March 26, 2026

A Michigan Tech production is built by far more people than those you see onstage. Behind the scenes, Huskies design and run lighting and sound cues, build sets, paint scenery, manage props, sew costumes, apply makeup, solve last-minute problems, help keep actors on cue — and more!

“Being able to diversify our skill sets all on one production in aspects other than sound opens up avenues to other possible employment and careers within our field and lets us better pad out our resumes,” says Nikki Donley ’26, theatre and entertainment technology major.

Dive behind the scenes of a Michigan Tech live performance and see how Huskies bring the stage to life in the 2026 Michigan Tech Magazine.

Facilities Management has developed a five-year rotating plan to service the 12,470-volt switchgear and associated circuit breakers on Michigan Tech’s campus. Our campus electrical distribution system depends on this equipment being in good working condition. This work requires a two-night power outage that affects the least number of buildings possible.

We understand that shutting off power can be inconvenient, but we believe that by taking a proactive approach, we reduce the chance of an unplanned failure during the academic year that is even more inconvenient or disruptive.

Please note: In most cases, elevators, fume hoods, exhaust fans, ventilation equipment, normal lighting, plug-in appliances and plug-in equipment will not operate during the outages. Only items connected to the building emergency generator will have power during the outages. The building emergency generators and battery systems that supply power to emergency/egress lighting and special equipment should function as normal. If you are unsure if your equipment connects to the building emergency generator, please contact the Facilities Management building mechanic for your building.

Additionally, Michigan Tech IT will be turning off all network equipment in the affected buildings for these outages, starting at 5 p.m. You should plan to save any work, shut down your computer systems and exit the buildings before the outages.

Buildings affected by the power outages will have the power shut off during the scheduled outages. Some buildings with power will be without phone or internet service.

First power outage:

• Starts: Wednesday, April 29, at 6 p.m.
• Ends: Thursday, April 30, at 6 a.m.

Second power outage:

• Starts: Thursday, April 30, at 6 p.m.
• Ends: Friday, May 1, at 6 a.m.

Buildings affected:

• Hillside Place
• Daniell Heights
• Douglass Houghton Hall
• Wadsworth Hall
• McNair Hall
• Great Lakes Research Center
• Central Heating Plant
• Facilities Management
• Electrical Energy Resources Center 
• Dow Environmental Sciences and Engineering Building
• Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts
• Walker Arts and Humanities Center
• East Hall

Buildings with power but no internet or phone:

• Honors House
• Sustainability Demonstration House
• Tech House
• Portage Lake Golf Course

If there are questions or concerns with this plan, please contact Facilities Management at 906-487-2303.

Facilities Management’s annual steam shutdown for 2026 will take place during the week following Spring Commencement, from April 26 to May 1, weather permitting.

This outage is required to maintain and service the boilers and steam distribution system on campus. This planned maintenance improves the reliability of our system and reduces the likelihood of an unplanned failure during the winter heating season.

Please be advised: During the steam shutdown, affected buildings will experience a complete loss of heating and hot water. Distilled water will not be accessible from the steam-powered stills, and steam-driven autoclaves and sterilizers will be nonoperational.

Annual steam shutdown dates/times:

• Starts: Sunday, April 26, at noon
• Ends: Friday, May 1, at noon

Buildings affected:

• Academic Office Building
• Administration Building
• Annex Building
• Chemical Sciences and Engineering Building
• Central Energy Plant
• Douglass Houghton Hall
• Grover C. Dillman Hall
• Dow Environmental Sciences and Engineering Building
• Electrical Energy Resources Center
• Facilities Management
• Fisher Hall
• U. J. Noblet Forestry Building
• Great Lakes Research Center
• Hillside Place
• H-STEM Engineering and Health Technologies Complex
• J. Robert Van Pelt and John and Ruanne Opie Library
• McNair Hall
• Memorial Union Building
• Minerals and Materials Engineering Building
• Kanwal and Ann Rekhi Hall
• R. L. Smith Building
• ROTC Building
• Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts
• Student Development Complex
• Wadsworth Hall
• Walker Arts and Humanities Center

If there are questions or concerns with this plan, please contact Facilities Management at 906-487-2303.

