November 9, 2022

Mechanical engineering major Maci Cornish said her fascination with shipwrecks started early. She was in middle school when her grandmother gave her a framed print of the Edmund Fitzgerald lying on the bottom of Lake Superior. The print now hangs in her dorm room.

“I still love learning about Great Lakes maritime history. It’s always been my weird little niche,” said the Fitz-obsessed first-year student, who welds as a hobby, works summers as first mate on a tour boat and is studying for her 100-ton captain's license.

Meet Cornish — a Munising, Michigan, native who hopes to someday pilot Michigan Tech vessels — at Stories from Husky Nation.

Michigan Technological University invited more than 30 FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) teams, coaches and mentors to take part in its renowned Unboxed Challenges™ program as part of FIRST of the Great Lakes Bay Region’s seventh annual Bot Bash, held Oct. 28-29 at H.H. Dow High School in Midland, Michigan. 

Michigan Tech’s Unboxed Challenges™ are thoughtfully designed to build students’ confidence and resilience, and the activity helped FRC teams get charged up for the weekend-long Bot Bash. In about an hour and a half, participants put their teamwork to the test, exercising their leadership, communication, analytical and critical thinking skills to solve a series of scenario-based, interconnected STEM puzzles.

Luke T., a senior at Meridian High School in Sanford, Michigan, said the challenge helped the students discover their strengths and work together. “One of the girls on our team could balance chemical equations and she got (the challenge) really easily. The communication and teamwork needed to figure out the puzzles is very similar to what you need on a successful FRC team.”

Participants also connected with Michigan Tech student moderators, who provided near-peer mentorship and support. “Having college students lead these sessions naturally creates an opportunity for the participants to ask questions about college life, majors and future careers. It also allows our Michigan Tech students to develop as leaders, communicators and presenters,” said Jannah Tumey, associate director of the Center for Educational Outreach at Michigan Tech. 

The Center created Unboxed Challenges™ as part of its mission to spark curiosity in students of all ages through hands-on engagement in STEM, career exploration, critical skill-building and leadership development.

The Title IX Office and the registered student organization Sexual Assault and Violence Education (SAVE) would like to extend a very special thank-you to students, faculty and staff for your participation in and contributions made to the events held in October to recognize Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM).

The donations collected for the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes and Homecoming Shirt Swap events raised a total of $690, and two carloads of items were collected during the monthlong donation drive. All of this was given to the Barbara Kettle Gundlach Shelter Home. None of the events would have been possible without your generous donations, support and participation. We are extremely proud of the continued efforts made by the Michigan Tech community to support organizations that serve our local community.

DVAM has come to an end, so it is important for us to remember that our efforts to raise awareness and provide support for victims of domestic and intimate partner violence are needed year-round.

There are a variety of ways for you to learn how to support survivors, advocate for victims and contribute to social change. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic or intimate partner violence, help is available.

The next speaker in the Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics's Graduate Seminar Series will present at 4 p.m. tomorrow (Nov. 10) in MEEM 112.

Nathan Tom will present “Development of Marine Energy Technologies at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).”

While at NREL, Tom has been on several collaborative domestic and international projects, which include WEC-Sim code development and serving on the Testing & Expertise for Marine Energy (TEAMER) board.

In this brown bag, Elodie Charrière, postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Social Sciences (SS), will present her research, which focuses on military waste dumped into the Great Lakes in the 20th century.

Charriére will present at noon today (Nov. 9) in person in the Academic Office Building, AOB 201, and virtually via Zoom.

Her presentation, titled "Military Waste Dumped in Lake Superior: Historical and Environmental Legacies," explores the historical legacies and environmental impacts on inland waters related to a military waste management practice.

In honor of Veterans Day (Friday, Nov. 11), all veterans and active military personnel will be recognized during Friday's Michigan Tech hockey game.

Tickets for veterans and active military personnel are $5 off with military ID at the Central Ticket Office. Veterans can purchase tickets online using promo code: Military05.

Friday's game has the Huskies hosting Lake Superior State for game one of a CCHA series at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena. Faceoff is set for 7:07 p.m. on Friday and 6:07 p.m. Saturday (Nov. 12).

Read more at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

Friday (Nov. 11)
• Overwatch 2 vs TBD 7:30 p.m., Activision-Blizzard Collegiate
• Overwatch 2 vs TBD 9 p.m., Activision-Blizzard Collegiate

Saturday (Nov. 12)
• RL A&B CCA East Fall Open #3

Times are subject to change. Check Twitter @MTUEsports for updates.

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Esports News
Read more in the MTU Esports weekly update.

Michigan Tech volleyball begins the postseason today (Nov. 9) at Wayne State in a GLIAC quarterfinal matchup. 

The Huskies are the fifth seed and the Warriors are the fourth. First serve is set for 7 p.m. at Matthaei Gym. The teams split during the regular season, with each team winning on their home court. 

Wayne State is not part of the GLIAC's FloSports agreement. Wednesday's match will be streamed through wsuathletics.com for $5.95.

Tech finished the regular season 19-9 overall and 11-7 in the GLIAC.

