September 13, 2024

Last week, the MTU Mathematics and Music Lab introduced a line of free, open-source plug-ins for VCV Rack software modular synthesizer, which allow musicians and composers to play new musical scales tuned to mathematical functions. The Mathematics and Music Lab (MML) is an interdisciplinary collaboration managed by Tech faculty members Michael G. Maxwell (VPA) and Robert Schneider (Math) that involves undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, artists and industry collaborators. The plug-ins were coded primarily by Department of Mathematical Sciences M.S. student Cody McCarthy. Earlier this year, McCarthy won Best in Show at Tech’s Art in Silico computational art show, with an MML plug-in and family of new musical scales of his own invention. You can find the MML synthesizer plug-ins at the VCV website.

Maxwell and Schneider debuted the new line of plug-ins last weekend, Sept. 6-8, at the Knobcon international synthesizer conference in Chicago. In addition, Maxwell debuted a new electronic composition "Transforming Solace," released Sept. 6 on Athens, Georgia, independent label Cloud Recordings, that uses two of the new MML plug-ins. Maxwell's generative composition incorporates mathematical musical scales invented by the MML. You can hear "Transforming Solace" online through Cloud Recordings.

The goals of the MML are to produce futuristic works of music and installation art, to explore and extend music theory using ideas from mathematics, to invent new audio hardware and software to bring those projects to life — and to promote the fusion of performing arts and mathematics that is uniquely possible at Michigan Tech, a school with robust programs in both areas. Maxwell and Schneider founded the MML on their first day working at Tech, when they met at faculty orientation and found a common interest in experimental music. Maxwell is a composer, electronic musician and audio engineer; research mathematician Schneider was formerly a professional composer-musician-engineer who invented a non-Pythagorean musical scale based on logarithms that inspired the line of plug-ins. MML is currently collaborating with computer scientists from the Michigan Tech's Institute of Computing and Cybersystems (ICC) and Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC) to develop another mathematical-musical plug-in that produces reverbs generated by artificial intelligence.

The MML Function-Based Quantizer development team is:

• Michael G. Maxwell (VPA) and Robert Schneider (Math) — project design
• M.S. student Cody McCarthy (Math) — lead programmer
• University of Georgia M.S. student Maxwell Schneider and Georgia Southern University professor Andrew V. Sills — mathematical formulation and additional programming
• Athens, Georgia, artist Joshua Pfeffer — graphics

You can read the MML team's paper describing the mathematics of the VCV Rack modules in Tech's student computer science journal Infinite Loop.

The Rozsa Art Galleries opens its first exhibition of the season, 'that thing between my teeth is my foot,' today, Sept. 13. Connecticut-based artist Douglas Degges presents two parallel artistic explorations in this professional exhibition: paintings and sculpture. All are welcome to join artist and gallery director Terri Frew (VPA) for an artist reception tonight from 5-7 p.m. in the Rozsa's A-Space gallery, located on the lower level of the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts. 

Since 2019, Degges has been painting and drawing from cell phone photos supplied to him by his immediate family in an ongoing group text with his family in Louisiana. From these images of home, Degges abstracts elements from memory, a visually and materially wide-ranging body of work. This project explores shared digital experiences, the pressure to possess a singular voice or vision, and the concept of home as something immaterial and held within the body. Alongside these paintings are a series of abstract sculptures created in collaboration with Degges’ wonderful canine companion, Cricket. 

During tonight’s reception, meet Degges in a relaxed environment, enjoy light refreshments, experience the exhibit and hear from Degges about his vision and inspiration for this exhibition. 

Part of the Michigan Tech Art Series, this free exhibit is open through Nov. 2 in the A-Space.

Event Details:

• What: Artist Reception for 'that thing between my teeth is my foot'
• When: 5-7 p.m., Friday, Sept. 13
• Where: Rozsa Art Galleries A-Space
• Tickets: No tickets are needed for this free event

The exhibit is free and open to all through Nov. 2.

A-Space Gallery Hours:
Monday-Friday: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. | Saturday: 1-8 p.m.

Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences Institute (EPSSI) guest Jiwen Fan, deputy division director of the Environmental Science Division at Argonne National Laboratory, will give a talk on Monday, Sept. 16, at 4 p.m. in M&M U113.

Fan's talk is titled "Impacts of Environmental Changes on Severe Convective Storms and Climate."

For additional information on the seminar, visit the EPSSI Seminar Series webpage.

Michigan Tech was picked third in the coaches' CCHA Preseason Poll and fourth in the media's poll the league announced on Wednesday, Sept. 12.

St. Thomas has been picked to win the nine-team league by the coaches, while the media has a share of the MacNaughton Cup between the Tommies and defending champions Bemidji State.

UST claimed 73 points to sit atop the coaches' poll, with three first-place votes. The Beavers and Michigan Tech each had 69 points, picking up three and two first-place votes, respectively.

Bemidji State and St. Thomas each claimed 107 points in the media poll. Minnesota State picked up a pair of first-place votes along with 94 points to take third, while defending Mason Cup Champions Michigan Tech was fourth with 92 points and the final first-place tally.

Read the full story at Michigan Tech Athletics.

No. 20 Michigan Tech hosts the UP North Tournament this weekend at the SDC Gym.

Tech plays No. 14 Minnesota Duluth at 10 a.m. today, Sept. 13, and squares off against Findlay at 6:30 p.m. this evening. The Huskies host No. 7 St. Cloud State tomorrow, Sept. 14, at 3 p.m.

For the full schedule of games, read the full preview at Michigan Tech Athletics.

Job Postings for Friday, Sept. 13, 2024

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.

Senior Office Assistant (12 months/ 40 hours/ first shift) #2439RP, Human Resources (UAW posting dates Sept. 13 to Sept. 19, 2024 — external applicants are encouraged to apply; however internal UAW applicants are given first consideration if they apply during the internal UAW posting dates). Apply online.

Research Engineer I – Software Developer, Michigan Tech Research Institute. Apply online. 

Research Engineer I – Radar Research Engineer, Michigan Tech Research Institute. Apply online. 

EHS Support Specialist, Environmental Health and Safety. Apply online. 

Administrative Aide (12 months/ 40 hours/ first shift) #24203RP, Merchandising Operations (UAW posting dates Sept. 13 to Sept. 19, 2024 — external applicants are encouraged to apply; however internal UAW applicants are given first consideration if they apply during the internal UAW posting dates). Apply online. 

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.

University President Rick Koubek was quoted by WLUC TV6 and John Lehman (URE) was quoted by the Iron Mountain Daily News in stories about Michigan Tech’s fall 2024 enrollment, which rose by 1.5%, reaching its highest level since 1982. The enrollment update was also covered by the Keweenaw Report. The numbers were shared Monday, Sept. 9, by Michigan Tech News.

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Tim Havens (CS/ICC/GLRC) was quoted by the Soo Leader and Travis White (GLRC) was quoted by UPword in stories about the search for a plane lost in 1968 over Lake Superior. From Sept. 9-13, a Michigan Tech team based at the Great Lakes Research Center is using an autonomous surface vessel (ASV) equipped with high-resolution sonar to scan the lake bottom for wreckage.

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Roman Sidortsov (SS) was quoted by Great Lakes Now in a story about Michigan's clean energy laws and their implications for the Upper Peninsula. The story was picked up from Grist.

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Michigan Tech’s Unit Operations Lab was mentioned by the Chicago Tribune in a story about the increasing number of women in the manufacturing industry. Hailey Ullett ’24 (B.S. Chemical Engineering) shared how her experience in the UO Lab shaped her career path. The story was picked up from The Detroit News.

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Master's student Hunter Roose '20 (B.S. Ecology) was mentioned by the Vilas County News-Review in a story about his recent presentation on trout interactions at a Fish and Game Club event in Land O' Lakes. Roose discussed the dynamics between non-native rainbow trout and native brook trout.

