February 24, 2026

With breakthrough new technology that measures water isotopes on the move, researchers from Michigan Tech’s Great Lakes Research Center are driving, boating and snowmobiling around the Keweenaw Peninsula to help make lake-effect snow more predictable.

Ben Kopec is an assistant research scientist with the GLRC and an adjunct assistant professor in Tech’s Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering. He's also an accomplished hydrologist. He studies water isotopes — unique signatures determined by the structure of water molecules that allow scientists to identify water vapor’s point of origin and follow it through the water cycle. This tracking process is known as water cycle tracing or isotope hydrology. 

“When water evaporates from all sorts of different sources, the temperature of that water will dictate a unique signal that can be identified in isotopic measuring,” said Kopec. “These water isotopic tracers allow us to quantitatively measure how much water is moving through different parts of the water cycle, where the water is coming from and what conditions affect the different processes.”

Kopec’s research is ongoing, but he thinks knowing how much water is evaporating off of Lake Superior may be the key to accurately predicting snowfall events. Follow his research journey on Michigan Tech’s Unscripted Research Blog.

Michigan Technological University is committed to equal access and the civil rights of individuals with disabilities. We make consistent efforts to remove barriers to our programs, activities and services wherever they exist. To help us identify barriers, please consider the following reporting options:

Barriers in the Physical Environment 
If you encounter a physical environment barrier, such as an inoperative elevator, blocked access ramps, water or ice accumulations, or improper use of designated accessible parking spaces, please complete and submit the Physical Environment Barrier Reporting form to Michigan Tech’s ADA/504 coordinator.

Barriers in the Digital Environment:
If you encounter a digital barrier that impedes your ability to access University information and communication technologies (ICT), such as University systems, websites, electronic documents and educational and training materials, please complete and submit a Digital Accessibility Barrier form to Michigan Tech’s Accessible Technology Working Group.

The Upper Peninsula Local Section of the American Chemical Society (ACS) is pleased to invite local high school students to participate in the upcoming U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad - Local Chemistry Olympiad Competition. This event offers an engaging opportunity for high school students in the United States to test their chemistry knowledge and be recognized with a certificate that they can include in their college portfolio. 

The Local Chemistry Olympiad Competition will be held on March 14 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at both Michigan Technological University and Northern Michigan University.

Michigan Tech’s event is sponsored by the MTU Department of Chemistry and will take place in Room 101 of the Chemical Sciences and Engineering Building. Northern Michigan’s event will be held in Room 3202 of Weston Hall.

Questions? Contact Wei Wei at wwei4@mtu.edu or Urvashi Urvashi at uurvashi@nmu.edu.

Sign up for the Local Chemistry Olympiad Competition using the registration form.

The University Senate will meet on Thursday, Feb. 26, at 12:30 p.m. in Chem Sci 102. Virtual attendance is also invited via Zoom. Please note that you will need to log in to your MTU Zoom account to join the virtual meeting.

Join the University Senate Meeting on Zoom.

View the Meeting Agenda.

Senators are responsible for making their constituents aware of the agenda for this meeting. Senators who are unable to attend should arrange for their alternates to attend in their place.

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, Feb. 26:

• Fajita Style Chicken Thighs (PR)
• Steak Fajita (PR)
• Portobello Fajita (VG, CF)
• Flour Tortillas (VG)
• Tortilla Soup (V, AG, PR) 
• Sopapillas 
• Shredded Pepper Jack Cheese (V, AG), Pico de Gallo (VG, AG), Sour Cream (V, AG), Cuban Black Beans (VG), Spanish Rice (VG, AG)

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.

Lanrong Bi, professor of chemistry at Michigan Technological University, 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. on Thursday, Feb. 26.

The seminar is titled “Rewriting Cellular Fate at the Subcellular Level: Precision Delivery of Therapeutics and Imaging Agents”.

