November 8, 2021

The Michigan Tech Transportation Institute (MTTI) will host a meeting and discussions to promote collaboration on the Michigan Department of Transportation's (MDOT's) recent call for project ideas, which address MDOT’s research priorities for fiscal years 2023-25. MTTI and MTU have had a good working relationship on research projects through the years, which we hope to build upon across campus.

The meeting will be held Thursday (Nov. 11) from 11 a.m. to noon in Grover C. Dillman Hall (Dillman), Room 309A, or you can join via Zoom.

Please RSVP to Pam Hannon at prhannon@mtu.edu if you plan to attend. A PDF listing of previously identified research objectives by area is available.

Research ideas are due to MDOT by Dec. 3 and can be submitted by individual researchers online.

Student members of Michigan Tech's section of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) traveled to Indianapolis, Indiana, for the Society of Women Engineers WE21 Conference, held Oct. 21-23. 

MTU SWE attendees included Aerith Cruz, Lisa Downie, Sophie Owen, Katy Pioch, Veeraja Sohoni, Grace TenBrock, Julia Westfall, Abby Woodford and Conny Yang. They were accompanied by SWE advisor Gretchen Hein (MMET) and two SWENexters, Jenna Beaudoin and Chloe Daniels of Lake Linden-Hubbell High School.

The group members attended sessions on professional development and the Career Fair and enjoyed meeting with other professional and collegiate members.

Cruz was a workshop panelist for the “Zoomed In! Inspiring Youth through Virtual Programming” session, where she discussed how our SWE section held virtual outreach during the COVID pandemic.

Beaudoin and Daniels, along with Devon Ginn from the Madam Walker Legacy Center, held a workshop titled “Madam Walker: Entrepreneur and Woman of Color” on the life and achievements of Madam C.J. Walker, one of the first woman millionaires and an advocate for women and African Americans.

Hein was the moderator of a panel titled “Finishing Grad School? Need Assistance Obtaining an Academic Position?” where graduate students could get advice and feedback about their transition from graduate school to academia.

The SWE members also hosted a Tech alumni event for Huskies at the conference. Janet Callahan, dean of the College of Engineering, and Marney Kloote, director of advancement, attended as well.

Pioch said the conference was "one of the best experiences" she has had in SWE. "To be surrounded by so many successful, strong and encouraging women creates an atmosphere like no other," Pioch said. "I had the chance to listen to women from many walks of life share their stories, career paths and advice over the course of three days."

Meeting Tech alumni who have succeeded in their careers because of the experiences and knowledge they gained at Tech was another highlight for Pioch. "I really enjoy getting to know people who've been in our shoes and are excited to see the next generation of engineers and bright minds Tech is producing," she said.

The closing keynote of the SWE conference was an inspiring talk by Patti Poppe, CEO of Pacific Gas & Electric. The keynote was the best part of the conference for Sophie Owen, MTU's section president. “It was so inspiring to hear from a woman that is highly influential in the electric power industry, since this is the field I am interested in," Owen said. "I also enjoyed getting to bond with my SWEsters over the weekend."

"I want to also extend a thank-you to our generous corporate sponsor, Gerdau," added Own. "Without their support, attending this conference would not have been possible.”

According to Hein, Gerdau's support allowed the nine women to attend the conference, meet with other people in technical fields and mentor two SWENexters during the trip.

Kimberly-Clark has partnered with the Consumer Product and Manufacturing (CPM) Enterprise to make the recycling of flex-film plastics much more accessible to students.

Flex film is any plastic designated with the No. 4 recycling code. Examples of flex film are plastic shopping bags, soda rings and Ziploc bags. If it stretches but doesn’t tear, it’s flex film! Recycling plants are unable to process flex film in the ways they do other plastics due to flex film’s elastic nature. This makes the separation of flex film from other plastics crucial. 

Look out for purple recycling containers in the North Coast Grill and Deli and in the CPM office in the basement of the Chemical Sciences and Engineering (Chem Sci) building.

More information about reading recycling labels can be found at the How2Recycle website.

Please join us tomorrow (Nov. 9) from 5-6 p.m. in the Walker Arts and Humanities Center (Walker), Room 120C, for an hour of laid-back Francophone setting with French natives and other Francophiles. All levels welcome.

Last Café Français date: Dec. 7.

Please join us in welcoming Steve Whitby, a speaker from the Catalyst agency who excels in helping develop leaders in uncertain times. 