The next guest speaker of the semester in the Department of Biomedical Engineering (BioMed) Seminar Series will present tomorrow, March 27, at 3 p.m. in Chem Sci 102 and virtually via Zoom.

Join the BioMed Seminar on Zoom.

David Yeung, Ph.D., from Insulet Corporation will present “Leveraging A Biomedical Engineering Degree Into An Industry Career: A Focus On Medical Devices”.

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

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) is hosting a seminar presented by Arun Mannodi Kanakkithodi, assistant professor, School of Materials Engineering, Purdue University.

The seminar will be held tomorrow, March 27, at 4 p.m. in M&M 610.

Mannodi Kanakkithodi will present “Simulating and Understanding Point Defects using Density Functional Theory and Graph Neural Networks”.

From the abstract:
Density functional theory (DFT) is routinely used to simulate point defects in solids and calculate their formation energies as a function of chemical growth conditions, Fermi level, and defect charge. Defect energy plots help ascertain the donor- and acceptor-type nature of defects, their relative stabilities, their shallow or deep levels, the equilibrium Fermi level, and temperature-dependent defect concentrations. The need for large supercells, charge states, and advanced functionals makes defect calculations very expensive, prohibiting their application to massive semiconductor-defect chemical spaces. Combining DFT with machine learning (ML) helps address the computational expense by enabling on-demand predictions of defect energetics and defect levels directly from descriptor-based or structure-based representations. In this lecture, I will discuss my group’s work in combining high-throughput DFT computations with crystal graph neural network (GNN) models for understanding point defect behavior in a variety of chalcogenide and halide semiconductors. We developed a computational workflow that uses both semi-local and hybrid functionals to generate datasets of native point defects, impurities, dopants, and defect complexes, also accounting for energy-lowering symmetry-broken configurations. GNN-based interatomic potentials trained on this data subsequently enable prediction and optimization of thousands of new point defects and complexes, and identification of the lowest energy defects. This scheme was applied for rational discovery and screening of low energy defect structures in dozens of semiconductors belonging to: (a) Cd/Zn-Te/Se/S compositions, relevant for CdTe solar cells, (b) a variety of inorganic halide (e.g., CsPbI3) and chalcogenide (e.g., BaZrS3) perovskites, and (c) zincblende-derived ternary and quaternary chalcogenides (e.g., Cu(In,Ga)S2 and Ag2ZnSnSe4).

Mannodi Kanakkithodi received a Bachelor of Technology in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee in 2012 and a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Connecticut in 2017. He worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Argonne National Laboratory from 2017-2020. His research primarily involves applying first principles simulations and methods rooted in data science and machine learning for materials design.

Mannodi Kanakkithodi is a contributor to and co-organizer of machine learning resources and hands-on workshops for nanoHUB and a regular organizer of materials informatics tutorials at Materials Research Society (MRS) fall and spring meetings. He is a recipient of the 2020 Distinguished Young Investigator award from Argonne, the 2023 Functional Materials Division (FMD) Young Leaders Professional Development Award from TMS, a 2023 DOE Solar Energy Technology Office (SETO) Small Innovation Projects in Solar (SIPS) awardee, a 2024 ACS Materials Au Rising Star in Materials Science, and a 2025 DARPA Young Faculty Award recipient.

The Keweenaw Report ran a story previewing the Michigan Tech men’s basketball team’s game yesterday, March 25, in the NCAA Division II Elite Eight. WLUC TV6 also previewed the game, including interviews from Pittsburgh with Michigan Tech coach Josh Buettner and forwards Gabe Smith and Dawson Nordgaard.

WZMQ 19 News and the Daily Mining Gazette mentioned Michigan Tech men’s basketball guard Marcus Tomashek in stories about his being named an NABC All-American for the second straight year.

WLUC TV6 mentioned Michigan Tech’s Alpha Delta Alpha sorority in a story about properties purchased by sorority members on Houghton’s East Street being rezoned as multi-family residences by the Houghton City Planning Commission.

WLUC TV6 and Keweenaw Report ran stories about the Equal Pay Day awareness event held at the Husky Statue on Tuesday, March 24, by the League of Women Voters of the Copper Country and Michigan Tech co-sponsors.

