April 20, 2023

Guinness World Record holder is not a title Michigan Tech cross country and track and field student-athlete Ella Merklein thought she would have — especially just a few months after a season-ending injury early in her first collegiate outdoor track season.

On the morning of Thursday, March 23, it became official. Merklein, a biomedical engineering major, holds the world record in the “Fastest mile on crutches (one leg) – female” category.

Learn more about her journey and how her MTU family cheered her on every step of the way at Stories From Husky Nation.

LIFT, the Detroit-based manufacturing innovation institute sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense, has partnered with Michigan Technological University on a number of recent projects. Last year, four teams of undergraduate students designed a powder metal atomization chamber to enable the creation of new alloy metal powders for use in additive manufacturing.

While atomization is a standard technique for producing powders for metallic additive processes, there is limited production capability for custom alloys. The students’ design, a modular 10-foot-tall chamber, has the ability to atomize about 88 pounds (40 kilograms) of metal, including ferrous metals, nickel-based alloys and aluminum-based alloys.

“This atomization capability is needed because current powders for metal additive development projects are expensive and have long lead times,” said Paul Sanders, Patrick Horvath Endowed Professor of Materials Science and Engineering and advisor to the undergraduate design teams. “This chamber, if built and deployed, will provide for improved powder additive alloy design faster and at less cost across industry.”

For more information, read the full press release on LIFT's website.

The Department of Humanities' first ever Media Student Showcase will take place tonight (April 20) from 5-7 p.m. in the Humanities Digital Media Zone (Walker 120.)

Students will present work completed both as part of humanities media courses and personal and professional development. A panel of judges from marketing and design businesses in the community will be present to provide feedback to students, and to adjudicate the work on display.

Please join us as we celebrate the work of students from across the University taking part in the media curriculum! Refreshments will be provided.

On May 2, from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., AppsAnywhere software will be unavailable due to system maintenance. This will not affect locally installed software (CORE, COMSOL, aspen One and Labview).

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

The Department of Chemical Engineering (ChE) inducted six alumni into our Distinguished Academy on Friday (April 14) at the Miscowaubik Club in Calumet. The purpose of the academy is to honor outstanding graduates of the Michigan Technological University Department of Chemical Engineering. Selection into the academy recognizes excellence and leadership in engineering and civic affairs.

This induction honors some of the most successful alumni of Michigan Tech’s Department of Chemical Engineering. Portraits and a brief biography of academy members are prominently displayed on the Distinguished Academy Honor Wall in the hallway outside the main departmental offices to serve as inspirational role models for future chemical engineering students.

This year’s inductees include:

• Bryan Glover ’86
• Bruce Janda ’76
• Carlos Jorda ’71
• Brad Rick ’84 ’86
• John Smuk ’55
• Phillip Watters ’69

M.S. in Geophysics candidate Caleb Kaminski will present a final master's defense tomorrow (April 21) at 9 a.m. in Dow 610.

Kaminski's defense is titled "Exploring Ground-Penetrating Radar Responses to Basaltic Terrain for Upcoming Lunar Expeditions."

Kaminski is advised by Aleksey Smirnov, with Paul van Susante and Jeremy Shannon as committee members.

From the abstract:
In preparation for upcoming lunar expeditions, a comprehensive understanding of the Moon's geophysical properties is imperative, particularly in the context of resource identification and extraction. This study focuses on the experimental characterization of electromagnetic (EM) behavior in the radio spectrum for ground-penetrating radar applications, utilizing basaltic Keweenawan stamp sand and highland lunar simulant soil test materials with varying particle grades. Under controlled laboratory conditions, we systematically analyzed and compared the differences in EM wave velocity and signal amplitude as a function of particle size and mineralogy, as represented in radargrams. Our findings demonstrate that the highland lunar simulant exhibits a significantly higher EM reflection coefficient than the stamp sand, which can be attributed to its lower conductivity arising from compositional differences. These results hold important implications for the development of remote sensing techniques and optimization of ground-penetrating radar systems for future lunar missions, ultimately enabling the efficient detection and extraction of valuable resources such as water ice on the lunar surface.

