|
|
1. Michigan Tech, Yale Will Study Great Lakes Water |
by Jennifer Donovan, public relations director
Without water, the world as we know it would grind to a halt. Individuals, animals and plants, farmers and manufacturers all rely on water—for production, for transportation, for life itself. But what is water’s real and future value to our economy and society?
Scientists at Michigan Tech and Yale University have received a grant of nearly $2 million from the National Science Foundation to analyze the quantity, quality and availability of water in the Great Lakes region. The universities will collaborate on the interdisciplinary research over the next five years.
“We will gather data, analyze it and try to predict what could happen to water use and water quality over the next 10, 20 or 30 years,” said Alex Mayer, director of the Michigan Tech Center for Water and Society, part of the University’s Sustainable Futures Institute. “This research is a good fit for Michigan Tech; the Great Lakes are our backyard.”
Mayer’s co-investigators at Michigan Tech are Qiong Zhang, a senior research engineer and operations manager of the Sustainable Futures Institute; James Mihelcic, a professor of civil and environmental engineering; and David Watkins, an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering.
“Interdisciplinary research on pressing environmental problems is one of the things that Michigan Tech does best,” said David Reed, vice president for research. “We are very proud to receive this grant for collaborative research with Yale.”
Co-investigators at Yale are Julie Zimmerman, assistant director for research at the Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering, and Sheila Olmstead from Yale’s School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.
The researchers will develop computer models that describe the flow of water in the Great Lakes watershed, including the lakes themselves, and the rivers and streams that feed the lakes and groundwater. They will also work to discover where and how the water is being used.
As people leave the cities and move to the suburbs and the country, they affect the water cycle, Mayer pointed out. “Changing from cropland to paved roads means more runoff and less water in the ground,” he explained.
Another important but often-overlooked factor is the role of energy in water use. “It requires a significant use of energy on a large scale to get water from its source to its use,” Mayer said, “and with the cost of energy going up and up, it’s an important consideration.”
Many people think that the Great Lakes contain an infinite amount of water. “But the replacement or renewal rate is very low,” said Mayer. Water that evaporates or flows into outlets is replaced at a rate of less than 1 percent per year. “That’s like having the bathtub draining faster than the faucet can run,” Mayer remarked.
Mayer hopes the research will produce a model for evaluating the quantity, quality and cost of water that can be applied all over the world. “The Great Lakes are water-rich, but what we learn will be applicable where there is less water and more use, such as the Sonoran desert in Mexico,” the professor of geological and mining engineering and sciences said. |
|
|
2. Solving the World’s Problems—One Byte at a Time |
by Jennifer Donovan, public relations director
It takes a lot of computing power to fight AIDS or dengue fever—a life-threatening tropical disease—or to figure out how human proteins fold. An enormous amount of computing power. But if the problem gets broken down into millions of tiny pieces, it only takes a little bit of computing power, multiplied by a lot of computers.
So IBM is tapping the power of millions of personal computers—at Michigan Tech and all over the world—while they sit idle at night or on weekends and holidays. The University has joined IBM’s World Community Grid, a partnership between the computer giant and more than 360 universities, companies, associations and other nonprofits worldwide.
“There are a lot of computers on campus that are running all night but not being used,” explained Walter Milligan, chief information officer and captain of the Michigan Tech team. “IBM has been a major supporter of the University, including diversity and educational opportunity programs, and we’re pleased to be able to support this project of theirs.”
The Michigan Tech team already has 29 members, most of them in the School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science and the Department of Biological Sciences. They are part of an international network of more than 17,300 teams comprising nearly 167,000 members.
Michigan Tech is one of five universities in Michigan participating in the World Community Grid. The others are the University of Michigan, Michigan State, Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan Universities.
Teams compete for points based on the number of computer projects they complete. At this time, Michigan Tech ranks 271st in the world in points generated. Among Michigan universities, only the University of Michigan has accumulated more points.
And it all happens when the participating computers would otherwise be drawing power and generating heat but producing nothing useful.
Milligan is inviting faculty and staff to join the World Community Grid and lend a few spare bits and bytes to its humanitarian projects. To join using a university-owned computer, individuals should contact their system administrator.
To join or for more information, go to www.mtu.edu/oit/wcg.html or www.worldcommunitygrid.org/index.jsp . |
|
|
3. D80 Center Conference Nov. 3 |
Do you want to know more about what Michigan Tech students and faculty are doing to improve the lives of people living in the poorest countries of the world?
