January 15, 2025

A research team from Michigan Technological University has been honored with the Best Paper Award by the Standing Committee on Binders for Flexible Pavement (AKM20) of the Transportation Research Board (TRB). This prestigious recognition highlights the team’s groundbreaking work on advancing sustainable materials in road construction.

The awarded paper, titled "Role of Pyrolysis Wax on Enhancing the Performance of Waste Plastic Modified Asphalt Prepared with Wet Process," explores innovative methods to improve asphalt performance using recycled materials.

The authors of the paper include the following MTU researchers:

• Ph.D. student Sepehr Mohammadi (civil engineering)
• Postdoctoral Scholar Dongzhao Jin (CEGE)
• Research Assistant Professor Daniel Kulas (ChE)
• Former Research Assistant Professor Ali Zolghadr (ChE)
• Research Professor David Shonnard (ChE)
• Distinguished Professor Zhanping You (CEGE)

The study investigates the potential of pyrolysis wax, derived from waste plastic, to enhance the performance of asphalt when integrated through a wet process. This innovative approach not only addresses critical challenges in road material durability but also contributes to waste reduction and sustainability goals. The MTU team’s recognition underscores the University’s commitment to research excellence and sustainability.

Zhanping You received the certificates in Washington, D.C., earlier this week and shared the exciting news with his co-authors and collaborators. “This is a great achievement and recognition of our team’s effort to advance sustainable infrastructure materials,” he said. “This achievement will undoubtedly inspire future research endeavors in transportation and materials engineering.”

The TRB, part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, is a leading institution dedicated to improving transportation through innovation and research. The AKM20 committee, which presented the award, focuses on cutting-edge developments in binders for flexible pavement.

The Van Pelt and Opie Library is here to help you succeed! We're holding a Library Orientation for New Students today, Jan. 15, from 11 a.m. to noon.

At this event, librarians will share tips and tricks for getting the most out of the library's electronic and physical resources. After that, we'll tour the library so you can find your favorite study room, check out a GoPro, take a peek at the 3D printers, and learn where to get research help once the semester has started.

Library Orientation will take place in the Library East Reading Room, and the first portion will be broadcast over Zoom for online students. Enter the library through the main doors and walk straight ahead. Walk all the way down the central area; the East Reading Room will be to your left and signs will highlight the event.

For more information about the library's resources and services, visit our Ask Us page.

Event Details:

• What: Library Orientation for New Students
• When: Wednesday, Jan. 15, from 11 a.m. to noon
• Where: Library East Reading Room
• Registration: Register to attend Library Orientation

Registration is now open for InventCon @ Superior MakerFest 2025, happening on March 15 at Michigan Tech. Interested inventors in grades 3-12 are invited to enter their projects, which can be completed individually or in teams of 2-3 students.

Sign up on the InventCon 2025 Project Registration form. Only one registration form is needed per project. The deadline to register is Feb. 28.

InventCon is the Western Upper Peninsula regional component of Invention Convention Michigan, a statewide competition where students (grades 3-12) are guided through the invention design process from problem identification through model or prototype development. Official information and updates can be found at the InventCon @ Superior MakerFest 2025 website.

If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please reach out to Emily Geiger at egeiger@copperisd.org or 906-482-4250 (ext. 188) or Tom Oliver at teoliver@mtu.edu or 906-487-2412.

Please join the Graduate School in congratulating Michigan Tech's Spring 2025 Finishing Fellows. Awardees will be recognized daily in Tech Today through Friday, Jan. 17.

Meiling Zhou is a Ph.D. candidate in Statistics. Zhou’s research focuses on developing novel statistical methods and creating efficient computational and bioinformatics tools to solve scientific problems in biomedical research. Her commitment to advancing genetic research, particularly in identifying genetic variants linked to diabetes, was recognized in 2024 with a $3,000 grant from the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation to support development of novel statistical methods for Type I diabetes research.

Read more about Zhou’s journey at Michigan Tech on the Graduate School Newsblog.

Please join the Graduate School in congratulating Michigan Tech's Spring 2025 Finishing Fellows. Awardees will be recognized daily in Tech Today through Friday, Jan. 17.

Ryne Rutherford, a Ph.D. candidate in Forest Science, has focused his research on a rare habitat called Granite Bedrock Glades. This unique habitat features a warm microclimate that contains several species occurring far north of their usual range, including a lizard and two species of cacti. Rutherford has published peer-reviewed studies in herpetology, lichenology, botany, ornithology and entomology, and operates an ecological consulting firm, Biophilia LLC.

Read more about Rutherford’s journey at Michigan Tech on the Graduate School Newsblog.

