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1. Physics Professor Max Seel Named Interim Provost |
by Jennifer Donovan, public relations director
Max Seel, professor of physics and longtime dean of the College of Sciences and Arts, has been named interim provost and vice president for academic affairs. His appointment is effective Monday, Jan. 26. He will be assuming the duties of Lesley Lovett-Doust, who has accepted the presidency of Nipissing University in North Bay, Ontario.
"The entire University community is fortunate that Max is willing to serve as interim provost," said President Glenn D. Mroz. "His extensive experience as a faculty member, department chair and college dean will serve us all well. I thank Lesley again for her service to Michigan Tech and for her willingness to lend advice when called upon as we move forward."
A native of Germany, Seel received a PhD in Computational Solid State Physics/Theoretical Chemistry from the University of Erlangen-Nurnberg and spent a postdoctoral year at the IBM research laboratory in San Jose, Calif. He taught at the University of Erlangen-Nurnberg until joining the Michigan Tech physics faculty in 1986.
He was named interim dean of the College of Sciences and Arts in 1989 and served as its dean from 1991 to 2008, when he chose to return to research and teaching as a professor of physics at Michigan Tech.
"First, my congratulations to Lesley for ascending to the presidency of Nipissing University," Seel said. "When President Mroz asked me to serve as interim provost, I was humbled and honored. After the deanship, I am enjoying immensely life as a physics professor, my interactions with the students and my research. This interim appointment was not something I was seeking.
"In my long time as dean, I worked with three presidents, six provosts and many deans. I think President Mroz and the Executive Team believe that my experience and familiarity with Michigan Tech will serve the University well. So, in the end, I agreed, and I will give it my best."
Seel is a member of the American Physical Society, the physics honor society Sigma Pi Sigma and Sigma Xi, a scientific research society. He is author of more than 80 publications and is listed in Who's Who in Science and Engineering.
His research focuses on large calculations in various areas of physics, chemistry and biology, such as materials surfaces, polymers, nanotubes and biological molecules like proteins and DNA. |
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2. A Different Kind of Archives |
by Marcia Goodrich, senior writer
Library archives have traditionally been repositories of old manuscripts, newspapers, and the motley records of government and business--raw data for researchers in fields ranging from linguistics to history to poetry of the Italian Renaissance. Now, a handful of librarians are envisioning archives of another kind: for data gathered by engineers and scientists.
James L. Mullins, the dean of libraries and professor of library science at Purdue University, spoke Jan. 20 at Michigan Tech on his university's effort to archive electronic scientific data. The pitfalls are plentiful, he notes. But if successful, it could give researchers vast new stores of information and catapult the development of new discoveries.
This move toward e-science--computationally intensive science that is carried out in highly distributed network and often makes use of large datasets--did not arise from a big-hearted generosity on the part of researchers to give away the results their hard work, lock, stock and barrel.
"The National Science Foundation was hearing from Congress that they need to get more use from their data," Mullins said. Millions of public dollars are being spent to gather information, only to have that information used by a single research team, often for a single research project.
Some scientific data are reused--medical statisticians pore over datasets of the human genome in hopes of finding cures for genetic diseases. But access is often severely limited. And no comprehensive data banks exist that can collect, manage and disseminate other types of scientific data.
There are other obstacles to e-science. Researchers organize and describe data differently, making it hard for others to decipher. Not all researchers are willing to use data collected by others, and not all researchers want their data to be universally available.
That's where librarians fit in, applying their experience as organizers, managers, guardians and disseminaters of knowledge, says Mullins. "We've been extremely flexible for over 2,000 years, and we've always accommodated new technologies."
With its new Distributed Data Curation Center, or D2C2, Purdue is developing ways to archive scientific data. Its librarians are now serving as co-PIs on research projects, helping to manage the huge data sets yielded by computational research.
The Purdue research community has been supportive. "Data can be huge files, and faculty are not sure how to manage them," Mullins said. "Scientists and engineers are very pragmatic, and when I showed them what we could do, it was a no brainer. They see the value in it."
Vice President for Research David Reed said e-science may be an idea whose time has come. "Most scientists and engineers do not yet appreciate what library science could bring," he said. "But at a time when scientific data sometimes comes in terabytes, we do need assistance with organizing and retrieving information, and that is what librarians do."
At Tech, any effort to archive data would have to provide ways to keep data secure, since a significant amount of work here is proprietary, said Interim Director Christa Walck. "But my guess is that, as more research is done in large groups that cross institutional boundaries, e-science will become increasingly important," she said. In addition, the NSF and other funding agencies may require universities to make data available. "When that happens, Michigan Tech must be ready to archive data to allow researchers access," she said. "We'll convene a group to discuss whether this is something we want to do."
As e-science evolves, it will require an intricate cooperation among librarians, researchers and information technology experts. The results should be well worth the effort, Mullins said. "I have never been more excited about being a librarian," he said. "This is an incredible challenge."
To view Mullins' talk, go to www.lib.mtu.edu/about/news.aspx and click on "e-Science." |
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3. Tennis Lessons Start |
The Gates Tennis Center spring tennis program began Saturday, Jan. 25, and includes both youth and adult lessons.
Youth Lessons
Jan. 25-March 7
Ages 5-6, Sundays, 4-4:45 p.m., $40
Ages 7-8, Sundays, 5-6 p.m., $45
Ages 9-10, Sundays, 4-5 p.m., $45
Ages 11-12, Sundays, 5-6 p.m., $45
Ages 13+, lessons Tuesdays, 6-7 p.m., and matches Saturdays, 10-11 a.m., $55
Adult Lessons
Jan. 28-March 4
Wednesdays, 7:30-8:30 p.m., $30 members, $55 non-members
Call the Gates Tennis Center at 487-2774 for more information or to sign up. |
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4. Reminder: Biological Sciences Chair Seminar Today |
Robert McKay, Patrick L. and Debra Scheetz Ryan Professor of Biology at Bowling Green State University, in Ohio, will present a seminar, "The Nitrifying of Lake Superior," on Monday, Jan. 26, at 2 p.m. in Chem Sci 101. McKay is interviewing for the position of chair of the Department of Biological Sciences.
McKay is also adjunct professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and affiliate professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Toledo.
Refreshments will be served. |
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5. In Print |
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Archivist Erik Nordberg (Van Pelt and Opie Library) published an article, "Frost on the Spuds: Potato Farming in Houghton County During the Great Depression," in Michigan History, Vol. 93, No. 1, January/February 2009. |
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6. Summer Jobs Available in Youth Programs |
submitted by Youth Programs
Do you know anyone who would be a good candidate to work for Youth Programs? We offer an exciting experience in a fun work environment for summer employment. Jobs include activity counselors, residence counselors, office assistants, chaperones, lifeguards and more.
All applicants must attend an information session on Monday, Jan. 26, in Memorial Union Ballroom B or on Thursday, Jan. 29, in the Memorial Union Alumni Lounge. Both sessions will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Applicants can apply via the Career Center's NACElink site, www.career.mtu.edu/NACElink/ . For more information, email ypjobs@mtu.edu . |
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