October 21, 2022

Indigenous teachers, government agencies, researchers, students, educators and community members will gather at Michigan Technological University on Monday and Tuesday (Oct. 24 and 25) for the Indigenous Knowledges Symposium, an event created through partnership among the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC), Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC), Michigan Sea Grant and Michigan Tech.

At the symposium, Indigenous teachers will lead workshop sessions on shared governance and stewardship, including the importance of Indigenous languages, climate change and resilience, and responsibilities associated with being in good relations with others. The event is intended to increase understanding of Indigenous knowledges and practices, strengthen relationships between partners and enhance capacity for working with — and working as — natural resource and environmental science and policy professionals.

Read the full press release at Michigan Tech News.

As midterms wrap up, now is a great time to lend a hand and fight food insecurity in the Michigan Tech community! The Husky Food Access Network (FAN) Pantry is in need of donations. All shelf-stable nonperishable food and hygiene items are gladly accepted.

Donations can be made anytime by dropping items off outside the pantry (in the alcove near Fisher 135). Please email Madeline English at mrenglis@mtu.edu with any questions!

The pantry is in particular need of:

• Canned soup
• Canned meats and fish — chicken, tuna, etc.
• Canned vegetables
• Canned beans
• Macaroni and cheese
• Instant mashed potatoes
• Pasta and pasta sauce
• Rice
• Milk alternatives (shelf-stable items only)
• Feminine hygiene products
• Personal care items — toothbrushes, soap, shaving cream, etc.

Michigan Tech has been invited to participate in FacultyWatch, an important course material industry survey conducted by OnCampus Research and published by the National Association of College Stores.

Michigan Tech is participating, along with other higher-ed institutions across the nation. The survey runs through next Friday (Oct. 28).

An email with the survey link has been sent to all faculty. To better serve our campus community, we ask for participation in a short survey about course materials. This is an opportunity to make our voices heard, maximize learning outcomes and be the driving force for making changes to course materials.

This industry-wide survey investigates faculty members' attitudes toward course materials, their value, preferred formats, the adoption process, open educational resources (OER) and the role of the campus store. Participation in the survey is voluntary and confidential.

Results will only be reported in the aggregate; results from individual stores will not be published. No survey participant will be contacted for promotional or sales purposes.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Judy Zei at the Campus Store at 906-487-2410.

Michigan Tech is excited to announce the DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day scheduled for next Saturday (Oct. 29) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.! This is an opportunity to properly dispose of expired and unused prescription drug medication.

Michigan Tech Public Safety and Police Services is a registered drop-off/collection site and is located at 206 MacInnes Dr. in Houghton. As a reminder, this prescription drug medication disposal is for pills only (no liquids please).

Michigan Tech Public Safety and Police Services has a 24/7/355 thru-wall drug disposal box that can be used any day of the year to dispose of your unused medications.

Questions? Contact Whitney Boroski at wmborosk@mtu.edu.

Thank you to everyone in the Michigan Tech community who celebrated Open Access (OA) week with the Graduate School and the Van Pelt and Opie Library. Over the past week, we’ve highlighted how OA publishing has benefitted graduate authors with master’s reports, master’s theses and dissertations in Digital Commons @ Michigan Tech.

We welcome you to keep the celebration going by tuning in to the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition’s (SPARC's) International Open Access Week, held next week from Monday to Sunday (Oct. 24 to 30). Follow events worldwide on Twitter with #OAweek. The worldwide celebration will focus on climate justice and encourages connection and collaboration among the climate movement and the international open community.

Open Access is an appropriate publishing option for an array of materials, not just graduate works. For more information and to get involved with publishing OA at Michigan Tech, email library@mtu.edu. We’d love to hear from you!

Robert Nemiroff (Physics) has been recognized by the American Physical Society (APS) for exceptional daily astronomy outreach for over 25 years, primarily through the Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) website, which has served billions of space-related images with explanations translated daily into over 20 languages.

Nemiroff was nominated for recognition by the society's Forum on Outreach and Engaging the Public (FOEP).

It is a distinct honor signifying recognition by one's professional peers.