The 2025 Sustainability Film Series, coordinated by Michigan Tech Office of Sustainability and Resilience, will present January’s film "Cooked: Survival by Zip Code" at 7 p.m. tomorrow, Jan. 16, in Fisher 135. The film is free and everyone is welcome to attend. The film will be followed by a facilitated discussion and refreshments.

Add "Cooked" to your Google Calendar.

"Cooked" looks through the lens of the 1995 Chicago heat wave to examine how race, poverty and geography intersect, shedding light on the ways systemic inequities and climate change combine to disproportionately impact underserved communities.

Film sponsors include the Keweenaw Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Keweenaw Co-op, Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative, WUP MiSTEM Network, Friends of the Land of Keweenaw (FOLK), Keweenaw Land Trust, and Michigan Tech's Office of Sustainability and Resilience and Hardwood Mass Timber Institute.

Series Details:

• What: 15th Annual Sustainability Film Series
• When: Third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m., through May
• Where: Fisher 135 or 138 (refreshments in lobby)
• Cost: Free! $5 donations are greatly appreciated. You can make a donation online to support the Sustainability Film Series.

Upcoming Film:

"Troubled Water" — Feb. 20, Fisher 138
Lifelong friends Chris Yahanda and William Wright embark on a 425-mile paddleboard journey across Lake Michigan and the Grand River, exploring environmental threats to the Great Lakes and discovering the power of community in protecting the waters they love.

The next Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) Graduate Seminar Speaker will present at 2 p.m. tomorrow, Jan. 16, in EERC 103.

Wayne Weaver will present "Policies and Procedures of the MAE Graduate Program."

Weaver is currently a professor, associate department chair, and director of graduate studies in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Michigan Tech.

The focus of this talk will be on the policies and procedures of the MAE graduate program, including the courses, requirements and steps for each degree. Further, the procedures and forms to handle issues such as course restrictions, prerequisites, reduced course load and CPT/OPT will be covered. There will be open time for all on-campus graduate students to ask questions to get to know MAE’s director of graduate studies.

John Vucetich (CFRES) was quoted by the Iron Mountain Daily News in a story about gray wolves expanding into the eastern U.S. The article discussed a study on the challenges wolves face in reaching new habitats and the human factors affecting their recovery.

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Laura Bourgeau-Chavez (MTRI) was mentioned by NASA Science in a story about newly selected citizen science proposals. Bourgeau-Chavez is the principal investigator for a project titled "Integrating Remote Sensing and Citizen Science to Support Conservation of Woodland Vernal Pools," which aims to map and monitor shallow, seasonal wetlands in Michigan, Wisconsin and New York.

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MTU students Arika Booms (environmental engineering) and Claire Melancon (statistics) were quoted by the Daily Mining Gazette in a story about Michigan Tech's inaugural Zero Waste Day at the Huskies' hockey game on Jan. 11. Booms, a student sustainability coordinator, discussed the University's efforts to promote sustainability and reduce environmental impact.

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My UP Now mentioned Michigan Tech’s Husky Game Development Enterprise in a story about the Michigan State Police collaborating with the team to create a video game aimed at helping the public understand the experiences of MSP officers. The game will feature detective-based concepts, with a focus on engaging youth.

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My UP Now mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about a fire at Daniell Heights on Jan. 10. The fire caused significant damage to the building, but no injuries were reported. The story highlighted the University’s efforts to support displaced students, with assistance from the Salvation Army and the Red Cross.

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Visit Keweenaw mentioned Michigan Tech’s Winter Carnival in a guide to the event. The story featured this year’s theme, “Dragons, Knights, and Legendary Sights,” and provided an overview of the activities, traditions and student involvement that make Carnival a popular event in the Keweenaw.

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The Daily Mining Gazette interviewed Michigan Tech hockey freshman Logan Morrell in a story about his breakout season with the Huskies. Morrell discussed his journey from Arizona to Michigan Tech and how his teammates and coaches have supported his success.

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WLUC TV6 covered Michigan Tech men's basketball first-year guard Ty Fernholz being named GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week for week nine.

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ASTM International mentioned Michigan Tech alumna Maria Knake ’04 (B.S. Civil Engineering) in a story about the beginning of her three-year term on the organization’s board of directors.

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City University of New York mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about the selection of Roxane Gay ’10 (Ph.D. Rhetoric and Technical Communication) as the City College of New York's 2025 Langston Hughes Medalist.

CTL Technical Workshops: iClicker and Panopto

Join the William G. Jackson Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) for these upcoming technical workshops. Contact the CTL at ctl@mtu.edu with any questions about the workshops, accommodation requests, or using iClicker Cloud or Panopto in your class this spring semester.

