April 20, 2022

Michigan Tech's 22nd Design Expo will be held in person from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. tomorrow (April 21) on the first floor of the Van Pelt and Opie Library, and we hope to see you there!

More than a thousand students in the Enterprise and Senior/Capstone Design programs will come together to showcase their hard work and compete for awards.

Afterward, a social hour and awards ceremony will follow at the Rozsa Center, from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Everyone is welcome at both events.

For a full schedule, please visit the Design Expo website.

On May 3, starting at 8 p.m., Michigan Tech IT will be updating campus network switches.

These updates will result in approximately one hour of downtime for network, phones and Wi-Fi in all buildings across campus, including Ford Forestry Center. Timing will vary, as buildings are updated a few at a time. MTRI will not be affected by this update and will have network downtime scheduled at a later date.

If you have any questions or concerns, we can help. Contact us at it-help@mtu.edu or call 7-1111.

The College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science (CFRES) and the Peter Wolfe Chapter of the North Country Trail (NCT) are hosting two special guest speakers at Michigan Tech on Earth Day (this Friday, April 22).  

Long-distance hikers "Constantine" and "Magpie" recently through-hiked the entire NCT, from Vermont to North Dakota — over 4,800 miles — in just over seven months. They did it in record time and attained a fast known time. Join us Friday and learn more about their adventures on the trail.

We will be meeting in person in Noblet G002 and virtually via Zoom (use passcode NCT0422). A pre-presentation social will begin at 6:30 p.m., and Constantine and Magpie will join us via Zoom at 7 p.m.

This meeting will also provide the opportunity to learn more about the Peter Wolfe Chapter, becoming a member, joining one of the chapter's group hikes and helping them maintain nearly 120 miles of NCT in Houghton, Baraga and Ontonagon counties. All are welcome. Refreshments will be served.

For more information, contact the Peter Wolfe Chapter at pwc@northcountrytrail.org.

Want to know more about Enbridge Energy's operation of the Line 5 Pipeline under the Straits of Mackinac? Curious how many Upper Peninsula homes and businesses are supplied with propane by Line 5, and whether other propane sources and providers exist?

Join us from 6-7 p.m. tomorrow (April 21) for a public forum with members of the Lansing Climate Reality Chapter and Line 5 activists Art Hirsch and Susan Holcombe, as well as MTU alumnus Gary Street, who will dive into the history of Line 5, the current status of Line 5, and how Line 5 affects the U.P.

Presenters will be tuning in virtually. Participants can attend in person in Fisher 138 or virtually via Zoom (use meeting ID 81094555102).

Last week, four Michigan Tech teams pitched their idea during the virtual New Venture qualifying rounds and made it to the finals! These Michigan Tech innovators will take their pitch on the road to compete in person at Central Michigan University in the New Venture Challenge (NVC), being held from 2-8 p.m. Friday (April 22).

This is the 12th year Michigan Tech has collaborated with CMU to offer our students the opportunity to compete at the New Venture Challenge in Mount Pleasant. Students may compete in either the two-minute elevator pitch competition or the seven-minute business model competition, as well as a gallery competition.

Qualifying in the Two-Minute Pitch competition:

• Jakob Christiansen with ProBoard, an e-commerce platform to solve issues in the construction material supply chain.

Qualifying in the Seven-Minute Pitch competition:

• Bayle Golden with SafeRow, an innovative wearable device designed to keep children safe when every second counts.
• Rourke Sylvain with imi (integrated molecular innovations), an electrochemical biosensor for T4 detection.
• Jordan Craven with Tall and Small Designs, a technology company that provides software as a service to retailers who sell clothes online.

The competitions offer over $60,000 in prizes and in-kind services. The awards ceremony begins at 7 p.m. and will be livestreamed.

The next speaker in the Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics (ME-EM) Graduate Seminar Series will present at 4 p.m. tomorrow (April 21) in MEEM 112.

Franck Vernerey will present “Collective behavior of active matter: the curious case of fire ant rafts.”

Vernerey is a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Colorado, Boulder. His interests are in developing statistical mechanics approaches to understand the emerging response of soft biological and bio-inspired networks based on the physical interactions between their building blocks.

There aren't any matches scheduled for this week.

CSGO starts back up next week in ESEA S41 IM. Rocket League A has postseason matches remaining in the UGC tournament, schedule TBD.

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Esports News
Read more MTU Esports news in Assistant Esports Director Chris Gelety's weekly update.

A Michigan Tech News story about record undergraduate applications to the University for fall 2022 was picked up by MLive.

