August 29, 2022

The Smart Ships Coalition will meet at Michigan Tech's Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC) on Sept. 15-16, presenting a free workshop for anyone interested in maritime mobility related to autonomy, artificial intelligence, computing, cybersystems, ethics, machine learning, policy, robotics, workforce development or related fields. Registration is open through Wednesday (Aug. 31).

Automated and autonomous vessels and vessel technology aren’t on the horizon — they’re here. And they have a direct effect on world supply chain issues and the development of the new energy economy. Thinking through how smart technologies affect design, operations, safety, security, training and the workforce includes developing a regulatory framework.

“Autonomy is maybe one way we can move goods safely and more efficiently,” said Travis White (GLRC). “Everything we’re doing here is applicable on a national scale. We can move from pilotization to scale up. But technology is outpacing regulation. We can, as a coalition, take on this issue, helping industry work with government. At the workshop, coalition members will break into working groups to identify priority tasks and next steps to address.”

Find the registration link — and learn more about the coalition and what makes the GLRC a perfect freshwater test bed — at Michigan Tech News.

Michigan Tech recently finalized the search committee members for the University's provost and CFO searches.

Provost Search Committee
Provost search committee members include the following appointees representing the University Senate:

• Carl Blair, teaching professor, College of Science and Arts
• Robert Hutchinson, professor, College of Business
• Alexandra Morrison, associate professor, College of Science and Arts
• Mike Mullins, professor, College of Engineering

They will join:

• Wayne Gersie, Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion
• Ranit Karmakar, president, Graduate Student Government
• Dennis Livesay, dean, College of Computing
• Suzanne Sanregret, athletic director, Athletics
• Cheyenne Scott, president, Undergraduate Student Government
• Stefanie Sidortsova, executive director for communications, University Marketing and Communications

Renee Ozanich, representing Human Resources, and Beth Lunde-Stockero, representing Equal Opportunity Compliance, will serve as ex officio members.

CFO Search Committee
CFO search committee members include the following appointees representing the University Senate:

• Brian Hutzler, assistant project manager, Information Technology
• Cody Kangas, executive director for corporate and foundation relations, Advancement
• Steve Knudstrup, help desk consultant, Information Technology
• Briana Tucker, Enterprise Program coordinator, Enterprise Program  

They will join:

• Janet Callahan, dean, College of Engineering
• Gabriel Jesus Escobedo, director, Center for Diversity and Inclusion
• John Lehman, Vice President for university Relations and Enrollment
• Emily Ruf, treasurer, Undergraduate Student Government
• Sarah Schulte, general counsel
• Nick Stevens, director, Budget and Financial Planning
• TBD representative of Graduate Student Government

Megan Goke, representing Human Resources, and Beth Lunde-Stockero, representing Equal Opportunity Compliance, will serve as ex officio members.

President Koubek wishes to thank these individuals for agreeing to serve on the search committees for Michigan Tech's next provost and CFO, respectively.

Each committee is scheduled to meet during the week of Sept. 5. At that time, the committees will have their first consultation with Parker and Associates, the search firm hired to conduct both searches, to review the job description and timeline. Updates on the search process will be posted in Tech Today.

The word robot has been part of the human imagination for 101 years. Michigan Tech is celebrating this anniversary with a series of events called ROBOT101. Throughout the fall semester, there will be opportunities to learn about how faculty and student researchers at Tech are expanding the capabilities of robots, how people have used the idea of “robot” to explore what it means to be human and how robots will change our world.

ROBOT101 activities include:

• Book Discussion — "Klara and the Sun" 
  Students in many courses (ENG1101, CS1000, CS3000, HU2600, SS1001, UN1015) will be reading the 2021 novel "Klara and the Sun" by Kazuo Ishiguro. Set in a future that is quite similar to our present world, the story is told from the perspective of Klara, an Artificial Friend designed to provide companionship for a young person. Students will also sample some supporting media and materials, and there will be opportunities for students outside these courses to participate as well.
  
  
• Discussion — Robots in Science Fiction
  In September, faculty members Stephanie Carpenter, Erin Smith and Dana Van Kooy (HU) will discuss robots in science fiction, and Nick Johnson and Chris Murray of the University of Dundee will discuss their comic adaptation of Karel Čapek’s 1921 science fiction play "R.U.R.: Rossum’s Universal Robots."
  
  
• Film Screening — "After Yang"
  In early October, the Rozsa Center will show the 2022 film "After Yang," which addresses similar themes to "Klara." Yang is an android who provides companionship for an adopted daughter. In conjunction with the screening, writer Alexander Weinstein will visit to discuss his story “Saying Goodbye to Yang,” on which "After Yang" is based.
  
  
• Theatre Performance — "R.U.R. (Rossum’s Universal Robots)"
  In mid-October, the Tech Theatre Company will perform the original play "R.U.R. (Rossum’s Universal Robots)," which introduced the word robot to the world. Many of the themes we associate with robot-oriented science fiction can be found in this groundbreaking play. Visiting speakers Heather Love of the University of Waterloo and Jindrich Toman of the University of Michigan will provide context for the play and perspectives on its relevance today.

A growing slate of additional events will also take place during the fall semester, including a wide variety of technical, artistic and historical perspectives on robots.

For more information and to view the complete schedule of events — including dates, times and locations — please visit the ROBOT101 website.