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The Keweenaw Report mentioned Michigan Tech students from the Arnold Air Society’s TSgt. Robert E. LaMotte Squadron in a story about their annual POW MIA 5K fundraiser. The event, supporting the Hubbell VFW Post 4624, will take place on Oct. 5, starting at 9 a.m. near the ROTC building on campus.

RTC Brown Bag Speaker: Charles Wallace

Please join the Department of Humanities' Rhetoric, Theory, and Culture (RTC) graduate program for the first Brown Bag of the semester with Professor Charles Wallace (CS). The Brown Bag will take place today, Sept. 13, at noon in the Petersen Library in Walker 318.

Wallace's presentation is titled "Black Box or Sandbox: Computational Approaches to Interpreting Michigan's Clean Slate Law."

Wallace's collaborators include Joshua Alele-Beals (CS), Ali Ebnenasir (CS), Susanna Peters (SS) and Kamau Sandiford of the nonprofit organization Safe & Just Michigan.

From the abstract:
Michigan’s Clean Slate statute, defining conditions under which prior convictions can be removed from an individual’s public record, has allowed thousands of people to lead freer and more productive lives. In compliance with the statute, the Michigan State Police have implemented and deployed a “Rules Engine” that automatically detects some expungeable convictions and removes them from individuals’ records. The Rules Engine has greatly increased the throughput of set-aside cases and scaled up the benefits of Clean Slate. Yet there are confounding aspects to the law: its complex and evolving nature has led to confusion and disagreement even among legal professionals, and the Rules Engine in its current form is a “black box” with a fixed, idiosyncratic interpretation of the law and minimal explanation for the general public. There is a risk that this approach will ultimately diminish individuals’ sense of agency and engender a passive attitude toward their criminal records.

In this talk, I articulate some of the confusion and disagreement over the interpretation of the Clean Slate statute, as gleaned from interviews with legal professionals. Second, I explain the operation of the Rules Engine, following the relatively sparse explanation available, and I discuss the consequences of this effective but inscrutable tool. Finally, I present my team’s initial work on an alternative computational approach: a digital “sandbox” in which legislators, lawyers, judges, and citizens can explore the consequences of legislation. The sandbox environment will allow differing interpretations of statutory law, or various revisions to existing law, to be expressed formally and compared through automated analysis. We see opportunities for computation not only to expand the benefits of criminal justice reform but also to enhance individuals’ understanding and agency with regard to the law.

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MSGC Funding Opportunities

Applications are now open!

The Michigan Space Grant Consortium (MSGC) aims to foster awareness of, education in and research on space and Earth-related science and technology in Michigan.

Funding opportunities are available in the following categories:

Undergraduate fellowship, graduate fellowship, pre-college education, public outreach, teacher training and research seed grants.

Deadlines:

• Oct. 23, by noon — Notice of Intent to Submit a Proposal for undergraduate and graduate proposals
• Nov. 6, by noon — Internal deadline for undergraduate and graduate fellowship proposals
• Oct. 2, by noon — Notice of Intent to Submit a Proposal for all other proposals
• Oct. 16, by noon — All other submissions
• Nov. 13, by 11:59 p.m. — Final materials, after review and approval by SPO, must be uploaded to MSGC by the applicant

Proposals exceeding stated page limits or submitted without prior review by Michigan Tech will not be considered for funding. Women, underrepresented minorities, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply to all MSGC funding opportunities. Only U.S. citizens are eligible to apply for fellowship grants.

All proposals must be processed internally through Cayuse.

For instructions detailing proposal submission procedures and requirements, visit the Graduate School's webpage of MSGC Resources.

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POW/MIA Memorial 5K Run

Michigan Tech's TSgt. Robert E. LaMotte Squadron of the Arnold Air Society presents the annual 5K POW/MIA Run, which will be held Oct. 5 at 9 a.m.

The run honors POW/MIA individuals and raises money for the Hubbell VFW. All proceeds support veterans in the area.

The registration fee for this event is $20. Participants can register in advance or in person the morning of the run.

