMQ 19 News mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about the GLIAC preseason men’s basketball coaches poll, which placed the Huskies first for the 2025-26 season.

*****

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation featured Michigan Tech alums Dan Vannest ’98 (B.S. Mechanical Engineering) and Tracey Vannest ’00 (B.S. Geological Engineering) in a story highlighting The Fruitful Orchard, their orchard and cidery in Gladwin, Michigan.

*****

Flint’s ABC 12 News and KUTV Channel 2 of Salt Lake City, Utah, featured Michigan Tech alum Deedra Irwin ’15 (B.S. Exercise Science) in a story about her preparations to compete in the 2026 Winter Olympics biathlon following her historic seventh-place finish in 2022.

Nominations Closing Soon for 2026 MAGS/ProQuest Distinguished Thesis Award

Nominations are closing soon for the 2026 MAGS/ProQuest Distinguished Thesis Award. Please submit nominations to the Graduate School no later than 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 29, following our online instructions. This year, nominations are being accepted from dissertations in the fields of:

• Biological and Life Sciences
• Humanities and Fine Arts

Michigan Tech may nominate one student in each field. Master’s students who have completed all of their degree requirements between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2025, are eligible. The fields of competition for 2026 will be Mathematics, Physical Sciences, and Engineering; and Social Sciences.

Contact the Graduate School at gradschool@mtu.edu if you have any questions about the competition.

*****

Writing Better Award Nominations: A Panel Discussion

All Michigan Tech staff and faculty are invited to join the Writing for Awards presentation on Wednesday, Oct. 29, at noon in the Memorial Union Building’s Alumni Lounge (MUB 107). This hour-long session will provide tips and best practices to help you craft strong, thoughtful nominations for the upcoming Making a Difference Awards ceremony and other campus awards events.

Panelists will share perspectives on what makes a nomination strong, how to effectively convey a nominee’s impact, and common mistakes to avoid.

This professional development opportunity is designed to help faculty, staff and students strengthen their nomination-writing skills and ensure that the exceptional contributions of peers and colleagues are appropriately recognized.

For more information about the event and to RSVP, visit Involvement Link.

*****

VPR Research Series: Creating Compliant Biosketches and Current & Pending Documents

Join the Research Development team on Wednesday, Oct. 29, at noon for a virtual session to learn how you can create and maintain your Biographical Sketch and Current & Pending Support documents in SciENcv.

The National Science Foundation requires that all senior personnel listed on NSF proposals use an online tool called SciENcv to prepare their Biographical Sketch and Current & Pending Support forms, which are required proposal elements. Once you get the initial setup done, you'll be able to easily make updates and generate biosketches and current and pending documents that are compliant with the current rules of the agency.

This session is for anyone interested in NSF proposals who has not yet learned the SciENcv system, or could use a refresher on system basics. The session will include live demonstration with the opportunity to follow along. It will cover all steps from sign-up to producing the required documents. No prior experience is necessary.

This session will cover:

• System Basics — Navigate the platform and set up your account.
• Importing Options — Import from publication management sources you already use.
• Downloading Certified Docs — Download the documents you will need for your application.

Session Details:

• What: "Creating Biosketches and C&P Support Docs with SciENcv"
• When: Wednesday, Oct. 29, from 12-1 p.m.
• Where: Virtually Only — Join the Session on Zoom.

The session will be recorded for later viewing. Can't make it? The Research Development team is available for individual consultations to help.

Questions? Contact Research Development at rd-l@mtu.edu.

*****

EPSSI Seminar with Susan Mathai

Susan Mathai, postdoctoral fellow at NASA Langley Research Center, will give a talk today, Oct. 27. This event will be held in the Great Lakes Research Center. Refreshments and a social will be held at 3:30 p.m. in the GLRC Lobby on the first floor, with the lecture to follow at 4 p.m. in GLRC 202.

The title of the talk is "MIRA: Table of Aerosol Optics."

Read Mathai's abstract and bio on the University Events Calendar.

*****

MTU AI Colloquium with Steven Senczyszyn

Michigan Tech’s Center for Artificial Intelligence, part of the Institute of Computing and Cybersystems, will present the fourth MTU Artificial Intelligence Colloquium of the fall 2025 semester tomorrow, Oct. 28, at noon in EERC 315.