Previous faculty recognized by APS include:

• Don Beck — 2001, Division of Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics (DAMOP)
• Ravindra Pandey — 2014, Division of Computational Physics (DCOMP)
• Raymond Shaw — 2020, Division of Fluid Dynamics (DFD)

Dustin Abnet, author of "The American Robot" and associate professor of American Studies at California State University, Fullerton, will present his talk, “Americanizing the Robot: Westinghouse Electric and the Rise of a Global Consumer Icon” on Wednesday (Oct. 26) at noon in the Van Pelt and Opie Library.

The talk explores how American corporations, the press and science fiction writers transformed the robot from a creature of nightmares into a tool of consumerist dreams.

Most ROBOT101 events are held both in person and via Zoom webinar. Find more information and register for the webinars at the ROBOT101 website.

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 Engineering Fundamentals | Department of Humanities | Department of Social Sciences | Department of Visual and Performing Arts | 41 North Film Festival | Institute for Policy, Ethics, and Culture | Pavlis Honors College

Scott Diehl will present a lecture at the Department of Computer Science (CS) Colloquium next Friday (Oct. 28) from 3-4 p.m. in Rekhi 214.

Diehl is a senior staff engineering manager in Google’s Cloud Netinfra organization, leading a team working on high-performance virtualized networking using offloaded hardware. The lecture is presented by the Michigan Tech Department of Computer Science.

The title of Diehl's talk is, "Snap: a Microkernel Approach to Host Networking."

Read the abstract and speaker bio on the Computing News Blog.

Technical interviews can sound intimidating and feel like an obstacle between you and a great job. To help, Scott Diehl, a senior staff engineering manager for Google’s Cloud Netinfra organization, will conduct a student workshop titled, “Technical Interviews: An informal workshop for CS and SE majors,” next Friday (Oct. 28), from 4:30-5:30 p.m. in Rekhi 214.

The workshop follows Diehl’s Computer Science Colloquium lecture from 3-4 p.m. in the same location. Computer science (CS) and software engineering (SE) majors are encouraged to attend.

Read more on the Computing News Blog.

Academy for Engineering Education Leadership inductee Debra Larson will share her thoughts on academic leadership, impact and importance of serving students, colleagues and the profession next Friday (Oct. 28) in Dow 875.

Larson's presentation will be given from 10-10:50 a.m. Following the presentation, Larson will spend 30 minutes with graduate students (11-11:30 a.m.), then 30 minutes with faculty (11:30 a.m. to noon).

Refreshments will be served at the event.

Larson is currently the provost and vice president for academic affairs at California State University Chico, and previously served as dean of the College of Engineering at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, from 2011-2017. She holds a Ph.D. in civil engineering from Arizona State University, and earned master’s and bachelor’s degrees in civil engineering from Michigan Tech.

Read Larson's full bio on the University Events Calendar.

The next Environmental Engineering Graduate Seminar will take place virtually at 3 p.m. on Monday (Oct. 24) via Zoom (use passcode 843781).

Sungeun Lim, of Eawag, the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (current affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University), will present "Reactivity of bromine radical with dissolved organic matter: Implication on bromate formation during ozonation."

Read the abstract on the University Events Calendar.

The next presenter in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering (CEGE) Alumni Speaker Series is Alex Hainen, associate professor at the University of Alabama.

Hainen will present "A Husky Heads South for Traffic Engineering."

Join us for this virtual presentation at noon Thursday (Oct. 27) at noon via Zoom.

Read about the presentation and speaker on the University Events Calendar.

The Department of Social Sciences (SS) is hosting a brown bag presentation today (Oct. 21) from noon to 1 p.m. in person in AOB 201 and virtually via Zoom.

Join Richelle Winkler, Mark Rhodes and Kathryn Hannum (SS), as well as students from the Costa Rica and Amtrak Study Away/Abroad programs, as they present "A Pathway for All: Sustainability and Equity in Study Abroad."

A core theme through both programs is sustainability, not only in academic pursuit, but in actualized practice. In this brown bag, students will present their experiences and we will discuss opportunities for how we might expand access to more diverse students, ensuring study away opportunities incorporate equity in both the academic aims and in access to the programs.

