April 13, 2026

The College of Engineering’s Senior Design program puts Huskies’ design-thinking skills to the test. Organized into small teams, students collaborate on year-long industry and research projects — and some have the opportunity to work with world-renowned Michigan Tech faculty members on projects with interstellar impacts. 

Last year, 2025 MTU engineering graduates Parker Courte-Rathwell, Danny Ezzo and Ingrid Halverson developed a hypogravity simulator prototype from scratch as part of MoonStep, their NASA-funded capstone Senior Design project. 

The MoonStep team worked with Assistant Professor Tan Chen (ECE) and Steven Elmer, an associate professor at St. Catherine University who’s also an affiliated professor in Tech’s Department of Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology. Their simulator used elastics and pulleys to offload five-sixths of a person’s body weight, mimicking the gravitational conditions on the moon’s surface.

A year later, a new team of Huskies are refining the next generation of the MoonStep simulator. And in Chen’s Robotics, Locomotion, and Applied Control (ROLAC) Lab, where researchers are developing a human musculoskeletal model and reinforcement learning algorithm to study human gaits on the moon, MoonStep plays a key role in understanding and testing those models.

Learn more about MoonStep, the ROLAC Lab, and their connections to NASA’s Artemis Program on Michigan Tech’s Unscripted Research Blog.

While tax season is a source of stress for many, a dedicated group of College of Business students are turning the challenge into a masterclass in community service. Operating out of a basement lab in the Academic Office Building, 10 IRS-certified Huskies staffed the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. The initiative, recently reinvigorated with help from a $14,500 Community Economic Development Association of Michigan grant, provides free, high-quality tax preparation for local residents who qualify, including older adults and those on low to moderate fixed incomes.

The program benefits both the community and student volunteers. Beyond mastering technical state and federal returns, students like Josh Heikkinen and Claudious Mufandaidza are gaining invaluable skills including communication, professional judgment and empathy through working one-on-one with real clients. For many neighbors, the program is a relief; for the students, it’s a rigorous, hands-on application of their accounting and finance theory that no textbook can replicate.

While the appointment window for the current season has closed, the College of Business plans to sustain the program as a permanent fixture of its community engagement mission.

Hear more from VITA site coordinator and COB faculty member Ehsan Heshmatzadeh and VITA’s student volunteers on the College of Business Newsblog.

This is the final entry in a four-part series highlighting the contributions of the 2026 Enterprise Distinguished Service Award recipients.

Michigan Tech’s Enterprise Program awards the Enterprise Distinguished Service Award to recognize the dedication and exceptional contributions of advisors and champions who have played pivotal roles in shaping the program’s success. Each of the award winners has more than 15 years of service within Enterprise, dedicating their time and expertise to guiding teams, ensuring student success and advancing the program’s discovery-based learning mission.

This year’s recipients of the Enterprise Distinguished Service Award are Jim DeClerck (MAE), Scott Kuhl (CS), Erin Smith (HU) and Ruth Archer (OCI).

Fourth Award Winner Profile: Scott Kuhl

Scott Kuhl, associate professor of computer science and affiliated associate professor of psychology and human factors, has been shaping the Husky Game Development Enterprise for more than a decade. When he arrived at Michigan Tech in 2009, the enterprise was advised by Robert Pastel. Kuhl stepped into the advisor role in 2010 and has guided the team ever since, helping it grow into a vibrant, multidisciplinary community where students learn the full lifecycle of video game development.

“For students who want direct experience making video games, Husky Games is the main way to get it at Michigan Tech,” Kuhl said. “The University’s computer science program now includes a game development concentration, and that’s helped strengthen the pipeline.”

Read Kuhl's full profile on the Enterprise Blog.

Outstanding students, groups and staff were honored Friday, April 10, during Michigan Tech’s 32nd Annual Student Leadership Awards Ceremony. Thank you to everyone who joined us in celebrating their achievements!

Congratulations to all of the 2026 winners:

• President’s Award for Leadership: David Reeves
• Provost’s Award for Scholarship: Tony Maccagnano
• Dean of Students Award for Possibilities: Amber Howard
• Josephine and William Balconi Community Service Award: Brynn Santi
• Gail and Glenn Mroz Emeritus President Leadership Award: Becky Etten
• Outstanding Future Alumni: Maci Dostaler
• Clair M. Donovan Award: Elise Buzzell
• Percy Julian Award: Tahera Almugabgab
• Exceptional Enthusiasm as Student Leader Award: Lily Ketelsen
• Exceptional Leadership in Student Governance Award: David Reeves
• Student Employee of the Year: Josh Arango
• Rising Star of the Year: Tessa Bakker
• Student Organization Advisor of the Year: Susan Liebau
• Exceptional Civic Engagement Award: SMLS Blood Drives, Society of Medical Laboratory Scientists
• Exceptional Program of the Year: USG Break Buses, Undergraduate Student Government
• Most Improved Student Group: Copper Country Robotics
• Student Group of the Year: Memorial Union Board

Want to relive your favorite moments? Watch the ceremony on YouTube!