Steven Senczyszyn, research engineer at the Great Lakes Research Center and Ph.D. student in mechanical engineering, will be presenting "RL-STPA: Adapting System-Theoretic Hazard Analysis for Safety-Critical Reinforcement Learning."

Food and refreshments will be provided.

From the abstract:
As reinforcement learning (RL) deployments expand into safety-critical domains, existing evaluation methods fail to systematically identify hazards arising from the black-box nature of neural network enabled policies and distributional shift between training and deployment. This paper introduces Reinforcement Learning System-Theoretic Process Analysis (RL-STPA), a framework that adapts conventional STPA's systematic hazard analysis to address RL's unique challenges through three key contributions: hierarchical subtask decomposition using both temporal phase analysis and domain expertise to capture emergent behaviors, coverage-guided perturbation testing that explores the sensitivity of state-action spaces, and iterative checkpoints that feed identified hazards back into training through reward shaping and curriculum design. We demonstrate RL-STPA in the safety-critical test case of autonomous drone navigation and landing, revealing potential loss scenarios that can be missed by standard RL evaluations. The proposed framework provides practitioners with a toolkit for systematic hazard analysis, quantitative metrics for safety coverage assessment, and actionable guidelines for establishing operational safety bounds. While RL-STPA cannot provide formal guarantees for arbitrary neural policies, it offers a practical methodology for systematically evaluating and improving RL safety and robustness in safety-critical applications where exhaustive verification methods remain intractable.

*****

Midyear Commencement Volunteers Needed

The Commencement Team is seeking volunteers for Michigan Tech’s 2025 Midyear Commencement ceremony on Dec. 13. We need volunteers to help with pre-ceremony setup, serve as greeters and ushers, help coordinate graduate check-in, assist guests with special seating accommodations, and assist with bag checking and ticketing. More information regarding the ceremony can be found on the Commencement website.

Please sign up by Dec. 5 if you would like to volunteer. Contact Tiffany Jaeger at tiffanyj@mtu.edu if you have any questions.

This special event cannot happen without the help of our amazing Michigan Tech community!

To have your event automatically appear, please submit them to the University Events Calendar.

Nanowonder: Images of the Microscopic World Gallery Exhibit - Rozsa Art Galleries

Monday, October 27, 8 a.m.–7 p.m. | Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts, Rozsa Art Galleries

