October 2, 2024

The construction of Michigan Tech's East Hall is hard to miss when driving north on US-41 into Houghton. The 512-bed residence hall will house second-year and upper-division students at the start of the 2025-26 academic year.

East Hall is on schedule to welcome students in August 2025. Site utilities, foundation, roofing, exterior framing and interior walls are all complete. Work in progress includes the exterior masonry facade, preparations for the metal wall panels, windows and curtain walls, mechanical, plumbing and electrical rough-in, and insulation.

When finished, East Hall's 150 suite-style living units will include both single- and double-occupancy bedrooms with semi-private baths. Other spaces will include study lounges, communal kitchens, adaptable meeting spaces and a frictionless convenience store.

The University's growing enrollment created a need for greater housing capacity on campus, which was identified as a priority in our Campus Master Plan. Additional information on Michigan Tech's Campus Master Plan 2022 “Build the Future” is available on the Facilities Management webpage.

The Center for Innovation in Sustainability and Resilience (CISR) is excited to announce that Ana Dyreson has been selected to serve as the center's inaugural associate director of research.

CISR is a collaborative center that supports a community of scholars working on sustainability and resilience topics. CISR operates through agreements with the Great Lakes Research Center and Ecosystem Science Center.

As associate director of research, Dyreson will be working with Chelsea Schelly, CISR’s director of research, to support growth in visibility and connectivity among researchers across campus who are interested in working within the domains of sustainability and resilience. CISR also supports the manager of community engaged research projects, who is responsible for supporting CISR research projects — particularly those that involve outreach and engagement with community partners as participants, advisors and collaborators — across all stages of development and implementation.

Dyreson is an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) whose research focuses on understanding weather and climate change impacts on future power systems, including modeling solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and the impacts of snow on PV.

Dyreson’s team of graduate students in MAE and the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering make up the Great Lakes Energy Group. She currently leads several projects related to energy system sustainability and resilience, including a project funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation on electrification of heating and cooling services in rural, northern homes. She is also a collaborator on the U.S. Department of Energy Regional Test Center for Emerging Solar Technologies.

CISR is excited to welcome Dyreson to this new role, and we are here to support scholars across campus who are interested in advancing sustainability and resilience research, particularly through interdisciplinary team science and collaborative community partnerships. Please reach out to Schelly at cschelly@mtu.edu to let us know how we can help!

Michigan Tech Athletics and Recreation was honored with Accessibility Awards last week at the inaugural Upper Peninsula Accessibility Summit.

Aquatics Manager Ann Bengry received an individual award for her work at the SDC Pool. Under Bengry's management, Tech has been able to add accessible steps into the lap pool and has started an adaptive swimming group. Since arriving to Tech in 2020, Bengry has been able to make the locker rooms and pool deck accessible for all members of the student body and community.

The SDC staff was honored for progress in recent years to make the SDC a great place for everyone. Trails Operation Coordinator Brian Isaksson was recognized for adjusting the plowing and grooming at the Tech Trails to make it easier for adaptive sit skis to get on the trails. Custodian Derek Butkovich received acknowledgment for his early-morning work in the winter, making sure the parking lot and entrance to the SDC are free of snow to make the building accessible to all. Senior Associate Athletic Director Joel Isaacson was honored for his leadership around accessibility at the SDC, providing space for adaptive sports activities like the community sled hockey event and the Upper Peninsula Invitational.

Accessibility Awards announced at last week's inaugural Upper Peninsula Accessibility Summit pay tribute and recognize businesses, organizations, local units of government, projects, and individuals in our community who have made the Copper Country more accessible. These contributions have made a lasting impact on our area.

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), and all members of the Michigan Tech community are encouraged to participate.

We all play an important part in fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone is recognized for their abilities. This year's NDEAM theme, "Access to Good Jobs for All," confirms the commitment to ensuring disabled workers have access to good jobs, every month of every year.

For specific ideas about how the Michigan Tech community can support National Disability Employment Awareness Month, visit the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy webpage. Suggestions range from putting up a poster to hosting a disability education program for your department.