From the abstract:
Cellular function and dysfunction are governed not only by molecular identity but also by where molecules act within the cell. Many therapeutic and imaging agents fail to achieve their intended effects because they are unable to reach the specific subcellular compartments where critical signaling, metabolic, and quality control processes occur. This presentation focuses on chemical strategies for achieving precise subcellular delivery of therapeutic and imaging agents, with an emphasis on understanding and exploiting the rules that govern intracellular localization. I will discuss the development of organelle-targeted chemical platforms that enable controlled access to mitochondria and other intracellular compartments. By integrating medicinal chemistry, chemical biology, and advanced imaging approaches, these strategies allow the selective modulation and visualization of key pathways. These studies demonstrate that precision targeting at the subcellular level can fundamentally alter biological outcomes, shifting cellular responses from maladaptive stress signaling toward adaptive recovery.  

Bi’s research program focuses on the design of organelle-targetable therapeutic and imaging agents to enable precision and personalized medicine. She earned her Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Beijing Medical University (Health Science Center, Peking University) and previously served as an associate research scientist at the Columbia University Genome Center before joining the faculty at Michigan Tech.

Bi has published over 50 peer-reviewed articles and holds 10 U.S. patents, with work appearing in leading journals including Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, Journal of the American Chemical Society, and Autophagy. Her research has been cited more than 17,900 times, reflecting its broad impact on chemical biology and biomedical research. She is the recipient of Michigan Tech’s Bhakta Rath Research Award, shared with her Ph.D. student Nazmiye Yapici, now an independent NSF-funded principal investigator.

Bi is deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of scientists. Her trainees have progressed to independent academic careers, including Catherine Bammert, who moved directly from Bi’s laboratory to a faculty position at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, where she is now an associate professor. These outcomes underscore Michigan Tech’s strong research environment and dedication to student success.

Tuesday, Feb. 24
• Michigan Tech Hockey Radio Show, 10 a.m. on Mix 93 WKMJ

Thursday, Feb. 26
• Women's Basketball vs. Parkside, 5:30 p.m. at SDC Gym on Mix 93 WKMJ & FloCollege
• Men's Basketball vs. Parkside, 7:30 p.m. at SDC Gym on Mix 93 WKMJ & FloCollege

Friday, Feb. 27
• Nordic Skiing at NCAA Central Regional Championship (Duluth)
• Hockey vs. Bowling Green, 7:07 p.m. at MacInnes Student Ice Arena on Mix 93 WKMJ & Midco Sports Plus

Saturday, Feb. 28
• Nordic Skiing at NCAA Central Regional Championship (Duluth)
• Women's Basketball vs. Roosevelt, Noon at SDC Gym on Mix 93 WKMJ & FloCollege
• Men's Basketball vs. Roosevelt, 2 p.m. at SDC Gym on Mix 93 WKMJ & FloCollege
• Hockey vs. Bowling Green, 6:07 p.m. at MacInnes Student Ice Arena on Mix 93 WKMJ & Midco Sports Plus

*****

Athletics News
Read more in the MTU Athletics weekly update.

Hayden Henderson (GLRC) is in Glasgow, Scotland, for the Ocean Sciences meeting from Feb. 22-27.

Henderson is a co-author on two presented works: “Full-Frequency Wave Observations and Evaluation of Coastal Hazards in Lake Michigan” and “Twenty Years of (Un)intentional Great Lakes Observing Co-design”.

The Lansing State Journal mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about a new U.S. Department of Education database tracking foreign funding at universities.

The Clare County Cleaver mentioned Michigan Tech in coverage of a community info session held by the Clare County Road Commission. The presentation referenced a Scrap Tire News article about a collaboration between the CCRC and MTU, and an official noted that the "scrap tire baskets" used in the project are being monitored by MTU as part of a study.

Traverse City’s Northern Express mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about the Freshwater Research and Innovation Center, a new blue tech hub under development in Traverse City that will include Great Lakes research and marine technology programming in partnership with MTU and other regional organizations.

Call for Judges: Michigan Tech Undergraduate Research & Scholarship Symposium

The Pavlis Honors College invites faculty and staff to serve as judges for the 14th annual Undergraduate Research & Scholarship Symposium (URSS). Your expertise plays a vital role in providing meaningful feedback to students and strengthening the quality of their poster presentations.

