January 19, 2026

Scientists at Brookhaven National Laboratory and collaborators — most of them alumni, faculty, staff and current students from Michigan Tech — have developed a new type of lidar that can observe cloud structures at the scale of a single centimeter. In the University’s Pi Cloud Chamber, they used it to directly observe fine cloud structures in the uppermost portion of laboratory-generated clouds.

The team’s results, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, provide some of the first experimental data showing how cloud droplet properties near the tops of clouds differ from those in the cloud interior. These differences are crucial to understanding how clouds evolve, form precipitation and affect Earth’s energy balance.

“This lidar is essentially a microscope for clouds,” said Fan Yang ’17 (Ph.D. in Atmospheric Sciences), an atmospheric scientist at Brookhaven and the lead author of the study. “Because we designed the lidar ourselves, we were able to optimize everything — from the laser system to the timing electronics — to achieve the centimeter-scale resolution needed to study cloud physics in a totally new way.”

In this guest blog, Karen McNulty Walsh of Brookhaven explains how the team developed an innovative, centimeter-scale view into lab-created clouds to uncover structural features important to rainfall, brightness, and representation in atmospheric models.

Read more about the revolutionary instrument and what it’s revealing on Michigan Tech’s Unscripted Research Blog.

There’s still time to join the Center for Teaching and Learning’s Spring 2026 Accessible Tech Challenge. Sign up by Jan. 26 (next Monday) to take part in this friendly competition focused on improving the accessibility of your course materials.

Participants will have hands-on support available throughout the semester and at scheduled working sessions, and instructors who reach the accessibility target will earn a nice prize — while making course content easier for students to access and use.

Visit the Accessible Tech Challenge webpage for more information and contact the CTL at ctl@mtu.edu with questions about the challenge.

Electronic 2025 W-2 Wage and Tax Statements are now available in Ellucian Experience.

To access your W-2, log in to Experience and navigate to the Payroll Card > Tax Forms > W-2 Wage and Tax Statement, then select tax year 2025.

All employees who worked in 2025 continue to have Experience access for W-2 retrieval, even if they are no longer a current employee. Paper copies of 2025 W-2 forms are scheduled to be mailed no later than Tuesday, Jan. 20, to the employee mailing address on file.

For issues accessing Experience, contact Michigan Tech IT at it-help@mtu.edu. For assistance with 2024 and prior W-2s, or if you notice an issue with your W-2, contact Payroll Services at payroll@mtu.edu.

Due to new IRS regulations, Payroll Services will mail separate overtime (OT) statements to eligible employees by the first week of February 2026.

Registration is open for spring sports camps and tournaments! Get ready for an action-packed season of fun, friends and skill-building! 

Michigan Tech Recreation’s youth sports camps and tournaments are coming soon, and we can’t wait to welcome young athletes for days filled with movement, learning and excitement. Whether your child is trying a sport for the first time or looking to build confidence and sharpen their skills, these camps are the perfect place to play, grow and have a blast.

Youth Sports Camps

• Volleyball High School Skills Academies (girls ages 13-18, currently in grades 8-12): March 29, April 18 and April 19
• Girls’ Basketball Little Huskies (girls ages 7-11, grades 2-5): April 6-9
• Boys’ Basketball Little Huskies (boys ages 7-11, grades 2-5): April 13-16
• Little Huskies Football (boys and girls ages 6-12, grades 1-6): April 11

Tournaments

• Doghouse Classic 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament
  • Boys’ and Girls’ Divisions | Grades 4-8 plus JV and Varsity
  • Men’s Open and Women’s Open Divisions | Available to all ages (9-99)

Questions? Email sportscamps@mtu.edu.

Backstage Jazz: Small Groups
Saturday, Jan. 24, at 7:30 p.m. | Sunday, Jan. 25, at 3 p.m.
Rozsa Backstage
Michigan Tech Music Series

Join Michigan Tech Jazz musicians this weekend for “Backstage Jazz: Small Groups” featuring Michigan Tech’s diverse and talented small group ensembles led by Drew Kilpela and Adam Meckler, including JazTec, Techtonics, E=Jazz² and Momentum.