Abstracts are being accepted for the 10th Annual American Chemical Society (ACS) Upper Peninsula Student Research Symposium. The symposium will be held at Northern Michigan University on Oct. 26.

The symposium is a venue for students to present their research in chemistry, chemical engineering and related fields. Undergraduate, graduate, high school and community college students from the Upper Peninsula are invited to participate, and we also welcome visitors and community members!

There is no cost to present and lunch will be provided. Prize money will be awarded for the best posters and presentations.

For more information and to register for the symposium, visit the 2024 ACS Upper Peninsula Local Section Student Research Symposium form. The registration deadline is Oct. 16 at 5 p.m. ET.

We ask all attendees — including presenters, visitors and judges — to please register to ensure we have enough food ordered. Contact Momoko Tajiri at mtajiri@mtu.edu for any questions.

This event is sponsored by the ACS Upper Peninsula Local Section, Michigan Tech's College of Engineering and Department of Chemistry, Northern Michigan University, and Lake Superior State University.

Financial Services and Operations (FSO) will periodically be sharing information regarding a specific topic to increase awareness and knowledge in an “FSO — Did You Know?” article. If there is an FSO topic that you’d like to learn more about, please email fso@mtu.edu.

Travel Expenses on Pcards
At Michigan Tech, faculty, staff and students are encouraged to use a University purchasing card (Pcard) for all travel-related expenses whenever possible. FSO recommends that departments charge travel costs, such as airfare, hotels and conference fees, directly to the Pcard rather than having individuals pay out of pocket — especially for trips booked months in advance.

If you do not have a PCard, please contact your department coordinator for assistance in making these purchases. If you do purchase a travel-related expense for someone else with your Pcard, this would go in your Pcard report, not a travel expense report.

If travelers do pay out of pocket, they must wait until after the trip is completed to submit a reimbursement request. University policy allows for one travel expense report to be filed post-travel. By using the Pcard, travelers can avoid out-of-pocket expenses and minimize financial strain. This approach also streamlines the reimbursement process and ensures compliance with University guidelines.

For questions, please contact concur@mtu.edu.

Join the William G. Jackson Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) every Thursday from 2:30-3:30 p.m. in Library 243 for casual conversation over your favorite beverage, where educators from across campus can come together to exchange ideas, thoughts and experiences related to teaching.

It’s an open, informal space to share strategies, learn from each other and collaborate — no agenda or presentations, just rich conversation! Come connect, relax and enjoy some time with colleagues.

This week we are focusing our discussion around the various ways that instructors are using ChatGPT in the classroom. Hope you can join us!

Tech Tutors at Michigan Tech is excited to welcome K-12 students to our first Tutoring Workshop of the year. The workshop will be held on campus in Room 132 of Fisher Hall on Sunday, Oct. 6, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The workshop will be a fun opportunity for students from local schools to get to know each other in a warm, welcoming environment centered around learning. Students are invited to bring their homework or come with a topic that they need some extra assistance with. Tech Tutors will be available to work with students one-on-one to provide a unique and personalized learning experience.

School supplies and snacks will be provided during the workshop!

Tech Tutors at Michigan Tech is a registered student organization whose mission is to provide tutoring to K-12 students local to the Western Upper Peninsula. All Tech Tutors have cleared a background check and are passionate about working with youth.

Sign up ahead of time or feel free to drop by!

The Graduate Student Government (GSG) would like to invite Michigan Tech grad students, family, friends and staff to join us on Oct. 12 for a scenic bus tour to explore the beautiful fall colors.

We’ll visit Mont Ripley for free chairlift rides, Brockway Mountain Lookout, Mount Bohemia Ski Resort for lunch or exploration, and Bete Grise Beach. Buses will depart from the Memorial Union Building (MUB) at 10:45 a.m. and return between 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Please fill out the registration form to reserve your spot!

Tag along if you have a car — no registration is required for those traveling in other vehicles.

See the Route Map.

For additional details, please review the registration link and view the event flyer. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to get in touch with Vikram Gurrapu, GSG social chair, at gsg-social@mtu.edu.

