July 6, 2021

Research by Trisha Sain (ME-EM) looks at fiber-reinforced polymer composites for the U.S. Air Force. The materials have to withstand wet, heat, cold and maybe a few blasts. “These materials can handle such extremes,” she said. “The problem is that, like all materials, they age. We study that degradation.”

Using metaphorical spaghetti noodles, Lego bricks and windows, Sain explains how on-the-fly mathematical homogenization works in her models in a new Unscripted blog.

Read the full story on mtu.edu/unscripted.

Changes to the traffic pattern will occur today (July 6) during the work day, and the evening commute will follow a new pattern:

• The entrances at Cliff Drive and MacInnes Drive will reopen to traffic.
• The Hubbell Street entrance near the MUB will be closed, and campus visitors should enter campus at MacInnes Drive.
• Parking Lot V1, south of the Administration Building, remains closed.
• Parking Lot 1 will return to normal operations.
• US-41 will continue to have two-way traffic in the southbound lane.

For updates and to view the interactive campus map, visit the US-41 Road Project web page.

Drivers and pedestrians are reminded to keep alert while in and around construction zones and to follow all appropriate directions and be aware of changing traffic patterns.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently issued further clarification regarding information required to be disclosed upon the submission of sponsored research proposals and at any time during the performance of a sponsored research project.

NSF has issued revised FAQs Regarding Current and Pending Support which are consistent with a newly developed table describing Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Support disclosure requirements.

NIH has updated its forms and instructions for Biosketches and Other Support. These forms are recommended currently and will be required for proposals due after Jan. 25, 2022.

These clarifications have been issued to ensure federal funding agency and funding recipient compliance with Section 223 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021. This act and related federal policies requires the disclosure of affiliations and resources available to researchers in order to address issues related to undue foreign influence, conflicts of interest and conflicts of commitment for individuals involved in federally funded research.

For support in preparing proposals, including completing the necessary agency-required forms, contact the Research Development group at rd-l@mtu.edu.

If you have questions about the general topic of undue foreign influence, including Section 223 of the NDAA, contact Jim Baker, associate vice president for research administration, at jrbaker@mtu.edu.

Faculty and staff are invited to facilitate a student group discussion for Michigan Tech’s Reading as Inquiry project. This year, first-year students will be reading "Ready Player One" by Ernest Cline.

A world at stake. A quest for the ultimate prize. Are you ready?

In the year 2045, reality is an ugly place. The only time Wade Watts really feels alive is when he’s jacked into the OASIS, a vast virtual world where most of humanity spends their days. When the eccentric creator of the OASIS dies, he leaves behind a series of fiendish puzzles, based on his obsession with the pop culture of decades past. Whoever is first to solve them will inherit his vast fortune — and control of the OASIS itself. Then Wade cracks the first clue. Suddenly he’s beset by rivals who’ll kill to take this prize. The race is on — and the only way to survive is to win.

The Reading as Inquiry program is also heading in a new direction. This fall, in lieu of the author speaking, we will be hosting a faculty panel addressing themes from the book that align with furthering the conversation about the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the Tech Forward initiatives. Additionally, the small group discussions will serve not only as book discussions, but also as a means of preparing first-year students to participate in the panel discussion.

Facilitators will lead a small group discussion of approximately 25 first-year students with assistance from upper-level students during Orientation Week. A facilitator information session will be held in August and the student group discussions are scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 25, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. The faculty panel will follow the book discussions from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 25.

If you are interested in serving as a facilitator, register online. Facilitators will receive a free copy of the book.

Contact success@mtu.edu with any questions.

Here's a helpful tidbit for your Tuesday morning: Institutional Equity has a listing of national and online advertising and recruiting resources on our web page.

Please visit our National and Online Advertising and Recruiting web page. This information can also be found in Step 3 of both the Faculty Hiring Process and the Staff Hiring Process.

If you have advertising resources you would like to add to this web page, please contact equity@mtu.edu.