The Keweenaw Report ran a story previewing Michigan Tech’s 2026 Don Keranen Memorial Jazz Festival, happening this Friday and Saturday, March 27-28, at the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts.

The Daily Mining Gazette mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s recent updating of a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland to strengthen cooperation on clean technologies, advanced mobility, defense and sustainable forest bioeconomy, among other industries.

The Family Fun Day Schedule is Now Live!

Don’t forget to add Family Fun Day to your calendar for this Saturday, March 28, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. All Michigan Tech faculty and staff and their families are invited to enjoy a day of free activities, including recreation at the SDC, time on the Tech Trails, group fitness, and more — plus a free lunch while supplies last. The full schedule of activities is now live, so check it out and be sure to put it on your calendar.

There will be no pre-registration this year. Please bring your HuskyCard to check in at the door. To help things run smoothly, please complete the event waiver ahead of time and bring it with you. Waivers will also be available at the door if you prefer to complete them at check-in.

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“Giving Effective Feedback" Workshop Hosted by the First-Year Writing Program

Tomorrow, March 27, all instructors are invited to attend a workshop led by the Michigan Tech First-Year Writing Program: “Giving Effective Feedback.”

During this 90-minute session, participants will learn about different methods of giving feedback on student writing, hear about foundational scholarship on writing feedback, and learn strategies for more effectively responding to student writing. Anyone who teaches a writing- or communication-intensive class will find this workshop beneficial.

The workshop takes place from 12-1:30 p.m. in Rekhi G005 and will be led by Holly Hassel, director of First-Year Writing, and Jordan Dagenais, Ph.D. student and assistant director of First-Year Writing.

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Friends of the Library Annual Book Sale

The final day of the Friends of the Michigan Tech Library Annual Book Sale is today, March 26. All proceeds benefit the J. Robert Van Pelt and John and Ruanne Opie Library.

The book sale will be held in the ballroom on the second floor of the Memorial Union Building (MUB). Parking is available at meters and in a pay lot adjacent to the MUB, and all campus parking is free after 4 p.m.

Book Sale Final Day Hours:

• Thursday, March 26, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — General Public

Don’t forget that during the last hour of the sale (today from 3-4 p.m.) we have our $5 bag sale! $5 for all the books you can fit in a brown paper grocery bag!

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Mathematical Sciences Graduate Student Seminar with Stephen Acheampong

Please join the Department of Mathematical Sciences in Fisher 326 today, March 26, from 12-1 p.m. for our Graduate Student Seminar Series. 

Refreshments will be provided. Contact the math department’s graduate program assistant, Andi Schoch, via email at ajschoch@mtu.edu or in person in Fisher 318 with any questions.

This week, Stephen Acheampong will present “Bayesian Analysis for Longitudinal Binary Data with Missing Values Using Multivariate Probit Model”.

From the abstract:
Longitudinal binary data are common in epidemiology, clinical trials, and the social sciences. However, missing responses frequently arise due to missed visits, nonresponse, or dropout, making the analysis of correlated binary outcomes with incomplete observations unavoidable. Statistical methods for jointly modeling correlated binary responses with missing values remain limited. The multivariate probit model provides a natural framework for such data through latent multivariate normal variables, but its identifiable formulation constrains the covariance structure, and sampling the correlation matrix can be computationally demanding for both likelihood-based estimation and Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods.

Recent advances in Bayesian computation have shown that parameter-expanded data augmentation can substantially improve the efficiency of MCMC algorithms. In this study, we extend the parameter-expanded Metropolis–Hastings (PX–MH) and parameter-expanded Gibbs sampling (PX–GS) algorithms to analyze longitudinal binary data with missing values under a missing completely at random (MCAR) mechanism using the multivariate probit model. The proposed framework jointly estimates regression parameters, latent variables, and correlation structures while imputing missing outcomes. Through simulation studies and an application to the Health and Retirement Study, we evaluate the performance of the proposed methods. Results show that PX–GS substantially improves mixing and convergence for correlation parameters while providing reliable inference for regression effects, enhancing the practical use of multivariate probit models for longitudinal binary data with missing values.