See the power of science and engineering paired with social awareness and drive to help others. Michigan Tech's D80 Center—a newly formed collaboration of Engineers Without Borders, International Senior Design, AquaTerraTech Enterprise, Master's International Peace Corps Program in Civil and Environmental Engineering, International Sustainable Development Engineering Certificate, and International Research Experiences Program—will hold its first conference Saturday, Nov. 3, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. in Fisher Hall.
D80 is dedicated to assisting the most vulnerable 80 percent of humanity in meeting their basic needs for food, water, shelter, sanitation, waste disposal, energy, income and education. The programs that comprise D80 provide many education, research and service opportunities for students interested in gaining valuable professional experience while making a difference in the lives of others today. More than a dozen faculty and 350 students have contributed their efforts to make D80 a success.
The conference will feature presentations by D80 students ranging from PhD candidates to high school seniors. During the morning session, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. in Fisher 135, Provost Lesley Lovett-Doust and Assistant Professor Kurt Paterson (CEE) will give opening remarks. Keynote speakers include Cathy Leslie, executive director of Engineers Without Borders-USA; Lecturer Linda Phillips (CEE); and Professor James Mihelcic (CEE).
"The D80 Conference is an opportunity to have a dialogue focused on Michigan Tech's international leadership in the area of sustainable development research, education and service programs," said Paterson. "The conference will demonstrate how such programs are redefining university education and how they can be integrated into scholarly pursuits to great, positive effect."
To see a detailed schedule of events and register for the conference or for more information about D80, visit www.d80.mtu.edu/. Registration closes Oct. 30, and there is no cost. Subsequent conferences will be held annually in late October or early November. |
|
|
4. Reminder: Call for International Education Week Student Reflection Papers |
Graduate and undergraduate students are invited to submit reflection papers for a competition celebrating International Education Week, Nov. 12-16. This year’s theme is Fostering Global Citizenship and Respect.
The theme of the reflection paper is “Why is Global Citizenship Crucial in the 21st Century?” Submissions should express the writer’s vision and perspective on this theme and address the following:
* an understanding of what it means to be a global citizen creating a sustainable future
* a knowledge of how global citizenship relates to 21st-century issues
* an understanding of the complexity surrounding world issues
* an analytical approach to the subject matter
* examples of critical, as well as creative, thinking
Four prizes will be awarded, two each in the undergraduate and graduate categories. Each winner will receive gift certificates to the Michigan Tech Campus Bookstore; first-place winners will receive a $100 gift certificate, and second-place winners, a $50 gift certificate. Participants will be invited to a reception where winners will be asked to read highlights of their papers, and all will be awarded certificates of participation.
The deadline for submissions is Oct. 20. Entries should be 3 to 5 pages in length, typed and double-spaced (bullets are allowed) and may be submitted via hard copy or email attachment to Donna Armistead, in International Programs and Services, at dlarmist@mtu.edu .
If you know any students who would be interested, please encourage them to participate. |
|
|
5. Fall 2007 Finishing Fellowship Recipients Announced |
The Graduate School is pleased to announce the recipients of the Finishing Fellowships for Fall 2007.
The following graduate students will receive one-time finishing fellowships of $2,000:
*Prasanjit Karre (ECE)
*Xiaoxia Lai (MEEM)
*Rodney Oakley (SFRES)
*Brian Ott (Chemical Engineering)
*Karen Springsteen (Humanities)
*Muralidhara Thimmaiah (Chemistry)
*Yanjie Wei (Physics)
*Meng Yao (CEE)
*Xiaoli Ye (MEEM)
The fellowships are made possible by the generous support provided to the Graduate School through sponsors of the following Michigan Tech Fund endowments:
*Charles L. Lawton Endowed Fellowship
*Whirlpool Endowed Fellowship
*Neil V. Hakala Endowed Fellowship
If you have any questions regarding these fellowships, please contact Bonnie Gagnon at bagagnon@mtu.edu . |
|
|
6. Property Destruction Incident at Portage Lake Golf Course |
Public Safety is investigating a malicious destruction of property incident that occurred early Sunday morning at the Portage Lake Golf Course.
Police report that individuals went to the golf course, took golf carts out of the cart barns and drove around the course, causing damage to the greens, a brick wall and barrier tape. They also damaged six golf carts.