Whitby will present a talk at Michigan Tech on Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. in MUB Ballroom A. 

During his presentation, Whitby takes a deep dive into understanding reality and urges the audience to examine assumptions in their life — and what they are willing to do to create change for the better.

Whitby is an experienced educator with a demonstrated history of applying creative services to leadership development, well-being and problem-solving. He is skilled in design thinking, coaching, risk management, conflict resolution and team building.

This event will contain information about how to improve overall well-being. It will also touch on specific topics like suicide prevention and alcohol and other drug use and prevention. This event is open to all members of the Michigan Tech community.

Michigan Tech's annual Family Fun Day is scheduled for Nov. 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

On Family Fun Day, Michigan Tech employees and their families are invited to enjoy free access to the SDC facilities and other campus amenities. Along with free lunch and a chance to win amazing prizes, you and your family can check out our new events — ice skating and eSports — and get a discount on a family pack of tickets for the women’s basketball game against Duluth.

A flyer detailing the activities will be coming in campus mail and is available to view online.

If you plan to participate, please register online by Sunday (Nov. 14).

Join MTU's chapter of the Climate Reality Campus Corps and other sustainability advocates for a watch party for "Achieving Drawdown: A Hopeful, Science-Based Approach to Stop Climate Change" tonight (Nov. 8) at 8 p.m. in Fisher Hall, Room 126. 

"Achieving Drawdown" is being presented by Jonathan Foley and The Central Minnesota Chapter of The Climate Reality Project.

Foley is a leading climate scientist, sustainability expert, educator and public speaker. His work focuses on finding solutions to sustain the climate, ecosystems and natural resources we all depend on.

Feel free to join us and watch in person! Or, if you'd like details on how to attend virtually, please contact Campus Corps at campuscorps@mtu.edu. Reach out soon if you'd like to watch online — virtual space is limited!

M.S. in Mechanical Engineering candidate Vasu Goyal (ME-EM) will present his master's defense tomorrow (Nov. 9) at 10 a.m. This virtual defense will be presented online only. Attendance is invited via Zoom.

Goyal's defense is titled "Development and Validation of Dynamic Programming Algorithm for Eco Approach and Departure."

Moritz Linkmann of the University of Edinburgh will be presenting at this week's Physics Colloquium.

Please join the presentation on Thursday (Nov. 11) at 4 p.m. via Zoom.

Read the abstract and Linkmann's bio at the University Events Calendar.

Register in advance to attend this colloquium. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the event.

Join us virtually Friday (Nov. 12) from 3-4 p.m. for this month's Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology (KIP) Seminar, with guest speaker Kathy Ryan, chief of the Hemorrhage and Edema Control Department in the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research.

Ryan will discuss the research and work of Walter B. Cannon and how his understanding of the nature and causes of traumatic shock during World War I would be "rediscovered" during recent conflicts in Iran and Afghanistan.

Read more and find details on joining the Zoom meeting on the KIP Blog.

On Wednesday (Nov. 10) at noon, IDEAhub will host a virtual workshop to gather feedback on the draft learning goal framework and assessment plans for a revised General Education (Essential Education) curriculum.

Instructors teaching courses within the current General Education program are especially encouraged to attend.

To best allow for participant engagement and discussion, this workshop is capped at 20 participants. Please register in advance to be added to the Google Calendar event, which will include the Zoom link. If there are more registrants than we can accommodate, we will schedule additional workshop sessions.

Ellie Mackay scored 28 points and Michigan Tech women's basketball grabbed a 71-67 win over the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in an exhibition contest Nov. 4 at the SDC Gym.

Mackay shot 6-for-8 from beyond the arc and 10-for-18 from the field for the Huskies, who were one point behind at halftime but outscored UW-Oshkosh 26-15 in the third quarter and staved off the Titans' late comeback try.

Read more at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

Job Postings for Monday, Nov. 8, 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. 

Assistant Research Engineer, Keweenaw Research Center. Apply online.

Research Engineer 1, Keweenaw Research Center. 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.

A 12-minute video called “A Visit to Michigan Tech: Fall Colors and College Hockey in Copper Country” ran on the Midwest Sports Network.

The Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts has been awarded $24,000 in Project Support grant funds from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA).

The application for the project, titled "Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts 2021-22 Presenting Series," ranked fifth out of 67 applicants in its category and received the highest percentage of funding allocated to the top 15 applicants.