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Physics Colloquium: Grad Student Presentations

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

• Casey Aldrich (advised by Issei Nakamura)
• Ian Norwood (advised by Claudio Mazzoleni)

This will be an in-person event — the students will give their talks at 4 p.m. today, March 26, in Fisher 139.

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

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Modern Languages and Cultures Film Series: '20,000 Species of Bees' Spanish Film

Join the Department of Humanities today, March 26, for the final film of the Modern Languages and Cultures Film Series.

Our Spanish film is Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren’s “20,000 Species of Bees,” a film about a young transgender girl and the relationships between herself, her identity and her family. The screening will take place at 7 p.m. in Walker 134, with the original Spanish, Basque and French audio and English subtitles.

This event is free and open to all! We hope you will join us for this heartfelt presentation of contemporary Spanish media, sponsored by the Department of Humanities and the Modern Languages and Cultures program.

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MAE Graduate Seminar Speaker: Timothy Ombrello

The next Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) Graduate Seminar speaker will present at 2 p.m. today, March 26, in EERC 103.

Timothy Ombrello will present “Fundamental Building Blocks of Scramjets for High-speed Propulsion”.

This presentation will orient attendees to the basic building blocks of scramjets and will provide examples, through research performed at the Air Force Research Laboratory, of the unique interplay between fluid dynamic and combustion processes which enable their operation.

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KIP and BioSci Seminar Series Speaker: Rupali Datta

Rupali Datta, professor of biological sciences, Michigan Tech, will present as part of the Departments of Kinesiology and Integrated Physiology (KIP) and Biological Sciences (BioSci) Seminar Series. The seminar will take place in GLRC 202 from 2-3 p.m. today, March 26.

Datta’s presentation is titled “From Serpentine Soils to Smart Phytomining: Integrating Soil Chemistry, Microbiomes, and Wearable Biosensors for Sustainable Nickel Recovery”.

From the abstract:
Securing domestic supplies of critical minerals such as nickel is a strategic priority for the United States, driven by rapidly increasing demand for electric vehicles, energy storage, and defense technologies. Current reliance on foreign sources and environmentally intensive mining practices highlights the need for sustainable, low-impact alternatives. Phytomining, using plants to extract metals from low-grade or marginal lands, offers a promising pathway to convert underutilized U.S. serpentine landscapes into productive, carbon-conscious sources of Ni. This work advances a systems-level phytomining framework integrating soil chemistry, plant uptake, microbial function, and real-time sensing. Serpentine soils across multiple sites exhibited high total Ni (up to ~4,500 mg/kg) and variable phytoavailable fractions (50–520mg/kg), governed by Fe–Mg-rich mineralogy. A predictive model identified potassium and magnesium as key controls on Ni bioavailability (R² ≈ 0.95), enabling targeted soil management strategies. Vetiver grass demonstrated strong hyperaccumulation potential, with root Ni concentrations exceeding 29,000 mg/kg under controlled conditions. Complementary metagenomic and culture-based analyses revealed microbial communities enriched in metal resistance and siderophore production, indicating their role in enhancing Ni mobilization and plant uptake. To enable precision harvesting, we are developing a wearable electrochemical biosensor capable of detecting phytochelatin–Ni complexes in real time with high sensitivity and selectivity. This technology allows continuous monitoring of Ni accumulation in plants, replacing destructive and time-intensive analytical methods. Together, these advances establish a scalable, data-driven phytomining platform that integrates predictive modeling, engineered plant–microbe systems, and wearable sensor technology. This approach provides a sustainable pathway for domestic nickel production while reducing environmental impacts and strengthening U.S. critical mineral resilience.

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Hear Us Out! Guest Speaker Event

Explore acoustics topics with the Acoustical Society of America Student Chapter at Michigan Tech! Two guest speakers will present at our Hear Us Out! event today, March 26, from 5-6 p.m. in Walker 210.

Presentations:

• “Sound, Time, and the Brain: Electroacoustics Foundations and Future” by Chris Plummer
• “MTU's Loudest Man Talks about Measuring Noise Floor” by Chad Walber

Pizza and pop will be provided! Please RSVP if you plan to attend.

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Today's C-Cubed Luncheon Menu

Join Carved and Crafted Catering at Michigan Technological University for the C-Cubed Luncheon, being held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Thursdays in the Memorial Union Alumni Lounge (MUB 107). All faculty and staff, along with their guests, are invited.