The Rozsa’s backstage transforms into the perfect jazz club setting to enjoy a program of music spanning the history of jazz. Encompassing classic, contemporary, funk and fusion styles, the performances will showcase impressive improvisational skills and unique musical arrangements. Space is limited, so get your tickets fast!

Join co-authors John Sherrill (HU) and Michael Salvo for a talk covering their 2025 work “Artificial Infrastructures.”

Grounded in expert interviews, “Artificial Infrastructures” investigates how generative artificial intelligence is reshaping writing in high-tech industries and reveals how professionals co-write with AI, rethinking authorship, labor and infrastructure. 

The talk is happening on Thursday, Jan. 22, at 3 p.m. in the Van Pelt and Opie Library’s East Reading Room, with virtual attendance also invited on Zoom. Light refreshments will be available.

Join the Author Talk on Zoom.

Visit the University Events Calendar for more information on the talk.

Department of Physics graduate students will be presenting their research progress at this week's Physics Colloquium:

• Alan Larson (advised by Ranjit Pati)
• Mahsa Najafi (advised by Petra Huentemeyer)

This will be an in-person event. The students will give their talks at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 22, in Fisher 139.

Event details, including the students’ presentation titles and abstracts, are available on the University Events Calendar.

WLUC TV6 mentioned Michigan Tech’s Mind Trekkers in a video segment previewing the One UP Mind Trekkers Tour stop in Escanaba, highlighting the program’s hands-on STEM activities and its partnership with U.P. Michigan Works and the MiSTEM Network.

My UP Now mentioned Michigan Tech men’s basketball guard Marcus Tomashek in a story about his inclusion on the Bevo Francis Top 100 Watch List, which recognizes the top player in small college basketball across multiple divisions.

Milwaukee’s 89.7 WUWM-FM featured Michigan Tech alum Deedra Irwin ’15 (B.S. Exercise Science) in a story about her path to competing in her second Winter Olympics as a Team USA biathlete, following her seventh-place finish in Beijing in 2022.

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

New Huskies Orientation Paperwork Session

Monday, January 19, 8–10 a.m.

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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day - Day of Service

Monday, January 19, 9:30 a.m.–2:00 p.m. | Memorial Union Building 1st Floor Commons

Each year, the Student Leadership and Involvement office honors the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by hosting the MLK Day of Service, a campus-wide initiative in which students, faculty, and staff come together to strengthen and support our community. This year’s Day of Service will take place on Monday, January 19th, with service activities running from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM. Participants are invited to check in at 9:30 AM in the MUB, where coffee, hot chocolate, and cider will be available before the day’s activities begin. Volunteers will receive information packets and will then travel to their service locations. Some project sites may require driving. REGISTER HERE

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MLK Day of Service

Monday, January 19, 9:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m. | Several

Please register for one of the activities here: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service | Home | GivePulse

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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day - Art Display

Monday, January 19, 12–1 p.m. | Opie Van Pelt Library Exhibit Space

Michigan Technological University invites students, staff, faculty, and community members to submit original artwork honoring the legacy and impact of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. As part of the 2026 MLK Day Celebration and the theme “United through Service,” this exhibit showcases creative reflections on justice, unity, service, and Dr. King’s enduring influence. All submitted pieces will be displayed in the Van Pelt and Opie Library Exhibit Area from Friday, January 16th through Monday, January 26th. Artwork will also be featured during the MLK Celebration Dinner so attendees can enjoy and engage with the pieces. We welcome visual art of all forms—including drawings, paintings, graphic art, photography, mixed media, and written or illustrated tributes. Submission Link: https://forms.gle/gq9FChe13jkoPFkC7 Submission Deadline: Prior to the exhibit opening on January 16th Join us in celebrating the power of art, activism, and community as we honor Dr. King’s message and highlight the creativity of our campus and local youth.

