February 2, 2023

Delivery of engaging and effective science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) curricula for students in grades K-12 takes a step forward thanks to a new partnership between Mi-STAR and Kendall Hunt K-12, a division of Kendall Hunt Publishing Company.

Michigan Tech and Kendall Hunt announced the new partnership Jan. 24, with Kendall Hunt confirming its expansion of print middle school science offerings to include the new “Anchored Science by Mi-STAR” curriculum.

Read more at Michigan Tech News.

Michigan Tech IT will be performing routine quarterly maintenance on the Fischer/mylogin system on Feb. 12 from 8 a.m. to noon. During this maintenance, password resets and mylogin.mtu.edu will be unavailable.

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

The College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science (CFRES) and its artist-in-residence, Lisa Gordillo, invite you to “First Friday,” an opportunity to visit with the artist and explore works of art inspired by the environments around us.

First Friday will take place tomorrow (Feb. 3) from 10 a.m. to noon in the U. J. Noblet Forestry Building. Two works will be on display: a prototype of the “Keweenaw Nature Megaphone,” and “Transmission,” a multimedia work by Swedish artist Simon Sjöström.

The exhibit, organized by Gordillo, is part of her ongoing project “Sister Forests,” which connects the forests of the Keweenaw and those of Björkö-Arholma, Sweden, by sharing art, community events and environmental action.

Works of art will remain on display through spring break.

Guardians of the North Air Force ROTC Detachment 400 is putting on its annual All You Can Eat Pancakes fundraiser during the Winter Carnival All-Nighter. Come out and claim the title of Pancake Champion!

The event will start Wednesday (Feb. 8) at 6 p.m. and end Thursday (Feb. 9) at 2 a.m. It will be held in Fisher Hall, in the hallway next to Fisher 135.

Prices:

• One person: $7
• Two people: $10

Proceeds from the event support the cadets in leadership opportunities and advancing their academic and military careers.

Chat GPT, the artificial intelligence (AI) powered chatbot, was released in late November 2022. Since then, it has dominated news coverage about AI tools and their impact on higher education. This large language model can generate human-like text responses to user prompts. It’s also adept at producing computer code, generating email messages, composing complex spreadsheet formulas, and much more.

Instructors are grappling with the impact Chat GPT and other AI tools are having in teaching and learning. They’re also exploring strategies to leverage these tools to support course objectives and potentially save time previously used on routine tasks for higher-order learning activities. Have you adjusted your teaching strategies to address the existence of AI tools in your classes?

Make plans to attend a Jackson Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) coffee chat at 3:45 p.m. on Feb. 16 in the Library East Reading Room. We’ll provide an overview of some common AI tools, demonstrate how they work and review some AI-generated responses. You’ll also have time to discuss the implications of AI tools with other instructors from across campus. We hope to see you there.

Register to attend the CTL Coffee Chat: Teaching and Learning in the Age of AI Tools.

Following a road split, Michigan Tech women's basketball is back at SDC Gymnasium this week.

The Huskies will host Wayne State today (Feb. 2) at 5:30 p.m., followed by Saginaw Valley State on Saturday (Feb. 4) at 1 p.m.

Both games will be livestreamed on FloSports and broadcast by Mix 93.5 WKMJ-FM local radio. MTU Athletics encourages fans attending in person to wear pink to promote breast cancer awareness.

Read the preview at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

Michigan Tech men's basketball is back on their home court this week.

The Huskies are hosting Wayne State tonight (Feb. 2) at 7:30 p.m. followed by Saginaw Valley State on Saturday (Feb. 4) at 3 p.m. Both games can be heard on Mix 93.5 WKMJ-FM.

Read the preview at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

 

A total of 140 Michigan Tech student-athletes were named to the GLIAC All-Academic and All-Academic Excellence Teams for the fall 2022 semester.  

Of that total, 94 Huskies made the All-Academic Excellence Team and 46 made the All-Academic Team.

To be eligible for GLIAC academic honors, student-athletes must be active on a team's roster at the end of the season — not freshmen or first-year transfer students.

All-Academic Team student-athletes carry a cumulative GPA of 3.0-3.49. All-Academic Excellence Team student-athletes have a cumulative GPA of 3.50-4.0. Grades are based on marks from the fall 2022 semester.

See all the Husky honorees at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

Head coach Dan Mettlach and the Michigan Tech football program are pleased to announce that 30 student-athletes have penned a National Letter of Intent to join the Huskies in the fall of 2023.

Michigan Tech's incoming class features players from Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan, including six from the Upper Peninsula.