Check-in and registration will take place Oct. 5 at the ROTC Building (next to the R. L. Smith Building, aka the MEEM) on Michigan Tech's campus. Day-of registration starts at 8 a.m. The route begins at the ROTC Building on campus and circles down to the Portage Lake Lift Bridge before returning.

There will be a raffle for all registrants after the race. The first 50 registrants receive a free T-shirt. Pre-register now!

We encourage you to come out and support your local veterans and your community!

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Michigan Tech Innovation Showcase: Event Registration Open to MTU Community

The Michigan Technological University Office of Innovation and Commercialization, in collaboration with MTEC SmartZone and Kupari Ventures, is hosting an Innovation Showcase from Wednesday through Friday, Sept. 18-20, in Houghton. During the event, we will showcase our successes and seek input on how we can further improve our ecosystem. An agenda with more information is available at Eventbrite.

Michigan Tech has a robust and growing research portfolio that develops technologies that will drive economic and societal impact for generations. A startup accelerator recently launched by MTEC SmartZone just graduated its inaugural cohort, where four of the five graduating companies are technologies created by Michigan Tech researchers or alumni. The fifth company leveraged our innovative Enterprise programming for technical product development and prototyping support. There are new initiatives at Michigan Tech that we want to share and we appreciate your input.

Please feel free to reach out with any questions. For planning purposes, please RSVP by the end of today, Sept. 13, at Eventbrite.

After you register, we will follow up with a Google survey and calendar invites allowing you to sign up for specific events.

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Centralized Waste Management

With the fall semester well underway, Facilities Management would like to remind faculty, staff and students that Michigan Tech has a centralized trash collection program in place for campus buildings.

Like many other colleges and universities, campus operations shifted to a centralized trash/recycling collection program several years ago. The primary goals of the program are to minimize health hazards for employees and improve sustainable practices on campus by encouraging people to be mindful of the waste they’re generating, but also reducing the number of single-use plastic bags used in waste collection.

Centrally located trash and recycling bins are placed in strategic locations in all campus buildings. Office occupants are expected to bring their office waste to these locations. A list of the waste collection locations for your building can be found on our Centralized Trash Collection page.

Custodial staff will continue to enter offices on a biweekly basis to inspect for potential maintenance issues and to clean floors. If needed, custodians will also empty office trash receptacles at this time. Trash and recycling accumulated in centralized waste locations will be emptied by custodial and grounds staff on a regular basis.

Building personnel can report issues related to trash and recycling collection by submitting a Facilities work request.

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Environmental Engineering Graduate Seminar with Tanvir Khan

The next Environmental Engineering Graduate Seminar will take place at 3 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 16, in GLRC 202.

Tanvir Khan, Ph.D., a senior research engineer with the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement (NCASI), will present "From Homes to Horizon: Advancing Air Quality Measurement with Improved Data and NextGeneration Sensors."

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

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Microchips and Robotics Camp for High School and Community College Students

Michigan Tech is pleased to announce a free Microchips and Robotics Learning Camp being offered for high school and community college students.

If you are passionate about the future of technology, don't miss this opportunity to attend our hands-on learning camp, where you will explore advanced fields in microchip programming, industrial robotics and cybersecurity. Gain real-world experience, collaborate with peers and prepare for exciting careers in STEM!

Three in-person camp sessions will be offered at Michigan Tech during the 2024-25 academic year. Each camp covers the same content, so participants need only attend one session:

• Camp 1: Dec. 7-8
• Camp 2: Jan. 25-26
• Camp 3: March 8-9

A travel allowance is available, and students from across the country are welcome to apply. Spaces are limited, so apply today — complete the Microchips and Robotics Learning Camp registration form. The deadline to apply is Nov. 29.

For questions, please contact Alex Sergeyev at avsergue@mtu.edu.

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Special Physics Colloquium with Danny Perez

Danny Perez of Los Alamos National Laboratory will present at a special Physics Colloquium this week. The seminar will be held in person at 11 a.m. today, Sept. 13, in Fisher 125.

