October 10, 2025

The College of Sciences and Arts announces nine new faculty appointments for the 2025-26 academic year. These faculty bring a wide variety of knowledge and skills to the College, our students and our research. Their individual areas of expertise include darkroom photography, photonics characterization techniques, human-artificial intelligence interactions, political science and jazz history.

Please join us in welcoming these Huskies to their new positions!

Meet the new faculty on the College of Sciences and Arts Newsblog.

As noted in the Tech Forward 2.0 article published in Tech Today on Sept. 22, each Tech Forward 2.0 theme/initiative and thread/pillar convener group is holding a campus conversation to share their ideas, seek feedback and gauge interest. The conveners for the themes/initiatives "Critical Resources for the Future" and "Smart Infrastructure and Communities" are each holding their campus conversation on Oct. 24 in GLRC 202. If either of these areas interests you and you would like a calendar invite sent, please complete our RSVP form.

• Tech Forward 2.0 Discussion — Critical Resources for the Future
  Friday, Oct. 24, from 12-1 p.m. in GLRC 202

• Tech Forward 2.0 Discussion — Smart Infrastructure and Communities
  Friday, Oct. 24, from 2-3 p.m. in GLRC 202

Critical Resources for the Future
Conveners for the Tech Forward 2.0 thread/pillar Critical Resources for the Future are looking for your input in scoping this Tech Forward 2.0 initiative. This thread/pillar relates to essential inputs that sustain and improve living standards, human and environmental health, and industrial supply chains and sustainable development, and may also carry strategic value for national security. Critical resources in this context may include energy systems, minerals/materials, transportation, water, food, the built environment, healthy ecosystems and space resources, as well as their complex interactions.

Please join Critical Resources for the Future conveners for a campus conversation on Oct. 24 from 12-1 p.m. in GLRC 202 where they will summarize the information received from their theme scoping questionnaire and listen to your perspectives. The conveners will use your collective input from both the questionnaire and the campus conversation as they develop their strategic plan on this thread/pillar. 

Since this conversation falls during the lunch hour, you are welcome to bring your lunch and drop in and out. Please RSVP if you plan to attend in whole or in part.

Smart Infrastructure and Communities
As a public technological university, Michigan Tech is uniquely positioned to meet our responsibilities while embracing novel opportunities in the design and implementation of Smart Infrastructure and Communities. Conveners for this Tech Forward 2.0 thread/pillar seek to address two questions: 1) How can Michigan Tech serve as a model for responsible and resilient infrastructure? and 2) How might that infrastructure promote education and workforce development, advance rural prosperity, participate in the digital world, and support innovation and entrepreneurship? Please join your campus and community peers on Oct. 24 from 2-3 p.m. in GLRC 202 in an ideation session for building collective self-sufficiency, strengthening autonomy and creating initiatives for the Tech Forward 2.0 thread/pillar Smart Infrastructure and Communities. 

The conveners encourage everyone to think internally and externally to the Michigan Tech community, our history, the present, and our future.

Ideation focus areas will include:

1. Elements of Smart Infrastructure and Communities
2. Core Values & Competencies within Michigan Tech and our wider community
3. Blue Sky Visions of Smart Infrastructure for the Communities we serve
4. Building Together — Who needs to be engaged?

We look forward to your participation.

A Michigan Tech team led by Meryl Spencer (MTRI) won third place in the data competition of the DARPA Triage Challenge on Oct. 5.

Michigan Tech's team, AITEMPO — Alert for Intervention using Timeseries EMergency Physiological Observations — was a participant in both the first and second year of the challenge. The team's third-place award was announced at the awards ceremony in Macon, Georgia, on Oct. 4.

Hosted by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the DARPA Triage Challenge is a three-year competition of academic and industry teams from around the world to enhance the ability of emergency personnel to respond to mass causality incidents. The AITEMPO team is competing in the data competition, which aims to predict a trauma center patient's need for lifesaving interventions based on their real-time vital signs.

More information on the teams and the competition can be found at the DARPA Triage Challenge website.