"I'm extremely excited about the class that we signed," said Mettlach. "All of these student-athletes are great fits for both our University and our football program. I can't say enough good things about our staff and their willingness to continue recruiting hard through both the coaching transition and also the holiday season. It was all hands on deck and they did a tremendous job.

"Special thanks to Dining Services and our Admissions team, faculty and staff for providing all the information about Michigan Tech to our recruits and sharing what our program is all about."

Read about the incoming recruits and watch their introduction videos at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

Kari Henquinet (SS) is quoted multiple times by International Educator Magazine in the story “Leading from the Middle” in its January 2023 issue. 

Henquinet was quoted about her experiences leading and advocating for international education programs in higher education in the story, which discussed effective strategies for mid-level leaders in higher ed.

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Michigan Tech Continuous Improvement’s What is Lean? webpage was quoted by Pallet Enterprise in a story on how lean manufacturing and sustainability strategies can reduce the amount of waste produced by pallet companies.

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PR Newswire mentioned Michigan Tech in a press release announcing the print publication of the “Anchored Science by Mi-STAR” middle school science curriculum by Kendall Hunt K-12, a division of Kendall Hunt Publishing Company. 

Mi-STAR was created by MTU faculty and staff in 2015. The release was picked up by more than 70 U.S. regional news outlets.

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WLUC TV6 published photos by Rolf Peterson (CFRES) and comments by Wolves and Moose of Isle Royale researchers in a story about a wolf who fell through the ice into Lake Superior on Jan. 28.

Peterson and other MTU researchers are currently conducting the 2023 winter study of wolves and moose on Isle Royale. The story was picked up by Saginaw’s WNEM TV5.

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Currents News mentioned Michigan Tech in a broadcast segment about St. Albert the Great Catholic University Parish’s annual Ice Mass. The clip begins at 18:35, and features video from 2022’s first Ice Mass and photos of this year’s chapel construction. 

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FasterSkier mentioned Michigan Tech Nordic skiers Adam Witkowski and Anabel Needham in a story about Team USA’s performance at the 2023 FISU World University Games, held Jan. 12-22 in Lake Placid, New York.

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Joe Shawhan (ATH) was quoted and Logan Pietila and Blake Pietila were mentioned in this week’s CCHA RinkRap, which highlighted the Pietila twins’ contributions in the Huskies’ Jan. 27 victory over Northern Michigan.

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The Daily Mining Gazette picked up a Michigan Tech Athletics press release announcing Blake Pietila’s fifth time this season as CCHA Goaltender of the Week.

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The Ludington Daily News mentioned Michigan Tech in a story on a Ludington Area Center for the Arts exhibit featuring artwork by Terry Dickinson, whose work is displayed in the College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science’s Wildlife Art Gallery.

Request for Proposals: Research Excellence Fund

Proposals are being solicited for the Research Excellence Fund (REF) program, an internal award of the Vice President for Research Office.

Proposals are due no later than 5 p.m. March 2, and must be submitted electronically per the program guidelines. This due date will be strictly enforced based on the timestamp marked on the University's email system. Early submission is encouraged.

Please note that the program has changed in a number of respects in recent years, so be sure to download the current documents and review the current guidance carefully. Those scholars, creators and researchers who started with Tech or moved into a new research role after Dec. 1, 2020, must be enrolled in the Responsible Conduct of Research course for new researchers taking place this fall.

For additional information, see the Research Excellence Fund webpage. Questions can be directed to REF-l@mtu.edu.

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'Let's Talk About it: Facilitating Difficult Conversations' for Graduate Students

Are you a graduate student interested in developing skills that will assist you in facilitating difficult conversations? Please join us today (Feb. 2) from 2-4 p.m. in Admin 404 for Level 1 of a Facilitating Difficult Conversations workshop.

This in-person workshop is open to all graduate students. The workshop will provide foundational information and practice for handling uncomfortable work and/or peer situations in a respectful and professional manner. ​Level 2 of Facilitating Difficult Conversations will be held on a future date.

​The number of participants is limited to facilitate discussion, so please complete the registration form to save your spot. You will receive an email reminder before the event with the location.

For more information, contact the Graduate School at gradschool@mtu.edu.

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Zoom Course: All-Nighter Statue Building with Sculptora Borealis

Join us Monday (Feb. 6) at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom for a snow statue building course hosted by Sculptora Borealis, the reigning national snow statue building champions!

