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1. Teaching the Teachers: Grand Rapids Science Teachers Converge on Tech |
by Dennis Walikainen, senior editor
Fifteen middle school earth science teachers from Grand Rapids School District are learning about the geology of Michigan this week and next.
They are on the Michigan Tech campus this week (June 15-19), working with Tech faculty and graduate students to develop new ways to teach their students about the world of science and add excitement to their curriculum on hot issues such as climate change, earthquakes, volcanoes, energy and water resources.
Next week (June 22-26) they will conduct field explorations in the Grand Rapids area, refine teaching units for earth science based on their field geology studies and discuss leadership skills.
It's all part of a new $4 million, five-year National Science Foundation (NSF) Math Science Partnership grant to Michigan Tech, through a program called MiTEP (Michigan Teaching Excellence Program). MiTEP brings university geoscience researchers and middle school teachers together to find ways to make earth science more exciting and meaningful to middle school students.
"While at Tech, they'll be investigating the unique geologic features of the Keweenaw Peninsula," said Jackie Huntoon, dean of the Graduate School. "They have seen some of the oldest rocks and youngest sediments exposed on the Keweenaw, while they conducted experiments at Eagle River and Great Sand Bay. They also visited Horseshoe Harbor to examine billion-year-old rocks that contain 'algal stromatolites,' which are evidence of ancient life on our planet."
The group will also visit the Gay Stamp Sands and spend time revising and improving the Grand Rapids earth science curriculum.
The project ultimately hopes to motivate more young people to consider advanced education and careers in science, technology, engineering and math, fields known collectively as STEM. Educators nationwide have expressed concern about a declining interest in STEM among today's students. STEM professionals are in high demand and are viewed as critical in our nation's effort to maintain its leadership role in the world's economy.
As a research project, MiTEP is collecting data that will be used to determine if it can become a model for improving science teaching nationwide.
In addition to Michigan Tech and Grand Rapids public schools, partners in the project include the Grand Rapids Area Precollege Engineering Program (GRAPCEP), the American Geological Institute, the National Park Service (Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and Keweenaw National Historic Park), Grand Valley State University and the Colorado School of Mines. |
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2. Tech Researcher Garners Stimulus Money for Blood Pressure Research |
by Dennis Walikainen, senior editor
Jason Carter, chair of the Department of Exercise Science, Health and Physical Education, will receive $20,900 in federal stimulus funds through the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The grant will supplement Carter's existing $211,000 grant from NIH and will support an undergraduate researcher, Jenna Klein, to work with Carter on researching the effects of fish oil on blood pressure regulation in humans.
The grant is part of federal funding to promote diversity in health-related research. "Jenna is one of the University's very best students," Carter said. "She has a passion for research, and this will fund her for another year as she prepares for medical school."
"Competition for the ARRA funding has been intense, and we are very pleased at the recognition of Jason's program and the assistance this funding will provide for his students," said Dave Reed, vice president for research.
Michigan Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow announced the grant this week. Carter's grant was one of five awarded in Michigan. Other grants went to researchers at the University of Michigan, Michigan State University and Wayne State University.
"With this recovery act funding, Michigan's top-notch universities will continue to play a leading role in important medical research," Levin said.
"By investing in health care research we will not only help cure life-threatening diseases, but also create good-paying jobs," said Stabenow. |
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3. Breast Cancer Survivors Sought for Keynote Address at Fall Bra Show |
The Society of Intellectual Sisters is looking for faculty, staff and student breast cancer survivors to speak about their experiences at its Bra Show this fall.
The annual Bra Show will be held Friday, Oct. 30, during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Each year, male students model bras handcrafted by members of the campus and local communities. Proceeds from the event benefit the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
If you are interested in participating, contact Ashli Fueri at alfueri@mtu.edu . |
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4. Associate Director of Immigration and Faculty HR Appointed |
submitted by Human Resources
Human Resources welcomes Roberto Escobar to Michigan Tech today, Thursday, June 18, as associate director of immigration and faculty human resources. Escobar has worked as employee relations manager of internal investigations for the 13 campuses of California State University. In addition, he has experience as a labor and immigration lawyer.
Join us in welcoming him to our campus and the Human Resource team.
Escobar's office is located in Administration 204. He can be reached at rjescoba@mtu.edu or 487-2280. |
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5. You're Invited: Open House on Fifth Floor of Citizens Bank Building |
The following areas, which are now located on the fifth floor of the Citizens Bank Building, in Hancock, invite the campus community to an open house on Tuesday, June 23, from 3 to 4:30 p.m.: Chief Financial Officer, Controller, Purchasing, Plant Fund Accounting, Property, Accounting Information Systems and Institutional Analysis.