More information about the awards and the recipients can be found on the Student Leadership Awards page. Congratulations to all winners and nominees!

Ph.D. student Geeta Nain (atmospheric sciences) was awarded first place for Outstanding Student Poster Presentation at the 37th Conference on Hurricanes and Tropical Meteorology, hosted by the American Meteorological Society (AMS) from March 30 to April 3 in San Diego, California.

Nain, a student in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering (CEGE), is advised by Professor Pengfei Xue. Her award-winning research, titled “Coupled Ocean-Wave-Atmosphere Feedbacks Shaping Hurricane Wind Structure of Hurricane Delta (2020),” examines how interactions between the ocean, surface waves and atmosphere influence hurricane behavior.

Her work provides new insights into the complex processes that govern hurricane intensity and structure — critical factors for improving forecasting and understanding extreme weather events.

“This recognition highlights the importance of interdisciplinary research in advancing our understanding of hurricanes,” said Xue. “Geeta’s work contributes valuable knowledge to the scientific community and demonstrates the strength of our graduate research programs at Michigan Tech.”

The AMS Conference on Hurricanes and Tropical Meteorology is a premier international forum for researchers studying tropical weather systems, bringing together leading scientists, students and professionals from around the world.

Department of Social Sciences Ph.D. candidate Julia Petersen (environmental and energy policy) and Professor Richelle Winkler (SS) have been recognized by the journal Rural Sociology for co-authoring one of its 10 most cited papers of 2024.

The paper, titled “Changes to Rural Migration in the COVID-19 Pandemic”, is part of Petersen’s dissertation project. 

Petersen and Winkler co-authored the paper with Miranda Mockrin of the U.S. Forest Service.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has officially declared April 6-10, 2026, as Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week.

Last week, Michigan honored more than 80,000 graduate and professional students across Michigan’s universities and recognized the important role they play in advancing research, innovation and economic growth.

Why This Week Matters: 

• Economic Drivers: Graduate students play a direct role in strengthening Michigan’s economy through research, development, and collaboration with industry partners that drive innovation and progress.

• Future Leaders: Today’s graduate and professional students are tomorrow’s leaders, contributing across fields such as health care, education, engineering, business, public service and beyond.

• Community Impact: Their work and dedication influence communities across Michigan and beyond, creating lasting impact in many areas of society.

We continue to recognize and celebrate the contributions of our graduate and professional students.

To our graduate and professional students, thank you. Your dedication to solving complex challenges, advancing knowledge and striving for excellence makes a lasting impact on Michigan and beyond.

“Graduate and professional students are the future teaching professionals, researchers, and leaders of the state, the nation, and the world,” said Whitmer in her April 6 proclamation.

As the spring semester comes to a close, the Waino Wahtera Center for Student Success is preparing to welcome the Class of 2030 to campus. Huskies Summer Orientation will kick off on May 31, and this year’s program will span two full days of activities.

To ensure a successful experience for our incoming students, we are seeking additional volunteers for our summer sessions. If you are available to help, please take a moment to complete the 2026 Summer Sessions volunteer form.

If you are unable to commit to the full-time blocks listed but would still like to volunteer, please email Dawn Corwin at dmcorwin@mtu.edu. Please complete the volunteer form by May 1.

Summer Orientation Dates:

• Sunday, May 31, and Monday, June 1
• Sunday, June 7, and Monday, June 8
• Friday, June 12, and Saturday, June 13
• Friday, June 19, and Saturday, June 20

Thank you for your continued support.

Michigan Tech’s Essential Education Experience manager is inviting proposals for the design and development of 3-credit Essential Education Experience (E3) courses over the summer.

E3 courses aim to provide students with immersive, experiential learning opportunities that foster critical reflection, interdisciplinary approaches and ethical engagement with communities or stakeholders.

For more information about E3 course requirements and the proposal process, please view the E3 Request for Proposals document.

Proposals should be sent to E3 Manager Cassandra Reed-VanDam at cmvandam@mtu.edu, and will be reviewed as they are received. Projects received by a deadline of April 24 will receive initial first consideration.

Michigan Technological University's Board of Trustees will meet on April 24 from 9-11 a.m. in Memorial Union Ballroom B, and public attendance is welcome.

