March 20, 2025

The Upper Peninsula Regional Small Business Development Center (SBDC) office hosted at Michigan Tech is making a difference across the U.P. and recently joined in SBDC Day celebrations across the country.

Yesterday, March 19, marked the ninth annual national SBDC Day designed to raise awareness about how centers around the country contribute to job creation and measurable economic growth.

In Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, the SBDC regional office hosted at Tech is a collaboration with the University's Office of Innovation and Commercialization and College of Business.

“Michigan Tech is honored to serve as the host for the SBDC regional office,” said Jim Baker, senior associate vice president for research, innovation. “The SBDC team does exceptional and highly impactful work in providing essential support for small businesses across the entire region.”

Baker said the center offers direct advantages to both campus and community.

“Our host relationship facilitates internship opportunities for students and collaboration with faculty in our College of Business, providing valuable experiences and connecting education with practice,” he said. “In addition, active engagement with the University's Office of Innovation and Commercialization leverages our complementary expertise in moving discoveries from the lab to the market and building strong local businesses in the process.”

Learn more about SBDC services and read about some U.P. success stories at the College of Business Newsblog.

Developing leadership skills requires time and tutelage. Dave House Dean of Computing Dennis Livesay (CC) recently contributed to an intensive workshop designed to cultivate essential leadership skills and foster peer connections for newly or soon-to-be-promoted full professors from computing programs across North America.

Learn more in an article about the Computer Research Association Leadership Academy, published in the March edition of Computing Research News released earlier this week.

The article is featured in a guest post at the Computing Newsblog.

Are you interested in integrating climate change issues into your course offerings? Through a generous alumni gift, the Office of Sustainability and Resilience is accepting requests for funding to design and deliver curriculum that builds student competencies around climate change. Example activities could include creation of a new course, modification of an existing course, development of Canvas modules that support multiple courses, or other educational models. All disciplines are eligible. We encourage courses and content that integrate within the new Essential Education curriculum (e.g., E3 course or in support of a minor) or have multidisciplinary approaches.

The initial application through our Climate Change Curriculum Innovation Awards form is streamlined to encourage ideation. A member of the review committee will follow up with all applicants to discuss the work. The application deadline is rolling through the 2025 calendar year, but we will review all proposals in a timely manner this spring in anticipation of funding work in summer 2025.

The form asks you to address the following:

• A description of the proposed work that details subject matter, deliverable, and timeline.
• Learning outcomes and integration with Essential Education and existing coursework.
• A basic budget.

The total available budget for awards is $30,000. We anticipate offering 5-7 awards ranging from $3,000 to $6,000, with larger awards possible depending on course impact and reach. The type of allowable expenses is flexible and could include support for hourly student work, summer salary, materials/supplies, incentives for student participation, and professional development costs. Faculty, graduate students and staff are all eligible to apply; students must identify a faculty member to serve as principal investigator (PI).

These awards are part of a suite of activities made possible by a gift from a Michigan Tech alum to build student leadership competencies to address climate change. Additional funds will support student professional development and a foundational 1000- or 2000-level climate change course that is currently in development.

If you have any questions about a potential award proposal or if you are interested in learning more or being involved in supporting these broader efforts, please contact Lauren Furey, manager of sustainability programs and outreach, at lafurey@mtu.edu.

Starting Monday, March 24, all HuskyPrint Xerox copiers and printers will support searchable PDFs.

When scanning a document, optical character recognition (OCR) will automatically convert the text into a searchable, highlightable format that can be read by screen readers, improving document accessibility.

For help with information communication technologies (ICT) at Michigan Tech, please contact the Accessible Technology Working Group (ATWG) at accessibility-l@mtu.edu.

If you have questions regarding HuskyPrint features, we can help. Email IT at it-help@mtu.edu or call 906-487-1111.

The Friends of the Michigan Tech Library Annual Book Sale will be held next week on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 25 and 26.