MICHIGAN TECH ART SERIES EVENT For centuries, humanity has been fascinated with the microscopic world. Through advancements in technology, visually investigating this hidden landscape has become increasingly possible. One of these devices, the Hitachi Scanning Electron Microscope, allows us to see the microscopic surface of things more clearly than ever before. The Art Galleries at MTU’s Rozsa Center are proudly hosting a juried exhibition of photographs taken by the Hitachi SEM during its residency at Michigan Tech. Titled Nanowonder, this exhibition is truly collaborative and emphasizes how powerful the relationship between science and the arts can be. See beyond the surface of your stuff for free! The Hitachi Scanning Electron Microscope will be on location at the gallery reception on Friday September 26, 5-7pm. The reception is free, open to all, and light refreshments will be served. All are welcome to bring a small (approx 1"x1"), dry, flat sample to be scanned by the microscope technicians. Support for this event provided by Hitachi, ACMAL (Applied Chemical and Morphological Analysis Laboratory) at Michigan Tech, A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum, Michigan Tech Visual and Performing Arts Department, Michigan Tech Biomedical Engineering Department, Michigan Tech Materials Science and Engineering Department, and Michigan Tech College of Sciences and Arts. Things to know ROZSA ART GALLERIES HOURS | M-F 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. and Saturdays 1-8 p.m. EXHIBIT DATES | September 12-November 7, 2025 RECEPTION | Friday, September 26, 2025 | 5-7 p.m. ADMISSION| Free and open to the public CONTENT GUIDANCE | none Plan your visit with information about parking, accessibility, and more. Rozsa Art Galleries are open 8 a.m.-8 p.m. M-F and 1-8 p.m. on Saturdays. Closed during academic recesses. Contact the Rozsa Box Office for more information. Thanks to Our Sponsors Support for this Michigan Tech Art Event provided by: and the Visual and Performing Arts Circle of Supporters. About the Presenter Professional exhibitions in the Rozsa Art Galleries. Student showcases. Artist Talks with Studio Here Now. Cross-campus collaborations. The Michigan Tech Art Series offers dynamic programming that supports Michigan Tech students and our wider community. Part of the the annual Rozsa Season, the Michigan Tech Art, Music, and Theatre Series are presented by the Visual and Performing Arts Department. Through these series, students from across campus, community members, and faculty create art that connects us to the world. With majors in audio production and technology, sound design, theatre and entertainment technology, and nine minors, the department fosters creativity, self-motivation, and the development of practical and artistic skills. Everyone is welcome, and there's something for everyone. View all Michigan Tech Art Series Events. Related Events Nanowonder: Images of the Microscopic World Gallery Exhibit - Rozsa Art Galleries September 12-November 7, 2025 Reception | Friday, September 26, 2025 | 5-7 p.m. Artful Intersections: Fall Student Art Showcase - Rozsa Art Galleries November 21-December 2, 2025 Reception | Tuesday, December 2, 2025 | 5-7 p.m. Through the Quiet Hours: Night Sky Photography Gallery Exhibit - Rozsa Art Galleries January 16-23, 2026 Reception | Friday, January 16, 2026 | 5-7 p.m. Women's Rights are Human Rights Gallery Exhibit - Rozsa Art Galleries January 30-March 28, 2026 Reception | Friday, January 30, 2026 | 5-7 p.m. Beyond the Frame: Spring Student Art Showcase - Rozsa Art Galleries April 10-14, 2026 Reception | Friday, April 10, 2026 | 5-7 p.m. Explore upcoming Michigan Tech Art Events. Plan Your Visit to the Rozsa Rozsa Box Office InformationAccessibility Services Find a Digital ProgramPlan your Parking​ Get Involved Volunteer to UsherDonate to Support the RozsaMeet Our DonorsGet Updates via Email View All Upcoming Events Personal Responsibility Statement Not all productions may appeal to or be appropriate for every person or for all ages. The Rozsa Center provides content guidance to alert audience members to common potentially sensitive or distressing material. Guests are encouraged to familiarize themselves with each event in order to make informed decisions prior to attending an event. Views Expressed Statement The views, information, thoughts, or opinions expressed in this program or event are those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent the policies of the Rozsa Center or Michigan Technological University. Effective Date: 2025/26.

*****

New Huskies Orientation Paperwork Session

Monday, October 27, 8–9 a.m.

Join with Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/fcm-uzhg-yaj Or dial: (US) +1 251-262-9469 PIN: 827576195# More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/fcm-uzhg-yaj?pin=7363841172040&hs=7 Learn more about Meet at: https://support.google.com/a/users/answer/9282720

*****

Tech Forward 2.0 Campus Conversation — Advanced Technologies for National Security

Monday, October 27, 8:30–8:30 a.m.

To share ideas, seek feedback, and gauge interest, a campus conversation on the Tech Forward 2.0 theme/initiative “Advanced Technologies for National Security”, will be held from 8:30 - 9:30am on Monday, Oct. 27 via Zoom. If this is an area that interests you and you would like a calendar invite sent, please complete our RSVP form. Tech Forward 2.0 Discussion - Advanced Technologies for National Security Monday, Oct. 27 from 8:30 - 9:30am via Zoom This discussion will explore Michigan Tech’s vision to expand its role as a trusted research partner for the Department of Defense (DoD). Federal research budgets have shifted, with reduced funding across many traditional agencies limiting growth opportunities. In contrast, the DoD continues to expand investment in research, development, and advanced technologies to meet emerging national security needs. Strengthening alignment with DoD priorities will ensure sustained funding, advance critical defense technologies, and enhance MTU’s impact in a competitive federal research environment. The objective of this initiative is to position MTU as a trusted research partner for the DoD by building the infrastructure, partnerships, and expertise required for sustained defense-related growth. The initiative’s co-conveners have identified four preliminary strategic priorities—Contracting Mechanisms, Secure Research Facilities, Structure for Strategic Growth, and Workforce Development for Defense Research—and are seeking campus input to refine and expand these ideas. We look forward to your participation.