Registration is still open for Professional Development Day! Join Staff Council next Thursday, Oct. 16, for a morning of professional development designed to help faculty and staff build skills, share ideas and learn from one another in a peer-to-peer environment.

Our day will kick off with a Breakfast & Keynote Connect session — a great opportunity to enjoy a meal together, hear from our keynote speaker and connect with colleagues.

Breakfast is free, but registration is required to attend. Please reserve your spot on our event page. Please register by noon today, Oct. 10, if you plan to join us for breakfast, so we can provide Dining Services with an accurate headcount.

Check out the full list of presentations and the keynote, and register for sessions you would like to attend. All staff and faculty are welcome! Registration will remain open for sessions until the date of the event!

As a reminder, union-represented employees are entitled to release time for professional development activities, including staff recognition programs deemed relevant by the University. Employees should work with their supervisors to ensure coverage during their absence. Supervisors may contact Human Resources for guidance on eligibility and the process for granting this release time.

We extend our sincere gratitude to Meemic Insurance for sponsoring our breakfast session. Their generous support helps us bring the Michigan Tech community together to share ideas, connect and start the day with inspiration. We truly appreciate their commitment to making this event possible!

If you have any questions about Professional Development Day, please email staffcouncil@mtu.edu.

Staff Council invites the campus community to submit nominations for the 2025 Making a Difference Staff Awards. Nominations are now open, and regular full-time and part-time staff are eligible. All faculty and staff are invited to submit a nomination for a deserving colleague or write a letter in support of a nomination.

The categories are:

• Innovation Award
• Behind the Scenes
• Legacy Award
• Outstanding Leader
• Rookie Award
• Serving Others
• Unsung Hero

Award receipients will receive $500 after taxes. Past recipients are not eligible to receive another award until five years after their previous award year.

Please follow these steps:

1. Review the award criteria
2. Create your nomination letter
3. Collect you letters of support (no more than three one-page letters)
4. Complete the nomination form

Please note that you will need to be prepared to upload your nomination letter and letters of support as one PDF file in the nomination form.

For more information, please go to the Staff Council's Making a Difference Staff Awards webpage.

Nominations will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Nov. 21.

The A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum will be hosting a food drive from Monday, Oct. 13, through Oct. 25 to benefit the Husky Food Action Network (HuskyFAN). We will be collecting non-expired, shelf-stable goods and offering discounts for your donations:

• Donate one item and receive 10%* off one item in the museum gift shop.
• Donate three or more items and receive 15%* off your entire purchase in the museum gift shop.

Items needed include canned proteins, dry grains, canned fruits and vegetables, nut spreads and jellies, canned soups and stews, cooking oils, spices, flour, sugar, shelf-stable milk, fruit juice, coffee, tea, personal care items (toiletries, feminine hygiene products), baby food and formula, diapers, wipes, and kitchen paper products (napkins, plates, utensils).

This is a great opportunity to not only help our Husky community, but to perhaps do some holiday shopping at the museum as well!

*Some exclusions apply and discounts cannot be combined.

Happy Earth Science Week! This global movement promotes understanding and guardianship of our planet, while also igniting curiosity and fostering appreciation for the Earth sciences. Each day of Earth Science Week has a focus, and Monday, Oct. 13, is Minerals Day!

In recognition of Minerals Day, the A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum will offer the following on Monday:

• Free admission for all! While MTU students, staff and faculty always get waived admission to the museum, this is a great opportunity to bring your family and friends — please spread the word!

• 10% off sale in the gift shop (some exclusions apply and discounts cannot be combined).

Tomorrow, Oct. 11, at 7:30 p.m. at the Rozsa Center, Michigan Tech’s Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra will dedicate an entire evening to "Gods, Ghosts, and Legends."

Presented by the Michigan Tech Music Series, the concert showcases the work of Richard Wagner, a 19th century composer and theorist whose operas and music have had a revolutionary influence on the course of Western music. Gods, ghosts and legends from both German and Norse myths were heavily influential in Wagner’s series of operas, which invoke grandiose and supernatural imagery.