Menu for Thursday, March 26:

• Vegetable Minestrone Soup (V) and Chicken Noodle Soup
• Garlic Breadsticks (V)
• Salad Items: Spring Salad Mix (VG, AG), Cucumber (VG, AG), Red Onion (VG, AG) Cherry Tomatoes (VG, AG), Seasoned Croutons (V), Shredded Cheddar Cheese (V, AG) Garbanzo Beans (VG, AG)
• Salad Dressings: Ranch (V, AG), Balsamic Vinaigrette (VG, AG), Italian (VG, AG)
• Cookie Platter (V)

The C-Cubed lunch buffet menus are created and prepared by the catering 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 and desserts are available free to all attendees.

The buffet lunch is $16 per person. Cash, credit cards and gift cards are accepted. Gift cards can be purchased in the Memorial Union office (MUB 101). Meals are dine-in only and personal containers/tupperware or to-go meals are not permitted.

• Submit C-Cubed Feedback
• Receive Weekly C-Cubed Menus

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

Track & Field at WashU Distance Carnival

Thursday, March 26, 12–12 a.m. | St. Louis, Mo.

Track & Field at WashU Distance Carnival St. Louis, Mo.

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Women's Rights are Human Rights: International Posters on Gender-based Inequality, Violence, and Discrimination Gallery Exhibit - Rozsa Art Galleries

Thursday, March 26, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. | Rozsa Art Galleries, Rozsa Art Galleries A-Space

MICHIGAN TECH ART SERIES EVENT Women’s Rights are Human Rights is a fitting title for an exhibition of women’s rights and advocacy posters, as it was a term used in the women’s rights movement and was the title of an important speech given by Hillary Rodham Clinton in 1995 at the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing. This exhibition features posters created by artsit of all genders to celebrate and acknowledge the vital role that all citizens should play in protecting and promoting human rights while challenging gender inequality and stereotypes, advancing reproductive and sexual rights, protecting women and girls against brutality, and promoting women’s empowerment and participation in society. These poster images challenge patriarchal attitudes that subordinate, stigmatize or restrict women from achieving their fullest potential. These images argue for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls enabling empowerment of women and achievement of real equality between women and men that fosters societal stability and human dignity. Learn more at womensrightsarehumanrights.org Things to know ROZSA ART GALLERIES HOURS | M-F 8 a.m.-8 p.m. and…

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FIRST Robotics Competition FIM LSSU District Event

Thursday, March 26, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. | Lake Superior State University

Come volunteer with Copper Country Robotics at Lake Superior State University on March 26-28 for their FIRST Robotics Competition District Event! The LSSU event is looking for volunteers of all types and needs help to make this event a success. Keep in mind that you will need to also register on firstinspires.org and pass a YPP background check.

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I-9 Verification at the MUB

Thursday, March 26, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. | Memorial Union Building; Room 101

Human Resources will be on-site at the MUB to verify I-9 documentation for new hires.

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PhD Defense: Chaz Cornwall

Thursday, March 26, 9–10 a.m. | Electrical Energy Resources Center (EERC), 501

Electrical Engineering Advisor: Jeremy Bos The Excess Path Length Distribution: A Stochastic Model for Sample-based Path Planners Attend Virtually: https://michigantech.zoom.us/j/86342921543

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Friends of the Michigan Tech Library Book Sale

Thursday, March 26, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. | Memorial Union Building (MUB), Ballroom A

Come visit our annual book sale! For 2026 it will be held: 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 25 for students (free) and members ($20 memberships sold at the door)10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, March 26 for the general public.The sale will be held in the Memorial Union Building (MUB) Ballroom on the second floor. Parking is available at meters and in a pay lot adjacent and all campus parking is free after 4 p.m. Don’t forget that during the last hour of the sale on Thursday we have our $5 bag sale! $5 for all the books you can fit in a brown paper grocery bag! All proceeds benefit the J. Robert Van Pelt and John and Ruanne Opie Library.

