August 9, 2022

Researchers say it’s time to write a new chapter in mining history — a story that honors heritage, mitigates hazards and creates stable power grids that benefit host communities.

Pumped hydroelectric storage isn’t new. Putting closed-loop systems in old mines is. A new comprehensive initiative from Michigan Tech's Keweenaw Energy Transition Lab (KETL) finds the power in heritage, slaying two grand challenges with a single elegant solution: PUSH, or pumped underground storage hydro. Now, other countries are exploring this global-first closed-loop underground energy storage system to help solve the problems of abandoned mines and reliance on fossil energy.

Roman Sidortsov and Timothy Scarlett (SS) co-authored KETL's recently released technical report, “PUSHing for Storage, A Case for Repurposing Decommissioned Mines for Pumped Underground Storage Hydro.” In this Q&A, they share the scope and promise of transforming decommissioned metallic mines into reliable power storage and generation centers. The potential is profound, dovetailing with the nation’s increased focus on infrastructure and the world’s urgent quest for reliable and affordable energy.

Read the full Q&A at Michigan Tech News.

Career Services is coordinating an On-Campus Jobs Expo that will be held Aug. 31 from 12-3 p.m. If you need assistance posting an on-campus position on Handshake, Career Services is here to help. If you wish to participate in the On-Campus Jobs Expo, please contact Amanda Hagerl, coordinator of Career Development and Programming, at aehagerl@mtu.edu.

On-campus jobs provide opportunities for Michigan Tech students. A part-time job offers income to students who need it and is an important co-curricular opportunity. As a co-curricular opportunity, on-campus work can lead to internships and co-ops, opening the door to full-time offers immediately after graduation. It can also help a student establish a strong foundation for research that leads to enhanced graduate school opportunities.

Michigan Tech alumna Jessica Thoresen Thompson ’12 has been selected by the Delta Zeta Sorority as a 2022 recipient of the 35 Under 35 Award. The award highlights outstanding young Delta Zeta alumnae who have achieved success by making a significant impact in their industry before the age of 35.

Alumnae receiving this national recognition have demonstrated leadership, initiative and dedication to their careers; are motivated by challenges; serve as volunteers in their communities; and are role models for their peers.

Thompson joined Delta Zeta's Lambda Theta Chapter at Michigan Tech as an undergraduate. After earning her B.S. in Biological Sciences at Tech, she went on to receive a medical degree from the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine in 2016. She is a clinical instructor with the surgical oncology division of the Department of Surgery at Michigan Medicine.

According to her Michigan Medicine profile, Thompson completed her general surgery residency training at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids in 2021 and is pursuing specialized training in breast cancer care and surgery as the 2021-22 Polly Cheung Breast Surgical Oncology Fellow at the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center.

Read a Q&A with Thompson in her 35 Under 35 profile.

The Diversity Literacy Online Workshop (DLOW) is part of Michigan Tech's ongoing commitment to faculty diversity in building a supportive campus climate. Successful completion of the DLOW is required to serve on faculty hiring and tenure promotion committees. The full workshop is organized as a three-week asynchronous online course in Canvas (with two to three hours of work per week) building literacy in recognizing unconscious bias, and culminates with a one-week seminar on the legal aspects of diversity-centered hiring practices.

For those who have already taken the full three-week diversity literacy course, a one-week refresher course is required every four years. See the Diversity Training Status page for more information and a list of current training status for all faculty.

The workshop dates are listed below and can also be found on the training website, as well as an online registration form. Please note that legal aspects training will immediately follow the diversity literacy training, and faculty will be registered for them both at the same time.

We suggest that individuals register early for fall workshop dates if they are serving on faculty search or promotion and tenure committees in the coming year. If your certification is expiring but you don't need it for immediate service, we would appreciate if you register for a spring workshop instead, as the fall enrollments can get high.

If you have any questions about the DLOW and training, contact workshop administrator Amy Marcarelli at ammarcar@mtu.edu.