Members of the public are invited to make public comments to the board in accordance with Board of Trustees Bylaw 1.14. Those who wish to address items in the agenda and who have filed their intent with the secretary of the board as required by Bylaw 1.14 will be limited to five minutes. Those addressing general topics are limited to three minutes.

If you wish to provide public comments to the Board of Trustees, please submit your intent to Sarah Schulte, secretary to the Board of Trustees, at shschult@mtu.edu. The deadline to submit your intent is Friday, April 17.

Students, faculty and staff will be presented awards next Monday, April 20, at the Department of Chemical Engineering (ChE) Convocation, held in the MUB Alumni Lounge starting at 2 p.m.

Student award recipients will be announced for the following:

• Chair’s Award for Outstanding Chemical Engineering Senior
  This award recognizes a graduating ChE senior for their academic achievement, experiential learning activities and community engagement. This award consists of a certificate and monetary award in the amount of $1,000.

• Excellence in Communication Award
  This award acknowledges the critical role that effective communication plays in successful leadership and recognizes a graduating ChE senior for their effective use of communication of the highest standard.

• Professional Ethics Award
  This award recognizes a student who has exhibited exemplary ethics and admirable professional conduct during Plant Design and Unit Operations experiences and throughout their academic career at Michigan Tech.

• Prevent Accidents With Safety (PAWS) Award
  The Prevent Accidents with Safety (PAWS) Undergraduate Lab Safety Program is a comprehensive safety program requiring training, constant vigilance and incident reporting and documentation systems — all with an eye toward critical review and continuous improvement. The PAWS program provides a framework to develop the necessary safety culture within the student community.

• Dow Chemical Marriott W. Bredekamp Award
  This award recognizes outstanding technical skills in the laboratory, outstanding teamwork and professionalism, effective oral and written communication and strong adherence to process safety practices as recognized by your peers and supported by the faculty of the department. This award is in memory of Marriott W. Bredekamp.

• Senior Design Team Awards
  John Patton, as chair and faculty member, initiated much of today’s design course content in ChE. He brought his experiences at Exxon to the classroom to provide students with a systematic way to design and analyze a new, large-scale capital project. This award recognizes the student team in CM4861 that created the best plant design and recommendation for Fictitious Chemical Company.

• Davis W. Hubbard Outstanding Rising Senior Award
  The eligible candidate for this award has completed all their junior-level core chemical engineering courses. Selection is based on GPA for coursework done at Michigan Tech, research engagement and internship/co-op work experience. The award consists of a certificate and monetary award in the amount of $1,000.

• Leadership Awards

• Department Awards
  Additionally, ChE students will vote on these categories to honor our outstanding department employees and awards will be presented for:
  – Teacher of the Year
  – Research Mentor of the Year
  – Graduate Teaching Assistant of the Year
  – Undergraduate Grader of the Year
  – Staff Making a Difference
  – Peer Mentor and Coach of the Year

Join the Michigan Tech Writing Center for a reception celebrating the Ink & Ore Enterprise’s inaugural year and the students who brought it to life.

In partnership with the First-Year Writing Program, The Lode, and students from both HU3606 Editing and HU3621 Experience in Journalism, the proof is in the pubs:

• The Lode, Michigan Tech’s student newspaper, wrapping up its 105th year
• Paw Prints, Michigan Tech’s journal of first-year writing, back for its second edition
• Kupari, Michigan Tech’s brand-new literary magazine, making its debut

Light refreshments. Powerful student writing. Good people.

Ink & Ore Enterprise Inaugural Year Celebration
Tuesday, April 21, from 4-6 p.m. in the Michigan Tech Writing Center, Walker 107

Spring Student Art Exhibition Reception – Studio Here Now
Monday, April 13 | 5-6:30 p.m.
Studio G04W, Wadsworth Hall
Michigan Tech Art Series

This afternoon, join students from across campus at the exhibition of their artworks. See photographs made from a contemplative point of view in nature spaces. Enjoy drawings and paintings informed by the study of human perception. Light refreshments will be provided.

Students in this exhibition hail from colleges and departments across the University. Come see the creative work of artists who connect with their world and one another across differences. See work from art classes involved with color, nature and creativity.

The Campus Store and University Images invite you to our annual Customer Appreciation Sale!

• Monday, April 13 — Shop online at bookstore.mtu.edu and enjoy 25% off almost everything.

• Thursday, April 16 — Stop by in person from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at both store locations to save in-store. (Union members receive an extra 5% off in-store.)

Whether you’re picking up a grad gift, a diploma frame or something just for you, don’t miss these savings.

Free popcorn at the Campus Store location!