“The most famous piece in this concert is ‘Ride of the Valkyries’ from Wagner’s 15-hour ‘Ring’ opera cycle. Think ‘Kill the wabbit’ and the movie ‘Apocalypse Now,’” said Joel Neves, assistant professor of music and director of orchestral activities. “This concert features stunning music from the fantasy operas of Richard Wagner, which are based on Norse legends about Valhalla and the gods, a mythological ring of power, and a cursed ghost ship steered by the undead.”

Don’t miss this evening of powerful music!

Get Tickets.

Emily Shaw, Great Lakes resources specialist at the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, will give a talk on Monday, Oct. 13, at 4 p.m. in GLRC 202. A social (no refreshments this week) will be held at 3:30 p.m. in the GLRC Lobby on the first floor.

The presentation is titled "Building Research Partnerships with Keweenaw Bay Indian Community."

Read Shaw's abstract and bio at the University Events Calendar.

Chris Gilbertson, associate director of Michigan Tech's Center for Technology and Training, attended and delivered a workshop at the SEFI Annual Conference 2025 at Tampere University in Tampere, Finland, on Sept. 15-18. 

The SEFI Annual Conference is Europe’s largest academic event dedicated to higher engineering education and brings together individuals from academia, industry and professional organizations. Gilbertson was invited to deliver a workshop on "Bridging the Gap Between Software and Engineering Curriculum" by Bentley, a platinum sponsor for the conference.

The Daily Galaxy quoted Robert Nemiroff (Physics) in a story about a newly rediscovered image from Mars showing a 100-meter-wide surface hole that may lead to underground caves potentially capable of supporting life. Nemiroff, co-author of NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day, described the site’s potential to reveal clues about the planet’s subsurface environment.

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Eastern Michigan University’s 89.1 WEMU-FM interviewed Zhanping You (CEGE/MTTI) on its “Issues of the Environment” radio program. You discussed a pilot project in Washtenaw County’s Pittsfield Township testing sustainable, rubberized asphalt made with recycled tires — a material he and his team are studying for its potential to improve road durability and reduce waste.

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WalletHub featured Xin Li (COB) in a Q&A about full-coverage car insurance. Li discussed when drivers should obtain or drop coverage, emphasizing that it’s most worthwhile for newer or high-value vehicles and less so as a car’s market value declines.

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The Keweenaw Report mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about the inaugural celebration of the Translational Health Engineering Research Center (THERC), held Oct. 1 in Grand Rapids. The article mentioned University President Rick Koubek, Caryn Heldt (ChE/HRI) and Bapi Pahar (THERC/HRI) and noted THERC’s role in advancing collaboration between Michigan Tech and Grand Rapids-area health and research partners.

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The Livingston Post mentioned Professor Emeritus William Sproule (CEGE) in a story about his upcoming presentation “The Edmund Fitzgerald and Baseball” at the Brighton District Library on Oct. 15. The program will explore the ship’s history, Gordon Lightfoot’s song and its unexpected connection to baseball.

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Duluth’s WDIO-TV featured Michigan Tech alum Russ Becker ’89 ’91 (B.S. M.S. Civil Engineering) in a story about his visit to Rock Ridge High School, where he spoke with students about leadership, career growth and his journey from the Iron Range to becoming CEO of APi Group.

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My UP Now featured Michigan Tech alum Daniel Wahlstrom ’08 (B.S. Computer Science) in a story about his return to the Upper Peninsula as a neurologist with UP Health System-Marquette.

Banner Maintenance on Sunday

A production system maintenance window is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 12, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. The following production services will be unavailable during that time:

• apps.mtu.edu  
• Banner
• Banner Self Service
• Degreeworks
• Experience
• MyMichiganTech
• ASPIRE
• Course Tools
• OAP Rental System
• Oracle Reports
• UC4/Appworx
• Virtual Cashiering
• WebFocus

If you have any questions or concerns, we can help. Email IT or call 906-487-1111.

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Fall MTU Aquatics: Register Now for Session 2 Programs!