Full course and refresher dates for academic year 2022-23:

Diversity Literacy Fall Refresher 1:
Sept. 12-16 — Diversity Literacy Refresher Workshop
Sept. 19-23 — Legal Aspects of Hiring – online course

Diversity Literacy Fall Full Course:
Oct. 3-21 — Diversity Literacy Full Course
Oct. 24-28 — Legal Aspects of Hiring – online course

Diversity Literacy Fall Refresher 2:
Nov. 7-11 — Diversity Literacy Refresher Workshop
Nov. 14-18 — Legal Aspects of Hiring – online course

Diversity Literacy Spring Refresher 1:
Jan. 16-20 — Diversity Literacy Refresher Workshop
Jan. 23-27 — Legal Aspects of Hiring – online course

Diversity Literacy Spring Full Course:
Feb. 6-24 — Diversity Literacy Full Course
Feb. 27-March 3 — Legal Aspects of Hiring – online course

Diversity Literacy Spring Refresher 2:
March 20-24 — Diversity Literacy Refresher Workshop
March 27-31 — Legal Aspects of Hiring – online course

Michigan Tech's 100-Year Hockey Reunion wrapped up Aug. 6 with an alumni game at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena.

Teams Black and Cream skated to a 10-10 tie, with Cream scoring the game-tying goal in the final seconds after emptying its entire bench for some extra attackers.

Michigan Tech All-American and current Dallas Stars forward Tanner Kero (2011-15) scored early and often, racking up four goals in the game for the squad in the 100-year cream uniforms.

"It was so much fun," Kero said. "Black picked it up in the second half and we had to try and match that energy. We knew we had to get that tying goal even if it took a few extra bodies.

"It was pretty special to be on the ice with some of these legends that I heard about and saw play as a young fan of the Huskies, growing up in the area."

Read more about the game — and see what other hockey alumni had to say about it — at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

Michigan Tech football has announced the hiring of Eric Hubbard as linebackers coach and Kellen O'Neill as wide receivers coach for the 2022-23 season.

 "We are very pleased to add Eric Hubbard to our coaching staff," said head coach Steve Olson. "Eric brings a wealth of football experience and will be working with our outside linebackers."

"We are excited to add Kellen O'Neill to our football staff," continued Olson. "Kellen brings knowledge and experience to our wide receiver room and is a great addition to our football program."

Read more about the new coaches at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

Ph.D. in Geology candidate Espree Essig is the principal investigator (PI) on a project that has received a $5,000 student fellowship grant from the University of Michigan - Michigan Space Grant Consortium.

The project is titled "Analyzing the effects of heavy metals on vegetation hyperspectral reflectance properties in the Mid-Continent Rift, USA."

Chad Deering (GMES/EPSSI) is a co-PI on this potential one-year project.

Mirage News and Business Telegraph UK picked up a Michigan Tech News Q&A with Roman Sidortsov and Timothy Scarlett (SS) on old mines’ potential to revolutionize the global energy grid and reinvigorate mining communities.

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Caryn Heldt’s (ChE) presentation on streamlining production and stabilizing storage of vaccines, given to the Board of Trustees at its Aug. 4 meeting, was the subject of a story in the Daily Mining Gazette.

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AZoCleantech picked up a Phys.org story about research studying how surface temperatures affect the climate of the Great Lakes region. 

Pengfei Xue (CEGE/GLRC), one of the researchers conducting the study, was mentioned in the story.

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The Daily Mining Gazette ran a feature on the hockey alumni who played Aug. 6 for Michigan Tech’s 100-Year Hockey Reunion celebration at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena.

Returning for the reunion were several MTU hall-of-famers, including several current and retired NHL players.

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The Mining Journal picked up a Michigan Tech News press release about the first Upper Peninsula Medical Conference, to be held at the Memorial Union Building on Aug. 26-28.

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The Daily Mining Gazette ran a story about a 4% raise received by Michigan Tech President Rick Koubek. 

According to the story, Koubek’s $45,000 performance bonus will be given to student scholarships and administered by the Michigan Tech Fund at his request.

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3D Printing Industry mentioned a low-cost 3D-printed surgical fracture table that resulted from a collaboration between Michigan Tech and Western University.

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Digital Marketers

Tuesday, August 9, 10:30–11:30 a.m. | Administration and Student Services Building, G27

Digital Marketers is a group for digital platform managers (digital ads, photo/video production, social media accounts, websites, etc) across campus. We meet every other...

Women's League Play-Off Finals

Tuesday, August 9, 4 p.m. | Portage Lake Golf Course

Women's League Play-Off Finals *Some events and times may change