September 2, 2022

Editor's Note: The University Update and Welcome Back Picnic have been rescheduled for Sept. 16. Times and locations remain the same.

Today (Sept. 2) is the last day to RSVP for the welcome back barbecue picnic planned next Friday (Sept. 9) for Michigan Tech employees.

The picnic will be held on Walker Lawn, weather permitting. The menu includes: hamburgers, brats, veggie burgers, coleslaw, baked mac and cheese, chips, brownies, water and lemonade.

The picnic will follow a leadership update starting at noon in the Rozsa lobby. Release time will be provided for employees to attend.

For planning purposes, please RSVP to the picnic if you intend to join us. We hope to see you there.

The Vice President for Research Office requests Century II Campaign Endowed Equipment Fund (C2E2) proposals.

The C2E2 program is aimed at providing funds to purchase equipment that will have a broad, campuswide impact and improve the lives of faculty, staff and students.

The submission deadline is 4 p.m. Oct. 13. Late submissions will not be accepted.

For more information and proposal submission requirements, visit the C2E2 page on the Vice President for Research website.

The Tuition Reduction Incentive Program (TRIP) form for the spring 2023 academic semester is now online.

The application and guidelines can be found on the Human Resources website in the dropdown menu underneath "Education Benefits."

The climate or community we create within our classrooms and academic units can profoundly impact how individuals perform within those settings. A recent study in the Journal of Chemical Education determined that students’ social belonging in a general chemistry course could predict academic performance in that course. Social belonging included both an absolute sense of belonging and an uncertainty with that belonging. Further, that social belonging differed across demographics (gender was a strong difference).

High sense of social belonging correlates with positive perceptions of climate, which is also true at the faculty and staff levels. Another recent article notes that “culture is often referred to as ‘the way things are done around here.’” The article further notes that behaviors, systems and practices — the three elements of culture — are all guided by an overarching set of values.

It can be valuable to remember that individuals are drawn to espoused values when selecting an institution; when behaviors, systems and practices do not align with espoused values, those individuals do not perceive a high sense of social belonging and will select themselves out. Thus, for us to retain our diverse talent at the student, faculty and staff levels, we can each carefully reflect upon and change our behaviors, systems and practices to be consistent with our values.

Today’s feature was shared with us by the ADVANCE team. 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 Graduate School is offering support services to assist graduate students in applying for the Michigan Space Grant Consortium’s (MSGC's) Graduate Fellowship, including a workshop and one-on-one writing support.

MSGC’s Graduate Fellowship opportunity supports graduate students from affiliate institutions who are conducting research and public service projects relevant to NASA’s strategic interests as expressed in NASA’s 2014 and 2018 Strategic Plans — specifically, research focused on aerospace, space science and earth system science.

Graduate students working in these fields and related science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields are eligible to apply. MSGC is also piloting an expanded definition of STEM to include support for interdisciplinary projects that include art, so graduate students conducting research and projects relevant to NASA’s strategic interests in disciplines not traditionally considered STEM, such as the humanities or social sciences, are likewise encouraged to apply.

Fellowship recipients are awarded $5,000. To be eligible, applicants must identify a mentor, be U.S. nationals, have a good academic record and be in good academic standing. Women, underrepresented minorities and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. Students currently receiving MSGC Fellowships are eligible to reapply.

Workshop information:

• MSGC Graduate Fellowship Workshop: Overview and tips from a reviewer
  
  • Date and time: Monday, Sept. 12, 12-12:50 p.m.
  • Location: Admin 404
  • Presenter: Will Cantrell, associate provost and dean of the Graduate School
  • Host: Sarah Isaacson, GLAS program director, sisaacso@mtu.edu
    Register for the workshop.

Luyi Sun will present the first seminar in the Department of Chemical Engineering (ChE) Fall 2022 Seminar Series.

Sun is a professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and a member of the Polymer Program at the University of Connecticut. His research focuses on the design and synthesis of nanostructured materials for various applications.

Sun will be on campus to present "Bioinspired Smart Bilayered Hybrids with Multi-scale Architecture and Surface Engineering" at 10 a.m. next Friday (Sept. 9) in Chem Sci 211 or via Zoom.

Humans have looked to nature for solutions to our problems throughout our existence. In this talk, several bioinspired multifunctional materials — including nanostructured coatings with outstanding mechanical, barrier and flame-retardant properties (inspired by nacre) and highly sensitive and reversible/irreversible mechanochromisms (inspired by cephalopod and skin wrinkles) — will be presented.

No. 19 Michigan Tech volleyball will compete in Wisconsin-Parkside's Hampton Inn Invitational today (Sept. 2) and tomorrow (Sept. 3).

The Huskies traveled to Kenosha, Wisconsin, to open against Upper Iowa today at 2 p.m. ET, then McKendree at 6 p.m. tonight. They will wrap up the weekend tomorrow versus Illinois-Springfield at 10 a.m. and Minnesota-Crookston at 6 p.m.

Read more and find ways to tune in at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

The Michigan Tech men's and women's cross country teams make their season debut at the Vic Godfrey Open hosted by Wisconsin-Parkside today (Sept. 2).

The races will be short of the season's typical distances — the women will complete 4,000 meters while the men pace 6,000 meters. Head coach Kristina Owens returns for her third season at the helm, while assistant head coach Robert Young is in his first year after being promoted in July.

Results will be posted online shortly after the conclusion of each race.