In this course, you will learn tips, tricks and best practices for making elaborate snow sculptures with limited time. You'll learn how to plan your cuts to improve the integrity of your structure. You'll learn what tools you can find in the area (or make yourself) so you can work smarter and not harder.

This event is free and everyone is welcome to participate. Join us to get ready for the All-Nighter!

Add the course to your Google Calendar.

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Employee Financial Health Webinars by TIAA

Michigan Tech employees are invited to join the Benefits Office for these free, online, live financial health webinars offered through Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (TIAA) this February:

• Make the Move Toward Long-Term Financial Security: Your Midcareer Retirement Check-In — Feb. 15, noon
  For anyone halfway down the road to retirement, this webinar is a critical checkpoint. It takes you through the keys to successful money management, how to juggle competing financial demands, and retirement saving strategies that can help put you on the path to lifelong financial security.
  Register now.
  
  
• Hindsight 2020: A Look Back at Lessons Learned in 2020 — Feb. 15, 3 p.m.
  This presentation will look back at the historical example of 2020 and what we learned in terms of the value of advice, following a disciplined risk management strategy and the role lifetime income can play in a sound financial plan.
  Register now.

These webinars count toward Option 2 in your Husky Health Checklist. Follow Michigan Tech Wellness on Facebook for upcoming health and wellness initiatives supported by the Benefits Office, which may count toward your 2023 Husky Health Checklist.

All webinars are recorded and available for viewing 90 days after the live event. Visit TIAA.org/webinars to register or watch past presentations on demand.

Spanish-Speaking Webinars
Starting in 2022, TIAA is offering financial education webinars in Spanish. The webinars can be accessed at TIAA.org/RecursosEducativos.

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Physics Colloquium: Grad Student Presentations

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

• Elise Rosky (advised by Will Cantrell/Raymond Shaw)
• Nithin Allwayin (advised by Raymond Shaw)

This will be an in-person event — the students will give their talks at 4 p.m. today (Feb. 2) in Fisher 139.

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

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This Week's C3 Luncheon

Menu for Thursday (Feb. 2):

• Pot Roast (Gluten-Friendly)
• Black Bean Stuffed Peppers (Gluten-Friendly, Vegan)
• Baked Sweet Potato (Gluten-Friendly, Vegan)
• Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread (Vegetarian) 
• Creamy Ranch Pasta Salad (Vegetarian)

Dining Services presents this week's C3 Luncheon, being held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Memorial Union Alumni Lounge (MUB 107). All faculty and staff, along with their guests, are invited.

The C3 lunch buffet menus are created and prepared by executive chef Michael Landini and his culinary team. As the name suggests, the meals are meant to foster conversation, community and collegiality. Attendees may bring their lunch instead of purchasing the buffet. Fruit-infused water, coffee, tea, cookies and fruit are available free to all attendees.

The buffet lunch is $12 per person. Cash, credit cards and gift cards are accepted. Gift cards can be purchased in the Memorial Union office (MUB 101). You can submit C3 feedback using our Google form. To join the C3 Google group and receive weekly menus, email business-support@mtu.edu.

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BioSci Seminar with Ramana Pidatala

Ramana Pidatala will present as part of the Department of Biological Sciences (BioSci) Seminar Series from 3-4 p.m. today (Feb. 2). The seminar will be held virtually via Zoom (use passcode 046347).

Pidatala is a senior scientific engineering associate at the Joint BioEnergy Institute in Berkeley, California. He will present "Feedstocks to Fuels: A high-throughput screening approach."

From the abstract:
In the U.S., petroleum is the primary source of transportation fuels and chemicals. Sustainably grown biomass is an alternative to reduce the dependency on fossil fuels. The efficient conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into biofuels and bioproducts requires the bioengineering of plants and microbes. Biomass is deconstructed using ionic liquids and enzymes, and resulting sugars are converted by microbes into desired bioproducts. Testing the saccharification and conversion efficacy of hundreds of transgenic plants, various strains of microbes, and Ionic liquids with different possible combinations is a daunting task. Evaluation and identification of best candidate plants, and microbes at bench scale are cumbersome and time-consuming. A high-throughput screening platform (F2F: Feedstocks-To-Fuels) was developed to address these challenges. With end-to-end automated processes combined with machine learning tools, the pipeline provides the flexibility to adjust multiple experimental parameters and predictive deconstruction of various biomass samples.

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ME-EM Graduate Seminar Speaker: George Huber

The next Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics (ME-EM) Graduate Seminar Speaker will present at 4 p.m. today (Feb. 2) in EERC 103.

George Huber will present "Recycling of Waste Plastics by Solvent Targeted Recovery and Precipitation."