Organized by the Graduate Student Government.

The Van Pelt and Opie Library is excited to announce that it will be the new home for artist Dave Masten’s “Mr. Wired” sculpture for the 2024-25 academic year. The piece is on loan from the Gallery on 5th in Calumet.

To celebrate, all are welcome to join gallery owner Kristi Haugland, Masten and the Van Pelt and Opie Library for an artist reception on Friday, Oct. 4, from 3-4 p.m. in the library cafe next to Velodrome Coffee Company. Light refreshments will be provided.

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) is hosting a seminar presented by Ying Zheng, John and Virginia Towers Distinguished Lecturer of the Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.

The seminar will be given tomorrow, Oct. 3, at 1 p.m. in M&M 610.

Zheng will present "Catalytic Approaches to CO2 Hydrogenation for Carbon Natural Energy Solutions."

From the abstract:
Limiting global warming will require major transitions in the energy sector. This will require a substantial reduction in fossil fuel use, widespread electrification, and use of alternative fuels. Catalytic technologies will play a key role in this transition. This seminar will discuss the rationale designs of catalyst and appropriate reaction processing technologies that are applied in biofuel production and low carbon CO2 reduction. CO2 is thermodynamically stable that makes it difficult to react under mild conditions. Various methodologies have been investigated for converting CO2 into chemicals, including photocatalysis and electrochemical approaches. Non-thermal plasma (NTP) also known as cold plasma, comprises electrons, neutrals, electronically and vibrationally excited species, ions, radicals, and atoms. When these charged particles interact with chemicals, they can act as catalysts, facilitating reactions such as bond dissociation or formation to occur at lower temperatures and under milder conditions compared to chemical processes currently employed in commercial applications. The objective of this study is to showcase the practical implementation of an NTP system for converting CO2 into valuable chemicals.

Zheng is a professor and a Canada Research Chair (Tier I) in Chemical Reaction and Intensification with the Department of Chemical Engineering, Western University. She is a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, the Engineering Institute of Canada, and the Chemical Institute of Canada CIC, as well as the Royal Society of Chemistry, U.K.; the Institution of Chemical Engineers, U.K.; and the Global Academy of Chinese Chemical Engineers.

Zheng's research interests lie in the field of catalysis and catalytic processes for clean energy innovations. New catalytic materials along with catalytic processes are developed for application in CO2 utilization, N2 fixation, H2 production and clean/biofuel upgrading. She has published more than 220 referred journal papers in top-tier journals. In addition, she has 10 patented technologies, with three licensed. She has consistently been recognized as one of the top 2% of scientists worldwide, ranked by the Stanford University analysis from 2019 to 2023. She has received numerous awards, including the 2018 Applied Catalysis Awards (the Royal Society of Chemistry, U.K.), the Award in Design and Industrial Practice in 2018, and the 2010 Syncrude Canada Innovation Award from CIC.

Join the William G. Jackson Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) on Oct. 17 from 9 a.m. until noon for a workshop presented by guest presenter Ranen McLanahan titled "Creating Curiosity, Connection, and Value in the Classroom." McLanahan will focus on three key strategies to enhance the learning experience in the classroom:

Sparking Curiosity in Students
Explore techniques to ignite students’ natural curiosity. Learn how to create an environment that encourages questions and exploration. Discover ways to integrate curiosity-driven activities into your curriculum.

Building Meaningful Connections 
Understand the importance of connecting course materials to students’ lives and interests. Develop methods to make lessons more relatable and engaging. Utilize storytelling and real-world examples to bridge the gap between theory and practice.

Creating Value
Identify ways to demonstrate the value of the subject matter to students. Learn to highlight the practical applications and benefits of the knowledge being taught. Foster a sense of purpose and relevance in your teaching approach.

Event Details:

• What: "Creating Curiosity, Connection, and Value in the Classroom" Workshop
• When: Thursday, Oct. 17, from 9 a.m. until noon
• Where: Dillman 208
• Registration: Please register in advance (registration is required).