Read more and hear Owens' season predictions at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

Scott Miers (ME-EM/APSRC) and Brian Eggart (APSRC), in partnership with Jim Baker (OIC), have been awarded a project from the State of Michigan ADVANCE Proof-of-Concept fund. The project includes matching funds from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and will move forward with commercialization of a miniaturized portable emissions measurement system (mini-PEMS).

The mini-PEMS will enable accurate measurement of emissions from ATVs, snowmobiles, motorcycles and other compact vehicle platforms under actual driving conditions, a currently unmet need in the industry. Work on the mini-PEMS technology has involved several valued stakeholders, including the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, as well as their counterpart to the north, Environment and Climate Change Canada.

A first-generation device demonstrating technical feasibility was previously developed by Miers and Eggert, who will use the new funding to develop a second-generation prototype and to conduct calibration, dynamometer testing and vehicle validation. This follow-on work will move the technology toward commercial adoption. The team is in active communication with prospective licensing partners in the emissions analysis industry who are interested in taking the technology to market based on the outcomes of this project.

Touchdown Friday

Today (Sept. 2) is Touchdown Friday for the season's first home football game! Receive 5% (up to 25%) off Michigan Tech apparel and souvenirs at the Campus Store and University Images for each Husky touchdown scored yesterday (Sept. 1) at Kearly Stadium.

Discounts will be automatically given in store and online; some exclusions will apply.

Thank you for your patronage from the Campus Store and University Images!

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GSG To Host First Friday Social Today

Faculty, staff, graduate students and Michigan Tech retirees are invited to join the Graduate Student Government (GSG) at the Grad Commons (207 E. Street) from 4-6 p.m. today (Sept. 2). Complimentary drinks and snacks will be served

Started in 2006, First Friday University Socials provide a casual setting for members of the campus community to meet new people, learn about other schools and departments, and share work and interests with colleagues.

The next scheduled First Friday Social will be Oct. 7 at the Opie Reading Room with the Van Pelt and Opie Library and the Graduate School as sponsors. If your department is interested in hosting a social during the 2022-23 academic year, please contact business-support@mtu.edu or call 906-487-2543.

View the complete 2022-23 First Friday Social Schedule.

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No Tech Today on Monday

Tech Today will not publish on Monday (Sept. 5) in observance of the Labor Day holiday.

Submissions for the Tuesday (Sept. 6) issue of Tech Today are due by noon today (Sept. 2).

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

Get Ready for CareerFest

Friday, September 2, 12 p.m.–1 p.m. | Administration and Student Services Building, 220 Career Services

(Women's Volleyball) Upper Iowa vs. Michigan Tech

Friday, September 2, 2 p.m.–5 p.m.

Women's Volleyball: Upper Iowa vs. Michigan Tech, Parkside Tournament

Welcome to the UP[izza] with CDI and SLI

Friday, September 2, 2 p.m.–4 p.m. | Center for Diversity and Inclusion, Hamar House

Celebrate the end of week one with a pizza party! The Center for Diversity and Inclusion and Student Leadership and Involvement have joined forces to bring you a local...

Ghostbusters 1984 - Film Board

Friday, September 2, 5:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m. | Fisher 135 Michigan Tech

Join Film Board as we show Ghostbusters 1984 in Fisher 135! Tickets are $3 and concessions are $1 each. See our website for more details. https://filmboard.mtu.edu/

(Women's Volleyball) Michigan Tech vs. McKendree

Friday, September 2, 6 p.m.–9 p.m.

Women's Volleyball: Michigan Tech vs. McKendree, Parkside Tournament

Fighting Game Club Fall Opener Tournaments

Friday, September 2, 6:00 p.m.–9:30 p.m. | Varsity Esports Facility

Fighting Game Club at Michigan Tech is proud to announce that our Fall Opener will be held in the Varsity Esports Facility at the SDC on Friday September 2nd from 6 to 9 PM....

WMTU Welcome

Friday, September 2, 6 p.m.–8 p.m. | Walker Lawn

If you didn't know yet, you will soon! We have a campus radio station, WMTU, and they're excited to welcome you! Swing by Walker Lawn to meet their team and learn how you...

(Women's Soccer) Minnesota Crookston vs. Michigan Tech

Friday, September 2, 7 p.m.–10 p.m. | Sherman Field

Women's Soccer: Minnesota Crookston vs. Michigan Tech, Kearly Stadium

Blackout Dance with BSA

Friday, September 2, 7 p.m.–9 p.m. | Walker Lawn

Join the Black Student Association for a night of revelry to celebrate the end of week one! The music will be pumping right in the heart of campus for everyone to jump in!

Ghostbusters 1984 - Film Board

Friday, September 2, 8:30 p.m.–10:30 p.m. | Fisher 135 Michigan Tech

Join Film Board as we show Ghostbusters 1984 in Fisher 135! Tickets are $3 and concessions are $1 each. See our website for more details. https://filmboard.mtu.edu/

Ghostbusters 1984 - Film Board

Friday, September 2, 11:30–1:30 a.m. | Fisher 135 Michigan Tech

Join Film Board as we show Ghostbusters 1984 in Fisher 135! Tickets are $3 and concessions are $1 each. See our website for more details. https://filmboard.mtu.edu/

Vic Godfrey Open - Hosted by Wisconsin Parkside

September 2, all day

Vic Godfrey Open - Hosted by Wisconsin Parkside, TBA