Fiber crafters from the Michigan Tech community! If you knit, crochet, spin, embroider, cross-stitch, bead, weave or do any other kind of craft involving yarn, cloth, fiber or string, this is the meetup for you. Feel free to bring your lunch as well as your works in progress. We welcome students, staff, faculty and the community — the more the merrier!

Our meetings will be on the first and third Wednesdays of the month at the Van Pelt and Opie Library in Library 103 from noon to 1 p.m.

In the National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER)*, your department’s support is scrutinized just as closely as your research and education plan. The department chair’s letter is more than a formality — it’s a commitment. Will your letter merely “allow” your work, or will it actively champion your role as a teacher-scholar?

Join the Research Development team on April 23 at noon for a focused, one-hour virtual session in which we’ll break down the specific NSF requirements and share strategies for securing a letter that will elevate your entire CAREER proposal.

NSF CAREER Series: The Chair Letter
Thursday, April 23, at Noon
Join the Virtual Session on Zoom.

About the Session:

• Anyone interested in submitting a CAREER proposal in 2026 or later is encouraged to attend.
• This session is especially well-timed for those beginning conversations with their chair.
• Check out the RD Toolkit folder for all our NSF CAREER resources. 

* Note: There are specific eligibility requirements for the CAREER program. Please reach out to rd-l@mtu.edu with any questions.

Faculty are invited to apply to the Design Your Academic Life (DYAL) Workshop, to be held the afternoon of May 4 and all day on May 5 at the Michigan Tech Alumni Center, formerly the Advanced Technology Development Complex (ATDC). 

Whatever stage of career that you’re in, the DYAL Workshop is designed to help faculty assess and align their personal and professional lives, explore ways to prototype their desired future, set purposeful steps toward their goals, and identify support networks as they develop action plans.

More information and an application link can be found in the workshop flyer.

Space is limited, so interested faculty are encouraged to apply right away, but no later than April 24. Faculty are asked to fully commit to the event by clearing their calendars for the entirety of the workshop.

This event is sponsored by KEEN and the Kern Family Foundation, in collaboration with the provost’s office. Questions can be directed to Shari Stockero at stockero@mtu.edu.

Greg Furlich from the University of Colorado Boulder will present at this Wednesday’s Physics Colloquium.

Furlich’s presentation is titled “Applied Astronomy: Using Astronomy Methods for Ground or Space-based Remote Sensing of Anthropogenic Objects in Space”.

The seminar will be presented Wednesday, April 15, at noon in Fisher 127. 

Read Furlich’s abstract and bio on the University Events Calendar.

Please join the Department of Mathematical Sciences as we welcome Andrew Fiss, associate professor of technical and professional communication here at Michigan Tech. With an undergraduate degree in mathematics and graduate degrees in history and philosophy of science, he works at the intersection of technical communication and STS and has been an invited speaker at math events in the U.S. and U.K.

The seminar will be held Friday, April 17, from 1-2 p.m. in Rekhi G005. Refreshments will be provided.

Fiss’ presentation is titled “Singing Math: American College Traditions from Book Burnings to Observatory Parties, 1880-1930”.

From the abstract:
“Singing Math” is a practice that linked American colleges particularly in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. A part of broader college singing traditions, it stood apart because of its subject matter: mathematical sciences. Noting how math songs were sung especially in homes, theaters, observatories, and outdoors, this talk explores stories of book burnings at Yale and Ohio Wesleyan; theatrical productions at MIT, Purdue, and Michigan Tech (when it was known as the Michigan College of Mines); and observatory parties at Vassar Observatory, Lick Observatory, and Harvard Observatory. Overall, it argues that math songs are a form of technical communication, one that has enjoyed large reach, particularly because of its multiple meanings and varied practices.

Rui Shi will present as part of the Department of Chemical Engineering (ChE) Seminar Series on Friday, April 17, at 10 a.m. in person in EERC 100 and virtually via Zoom.

Join the ChE Seminar on Zoom.

Shi will present “Advancing Sustainable Recovery of Rare Earth Elements from Secondary Sources through Systems Analysis”.

Read Shi’s abstract and bio on the University Events Calendar.

Shi is an assistant professor at Pennsylvania State University.

A group of 12 faculty, alumni and students from Michigan Tech’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) attended the 53rd Midwest Universities Fluid Mechanics Retreat (MUFMECH 2026), held April 9-11 in Cedar Lake, Indiana.

This dynamic event brings together participants from across the Midwest to exchange ideas, showcase cutting-edge research and engage in lively discussions on topics ranging from experimental and computational fluid dynamics to multiphase flows and emerging challenges in the field.