Read the preview at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

Michigan Tech men's basketball was voted to finish fourth in the GLIAC Preseason Coaches' Poll.

The Huskies garnered one first-place vote and were behind Ferris State, Northern Michigan and Lake Superior in the rankings. 

Tech men's basketball finished 21-7 overall in 2021-22 and went 16-4 in conference games, tying for first place with Ferris State (16-4). Head coach Josh Buettner was named GLIAC Coach of the Year in his first season at the helm.

Read more at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

Michigan Tech women's basketball was selected to finish third in the GLIAC Preseason Coaches' Poll.

The Huskies earned 59 votes and came in behind NCAA national semifinalist Grand Valley State (81) and defending conference tournament champion Ferris State (72).

Tech women's basketball closed out the 2021-22 season with an 18-11 overall record, 12-7 in the GLIAC under fifth-year head coach Sam Clayton. Ellie Mackay was named First-Team All-GLIAC and Alex Rondorf was Second-Team All-GLIAC and All-GLIAC Defensive Team. Isabella Lenz also earned GLIAC Freshman of the Year honors.

Read more at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

Job Posting for Wednesday, Nov. 9, 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.

Clinical Counselor, Center for Student Mental Health and Well-being. 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.

Ph.D. candidate Beth Bartel (geology) and Professor Simon Carn (GMES) are co-authors of the Subduction Zones in 4 Dimensions (SZ4D) Implementation Plan.

SZ4D is a community-driven, multidecadal, interdisciplinary scientific initiative that strives to understand how the different components of subduction zone systems interact to produce and magnify geohazards over time. The implementation plan articulates a cogent and forward-looking vision for the future of subduction-zone science.

The SZ4D Implementation Plan can be found online.

Additionally, the report is described in a press release from the University of California Santa Cruz.

Beth Fitzpatrick (ADM) was a guest on a Behind the Mitten podcast episode titled “Michigan Tech Podcast: You have to love snow!” that aired Nov. 7.

Fitzpatrick discussed the programs offered at Tech and how you have to love snow to attend college in the Upper Peninsula.

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Water Online mentioned Michigan Tech in a story announcing the selection of Environmental Finance Centers (EFCs) by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The University is one of 29 EFCs selected by the EPA to help communities across the country access federal funding for infrastructure and greenhouse gas reduction projects that improve public health and environmental protection. The story was picked up from an EPA press release.

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The Keweenaw Report covered Michigan Tech’s student and faculty delegation to the COP27 United Nations climate summit, being held Nov. 6-18 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.

The MTU delegation was also the subject of a Michigan Tech News story.

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Michigan Home and Lifestyle mentioned Michigan Tech in a story listing the top-rated biking trails in the Upper Peninsula. The University’s Tech Trails were listed together with the Nara Nature Trails.

Women's Entrepreneurship Day Panel Discussion: Register Now

Join us tomorrow (Nov. 10) from 4-5:30 p.m. for a Women's Entrepreneurship Day panel discussion on Zoom. We will celebrate entrepreneurship with three female entrepreneurs who have made a difference in their communities. They will share info about their businesses, what inspired them to start their journey, what they’ve learned and advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. A moderated talk will follow individual presentations.

Register in advance to receive the Zoom link.

The panel members are:

• April Clarke, Co-Founder and Co-Owner of Xpress NEMT Inc.
  With a background in brand and product strategy, her talk will focus on recognizing opportunities for impact in your community, taking that first step and how passion and personal commitment to customers and the right mindset can lead to success in your endeavor.
  
  
• Briana Tucker, Co-Founder and Co-Owner of Refill U.P.
  Refill U.P., the Upper Peninsula's first low-waste refillery, started as a New Year's resolution and a personal desire to have sustainable, safe products for Tucker's home and family. Within a year, it scaled up from two area farmers markets to a brick-and-mortar location in Hancock, Michigan. As a business, Refill U.P. focuses on small, individual actions that lead to a more thoughtful and responsible community and world.
  
  
• Angela Price, Self-Employed Accounting and Business Consultant; Co-Founder of Unite Mental Health & Wellness
  Price has 18 years of experience helping businesses grow and thrive. Unite Mental Health & Wellness is a nonprofit formed with a mission to unite individuals in rural communities with quality mental health care while also supporting the professionals who provide it.

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ChE Seminar: 'Biomechanics of Therapy Induced Senescence and the Evolving Tumor Microenvironment'

Michelle R. Dawson will present as part of the Department of Chemical Engineering (ChE) Seminar Series on Friday (Nov. 11) at 10 a.m. in person in Chem Sci 211 or virtually via Zoom.

Dawson will present "Biomechanics of Therapy Induced Senescence and the Evolving Tumor Microenvironment."

Read the abstract at the University Events Calendar.

Dawson is an assistant professor of medical science in the Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry at Brown University.

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Research Project Looking for Participants

The Aging, Cognition, and Action Lab is currently looking for healthy older adults to participate in a two-day research study.

Inclusion criteria:

• 55-90 years old.
• No medical conditions/diagnoses that impact movement.
• No significant injuries to hands or arms that impact movement.