The book sale will be held in the ballroom on the second floor of the Memorial Union Building (MUB). Parking is available at meters and in a pay lot adjacent to the MUB, and all campus parking is free after 4 p.m.

Sale Days:

• Tuesday, March 25, from 5-7 p.m. — For students and members ($20 memberships sold at the door).

• Wednesday, March 26, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — For the general public.

Don’t forget that during the last hour of the sale (Wednesday from 3-4 p.m.) we have our $5 bag sale! $5 for all the books you can fit in a brown paper grocery bag!

The Health Research Institute is hosting an informal coffee hour in the second floor atrium of the H-STEM Complex next Thursday, March 27, at 2 p.m.

This is a great opportunity to socialize and meet new colleagues. We hope to see you there!

The African Students Organization here at Michigan Tech is inviting all the staff and students of Michigan Tech to their annual African Cultural and Variety Night.

Join us for a vibrant celebration of African Night. Experience a rich tapestry of food, music and cultural dance as we showcase the unique traditions. Delight your taste buds with delicious cuisine, immerse yourself in captivating rhythms and melodies, and witness stunning cultural dress displays. Each performance and presentation offers a glimpse into the heart of African culture, making this an unforgettable journey!

Event Details:

• What: 2025 African Cultural and Variety Night
• When: Saturday, March 29, from 6-11:59 p.m.
• Where: MUB Ballroom
• Tickets: Sign Up and Secure Your Ticket.

The following Atmospheric Sciences (ATM) graduate students will be presenting their research progress at an ATM Colloquium:

• Kadja Flore Gali (advised by Will Cantrell and Laura Fierce)

• Hamed Fahandezh Sadi (advised by Raymond Shaw)

This will be an in-person event. The students will give their talks at 4 p.m. on Monday, March 24, in Fisher 125.

Read the students' presentation titles and abstracts at the University Events Calendar.

Research Associate Professor Lucas Nave (CFRES) is the lead author of a paper published in the journal Ecological Applications.

The paper, titled “Carbon cycling across ecosystem succession in a north temperate forest: Controls and management implications,” is the culmination of 20 years of research involvement by Nave on the project.

The study found that factors like forest structure, tree and microbial composition, and soil nitrogen availability play a more significant role in carbon sequestration than time alone. Its supporting data was collected in Pellston, Michigan, by more than 100 scientists from around the country and compiled by a collaborative, multi-university team led by Nave.

Lucas Nave (CFRES) was quoted by the University of Michigan Biological Station, Technology Networks, Phys.org, EurekAlert! and eight additional outlets in stories about a study on forest carbon storage. The research found that factors like forest structure, tree and microbial composition, and soil nitrogen availability play a more significant role in carbon sequestration than time alone. Nave led the study while at the University of Michigan.

*****

My UP Now mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about Maker Fest at Houghton High School, where students showcased inventions in collaboration with Michigan Tech students as part of the Henry Ford Museum’s Invention Convention.

*****

The Daily Mining Gazette and My UP Now mentioned Michigan Tech men’s basketball junior guard Marcus Tomashek in stories about his inclusion in the Top 25 list for the 2025 Bevo Francis Award.

*****

The Hockey News covered Michigan Tech hockey forwards Elias Jansson and Logan Morrell and defenseman Rylan Brown receiving 2024-25 CCHA All-Rookie Team honors. The story was picked up by Yahoo! Sports.

Today: Mineral Museum Spring Sale

On the first day of spring, today, March 20, receive 20% off one item* at the A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum’s gift shop. With home decor, mineral kits, games, international to local specimens, and more — the gift shop has exciting items for everyone!

Museum admission is waived for Michigan Tech students, staff and faculty with a valid MTU ID. We are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

* Cannot be combined with other discounts. Exclusions apply.

