July 6, 2022

“How do scientists investigate the health of Lake Superior?” is the focus of free scientific excursions being offered aboard Michigan Tech’s research vessel, Agassiz, at the Strawberry Festival in Chassell from 12:30-6 p.m. Saturday (July 9).

Excursions will depart from the Chassell Marina at 12:30, 1:15, 2:00, 2:45, 3:30, 4:15 and 5 p.m. 

The public is invited to reserve a space ahead of time or come to the Chassell Marina dock Saturday to get on the list. Each excursion has room for 18 participants. Spaces go quickly! Half of the available spaces will be saved for walk-up participants.

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.

Children must be at least 7 years of age. All youth younger than 15 years need to be accompanied by an adult. Life jackets are available for all passengers. All passengers must wear closed-toe shoes.

“Residents and visitors are invited to learn how scientists study the Great Lakes and which measurements indicate a healthy lake,” said Joan Chadde, director of the Center for Science and Environmental Outreach, who has coordinated this program as part of Strawberry Festival since 2006. “These scientific excursions for the public are extremely popular. Youth and adults enjoy the opportunity to interact with Great Lakes scientists and get their questions answered.”

For more information on the scientific excursions aboard MTU’s Agassiz at the Strawberry Festival, contact Chadde at 906-487-3341 or jchadde@mtu.edu.

The Agassiz is funded by GM’s 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 promotes Great Lakes stewardship. Additional financial support for the Agassiz at the Strawberry Festival is provided by the Chassell Lions Club.

We are thrilled to announce that the Grad Commons will open its door to all the graduate students starting Friday (July 8).

To get together and celebrate this historic event, Graduate Student Government (GSG) is hosting a housewarming party at 5 p.m. Friday at the Grad Commons.

Come join us for an evening of food, music and fun. Check out the new space and see what it has to offer.

We hope to see you there!

Ph.D. in Environment Engineering students Rose Daily and Benjamin Barrios traveled to St. Louis with their advisor, Daisuke Minakata (CEGE), to attend and present their research findings at the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (AEESP) Conference.

Daily gave her podium presentation about advanced reduction technology for the remediation of organic contaminants in water including per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Barrios presented a poster about an aquatic photochemistry project supported by the National Science Foundation.

Will Cantrell (Physics/EPSSI) was quoted in an AskByGeeks story about Seattle-based EverCase’s new device for subzero food preservation. The system uses electric and magnetic fields to prevent the water in food from forming ice crystals.

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Andrew Storer was quoted by the Daily Mining Gazette in a story about efforts to prevent the tearing down of the sawmill at the Ford Forestry Center in Alberta. 

The Mining Gazette also published a story on the history of the sawmill, referencing a 2016 Michigan Tech Magazine story and information from the Michigan Tech Archives.

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Ph.D. student Don Lee (environmental and energy policy) was quoted by the Daily Mining Gazette in a story about Michigan Tech Summer Youth Programs students’ recent trip to the Quincy Mine, where they learned about lava flows and 19th century mining. 

Lee led the students on the mine tour as part of their climate sustainability SYP exploration.

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A presentation by Richelle Winkler (SS) and Ph.D. student Julia Petersen (environmental and energy policy) at the InvestUP Summit, held in Marquette in May, was mentioned by the Iron Mountain Daily News.

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WJMN Local 3 mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about recreational activities and destinations in Chassell. 

According to the story, a Michigan Tech industrial archaeology graduate student and MTU art and design students will help Chassell implement a planned historic interpretive trail at the operating site of the first Sturgeon River Lumber Company.

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The Chicago Tribune mentioned the Pavement Surface Evaluation and Rating system devised by Michigan Tech in a story about road projects in Illinois’ Porter County.

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Michigan Tech was mentioned by The Ticker in a story about a prospective freshwater research facility located in Traverse City.

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WOOD TV8 mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s expansion of a program to repave roadways using recycled tire materials.

PhD Defense: Sagar Patil, ME-EM

Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics candidate Sagar Patil will present their doctoral defense at 10 a.m. today (July 6) in person in MEEM 1021. 

Patil's defense is titled "Molecular Modeling of High-Performance Polymers."

Patil is advised by Greg Odegard and Susanta Ghosh.

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PhD Defense: Sagar Umesh Patil

Wednesday, July 6, 10–11 a.m. | R. L. Smith Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics Building (MEEM), 1021

Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics Co-advisors: Gregory Odegard and Susanta Ghosh Molecular Modeling of High-Performance Polymers Attend Virtually:...