This grant will fund 14.6% of the project. Mary Jennings (VPA) is the principle investigator on this project and Libby Meyer (VPA) consulted on the grant application. This is the fourth consecutive MCACA grant awarded to the Rozsa Center.

Face Coverings Required Indoors on Campus

While Michigan Tech is at Health and Safety Level Two, face coverings must be worn indoors. This applies to all students, employees and visitors, regardless of vaccination status.

Michigan Tech strongly recommends that all employees and students continue with handwashing and hand-sanitizing practices, especially in light of the virulence of the COVID-19 delta variant. Please be aware that if you are exposed to COVID-19, quarantine guidelines vary depending on vaccination status. 

In Level Two, students and employees are not required to monitor their symptoms daily prior to coming to campus. But, individuals should be mindful of their own symptoms. A useful monitoring tool is available from the CDC. 

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On-Demand COVID-19 Testing Available on Campus

Walk-in, on-demand COVID-19 testing is available to Michigan Tech students and employees during the fall 2021 semester.

Testing is located in the Datolite Room at the MUB on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. There is no cost to be tested, and no appointment is needed. 

Read more COVID-19 Testing Information on the MTU Flex website.

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CTL Instructional Award Series: Curriculum Development or Assessment

The next session of the CTL Instructional Award Series: Curriculum Development or Assessment is tomorrow (Nov. 9) from 3:45-4:45 p.m. in Grover C. Dillman Hall (Dillman), Room 208. Please register for the session. 

Paul Sanders, Patrick S. Horvath Endowed Professor in Materials Science, will present "Advanced Tools for Undergrads: Using Material Design to Teach Materials."

From the abstract:
Many engineering students progress through the curriculum by learning the content of each course sequentially but not quite seeing the big picture. The Capstone Senior Design experience is a place where the big picture could come into focus, but often it does not. The field of view expands so fast that it can be overwhelming.

There needs to be a stepping stone between semester-size courses and real-world engineering. This reality led to the development of a design methods course that is greater than the sum of the parts. It uses graduate level and beyond tools to integrate many parts of the curriculum in a way that is comfortable and engaging. By simplifying the concepts and teaching the course as an example design project using advanced tools, the students begin to see how pressing engineering challenges can be solved by design methods outside the traditional box.

The format of this presentation will be a journey of personal discovery, or perhaps more honestly, how others who had the vision showed me how this was possible in an undergraduate setting. I'm standing not quite on the shoulders of giants, but rather on the shoulders of many competent educators and one expert who tricked me, and I refer to him as the "accidental mentor."

Todd Arney, Senior Lecturer in Applied Computing, will present "The Challenge of Making Complex Topics Accessible and Engaging to a Broad Audience."

From the abstract:
Sometimes, what starts as a simple question or task, turns into a lengthy and involved procedure or explanation that diverts us away from our original goals. For example, when someone asks a question like “Why isn’t my phone working?”, what they are actually asking is, “What is the simplest way to get my phone working?” In academia, so much time is spent on the nuances and intricacies of “why” we sometimes lose sight of the question “What is the easiest way to explain this?” — especially to an audience unfamiliar (or frankly uninterested) with the topic.

Recently, I had the opportunity to work with faculty in the College of Engineering (Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering) and bring concepts from the College of Computing (Applied Computing) to one of their “Water Resources System Modeling and Design” classes. The task became: “How could I take complex topics like cybersecurity, cyberethics, virtualization, the Linux operating system and computer networking and distill them down to the bare essentials and make everything accessible (and engaging) to non-technology classes and students?” In this presentation, I’ll share what I did, why I did it and how it was received.

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Husky Innovate Talk

Join us for a Husky Innovate talk with Brad King, Tech professor, CEO and founder of Orbion Space Technology in Houghton.

The talk will be held Friday (Nov. 12) from noon to 1 p.m. Please register to attend — registrants will receive a Google Calendar invite with the Zoom link.

An accomplished aerospace researcher, King took his satellite thruster technology to market when he co-founded Orbion Space Technology in 2016. Orbion’s satellite thruster technology addresses a key need within the space industry by providing a cost-effective way to efficiently maneuver satellites.

Orbion’s innovative technology provides the right value proposition for space industry stakeholders. King will share his journey as an entrepreneur, how he and his team have addressed key entrepreneurial challenges and what’s next for Orbion. 

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Battery Materials Technology Symposium

A Battery Materials Technology Symposium is planned for Wednesday (Nov. 10) at 11 a.m.