The Michigan Tech soccer team enters its final road weekend of the regular season, facing Ferris State today (Oct. 21) before a clash with Saginaw Valley State on Sunday (Oct. 23). Both contests will be played at 1 p.m.

Fans can catch both games on FloSports, as part of the four-year media partnership with the GLIAC beginning this fall.

Read the preview at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

Michigan Tech football is back on the road this week to face defending Division II National Champion Ferris State at 1 p.m. tomorrow (Oct. 22) at Top Taggart Field in Big Rapids, Michigan.

The No. 7-ranked Bulldogs fell from No. 1 after losing to Grand Valley State at home in the Anchor-Bone Classic. Meanwhile, the Huskies rediscovered the win column with home victories over Wayne State and Northern Michigan this month.

Read the preview at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

Michigan Tech hockey is hosting a series against Bemidji State this weekend. The series marks both teams' first CCHA play of the season.

The puck drops at 7:07 p.m. tonight (Oct. 21) and 6:07 p.m. tomorrow (Oct. 22) at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena. Tech enters the series at 2-1-0 and Bemidji State at 1-1-0.

Fans can listen to both games live on the radio at Mix 93.5 FM, or live online at TheMix93.com, Pasty.net or another radio streaming app. Both games will also be streamed on FloHockey.tv.

Read the preview at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

Michigan Tech volleyball gets back to conference action this weekend with a road trip to Grand Valley State tonight (Oct. 21) and Davenport tomorrow (Oct. 22).

The Huskies' first serve against the Lakers tonight is 7 p.m., and they have a 2 p.m. start versus the Panthers tomorrow. Both matches will be streamed live on FloSports.

Tech is 14-6 overall and 6-5 in the GLIAC. 

Read the preview at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

The Michigan Tech cross country squads return to action tomorrow (Oct. 22), traveling to the Warrior Challenge at Willow Metropark in New Boston, Michigan, the site of the 2022 GLIAC Championships. 

The women will take to the starting line to complete the 6K course at 11 a.m., while the men will pace the 8K course at 11:45 a.m.

Read the preview at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

Job Posting for Friday, Oct. 21, 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.

Investigator, Equal Opportunity Compliance and Title IX. 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.

Alex Kostinski (Physics/CQP) is the principal investigator on a project that has received a $38,097 research and development grant from NASA.

The project is titled "EPIC Solar Glint Product: Statistics of Terrestrial Glitter."

Second-year student Sammy Perrone (marketing) was quoted by ABC 10 in a story on the Michigan Tech Inter-Residential Hall Council’s revival of a fun community and school tradition: the SafeHouse, a Halloween-themed event offering games, haunted hallways and trick or treating for kids and students.

The event is planned next Saturday (Oct. 29) from 1-4 p.m.

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Ph.D. student Robert LaFave (environmental and energy policy) was quoted by Radio Results Network in a story about his receipt of the 2022 Community Builder Award from the Michigan Municipal League. LaFave is currently the village manager of L’Anse.

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Corp! Magazine mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about Orbion Space Technology’s new rocket manufacturing facility in Houghton. The story was picked up from DBusiness. 

Brad King (ME-EM), the company’s CEO, was quoted in the story.

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MLive mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about the continuing drop in enrollment seen by most Michigan universities in fall 2022, with overall enrollment falling more than 4 percent since last year. 

Michigan Tech, along with Michigan State University and the University of Michigan, were the only schools to mark positive annual growth.

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The Mining Journal picked up WNMU-FM's story about UP Pathways to Employment, a program aimed at supporting the demand for advanced manufacturing talent in the Upper Peninsula. 

Michigan Tech’s mobile lab will support the project, with the University providing both outreach and training. The lab, based in a 53-foot semi-trailer, was called a “key asset” to the effort.

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UPWord covered the approval of Michigan Tech’s new campus plan, which was unanimously approved by the University’s Board of Trustees on Oct. 7.

National Disability Employment Awareness Month

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) and all members of the Michigan Tech community are encouraged to participate. The purpose of NDEAM is to educate about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America's workers with disabilities. This year's theme, "Disability: Part of the Equity Equation," reflects the role people with disabilities play in a diverse and inclusive American workforce.