Representing Michigan Tech were MAE faculty Jeff Allen, Andrew Oliva, Kazuya Tajiri and alumnus Kishan Bellur ’16 ’18 (M.S. Mechanical Engineering Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics), now a faculty member at the University of Cincinnati, all of whom served as session chairs throughout the retreat.

Michigan Tech students made a strong showing as well:

• Master’s student Troy Metz (advised by Allen) presented "Enhancing Hydrogen Production using Cavitation"

• Ph.D. student Elijah Sierra (advised by Oliva) presented "Exact Closed-Form Solution for Fanno Flow of a Calorically Perfect Ideal Gas"

• Ph.D. student Mitsuki Shimomura (advised by Jason Blough and Brad King) presented "Introduction to Hall Thruster Ignition Research"

• Undergraduate Adam VanderMolen (mechanical engineering senior) contributed a lightning talk titled "MH61 Airfoil"  

Five additional MAE students and researchers attended as part of the group: postdoctoral researcher Karrar Alofari, Ph.D. student Ketan Karkare, undergraduate Andy Priskorn (mechanical engineering senior), Ph.D. student Eli Sierra, and Ph.D. candidate Goutham Viyyapu.

Together, this group highlights Michigan Tech’s strong presence at MUFMECH 2026, demonstrating a shared commitment to advancing fluid mechanics research, fostering collaboration and supporting the next generation of engineers.

Visit Keweenaw quoted David Flaspohler (CFRES) in a story about spring bird migration in the Keweenaw and the region’s diverse habitats for birdwatching.

The Daily Mining Gazette and WZMQ 19 News covered Michigan Tech hockey’s annual George McCarthy Awards Banquet, where Stiven Sardarian was named team MVP and Joe Prouty received the George McCarthy Performance Award.

Payroll Process Updates Effective for BW8

Payroll Services is implementing two process updates that will go into effect for Bi-Weekly Pay Period 8 (BW8) to improve efficiency, accuracy and processing timelines.

• Manual Timesheet Deadline Change — Effective for BW8, the manual timesheet deadline will move from Tuesday at noon to Monday at 11:59 p.m., aligning with all other timesheet deadlines.
  
  This change allows all time submissions to be completed at the same time so Payroll can begin processing Tuesday morning without delays. For BW8 specifically, manual timesheets are due today, April 13, at 11:59 p.m.
  
  
• Transition Away from Paper Submissions — Effective today, April 13, Payroll Services will no longer accept paper drop-offs at the Lakeshore Building, including Direct Deposit forms, W-4 forms, manual timesheets, and labor reallocations. All documents must be digitized and submitted to payroll-help@mtu.edu.
  
  Submitting via email creates a ticket in the payroll system, providing confirmation of receipt and a trackable record for processing. This change reduces paper handling across campus, supports remote processing when needed, and allows Payroll to better track submission volume and workload.

Use of Self-Service Tools
Employees are strongly encouraged to use the self-service tools available in the Experience online service dashboard to update Direct Deposit and W-4 information. This reduces processing time, minimizes errors and improves security by eliminating paper handling of sensitive information.

We appreciate your support as we continue improving payroll processes for accuracy, efficiency and effectiveness.

For questions, please contact payroll-help@mtu.edu.

*****

Student Sexual Misconduct Climate Survey

On March 30, all Michigan Tech undergraduate and graduate students over age 18 were invited to participate in a Sexual Misconduct Climate Survey. This survey is designed by Grand River Solutions and utilized by institutions across the country. Students received an email with a link to the survey and we ask that staff and faculty encourage student participation. Students received a reminder email on April 7 and today, April 13, and will receive another on Thursday, April 16. The survey’s closing date is Friday, April 17.

The goal of the survey is to provide Michigan Tech with important information on campus sexual misconduct prevalence and responses. Preventing and remedying sexual misconduct is essential to maintaining a safe environment in which students can learn. We are committed to ensuring that all students have the opportunity to fully benefit from our programs and activities.

Students will have the option to voluntarily participate in a drawing to win a $25 Amazon gift card (20 available).

If you have questions or comments about this survey, please contact Abbi Halkola, executive director, Equal Opportunity Compliance and Title IX, at 906-487-3310 or titleix@mtu.edu.

*****

Career Champions Workshops: Join the Network!

Student career readiness is the core of the work in Career Services — but we know we are not alone. Many others across campus, both as a direct function of their role on campus and as people who care about Huskies, are deeply committed to ensuring that students are ready for what comes next following graduation.

The Career Champions network (formerly Career Coaches) is intended to help faculty and staff build their foundational knowledge of career readiness topics in order to better support students. Members complete an in-person training workshop that covers career coaching resources and helps the group refresh themselves on current hiring trends.

