October 3, 2023

The Office of Alumni Engagement is thrilled to announce that we will be hosting a group of four talented alumni on campus today (Oct. 3) until Thursday (Oct. 5) for our Time & Talent (T&T) initiative.

The T&T initiative aims to foster alumni engagement by connecting Michigan Tech alumni with current students, faculty and staff through guest lectures, presentations and various learning opportunities.

The October 2023 cohort of T&T guests are:

• John Helge '76, B.S. in Forestry
• Bruce Kuffer '71, B.S. in Civil Engineering
• Paul Meneghini '93, B.S. in Civil Engineering
• Brian Schwanitz '77, B.S. in Applied Geophysics

This diverse group brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our campus, with backgrounds in industries such as oil and gas, industrial water treatment, business development, operations management, and trenchless technologies for sanitation, water and pipeline industries. 

In September, the Office of Alumni Engagement had the pleasure of hosting Tom Seel, a 1985 mechanical engineering graduate, for the Time & Talent program. Seel shared decades of valuable experiences with students and faculty, providing practical insights for those preparing for their future careers. To read a recap of his visit, please visit our Time & Talent website.

We encourage all members of the MTU community to extend a warm welcome and take the opportunity to interact with these accomplished guests during their time on campus. Your engagement will contribute to a rewarding experience for both our alumni and Michigan Tech community.

The College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science (CFRES) Dean Search Committee will be holding its kickoff meeting — which is open to Michigan Tech faculty, staff and students — today (Oct. 3) at 10 a.m. in Noblet G004.

In the Oct. 2 edition of Tech Today, you were invited to register for the Covidence trial for systematic review management. Unfortunately, the link for registration was incorrect.

To register, please follow these steps:

1. Sign up for Covidence if you do not already have an account at another institution.

2. Send an email to library@mtu.edu requesting an invitation to the library trial.

3. Check your email for the invitation and accept.

Please email library@mtu.edu with any questions.

The University Senate will convene Meeting 690 at 5:30 p.m. tomorrow (Oct. 4) in Dow 642.

Those within the University community unable to attend in person have the option to attend via Zoom. Please note: You will need to log in to your MTU Zoom account to join the virtual meeting.

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.

View the agenda to Meeting 690.

A production system maintenance window is scheduled for Sunday (Oct. 8) from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The following production services will be unavailable during that time:

• Banner
• Banweb
• MyMichiganTech
• Aspire
• Course Tools
• mtu.edu/tips
• OAP Rental System
• Oracle Reports
• Perceptive Content (Imagenow)
• Sunapsis
• UC4/Appworx
• Virtual Cashiering
• WebFocus

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

Join faith-based student organizations and local congregations/faith-based groups in the first-ever Faith Fair tomorrow (Oct. 4) from 12-2 p.m.

Groups will be set up on the lawn between Fisher Hall and the Van Pelt and Opie Library to share information and resources with the campus community.

The fair is being sponsored by the Dean of Students Office, Center for Diversity and Inclusion, Student Leadership and Involvement, and the Cooperative Campus Ministry.

In October's episode of "IPEC Presents," our guest and Institute for Policy, Ethics, and Culture (IPEC) executive committee member Libby Meyer (VPA) discusses her work as a composer, her guilty pleasure musical choices, and what it means to co-create with the world around us.

Meyer is a dynamic, insightful and well-rounded artist whose perspective on the world inspires us to deepen our relationships — and to liberate our idea of stealing to create.

Now streaming on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Listen now.

Rick Naher, senior account executive with Oxford Nanopore Technologies, will present as part of the Department of Biological Sciences (BioSci) Seminar Series on Thursday (Oct. 5) from 3-4 p.m. in GLRC 202.

Naher will present "An Introduction to Long-Read Nanopore Sequencing."

From the abstract:
This talk will cover the technology of Nanopore Sequencing and how it works. I will discuss our products for library preparation, sequencing, and data analysis. I will highlight the advantages and benefits of long-read sequencing versus short-read sequencing, which has been the gold standard for the past decade.

Naher has been with Oxford Nanopore Technologies for the past year and a half, and is based in Cincinnati, Ohio. He covers all of Ohio, West Virginia, Michigan and Pittsburgh. Before joining Oxford Nanopore Technologies, he was with Thermo Fisher Scientific for 21 years.

Rudy Luck from the Department of Chemistry at Michigan Technological University will be presenting at this week's Chemistry Seminar. The seminar will be held in person at 3 p.m. Friday (Oct. 6) in Chem Sci 101.