About URSS
The Undergraduate Research & Scholarship Symposium will take place on March 20 in the Rozsa Lobby. This campuswide event highlights exceptional undergraduate research and scholarship from across Michigan Tech. Students representing a wide range of disciplines will showcase projects that reflect the depth, creativity and diversity of research opportunities available at the University.

URSS offers attendees the opportunity to engage directly with student researchers, explore innovative projects and experience firsthand the vibrancy of Michigan Tech’s research community. For additional details, please visit the URSS website.

Judging Process
Judges will review digital poster submissions via email between March 2 and March 10. This timeline allows students to receive constructive feedback and refine their work prior to the public poster session. Reviews may be completed remotely at any time during the judging window. 

Sign Up to Judge
If you are interested in serving as a URSS judge, please complete our judge registration form. Questions may be directed to Chris Hohnholt at cahohnho@mtu.edu.

Thank you for supporting undergraduate research at Michigan Tech. We look forward to your participation in this important and rewarding process.

*****

Sign Up for Virtual Workshop: 'Practical Problem Solving: Leveraging the Plan-Do-Check-Act Cycle'

The Office of Continuous Improvement is offering a virtual workshop, “Practical Problem Solving: Leveraging the Plan-Do-Check-Act Cycle”, tomorrow, Feb. 25, from 9 a.m. to noon. Practice different problem solving methods to test and learn your way toward your goals. Problem solving in a continuous improvement culture is highly participative, focusing on the problem, not the person, and involving the people who actually do the work.

To see the workshop description and register, complete our brief Upcoming Michigan Tech Lean Workshops form or visit our website. Once registered, we’ll add you to a calendar event for the course.

In this workshop, we’ll use some online tools, Zoom and Miro, that will enable us to work as a team to solve a problem together. Miro is a virtual collaboration tool, similar to a virtual whiteboard. Learn more about how to use Miro at the Miro Academy Essentials course. The workshop is considered complete after attending the workshop and submitting a couple of brief activities to demonstrate application of concepts. A certification of completion will be awarded after meeting all requirements. There’s no cost to Michigan Tech employees.

This stand-alone workshop is part of the Lean Basics workshop series. It can be taken independently, or, if you complete all five workshops in the series, we’ll award you a Lean Yellow Belt certificate! For more information, email improvement@mtu.edu.

*****

DataSENSE Workshop: Reproducible Research with Quarto

Are you interested in enhancing your use of open and reproducible research practices? The DataSENSE NRT project at Michigan Tech will be hosting a workshop over spring break to help!

DataSENSE Workshop Series: Reproducible Research with Quarto 
Presenter: Laura Brown, Professor in Computer Science
Monday, March 2, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Rekhi G006

What You’ll Learn:

• Reproducibility and Project Organization
• Quarto and R/RStudio

If time permits, tips for using Quarto in the class for slides and demos will be covered.

Who Should Attend:

The target audience is learners who have some experience in R/Rstudio (recommended but not required). Familiarity with using the shell terminal is recommended.

Register to attend at the DataSENSE Workshop: Reproducible Research with Quarto Registration Form. A confirmation email will be sent to first registrants.

Learners: Plan to bring a laptop with a Mac, Linux or Windows operating system (not a tablet, Chromebook, etc.) that you have administrative privileges on. You will be asked to install a few specific software packages (instructions will be provided).

This workshop is sponsored by DataSENSE NRT at Michigan Tech.

*****

MTU Engineers Week Celebration 2026: Huskies Who Engineer

The College of Engineering Student Ambassadors, Society of Women Engineers (SWE), Tau Beta Pi (TBP), Department of Engineering Fundamentals, and the College of Engineering Dean’s Office are thrilled to celebrate National Engineers Week with a full slate of engaging events for students, faculty, staff and the campus community.

EWeek continues all week long, through Friday, Feb. 27. Join us to explore engineering pathways, connect with leaders and have some fun with classic engineering challenges. We hope to see you throughout the week as we celebrate engineering, innovation and community!

Questions? Interested in getting involved with planning and hosting future Engineering Week events? Contact Audra Morse at amorse@mtu.edu or Jaclyn Johnson at jenesbit@mtu.edu.

MTU Engineers Week Event Schedule:
More details are shared in our event flyer slideshow.

