Welcome to MTU Open Access Week

This week, the Graduate School and the Van Pelt and Opie Library celebrate International Open Access Week. This event is organized by the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC) as an opportunity for the academic and research community to continue to learn about potential benefits of Open Access, share what they’ve learned with colleagues, and to help inspire wider participation in helping to make Open Access a new norm in scholarship and research. 

This year, we’re marking Open Access Week by recognizing the 10 years of master’s theses, doctoral dissertations and master’s reports (ETDRs) that are freely available to the world through Digital Commons @ Michigan Tech, the University’s institutional repository. This collection of works is comprehensive back to 2012, and some are nearly a decade older. With Digital Commons, we’re provided with usage statistics that show activity on the platform and across the web. Throughout the week, we’ll share stories and insights informed by these statistics that speak to how publishing Open Access has benefitted Michigan Tech students. In the meantime, take a moment to check out the collection of ETDRs on Digital Commons @ Michigan Tech.

Please join us Wednesday (Oct. 19) at 3 p.m. in the East Reading Room of the library for a brief presentation, light refreshments and lively discussion on all things Open Access.

41 North Film Festival Seeks Volunteers

Volunteers are needed for the 41 North Film Festival! 

Be a part of the action and volunteer with the 41 North Film Festival. This year’s festival will take place Nov. 3-6, and we need your help to make it happen! We welcome film enthusiasts, members of the campus community and local area residents. Individuals and groups are invited to join us as volunteers.

Our volunteers help us keep 41 North free and open to the public and are an integral part of the festival. Volunteers may assist with welcoming festival attendees, ushering and answering general questions regarding the festival and films. Help is needed for any and all of the four days of the festival, Thursday through Sunday. Volunteer for one film or for the whole festival — it’s up to you! Volunteers receive a free T-shirt. We look forward to having you on our team!

What do volunteer ushers do?
Volunteer ushers play a critical role in creating a welcoming environment. You could fill one of several positions that may include: greeter, counter, program helper or seating guide, or be a floating usher who fills in where they are needed.

Do I do this alone or with other people?
You will never be alone! Each show will have a house manager and 2-12 volunteer ushers. You are always welcome to put together a group — friends, family or people from an organization — and enjoy the shared experience of bringing a production to life.

What experience or training do I need?
No previous experience is necessary. All the training you need will take place the day of the show, before guests arrive.

What is the time commitment for a show?
You will arrive 60 minutes before the show, monitor the audience while you enjoy the show for free, and then stay to help with some light cleanup for 30 minutes or less after the show.

The 41 North Film Festival spans four days and showcases award-winning independent films and filmmakers from around the region, country and world. Its mission is to provide Michigan Tech students and the surrounding community with an opportunity to critically engage films that are currently in distribution and under discussion, as well as the chance to interact with filmmakers, producers and other industry professionals about the art and business of cinematic storytelling.

Visit the volunteer registration page on GivePulse and search for 41N to sign up for individual volunteer shifts, or contact our volunteer coordinator, Allison Neely, by email at alneely@mtu.edu or by phone at 906-487-2816.

H-STEM Construction Update

Construction on the new H-STEM Complex is moving into a more exciting phase now that we have all of the underground foundation and utility work completed.

Steel erection has started and will continue over the next month. By the middle of November, the main outline of the new addition will be visible. At the same time, demolition inside the existing Chemical Sciences and Engineering Building for areas that will be remodeled is proceeding. We are still looking at the building being open in early 2024.

Don’t forget to check out the project webcam and the H-STEM Complex project webpage.

Fall 2022 Midterm Grades Are Due Today

Midterm grades are due at noon today (Oct. 17).

Midterm grades must be submitted for all first-year students and transfer students with fewer than 30 credits. The Waino Wahtera Center for Student Success coordinates outreach to these students based on the midterm grades submitted. This supports timely intervention for students who may be experiencing academic and/or other difficulties.

Electronic Grade Submission
Instructors have two options for electronic grade submission. They may submit grades via Banner Self-Service by going directly into Banweb, entering grades and then clicking submit. Those with larger class sizes where grades have already been totaled in Canvas may submit grades via Canvas by going to CourseTools and using the Grade Wizard to first extract them from Canvas and then submit them to Banner.

If grades are submitted using Banner Self-Service, only the students who require a midterm grade will appear. For those who submit their grades via Canvas, a first-year student column has been added to identify these students in your course grade book.

Satisfactory grades (A-C) should be entered as “SA” and Unsatisfactory grades (CD-F) as “UN”.