Breakfast will be provided.

For any questions or accommodation requests, please contact Jess Hendrickson at jelhendr@mtu.edu or 906-487-2275.

The next Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) Graduate Seminar Speaker will present at 4 p.m. tomorrow, Oct. 3, in MEEM 112.

Steven Anton will present “Global and Local Structural Dynamics Monitoring (SDM) Systems: Vibration-Based Smart Building Research at Tennessee Tech.”

Anton’s research interests include implantable biomedical sensors, smart knee replacements, smart buildings and infrastructure, energy harvesting for low-power electronics, and structural health monitoring.

The next Environmental Engineering Graduate Seminar will take place at 3 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 7, in GLRC 202.

Geeta Nain, Ph.D. student, Atmospheric Sciences, Michigan Technological University, will present "Implication of different parametric hurricane wind methods on storm surge over US coastline."

Chuyan Zhao, postdoctoral scholar, Michigan Technological University, will present "Improved thermal structure and lake surface temperature simulation for Lake Superior using a data assimilative model."

Michigan Tech soccer forward Julia Pietila has been named GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week. The honor marks the first of her career.

Pietila helped the Huskies play to a weekend split in their first conference road trip of the season. Tech fell to Purdue Northwest 2-1 Friday, Sept. 27, and brought home a feel-good 6-0 win at Roosevelt on Sunday, Sept. 29.

In Sunday's win, Pietila posted a four-point effort with two goals and an assist in just 44 minutes on the pitch. She sits atop the GLIAC with six goals in seven games played, two game-winning goals and 13 points (six goals and one assist).

Read more soccer news at Michigan Tech Athletics.

Wednesday, Oct. 2
• Overwatch will be taking on Eastern Michigan University at 7 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 3
• Call of Duty will face off against Rochester Institute of Technology at 8:30 p.m.

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Esports News
Read more in the MTU Esports weekly update.

Missed a game? Past MTU Esports streams are available on YouTube.

Hayden Henderson (GLRC) is the principal investigator (PI) on a project that has received a $210,000 research and development contract from the Great Lakes Observing System (GLOS).

The project is titled "GLYON: Great Lakes Year-Round Observation Network."

Jamey Anderson and Christopher Wright (both GLRC) are co-PIs on this potential five-year project.

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Hayden Henderson (GLRC) is the PI on a project that has received a $276,256 research and development contract from the Great Lakes Observing System (GLOS).

The project is titled "Building capacity to measure and assess offshore, full-frequency water level fluctuations to support coastal hazard observation and prediction."

Guy Meadows (GLRC) is a co-PI on this potential three-year project.

Kiersten Birondo (Rozsa) and Jared Anderson (VPA) were quoted in stories by Radio Results Network and WZMQ 19 News about Birondo’s selection as the new executive director of the Rozsa Center, effective Nov. 1. The story was also covered by the Keweenaw Report and ran Sept. 30 in Tech Today.

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Steven Voelker (CFRES) was featured in Visit Keweenaw’s “The Crossing Place” video series in an episode titled “The United States’ Top Fall Foliage Destination.” Voelker discussed the vibrant fall colors of the Keweenaw Peninsula and the factors that influence the timing and intensity of the seasonal foliage.

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K-Bear 102 WHKB-FM, the Keweenaw Report, WLUC TV6 and WZMQ 19 News reported on the announcement of Michigan Tech’s 2024 Sports Hall of Fame inductees. The Class of 2024 includes notable former athletes, coaches and University leaders, with an induction ceremony set for Oct. 25.

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The Daily Mining Gazette mentioned Michigan Tech in coverage of the inaugural Upper Peninsula Accessibility Summit, held at the Rozsa Center on Sept. 26-27. Organized by the Accessible Keweenaw Initiative, the summit brought together advocates and people with disabilities from across the Midwest to discuss ways to remove barriers in the U.P.

TIAA Financial Consulting

Making decisions about your money can feel difficult, especially when it comes to retirement. But you don’t have to go it alone — especially since access to financial consulting is included as part of your retirement plan. Financial consulting sessions will help you determine whether you’re saving enough, invested appropriately and on track.