Anyone with any information is asked to please contact Public Safety, 487-2216. |
|
|
7. Chemistry Seminar Tomorrow |
Zhongwu Guo, of the Department of Chemistry at Wayne State University, will present a seminar, "Synthesis and Biomedical Applications of Complex Glycoconjugates," Friday, Oct. 19, at 3 p.m. in Chemical Sciences and Engineering 101. A discussion period will follow. Refreshments will be served, and all are welcome to attend.
For more information, visit www.chemistry.mtu.edu/pages/seminars/index.php . |
|
|
8. Computer Science Colloquium Tomorrow |
Undergraduate student Jeffrey Katalenich (MEEM) will present "Nanosatellite for Space Situational Awareness" Friday, Oct. 19, at 3 p.m. in Rekhi 214.
For more information or an abstract, contact Sandy Kalcich at sjkalcic@mtu.edu . |
|
|
9. RSI Seminar Oct. 22 |
Associate Professor Paul Wallace, from the University of Oregon, will deliver a seminar, "The Role of Water in Subduction-Zone Magmatism: New Insights from Melt Inclusions in High-Mg Basalts from the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt," Monday, Oct. 22, 4-5 p.m. in M & M U113 as part of the Remote Sensing Institute seminar series.
Wallace is a world leader in the study of melt inclusions and in the understanding of magmatic volatiles. His current research is largely focused on the abundance and degassing of H2O, CO2, S and Cl in basaltic magmas from Hawaiian volcanoes, cinder cones in central Mexico, and two large igneous provinces, the Kerguelen and Ontong Java plateaus.
His visit will encourage joint research on melt inclusions involving several graduate students in GMES.
Students and faculty who wish to meet with Wallace during his visit, on Monday and Tuesday morning, should contact Elisabet Head at emhead@mtu.edu . |
|
|
10. Biological Sciences Seminar Tomorrow |
Professor Alison W. Roberts, from the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Rhode Island, will present "Physcomitrella as a Heterologous Expression System for Investigating the Function of Cellulose Synthase-Like Genes" Friday, Oct. 19, at 2 p.m. in M & M U113.
Roberts is a world-renowned cellulose expert.
For more information or an abstract, contact Emily Betterly at egbetter@mtu.edu .
|
|
|
11. On the Road |
Assistant Professor William S. Helton (Cognitive and Learning Sciences) presented three papers at the annual Human Factors and Ergonomics Society meeting held in Baltimore Oct. 2-5.
"A Case Study in Canine-Human Factors: A Remote Scent Sampler for Landmine Detection" is authored by Helton, undergraduate student Shane Begoske (Electrical and Computer Engineering), Assistant Professor Robert Pastel (Computer Science) and Assistant Professor Jindong Tan (Electrical and Computer Engineering).
"The Difficulty of Remotely Navigating Corners" is authored by Pastel, undergraduate students J. Champlin, M. Harper and N. Paul (Computer Science), and Helton.
"Gravity Mouse Design and Evaluation: Effects of Distracters and Target Size" is authored by Pastel, Paul Himes (Computer Science), Harper and Helton.
Associate Professor Nancy Auer and Professor Michael Gretz (Biological Sciences) presented papers at the 30th Congress of the International Association of Theoretical and Applied Limnology, held Aug. 13-19 in Montreal. Auer presented "Importance of Woody Material in Great Lake Aquatic Food Webs," and Gretz presented "Runaway Stalk Production by the Invasive Diatom Didymosphenia geminata." |
|
|
12. Job Posting |
Staff job descriptions are available in the Human Resources Office or at http://www.admin.mtu.edu/hro/postings . For more information regarding staff positions, call 487-2280 or email jobs@mtu.edu .
Faculty job descriptions can be found at http://www.admin.mtu.edu/hro/facpers/facvac.htm . For more information regarding faculty positions, contact the academic department in which the position is posted.
Staff Job Posting 10/18/07–10/24/07
Office Assistant 3
University Career Center
Regular, part-time, 12-month position; 20 hours/week
UAW internal and external posting
Position duration dependent upon external funding
Michigan Technological University is an equal opportunity educational institution/equal opportunity employer. |
|
|
13. New Staff |
|
Ian Marks has joined the staff of University Marketing and Communications as assistant director of athletic communications. He comes to Michigan Tech from the University of Wisconsin-Superior, where he was employed as a sports information director and earned a BS in Print Journalism. He lives in Hancock. |
|
|