Facilitating Difficult Conversations Workshop
The "Facilitating Difficult Conversations: Let’s Talk About It" workshop is once again being offered by the office of Equal Opportunity Compliance on June 27 from 9-11 am. This summer we are piloting a shorter version of the workshop that is just two hours in length. The workshop will provide tools for handling uncomfortable work and/or peer conversations in a respectful and professional manner.

This in-person workshop is open to all Michigan Tech faculty and staff. However, if you are a remote employee and would like to participate, please contact us. We plan to lead a workshop that is fully virtual in the near future.

The number of participants is somewhat limited, so please complete the RSVP form to save your spot. Once you are signed up, you will receive a calendar invitation, which will include the location. For more information, feel free to contact our office at 906-487-3310 or eocompliance@mtu.edu.
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An Introduction to Restorative Practices
The Office of Academic and Community Conduct will be offering a 10-hour training to introduce participants to the theory of restorative justice (RJ) and its practices. Training will take place the week of June 5 for two hours a day, Monday-Friday, 2-4 p.m.

In restorative practices, harmed parties have the opportunity to tell those responsible how they have been affected. Those responsible can gain empathy and understanding — not only for those directly affected, but for family, friends, co-workers and others. Then, the responsible parties have a chance to make amends and shed the "offender" label, hopefully breaking the cycle of violence, misbehavior and/or disruption. For more information about restorative practices, please visit the International Institute for Restorative Practices website.

Training participants will:

• Learn how to prepare for and facilitate an RJ conference through experiential learning.
• Learn how to prepare for and facilitate an RJ circle through experiential learning.

All participants will need to purchase two small low-cost books. Register now. Registration is due no later than May 29. Seats are limited, so sign up now! All inquiries may be addressed to Director of Academic Conduct Rob Bishop at rmbishop@mtu.edu or 906-487-1964.

Have you noticed that different people have vastly different experiences in classes, meetings, informal and formal events, and other interactions on campus? Ever noticed that this is dependent upon visually identifiable characteristics (gender, skin color, etc.)? Would you like to learn more about becoming an ally in the moment and help intentionally craft the culture at Michigan Tech to position every single individual for success (not just those who fit the "historically typical" mold)?

The ADVANCE Initiative at Michigan Tech is proud to present a deep dive workshop with the goal: “Stand together in the quest for gender & racial equity.” The workshop will be held next Friday (April 28) and is for returning attendees who want to investigate strategies for creating an inclusive climate. You are invited to attend one of two sessions, held concurrently, to explore the impact of gender and race on faculty members’ experiences of the University campus climate. Through a review of the existing research and group discussions, these sessions will seek to shift the dialogue from individual problems and solutions experienced by underrepresented faculty to seeking to acknowledge and identify institutional challenges and solutions related to gender and racial inequity in higher education.

If you'd simply like to learn more about these issues in a collegial environment, please attend. If you would like to learn strategies to be an ally, attend and bring a friend! 

This workshop will be led by Michigan Tech's own Advocate Team members (cisgender-men-only session) and by ADVANCE's PI team/Advocates and Allies Advisory Board members (women and other genders session). Details on Advocates and Allies are available on the ADVANCE webpage.

Lunch will be served at this workshop, so please RSVP in advance.

Workshop Details:

• What: ADVANCE Advocates and Allies Deep Dive Workshop
• When: Friday, April 28, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Where: Noblet 143 and 144
• Who: This workshop is intended for faculty and staff who want to acquire in-depth understanding in creating an inclusive climate.

This workshop is being sponsored by the Advocates Team, the Advocates and Allies Advisory Board (A3B) and the ADVANCE Initiative at Michigan Tech.

ADVANCE at Michigan Tech is an NSF-funded initiative dedicated to improving faculty career success, retention, diversity, equity and inclusion. To learn more about our mission and programming efforts, and to check out our growing collection of resources, email us at advance-mtu@mtu.edu, visit our website or stop by our office in Library 102B.