Huber is the Richard Antoine Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His research focus is the design of disruptive technologies for the conversion of biomass, waste plastics and other waste resources into renewable fuels and chemicals.

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

CTL Lunch and Learn: Engaging Students

Thursday, February 2, 12 p.m.–1 p.m.

Thursday, February 2, 2023 at 12:00 noon https://mtu.libcal.com/event/10224958

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Cookies & Coloring Books

Thursday, February 2, 1 p.m.–3 p.m. | Center for Diversity and Inclusion (basement)

Let's talk and color your cares away! Drop in to de-stress with an afternoon of adult coloring and find out more about what the Center for Student Mental Health and Well-being...

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Facilitating Difficult Conversations for Graduate Students

Thursday, February 2, 2 p.m.–4 p.m.

Are you a graduate student interested in developing skills that will assist you in facilitating difficult conversations? Please join us for Level 1 of a Facilitating Difficult...

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Biological Science Seminar Series - Dr. Ramana Pitadala

Thursday, February 2, 3 p.m.–4 p.m.

Dr. Ramana Pitadala Sr. Scientific Engineering Associate Joint BioEnergy Institute Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Berkeley, CA Feedstocks to Fuels: A...

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Intro to Web App Security

Thursday, February 2, 4:00 p.m.–5:30 p.m. | Fisher Hall, 326

The trend is clear; each year brings new and more frequent security threats. So, how do software professionals know that they are building secure software? This FREE training...

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Physics Colloquium - Graduate Student Presentations (Rosky / Allwayin)

Thursday, February 2, 4 p.m.–5 p.m.

Please join physics graduate students, Elise Rosky and Nithin Allwayin, for their in-person presentations Thursday, February 2nd at 4 PM - Fisher Hall 139. Molecular...

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Recycling of Waste Plastics by Solvent Targeted Recovery and Precipitation (STRAP)

Thursday, February 2, 4 p.m. | Electrical Energy Resources Center (EERC), 103

ME-EM Graduate Seminar Speaker Series proudly presents George Huber, PhD University of Wisconsin Madison Abstract In this presentation we present a new platform...

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Adult Huskies Swim Lessons Spring 2023 Session 1

Thursday, February 2, 5:00 p.m.–5:50 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Pool

Adult Huskies Swim Lessons provides aquatic education for the beginner to the intermediate swimmer who is looking to become more comfortable in the water and learn the...

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International Students Forum

Thursday, February 2, 5:00 p.m.–6:30 p.m. | J. Robert Van Pelt and John and Ruanne Opie Library, East Reading Room

Worried you are living in a social and political bubble and are not getting exposed to outside viewpoints despite being surrounded by a wonderfully diverse campus? Come to the...

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Thursday After School Learn to Ski and Snowboard Program

Thursday, February 2, 5:00–6:30 a.m. | Mont Ripley Ski Area

Thursdays Ages 8+ Children of all ability levels have an opportunity to learn to ski or snowboard, make new friends, and explore Mont Ripley together. The focus is on safety,...

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Outdoor Venture Crew Weekly Meeting

Thursday, February 2, 5:15 p.m.–7:00 p.m. | Fisher 129

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

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(Women's Basketball) Wayne State vs. Michigan Tech

Thursday, February 2, 5:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Wood Gym

Women's Basketball: Wayne State vs. Michigan Tech, SDC Gymnasium - Houghton, Mich.

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(Men's Basketball) Wayne State vs. Michigan Tech

Thursday, February 2, 7:30 p.m.–10:30 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Wood Gym

Men's Basketball: Wayne State vs. Michigan Tech, SDC Gymnasium - Houghton, Mich.

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Club Roll

Thursday, February 2, 8:00 p.m.–9:30 p.m. | SDC Pool

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

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Ice Bowling

Thursday, February 2, 10 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC)

Winter Carnival Special Event for participating organizations. Teams consisting of no more than ten members will compete in this version of bowling on ice. One team member...

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Adult and Youth Huskies Tennis and Pickleball Lessons (Session 1)

February 2, all day | Michigan Tech Gates Tennis Center

Youth Huskies Tennis Lessons: After school and weekend Youth Huskies Group Tennis Lessons are available this spring! Join in by age group and level for some fun on the tennis...

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CDI x CSMHW: Cookies and Coloring Books

February 2, all day | Hamar House Center for Diversity and Inclusion, Lower Level

De-stress with an afternoon of adult coloring and find out more about what resources the Center for Student Mental Health and Well-being has to offer! Come color with us or...