April 22, 2022

An NSF-funded project is seeking your input in developing rural hazard resilience tools. The focus of this project is to help Houghton and Baraga counties enhance flood disaster resilience. You can participate in three ways:

1. Complete the 2022 MTU Community Resilience Survey.
   Through this survey, we are seeking information on your perspective on community resilience and associated indicators. The survey takes about eight minutes to complete.
   
   
2. Upload flood photos from Houghton and Baraga counties.
   Do you have photographs from the 2018 Father's Day flood or any other flooding in the past in our community? If you would share those photos, they could be valuable input for improving the flood models for our area.
   
   
3. Like and share the project on social media platforms.
   We would appreciate your help in spreading the word on this project in the community. Please like and share the project on these social media platforms:
   • Facebook
   • Instagram
   • Twitter

A production system maintenance window will take place from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday (April 24). The following production services will be unavailable during that time:

Fischer/mylogin.mtu.edu
Housing Apartments Wait List
mtu.edu/tips
Papercut Printing
Perceptive Content (Imagenow)
Pinnacle
Sunapsis
Virtual Cashiering

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

The deadline for applications for the Songer Research Awards in Human Health has been extended to May 6.

These awards provide support for undergraduates ($4,000) or graduate students ($6,000) in the College of Sciences and Arts to pursue research projects related to human health.

Find more information on the College of Sciences and Arts Newsblog.

As the semester comes to an end, Graduate Student Government (GSG) would like to invite faculty, staff and graduate students to relax with the Graduate School and the GSG in the MUB Commons from 5-7 p.m. today (April 22).

Unwind this afternoon with your colleagues from across campus at our final social event for this academic year. Enjoy free food and beverages — come and hang out with us!

A common problem on college campuses is that the people who most often choose to participate in workshops, trainings, committees, mentorships and other programs aimed at improving diversity, equity, inclusion and sense of belonging (DEIS) are those same people who are already committed to such efforts. So, participants can feel they’re in an echo chamber, while those who know the least about campus inequalities, how they play out, how they themselves might be contributing to problems or how to improve inclusion are the least likely to participate. Recognizing that DEIS impacts all of us and is everyone’s responsibility, some universities are beginning to require that all faculty contribute to DEIS in some capacity.

As described in this Inside Higher Ed article, the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana recently announced they will require all faculty members to submit statements on diversity contributions in promotion and tenure decisions. The goals are to provide a clear place for recognizing DEIS work in the promotion and tenure process and to incentivize faculty across campus to contribute to campus diversity efforts in some way. The various ways faculty might contribute are flexible: through teaching, research or service, in order to make academia more welcoming, inclusive and supportive of all students, faculty and staff. How might Michigan Tech recognize and incentivize faculty efforts to promote DEIS?

Today’s feature was shared with us by the Advocates and Allies Advisory Board. If you have an article you think we should feature, please email it to advance-mtu@mtu.edu and we will consider adding it to the ADVANCE Weekly Roundup.

The ADVANCE Weekly Roundup is brought to you by ADVANCE at Michigan Tech, an NSF-funded initiative dedicated to improving faculty career success, retention, diversity, equity and inclusion. Past articles are available on the ADVANCE Newsblog.

To learn more about our featured topic, our mission, programming efforts, and to check out our growing collection of resources, contact us or visit our website.

The Department of Social Sciences (SS) has recognized four undergraduate students for excellence in academics, research and community engagement in the 2021-22 academic year.

• Outstanding Senior: Madelina Dilisi, Sustainability Science and Society, for excellence in a wide range of coursework and research activities.
• Undergraduate Research Award: Erin Doran, Sustainability Science and Society, for outstanding achievement in faculty-mentored research.
• Community-Based Research Award: Savannah Obert-Pfeiffer, Sustainability Science and Society, and Maya Klanderman, Sustainability Science and Society, for excellence in academic research that engages with and contributes to our local and regional community.

Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics candidate Karrar Takleef Alofari will defend their doctoral dissertation at 2 p.m. Monday (April 25) in person in MEEM 1021 and virtually via Zoom.

Takleef Alofari's defense is titled "Permeability, Structural Changes, Flow Regime Transition and Trapped Saturation in Porous Media with Application to Fuel Cell Catalyst Layer."