John Jaszczak (Museum/Physics) visited the Earth and Planetary Sciences Department at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, on April 13, and presented the colloquium "Criminal Minerals: Investigating Minerals that Break the Laws of Classical Crystallography."

Briana Tucker and Nagesh Hatti (Enterprise) were quoted by WZMQ 19 News in coverage of Michigan Tech’s 2023 Design Expo, held Tuesday (April 18) at the Van Pelt and Opie Library and Memorial Union Building. 

Tucker, senior Ryan Peckham (electrical engineering) and first-year engineering student Andrew Brenner were interviewed for a WLUC TV6 broadcast segment, and first-years Ethan LeGrave, Veronica North and Bailey Wright were mentioned in the accompanying story.

The Daily Mining Gazette also covered Expo, mentioning students Breanna Gorman (electrical engineering) and Cade Meyer (mechanical engineering).

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Paul Sanders (MSE) was quoted by American Machinist and DBusiness in a story about a new method for producing customized powdered metal alloys developed by four student teams at Michigan Tech. The process involves molten metal poured through a funnel and then atomized using a high-pressure gas nozzle.

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Ph.D. student Julia Petersen (environmental and energy policy) was quoted by UPWord in a story about her hiring as the Nature Conservancy’s new Keweenaw Heartlands project manager.

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency mentioned the Michigan Tech Research Institute in a story on its research vessel Lake Guardian’s 40th annual sampling of the Great Lakes. MTRI researchers are participating in the spring survey, which will study nutrient concentrations, algae and zooplankton communities, as well as the diversity of the Great Lakes microbial community.

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The Chronicle of Higher Education published a Q&A with Roxane Gay ’10 (Ph.D. Rhetoric and Technical Communication), the Gloria Steinem Endowed Chair in Media, Culture and Feminist Studies at Rutgers University. In the article, Gay credited her graduate work in rhetoric and technical communication for helping her become a stronger essayist.

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The San Diego Union-Tribune mentioned Michigan Tech’s engineering renown in a story reviewing the top 2023 NFL Draft offensive tackle prospects. Former Husky Jake Witt was included as a “blue rare” candidate projected to be drafted in the seventh round. The story was picked up in 25 regional news outlets nationwide.

Retirement Party for Tom Merz

Please join the College of Business (COB) as we gather to celebrate the retirement of Thomas Merz, professor of economics, tomorrow (April 21) in GLRC 202.

Merz's 42-year career at Michigan Tech began in 1980, a decade during which he served as associate dean of the College. His passion for visiting new countries, serving the community (including as mayor of Houghton from ’96 to ’06), and sharing wisdom and experiences with Huskies is irreplaceable. We know we speak on behalf of the thousands of former students who have come through Merz's extraordinarily popular Game Theory class when we say these halls simply won’t be the same without him. 

Stop by the reception for hors d'oeuvres and dessert from 5-6:30 p.m. A celebration program will begin at 5:30 p.m. 

RSVP to Laura Shawhan at lshawhan@mtu.edu or 906-487-2964. Please be sure to include whether any guests will accompany you. We hope to see you there!

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Lunch and Learn: When and Where to Seek Medical Treatment

Join Stephanie McKenzie, certified physician assistant (PA-C) from Upper Great Lakes Family Health Center, tomorrow (April 21) at noon in the MUB Superior Room (B001) for a Lunch and Learn about seeking medical treatment when you are ill.

We've all experienced illness before. Most people have what they consider a standard illness that plagues them once or twice yearly. Sometimes, symptoms sneak up on us that are more concerning than usual. Have you ever been concerned about an intense throat pain, a deeper cough, nasal congestion that won't go away or a very severe headache that feels like the worst of your life? Join McKenzie for a conversation on:

• Common cold symptoms
• When to seek care
• When to see your primary care provider versus seeking care in the Emergency Department

Please email benefits@mtu.edu to reserve your seat.

Follow Michigan Tech Wellness on Facebook to stay up to date on all health and wellness opportunities!