For specific ideas about how the Michigan Tech community can support NDEAM, see the 2022 NDEAM website.

Suggestions range from simple, such as putting up a poster, to comprehensive, such as hosting a disability education program for your department.

We all play an important part in fostering a more inclusive workforce — one where every person is recognized for their abilities — every day of every month.

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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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Computer Science Colloquium Lecture

Jun Wang will present a Computer Science Colloquium virtual lecture today (Oct. 21) from 3-4 p.m.

Wang is a professor of computer engineering and director of the Computer Architecture and Storage Systems (CASS) Laboratory at the University of Central Florida, Orlando. The title of his talk is "High-performance Data Processing via Hardware/Software Co-design and Sampling."

Wang has conducted extensive research in the areas of computer systems and data-intensive computing. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

The lecture is presented by the Michigan Tech Department of Computer Science (CS).

Join the lecture via Zoom.

Find out more about Wang and read the abstract on the Computing News Blog.

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Chemistry Seminar

Randall E. Winans of the X-ray Science Division, Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, will be presenting the next seminar in the Chemistry Seminar Series.

Winans' seminar is titled "Using X-ray Scattering and Spectroscopy to understand the Chemistry of Energy Issues."

The seminar will be held today (Oct. 21) at 3 p.m. in Chem Sci 101.

Winans was elected to the Michigan Tech Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1997. He received his B.S. in Chemistry from MTU in 1971.

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

The Rozsa Galleries Present: Arabesque

Friday, October 21, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. | Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts, Rozsa Galleries A-Space

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...

Nonlinear Electrokinetics for Microscale Bioparticle Analysis

Friday, October 21, 10–11 a.m. | Chemical Sciences and Engineering Building, 211

Chemical Engineering Research Seminar Dr. Blanca H. Lapizco-Encinas Professor and Founding Faculty, Biomedical Engineering Department Rochester Institute of...

(Women's Soccer) Michigan Tech at Ferris State

Friday, October 21, 1 p.m.–4 p.m.

Women's Soccer: Michigan Tech at Ferris State, Senior Day & Parents Weekend

PhD Defense: Manas Deepak Warke

Friday, October 21, 1 p.m.–2 p.m. | Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC), 202

Biological Sciences Advisor: Rupali Datta Evaluating Soil Arsenic Toxicity Using an In vitro Cell Culture Model and Exploring the Pteris vittata Microbiome in Arsenic...

Computer Science Colloquium Lecture: Jun Wang

Friday, October 21, 3 p.m.–4 p.m.

Jun Wang will present a Computer Science Colloquium virtual lecture on Friday, October 21, 2022, from 3-4 p.m. Wang is a professor of computer engineering and director of the...

Weekly Workshop

Friday, October 21, 4 p.m.–5 p.m. | MEEM 0402

A weekly workshop to dive in and discuss the various concepts underlying LEAN and Continous Improvement. The workshop typically begins with assigning different concepts and...

(Women's Volleyball) Michigan Tech at Grand Valley State

Friday, October 21, 7 p.m.–10 p.m.

Women's Volleyball: Michigan Tech at Grand Valley State

(Men's Ice Hockey) Bemidji State vs. Michigan Tech

Friday, October 21, 7:07 p.m.–10:07 p.m. | John MacInnes Student Ice Arena

Men's Ice Hockey: Bemidji State vs. Michigan Tech

Michigan Tech Music Presents: Backstage Jazz - It's a Swing Thing

Friday, October 21, 7:30 p.m. | General...

MICHIGAN TECH MUSIC PRESENTS BACKSTAGE JAZZ IT'S A SWING THING PERFORMED BY THE R&D BIG BAND AND JAZZ LAB BAND PROGRAM Run Time TBD

Michigan Tech Sound and Michigan Tech Theatre Present: R.U.R.

Friday, October 21, 7:30 p.m. | McArdle Theatre

MICHIGAN TECH SOUND AND MICHIGAN TECH THEATRE PRESENT R.U.R. by Karel Čapek Adapted for Audio Drama by Lee Eric Shackleford The seating for this show is general admission....