*****

Celebrate New Books by Stephanie Carpenter, M. Bartley Seigel

Please join us today, March 20, at the Orpheum Theater in Hancock for An Evening of Literature and Music celebrating new books by novelist Stephanie Carpenter and poet M. Bartley Seigel, both creative writing faculty in the Department of Humanities.

This evening of literature and music honoring Seigel's and Carpenter's new books will feature readings, book signing and music from special musical guests, Dead North and Willowby. Doors open at 7 p.m. Readings and music start at 7:30 p.m.

Seigel is the author of “In the Bone-Cracking Cold,” his latest poetry collection published this week by Wayne State University Press. The collection was described by bestselling author Roxane Gay as “part love song, part monument, part elegy, wholly unforgettable.”

Carpenter is the author of “Moral Treatment,” published on Feb. 25 by Central Michigan University Press. A work of literary historical fiction, the novel is the inaugural winner of the Summit Series prize. It is set in 1889 at a fictionalized version of the former Northern Michigan Asylum in Traverse City.

*****

Volunteers Needed for Michigan Tech’s Annual Design Expo!

The countdown to Michigan Tech’s Design Expo is on! Mark your calendars for April 15 and consider joining us as a volunteer to help make this exciting event a success.

Each year, Design Expo showcases the incredible talent and innovation of our undergraduate students, featuring more than 70 Enterprise, Senior Design and capstone projects from across all colleges. To ensure a smooth and engaging experience for all attendees, we need dedicated volunteers to assist with various event tasks.

Volunteer opportunities include:

• Event setup and teardown (slots from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
• Name tag and judge check-in
• Raffle drawings and coordination
• General event support

Volunteering is a great way to engage with students, network with industry professionals and contribute to this inspiring showcase of creativity and problem-solving. Whether you can help for an hour or the entire event, your support is invaluable!

• Sign Up as an Event Volunteer.
• Sign Up to Judge.

Thank you for helping us celebrate innovation and student achievement!

Event Details:

• What: Design Expo
• When: Tuesday, April 15, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Where: Van Pelt and Opie Library (first floor) and Memorial Union Building Ballroom
• Reception & Awards Ceremony: Following Design Expo, please join us from 2:30-4:30 p.m. at the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts.

*****

BioSci Seminar Series Speaker: Robert Larson

Robert Larson will present at 3 p.m. today, March 20, as part of the Department of Biological Sciences (BioSci) Seminar Series. The seminar will be held in GLRC 202 and virtually via Zoom.

Join the BioSci Seminar on Zoom.

Larson’s presentation is titled “Cardiac Spinal Afferents Modulate Cardiovascular Function in a Mouse Model of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.”

From the abstract:
Familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common genetic heart disease with an estimated prevalence of 1:500 individuals in the general population. Sarcomere gene mutations result in the characteristic features of HCM include left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy, myocyte disarray, interstitial fibrosis, diastolic dysfunction, and high risk of cardiac arrhythmias and sudden death. Hypercontractile sarcomeres in the heart accompanied by metabolic dysfunction, energy depletion, and inflammation are considered causal mechanisms in HCM. We demonstrate that metabolic and inflammatory signals produced in HCM hearts are detected by cardiac sensory nerves, resulting in abnormal autonomic reflexes that contribute to acute cardiovascular instability, chronic and selective increases in sympathetic nerve activity to the heart and decreased parasympathetic nerve activity. We will discuss mechanisms contributing to the increased activity of excitatory cardiac spinal afferent nerves and the impact of chronic elevations in cardiac sympathetic tone on disease progression in a mouse model of HCM.

Larson is an assistant professor of human biology in Michigan Tech's Department of Biological Sciences.

*****

Sustainability Film: 'Women of Carbon'

The 2025 Sustainability Film Series, coordinated by Michigan Tech Office of Sustainability and Resilience, will present March’s film “Women of Carbon” at 7 p.m. today, March 20, 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 “Women of Carbon” to your Google Calendar.