The question "How do scientists investigate the health of Lake Superior?" will be the focus of free scientific excursions aboard Michigan Tech’s research vessel, Agassiz, offered at the Strawberry Festival in Chassell, Michigan, from 12:30-6 p.m. Saturday (July 10).

On each scientific excursion, Kenny Larsen (CEGE/GLRC) will show how data is collected on water clarity, temperature and turbidity, and explain what that tells us about the health of Lake Superior and Chassell Bay. He will explain the link between land uses and the health of the Great Lakes.

Members of the public are invited to reserve a space on the Agassiz, and are also welcome to come to the Chassell Marina dock Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. to get on the list. Each excursion has room for 18 participants, and half of available spaces will be saved for walk-up participants. Spaces will go quickly!

Excursion Departure Times:
12:30, 1:15, 2:00, 2:45, 3:30, 4:15 and 5:00 p.m.

All participants must wear closed-toe shoes. Children must be at least 7 years old and accompanied by an adult. Life jackets will be available for all passengers. 

The Agassiz is funded by the GM Ride the Waves Program, which puts 600 Copper Country youth and adults on the water each year to learn about the health of the Great Lakes and Lake Superior, and to promote Great Lakes stewardship.

Additional financial support for the Agassiz at the Strawberry Festival is provided by the Chassell Lions Club.

Students in OSM 4350 Advanced Project Management, led by Roger Woods (COB), participated in the 10th annual Western Michigan Project Management Institute (WMPMI) collegiate project management competition — known as THEProject — where they took home first and third place.

Students on the winning teams include:

• First place — Team Lights, Camera (Optional), Action:
  Sam Appleyard, Paul Gannon, Michael Japinga and Jacob Mongrain
  
  
• Third place — Team Wreck-It Rekhi:
  Mackenzie Brunet, Grace Pruett and Riley McKay

Job Posting for Tuesday, July 6, 2021

Staff and faculty job descriptions are available on the Human Resources website. For more information regarding staff positions, call 906-487-2280 or email mtujobs@mtu.edu.

For more information regarding faculty positions, contact the academic department in which the position is posted. 

Department Coordinator, Cognitive and Learning Sciences. Apply online.

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 mtujobs@mtu.edu.

An interview with Katy Pioch, a mechanical engineering student and former Society of Women Engineers (SWE) section president, was featured in a XENA Workwear for Women blog post titled "The Engineering Process." 

In addition to her SWE involvement, Pioch is a resident assistant (RA) and was elected president of the SAE Clean Snowmobile Challenge Enterprise.

Get Vaccinated, Continue Washing and Sanitizing Hands

While Michigan Tech is at Health and Safety Level One, face coverings and daily symptom monitoring are no longer required. However, those who wish to continue wearing a face covering are encouraged to do so.

The MTU Flex Task Force also encourages University community members to get their vaccinations and continue with handwashing and hand-sanitizing practices.

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Shipping Packages to Campus

Central Receiving reminds the campus community to include as much information as possible on the shipping label when shipping University purchases to campus.

To ensure timely delivery of purchases directly to your department by the shipper, please be sure to provide the vendor with the following information to be included on the shipping label:

• Your Complete Name
• Building Name
• Room Number
• 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, MI 49931

Please recall that Central Receiving does not ship or receive personal packages. Visit our website for additional shipping and receiving information.

For questions or assistance with special receiving or shipping needs, please contact Central Receiving at 906-487-2701.

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Alumni Reunion 2021

Alumni Reunion 2021 is coming up on Friday, Aug. 6. We encourage you to join us in celebrating with alumni!

To see a full schedule of events and register, visit our Alumni Reunion 2021 web page.

Thank you in advance for helping to make Reunion a memorable experience for our visitors.

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Virtual Poster Session at the 2021 Alumni Reunion

The Graduate Student Government (GSG) is pleased to announce a hybrid poster presentation session at Alumni Reunion 2021, which will be held Aug. 6.