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Huskies Swim Training - Session 1

Monday, January 19, 4–5 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Pool

Huskies Swim Training is a program that provides additional attention and competitive guidance to advanced swimmers looking to focus on stroke technique and efficiency. Sessions will be designed to improve swimming through stroke drills and swimming sets focused on endurance, speed, and race strategy. Coaches will provide feedback and stroke correction in a group environment with an emphasis on promoting a love for competitive swimming and lifelong skills such as discipline, dedication, and teamwork. Come be part of the pack! Competitve swimming opportunities are now availabe to current Huskies Swim Training participants!

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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day - Interfaith Service

Monday, January 19, 4:15–5:00 p.m. | Opie Van Pelt Library East Reading Room

Held in the Library East Reading Room, the Interfaith Service offers a quiet and reflective space for our campus community to gather in shared intention. This program welcomes individuals of all faiths, traditions, and worldviews to come together as we honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Through readings, reflections, and moments of collective silence, we center the theme United Through Service and acknowledge the power of unity in creating positive change. This gathering invites us to reflect not only on Dr. King’s teachings, but also on how we might carry those values forward in our own service to others.

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AIChE General Meeting

Monday, January 19, 5–6 p.m. | ChemSci 211

Join AIChE for a presentation from Amcor! Amcor is a global packaging company that designs and manufactures flexible and rigid packaging for food, medical, and consumer products. All are welcome!

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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day - Peace March

Monday, January 19, 5:00–5:30 p.m. | Husky Statue to the Arch

Beginning at the Husky Statue, the Peace March is a visible expression of our continued commitment to justice, equity, and community action. Participants walk together in solidarity, symbolizing the collective strength that emerges when individuals unite behind a shared purpose. Rooted in the theme United Through Service, the march serves as a reminder that progress is achieved not in isolation, but through shared responsibility and mutual care. As we move across campus, we honor the legacy of those who marched before us and reaffirm our dedication to building a more just and compassionate community.

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Parent & Child Aquatics (Ages 6 mo-3 yrs) - Session 1

Monday, January 19, 5:10–5:50 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Pool

Come make a splash in Huskies Group Swim Lessons! American Red Cross Parent & Child Aquatics levels are being offered at the SDC Pool for ages 6 months to 3 years old. A parent is required to be in the water with each participant.

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Preschool Aquatics (Ages 4-5 years) - Session 1

Monday, January 19, 5:10–5:50 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Pool

Come make a splash in Huskies Group Swim Lessons! American Red Cross Preschool Aquatics levels are being offered at the SDC Pool for ages 4 to 5 years old.

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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day - Banquet

Monday, January 19, 5:30–7:30 p.m. | MUB Ballroom

Following the Peace March, we invite all participants to join us for dinner as we continue to celebrate Dr. King’s enduring legacy. This communal meal provides an opportunity for fellowship, reflection, and recognition of the contributions made by members of our campus and community. Guided by the theme United Through Service, the dinner encourages meaningful connection, conversation, and celebration of the collective efforts that bring us together. During this time, we honor those who exemplify service and leadership, and we reaffirm our shared commitment to carrying Dr. King’s vision into the future. Spots are limited. Emails will be sent to inform you of confirmation. By filling out this form it does not guarantee you a seat at the event. RSVP HERE!!

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Through the Quiet Hours: Night Sky Art Exhibition - Rozsa Presenting Series and Rozsa Art Galleries

January 19, all day | Rozsa Art Galleries, Rozsa Art Galleries A-Space

ROZSA PRESENTING SERIES AND MICHIGAN TECH ART SERIES EVENT Through the Quiet Hours will showcase works by local artists inspired by the Keweenaw after nightfall and how it transforms our region in ways both subtle and profound. Presented in conjunction with National Geographic Live: Earth After Dark, this exhibition invites artists to interpret the beauty, mystery, and sense of connection found in the Keweenaw’s nighttime hours. Things to know ROZSA ART GALLERIES HOURS | M-F 8 a.m.-8 p.m. and Saturdays 1-8 p.m. EXHIBIT DATES | January 16-23, 2026 RECEPTION | Friday, January 16, 2026 | 5-7 p.m. ADMISSION| Free and open to the public CONTENT GUIDANCE | None Plan your visit with information about parking, accessibility, and more. Rozsa Art Galleries are open 8 a.m.-8 p.m. M-F and 1-8 p.m. on Saturdays. Closed during academic recesses. Contact the Rozsa Box Office for more information. Thanks to Our Sponsors Support for this Rozsa Presenting Series and Michigan Tech Art Event provided by: and the Rozsa Center's Circle of Supporters. About the Presenters Professional exhibitions in the Rozsa Art Galleries. Student showcases. Artist Talks with Studio Here Now. Cross-campus collaborations. The Michigan Tech Art Series offers dynamic programming that supports Michigan Tech students and our wider community. Part of the the annual Rozsa Season, the Michigan Tech Art, Music, and Theatre Series are presented by the Visual and Performing Arts Department. Through these series, students from across campus, community members, and faculty create art that connects us to the world. With majors in audio production and technology, sound design, theatre and entertainment technology, and nine minors, the department fosters creativity, self-motivation, and the development of practical and artistic skills. Everyone is welcome, and there's something for everyone. View all Michigan Tech Art Series Events. The Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts cultivates a vibrant and connected community through experiences that bring the Keweenaw together. Located on Michigan Technological University's campus in Houghton, Michigan, the 80,000-square-foot arts center's design is inspired by the inclined look of the local copper mine hoists and shaft houses inside and out. Event spaces include the Rozsa Lobby, James and Margaret Black Performance Hall, Rozsa Backstage, Rozsa Art Galleries, and McArdle Theatre. As the largest theater in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, the Rozsa dramatically expands the region’s access to large-scale performing arts events including Broadway tours, ballet, cirque, music, and more. View all Rozsa Presenting Series Events. Related Events Nanowonder: Images of the Microscopic World Gallery Exhibit - Rozsa Art Galleries September 12-November 7, 2025 Reception | Friday, September 26, 2025 | 5-7 p.m. Artful Intersections: Fall Student Art Showcase - Rozsa Art Galleries November 21-December 2, 2025 Reception | Tuesday, December 2, 2025 | 5-7 p.m. National Geographic Live: Earth After Dark - Rozsa Presenting Series Friday, January 16, 2026 | 7:30 p.m. Through the Quiet Hours: Night Sky Photography Gallery Exhibit - Rozsa Art Galleries January 16-23, 2026 Reception | Friday, January 16, 2026 | 5-7 p.m. Women's Rights are Human Rights Gallery Exhibit - Rozsa Art Galleries January 30-March 28, 2026 Reception | Friday, January 30, 2026 | 5-7 p.m. Beyond the Frame: Spring Student Art Showcase - Rozsa Art Galleries April 10-14, 2026 Reception | Friday, April 10, 2026 | 5-7 p.m. Explore upcoming Michigan Tech Art Events. Plan Your Visit to the Rozsa Rozsa Box Office InformationAccessibility Services Find a Digital ProgramPlan your Parking​ Get Involved Volunteer to UsherDonate to Support the RozsaMeet Our DonorsGet Updates via Email View All Upcoming Events Personal Responsibility Statement Not all productions may appeal to or be appropriate for every person or for all ages. The Rozsa Center provides content guidance to alert audience members to common potentially sensitive or distressing material. Guests are encouraged to familiarize themselves with each event in order to make informed decisions prior to attending an event. Views Expressed Statement The views, information, thoughts, or opinions expressed in this program or event are those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent the policies of the Rozsa Center or Michigan Technological University. Effective Date: 2025/26.