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1. Help Tech Plan Its Energy Future |
Michigan Tech's Energy Advisory Group is still soliciting input as it strives to formulate, by next June, a campus energy blueprint for the next 20 to 30 years.
The blueprint will encompass electrical and thermal energy for main campus buildings, as well as vehicles and heavy equipment.
The advisory group has posted the energy survey on the web to gather input from students, staff, faculty and alumni.
"The survey is still open, and we hope others will contribute," says Dave Taivalkoski, energy manager and the point person on the
initiative. "We want to get opinions from as many members of the campus community as possible about the acceptability of alternative energy options."
The survey, first introduced in early spring, addresses a range of considerations: from aesthetics to green energy, from energy conservation to economics.
A total of 1,600 people--20 percent of campus community, plus some alumni--have responded to the survey. Overall, respondents have three major concerns: energy conservation, sustainable and renewable energy and energy cost reduction.
Associate Professor Dana Johnson (SBE) is one member of the advisory group, and she calls the response "incredible." "We are very pleased," she adds. "It's a large enough sample that will give us useful information to draw some conclusions."
She says some particulars have emerged. "People seem to be interested in using renewable energy," she says, "but they are not willing to pay too much extra for it."
She points out, for instance, that students express a willingness to contribute to such an initiative, but not a great amount. Nearly 60 percent would support a "green fee" of $10 per semester; only 22 percent would favor a fee of $50.
Johnson adds that there is considerable sentiment for new technology like solar panels and wind turbines. Small units are acceptable to respondents, she says; however, big ones aren’t. "People would like to see them," Johnson says, "but they don’t want very large units in their backyard. Mont Ripley and other remote sites would be okay."
Another issue addressed in the survey is renewable energy: 7 percent said use it only if it’s cheaper; 35 percent said use it if the cost is the same; 31 percent said use it at whatever the cost.
Respondents also weighed in on the idea of an energy park around the existing central energy plant that would mesh with other uses along Tech's waterfront. The park could showcase alternative technologie--such as a wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass—in a modest way, partly to meet needs, partly to be an educational program for students and community. "It could be an inspiration," Taivalkoski says. "Something for students to explore and get their hands on."
The central heating plant would be expensive and difficult to move, Taivalkoski says; given that reality, the survey shows that there is strong sentiment for using a third of the area around the plant as an energy park, a third as green space, and a third for new buildings.
Besides data, the survey also has drawn comments from respondents--nearly 2,800 so far, all yet to be reviewed.
The Energy Advisory Group is working with the Green Campus Enterprise and Senior Research Engineer Chris Wojick (CEE), the enterprise advisor, who is also on the energy survey team. The enterprise will take the lead on assessing the impacts of the University's carbon footprint--a project begun by the Academic Quality Improvement Program--as well as other energy initiatives.
Besides Taivalkoski, Johnson and Wojick, there five other members of the survey advisory group: Leonard Bohmann, associate dean, engineering; Peg Gale, dean, SFRES; Hugh Gorman, associate professor, Social Sciences; Dan Greenlee, chief financial officer; and Dave Shonnard, professor, chemical engineering.
To participate in the survey, visit this website:
Click here
The Energy Advisory Group will release additional results this fall after students return to campus and have the opportunity to participate in the survey.
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2. Athletic Department Wins Award |
Athletics was honored with the Silver Award for a Sponsorship Program by the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators. The award recognizes Tech’s Junior Hockey Night, sponsored by Pettibone.
The firm enables Tech to have a hockey game night dedicated to junior hockey players--complete with prizes, drawings, intermission contests, a "Skate With the Huskies" and an autograph session after the game.
"We are proud to be a part of this annual event for the whole junior hockey community," said Bill Loughman, president of Pettibone’s Baraga operation. "It's exciting for the kids, the parents and the Tech players as well. The whole night is fun for everyone involved, and we're looking forward to being a part of it for the next several years."
Center Ice Skate and Sport, Applebee's, Hardee's and RockHouse Hardwood Grille donated raffle prizes and giveaways for the event.
