July 14, 2021

Plastic waste and access to nutritious food top the list of humanity’s challenges. Yet humans are nothing if not innovative, especially in the face of adversity. Steve Techtmann (BioSci) and his collaborator, Ting Lu from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, aim to convert plastic waste and inedible biomass into edible protein. They won the 2021 Future Insight Prize for their food generator concept, funded by Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.

Read more about oil-eating bacteria and the food they create on mtu.edu/news.

The COVID-19 pandemic halted the in-person wintertime survey of wolves and moose on the island for the first time in 63 years. Consequently, there are no estimates of wolf or moose abundance for 2021, and the next estimates are scheduled in February 2022. But though the Isle Royale Winter Study didn’t happen quite as planned, researchers were still able to visit the remote national park in the spring.

Now, fieldwork has resumed and Michigan Technological University researchers have already uncovered new information about these two iconic wildlife populations. In particular, wolves produced at least two litters of pups, and moose appear poised for decline.

In the Isle Royale Winter Study, Michigan Tech researchers share other significant developments about curating the world’s largest moose bone collection, advances in understanding of wolf foraging behavior and the nutritional health of the moose population.

Read more on mtu.edu/news.

The Songer Award for Human Health Research supports one undergraduate and one graduate student each year doing health-related research in the College of Sciences and Arts (CSA). Supported by the generosity of Matthew Songer (biological sciences '79), Laura Songer (biological sciences '80) and matching funds from CSA, the program has supported four students annually in each of its three years.

CSA is pleased to announce the winners in the 2021 competition:

• Graduate awards ($6,000): Jared Edwards (Advisor: Tarun Dam, Department of Chemistry) for “A new plant bioactive compound with anti-cancer properties" and Zhihong Wang (Advisor: Xiaoqing Tang, Department of Biological Sciences) for “microRNA-483 protects beta-cells and prevents diabetes development.”
• Undergraduate awards ($4,000): Samantha Siefert (Advisor: Paul Goetsch, Department of Biological Sciences) for “Evaluating cell cycle quiescence in ovarian cancer” and Morgan Smith (Advisor: Thomas Werner, Department of Biological Sciences) for “Supplementing the gut microbiome in obesity.”

The selection committee, which evaluated a record number of applicants, included Megan Frost (KIP), Shekhar Joshi (BioSci), Health Professions Coordinator Nicole Seigneurie and Matthew and Laura Songer.

The next session of Huskies Aquatics Programs at the SDC Pool begins July 19.

Adult Huskies Swim - July 19-30: Monday/Wednesday/Friday, 5-5:50 p.m. Training for swimmers age 18 and older, varied workouts dependent on skill level.

Junior Huskies Swim - July 19-30: Monday/Wednesday/Friday, 4-4:50 p.m. Training for proficient swimmers ages 6-17. Registration closes July 17. Sign up today!

Michigan Tech men's basketball announced its 2021-22 schedule on Monday, July 12. The Huskies will play 27 games this winter with 18 conference matchups and 14 at SDC Gymnasium on campus.

Read more on the Athletics Department website.

Michigan Tech senior Laura De Marchi has been named to the 2021 CoSIDA Academic All-America® Division II volleyball first team. De Marchi is a setter from Milan, Italy, and holds a 3.77 grade-point average in biomedical engineering. She is the fourth Michigan Tech volleyball player to be named an Academic All-American and the second to be named to the first team.

Read more on the Athletics Department website.

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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MS Defense: Somerset Schrock, ME-EM

M.S. in Mechanical Engineering candidate Somerset Schrock (ME-EM) will present his master's defense today (July 14) at 9:30 a.m. This will be a virtual defense held online only. Virtual attendees are invited to join via Zoom. 

Schrock's defense is titled "Towards Systems on Cloth: The Design, Manufacturing, and Validation of Open-Source Embroidered Resistors."

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Michigan Tech's Beth Maatta was the focus of Saturday's Daily Mining Gazette article, which discussed a $40,000 donation to the U.P Wildlife Rehabilitation — Keweenaw Group.

The donation will be used to build a raptor rehabilitation facility in Hancock, which Maatta will oversee. Beth Maatta is a police officer with Michigan Tech's Department of Public Safety and Police Services. She will soon be the only person in the U.P. who is nationally certified to rehabilitate raptors.

The announcement that Steve Techtmann (BioSci) has won the 2021 Future Insight Prize — awarded to innovative research in health, nutrition and energy — was picked up by the Wall Street Journal. Along with collaborator Ting Lu, professor of bioengineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Techtmann will focus his research on a food generator concept that converts plastic waste into safe and edible food.

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Golf Junior Lessons

Wednesday, July 14, 8 a.m. | Portage Lake Golf Course

Golf Junior Lessons

Parent & Child Huskies Group Swim Lessons Summer Session 2

Wednesday, July 14, 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

Wednesday, July 14, 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...

Master's Defense: Somerset Schrock

Wednesday, July 14, 9:30–10:30 a.m.

Mechanical Engineering Advisor: Ye Sun Towards Systems on Cloth: The Design, Manufacturing, and Validation of Open-Source Embroidered Resistors Attend Virtually:...

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

Wednesday, July 14, 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...

UP & Moving Lunchtime High Noon Activity Break

Wednesday, July 14, 12:00 p.m.–12:20 p.m.

We are a group of Michigan Tech graduate students who are focused on improving the health of our community. We are contributing to the COVID-19 response by providing health...

UP & Moving Lunchtime Noon-Thirty Activity Break

Wednesday, July 14, 12:30 p.m.–12:50 p.m.

We are a group of Michigan Tech graduate students who are focused on improving the health of our community. We are contributing to the COVID-19 response by providing health...

Junior Huskies Summer Swim Session 2

Wednesday, July 14, 4:00 p.m.–4:50 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Pool

Come make a splash this summer in Junior Huskies Swim Clinic! This program provides additional attention and competitive guidance to proficient swimmers ages 6-17 who are...

Adult Huskies Summer Swim Session 2

Wednesday, July 14, 5:00 p.m.–5:50 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Pool

Adult Huskies Summer Swim provides additional attention and competitive guidance to swimmers ages 18 and older who are looking to improve their swimming skills and fitness...

Music in Sacred Spaces: conScience

July 14, 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...