Midterm grades are for full-semester courses only. Grades not turned in by the deadline will have an M (missing) grade assigned.

Physics Colloquium: 'Materials Science with 2D Atomic Layers'

Pulickel Ajayan of Rice University will be presenting at the next Physics Colloquium.

The seminar will be presented in person at 4 p.m. Thursday (Oct. 20) in Fisher 139.

Ajayan's presentation is titled "Materials Science with 2D Atomic Layers."

Read the abstract on the University Events Calendar.

Registration Is Open for 'Prototype Your Innovation' Workshop

How do you communicate an innovative idea with stakeholders? The more you can demonstrate how your innovation works, the better your understanding of the solution and the more informative feedback will be.

Join Husky Innovate for an interactive workshop to learn how to prototype your innovation and test it for customer feedback. Prototyping can range from simple to complex. This workshop focuses on building a mockup of your idea, so that you may present it and gather feedback. This feedback will inform your next design iteration and help you to tailor your solution to your end-users' needs. 

The workshop is Oct. 26 from 4-6 p.m. in the Alley Makerspace. Register to participate by next Monday (Oct. 24).

Hockey Wins, Blake Pietila Breaks Shutout Record

Michigan Tech hockey picked up its first win of the season with a 2-0 shutout at Alaska on Thursday (Oct. 13). 

With the win, Husky goaltender Blake Pietila has set a new school record with his 11th career shutout, stopping 33 shots.

"If we don't have Blake back there it's a different hockey game," Tech coach Joe Shawhan said. "He made some big saves when he had to make them."

"I'm extremely proud of the guys for the effort they gave," continued Shawhan. "Every win feels like a win in the Stanley Cup. They're hard to earn."

Read about the action at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

Volunteer for the Cross Country Ski National Championships

With under three months until the 2023 Toyota U.S. Cross Country Ski National Championship Presented by Hampton Inn & Suites of Houghton, event registrations, volunteer recruitment and more are now available.

Join Us in Volunteering for the National Championships
It will take more than 100 volunteers to host the 2023 U.S. Cross Country Ski National Championships. Let’s show the national ski community just how supportive our community of skiers is here in the Keweenaw! Please consider volunteering for the event. We have volunteer needs ranging from bib distribution to course control, and even forerunning the National Championship courses. There is a position for everyone, so please consider joining us and cheering on the best skiers in the nation! All volunteers will receive a participant memento.

To volunteer for the 2023 U.S. Cross Country Ski National Championships, please fill out our volunteer recruitment form.

Volunteers Also Needed for Pre-Nationals CCSA Invite and CXC Cup
Michigan Tech will also play host to the Pre-Nationals CCSA Invite and CXC Cup races on Dec. 17 and Dec. 18 at the Tech Trails! We are seeking volunteer help for this December race weekend as well. To volunteer for the Pre-Nationals race weekend, please email Volunteer Coordinator Stefany Valentine-Cook at skcook@mtu.edu. Thanks, and GO HUSKIES!

Read about registration requirements for athletes, coaches and suppliers at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

Job Posting

Job Posting for Monday, Oct. 17, 2022

Staff and faculty job descriptions are available on the Human Resources website. For more information regarding staff positions, call 906-487-2280 or email mtujobs@mtu.edu.

For more information regarding faculty positions, contact the academic department in which the position is posted.

Assistant Teaching Professor, Engineering Fundamentals. Apply online.

Michigan Technological University is an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution/Equal Opportunity Employer that provides equal opportunity for all, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Accommodations are available. If you require any auxiliary aids, services, or other accommodations to apply for employment, or for an interview, at Michigan Technological University, please notify the Human Resources office at 906-487-2280 or mtujobs@mtu.edu.

In the News

ABC 10 and the Keweenaw Report covered Michigan Tech’s announcement of Adrienne Minerick (ChE) as the recipient of the University’s 2022 Diversity Award.

Michigan Tech News published a Q&A with Minerick, who works at the forefront of culture change in engineering education as a national leader, campus advocate and student mentor.

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TELL ME BEST and Bullfrag picked up VICE’s story on the work of Stephen Techtmann (BioSci) and colleagues to recycle waste plastics into edible protein powder using bacteria.

The research was the subject of a story in Michigan Tech’s 2022 Research Magazine.

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MLive mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about the upcoming Haunted Mine tours hosted by the Quincy Mine in Hancock on Oct. 27-29. The “Cryptid Menagerie” themed event is being presented by Michigan Tech Department of Visual and Performing Arts students.