“Women of Carbon” highlights innovative women redefining our relationship with carbon by repurposing living materials and driving decarbonization, while navigating challenges in male-dominated industries to restore, protect and preserve the planet.

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 Sustainable Film Series.

Upcoming Film:

“Common Ground” — April 17, Fisher 135
Dig into the regenerative agriculture movement and consider how working to heal our soils holds the power to mitigate climate change, restore ecosystems, and build a more equitable food system, while hearing from diverse voices working together to create a sustainable future.

*****

MAE Graduate Seminar Speaker: Jared Long-fox

The next Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) Graduate Seminar speaker will present at 2 p.m. today, March 20, in EERC 103.

Jared Long-fox will present "Lunar Technology Development: Instrumentation, Computational Regolith Mechanics, and Resource Utilization."

Long-fox is a planetary exploration research scientist and Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Physics at the University of Central Florida (UCF).

Having previously served as the chief scientist of the UCF Exolith Lab — earning a B.S. and M.S. in Geology at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology — Long-fox is now a NASA Space Technology Graduate Research Opportunity Fellow, a visiting researcher in the NASA Kennedy Space Center Swamp Works Lab, vice chair of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), and advisor on the Science Advisory Board (SAB) of the Plant the Moon Challenge.

With extensive research development and passion for computational modeling, exploration hardware development, electronics, robotics, geophysics, and geology, Long-fox's focus extends beyond Earth-based volcanism into settlement technology development, laboratory studies, fieldwork and reduced gravity flight testing.

*****

Today'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, March 20:

• 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 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.

Isle Royale Art Exhibition - Michigan Tech Art

Thursday, March 20, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. | Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts, Rozsa Galleries A-Space

MICHIGAN TECH ART SERIES EVENT Enter into a world of artistic expression inspired by the wilderness of Isle Royale. The artworks showcased in this exhibition have all been...

*****

The Villages Alumni Social + Golf Scramble

Thursday, March 20, 12 p.m. | Evans Prarie Country Club

Michigan Tech alumni and friends are invited to join Michele '79 and Jim '80 Bates, along with Scott '74 and Betty MacInnes, for a social gathering on Thursday, March 20, from...

*****

Lunar Technology Development: Instrumentation, Computational Regolith Mechanics, and Resource Utilization

Thursday, March 20, 2–3 p.m. | Electrical Energy Resources Center (EERC), 103

MAE Graduate Seminar Speaker Series proudly presents Jared Long-Fox, Fellow University of Central Florida Abstract NASA and other organizations around the world are well...

*****

Biological Sciences Seminar Series - Cardiac Spinal Afferents Modulate Cardiovascular Function in a Mouse Model of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Thursday, March 20, 3–4 p.m. | Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC), 202

Dr. Robert Larson, Assistant Professor Department of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University Abstract: Familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most...

*****

FIRST Robotics Competition Volunteering - Lake Superior State University, MI

Thursday, March 20, 4:00–9:30 p.m. | Lake Superior State University

Are you a FIRST Robotics Alumni who wants to stay involved with FRC competitions? Copper Country Robotics at Michigan Tech is inviting people to volunteer with the...

*****

First Meeting!

Thursday, March 20, 5:30–6:30 p.m. | Fisher 328

This will be the first meeting of the MLAI Club! We will introduce ourselves and answer any questions you might have while providing snacks!

*****

General Meeting

Thursday, March 20, 6–7 p.m. | Fisher 130

Come learn about German culture!

*****

Ian Haworth at Michigan Tech

Thursday, March 20, 7:00–8:30 p.m. | Fisher Hall 139

The Left HATES Freedom! Come and learn about all the lies they have told you! The Young Americans for Freedom chapter at Michigan Technological University will host Ian...

*****

TNT (Thursday Night Thing)

Thursday, March 20, 8–9 p.m. | Forestry G002

Come to our weekly large group meeting to hang out, have fun, and grow closer to God! These meetings include two worship sets, an activity, a talk given by one of our members,...