Registration for Session 2 of Fall 2025 MTU Aquatics programs is open for a few more days! Session 2 registration closes on Wednesday, Oct. 15, at 11:59 p.m.

Explore our programs for all ages and abilities:

• Huskies Group Swim Lessons Parent & Child Aquatics (ages 6 months to 3 years)
• Huskies Group Swim Lessons Preschool Aquatics (ages 4-5 years)
• Huskies Group Swim Lessons Learn to Swim Levels 1-5 (ages 6-17 years)
• Huskies Swim Training (ages 6-17 years)
• Adult Huskies Swim Lessons (ages 18 and older)
• Adult Huskies Swim Training (ages 18 and older)
• Private and Semi-Private Swim Lessons

New Recreation Program Registration System
We’re excited to announce that beginning with fall 2025 program registration, we are transitioning to a new recreation program registration system designed to better support our youth and family programming.

As part of this upgrade, information on the new registration system is available on each program's webpage under the heading "Fall 2025." Please see the section labeled "Important for Parents/Guardians" for details on how to register your child for youth programs.

Thank you for your support as we make this exciting transition! We’re confident our new system will offer a more user-friendly and efficient experience for all.

Questions? Contact Aquatics Manager Annie Boyle at ambengry@mtu.edu or 906-487-2995.

See you at the pool!

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Human Resources Office Closure Today

The Human Resources office will be closed today, Oct. 10, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. for a departmental meeting.

Questions during this time can be sent to hr-help@mtu.edu.

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CFRES Friday Seminar Series Speaker: Walter Carson

Please join the College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science (CFRES) for our Friday Seminar Series. This week's presentation will be held today, Oct. 10, from 3-4 p.m. in Noblet 144, followed by a social in the Forestry Atrium.

Walter Carson will present "Biodiversity Collapse and the Future of the Eastern Deciduous Forest Biome," a career-long synthesis of his research in eastern deciduous forests.

Carson's research focuses on experimental and empirical tests of theory in community ecology, specifically theories that hone in on the mechanisms generating community composition, coexistence, complexity and the maintenance of species diversity. He recently retired from a 30-year career as a professor at the University of Pittsburgh and maintains an appointment at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Carson is hosted by Julia Burton.

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Dining Services Open House: You're Invited!

The Social House at Wadsworth Hall, the dining hall in Michigan Tech's Wads residence hall, has a new look! The dining hall was renovated this past summer and now offers an expanded salad bar selection, a variety of seating areas for conversations, new bold colors and many tasty food options.

To celebrate the renovation, Dining Services is hosting an open house for students, staff, faculty and the community on Wednesday, Oct. 15, from 2-4 p.m.

Attendees will enjoy:

• Tours of the dining facility
• Music with WMTU-FM
• Desserts, appetizers, and hors d'oeuvres
• Giveaways and swag goodies
• Raffle prizes (including MTU event tickets)
• Photos in the Husky Eats photo booth

We hope you will join us!

For more information on meal plans, dining hours and locations, visit the Husky Eats website.

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MSE Seminar with Sudarsanam Suresh Babu

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) is hosting a seminar presented by Sudarsanam Suresh Babu, Clark Distinguished Chair Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, at 3 p.m. today, Oct. 10, in M&M 610.

Babu's presentation is titled "Solid State Additive Manufacturing of Materials Designed for Extreme Conditions."

From the abstract:
Additive manufacturing (AM) continues to transform how advanced materials and complex components are designed, fabricated, and deployed. Among the emerging solid-state approaches, Ultrasonic Additive Manufacturing (UAM) offers unique opportunities for joining metals and creating hybrid structures without melting. This presentation highlights fundamental mechanisms of bond formation during UAM, including overcoming barriers posed by surface asperities, oxides, and contamination. Recent atom probe and in-situ studies reveal that high strain-rate plastic deformation induces adiabatic heating and vacancy generation, enabling oxide decomposition and solid-state diffusion. These mechanisms allow for robust metallurgical bonds across similar and dissimilar materials, often with embedded functionalities such as fiber optics, sensors, or neutron absorbers. Practical demonstrations include scaling UAM to fabricate control plates with embedded Ta and Eu2O3 compacts for nuclear reactor applications, where tailored interfaces and irradiation resistance are critical. Ongoing studies address anisotropy, void distribution, oxide stability, and irradiation-induced property degradation, including phenomena analogous to the Portevin-Le Chatelier effect. Engineering strategies such as surface texturing, interlayers, and post-weld heat treatments are explored to enhance performance. Beyond technical advances, this work situates UAM within the broader theme of democratizing advanced manufacturing — making cutting-edge processes accessible to small and medium enterprises, startups, and the workforce through education, open innovation, and collaborative research ecosystems. By integrating fundamental science, scalable process innovation, and workforce development, UAM exemplifies how solid-state AM can meet extreme environment challenges while expanding participation in next-generation manufacturing.

