September 15, 2020

There are at least 12 wolves on the island and 1,876 moose. Twenty-five moose were collared this year. The 62nd year of the Michigan Technological University Winter Study on Isle Royale National Park has proved one of its most fascinating yet.

The U.S. National Park Service introduced 19 new wolves — from Ontario, Minnesota and Michigan — to the island between 2018 and 2019. But struggles to establish firm territories have resulted in new alliances and several deaths.

The moose population, as expected, has decreased. Read the full story at mtu.edu/news.

Rudy Luck (Chem) has been named a Virtual Inorganic Pedagogical Electronic Resource (VIPEr) fellow for an innovative study to develop, test, and refine a flexible, foundation-level inorganic chemistry course. As one of a group of forty faculty selected for this ground-breaking project, he will join other inorganic chemists from across the country in a community of practice dedicated to improving student learning.

Over the course of the project, the VIPEr Fellows will implement evidence-based practices in their courses. Luck joined this project because he is interested in improving inorganic chemistry education at Michigan Tech and previously and presently utilizes course-related material available on the VIPEr website in his courses.

The study, entitled “Improving Inorganic Chemistry Education,” is being led by the Interactive Online Network of Inorganic Chemists (IONiC) with support from the National Science Foundation’s Improving Undergraduate STEM Education program. The project will use classroom observations, analysis of student work, student surveys and faculty interviews to study how changes in the classroom affect student learning, interest, and motivation.

IONiC's web home, the Virtual Inorganic Pedagogical Electronic Resource, will be used as the hub for disseminating the course goals, content, and pedagogy. The project will also investigate how IONiC may encourage the adoption of evidence-based classroom practices.

”This next cohort of VIPEr Fellows is amazing,” said Joanne Stewart of Hope College, a principal investigator on the grant. “Our first set of Fellows gave us insight into the power of community to help faculty reflect and support changes to their teaching practices. We are excited to continue the project with another group of Fellows that represent the diversity of faculty and institutions that exist throughout inorganic chemistry.” To learn more about the NSF project, visit VIPEr.

Staff Council invites and welcomes new members to it’s annual organizational meeting at noon on Thursday (Sept. 17) via Zoom. Joel Isaacson, Project Manager of the MTU Flex Task Force, will be the guest speaker.

Staff Council was created in 1991 as a service organization for the University. It is made up of staff members from all levels at Michigan Tech, and supports activities and resources that provide recognition for staff achievement, opportunities for professional development and enhance the working environment and campus community.

Staff Council sponsors the Making a Difference Awards, Family Fun Day and the Staff Service Recognition Awards. Members also serve on search committees and help out with other special University initiatives and task forces that require staff representation, create and distribute the Employee Wall Calendar, and various other campus activities.

Constitution Day and Citizenship Day is observed each year on Sept. 17 to commemorate the signing of the Constitution on Sept. 17, 1787, and to recognize all who, by coming of age or by naturalization, have become citizens of the United States.

This year you can learn about the Constitution virtually and in person. Visit our online Constitution and Citizenship Day guide to learn about Constitution and Citizenship Day and explore our 2020 focus on Voters Rights in the Constitution.

Stop by the information display in the library’s main hallway on Thursday (Sept. 17) to explore books from our collections, learn about voting, and more.

Michigan Tech alumnus Wellesley Pereira '03 (Physics) has been elected a Fellow of the International Society for Optics and Photonics (SPIE).

Pereira is a scientist and mission lead working in a Space Vehicles Directorate at Air Force Research Laboratory, Kirtland, New Mexico. In acknowledging the recognition, Pereira said ”My years as a physics grad student at MTU were the seminal years of my life, because that time spent working on building an astronomical sensor that was later deployed at observatories around the world, and my experience there with a wonderful astrophysical team, served as very sound preparation, that launched my career in space technology.”

Michigan Tech alumni Sun Nguyen (SS), Nancy Langston (SS), Adam Wellstead (SS) and Michael Howlett (Simon Fraser University) published "Mining the evidence: Public comments and evidence-based policymaking in the controversial Minnesota PolyMet mining project" in Resources Policy.

John Vucetich (CFRES) was quoted in the story "Remembering the birth of Isle Royale’s wolf-moose study," in the Ludington Daily News.

Fill Out the COVID-19 Symptom Tracking Form Before Coming to Campus

A reminder that no one is permitted to come to campus with symptoms consistent with COVID-19. All employees are required to monitor their symptoms daily before coming to campus. The Daily Symptom Tracking Form is a short form that will help you determine if you have COVID-19 symptoms. 