Join KLA Instruments for this virtual event, which will feature a live presentation of the latest research in battery materials technology from the heart of the American automotive industry.

For additional event information and a registration link, visit the University Events Calendar. 

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Campus Master Plan In-Person Town Hall Meetings

Next Monday (Nov. 15), we will be holding in-person Campus Master Plan town hall meetings in the MUB Alumni Lounge.

Sessions will be held at noon, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. that day to solicit feedback from the campus community on planning options. We would value your participation in one — or all! — of the meetings.

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Biocomputing and Digital Health Lecture

The ICC's Joint Center for Biocomputing and Digital Health will present a lecture today (Nov. 8) from noon to 1 p.m. in Kanwal and Ann Rekhi Hall (Rekhi), Room 214.

Chen Zhao, M.S. in Computational Science and Engineering (CsE), will present "Topology-based image semantic segmentation by graph neural networks: an application for coronary artery semantic segmentation."

Read more on the Institute of Computing and Cybersystems Blog.

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Joint EPSSI-Environmental Engineering Seminar

Deborah Lee, director of the NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, will present a virtual seminar today (Nov. 8) at 4 p.m. in the Minerals and Materials Engineering Building (M&M), Room U113.

Lee’s presentation is titled “NOAA in the Great Lakes.”

This seminar is sponsored by the Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences Institute (EPSSI) and the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering (CEGE).

Read the abstract at the University Events Calendar.

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Interactive Workshop: Prototype Your Innovation

How do you communicate an innovative idea with stakeholders? The more you can demonstrate how your innovation works, the better your understanding of the solution and the more informative feedback will be.

Join us for an interactive workshop held in the Alley Makerspace (MUB basement) in which you will prototype your innovation and test it for "customer" feedback. Prototyping can range from simple to complex. We will focus on building a mockup of your idea so you can present it and gather feedback. This feedback will inform your next design iteration and help you to tailor your solution to your end-user’s needs.

Join us Thursday (Nov. 11) from 5:30-7 p.m. Register to attend, and we will follow up with a Google Calendar invite.

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Lauren Spahn to Present at AIChE Annual Meeting

Undergraduate chemical engineering student Lauren Spahn's abstract was accepted for presentation at the 2021 American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) Undergraduate Student Poster Session. 

Spahn's abstract, titled "Optimization of Lignin Precipitation with Functional Group Control for Use in Bio-Based Polyurethane Foams," will be part of the Materials Engineering and Sciences session today (Nov. 8) during the 2021 AIChE Annual Meeting, which is being held in Boston this week (Nov. 7-11) and virtually from Nov. 15-19.

The AIChE Annual Meeting is the forum for ChEs interested in innovation and professional growth. Experts will cover wide range of topics relevant to cutting-edge research, new technologies, and emerging areas in the field. This year's topic is "Building the Bridge in 21st Century Education."

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Fidelity Virtual Retirement Counseling Sessions Available

Fidelity is offering phone or virtual retirement counseling sessions on the following days:

• Tuesday, Nov. 9
• Wednesday, Nov. 10
• Tuesday, Nov. 16

To schedule an appointment with Fidelity, call 800-642-7131 or book an appointment online.

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Freedom Week at Michigan Tech

Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) is hosting the following events for Freedom Week (Nov. 8-13):

• Gray Colors of Socialism in Poland: Personal Experiences 
  Monday, Nov. 8, at 7:30 p.m. — Fisher Hall, Room 135
  Jarek Drelich (MSE) will share his personal experience growing up in socialist Poland.
  
  
• Celebrating the Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall
  Tuesday, Nov. 9, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. — Walker Lawn
  
  
• Celebrating Our Veterans
  Thursday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m. — Fisher Hall, Room 135
  Speakers will be retired Sgt. John M Weirauch (U.S. Air Force), retired 
  Capt. Michelle Kovachich (U.S. Army) and retired Sgt. 1st Class Jon French (U.S. Army).

Please join us in celebrating our freedom.

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Summer Youth Programs is Hiring!

Summer Youth Programs (SYP) are weeklong programs that blend hands-on experiential learning with exploration of the local area. SYP sees an average of 1,100 participants for the 65-plus educational programs offered each year.

We're looking for passionate individuals who enjoy working with youth and want to inspire the next generation of makers and doers. Each year we hire 50-plus undergraduate and graduate students for a variety of roles that offer a rewarding experience that builds leadership and other critical interpersonal skills.