The primary organizers of ROBOT101 are faculty members Brett Hamlin (EF), Charles Wallace (CS) and Steven Walton (SS). ROBOT101 events are supported by:

Institute of Computing and Cybersystems | College of Computing | College of Sciences and Arts | College of Engineering | College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science | Department of Cognitive and Learning Sciences | Department of Computer Science | Department of Humanities | Department of Visual and Performing Arts | 41 North Film Festival

Let's get back to business!

Fall 2022 building hours for the SDC run from Aug. 29  to Dec. 15, with limited hours during the Thanksgiving holiday (Nov. 18-27).

Check out the Michigan Tech Recreation website for more information on facility hours, schedules and access passes.

Today (Aug. 29) is the final day to submit a lab software request for spring 2023. As a reminder, requests should be completed one semester in advance of intended use.

Please refer to the support article on requesting lab software for information about request guidelines and access to the submission form.

Please note: There is no need to request currently available software. These requests are for additional software that is not already installed in the labs.

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

Morits Linkmann of the University of Edinburgh will be presenting at the next Physics Colloquium. Please join the virtual-only presentation at 4 p.m. Thursday (Sept. 1) via Zoom.

Linkmann's presentation is titled "Interpreted Machine Learning in Fluid Dynamics: Explaining Relaminarization Events in Wall-Bounded Shear Flows."

Read the abstract on the University Events Calendar.

Further details can be found in a recent publication in the Journal of Fluid Dynamics.

Newsweek, MSN, Michigan Radio, ABC 12 in Flint and WJMN Local 3 in the U.P. ran stories on the findings of Michigan Tech’s 63rd winter study, highlighting the growth of Isle Royale’s gray wolf population from two in 2018 to 28 in 2022.

Sarah Hoy (CFRES) was quoted in the stories.

The news follows the release of the 2021-2022 annual report written by Hoy, John Vucetich and Rolf Peterson (CFRES) — the subject of a Michigan Tech News story.

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DBusiness Magazine, Detroit Legal News and Michigan Business Network mentioned Michigan Tech in stories on funding approved by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, via the Michigan Strategic Fund, for projects across the state. 

At Tech, additional funding was approved for the MTRAC Advanced Materials Innovation Hub. The hub focuses on commercializing technologies related to advanced applied material, systems, technologies or devices.

Michigan Tech Blood Drive

The Michigan Tech Student Leadership and Involvement Office, with support from Order of Omega, is hosting a two-day Red Cross Blood Drive in the Memorial Union Building (MUB) Ballroom on Wednesday and Thursday (Aug. 31 and Sept. 1), from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Students, faculty, staff and the community are all invited to donate.

Many people want to give back to the community but may not have a lot of time to volunteer. In only about an hour, volunteer blood donors can help save lives and feel instant gratification. All donors will receive a free T-shirt, while supplies last.

Appointments are preferred. To make an appointment, download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org (use sponsor code HUSKIES) or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

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PhD Defense: Alfred Owusu Ansah, HU

Ph.D. in Rhetoric, Theory, and Culture candidate Alfred Owusu Ansah will present their doctoral defense at 1 p.m. today (Aug. 29). This will be a virtual only defense. Attendance is invited via Zoom.

Owusu Ansah's defense is titled "Becoming Posthuman Literate Subjects: Coding Literacy among Missing People at Michigan Technological University."

From the abstract:
In response to calls for scholarship that affirms the epistemological value of the literacy practices of people whose practices have been systematically overlooked in theorizing literacy, this qualitative study examines how missing people (e.g., people of color, women, and the gender fluid) conceptualize coding as a species of writing. The study is grounded in the notion that we are in posthuman times, and that coding typifies literacy in the 21st century.

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Visiting Scholar Presentation: Supporting Visuospatial Thinking

The Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC) welcomes visiting scholar Zhen Xu, Ph.D. candidate at the University of Florida.

Xu will give a seminar presentation, titled "Exploring Technology-Assisted Scaffolds to Support Visuospatial Thinking," today (Aug. 29) at 4 p.m. in GLRC 202.

Through about 60 years' research, visuospatial ability has been identified as a salient psychological characteristic of those who achieved advanced STEM degrees and STEM occupations. Research also recognizes the importance of STEM education in developing qualified STEM workforces to promote science advancement and technology innovation and cultivating STEM-literate citizenry to participate in a productive economy.

However, the importance of visuospatial thinking is under-recognized in practice, especially in K-12 education. Visuospatial thinking is barely addressed in the design of learning materials and curricula. Digital technologies have the potential to scaffold visuospatial thinking and create visuospatially rich learning environment due to their flexible, animated and interactive affordances.

This talk presents research studies that explore technology-assisted scaffolds to support visuospatial thinking in learning.

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

Back to School Binders

Monday, August 29, 11 a.m.–12 p.m. | Memorial Union Building Circle

Welcome binders are back! Stop by the MUB circle to pick up a free binder filled with resources, coupons, and more! Binders will be distribute while supplies last, so get...

PhD Defense: Alfred Lawrence Owusu Ansah

Monday, August 29, 1 p.m.–2 p.m.

Rhetoric, Theory and Culture Co-advisors: Oren Abeles and Michelle Jarvie-Eggart Becoming Posthuman Literate Subjects Coding Literacy among Missing People at Michigan...

Intro to Rock Hunting in the Keweenaw with the Geology Club

Monday, August 29, 6 p.m.–7 p.m. | Rock Garden

What could be a better fit for a rock and dinosaur-themed Welcome Week than a rock hunting event? Join the Geology Club for rock and mineral identification, maps of...