Tuesday, Feb. 24

• Snowball Slingshot Challenge (Hosted by Engineering Ambassadors)
  • 1-5 p.m. | Dow Courtyard
  • Test your aim and engineering intuition in this winter-themed competition!

Wednesday, Feb. 25

• College of Engineering EPassport (Hosted by Campus Learning Centers and COE Dean’s Office)
  • 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. | Campus Learning Centers and COE Dean’s Office
  • Collect stamps, explore resources and connect with support services across the College of Engineering. Get rewarded for completing the passport, including being entered into a prize drawing!
    
    
• College of Engineering Dean’s Panel (Hosted by SWE)
  • 6 p.m. | Dow 641
  • Hear insights, advice and perspectives from College of Engineering deans on leadership, career pathways and the future of engineering education — valuable for students, faculty and staff alike.

Thursday, Feb. 26

• Engineering Discipline Photo Op + Blizzard Appearance (Hosted by SWE)
  • 12-2 p.m. | Husky Statue
  • Show your engineering pride with discipline photo signs and capture the moment — Blizzard will be stopping by for a fun photo-bomb appearance. Candy and stickers will be provided.
    
    
• Spaghetti Bridge Competition and Marshmallow Geodesic Dome Build (Hosted by TBP)
  • 3-6 p.m. | MUB Commons Sections 4, 5, 6 — MUB G001
  • Put your engineering skills to the test — design and build a geodesic structure using marshmallows and spaghetti! Plus: Design, build and test your spaghetti bridge — whose structure will hold the most weight?

Friday, Feb. 27

• EWeek Cupcakes (Hosted by Department of Engineering Fundamentals)
  • 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Dillman 112
  • Celebrate the end of Engineering Week with sweet treats and good company.

*****

Tonight: Dinosaurs at the Rozsa!

Outside, it may feel like an ice age — but inside the Rozsa, long-fossilized creatures are taking over! 

“Dinosaur World Live!”, winner of the prestigious 2024 Olivier Award for Best Family Entertainment, comes to Houghton as part of their third major tour of the United States. This interactive theatre show will bring dinosaurs to life onstage at the Rozsa Center tonight, Feb. 24, at 6:30 p.m. for a one-night-only performance.

Get Tickets
Public tickets have sold out for this event — however, Michigan Tech Student Rush tickets are still available! Request yours before they go extinct!

Dinosaur World Live!
Tuesday, Feb. 24 | 6:30 p.m.
Rozsa Center
Michigan Tech Presenting Series

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

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

Tuesday, February 24, 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 Saturdays…

*****

Recruitment Training

Tuesday, February 24, 9–11 a.m. | MUB Ballroom A

*****

CISR Research Discussion - Ishi Keenum

Tuesday, February 24, 12:00–12:50 p.m. | J. Robert Van Pelt and John and Ruanne Opie Library, East Reading Room

Research presentation & discussion hosted by the Center for Innovation in Sustainability and Resilience (CISR) of the GLRC. Dr. Ishi Keenum will give a short talk on "Engineering Microbial Systems for Environmental Sustainability: From Antimicrobial Resistance to Freshwater Dune Stabilization" followed by Q&A.

*****

Creating Personnel Documents with SciENcv

Tuesday, February 24, 12–1 p.m.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) requires that all senior personnel listed on NSF proposals use an online tool called SciENcv to prepare their Biographical Sketch and Current & Pending Support forms, which are required proposal elements. Additionally, the National Institutes of Health and US Dept of Energy have new processes for Common Forms that require the use of SciENcv to produce compliant documents for submissions to those agencies. Join this session to learn how you can create and maintain your biographical sketch and current and pending support documents in SciENcv. This session is for anyone interested in submitting proposals who has not yet learned the SciENcv system, or could use a refresher on system basics. The session will cover all steps from signup to producing the required documents; no prior experience is necessary. Once you get the initial setup done, you'll be able to easily make updates and generate biosketches and current and pending documents that are compliant with the current rules of the various agencies.

*****

Engineering Week - Snowball Slingshot Challenge!