Luck’s presentation is titled "Journey to the Dark Side. Forays into theoretical and organic chemistries."

From the abstract:
Details of research into the syntheses, characterization, and applications of molecular fluorescent probes useful for monitoring the concentrations of ions within cells and organelles will be described. This information, such as pH levels and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide concentration is useful since unusual levels are present during illness. For example, mitochondrial defects or dysfunctions are closely related to some cardiovascular and neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease. It is very important to precisely and quantitatively detect mitochondrial pH values because they are closely linked to the unique functions and biochemical processes of mitochondria. Ideal fluorescent probes for pH sensing in mitochondria should be able to specifically target mitochondria, possess ratiometric sensing capability with two well-defined visible and near-infrared emissions, and effectively track mitophagy. Additionally, the redox pair nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, comprising the reduced NADH and oxidized NAD+ forms are essential coenzymes involved in numerous reduction-oxidation transformations within eukaryotic cells. Similarly, NADPH, representing the reduced version of the coenzyme nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, plays a vital role in various anabolic pathways and antioxidant defense mechanisms. These coenzymes are critical for cellular redox balance and participate in various biological processes, signifying their importance in normal and disease-related biological processes, such as oxidative stress response, energy metabolism, gene repair, and immune function, among others. This seminar will address the theoretical underpinnings of some of the strategies employed in the syntheses and characterization of these probes, most of which emanate from research in Professor Haiying Liu’s laboratory, and then address our recent synthetic efforts in this arena. In that regard, theoretical and experimental data will be compared on the complex BF2 and the freely available NMR program SpinWorks which was used to establish the nature of BF coupling will be described.

The Ecosystem Science Center (ESC) welcomes Bette Loiselle as part of the Distinguished Ecologist Lecture Series. All are welcome to join us this Thursday (Oct. 5) from 12:30-1:30 p.m. in Noblet G002 or via Zoom.

Loiselle will present "Forty years of studying Neotropical birds: lessons learned along the way."

Loiselle holds a joint appointment as the director of the Tropical Conservation and Development Program in the Center for Latin American Studies and a professor in the Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University of Florida.

Loiselle’s research focuses on understanding the importance of biodiversity in tropical systems, especially the ecological role of animals as seed dispersers, and the potential consequences of global change on the distribution of plants and animals.

The next guest speaker in the Department of Biomedical Engineering Seminar Series is Amirtahà Taebi from Mississippi State University.

Taebi will present a seminar titled "NoTouch, No Problem: How Ordinary Videos Can Track Your Heart Activity" on Friday (Oct. 6) at 4 p.m. in person in M&M 610 or via Zoom.

Read the seminar abstract and Taebie's bio on the University Events Calendar.

The Michigan Tech soccer team hosted a pair of games at Kearly Stadium over the weekend, emerging with a draw and a loss.

The Huskies erased a one-goal deficit late in the second half to force a 1-1 draw against Davenport on Friday (Sept. 29).

"I thought we adjusted well in the second half. I was very happy with the way we dealt with adversity after going down by a goal," head coach Turk Ozturk said. "When the equalizer happened with Emilie Clayton, we continued pushing and wanted another one. Overall, I thought it was a fair result."

MTU suffered their first loss since the opening weekend, falling 2-0 to No. 13 nationally ranked Grand Valley State on Sunday (Oct. 1). The Huskies outshot the Lakers 14-9 in the loss.

"We played another very good team who has a technical foundation and a high soccer IQ — they deserve the win today," Ozturk said. "Overall, I thought our players worked extremely hard and we had some very good moments throughout the game. We've got to figure out a way to get a result on Friday against a very good Northern Michigan team."

Read more at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

The Michigan Tech volleyball team built some momentum in their first match of the weekend, but had it smashed in their second.

The Huskies defeated Lake Superior State 3-1 on Friday (Sept. 29) at the SDC Gym, defeating the Lakers for the 25th straight time, 25-22, 21-25, 25-21 and 25-13.

"That was a much-needed and nice win for us," Tech coach Matt Jennings. "We were down a little bit in the third set after losing the second, but I was really happy with the way we fought that off and got it rolling in the fourth."

Tech fell 3-0 to No. 21 Ferris State on Homecoming Saturday (Sept. 30). The Bulldogs won 25-18, 25-15 and 25-15.

"Credit to a good Ferris team. They're undefeated in our league for a reason," Jennings said. "We knew we would have to play a clean game, and we simply didn't do that today. They have a way of taking teams and disorienting them with their serve game and offense."