Takleef Alofari is advised by Jeff Allen and Ezequiel Medici.

The Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering (CEGE) is pleased to invite the University community to attend our spring 2022 Senior Design team presentations.

Presentations will run from 8 a.m. to noon next Friday (April 29) in EERC 103, Dow 641 and Dow 642.

Find more CEGE Senior Design Colloquium information — and Zoom links if you'd like to participate virtually — on the CEGE Undergraduate Advising Blog.

The Department of Biomedical Engineering (BioMed) will host a graduate student seminar at 3 p.m. today (April 22) in M&M U115.

Maria Kwesiga (BioMed) will present "The Interplay of Degradable Magnesium Materials, Immune Cell Survivability, and Inflammatory Microenvironments."

Read the abstract on the University Events Calendar.

The Michigan Tech volleyball team honored five Huskies with its annual team awards.

• Laura De Marchi was named the Most Valuable Player.
• Carissa Beyer received the Digger Award.
• Lindy Oujiri was honored with the Scholastic Achievement Award.
• Olivia Ghormley took home the Harold Meese Sportsmanship Award.
• Morgan Radtke was named the Most Improved Player.

Read more at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

Val Gagnon (CFRES) and Chelsea Schelly (SS/CFRES) are co-authors of an article published in a special issue of Socio-Ecological Practice Research.

The article, titled "Enacting boundaries or building bridges? Language and engagement in food‑energy‑water systems science," is open access. A PDF is  available for download. 

Also listed as co-authors are William Lytle, Andrew Kliskey, Virginia Dale, Anna‑Maria Marshall, Luis Rodriguez, Paula Williams, Michael Waasegiizhig Price, Elizabeth Redd and Margaret Noodin.

Annual Power Outage

Michigan Tech's annual power outage will be conducted in two stages across three days: May 4, 5 and 6. Times and buildings affected are listed below.

Facilities Management has developed a five-year rotating plan to service the 12,470-volt switchgear and associated breakers on campus. Our campus electrical distribution system depends on this gear being in good working condition. 

This work requires a two-night power outage that affects the least number of buildings possible. Please note that in most cases, elevators, fume hoods, exhaust fans, ventilation equipment, normal lighting, plug-in appliances and plug-in equipment will not operate during the outage.

Only items connected to the building emergency generator will have power during the outage; the building emergency generators and battery systems that supply power to emergency/egress lighting and special equipment should function as normal.

If you are unsure if your equipment connects to the building emergency generator, please contact the Facilities Management building mechanic for your building.

Information Technology will be turning off all network equipment in the affected buildings for these outages starting at 5 p.m. You should plan to save any work, shut down your computer systems and exit the buildings before the outages. Additionally, some buildings with power will be without phone or internet service.

Only the buildings listed will have their power shut off during the scheduled outages.

There will be two power outages:

• Power Outage One — 
  • Begins: Wednesday, May 4, at 6 p.m.
  • Ends: Thursday, May 5, at 6 a.m.
    
    
• Power Outage Two —
  • Begins: Thursday, May 5, at 6 p.m.
  • Ends: Friday, May 6, at 6 a.m.

Buildings affected:
Academic Office Building
Alumni House
Annex
Center for Diversity and Inclusion (Hamar House)
Dillman
Fisher
Forestry
M&M
M&M - Undergrad
ME-EM
Rekhi
ROTC

Buildings with power but no phone or internet:
EMS/SLS Garage
Gates Tennis Center
Little Huskies
U.S. Forest Service Labs

You can find more details and updates on the Facilities Management website. If you have questions or concerns with this plan, contact Energy Management or Facilities Management at 7-2303.

*****

Finals Week with the Library

The end of the semester often comes with a lot of stress. The library wants to help! Along with campus partners, we are planning things to help ease that stress, encourage much-needed breaks and help you ace your exams.

• Stress Free Finals Massages — Center for Student Mental Health and Well-being, Library 103 and Staff Lounge (first floor)
  Saturday, April 23, 1-5 p.m.
  Melt away the stress of finals week — no appointment needed!
  
  
• Pet Therapy — Center for Student Mental Health and Well-being, Main Exhibit Hallway (first floor)
  Sunday, April 24, 1-3 p.m.
  Spend time with trained therapy dogs for adorable de-stressing. 
  
  
• Pancake Breakfast — Library Café
  Sunday, April 24, 7-10 p.m.
  Up late studying? Grab some pancakes and bacon served up by the university administrators.
  
  
• Snack Attacks — Student Mental Health and Well-being, Library
  Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, April 25, 26, 27, after 6 p.m.
  Stay fueled up during the final push with free snacks.

All Week

• See Your Pets While You Study!
  We’re compiling your pet photo submissions into a slideshow that will run on the library TVs during finals week.
  
  
• Brain Break Stations — First and Second Floors
  Give your brain some time off with games, coloring and other odds and ends to fidget with. 
  
  
• VPOL Unplugged Space — East Reading Room
  Take a calm and quiet break from your screens and papers while relaxing in our comfiest chairs. 

*****

Earth Day North Country Trail Speakers

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 (today, 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 tonight 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.

*****

Student Innovators Qualify for New Venture Challenge

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 are taking 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. today (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.

*****

Earth Day Dinner

Join us for the second annual Earth Day Dinner! From 4-7 p.m. on Earth Day (today, April 22), 90% of the food served in the McNair Dining Hall will be plant-based and 100% of the food and paper waste generated at the dinner will be diverted from the landfill.

Some menu items include:

• Buffalo Chickpea Quesadillas
• Red Lentil Curry
• Portabella Mushroom Burgers

Wads will have more plant-based options and a waste diversion station.

Everyone is welcome! Students with meal plans will be donating extra guest passes so off-campus students, staff and faculty can attend the dinner without cost.

*****

Customer Appreciation Sale

Spring will soon be here and it's once again time for the Michigan Tech Campus Store and University Images Customer Appreciation Sale.

Visit us in person or at our website today (April 22). All Michigan Tech branded apparel and souvenirs will be 25% off, as well as our local and regional items.

If ordering online and selecting in-store pickup at checkout, we’ll contact you when your order is ready!

The Campus Store is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. University Images is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Stop in today for the Campus Store and University Images Customer Appreciation Sale. We'll see you soon!

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

Teal Ribbons

Friday, April 22, 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

Friday, April 22, 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...

Dielectrophoresis for Selective Bioparticle Manipulation in Sample Preparation and Nanomanufacturing

Friday, April 22, 10 a.m. | Chemical Sciences and Engineering Building, 201

Chemical Engineering Research Seminar Rodrigo Martinez-Duarte, PhD Associate Professor, Multiscale Manufacturing Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering Clemson...

PhD Defense: Morteza Shaker Ardakani

Friday, April 22, 1 p.m.–2 p.m. | Minerals and Materials Engineering Building (M&M), 610

Materials Science and Engineering Co-advisors: Stephen Kampe and Jaroslaw Drelich Engineering Mechanically-Stable Zinc-Based Alloys for Medical Implants Attend Virtually:...

Robust Preconditioners for Mixed-Dimensional Problems

Friday, April 22, 1 p.m.–2 p.m.

Abstract: Mixed-dimensional partial differential equations arise in many physical applications, such as flow in fractured porous media and flow in vascularized brain tissue....

The Interplay of Degradable Magnesium Materials, Immune Cell Survivability, and Inflammatory Microenvironments

Friday, April 22, 3 p.m. | Minerals and Materials Engineering Building (M&M), U115

Biomedical Engineering Graduate Student Seminar Dr. Maria Kwesiga Michigan Tech University Biomedical Engineering Abstract Degradable metal candidates for cardiovascular...

Last Friday Social

Friday, April 22, 5 p.m.–7 p.m. | Graduate Commons

Dear Huskies, with the Spring semester coming to an end, exams on the way and some assignments still due, take a break and lets meet up and celebrate the end of another...

Earth Day - North Country Trail annual meeting

Friday, April 22, 6:30 p.m.–9:00 p.m. | Colllege of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, G002

The Peter Wolfe Chapter of the NCT will host their annual meeting on Friday, April 22 (Earth Day) In G002 of the College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science.. We...