Tuesday, February 24, 1–5 p.m. | Dow Environmental Sciences and Engineering Building, Courtyard

Test your aim and engineering intuition in this winter-themed competition! This event is part of week long activities to explore engineering pathways, connect with leaders, and have some fun with classic engineering challenges as part of the National Engineers Week. Find out more here!

*****

Mental Health Screening

Tuesday, February 24, 2–4 p.m. | Hamar House Conference Room

February can be tough, cold weather, less sunlight, and academic stress all stack up. Stop in for a free, confidential mental health screening to see how you’re really doing. A few minutes can go a long way in boosting your well-being during the darkest stretch of winter.

*****

Teaching Kitchen - Tortilla Making

Tuesday, February 24, 2–3 p.m. | The Social House and Wadsworth Hall

Join Chef Luis Delgado for a fun, hands-on Teaching Kitchen session where you’ll learn step by step how to make your own homemade tortillas. This interactive class will guide you through the process from start to finish in a relaxed, social setting. Spring 2026 Teaching Kitchen Schedule:Tortilla Making - Wednesday, January 28 @ 11 am - The Social House at Wadsworth HallMake fresh tortillas, learn a new kitchen skill, and take your experience with you. SIGN UP HERE to attend and save your spot - space is limited!

*****

Huskies Swim Training - Session 2

Tuesday, February 24, 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!

*****

The Buzz: Peer Support Community

Tuesday, February 24, 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.

*****

WGC Simulator Event

Tuesday, February 24, 5:30–7:30 p.m. | Mine Shaft & Rock House

A 2-hour event at the Mineshaft simulators to enjoy some winter golfing! Rides will be leaving Wadsworth Hall at 5:15 PM! Please fill out THIS form if you will be needing a ride or to borrow clubs, and meet under the awning outside the main doors.

*****

ASCII - Movie General Meeting

Tuesday, February 24, 6–7 p.m. | Fisher 0126

Next general meeting! Come join us for movie night we will be watching i, Robot. Sit and study or take a break a chill. All are welcome, any major, feel free to stop by if you are interested in anything computing. Can't wait to see you there!

*****

KYCA Weekly meeting

Tuesday, February 24, 6–7 p.m. | Fisher 129

Join KYCA for our weekly meetings! We will go over what has been happening in the organization and then break into our two projects that are working to tackle different local climate issues. Everyone is welcome!

*****

Dinosaur World Live

Tuesday, February 24, 6:30 p.m. | Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts, Black Performance Hall

ROZSA PRESENTING SERIES EVENT Outside it may feel like an ice age, but inside the Rozsa long extinct creatures are taking over! DINOSAUR WORLD LIVE, winner of the prestigious 2024 Olivier Award for Best Family Entertainment, comes to Houghton, MI as part of their third major tour of the United States. The interactive theatre show that brings dinosaurs to life on stage will be visiting the Rozsa Center on February 24, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. for a one night only performance. "Dinosaur World Live is an inspirational show – it fires the imagination and teaches you things you might not know about famous dinosaurs like T-rex and triceratops, but also introduces you to dinosaurs you might not have heard of like microraptor and segnosaurus. My hope is that audiences will come out desperate to know more about dinosaurs, and with their imaginations working on all cylinders. It’s also interactive, encouraging the whole audience to get involved." - Derek Bond, Writer and Director From The Press ★★★★★ ‘Great fun. Highly recommended for all ages’ "What’s Good To Do" ★★★★ 'A spectacular interactive show!' "OK! Magazine" ★★★★ ‘The perfect family show. Educational and entertaining’…

*****

Student Community Meal

Tuesday, February 24, 6:30–7:30 p.m. | Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

Join us for our weekly free student meal, held Tuesdays during the semester at Good Shepard Lutheran Church. Come to cook, serve, eat, clean up, or all of the above! Cooking begins at 5pm and anyone is welcome to help cook. The meal is served from 6:30pm-7:30pm and any students are welcome to eat at the church and visit with friends or take a to-go box! If you would like to help with the meal but can't be there at 5, we also welcome people to help clean up from around 6:30pm to about 8pm. To stay up to date on weekly menus, follow the LCM instagram @lcm.mtu