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Sixth Annual Keweenaw Native Plant Symposium

Award-winning author Nancy Lawson will deliver the keynote address Saturday (April 22) at the Sixth Annual Keweenaw Native Plant Symposium, co-sponsored by the Sustainability Demonstration House.

The symposium is free and runs from 9 a.m. to noon on Zoom. To register, visit the Sixth Annual Keweenaw Native Plant Symposium page.

In addition to Lawson, two Michigan-based experts will be featured, including Stephanie Graef, who will discuss shoreline protection, and Duke Elsner, who will speak on the use of native plants to attract beneficial bugs to the garden.

Nancy Lawson is the author of "The Humane Gardener" and "Wildscape." She will present "A World of Discovery: How Science and Heart Can Make You a More Ecological Gardener." She will discuss how plants and animals perceive the world around them, the unintended consequences of noise, light and odor pollution, and how we can mitigate these disruptions and create sensory refuges in an increasingly noisy world.

Erwin "Duke" Elsner is a Michigan State University Extension educator emeritus. He will speak on "Plant Selection to Attract and Support Predator and Parasitoid Insects." The larvae of many species of predatory insects, including wasps, eat many garden pests. However, once these immature wasps become adults, they change their diet and rely instead on flower nectar and pollen. Elsner will provide examples of wasps' favorite flowers and show how planting them can control many pests in our vegetable gardens.

Stephanie Graef, owner of Eagle Shoreline Protection in Chassell, will present "Living Shoreline: Benefits to the Ecosystem." Graef installs living shorelines: protected, stabilized coastal edges made of natural materials such as plants, sand or rock. Unlike a seawall or other hard structure, which impedes the growth of plants and animals, living shorelines provide wildlife habitat, as well as natural resilience to communities near the waterfront.

For more information and to register, visit the Sixth Annual Keweenaw Native Plant Symposium page.

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Husky Games Showcase on Sunday

The Husky Game Development Enterprise (HGD) will present a virtual showcase of its work on Sunday (April 23) at 7 p.m. Watch a live online stream featuring the games the group developed this year. All are welcome!

Learn more about Husky Games on the Computing News Blog.

Browse dozens of current and past games developed by HGD.

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Final C3 Luncheon for the School Year

Menu for Thursday (April 20):

• Meat Pasties (Beef and Pork)
• Veggie Pasties
• Beet Salad with Arugula, Apples, Pistachios and Feta with Balsamic Vinaigrette (Vegetarian)
• Cole Slaw (Vegetarian, Gluten Friendly)

Dining Services presents the final C3 Luncheon for the 2022-23 school year, 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.

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BioSci Seminar Series: Undergrad Showcase Experience

As part of the Department of Biological Sciences (BioSci) Seminar Series, students in BL 4600 Professional Development Capstone for Biological Sciences will present an Undergraduate Student Experience Showcase today (April 20) from 3-4 p.m. in GLRC 202.

Students in BioSci engage in a variety of experiential learning opportunities, ranging from independent undergraduate research to internship, teaching assistance and field/lab intensive coursework. In this year-end showcase, seven students from the spring 2023 section of BL4600 will share their experiences and lessons learned in short presentations. There will be three poster presentations and four short oral presentations, presented in a showcase format.

Please come and support our senior students in BioSci as they share their experiences and prepare for graduation! If you are currently an undergraduate in BioSci, this will be a great opportunity to learn from our graduating seniors about the range of experiences and opportunities you might want to pursue during your time at Michigan Tech.

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Earth Day Dinner at McNair Dining Hall

Organized by the Sustainability Demonstration House (SDH), the Earth Day Dinner will be held today (April 20) from 4-7 p.m. at the McNair Dining Hall.

This event will showcase a sustainable diet of predominantly plant-based foods while diverting waste from the landfill through composting and recycling. Everyone is welcome! There will be donated guest passes available or you can pay at the event.