 In addition, all visitors must fill out the Visitor Symptom Tracking Form each day before coming on campus. 

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NASIC Virtual Information Session

The National Air & Space Intelligence Center (NASIC) located in Dayton, Ohio is the Department of Defense’s primary source for intelligence on foreign military threats from air, space, and cyberspace.

Rhetoric of Health and Medicine Symposium

Rhetoric, Theory and Culture (RTC) PhD candidates G. Edzordzi Agbozo, Hua Wang with RTC alumna Nancy Henaku participated in the Rhetoric of Health and Medicine Symposium held online on Sept. 10 and 11.

Agbozo and Henaku presented their collaborative paper on "COVID-19, the Global South and Medical Colonialism: Toward a Critical Transnational Research Praxis" which discusses the ethics of Covid-19 vaccine trial rhetorics.

Wang also presented on aspects of her dissertation that discussed the rhetoric of health and medicine with a particular focus on pregnant Chinese women's rhetorical agency.

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Superior Wilderness: Art from the Isle Royale Collection

Tuesday, September 15, 8 a.m.–10 p.m.

Selections of art from the Isle Royale artist in residence program. Exhibit runs Sept. 1 - 16.

Study abroad in Torino

Tuesday, September 15, 11 a.m.–12 p.m.

Join University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC) virtually to learn more about the Torino, Italy program. Registration link

Career Fair Prep Session

Tuesday, September 15, 12 p.m.–1 p.m.

With the Virtual Career Fair just a few days away, join us as we go over everything Career Fair. Be comfortable in the virtual world when you attend the Virtual Career Fair.

Study abroad with ISA

Tuesday, September 15, 3 p.m.–4 p.m.

Ready to explore the world? Learn about your study abroad options with International Studies Abroad (ISA), how to take the next step and find the program that's right for...

Virtual Career Fair Plus Resume and Interview Blitz

Tuesday, September 15, 3 p.m.–5 p.m.

MUST Register for a time slot via Career Fair +. Join us on the Virtual Career Fair app, Career Fair +, to have your resume reviewed and practice your interview skills. You...

Husky Hour - Resume Blitz

Tuesday, September 15, 4 p.m.–5 p.m.

Resume advice in 10-15 minutes. Sign up for a time slot via Career Fair Plus (mtu.edu/career). Win prizes for attending multiple Husky Hours this semester! More details...

Virtual Study Abroad Fair: Cyprus

Tuesday, September 15, 4 p.m.–5 p.m.

Join our live virtual event and learn about STEM opportunities in Cyprus! Courses, Internships and Research opportunities with UNIC Global Semesters! Why Cyprus? Safest...

Bingo is the Bee's Knees

Tuesday, September 15, 5 p.m.–6 p.m.

Description:Log on to our last social prior to FSR kick off! We will be playing some virtual bingo and will once again be utilizing breakout rooms to make it easy to carry a...

Introduction to Design Thinking

Tuesday, September 15, 5 p.m.–7 p.m.

Teamwork and the design thinking process move you from an opportunity statement to an innovative idea. Developed at the Stanford d.school, design thinking is a tool to help...

Virtual Study Abroad Fair: Go Beyond Borders with USAC

Tuesday, September 15, 5:30 p.m.–6:30 p.m.

Go off the beaten path with University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC). Hear from a panel of Michigan Tech students who've studied abroad with USAC. Registration link

National Air & Space Intelligence Center Virtual Information Session

Tuesday, September 15, 6:00 p.m.–7:15 p.m.

The National Air & Space lntelligence Center (NASIC) is the Department of Defense's primary source for intelligence on foreign military threats from air, space, and...

Study abroad with ISA

Tuesday, September 15, 6 p.m.–7 p.m.

Ready to explore the world? Learn about your study abroad options with International Studies Abroad (ISA), how to take the next step and find the program that's right for...

TPEG General Meeting

Tuesday, September 15, 6 p.m.–7 p.m.

Hello and welcome to the Theme Park Engineering Group! We're a new organization here at Michigan Tech that loves all things theme parks! Whether you're an engineer that's...

Young Americans for Freedom Meeting

Tuesday, September 15, 7 p.m.–8 p.m.

Meeting will be outdoors in the campus rock garden as weather permits, and in M&M U113. As we discuss the ideas of individual freedom, limited government, free enterprise,...