Read more at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

The Michigan Tech football team was outmatched against No. 18 Davenport, falling 28-0 at Kearly Stadium on Saturday (Sept. 30).

Michigan Tech struggled to find an offensive rhythm, with just 117 yards of total offense.

"Hats off to Davenport. I thought they played really well today in all three phases," head coach Dan Mettlach said. "I thought our guys had a great week of practice and showed up this morning ready to go. I appreciated our effort throughout the game."

"I felt like the offensive execution was lacking. Our defense played really well to only be down two scores going into the half," he added. "We need to regroup and make sure that our guys are ready for the speed and athleticism we'll start seeing in league play moving forward."

Read more at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

Michigan Tech hockey is hosting Faculty and Staff Appreciation Night on Oct. 13 sponsored by TIAA (Institutional Financial Services) — Created to Serve, Built to Perform.

One free ticket per faculty or staff member is available on a first-come, first-served basis for the first 100 who sign up, and additional tickets can be purchased online or by phone.

The Huskies are hosting Alaska Fairbanks in their home-opening series at 7:07 p.m. at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena.

To reserve Faculty and Staff Appreciation Night tickets, please visit BuyHuskiesTickets.com and enter the promotional code TIAATix24 on the payment screen. The deadline to request your ticket is next Wednesday (Oct. 11) at 5 p.m.

Faculty and Staff Appreciation Night is organized to thank our faculty and staff, who have a direct impact on our academic success and continue to support us on and off the playing surface. We realize that academics go hand-in-hand with college athletics, and we take great pride in excelling in both areas at Michigan Tech.

Please email tickets@mtu.edu or call 906-487-2073 with any questions.

Job Posting for Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023

Staff and faculty job descriptions are available on the Human Resources website. For more information regarding staff positions, call 906-487-2280 or email humanresources@mtu.edu. For more information regarding faculty positions, contact the academic department in which the position is posted.

Administrative Aide, Biological Sciences. Apply online.
Contact: Tori Connors

Michigan Technological University is an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution/Equal Opportunity Employer that provides equal opportunity for all, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Accommodations are available. If you require any auxiliary aids, services, or other accommodations to apply for employment, or for an interview, at Michigan Technological University, please notify the Human Resources office at 906-487-2280 or humanresources@mtu.edu.

Ezra Bar-Ziv (ME-EM/APSRC) is the principal investigator (PI) on a project that has received a $320,658 research and development grant from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.

The project is titled "Extraction of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) from the non-Recyclable Fraction 3-7 at Recycle 906."

This is a potential two-year award.

Tim Havens (CS/GLRC/ICC) was a guest on “Copper Country Today” on Sunday (Oct. 1). Havens discussed Showcase[AI], being presented at Michigan Tech this week. The event was previewed by Michigan Tech News, and the keynote address by Automation Alley CEO Tom Kelly on Friday (Oct. 6) was ranked the No. 5 most notable event for National Manufacturing Day by Thomas Insights.

*****

Amy Hjerstedt (SLI) interviewed by WLUC TV6 in a segment about Michigan Tech’s annual cardboard boat races, held this year on Friday (Sept. 29) as part of the Homecoming Week festivities.

*****

The U.S. Department of Energy mentioned Michigan Tech in a press release announcing projects selected to receive an overall $16.7 million in funding to advance production of affordable biofuels and biochemicals. MTU will receive $2.4 million for a research project looking to refine the solvent targeted recovery and precipitation, or STRAP, method of plastics recycling. The press release was picked up by Green Car Congress.

*****

The U.S. Department of Labor mentioned Michigan Tech in a press release announcing the recipients of an overall $10.5 million in grant funding to support mine safety and health training in the nation. MTU will receive $271,534 from the DOL’s Mine Safety and Health Administration. The press release was picked up by CoalZoom.

*****

The Federal Railroad Administration mentioned Michigan Tech as one of the inaugural institutional members of the new National University Rail Center of Excellence (NURail CoE).

*****

The Keweenaw Report picked up Michigan Tech’s announcement of the start of construction for the University’s new residence hall, expected to complete in fall 2025.

*****

The East Village Magazine and Ludington Daily News mentioned Michigan Tech as one of the state universities where enrollment has increased, despite an overall statewide decline.

*****

Canada’s University Magazine mentioned Michigan Tech on its list of the 10 “Most Affordable Cities For Students in Michigan.” Houghton was ranked No. 9.