Getting Started with iClicker —
Thursday, Jan. 16, from 10-11 a.m. in Library 243
iClicker Cloud helps instructors engage with their students in the classroom by asking polling questions that can promote discussion, identify areas of confusion and generate questions. Michigan Tech has a campus site license for iClicker Cloud, so instructors can use this tool at no additional cost to their students.

In this workshop, we’ll review how to get started using iClicker Cloud in your classroom. We’ll review how to set up your instructor account, iClicker Groups, make custom course settings to meet your needs, and integrate the course with your Canvas course.

Register for the "Getting Started with iClicker" Workshop.
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Introduction to Panopto —
Thursday, Jan. 23, from 10-11 a.m. in Library 243
Are you looking for a way to incorporate video recordings to increase student engagement or provide course materials to be viewed in preparation for class? Perhaps you’re seeking a recording tool for lectures or meetings which can capture multiple video sources at the same time, and then easily edit and share them.Compatible with multiple operating systems and file formats, Panopto is a robust and straightforward tool to fit those needs and many more.

Register for the "Introduction to Panopto" Workshop.

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CDI Announces 36th Annual MLK Day Events at Michigan Tech

The Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI) and the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Planning Committee are excited to announce the 36th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day (MLK Day) Celebration at Michigan Tech next Monday, Jan. 20. This year’s theme, “Beloved Community,” draws from King’s vision of a world united in empathy, peace and love.

The all-day event will feature a variety of activities that celebrate King’s legacy and foster reflection, unity and service in our community. Highlights include the MLK Brunch, Interfaith Prayer Service, Peace March and MLK Reading Day with local elementary schools.

For registration and more information, please visit CDI's Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration page.

MLK Day Celebration Events:

10 a.m. — MLK Brunch
The MLK Day Celebration will begin at 10 a.m. with the MLK Brunch in the Ballroom of the Memorial Union Building. The event will feature keynote speaker Schwartzen Precil, a 2017 alumnus of Finlandia University. Precil will share his personal reflections on King’s enduring influence and the ongoing pursuit of justice and equity. The brunch offers a unique opportunity for the community to come together in solidarity to honor King’s life and work.

This program is partially sponsored by the Visiting Professor Program, funded through the State of Michigan’s King-Chávez-Parks Initiative.

Noon — MLK Interfaith Prayer Service and Reflection
At noon, the Interfaith Prayer Service and Reflection will take place in the East Reading Room of the Van Pelt and Opie Library. Led by Pastor Sarah Semmler Smith of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, this interfaith service will provide a space for reflection, prayer and the sharing of excerpts from King’s sermons, prayers and speeches. The event is open to all members of the campus community, regardless of faith, and aims to unite participants in a shared commitment to justice and peace.

1 p.m. — MLK Peace March
Following the Interfaith Prayer Service and Reflection, the MLK Peace March will begin at 1 p.m. at the Husky Statue. The march, led by Associate Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students Kellie Raffaelli, will proceed across campus to reaffirm Michigan Tech’s dedication to King’s ideals of justice, equity and peaceful protest.

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This Week's C-Cubed Luncheon Menu

Carved and Crafted Catering at Michigan Technological University invites faculty, staff, and their guests to the C-Cubed Luncheon, held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. every Thursday in the Memorial Union Alumni Lounge (MUB 107).

Menu for Thursday, Jan. 16:

• Pork Sandwich (PR)
• BBQ Tofu “Steak” (PR)
• Macaroni and Cheese (V) (PR)
• Garden Pasta Salad (VG) (PR)
• Coleslaw (V) (AG)
• 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 and tea are available free to all attendees. All vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free items on the buffet are labeled for easy identification. Meals are for dine-in only, and personal containers and to-go meals are not 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.

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

Library Orientation for New Students

Wednesday, January 15, 11 a.m.–12 p.m. | J. Robert Van Pelt and John and Ruanne Opie Library, East Reading Room

The Van Pelt and Opie library is here to help you succeed! At this event, librarians will share tips and tricks for getting the most out of the library's electronic and...

Landing a Full-Time Job at Career Fair

Wednesday, January 15, 5–6 p.m. | Fisher Hall, 130

This workshop is aimed at seniors and alumni and will include tips for navigating Handshake and Career Fair + and general tactics for landing a full-time job from Career Fair

Weekly Meeting

Wednesday, January 15, 5–6 p.m. | Fourth Floor of the MEEM

We meet on the fourth floor of the MEEM to discuss plans for the week and work on on going projects. All are welcome to attend.

Volleyball Middle School Development League

Wednesday, January 15, 6:00–7:30 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Multipurpose Room

A four-week developmental program for middle school girls in grades 6, 7, & 8 to learn and improve their skills in preparation for the upcoming interscholastic season. This...