Perez's presentation is titled "Bridging The Scales in Materials Simulations Using Exascale Computing and Machine Learning."

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

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Special MAE Seminar with Bill Schultz

The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) is pleased to announce a special seminar featuring Bill Schultz from the University of Michigan. The seminar will take place today, Sept. 13, at 2 p.m. in MEEM 1021.

Schultz will present a lecture titled "Oscillating Contact Lines."

Lecture description:
Almost all contact angle studies are for unidirectional, viscous-dominated flow. Here we present experiments and a model for the apparent contact angles for oscillating flow of a nearly inviscid fluid such as that found for waves in a partially filled container. We find very rich behavior for the meniscus in a capillary that approaches traditional models in the limit of slow flow.

Schultz received his BSME and MSME from Purdue in 1974 and 1976. He received his Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from Northwestern in 1982 after spending three years at Owens-Corning Fiberglas. After beginning his teaching career, he has spent the last 30 years in the U-M Department of Mechanical Engineering.

He finished a three-year term as the program director in fluid dynamics at the National Science Foundation's Engineering Directorate, and served a year as the faculty director of the Ginsberg Center for Community Service and Learning. He is a fellow of ASME and APS.

Read more about Schultz on his U-M homepage.

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

that thing between my teeth is my foot Exhibit - Michigan Tech Art

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

MICHIGAN TECH ART SERIES EVENT Douglas Degges is presenting two parallel artistic explorations in the Rozsa A-Space Gallery. Since the fall of 2019, Degges has been creating...

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Enhancement of Flotation Separation Selectivity of Cathode and Anode Materials from Spent Lithium-Ion Batteries Using Plasma Treatment

Friday, September 13, 10 a.m. | Chemical Sciences and Engineering Building, 101

Chemical Engineering Seminar Lisha Dong Research Associate Western Australian School of Mines: Minerals, Energy and Chemical Engineering, Kalgoorlie Campus, Curtin...

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Women's Volleyball vs Minnesota Duluth

Friday, September 13, 10 a.m.–1 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Wood Gym

Women's Volleyball vs Minnesota Duluth Houghton, Mich.

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Special Physics Colloquium with Danny Perez

Friday, September 13, 11 a.m.–12 p.m. | fisher hall, 125

Danny Perez from Los Alamos National Laboratory will present at a special Physics Colloquium this week. Perez's talk is titled "Bridging the Scales in Materials...

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Cookies & Coloring

Friday, September 13, 1–2 p.m. | CDI Basement

De-stress with an afternoon of adult coloring and learn more about what the Center for Student Mental Health and Well-being offers! Located in the basement of CDI and hosted...

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The Mechanics of Living Tissues: Mechanobiology from Growth to Injury in the Nervous System

Friday, September 13, 3–4 p.m. | Chemical Sciences and Engineering Building, 102

Biomedical Engineering Research Seminar Bryan J. Pfister Materials and Medicine, New Jersey Institute of Technology Abstract Forces and displacements play essential roles...

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First Informational Meeting

Friday, September 13, 4:00–4:30 p.m. | Fisher 125

If you want to hear more about what Silver Wings is and what we do, this is the meeting for you. We will be going over who we are, what we do, and some opportunities for being...

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Reception for that thing between my teeth is my foot - Rozsa Art Galleries

Friday, September 13, 5–7 p.m. | Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts, Rozsa Art Galleries A-Space

MICHIGAN TECH ART SERIES EVENT Join artist Douglas Degges and Rozsa Art Galleries Director Terri Frew from 5-7 p.m. on September 13, 2024, for the opening reception for that...

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Women's Volleyball vs Findlay

Friday, September 13, 6:30–9:30 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Wood Gym

Women's Volleyball vs Findlay Houghton, Mich.

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Midnight Pancakes

Friday, September 13, 10:00 p.m.–12:30 a.m. | Wadsworth Hall

Come over to Wadsworth Hall 5th floor, Olympus, for some free pancakes between 10:30 PM - 12:30 AM!!