After the training workshop, network members will also receive ongoing support in the form of a Canvas course, access to additional short-form workshops, and a regular email digest with concise updates targeted to Career Champions. 

Career Services is offering three options to attend the Career Champions training workshop as the spring 2026 semester wraps up:

• Wednesday, April 22, from 2-4:30 p.m.
• Thursday, May 7, from 12:30-3 p.m.

Register for Spring 2026 Workshops and learn more about Career Champions on the Career Services website. Contact Liz Fujita at liz@mtu.edu with further questions.

*****

Register Now: Essential Education Symposium

Join the Michigan Tech community on April 29, in the Memorial Union Building for the 2026 Essential Education Symposium. This full-day event is designed to help faculty and staff navigate the new curriculum with practical tools, peer insights and student feedback.

Why You Should Attend:

• Practical Workshops: Dive into sessions like “AI In/Action”, “Husky Folio Made Easy” and “Reflection & Metacognition”.

• Hear from Students: Gain unique insights during a candid student-led panel on their Essential Ed experiences.

• Professional Growth: Learn how to document your teaching innovations for your CV and Digital Measures.

• Networking and Recognition: Enjoy a catered lunch with colleagues and help us celebrate this year’s Essential Ed exemplars.

The day kicks off with coffee and check-in at 8:30 a.m. in MUB Ballroom A.

Register for the Symposium by Friday, April 17.

View the Full Schedule and Session Descriptions.

Questions? Contact essentialed@mtu.edu.

*****

Atmospheric Sciences Colloquium: Graduate Student Presentations

The following Atmospheric Sciences graduate students will be presenting their research progress at an Atmospheric Sciences Colloquium: 

• Geeta Nain (advised by Pengfei Xue)
• Hamed Fahandezh Sadi (advised by Raymond Shaw)

This will be an in-person event. The students will give their talks at 4 p.m. today, April 13, in Fisher 101.

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

*****

The College Project Competition Final Presentations

The College of Business is presenting the final presentations for The College Project Competition (TCPC) today, April 13, from 1-4 p.m. and 6-7:30 p.m. in person in AOB 201 and virtually via Zoom.

TCPC is a regional competition focused on the development of a comprehensive project plan based on Project Management Institute standards. The scenario this year focuses on the remediation and redevelopment of a contaminated brownfield site into a public park.

The competition is part of OSM4350 Advanced Project Management and has been a capstone option for engineering management and management majors since 2013. Students who have completed a Project Management course are eligible to participate.

• Watch the Preliminary Rounds on Zoom — Monday, April 13, from 1-4 p.m.
• Watch the Final Presentations on Zoom — Monday, April 13, from 6-7:30 p.m.

Please reach out to Roger Woods at rhwoods@mtu.edu or tcpc@mtu.edu for more information.

*****

PsyHF Annual Research Methods Poster Session

Today, April 13, from 5-6 p.m., Department of Psychology and Human Factors (PsyHF) students from this year’s Research Methods class will provide and posters and short oral presentations of their research work in the M&M Third Floor Co-Working Space. 

Come see what our undergrads have been working on this semester!

Event Details:

• What: Research Methods Poster Session
• When: Monday, April 13, from 5-6 p.m.
• Where: M&M Third Floor Co-Working Space

*****

PsyHF Student Awards and Graduation Celebration

After the Annual Research Methods Poster Session, please join the Department of Psychology and Human Factors (PsyHF) faculty and staff for our Student Awards and Graduation Celebration!

The event is being held from 6-7:30 p.m. tonight, April 13, in the M&M Third Floor Co-Working Space. Food and refreshments will be provided.

Event Details:

• What: Psychology and Human Factors Student Awards and Graduate Celebration
• When: Monday, April 13, from 6-7:30 p.m.
• Where: M&M Third Floor Co-Working Space

*****

Art in Silico Returns to Michigan Tech This Week

Art in Silico, Michigan Tech’s annual computational arts show, returns this week, April 13-17, with a number of exciting events such as:

• Film: “Opus Cope: An Algorithmic Opera” — Tuesday, April 14, at 7 p.m. in Fisher 135
  A documentary about seminal (and controversial) composer David Cope who programmed his computer to generate classical music in the 1980s, plus Q&A with director Jae Shim 

• Keynote: “The Algorithm Wasn’t Built For Us” — Wednesday, April 15, at 6 p.m. in Fisher 138
  Best-selling author Karen Colbert will discuss her book on artificial intelligence in society and education in this keynote talk.