Due to the ongoing pandemic, GSG has decided to combine physical posters with prerecorded presentations from participants. This has been decided to keep in mind the health and safety of everyone who is going to be a part of this event, since the COVID-19 pandemic is still ongoing.

The Alumni Reunion poster presentation session is a continued tradition designed to increase interaction between graduate students and MTU alumni. It is a unique opportunity for graduate students to share their research work and expand network connections. This event is also a great opportunity for students to work on their presentation skills and prepare for upcoming conferences. Alumni will be able to give valuable insight and feedback on the videos that appeal to them.

Participation is open to graduate students from all departments. The event will consist of elevator-pitch-style poster presentations, with physical posters and prerecorded presentations by participants. This hybrid setup will allow alumni to take a closer look at the physical posters and everyone to view the video presentations for the respective posters. Registration closes on July 16 at 11:59 p.m. Limited seats only. Don’t wait — register today.

Detailed instructions and guidelines for recording your presentation will be sent out to you once you have registered. Alternatively, you will also be able to find the instructions on the GSG website. The deadline for participants to submit their presentation videos is July 30.

For more information, please contact Shreya Joshi at gsg-research@mtu.edu.

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Portage Lake Golf Course Offering Evening Clinics in July

Michigan Tech’s Portage Lake Golf Course will be holding two golf clinics for adults this July.

A Duffing N Dinner Clinic will be held July 13 and July 14 from 6-7 p.m. each evening. The clinic will emphasize all the basic shots in golf with a delicious Par and Grill meal thereafter. The cost of the Duffing N Dinner Clinic is $50 per participant.

The Summer Heat Clinic is a four-session class taught Mondays and Wednesdays from 5:30-7 p.m. The clinic begins July 19 and ends July 28. The sessions will go over fundamentals of the game, with on-course instruction during the last class. The cost of the Summer Heat Clinic is $80 per participant.

Clubs will be provided should a student not have their own. Both clinics will be instructed by a PGA professional and are limited to eight participants.

Registration forms can be found on the Portage Lake Golf Course website  — or call the golf course at 906-487-2641 to register.

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Virtual Book Launch: 'Oil Palm: A Global History'

Please join the Friends of the Michigan Tech Library tomorrow (July 7) from noon to 1 p.m. for the virtual book launch of "Oil Palm: A Global History" by Jonathan E. Robins (SS).

During the book launch, Robins will provide an overview of the book and discuss his research process, which took him to archives and four continents — and finally back to historic collections on the shelves of Michigan Tech’s Van Pelt and Opie Library.

For more information and to register and get the Zoom link, please visit the Friends of the Michigan Tech Library website.

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Student Opportunity: Travel to Glasgow Climate Conference

A delegation is forming to attend the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26), the negotiation session for global climate agreements. As an accredited observer organization, Michigan Tech can send a limited number of attendees.

Anyone with any interest in going, please contact Sarah Green immediately at sgreen@mtu.edu.

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

Parent & Child Huskies Group Swim Lessons Summer Session 2

Tuesday, July 6, 9:00–9:40 a.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Pool

Come make a splash this summer in Huskies Group Swim Lessons! American Red Cross Parent & Child Aquatics levels are being offered at the SDC Pool for ages 6 months to 3 years...

Preschool Group Swim Lessons Summer Session 2

Tuesday, July 6, 9:00–9:40 a.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Pool

Come make a splash this summer in Huskies Group Swim Lessons! American Red Cross Preschool Aquatics levels are being offered at the SDC Pool for ages 4 to 5 years old. Social...

Huskies Group Swim Lessons - Learn to Swim Levels 1-4 Summer Session 2

Tuesday, July 6, 10:00–10:40 a.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Pool

Come make a splash this summer in Huskies Group Swim Lessons! American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim Levels 1-4 are being offered at the SDC Pool. Social distancing will be...

Music in Sacred Spaces: conScience

July 6, all day

conScience: Michigan Tech Chamber Singers, under the direction of Dr. Jared Anderson, present a series of three recorded mini-concerts in historic sacred spaces in the Copper...