Dennis Livesay (CC) and John Lehman (URE) were quoted in the story.

Adam Wellstead (SS) is a co-author of a handbook chapter published in Research Handbook of Policy Design.

The chapter is titled "Fourth Industrial Revolution and algorithms: new challenges for policy design."

Tanya Heikkila  of the University of Colorado-Denver and Matthew Wood  of the University of Sheffield are also co-authors.

According to the authors: "In this chapter we identify several key themes and research topics that merit more systematic research around algorithmic policy making. In particular, we offer examples of how algorithms are used in policy tools, such as nudging and co-design, as well as the potential impacts of algorithms on policy design processes, including policy labs, collaborative processes and learning. Additionally, we discuss how these algorithm-based policy tools and processes can shape key policy outcomes such as trust and public value, and the implications for policy design scholarship."

Ricardo Eiris (CEGE/MTTI) is the principal investigator on a project that has received a $29,810 research and development grant from the Center for Construction Research and Training.

The project is titled "Using Immersive Storytelling to Create Engagement and Motivation During Fall Prevention Training."

Talk: 'Transgender Athletes in Sporting Spaces'

At noon today (April 20) in Admin 404, Tamar Z. Semerjian will give a collaborative talk on the evolution of transgender inclusivity in sporting spaces.

The talk is titled "Transgender Athletes in Sporting Spaces."

Semerjian is chair of the Department of Kinesiology at San Jose State University. She teaches courses in sport psychology, research methods, stress management and cultural studies of sport. Her research has included work with older adults, individuals with spinal cord injury and transgender athletes. She is primarily concerned with the exercise experiences of marginalized populations, with attention to issues of motivation and increase access and adherence to exercise. Her published work has appeared in Spinal Cord, The Sport Psychologist, Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, and Women’s Sport and Physical Activity Journal.

This talk is co-sponsored by the Graduate School and the Department of Social Sciences, as well as the Office of the Provost from the state of Michigan King-Chávez-Parks Visiting Professors Program.

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Sustainability Film Discussion: 'OWN: Land. Home. Block.'

The film discussed this month for the 2022 Sustainability Film Series will be "OWN: Land. Home. Block."

The film is a three-part documentary addressing food insecurity and home ownership in North Memphis, Tennessee, and how a community has developed positive solutions to pressing urban problems. The film is free on YouTube, and there is no charge to participate in the discussion. A $5 suggested donation per film to support the film series is appreciated. Make your donation online.

Register to receive the Zoom link to participate in the facilitated discussion from 7-8 p.m. tomorrow (April 21). 

Discussion Facilitators
The discussion will be led by Memphians Erin Burton Cole and Vivian Ekstrom, who have returned to their hometowns to work with the City of Memphis and Shelby County Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) to create solutions.

Burton Cole is a writer, performer and filmmaker. She is the founder and artistic director of Art With A Heartbeat, a company helping people and organizations bring important messages on difficult topics to life. She has written or directed four short films, the "OWN" docuseries, the full-length play "Ricochet," and more than 20 short plays to introduce critical conversations led by activists and psychologists. Recently named "a local playwright you should know" by the Daily Memphian, Burton Cole works diligently to tell the stories that help people see themselves, desire change, and simultaneously transform communities.

Ekstrom is the chief sustainability officer for the City of Memphis and Shelby County Community Redevelopment Agency. She has over 10 years of experience as an urban and sustainability planner. She works on innovative solutions to tackle blight and disinvestment, and encourage quality, affordable housing and sustainable new development. In addition, Ekstrom managed the development of Memphis’ first climate action plan and contributed to land use planning and climate resilience projects.

Film Series
The Sustainability Film Series and Facilitated Discussions are cosponsored by MTU's Sustainability Demonstration House; Great Lakes Research Center; College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science; Department of Social Sciences Sustainability Sciences Program; Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering; and Students for Sustainability. Cosponsors outside MTU include the Friends of the Land of Keweenaw, Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative, Keweenaw Land Trust, Keweenaw Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, and Refill UP.

Questions? Contact film series coordinator Joan Chadde at jchadde@mtu.edu.

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Board of Trustees Formal Session

The Board of Trustees will meet April 29 from 9-11 a.m. in the Memorial Union Ballroom B, and public attendance is welcome.

Members of the public are invited to make public comments to the Board in accordance with the Board of Trustees Bylaw 1.14. Those who wish to address items in the agenda, and who have filed their intent with the secretary of the board as required by Bylaw 1.14, will be limited to five minutes. Those addressing general topics are limited to three minutes.