Babu obtained his bachelor’s degree in metallurgical engineering from the PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore, and his master’s degree in welding metallurgy from IIT Madras. He earned his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Metallurgy from the University of Cambridge, U.K., in 1992, followed by research at the Institute for Materials Research, Sendai, Japan.

He joined Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in 1993, serving in joint and staff research roles until 2005. He then became technology leader at Edison Welding Institute (2005-2007) and professor of materials science and director of the NSF I/UCRC Center for Materials Joining Science at Ohio State University (2007-2013). From 2013-2025, he was UT/ORNL governor’s chair of advanced manufacturing, also directing the Bredesen Center (2019-2022) and serving as founding educational director of the UT–Oak Ridge Innovation Institute (2020). In 2020, he was appointed to the U.S. National Science Board. He also served as senior advisor for research and STEM at UT (2022-2024).  In 2025, Babu became the Clark Distinguished Chair Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Maryland.

To have your event automatically appear, please submit them to the University Events Calendar.

Nanowonder: Images of the Microscopic World Gallery Exhibit - Rozsa Art Galleries

Friday, October 10, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. | Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts, Rozsa Art Galleries

MICHIGAN TECH ART SERIES EVENT For centuries, humanity has been fascinated with the microscopic world. Through advancements in technology, visually investigating this hidden...

Board of Trustees Meeting

Friday, October 10, 9–11 a.m. | Memorial Union Building (MUB), Ballroom B

Regular meeting of Michigan Technological University Board of Trustees

Cookies & Coloring

Friday, October 10, 2–3 p.m. | Alumni House

Looking for a way to de-stress after a long week? Take a break and unwind at Cookies and Coloring! Stop by the Alumni House basement on Friday, October 10th, between 2-4pm for...

Mathematical Sciences - Kliakhandler Department Research Colloquium, Oct 10th

Friday, October 10, 2–3 p.m. | Fisher Hall, 328

We’re delighted to welcome Dr. Bruce Sagan from Michigan State University to deliver the eighth of our Kliakhandler Lectures. Friday, October 10, Dr. Sagan presents his...

Fall Color Tour - Chairlift Rides

Friday, October 10, 3–6 p.m. | Mont Ripley Ski Area

Join us for a thrilling chairlift ride to the top of the ski hill and take in the spectacular views of Houghton, Hancock, the Lift Bridge, and Michigan Tech Campus from high...

Computational Math Seminar Speaker: Dr. Xueyu Zhu, University of Iowa

Friday, October 10, 3:30–4:30 p.m.

This talk is intended for faculty, researchers, and students interested in scientific computing and data science. Zoom: https://michigantech.zoom.us/j/85727370816 3:30-4:30...

Pokeman League - Weekly Meeting

Friday, October 10, 5–6 p.m. | Dillman 202

Come hangout and play pokemon

SAF Forestry Club Timbersports Practice

Friday, October 10, 6–7 p.m. | Woodcut Site

Forestry Club will host it's second conclave practice of the year, focusing on log rolling, bolt throw, and pulp toss.

The Great Game

Friday, October 10, 9–11 p.m. | Memorial Union Building Commons

Outdoor Escape Adventure: Teams will break a secret code at Husky Plaza, see floating letters in augmented reality above an Engineering Building, and decipher a Morse code...