• Art in Silico Reception — Thursday, April 16, at 6 p.m. at The Orpheum Theater
  Art in Silico's reception includes a juried art show, live music, sci-fi reading, and pop-up vendors. Starring electronic musicians Tarek Sabbar (Madison, Wisconsin) and Haunted Ghost (Calumet), plus sci-fi reading, plus tables by Kitschy Spirit Records, Black Ice Comics & Books, and other local artists and organizations.

Other events include talks, art displays and DIY workshops every day of the week on MTU’s campus, with topics such as algorithmic art and music, the musical scales of Wendy Carlos, AI ethics, math history and beyond…

Join us for a week of computational art, film, music and sci-fi! Submit your work and find the Art in Silico Schedule of Events on the Art in Silico website.

Call for Art, Music, Writing and Other Media:
Art in Silico is currently accepting submissions of physical and digital art, electronic, instrumental and experimental music, writings and other works that are adjacent to the sciences, computers, technology, science fiction, AI or mathematics, or provide commentary on those topics, for a juried art show with physical, online and projected components.

Submit Your Work. Submissions will be accepted until midnight today, April 13.

Art in Silico is sponsored by the MTU Institute for Computing and Cybersystems (ICC). Co-sponsors include the MTU Film Board, Orpheum Theater, Kitschy Spirit Records, Black Ice Comics. Please email townsend@mtu.edu with questions or for details.

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

Beyond the Frame: Spring Student Art Showcase - Rozsa Art Galleries

Monday, April 13, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. | Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts, Rozsa Art Galleries A-Space

MICHIGAN TECH ART SERIES EVENT Please join us for an end of semester showcase of artworks produced by the students of the Art on Site (ART2110) and Scenic and Entertainment Design classes at MTU. Students create an interactive art installation, based on beloved children's books including The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Harold and the Purple Crayon, Fancy Nancy, I Spy, and Chicken Little.. The exhibit is immersive, and child-friendly. Things to know ROZSA ART GALLERIES HOURS | M-F 8 a.m.-8 p.m. and Saturdays 1-8 p.m. EXHIBIT DATES | April 10-14, 2026 RECEPTION | Friday, April 10, 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 Michigan Tech Art Event provided by: and the Visual and Performing Arts Circle of Supporters. About the Presenter Professional exhibitions in the Rozsa Art Galleries. Student showcases. Artist Talks with Studio Here Now. Cross-campus collaborations…

*****

New Huskies Orientation Paperwork Session

Monday, April 13, 8–10 a.m.

*****

New Huskies Orientation Paperwork Session

Monday, April 13, 8–10 a.m.

*****

Master's Defense: Lawrence Dilworth

Monday, April 13, 10–11 a.m. | Rekhi Hall, 101

Cybersecurity Co-advisors: Bo Chen and Chee-Wooi Ten Generalized Stochastic Petri Nets for Modeling Intrusion Attempts within Power System Control Infrastructure

*****

Master's Defense: Priyanka Dhamala

Monday, April 13, 10–11 a.m. | Dow Environmental Sciences and Engineering Building, 610

Geology Advisor: Gregory Waite SEISMICITY AND STRESS INTERACTIONS IN WESTERN NEPAL: IMPLICATIONS FOR STRAIN ACCUMULATION IN THE CENTRAL HIMALAYA Attend Virtually: https://michigantech.zoom.us/j/81079768305

*****

Master's Defense: Tadiwanashe Chikanda

Monday, April 13, 11 a.m.–12 p.m. | Dow Environmental Sciences and Engineering Building, 743

Biological Sciences Advisor: Rupali Datta Growth and Biochemical Responses of Phaseolus vulgaris to PFAS-Contaminated Soils and Aluminum Water Treatment Residuals Attend Virtually: https://michigantech.zoom.us/j/82428604027

*****

ASCII - BYTE meeting

Monday, April 13, 3–4 p.m. | Fisher 0231

Come help us make The Byte, ASCII's computing newspaper. Help write articles or just get more information. Looking for journalist, editors, or anyone interested in computing.