*****

Joe Shawhan (ATH) was quoted by the Rink Live and FloHockey in stories previewing Michigan Tech hockey’s upcoming season.

*****

The Iron Mountain Daily News ran a feature about a new book authored by Greg Lusk ’69 (B.S. Forest Management): “The Great Seney Fire, A History of the Walsh Ditch Fire of 1976.” Lusk was the assistant fire boss for the state’s suppression efforts on the Walsh Ditch Fire, also known as the Seney Fire.

On-Campus 2023 Flu Shot Clinics

Michigan Tech, in collaboration with UP Health System – Portage, is excited to announce our on-campus flu shot clinics schedule for this fall:

• Wednesday, Oct. 4, from 4-6 p.m. — Rozsa Lobby
• Tuesday, Oct. 10, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Rozsa Lobby
• Tuesday, Oct. 17, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Rozsa Lobby
• Tuesday, Oct. 24, from 4-6 p.m. — SDC Wood Gym Balcony

A few things to remember for this year’s flu shot clinics:

• There's no need to make an appointment — all flu shot clinics are walk-in friendly.
• Be sure to have a valid copy of your insurance card (or a very clear picture of the front and back of the card) with you when you arrive.
• Be sure to fill out the Influenza Vaccination Authorization Form before you arrive.
• Flu shots are $40 for those who do not have insurance, payable by cash, check or credit card.

Full details on the flu clinics can be found by visiting the Center for Student Mental Health and Well-being webpage, and questions can be directed to counseling@mtu.edu.

*****

Join Us for Enterprise Day

Do you know a student who might be interested in learning more about the Enterprise Program at Michigan Tech? Or a student who wants to join an Enterprise, but is not sure which team is right for them? Please take a moment to invite any and all students to Enterprise Day, happening today (Oct. 3) from 6-8 p.m. in the Rozsa lobby.

During this time, students will learn more about Enterprise by talking with program staff and students from various Enterprise teams, all in one place. Teams will be spread out across the Rozsa lobby.

Students will be able to visit with:

Advanced Metalworks • Aerospace • Alternative Energy • Blizzard Baja • Blue Marble Security • BoardSport Technologies • Built World • Clean Snowmobile Challenge • Consumer Product Manufacturing • Formula SAE • Green Campus • H-STEM • Hotforest • Humane Interface Design Enterprise • Husky Game • Innovative Global Solutions • ITOxygen • Multiplanetary Innovation Enterprise (MINE) • Open Source • Robotic Systems • Strategic Education through Naval Systems Experiences (SENSE) • Supermileage Systems • Velovations • Wireless Communication

For more information about each team, please visit our Enterprise Day website.

All interested students who would like to attend are welcome — no registration needed. If students have any questions, please reach out to enterprise@mtu.edu.

*****

CTL Lunch and Learn: Accessible and Affordable Learning Materials

Are you passionate about making higher education more accessible and affordable for your students? Make plans to attend the next CTL Lunch and Learn next Tuesday (Oct. 10) at noon in the MUB Alumni Lounge, featuring the Committee for Accessible and Affordable Learning Materials (CAALM).

During the luncheon, members of CAALM will introduce the committee's mission and discuss three critical areas of focus that promise to improve the way we approach course materials:

1. Enhancing Course Material Affordability:
   Discover how inclusive access agreements with publishers can help reduce the burden of expensive textbooks and course materials. We'll shed light on innovative strategies to make education more cost-effective without compromising quality.

2. Embracing Open Educational Resources:
   Explore the world of open educational resources (OERs) and learn how to find course materials tailored to your discipline. There is a wealth of freely available resources that can enrich your curriculum while reducing financial strain on your students.

3. Ensuring Digital Accessibility:
   It's time to ensure that your instructional materials are inclusive for all students, regardless of their abilities. We’ll share insights on the importance of the digital accessibility of course materials, including eBooks, PDF documents, slide presentations and video recordings.

This Lunch and Learn event promises to be a source of inspiration, innovation and collaboration. Lunch will be provided to those who register in advance. We look forward to seeing you there! Contact the CTL at ctl@mtu.edu with any questions.

*****

Gathering & Presentation Honoring Indigenous Peoples’ Day

All are welcome to a gathering honoring Indigenous Peoples’ Day on Monday (Oct. 9). This annual holiday celebrates the histories and cultures of Indigenous peoples across the Americas. We will welcome James Rattling Leaf and Michael Waasegiizhig Price to the Michigan Tech campus in honor of the event.