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ME-EM Graduate Seminar Speaker: Radwin Askari

The next Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics (ME-EM) Graduate Seminar speaker will present at 4 p.m. today (April 20) in MEEM 112.

Radwin Askari (GMES/RISE) will present “(I) Effect of Deformation on the Thermal Conductivity of Granular Porous Media and (II) Experimental Study of the Percolation of Ferrofluid in Porous Media Under a Magnetic Field.”

Askari is an associate professor in the Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences at Michigan Tech. He is a geophysicist with a specialization in applied and experimental geophysics.

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ChE Seminar with Yuan Yao

Yuan Yao will present as part of the Department of Chemical Engineering (ChE) Seminar Series tomorrow (April 21) at 10 a.m. in person in Chem Sci 201 and virtually via Zoom.

Yao will present "Life Cycle Systems Modeling for Sustainable Circular Bioeconomy."

Yao is an assistant professor of industrial ecology and sustainable systems, and chemical and environmental engineering at Yale University.

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Master's Defense: Zachary Olson

Thursday, April 20, 8–9 a.m. | Chemical Sciences and Engineering Building, 201

Chemical Engineering Co-advisors: Michael Mullins and Tony Rogers Selecting Optimal Distillation Configurations that Minimize the Overall Rate of Entropy Generation Attend...

Michigan Tech Art Presents: Snowsports Faculty and Staff Art Show

Thursday, April 20, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. |

MICHIGAN TECH ART PRESENTS SNOWSPORTS FACULTY AND STAFF ART SHOW WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2023 THROUGH SATURDAY APRIL 29, 2023 A-SPACE HOURS: M-F 8 A.M.-8 P.M.

Biological Sciences Seminar Series - Student Experience Showcase

Thursday, April 20, 3 p.m.–4 p.m. | Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC), 202

Students in Biological Sciences engage in a variety of experiential learning opportunities, ranging from independent undergraduate research to internship, teaching assistance,...

(I) Effect of Deformation on the Thermal Conductivity of Granular Porous Media and (II) Experimental Study of the Percolation of Ferrofluid in Porous Media Under a Magnetic Field

Thursday, April 20, 4 p.m. | R. L. Smith Building (MEEM), 4pm

ME-EM Graduate Seminar Speaker Series proudly presents Radwin Askari, PhD Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences Michigan Technological University Abstract Heat...

Little Huskies Boys Basketball Spring Camp

Thursday, April 20, 4 p.m.–6 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Varsity Wood Gym

Learning skills, working as a team, and having fun: that’s Michigan Tech’s Little Huskies Boys’ Basketball Camp! It’s about the best introduction to basketball you can...

Outdoor Venture Crew Weekly Meeting

Thursday, April 20, 5:15 p.m.–7:00 p.m. | Fisher 129

We'll be voting on our weekly trip and discussing other relevant information. While our meetings run until 7:00 PM, they don't usually last longer than 20 or 30 minutes. Feel...

Sips & Succulents

Thursday, April 20, 6 p.m.–8 p.m. | MUB Commons

Whether you need to add some life to your home or take a moment to de-stress from studying for your finals or maybe you want to see if you can keep a plant alive for an entire...

Tennessee Alumni Social

Thursday, April 20, 6 p.m.–8 p.m. | Von Elrod's Beer Hall & Kitchen

TN-based Michigan Tech alumni and friends are invited to join Dean Janet Callahan and Craig Klich '93 for a social at Von Elrod's Beer Hall & Kitchen on Thursday, April 20,...

Sustainability Film Series: The Plastic Problem

Thursday, April 20, 7 p.m.–9 p.m. | U. J. Noblet Forestry Building, G002 Hesterberg Hall

Sustainability Film and Facilitated Discussion Series presents The Plastic Problem (54 min.) Description "The Plastic Problem" (2019) explores the issue of plastic...

Club Roll

Thursday, April 20, 8:00 p.m.–9:30 p.m. | SDC Pool

Come join the Log Rolling Club in the SDC Pool. No experience needed, we would be more than happy to help you learn and have a great time! Everyone that participates in...