Join them for some refreshments and to tour the new offices. |
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6. Participants Sought, Registration Open for Tin Lizzie Day Events |
The Ford Center in Alberta is still looking for area artists and crafters and vintage-car owners to participate in the Ninth Annual Tin Lizzie Day, to be held at the center on Saturday, June 27, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Vintage vehicles in any stage of restoration can be displayed at the car show.
New this year, the Apple Dessert Challenge (baking contest) will begin at noon, a log-throwing contest at 1 p.m., and a pasty-eating contest at 2 p.m. Entry forms can be found at www.fordcenter.mtu.edu/tinlizzie . Pre-registration for contests is not required, but appreciated. A small fee will be charged to enter a contest.
Admission to this year's event is free and includes admission to the Ford Sawmill Museum. For more information, call 524-6181. |
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7. Portage Lake District Library Summer Program to Feature Tech Scientist |
Engineer/Scientist Tim Eisele (Chemical Engineering), who is an amateur entomologist, will share his knowledge of bugs and arachnids at a Portage Lake District Library Summer Reading Program presentation, "Insect Zoo in My Yard," on Monday, June 22, at 6:30 p.m.
Participants will examine insects, spiders and other crawling things that are found around the house and yard and learn about their activities. There will be magnifying lenses for examining live specimens including a giant water bug, a wolf spider and ant lions. The program will conclude with an outdoor bug hunt at the west end of the library, where participants will identify and photograph what is found.
Bug enthusiasts of all ages are invited to the event. To learn more about Eisele's work with bugs, see his Backyard Arthropod Project at www.somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com .
All library programs are free and open to the public. For more information, call the library at 482-4570. |
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8. New Staff |
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Mark E. Sloat has joined the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering as a research associate. He comes to Michigan Tech from Engineered Machined Products in Escanaba, where he was a senior test technician. He also held the position of electrical technician 4 at Mercury Marine in Fond du Lac, Wis. Sloat graduated from Michigan Tech in May 1997 with an AAS in EET. He is married to Kari Bellin-Sloat, has one child, Ashley Sloat, and lives in Cornell. He enjoys hunting, fishing and woodworking. |
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9. On the Road |
An incoming faculty member and several Michigan Tech graduate students of the Industrial Heritage and Archaeology program of the Department of Social Sciences presented papers at the 2009 Annual Conference of the Society for Industrial Archaeology, held May 28-31 in Pittsburgh.
* master's student Seth DePasqual, "Winning Coal at 78 Degrees North: Mining, Management and Negotiations at Old Longyear City"
* master's student Megan Glazewski, "Discovering Landscape Gardening Practices within Industrial Landscapes of the 19th Century: William Kemble's Cottage, Cold Spring, New York"
* doctoral candidate Cameron Hartnell, "High Arctic Coal Mining: The Strategy of the Arctic Coal Company"
* doctoral student Marc Henshaw, "The Steamboat Industry in Brownsville, Pa.: The Beginnings of the Industrialization in the Upper Monongahela Valley"
* doctoral student Erik Nordberg, "The Nordberg Manufacturing Company of Milwaukee: History, Archives and Research Potential"
* incoming Associate Professor Fredric Quivik (Social Sciences), "What Has Happened to Other Gritty Cities: Putting Paterson into Context"
* doctoral candidate Scott See, "National Heritage Area Candidate: The Iron Ranges of Lake Superior"
The society awarded Michigan Tech alum Marco Meniketti '98 (MS in Industrial Archaeology) its 2009 Robert M. Vogel Prize. The award honors the author of the best article to appear in the society's journal, IA, every three years. |
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10. In the News |
The 2009 Annual Conference of the Society for Industrial Archaeology, held May 28-31 in Pittsburgh, garnered press coverage in the greater Pittsburgh area.
Department Chair Patrick Martin (Social Sciences) was quoted in the May 29 issue of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review here.
Conference organizer and doctoral candidate Bode Morin (Social Sciences) was quoted in the May 29 issue of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette here. |
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11. Retirement: Dorthey Behrend |
Dorthey Behrend, assistant director of annual giving--mail programs, will retire from Michigan Tech on Friday, July 3. She began working at Tech in December 1983.
Behrend invites the campus community to her retirement party, set for 2 to 4 p.m. on Monday, June 29, in the employee lounge of the Citizens Bank Building, located on the first floor. Light refreshments will be served. |
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12. New Funding |
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Associate Professor Andrew Storer (SFRES) has received $138,800 from the US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, for "Ash Inventory, Trapping and Treatment in Support of the Slow Ash Mortality (SLAM) Project." |
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