*****

PhD Defense: Thi Mai Anh Tran

Monday, October 27, 10–10 a.m. | Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC), 202

Forest Science Co-advisors: Valoree Gagnon and Chelsea Schelly BRIDGING INDIGENOUS AND WESTERN KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS: CENTERING OJIBWE PERSPECTIVES FOR JUST FOREST-CLIMATE FUTURES Attend Virtually: https://michigantech.zoom.us/j/7104430669

*****

Student Support and Mentorship and Thompson Scholars Open House

Monday, October 27, 1 p.m.–3 p.m. | Alumni House

Student Support and Mentorship and the Thompson Scholar Program have a new home in the Alumni House, and we're hosting a party to celebrate! Join us for a Halloween-themed Open House on Monday, October 27, from 1 to 4 p.m. Come and see the newly updated, student-centered space featuring comfortable areas perfect for studying and connecting with friends. We invite all students, faculty, and staff to stop by for: Tours of our new space Cookies Fun Halloween-themed activities We look forward to seeing you there! Questions? Contact us at mentorship@mtu.edu.

*****

ACSHF Forum: Hannah Brinza, M.S., PMP, AEP

Monday, October 27, 3 p.m.–3 p.m. | Minerals and Materials Engineering Building (M&M), 3rd Floor Coworking Space

​The Department of Psychology and Human Factors will host Hannah Brinza, M.S., PMP, AEP, Team Lead, Injury Prevention Sandalwood Engineering & Ergonomics, at the next Applied Cognitive Science and Human Factors (ACSHF) forum. This will be held on Monday, October 27, 2025 from 3-4pm in M&M 3rd Floor Coworking Space. Hannah Brinza will present: Ergonomics in Industry Discussion topics will center around what is it like to work in the field as as an ergonomist - what industries tend to utilize ergonomists, the tools that are commonly used, as well as the kinds of projects and activities ergonomists are involved in. Attendees will have the opportunity to walk through a sample case study and work with ergonomics assessment tools. This will be followed by a Q&A session.

*****

Advancements in Sulfate Treatment for Environmental Sustainability: From Research to Implementation

Monday, October 27, 3 p.m. | Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC), 202

Environmental Engineering Graduate Seminar Chan Lan Chun, Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Minnesota Duluth, Principal Researcher, Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota Abstract: Sulfur plays a crucial role in natural ecosystems as a secondary nutrient within elemental cycles. Due to its speciation and redox chemistry, sulfur is both a valuable commodity and a challenging component to manage in industrial and municipal waste streams. In freshwater ecosystems, sulfate concentrations have globally increased, largely due to human activities and climate change-accelerated mineral oxidation. This rise in sulfate levels can significantly impact the biogeochemical cycles of other elements and lead to ecotoxicological consequences. There is substantial room for improvement in sulfur treatment and management, specifically in efficiently converting sulfur pollutants into valuable products. To address this, we have developed a range of technologies for treating sulfate in various types of wastewaters, tailored to different sulfate concentrations through collaboration and partnerships. Our multi-pronged approach includes biological treatment coupled with sulfide immobilization for high sulfate levels; an in-situ electrode-integrated biofiltration system as a semi-passive treatment option, and barite precipitation method for low sulfate levels. Each technology was developed through a stepwise process, from lab-scale proof-of-concept to pilot-scale demonstration, emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and the integration of sustainable practices. Collectively, these studies contribute to a suite of technologies and treatment options that address the sulfate issue effectively, benefiting the state of Minnesota and other regions, through a treatment train approach. Bio: Dr. Chan Lan Chun is a Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Minnesota Duluth and a Principal Research Engineer at Natural Resources Research Institute at the University of Minnesota. She earned her Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities to study the fate of organic contaminants in contaminated soils and drinking water distribution systems. Dr. Chun’s research integrates fundamental themes in aquatic chemistry and environmental microbiology with a focus on developing solutions for increasingly complex and costly environmental challenges. Her research group is dedicated to bridging the gap from fundamental research to application in collaboration across disciplines and with diverse groups.