Matthew Bunch from the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (TIAA) will be available on Michigan Tech's campus for one-on-one sessions from Monday through next Thursday, Oct. 7-10, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

Bunch is scheduled at the following locations:

• Monday, Oct. 7 — Lakeshore Center 201
• Tuesday, Oct. 8 — MUB Datolite Room
• Wednesday, Oct. 9 — MUB Datolite Room
• Thursday, Oct. 10 — Lakeshore Center 201

RSVP today, as space is limited. You can register for financial consulting sessions with TIAA directly by logging in to your TIAA or guest account, then searching for "Michigan Tech" in the Institution field. When asked how you would like to meet, select "In Person at My Employer."

You can also register for a meeting by calling TIAA at 800-732-8353 on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET.

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This Week's C-Cubed Luncheon Menu

Carved and Crafted Catering at Michigan Technological University invites you to join the C-Cubed Luncheon for the 2024-25 school year. The weekly luncheon is held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. every Thursday in the Memorial Union Alumni Lounge (MUB 107). All faculty and staff, along with their guests, are invited.

Menu for Thursday, Oct. 3:

• Meatball Sub
• Ratatouille with Cannellini Beans (V, VG)
• Italian Vegetables (V, VG)
• Minestrone Soup (V, VG)
• Italian Chopped Salad
• Cookie Platter (V)

The C-Cubed lunch buffet menus are created and prepared by Chef Luis Delgado 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, and cookies are available free to all attendees. All vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free items on the buffet are labeled for easy identification. No takeout service or personal containers are permitted.

The buffet lunch is $15.50 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 C-Cubed feedback using C-Cubed Survey/Comments form. To join the C-Cubed Luncheon Email List and receive weekly menus, please complete the sign-up form.

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A Cup of Joe with the Safety Crew: Training Compliance Issues

Michigan Tech’s Safety Team — Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) and the Office of Risk, Insurance, Safety, Security, and Compliance (RISSC) — will be hosting our next monthly Safety Round Table: a place for all Huskies to share a cup of coffee and learn about the importance of campus health and safety.

We invite you to join us today, Oct. 2, from 9-10 a.m. in the MUB Superior Room.

Having difficulty navigating safety compliance challenges in your labs, among your staff, or across your whole department? We understand that compliance challenges in higher education can be complex and multifaceted. Balancing multiple compliance obligations, limited resources and lack of faculty and staff safety awareness are among the crucial elements in developing robust compliance strategies — and we are here to help!

Safety training compliance is vital for providing a safe Husky learning and working environment. This month, we want to hear from you and understand your safety compliance challenges so we can guide you in overcoming those roadblocks with features within the Safety Skills system. A brief overview of Safety Skill compliance capabilities will be presented before opening the floor for Q&A.

In addition, there will be an informal opportunity to talk with our campus safety professionals for other safety related questions and issues.

So mark your calendars and come ask the questions you have always wanted to ask and get the answers you need about Michigan Tech Safety programs, legal compliance issues and additional resources… and have a cup of Joe with the Safety Crew!

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

Wednesday, October 2, 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...

Showcase (C+X): Women in Tech, a Panel Discussion

Wednesday, October 2, 2–3 p.m. | Memorial Union Building (MUB), Ballroom A

The Showcase will host a Panel discussion on the successes/struggles of women in STEM related fields. Hosted in the MUB Alumni Lounge.

Python Workshop

Wednesday, October 2, 5–6 p.m. | Rekhi 113

A free, in person, python workshop for beginners!

SoundGirls General Meeting!

Wednesday, October 2, 5–6 p.m. | Walker 210

SoundGirls strives to empower women and minorities in the audio industry. This year, we are working on a halloween themed reality TV show.

Board Game Night

Wednesday, October 2, 6–8 p.m. | WADs Annex

Join Jim Grider and our student staff in the Wads Annex to connect with others over playing board games! Spend time practicing intentional self-care while destressing from the...