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Graduate Student Seminar - Stephen Acheampong

Thursday, March 26, 12–1 p.m. | Fisher Hall, 326

Please join the Department of Mathematical Sciences in Fisher Hall 326 on Thursday, March 26 from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. for our Graduate Student Seminar Series. Refreshments will be provided. Contact the Math Department Graduate Program Assistant, Andi Schoch, via email (ajschoch@mtu.edu) or in person (Fisher Hall 318) with any questions. Presenting this week is Stephen Acheampong. Title: Bayesian Analysis for Longitudinal Binary Data with Missing Values Using Multivariate Probit Model. Abstract: Longitudinal binary data are common in epidemiology, clinical trials, and the social sciences. However, missing responses frequently arise due to missed visits, nonresponse, or dropout, making the analysis of correlated binary outcomes with incomplete observations unavoidable. Statistical methods for jointly modeling correlated binary responses with missing values remain limited. The multivariate probit model provides a natural framework for such data through latent multivariate normal variables, but its identifiable formulation constrains the covariance structure, and sampling the correlation matrix can be computationally demanding for both likelihood-based estimation and Markov chain…

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Medical Research Projects Involving Non-MTU Personnel

Thursday, March 26, 12–1 p.m.

The Human Research Protection Program will be presenting an information session on how to plan medical research projects with non-MTU collaborators. It will run from 12:00-1:00 pm on Thursday, March 26. Multi-institution medical research can involve complicated IRB, FDA, and HIPAA requirements, sometimes even if the data are just de-identified images. In this Zoom presentation, Mike Reay will talk for 30 minutes about the basic issues involved, some common pitfalls to avoid, and some key best practices to follow. He will then field any questions people might have. The presentation will be recorded and posted on the Human Research Protection Program website. If you would like a Google Calendar invite, email Mike Reay at mjreay@mtu.edu.

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Master's Defense: Mark Hobbs

Thursday, March 26, 12:30–1:30 p.m. | R. L. Smith Building (MEEM), 208

Mechanical Engineering Advisor: Gordon Parker Measuring Wave Elevation Using Piezo-Electric Hydrophone Attend Virtually: https://michigantech.zoom.us/j/84243726464

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Master's Defense: Helen Foldenauer

Thursday, March 26, 1:30–2:30 p.m. | Dow Environmental Sciences and Engineering Building, 619

Geology Advisor: Chad Deering The Geochemical, Tectonic, and Temporal Evolution of the Southeast Superior Craton in Three Lakes, Michigan Attend Virtually: https://michigantech.zoom.us/j/86129157947

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KIP and BioSci Seminar Series - From Serpentine Soils to Smart Phytomining: Integrating Soil Chemistry, Microbiomes, and Wearable Biosensors for Sustainable Nickel Recovery

Thursday, March 26, 2–3 p.m. | Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC), 202

Dr. Rupali Datta, Professor Department of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University Abstract: Securing domestic supplies of critical minerals such as nickel is a strategic priority for the United States, driven by rapidly increasing demand for electric vehicles, energy storage, and defense technologies. Current reliance on foreign sources and environmentally intensive mining practices highlights the need for sustainable, low-impact alternatives. Phytomining, using plants to extract metals from low-grade or marginal lands, offers a promising pathway to convert underutilized U.S. serpentine landscapes into productive, carbon-conscious sources of Ni. This work advances a systems-level phytomining framework integrating soil chemistry, plant uptake, microbial function, and real-time sensing. Serpentine soils across multiple sites exhibited high total Ni (up to ~4,500 mg/kg) and variable phytoavailable fractions (50–520 mg/kg), governed by Fe–Mg-rich mineralogy. A predictive model identified potassium and magnesium as key controls on Ni bioavailability (R² ≈ 0.95), enabling targeted soil management strategies. Vetiver grass demonstrated strong hyperaccumulation potential…

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Physics Colloquium - Graduate Student Presentations (Aldrich, Norwood)