*****

EPSSI Seminar: Dr. Susan Mathai

Monday, October 27, 3:30 p.m.–4:00 p.m. | Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC), First floor lobby (social) and Room 202 (lecture)

This event will be held in the GLRC. Refreshments and a social will be held at 3:30pm in the GLRC Lobby on the first floor, with the lecture to follow at 4:00pm in GLRC 202. Dr. Susan Mathai, Postdoctoral Fellow at NASA Langley Research Center, will give a talk on Monday, October 27. The title of the talk is "MIRA: Table of Aerosol Optics." Abstract: Aerosols are emitted into the atmosphere by natural and anthropogenic events. They scatter and absorb the incoming solar radiation playing a major role in heating and cooling the atmosphere. To determine the heating and cooling rates, remote sensing and global climate modelers use the optical and physical properties of these aerosols. Table of Aerosol Optics (TAO) database is a platform for the scientists to acquire the optical properties of several aerosol species and types for wavelengths ranging from 0.25 µm to 40 µm (673 values) including phase matrices for 203 angles and 36 relative humidity values. TAO will provide the users with choices on the source, shape, size distribution, wavelength range, etc. to accommodate the needs from various atmospheric science groups. TAO contains optical calculations such as the extinction, absorption, single scattering albedo (SSA), asymmetry parameter, phase functions etc. using Mie theory for spherical aerosol species, Hexahedra model for mineral mixtures, and T-Matrix method for aggregate BC. Furthermore, the organic aerosols (OA) are classified into four categories: Strongly Absorbing BrC (S-BrC), Moderately Absorbing BrC (M-BrC), Weakly Absorbing BrC (W-BrC), and Very Weakly Absorbing BrC (VW-BrC) based on their imaginary refractive index (RI), mass absorption coefficient (MAC), and SSA values. This classification will improve the representation of OA in climate and weather models. Hence the TAO database has a potential to replace the database that was developed decades ago and are being widely used among the modeling communities. Using the measurements from latest study will improve the climate and weather data. Bio: Susan Mathai is a Postdoctoral Fellow at NASA Langley Research Center, where she works with Dr. Luke D. Ziemba and Dr. Gregory L. Schuster (retired) on developing the Table of Aerosol Optics to improve aerosol representation in climate and weather models. She earned her Ph.D. in Atmospheric Sciences from Michigan Technological University with Dr. Claudio Mazzoleni, focusing on the physical, optical, and chemical properties of light-absorbing aerosols and their climatic impacts. She is particularly interested in the study of optical properties of aerosol species with a special focus on organic aerosols.

*****

UN 2013 Transfer Seminar- Section 2

Monday, October 27, 4 p.m.–4 p.m. | Administration and Student Services Building (Admin, Building 1), 220 Career Services

Job Search Strategies and Resources (25 minutes)

*****

WGC Range Day

Monday, October 27, 5 p.m.–5 p.m. | Portage Lake Golf Course

A 1-hour event at the PLGC driving range to work on your swing! Rides will be leaving Wadsworth at 4:45 PM! Please fill out THIS form if you will be needing a ride, and meet under the awning outside the main doors. Clubs will be provided if need be! Please bring your MTU ID and check-in at the club house in order to use the range for free. If the weather gets too cold, this event may be cancelled!

*****

WGC Club Washing Event

Monday, October 27, 5:30 p.m.–5:30 p.m. | Fisher Hall

Your clubs have worked hard this season—time to show them some love! Join the WGC for our end-of-season Club Washing Night, where we’ll clean, shine, and dry our gear together. All supplies will be provided—just bring your clubs and your good vibes! A holiday movie will be on in the background to wrap up the 2025 season! I hope to see you all there :)

*****

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with the Community Education Team and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers!

Monday, October 27, 7 p.m.–8 p.m. | Fischer Hall Room 325

Join the Community Education Team and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers for a special celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month! Students will learn about the history and significance of the traditions surrounding the holiday of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). While, participants get creative decorate cookies with colorful icing and festive designs inspired by the holiday. Come celebrate, learn, and decorate with us!

*****

Keweenaw Socialists - General Meeting

Monday, October 27, 7 p.m.–7 p.m. | Fisher 101

KS at MTU weekly general meeting.