*****

ICC Executive Director Anwar Walid Research and Scholarship Seminar

Monday, April 13, 3:00–3:50 p.m. | Rekhi Hall, G009

Title: AI-Native Decision Systems for Networked and Cyber-Physical Infrastructure A Fellow of the ACM, IEEE, and AAIA, Anwar Walid is a recognized leader in cyber-physical systems, AI, distributed systems, and cybersecurity, with a career spanning industrial research and academia. As Director of Network Intelligence and Distributed Systems Research at Bell Labs, he led multiple research departments. His contributions include technologies such as Multipath TCP, recognized with the ACM SIGCOMM Networking Systems Award and widely deployed, as well as large-scale AI systems serving users worldwide. He has secured research funding from DARPA and NSF and holds 20 patents in networking, computing, and cybersecurity. He is also an Adjunct Professor at Columbia University, where he has developed and taught graduate courses. In this seminar, Anwar Walid will present a perspective on decision-making in networked and cyber-physical systems, from control and reinforcement learning to AI-native decision systems. The talk introduces a shift toward decision systems that specify objectives and constraints at runtime, enabling dynamic behavior reconfiguration without redesign. Drawing on real-world…

*****

PhD Defense: Gabriel Ahrendt

Monday, April 13, 3:30–4:30 p.m. | Dow Environmental Sciences and Engineering Building, 610

Geophysics Advisor: Aleksey Smirnov Exploring Earth's Magnetic Records: From Extraterrestrial Materials to Terrestrial Terranes Attend Virtually: https://michigantech.zoom.us/j/8782634268?omn=89781933050

*****

ATM Colloquium - Graduate Student Presentations (Nain, Fahandezh)

Monday, April 13, 4–5 p.m. | Fisher Hall, 101

Please join ATM graduate students, Geeta Nain and Hamed Fahandezh Sadi for their presentations on Monday, April 13 at 4 PM - Fisher Hall 101. Geeta Nain (Advisor: Pengfei Xue) Hurricane Wind structure with Observations and Coupled Physics Accurate representation of hurricane wind structure is critical for forecasting hazards such as damaging winds and storm surge. Parametric wind models are widely used in forecasting and risk applications because of their computational efficiency, yet they often struggle to represent the asymmetric and radially complex wind patterns observed in real storms—particularly in the intermediate and outer-core region where damaging winds frequently extend far from the storm center. This talk presents a combined observational and process-based investigation aimed at improving parametric representations of hurricane winds. First, nearly a decade of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) surface wind retrievals (2016–2025) is used to evaluate systematic biases in a widely used parametric wind model. By analyzing storm-centered wind structure, we identify where model representations diverge from observed radial decay and asymmetry. Second, we examine the physical…

*****

Boys' Basketball Little Huskies

Monday, April 13, 4–6 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Multi

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 imagine—personalized coaching that emphasizes both individual skills and team play, with plenty of time for gently competitive games in the SDC Varsity Gym. And Michigan Tech's campus is a great environment for meeting new people and making friends. This camp is open to boys in grades 2-5. Daily sessions are 2 hours, and players will leave with fundamental basketball skills like ball-handling, shooting, team play, and defensive play. Boys, Grades 2-5 (age 7-11)

*****

Huskies Swim Training - Session 3

Monday, April 13, 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!

*****

Spring Student Art Exhibition Reception - Studio Here Now

Monday, April 13, 5:00–6:30 p.m. | Wadsworth Hall, Studio G04W

STUDIO HERE NOW EVENT Join students from across campus at the exhibition of their artworks. See photographs made from a contemplative point of view in nature spaces. Enjoy drawings and paintings informed by the study of human perception. Light refreshments provided. Students in this exhibition hail from many schools, colleges and departments across the university. Come see the creative work of artists who connect with their world and one another across differences. See work from art classes involved with color, nature and creativity. Meet the artists and view the pieces in the digital program. Things to know DATE | Monday, April 13, 2026 TIME | 5-6:30 p.m. LOCATION | Wadsworth Hall, Studio G04W ADMISSION | This event is free and open to the public DURATION | 90 min. drop-in event CONTENT GUIDANCE | May contain adult content Not sure how to get to the Wads Studio? Here's how: Enter the front doors of Wadsworth Hall (on the south side of US Highway 41). Take the stairs or elevator down one level to the basement. The Studio is between the WMTU studio and the music practice room down the hallway. Thanks to Our Sponsors Support for this Michigan Tech Art Event provided by:…

*****

Parent & Child Aquatics (Ages 6 mo-3 yrs) - Session 2

Monday, April 13, 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.

*****

Preschool Aquatics (Ages 4-5 years) - Session 2

Monday, April 13, 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.

*****

REAC April Meeting - MDOT Rail Bridge Team

Monday, April 13, 7–8 p.m. | Fisher Hall 126

This meeting will be combined with ASCE and features presenters from MDOT's Railroad Bridge Team.

*****

Pickleball Club Weekly Practice/Meeting

Monday, April 13, 9–11 p.m. | Gates Tennis Center

Come join us at Gates Tennis Center for some Pickleball! We have equipment that is free to use and its a great way to have some friendly competition against fellow huskies. If you have never played pickleball and want to learn, then you came to the right place! We can teach you how play, so feel free to come at any time and join in on the fun.