Thursday, March 26, 3:30–5:00 p.m. | Fisher Hall, 139

Please join physics graduate students, Casey Aldrich and Ian Norwood for their presentations on Thursday, March 26 at 4 PM - Fisher Hall 139. Casey Aldrich (Advisor: Issei Nakamura) INFLUENCE OF DEGREE OF POLYMERIZATION ON THE ONSAGER COEFFICIENTS FOR POLY(ETVIM+) + TFSI- Conductivity in ionic liquids is often inversely correlated with viscosity, linking ion transport to the mechanical response of the fluid. For battery electrolytes, high ionic conductivity is needed alongside mechanical stability, motivating efforts to decouple ionic conductivity from viscosity. Polymerized ionic liquids offer a practical route toward this decoupling. Here we develop coarse grained molecular dynamics simulations of the polymerized ionic liquid poly(EtVIm) + TFSI in LAMMPS using a Stockmayer-type bead model, where each ion is represented as a charged, dipolar sphere. In this work, we calculate Onsager transport coefficients via the Green-Kubo formalism across a range of degrees of polymerization. Ian Norwood (Advisor: Claudio Mazzoleni) SIZE DEPENDENT POLARITY EFFECTS OBSERVED DURING FRICTIONAL CHARGING OF A COARSE-MODE ATMOSPHERIC DUST SURROGATE Global climate models underpredict the atmospheric…

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Huskies Swim Training - Session 3

Thursday, March 26, 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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Hear Us Out!

Thursday, March 26, 5–6 p.m. | Walker 210

Explore acoustics topics with two guest speakers featuring Sound, Time, and the Brain: Electroacoustics Foundations and Future by Chris Plummer, and MTU's Loudest Man Talks about Measuring Noise Floor by Chad Walber. Pizza and pop will be provided! Add the event to your calendar with this link.

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The Buzz: Peer Support Community

Thursday, March 26, 5–6 p.m. | Hamar House

We invite you to join our safe and judgment-free space where students can share, listen, and support each other around substance use and recovery. You are welcome here.

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Learn-to-Swim Levels 1-5 (Ages 6-17 yrs) - Session 2

Thursday, March 26, 5:10–5:50 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Pool

Come make a splash in Huskies Group Swim Lessons! American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim Levels 1-5 are being offered at the SDC Pool.

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WGC Friendly Pickleball Match

Thursday, March 26, 6–8 p.m. | Gates Tennis Center

Join the WGC for a fun and relaxing game of pickleball. It’s the perfect way to unwind, recharge, and connect with others—no experience required! We can’t wait to see you out on the court! We will be on Gates Court 4, Pickleball, West Side

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Greek Life New Member Orientation

Thursday, March 26, 7–9 p.m. | Memorial Union Building, Ballroom

Join us for the Greek Life New Member Orientation—an important gathering for all incoming members of our fraternity and sorority community. Organized by Student Leadership & Involvement alongside the honor society Order of Omega, and the two Greek governing councils, IFC and College Panhellenic Council. This session is designed to help you: Learn about key Greek Life values like scholarship, leadership, service, and community Understand university policies, campus resources, and community expectations Connect with student leaders and fellow new members Get practical info on membership responsibilities, upcoming programs, and how to get involved Whether you're just beginning your journey in Greek Life or ready to strengthen your commitment, this orientation is essential for starting on the right foot. We look forward to seeing you in the MUB Ballroom on March 26 at 7 p.m.! Please contact Amy Hjerstedt with questions about your New Member process, the Greek Orientation, or accessibility to the event -- greeklife@mtu.edu or stop in MUB 112.

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Indigenous Game Night general meeting

Thursday, March 26, 7–8 p.m. | Michigan Tech Writing Center

Come play digital, board and social games made by Indigenous designers!

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Modern Languages Film Series Presents: 20,000 Species of Bees, Spanish Film

Thursday, March 26, 7–9 p.m. | Walker Arts and Humanities Center, 134

Join us on Thursday, March 26th for the Modern Languages & Cultures Film Series' presentation of Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren's 20,000 Species of Bees, a film about a young transgender girl and the relationships between herself, her identity, and her family. The screening will take place at 7PM in Walker 134, with the original Spanish, Basque, and French audio and English subtitles. Synopsis: 8-year-old Cocó doesn’t fit the expectations of those around them, and doesn’t understand why. Everybody insists on calling them Aitor, but they don’t recognize themselves in that name, nor in the other’s gaze. On a trip back to their mother's hometown in Basque country, Cocó begins a journey of self-discovery. Dir. Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren, 2023. 2:05 runtime Trailer: