1. KARNOSKY TO RECEIVE INTERNATIONAL FORESTRY AWARD FOR SCIENTIFIC ACHIEVEMENT

Thirty years ago, when David Karnosky began documenting the harmful effects of ozone on forests, not everyone believed him.

Now, however, his groundbreaking research is accepted as proof that this industrial pollutant can seriously impact many species of trees and forest ecosystems. For this--and much more--Karnosky has been chosen by the International Union of Forest Research Organizations to receive its Scientific Achievement Award.

IUFRO presents a maximum of 10 awards once every five years at its World Congress, to be held in Brisbane, Australia, in August.

Karnosky, a professor in the School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, was instrumental in founding the Aspen FACE (Free Air Carbon dioxide Experiment) site in Rhinelander, Wis., in 1996 and is its director. The world's largest, open-air climate change research facility, it is the only FACE site where scientists can study the impact of the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide and ozone on forest ecosystems.

A total of 55 scientists from seven countries conduct research at Aspen FACE, producing more than 30 papers annually on their findings. "His vision, leadership and consensus-building skills have been instrumental in this project receiving some $10 million," said Kevin Percy, a senior scientist with Natural Resources Canada, in supporting Karnosky for the award.

Gerhard Mueller-Starck, professor and chair of forest genetics at the Technological University of Munich in Germany, cites Karnosky's ability to bring together disparate individuals for the common good. "There are only a few people worldwide who act as effectively as Dr. Karnosky in the field of international cooperation," he said. "He successfully bridges boundaries, particularly between the research fields of forest genetics and tree physiology."

MTU President Glenn Mroz, who nominated Karnosky for the award, also remarked on his capacity to build cooperation. "I believe that Dr. Karnosky's enthusiasm for working across borders is a distinction that has served the international forest research community well," he said.

Karnosky's research is broad based. His work on climate change, particularly on the effects of elevated levels of ozone and carbon dioxide in forests, delves into topics ranging from carbon sequestration and insect pests to natural selection and growth. As a result of his leadership in this field, he served as a consultant for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as it drafted ozone standards over the last 10 years.

He has also gained an international reputation in biotechnology and forest productivity. "He conducted cutting-edge forest biotechnology research on micropropagation, gene isolation and transformation of Larix and Populus species before the term 'forest biotechnology' became popular," said Gopi Podilla, chair of biological sciences at the University of Alabama in Huntsville.

Karnosky and his colleagues created the first genetically engineered conifer, an exotic larch, and he conducts ongoing research on developing hardier, faster-growing trees. Using traditional genetic and silviculture methods, as well as biotechnology, he has worked with area foresters to increase the productivity of Great Lakes forests, as well as increase their ability to sequester carbon and thus help reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Karnosky earned a BS in Forestry and MS and PhD degrees in Forest Genetics, all from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He began his career as a forest geneticist with the New York Botanical Garden, where he later cloned a disease-resistant species of Chinese elm from an ancient specimen in Central Park. In 2002, he brought 150 of the hardy trees back to China for research and propagation.

Karnosky came to Michigan Tech in 1983, and, among his many other honors, earned the university's Research Award in 1993. He has authored or coauthored approximately 300 publications and edited four books. In addition to publishing in top-tier journals such as Nature and Global Change Biology, he has been effective in disseminating science to the general public; stories on his work have appeared in the New York Times and on ABC.com and National Geographic Today.

Karnosky has also been active in IUFRO, leading its forest health division and serving on its executive board from 1995 to 2000, as well as organizing several international meetings.

"Dr. Karnosky has exemplified the IUFRO ideals through the openness of his laboratory and his willingness to host visiting scientists from around the world," said Provost and Vice President for Research David Reed, who received a Scientific Achievement Award in 2000. "I can think of very few scientists that have the scientific credentials and who exemplify the IUFRO ideas to a greater extent than Dr. Karnosky."

Karnosky is one of two members of the MTU community receiving IUFRO awards this year. Eugénie Euskirchen will receive an Outstanding Doctoral Research Award for work leading to her PhD in Forest Science.

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2. GRADUATE DEAN SEARCH COMMITTEE MEMBERS SOUGHT

The Graduate Faculty Council is recruiting six faculty members to serve on the Dean of the Graduate School Search Committee.

Following the procedures outlined in Senate Proposal 12-01, the council will elect two representatives each from the College of Engineering and the College of Sciences and Arts and one representative each from the School of Business and Economics and the School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science.

The council is asking that the Schools and the departments within the two Colleges convey the names of any members of the graduate faculty interested in serving on the dean search committee to their Graduate Faculty Council representative. GFC representatives will submit these names to the GFC president by Thursday, Jan. 27. The election of the six search committee members will be conducted by the GFC Tuesday, Feb. 1. If you have any questions on the process, see Senate Proposal 12-01, available at http://www.sas.it.mtu.edu/usenate/propose/01/12-01.htm . Then contact your GFC representative, or Kurt Pregitzer, GFC president.

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3. ABOUT YOUR NEW BLUE CROSS/BLUE SHIELD CARDS

You have probably received a new set of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan identification cards in the mail. The new cards reflect a pharmaceutical change internal to BCBSM that will not affect your pocketbook, but your pharmacist will need this information to submit prescription claims. You should destroy your old cards and replace them with the new cards.

Also, if you transferred your Michigan Tech BCBSM to a different plan, you may receive yet another set of cards that was automatically generated when this change was made. This set of cards is probably identical to the other new set; keep them for your family members or toss.

If you have any other questions or would like additional cards, email Maryann Wilcox, mawilcox@mtu.edu, or call the Benefits Office at 487-2517.

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4. AEROSPACE ENTERPRISE TAKES A BRONZE AT NANOSAT 3

Michigan Tech's Aerospace Enterprise excelled at the recent University Nanosat 3 competition, finishing third among a dozen teams, many representing universities with well-established aeronautical engineering programs.

The team's "HuskySat" satellite placed third in the Jan. 9 event and was one of only three entries judged to be "flyable," or capable of successfully completing its mission.

In the competition, which kicked off two years ago, all the teams set out to design and build very small satellites, or nanosats, with the goal of seeing them launched into orbit. The sponsors were the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research and the Air Force Research Labs Space Vehicles Directorate.

In addition to building a satellite that will survive launch and maintain an orbit around the earth, the MTU students also assembled a complex payload. It is designed to measure how much wireless electronic "pollution" will interfere with scientific measurements relating to climate change.

The team's advisor, Assistant Professor Brad King (MEEM), credits the third-place finish to the team's dogged tenacity.

"About 15 of them gave up their Christmas holiday vacations to stay up here and put the final touches on," he said. "For an undergrad, that's about the ultimate sacrifice. And even then, we weren't ready, so the students traveled to Reno with an entire lab."

They recreated their MTU laboratory in a Reno hotel room. "We had an oscilloscopes, power supplies, drills and power tools, wiring equipment and at least five computers," King said. "It looked like one of those movies where the CIA moves into a hotel room. Everything seems normal in the hallways, and then you go into the room and have this high tech laboratory where everything is beeping and clicking.

"We were staying in a casino where they should have had a lot of fun, but instead they worked continuously three days and nights."

King was especially impressed by the team's showing against very strong competition. "We were up against schools like the University of Michigan, which has the top aeronautical engineering program in the nation and has had students building spacecraft for about 30 years. When the competition started, schools like that had a leg up, while we started with a blank slate. We had to invent everything."

That determination paid off, and the MTU team did have HuskySat ready to show the judges. The first and second place schools, the University of Texas at Austin and Taylor University, were the only other teams to complete their satellites. In addition, they had finished earlier and undertaken a number of tests on their entries, which earned them additional points.

"They were deemed further along," King said. The time frame proved to play a critical role in Nanosat 3, he added. "That's what killed most of the other schools. Two years to build a satellite isn't a lot of time."

Only the winner is guaranteed the chance to see their satellite sent into orbit. However, King said, HuskySat may be launched by the Department of Defense, if space and funding are available.

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5. SENATE CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM NEXT WEEK

The referendum on the new University Senate Constitution is scheduled for the week of Jan. 24. Ballots should be distributed that day to faculty and professional staff and should be returned the following by Monday, Jan. 31.

Staff and faculty will be polled separately, and both groups must approve the proposed constitution for it to take effect.

The changes clarify constituency issues and, if approved, would allow the senate to regain its previous, official role at MTU as an elected body of faculty and professional staff advising the administration and the Board of Control. The revisions, which were approved by the Presidential Advisory Council Dec. 1, are posted here: http://www.sas.it.mtu.edu/usenate/Const-New-04.htm

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6. A DOZEN TEAMS TO FACE OFF IN CLEAN SNOWMOBILE CHALLENGE

A dozen teams from universities across the northern part of North America will roar--quietly--into Houghton in March for the annual SAE Clean Snowmobile Challenge.

The sleds will compete March 14-19 at the Keweenaw Research Center, known for its vehicle test grounds and the Midwest's finest winter driving track. This will be Michigan Tech's third year hosting the event, which is being organized by the Keweenaw Research Center and the Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics.

The Clean Snowmobile Challenge is the Society of Automotive Engineers' newest collegiate design competition. Teams of engineering students from participating schools take a stock snowmobile and then reengineer it to reduce emissions and noise while maintaining or improving performance.

Michigan Tech placed second last year, with the University of Wisconsin-Madison's innovative hybrid gas-electric sled taking the gold.

"I think Wisconsin will be the one to beat," predicts Jay Meldrum, director of the Keweenaw Research Center. "They told me they are making improvements and refining their design. Michigan Tech is doing the same with their machine, and McGill is coming back with their electric sled, so we'll have a very interesting challenge this year."

Teams will put their sleds through a series of performance and emissions tests, including an endurance run north to Copper Harbor. New this year are ergonomic tests that measure rider comfort. The driver sits on an accelerometer--"like a whoopie cushion," Meldrum explains--that can record vibration. The less vibration, the greater the score.

Also new is a subjective handling test, in which professional snowmobile drivers rate the sleds on their maneuverability and driving characteristics. "In other words, they'll tell us if this is a snowmobile someone would enjoy renting," Meldrum said.

Teams registered for the event are Clarkson University in New York, Kettering University in Flint, McGill University in Montreal, Michigan Tech, Minnesota State University at Mankato, Montana Tech, the State University of New York at Buffalo, the University of Alberta, the University of Idaho, the University of Maine, the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.

The public will be invited to view the handling and acceleration events, held at the Keweenaw Research Center on Saturday, March 19.

For more information, contact Meldrum at 906-487-3178, jmeldrum@mtu.edu.

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7. CAMPUS BULLETIN BOARD NOW ON LINE

IT-Distributed Computing Services has released a new web-based campus bulletin board where members of the community can buy, sell, trade, find rides and more.

Check it out here: http://barkboard.mtu.edu . For specific services, these alternate names may be used: http://forsale.mtu.edu or http://ride.mtu.edu

To use this service, you will have to log in with your MTU login and ISO password. This protects you and the MTU community from unsolicited postings. For more information or if you have any questions, email barkboard@mtu.edu.

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8. POST YOUR STUDENT JOB VACANCIES AT CAREER CENTER WEBSITE

Have a student position to fill? Know of someone interested in advertising a part-time position in the local area?

Consider advertising your on-campus/local student employment opportunities on the Career Center Web site. With this free service, your postings will be online for a full month, and candidates may apply directly to you.

Visit http://www.ucc.mtu.edu/ On the left side, you will see the "Campus & Local Job Postings" section.

The Career Center job posting system is available for all non-work study position postings. Work-study position requests must be completed through the Financial Aid Office. Visit their site at http://www.admin.mtu.edu/finaid/finaid.htm for more information.

For more information regarding on-campus employment, please contact the Career Center at career@mtu.edu or 487-2313.

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9. INTERVIEW ROOMS NEEDED FOR WINTER JOB FAIR

The Winter Job Fair will be held at Michigan Tech on Feb. 22, and the Career Center needs your spare conference rooms, offices, etc. Feb. 23-24 as interview rooms for students and corporate representatives.

If you have any rooms available, contact Rita Smith (rsmith@mtu.edu) or at 487-2313 as soon as possible.

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10. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR MOCK INTERVIEWS, RESUME EVALUATION

The winter recruiting season is once again upon us, and the Winter Job Fair is Feb. 22. You can help students find jobs by volunteering to critique their resumes and conduct mock interviews.

During Resume Critique Week, Jan. 31-Feb. 4, students schedule 30-minute appointments with volunteers who evaluate their resumes. The volunteer may also provide job search recommendations.

During Mock Interview Week, Feb. 14-18, students are interviewed by volunteers and their performance critiqued by volunteers and their fellow students. The entire process takes about 45 minutes.

If you are interested in volunteering, email Joan Pastore, jepastor@mtu.edu, by Friday, Jan. 21.

The Career Center holds training sessions for anyone who hasn't volunteered in the last couple of years. The sessions, which cover both resume critiquing and interview techniques, will be held Monday, Jan. 24. The first is scheduled for 8-9 a.m. in Memorial Union Alumni Lounge A; the second will be from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Career Center.

To register for a session, call the Career Center at 487-2313 and ask for Jeff or email Jeff at jakangas@mtu.edu.

During the fall 2004 Resume Critique Week and Mock Interview Week, 493 students were assisted by volunteers. "Our Volunteer Program is an extremely important resource for Michigan Tech students in these very challenging economic times," career center staff said.
"We thank you for considering our request to be a volunteer, and would greatly appreciate your participation."