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WLUC TV6 mentioned Michigan Tech in a story on an open house held Saturday (Oct. 15) at the Alberta Sawmill, located at Michigan Tech’s Ford Center. The event was organized by a Baraga County Historical Society subcommittee formed to preserve the building and its equipment.

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Yahoo! Life mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about the pasty, “one of the most underrated foods of the Midwest.” The story linked to an MTU YouTube video on how pasties are made.

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Yahoo! Finance ran a story on the naming of Michigan Tech alumnus Daniel Konstanski ’06 (civil engineering) as vice president of engineering for Artesian Resources Corporation.

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The Newberry News picked up an Up North Voice editorial written by Michigan Tech alumna Brenda Haskill ’93 (forest management) about the growing number of women in forestry.

In Print

Assistant Professor Luke Bowman (GMES) is the author of a paper published in a special issue of FastTIMES. The issue, volume 27, focuses on applications of geophysics in Latin America.

The paper is titled "Seismic Refraction Studies of Weathered Volcanic Slopes for Characterizing Rainfall-Induced Landslide Potential."

Professor John Gierke (GMES), Michigan Tech Ph.D. graduate Josh Richardson ’07 ’10 ’13 (geophysics) — now an exploration geophysicist in the U.S. energy industry — and collaborators Fredy Cruz, Agronomic Sciences, Universidad de El Salvador, and Rutilio Parada, School of Agricultural Engineering, Latin American Technical University, are co-authors of the paper.

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John Gierke (GMES) is a co-author of a paper published in a special issue of FastTIMES. The issue, volume 27, focuses on applications of geophysics in Latin America.

The paper is titled “Two-Dimensional Electrical Resistivity Profiling for Fracture Detection in Volcanic Aquifers of the Plateaus Area of Ecuador.”

The paper's lead author is Michigan Tech Ph.D. graduate Miriam Rios-Sanchez ’12 (geological engineering), now an associate professor of geology at Bemidji State University. Also a co-author is M.S. graduate Teresa Muñoz-Martinez ’15 (geological engineering), now the chief of the Water Resources Management Department at the Water and Sanitation Enterprise of Quito, Ecuador.

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Ph.D. student Lisa Casper (applied cognitive science and human factors) and Elizabeth Veinott (CLS) are co-authors of an ISAM 2022 conference paper.

The paper is titled "Exploring Team Innovation in Makerspaces 6th International Symposium on Academic Makerspaces."

The International Symposium on Academic Makerspaces (ISAM) will be held Nov. 6-9 in Atlanta, Georgia.

The paper is available online.

Reminders

Michigan Tech Research Forum 2023 Distinguished Lecture Nominations Due Friday

Nominations remain open for the spring 2023 Michigan Tech Research Forum Distinguished Lecture. A faculty member's selection to give the MTRF Distinguished Lecture honors the faculty member for their research impact.

Faculty are selected for their ability to increase the knowledge of our community by connecting their research with societal and community concerns. Topics are broad, spanning all colleges and schools at Michigan Tech.

The Distinguished Lecture will be given at the April 2023 Research Forum event. Nominate a colleague or yourself by completing the online form by Friday (Oct. 21). Contact Shari Stockero at stockero@mtu.edu with any questions.

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Fall Session 2: Adult and Youth Tennis and Pickleball

Registration for the second session of Fall Adult and Youth Tennis Programs will open soon! Classes begin next week (Oct. 24-28) and run through mid-December (no classes Thanksgiving week).

Visit Michigan Tech Recreation's Gates Tennis Center webpage for more information about adult and youth tennis lessons, as well as pickleball lessons. Private tennis and pickleball lessons are also available.

See you on the courts!

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Saturday Splash at the SDC Pool!

MTU students and SDC Access Pass holders (minimum one month): Come make a splash with our new inflatable pool obstacle course called the WIBIT!

Events will be held this fall for current MTU students and SDC access pass holders (minimum one month). You can test your individual skills on the course or challenge your friend to a race across the obstacles. The course is set up in the deep water and requires users to be able to pass our swim test. (Please see the WIBIT rules and swim test requirements at our website.)

The WIBIT has many different pieces and each event will have a featured combination. Potential featured pieces include:

  • The Step — This piece allows users to climb up onto the course.
  • The Base — Users must make their way across a horizontal surface. Be careful how fast you move, as it can get slippery!
  • The Cliff — Users must navigate either side of a slope using the handles and their balancing skills.
  • V-Connect — Users must use limited footing space to navigate across the horizontal structure.
  • The Bridge — Users must navigate up and over an arched structure without falling through.
  • The Slope — Users must climb up a six-foot wall that leads to a slide into the pool water below!

Dates, Times and Featured Combinations:

  • Saturday, Oct. 22 — Noon to 4 p.m.
    WIBIT Combo: Step/V-Connect/Cliff/Slope

  • Saturday, Dec. 10 — Noon to 4 p.m.
    WIBIT Combo: Step/Bridge/Cliff/Slope

Come visit us at the pool to try out your skills! For more information, visit Michigan Tech Recreation's WIBIT webpage.

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Environmental Engineering Graduate Seminar

The next Environmental Engineering Graduate Seminar will take place at 3 p.m. today (Oct. 17) in the Great Lakes Research Center, GLRC 202.

Assistant Professor Shan Zhou of Michigan Tech's Department of Social Sciences will present "Solar Adoption Inequality in the U.S.: Trend, Magnitude, and Solar Justice Policies."

Read the abstract on the University Events Calendar.

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Creditable Coverage Notice for Medicare Enrollees

Federal regulations require Michigan Tech to send the Medicare Part D certificate of creditable coverage disclosure form prior to the annual Medicare Part D election period, which began Saturday (Oct. 15) and runs through Dec. 7.

The disclosure only applies to those employees who are age 65 and older or who have a dependent enrolled in Medicare. Michigan Tech’s prescription coverage is creditable, meaning that it is expected to cover on average as much as the Standard Medicare Part D prescription drug plan. The certificate of creditable coverage notice can be viewed online.

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New Alumni Event Series: Traveling Tech Talks

The Office of Alumni Engagement is excited to announce a new Michigan Tech alumni event tradition: Traveling Tech Talks. This new series will be hosted in different locations, showcasing the personal and professional journeys of alumni thought leaders in a variety of fields, and will offer attendees professional networking opportunities within the Husky network.

The inaugural Traveling Tech Talks event will be hosted Nov. 3 in Seattle, Washington, with the theme “A Conversation on Human Factors Engineering and User Experience.” The event will feature a panel of alumni subject matter experts. Our very own department chair and associate professor of cognitive and learning sciences, Kelly Steelman, will moderate the discussion.

The cost to attend is $15 per person, and registration in advance is requested. We encourage all MTU faculty, staff and friends to spread the word to Huskies within their personal networks currently living in the Seattle area. Registration for the Seattle event closes Oct. 26.

Please reach out to Jennifer Lucas, associate vice president of alumni engagement, with any questions or concerns, and keep an eye out for future Traveling Tech Talks locations and topics to be announced.

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ACSHF Forum: Grad Student Presentations

The Department of Cognitive and Learning Sciences (CLS) will host applied cognitive science and human factors (ACSHF) graduate students Lisa Casper and Betsy Lehman at the next ACSHF Forum today (Oct. 17) from 2-3 p.m. in Meese 109 and via Zoom.

Casper will present her research, titled "Does Design Thinking Support Innovation: Empirical Evaluation," and Lehman will present her research, titled "Counterfactual Thinking as a Strategy for Questioning a Frame: Experimental Results."

Full abstracts can be found on the Cognitive and Learning Sciences News blog.

Today's Campus Events

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

The Rozsa Galleries Present: Arabesque

THE ROZSA GALLERIES PRESENT ARABESQUE AN ART EXHIBITION OF THE WORKS OF CLEMENT YEH AND TOMAS CO FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 THROUGH FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2022 GALLERY HOURS: M-F 8...

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ACSHF Forum: Grad Student Presentations

The Department of Cognitive and Learning Sciences will host ACSHF students Lisa Casper and Betsy Lehman at the next Applied Cognitive Science and Human Factors forum Monday...

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Solar Adoption Inequality in the U.S.: Trend, Magnitude, and Solar Justice Policies

Environmental Engineering Graduate Seminar Shan Zhou, Department of Social Sciences, Michigan Technological University Abstract: With the rapid diffusion of solar...

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Monday Study Sessions!

Get together with your peers to work on professional, personal and academic activities with help from undergrad and grad physics buddies! When: Every Monday evening from 5:30...

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SAE Aero Design Weekly Meeting

SAE Aero Design aims to offer valuable experience to Michigan Tech students of all majors interested in an extracurricular engineering & design opportunity. Come join our...

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Sensing Smells

Husky Bites presents Special Guest Yixin Liu Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering Michigan Technological University Co-host Riley Smith, undergraduate...