Rattling Leaf will speak about leading with Indigenous cultural intelligence to advance equity in a changing climate; Waasegiizhig Price will share Anishinaabe insights on adapting to a changing climate. Please see their bios below.

This event will be held in the Alumni Lounge in the Memorial Union Building from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The session will open with an opportunity to meet and visit with our honored guests while sharing light refreshments; presentations will commence around noon. For those interested in meeting with our guests before this event, please contact Erika Vye at ecvye@mtu.edu.

This event is generously sponsored by the Center for Diversity and Inclusion, the Department of Humanities, the Department of Social Sciences, the Great Lakes Research Center and the Institute for Policy, Ethics, and Culture at Michigan Technological University.

About James Rattling Leaf 
Rattling Leaf is a global Indigenous consultant and principal of the WOLAKOTA LAB, LLC, who serves as a guide and inspiration to organizations to work more effectively with Indigenous peoples for a more equitable world. He has over 25 years' experience working with the U.S. federal government, higher education institutions and nonprofits to develop and maintain effective working relationships with federally and non-federally recognized American Indian tribes, tribal colleges, universities and tribal communities. He specializes in developing programs that utilize the interface between Indigenous peoples’ traditional knowledge and western science. He sees a greater vision of human knowledge that incorporates the many insights of human cultures and provides a context for our better understanding of the planet. Currently, he has projects with the Environmental Science Data Innovation and Inclusion Lab, North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center, Rosebud Sioux Tribe, GEO Indigenous Alliance, and the Ecological Society of America Governing Board of Directors. He is a citizen of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe and has a degree from Sinte Gleska University.

About Michael Waasegiizhig Price
Waasegiizhig Price is the traditional ecological knowledge specialist at the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission in Odanah, Wisconsin. He is an enrolled member of Wikwemikong First Nations in Canada. His role as TEK specialist involves integrating Anishinaabe language and cultural perspectives into research methods and resource management to make science more culturally relevant. Waasegiizhig Price received his Master of Science in Forestry from the University of Montana and his Certificate of Ojibwe Language Instruction from Bemidji State University.

*****

Fall Aquatics Programs: Session 2 Registration

Registration for Fall Session 2 Youth Aquatics Programs opens on tomorrow (Oct. 4) at 8 a.m.!

• Huskies Group Swim Lessons Parent & Child Aquatics (ages 6 months to 3 years)
• Huskies Group Swim Lessons Preschool Aquatics (ages 4-5 years)
• Huskies Group Swim Lessons Learn to Swim Levels 1-5 (ages 6-17 years)
• Huskies Swim Clinic (ages 6-17 years)

Registration for Fall Sessions 2 and 3 Adult Aquatics Programs are open now!

• Adult Huskies Swim Training (ages 18 or older) — Registration closes Thursday (Oct. 5)
• Adult Huskies Swim Lessons (ages 18 or older) — Registration closes Nov. 2

Questions? Contact Aquatics Manager Annie Bengry at ambengry@mtu.edu or 906-487-2995.

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

Layered in Between: Prints by Erin Hoffman Presented by Michigan Tech Art

Tuesday, October 3, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. | Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts, Rozsa Galleries A-Space

Erin Hoffman is an artist and printmaker from Muskegon, Michigan, who deals primarily with political and social concerns. Through the presentation of mismatched ideas and...

Study Away and Abroad Info Session

Tuesday, October 3, 4 p.m.–5 p.m. | Memorial Union Building (MUB), Alumni Lounge B

Attend an info session to learn more about all of the different types of study away and abroad programs available to MTU students! Get informed on all program types, from...

Adult Huskies Swim Lessons Fall 2023 Session 1

Tuesday, October 3, 5 p.m.–6 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...

Adult Huskies Swim Training Fall 2023 Session 1

Tuesday, October 3, 5 p.m.–6 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Pool

Adult Huskies Swim Training provides additional attention and competitive guidance to swimmers ages 18 and older who are looking to improve their swimming skills and fitness...

Student Community Meals

Tuesday, October 3, 5:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m. | Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

Cooked by students, for students this new community meal is always homemade and always free. Enjoy cooking or looking for an outlet to volunteer? Meal prep begins at 5p.m....

Enterprise Day

Tuesday, October 3, 6 p.m.–8 p.m. | Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts, Lobby

Are you interested in learning more about the Enterprise Program at Michigan Tech? Do you want to join an Enterprise Team, but are unsure which team is right for you? Please...