For more information, please visit the project website or call us at 906-487-2378.

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Virtual Talk: 'Effects of Deer Browsing on Native Plants'

Many gardeners know the impact deer can have on their favorite plants, from hostas to tomatoes to cabbages. Today (Nov. 9) at 7 p.m., Professor Chris Webster (CFRES) will give a Zoom talk on how white-tailed deer can also profoundly influence native plant communities.

Direct effects include loss of leaves, buds and flowers, resulting in stunting, reduced plant reproduction and eventually death. In addition, deer foraging can cause other dramatic changes, including shifts in competitive relationships, a rise in invasive species and changes to the balance of nutrients in the soil.

On the other hand, in plant communities that co-evolved with deer, the absence of deer can actually lead to declines in native plant diversity.

To attend, please register in advance for this Zoom presentation. You will receive an email with the link and a reminder.

Webster is the 2020 recipient of the Provost’s Award for Sustained Teaching Excellence. His research interests include exotic species, landscape ecology, forest restoration, plant community response to herbivory and wildlife habitat relationships.

The Michigan Tech Sustainability Demonstration House is a sponsor of this event.

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Scoping Your Design Expo Project Workshop

Thinking about participating in Design Expo? Make life for future-you easier by ensuring that all of the data, documentation, pictures, video clips and more that you need to make a stellar Design Expo presentation are at your fingertips this spring. We'll share tips, tricks, and tools that you can leverage to collect and organize materials as your project is in progress.

The workshop will be held today (Nov. 9) at 2 p.m. in Library 244. Keep an eye out for more workshops geared toward students participating in Design Expo and working on term projects in the spring semester.

Please register if you plan to attend so that we don’t order too much, or worse, too little pizza!

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This Week's C3 Luncheon

Menu for Thursday (Nov. 10):

• Italian Sausage with Peppers and Onions (Gluten Friendly)
• Spaghetti with Arrabiata Sauce (Vegan)
• Garlic Bread (Vegan)
• Seared Broccolini (Gluten Friendly, Vegan)
• Citrus Beet Salad (Gluten Friendly, Vegan)

Dining Services presents this week's C3 Luncheon, being held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Memorial Union Alumni Lounge (MUB 107). All faculty and staff, along with their guests, are invited.

The C3 lunch buffet menus are created and prepared by executive chef Michael Landini and his culinary team. As the name suggests, the meals are meant to foster conversation, community and collegiality. Attendees may bring their lunch instead of purchasing the buffet. Fruit-infused water, coffee, tea, cookies and fruit are available free to all attendees.

The buffet lunch is $12 per person. Cash, credit cards and gift cards are accepted. Gift cards can be purchased in the Memorial Union Office (MUB 101). You can submit C3 feedback using our Google form. To join the C3 Google group and receive weekly menus, email business-support@mtu.edu.

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

Creating SciENcv Biosketches and Upcoming Changes to NSF PAPPG

Wednesday, November 9, 12 p.m.–1 p.m.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) require personnel biographical sketches to be submitted in a very specific format. In...

Robot101: The Robot Plot

Wednesday, November 9, 12 p.m. | Memorial Union Building (MUB)

The Robot Plot Wednesday, November 9, 12 p.m. (MUB) Panel discussion: Stephanie Carpenter, Erin Smith, and Dana van Kooy (MTU-Humanities). Michigan Tech faculty in...

Robot101: The Robot Plot, a Panel Discussion

Wednesday, November 9, 12 p.m. | Memorial Union Building (MUB)

The Robot Plot: Wednesday, November 9, 12 p.m. (MUB) Panel discussion: Stephanie Carpenter, Erin Smith, and Dana van Kooy (MTU-Humanities). Michigan Tech faculty in...

Open Enrollment Forum

Wednesday, November 9, 3 p.m.–5 p.m. | MUB Ballroom A1

The Power of Savings - TIAA Webinar

Wednesday, November 9, 3 p.m.–4 p.m.

National Novel Writing Month Writing Space

Wednesday, November 9, 5:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m. | Portage Lake District Library , Michigan Room

November is National Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)! Join the Portage Lake District Library and the Van Pelt and Opie Library all month on Wednesdays from 5:00-7:30 pm in PLDL’s...

Students For Life General Meeting

Wednesday, November 9, 5 p.m.–6 p.m. | Fisher 132

Students For Life General Meeting

iDesign 2023 Informational Meeting: Faculty-Led Study Abroad in Panama

Wednesday, November 9, 6 p.m.–7 p.m. | Dow Environmental Sciences and Engineering Building, 875

Two-Semester Capstone Design Experience The International Senior Design (iDesign) Program provides a unique capstone design experience that involves service learning in an...

SAE Aero Design Weekly Meeting

Wednesday, November 9, 6 p.m.–8 p.m. | SAE Aero Lab, MEEM 703

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...

(Women's Volleyball) TBA vs. Michigan Tech

November 9, all day | Student Development Complex (SDC), Wood Gym

Women's Volleyball: TBA vs. Michigan Tech, GLIAC Quarterfinal