If you wish to provide public comments to the Board of Trustees, please submit your intent to Sarah Schulte, secretary to the Board of Trustees, at shschult@mtu.edu. The deadline to submit your intent is Friday (April 22).

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Parenting All Rainbow Kids

Parenting All Rainbow Kids (PARK) is meeting at 12:30 p.m. today (April 20) via Zoom. Everyone is welcome.

PARK is a faculty/staff-led group for the parents/guardians of LGBTQIA* youth. PARK aims to offer group members a confidential, supportive community where we can learn and grow as parents/guardians together. Community members are welcome.

During spring 2022, meetings will be held from 12:30-1:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month.

For questions, concerns or Zoom info, contact Michelle Jarvie-Eggart at mejarvie@mtu.edu or Amber Kemppainen at amber@mtu.edu.

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Retirement Party for William Predebon

Please join Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics (ME-EM) faculty, staff, emeriti and families in celebrating the retirement of William W. Predebon with drinks and hors d'oeuvres from 4-7 p.m. May 13 in the Rozsa Lobby.

Predebon has dedicated over 45 years of teaching, research and service to the ME-EM department — including 25 years in the role of department chair.

If you plan on attending, please RSVP to Jade Driscoll at jdriscol@mtu.edu or 906-487-2810. The RSVP deadline is 5 p.m. tomorrow (April 21). Please be sure to include whether any guests will be accompanying you.

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Public Safety Values at Michigan Tech

Michigan Tech is a leader in developing technological solutions worldwide, but our best endeavors can only take place in a safe community. Safety is not simply about being safe, but feeling safe. Crime statistics alone do not indicate the factors that contribute to an environment that feels safe for everyone. To help address this need, Michigan Tech’s Department of Public Safety and Police Services has issued a Mission, Values, and Vision statement. It revolves around five points:

• Every life is precious.
• Democratic values apply to all.
• Every person has individual, equal value.
• Ethics and integrity are the foundations of law enforcement.
• Cooperative community partnerships are the key to a tranquil and safe environment.

The Office of the Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion and the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Sense of Belonging (DEIS) Positive Action Team applaud these values because they clearly communicate that DEIS is a core concern for the department in promoting a tranquil and safe environment for everyone. Together with MTU Public Safety and Police Services, we are sharing this information to indicate our mutual commitment to these values and our collaboration to promote them at Michigan Tech.

Police Chief Brian Cadwell has also made a personal statement on his commitment to these values. Michigan Tech community members are welcome to schedule an appointment for Coffee with the Chief for a one-on-one conversation to discuss any issue related to public safety at Michigan Tech.

We recognize that some communities across the United States do not enjoy optimal relationships with their police departments. At Michigan Tech, we are committed to a positive relationship with Public Safety and Police Services across our community for the benefit of everyone.

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Teal Ribbons

Wednesday, April 20, 12:00 a.m.–11:45 p.m. | Campus!

Have you seen teal ribbons? Help raise awareness for Sexual Assault Awareness Month by scanning the QR code and participating in SAVE and Title IX's Octopi project and get the...

Perpetual Motion Machine

Wednesday, April 20, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. | Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts, Gallery B

An exhibition of independent works by Michigan Tech Advanced Sculpture students Lily Kosaka, Frida Visser, Maisie Whitaker, Madi Wentela, Megan Cole, and Madalyn...

Husky Happy Hour - Appleton, WI

Wednesday, April 20, 6 p.m.–8 p.m. | Appleton Beer Factory

Enjoy an informal evening out and network with fellow Michigan Tech alumni and friends in the Appleton, WI area! The event will be held at the Appleton Beer Factory on...

Monthly General Meeting _ Spring 2022

Wednesday, April 20, 6 p.m.–7 p.m. | Chem Sci. 211

Hi folks, This mail serves to notify us that we will be having our monthly general meeting on the last Wednesday of the month 6 - 7 PM at Chem Sci. 211 or via Zoom. Feel...

Open Rock Climbing

Wednesday, April 20, 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...

USG Weekly Meeting

Wednesday, April 20, 7 p.m.–9 p.m. | MUB Alumni Lounge - 107 B&C

This meeting includes weekly updates from all representatives, liaison positions, and committees. Official business carried out by USG is conducted throughout old and new...

Huskies Out of Hibernation Virtual 5k

April 20, all day

Sign up for the 5k before the end of March 30th on https://runsignup.com/Race/MI/Houghton/HuskiesOutofHibernation. The registration fee is $20 and comes with a 5k t-shirt!...