If you or someone you know are interested in learning more about being a member of the SYP team, we encourage you to attend our hiring sessions or email us at outreach@mtu.edu. 

Hiring Information Session Dates:

• Thursday, Nov. 11 — 6 p.m. in the MUB Alumni Lounge
• Thursday, Jan. 20 — 6 p.m. in the MUB Alumni Lounge

You can also visit our website to learn more about the positions offered.

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Innovators in Industry: 'Entrepreneurship, Startups, and Venture Capital'

The final session in the kickoff series for Innovators in Industry will take place tonight (Nov. 8) at 7 p.m. via Zoom. Titled “Entrepreneurship, Startups, and Venture Capital,” the session will be hosted by the College of Business. Featured alumni will make short presentations with time for Q&A from the audience.

Innovators in Industry aims to give students direct access to industry experts, leaders and influencers to help shape their paths. Featured alumni for the session are:

• Kanwal Rekhi ’69, managing director of Inventus Capital Partners.
• John Rockwell ’79, president, CEO and director of Accelergy Corp.
• Chang Park ’73, president, CEO and founder of Universal Remote Control Inc.
• Rebecca Ufkes ’87, president of Ufkes Holdings.

Innovators in Industry virtual sessions are open to all Michigan Tech students, faculty, staff and alumni. Join tonight’s session via Zoom.

Read the bios of Monday’s presenters on the College of Business Newsblog.

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Applied Cognitive Science and Human Factors Forum

At the next Applied Cognitive Science and Human Factors (ACSHF) Forum, the Department of Cognitive and Learning Sciences will host ACSHF Ph.D. student speakers Anne Inger Mørtvedt and Lamia Alam.

Their presentations are titled "Information usability evaluation to increase implementation of injury prevention training in sports" and "Assessing cognitive empathy elements within the context of diagnostic AI chatbots."

The forum will take place from 2-3 p.m. today (Nov. 8) in the Harold Meese Center (Meese), Room 109, and virtually via Zoom.

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

The Misinformation Edition Exhibition

Monday, November 8, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. | J. Robert Van Pelt and John and Ruanne Opie Library

Glass Room: Misinformation Edition explores how social media and the web have changed the way we read information and react to it. It exposes new types of influencers, the new...

Master's Defense: Lindsey Dolinski

Monday, November 8, 8:30–9:30 a.m.

Applied Ecology Advisor: Sigrid Resh Assessing the Impacts of Native Wood Decomposing Fungi on Regrowth of Invasive Buckthorns in Keweenaw Forests Attend Virtually:...

Biocomputing and Digital Health Lecture Series: Chen Zhao, MS (CsE)

Monday, November 8, 12 p.m.–1 p.m. | Rekhi Hall, 214

The ICC's Joint Center for Biocomputing and Digital Health will present a lecture on Monday, November 8, 12:00 to 1:00 p.m., in Rehki Hall, Room 214. Chen Zhao, MS (CsE), will...

EPSSI Seminar: Deborah Lee, Director, NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory

Monday, November 8, 4 p.m.–5 p.m. | Minerals and Materials Engineering Building (M&M), U113

A Joint EPSSI/Environmental Engineering Graduate Seminar NOAA in the Great Lakes The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Great Lake Environmental...

Strength Training and High Intensity Interval Training ("HIIT")

Monday, November 8, 5:30 p.m.–6:15 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...

Manned Mars Missions: New Materials

Monday, November 8, 6 p.m.

Husky Bites presents Special Guest Greg Odegard John O. Hallquist Endowed Chair in Computational Mechanics, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics Michigan...

Open Rock Climbing

Monday, November 8, 6 p.m.–8 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Multipurpose Room Climbing Wall

All ages (we can allow all ages to climb as long as we have the proper fitting equipment). No need to sign up, just stop by the Climbing Wall between 6 and 8 pm Monday through...

Milwaukee Area Michigan Tech Night

Monday, November 8, 6:30 p.m.–8:00 p.m. | Terrace 167 3210 Wis. Hwy. 167 Richfield, WI 53076

Huskies are coming to the Milwaukee area! Join us to hear about Michigan Technological University through student stories and experiences at a Michigan Tech Night near you....

Freedom Week Personal Experiences Growing up in Socialist Poland Jarek Drelich, PhD

Monday, November 8, 7:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m. | Fisher 135

Hear from Jarek Drelich a professor in Materials Science and Engineering about his personal experiences growing up in socialist Poland.