"This is the biggest single-game promotion we do during hockey season, and we look forward to it every year," said Jonathan Hamilton of athletic marketing. "Pettibone makes it happen with their generous partnership, and it's a great chance for us to join up and engage the community in a unique way." |
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3. Explorations in Engineering Described as 'Exciting and Dynamic' |
submitted by Youth Programs
Youth Programs' weeklong Explorations in Engineering (EIE) concluded July 10, and during the week, 94 students explored the entire spectrum of engineering programs at Tech.
Participants took part in group engineering projects that included in part digital logic, the building blocks of computers, a laser audio transmitter, and computer-aided design, among others. Participants also learned about landslides and volcanoes, blacksmithing, renewable energy, and composite materials.
Practicing engineers from Alcoa, Parker-Hannifin, CMS Energy, Barton Marlow, and Motorola talked to the students about their careers.
One highlight of the week was an aptitude survey, which Jeff Kangas, of the Career Center, helped the students interpret, providing them with a glimpse of where their interests lie.
Each day, faculty presented a one-hour "Special Topic Showcase" about research in nanotechnology (Professor John Jaszczak), wind turbines (Associate Professor John Irwin), nano application (Associate Professor Ranjit Pati), exercise science (Chair Jason Carter) and polarizing light (Professor Miguel Levy).
The 2009 EIE participants heralded from ten states and Saudi Arabia. They had this to say about the program:
"This class especially helped me realize how much I love electrical engineering and that’s what I want to do"--Dyami, Kalamazoo.
"My favorite part of the week was taking the nature walk, where I learned more about environmental engineering. It was very different and wowing. I learned that engineering has many different forms and that it’s not all about mechanics"--Taylor, Detroit.
"Many teenagers, including me, don’t really have an idea about what they would enjoy doing. Choosing a major is a MAJOR thing to be careful with"--Mayada, Saudi Arabia.
“I learned that no matter where I go, with an engineering degree I have many opportunities"--Alyssa, Jackson.
"My favorite part of the week was building a 15-inch tower out of wood and then putting it on an earthquake simulator. I learned that using triangles when building makes structures stronger"--Jacob, Maple Grove, Minn.
"I leave with a greater grasp on my future and a lot more confidence in myself as a future engineer"-- Chad, LaGrange, Ga.
Steve Patchin, director of Youth Programs, thanks the many people--including academic personnel, residence life staff and other support units--for making Explorations in Engineering "exciting, dynamic, and, in many cases, a life-changing experience for our talented young guests. You help make their first impression of Michigan Tech a lasting one." |
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4. In the News: Admissions Work Gains National Mention |
Michigan Tech was featured prominently in a story in the Chronicle of Higher Education on efforts by admissions offices to step up their communications with incoming freshmen in hopes of cutting down on the number of no-shows in the fall.
One method cited: using the web to give these students the opportunity to communicate with the campus about specific topics.
The story then featured this information from Michigan Tech:
At Michigan Technological University, incoming students get access to the Husky Hub, which allows them to communicate with other students through an in-house social-networking site. Since September members of this fall's freshman class have made nearly 48,000 "shouts" (like Facebook "wall" posts), uploaded 1,900 images, and written about 500 blog entries.
The site allows rising freshmen to ask current students about what to expect on move-in day, or about what banks are near the campus. The admissions office is also holding a series of online chats among current and soon-to-be students, including an 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. chat each day during the week before orientation.
Last week a freshman sent Allison A. Carter, the university's director of admissions, a private message through Husky Hub. He was worried about his roommate--and about whether he would have his own bathroom. "These private chats are a great way we help students who have concerns and would not normally give us a call or send an e-mail," Ms. Carter says.
To view the entire story, Click here
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5. New Funding |
Assistant Professor Jeffrey Allen (ME-EM) has received $88,760 from NASA for a 3-year project, "Stability, Cellular Structure, and Heat Transfer of Evaporating Films in Normal and Reduced Gravity."
Associate Professor David Flaspohler (SFRES) has received $57,987 from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for "Measuring the Ecological Benefits of Lakeshore Restoration for Breeding Birds in Northern Wisconsin." |
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6. Photocopier Available |
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The Archives, located in the J. R. Van Pelt and Opie Library, has a small Mita DC1470 photocopier to give away. If you are interested, please contact Shannon at sbrodeur@mtu.edu . |
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