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11. AUDITION FOR "THAT DEAD MAN'S JAZZ CLUB" JAN. 23-24

The Department of Fine Arts will hold auditions for the April 2005 Michigan Tech theater production, "That Dead Man's Jazz Club," Sunday and Monday, Jan. 23-24, at 7 p.m. in McArdle Theatre. Written by Assistant Professor M. C. Friedrich (Fine Arts), "Dead Man's Jazz Club" will be directed by Assistant Professor Christopher Plummer (Fine Arts). Auditions are open to students and community members, with no preparation or prior experience required.

Four performances are scheduled from March 30 to April 2 in McArdle Theatre. More information is available from Plummer or the Fine Arts office, 487-2067.

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12. RETIREMENT PARTY FOR MARTI BANKS-SIKARSKIE

Marti Banks-Sikarskie, sponsored educational programs director, is retiring from Michigan Tech. Please join us as we wish Marti farewell at her retirement reception on Wednesday Jan. 26, 2:30-4 p.m., in the Memorial Union Alumni Lounge.

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13. MTU v. NMU BLOOD DRIVE JAN. 26

Counseling Services, the Office of Residence Life and the U.P. Regional Blood Center are sponsoring the sixth annual blood drive competition with NMU.

The blood drive will be held Wednesday, Jan. 26, from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. in the West Lounge of McNair Hall.

Students, faculty, staff and community members are encouraged to donate the gift of blood to ensure that MTU wins the competition for the sixth year in a row.

Contact Steve Miner at 487-2538 or srminer@mtu.edu to schedule an appointment to donate, or walk in at your convenience. Please bring a picture ID.

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14. USE THE AIRPORT? THIS SURVEY'S FOR YOU

Houghton County Memorial Airport has a survey regarding airline usage and their facility at their website http://www.houghtoncounty.org . This survey is particularly important if you'd like to see direct flights to Detroit restored.

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15. SAVE ECONO FOODS RECEIPTS FOR FRIENDS OF LIBRARY
Submitted by the Friends of the Van Pelt Library

The Friends of the Van Pelt Library is asking everyone on campus to collect receipts from Econo Foods. Econo donates 1 percent of the value of each receipt toward computer purchases in the Van Pelt Library. Last year's collections resulted in a $570.87 donation from Econo this year. These funds support computers in the library's public areas.

You may drop off your receipts in the drop box at the library circulation desk. If you want to be a real Friend, you can set up a collection box in your work area and collect Econo receipts from your colleagues. Econo receipts may be sent by campus mail to Mary Marchaterre in Administration Computing Services. For more information, contact Faith Morrison (fmorriso@mtu.edu). Thanks for supporting the Friends.

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16. SONS AND DAUGHTERS SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE

MTU Employee Sons and Daughters Scholarships valued at $100 each will be available for the 2005-06 academic year. Applicants must be full-time MTU undergraduates in their first four years of study or high school students planning to enroll in fall 2005 and the sons or daughters of Michigan Tech employees.

Applications are available in the Financial Aid Office, Administration 160. Deadline for application submission is Feb. 18.

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17. TEACHING AT TECH: STICKY MEMORIES
by William Kennedy, director of the Center for Teaching, Learning and Faculty Development

Why do we remember some things for years and forget others almost immediately? Neuroscientists believe that what we commonly think of as short- and long-term memories represent different types of connections between neurons at contact points called synapses. A memory is formed when an array of neurons' signaling extensions meet one or more of their adjacent neuron's signal receivers. Short-term memories represent temporary sensitizations of these receivers to subsequent signals, while long-term memories require the production of specialized proteins to make the temporary sensitizations more permanent.

Since the 1960s, molecular biologists have suspected that genes play a vital role in the process of converting short-term sensitizations into ones that enable long-term memory. It was believed that the specialized proteins must be synthesized in the brain within minutes of the initial stimulation for long-term memory to occur. This specialized protein production requires a tiny bit of DNA to be transcribed into a portable format called messenger RNA (mRNA). This messenger then travels to the appropriate region of the cell, where its message enables the creation of a specialized tagged protein that carries the desired information in a format that can travel to distant synapses. These master proteins spread throughout the cell and then seek out and are thought to bind to specific DNA sequences, making permanent the sensitized connections.

R. Douglas Fields, chief of the Nervous System Development and Plasticity Section of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development at the National Institutes of Health, and his postdoctoral fellows continue to investigate variables associated with the short-to-long-term memory formation process. Memory researchers have long suspected, as experience suggests, that the frequency of repetition and/or the relative impact of an experience play a role in determining how long and how well an event will be remembered. Fields and his colleagues, experimenting with animal tissues, discovered a complex network of diversified chemical pathways that act like a modern highway system transferring information about the electrical state of the cell's membrane throughout the interior of the cell. Electrical stimulation of the membrane causes a spurt of calcium to travel through this diverse network of chemical pathways in the cell-activating enzymes that add those phosphate tags to proteins.

Interestingly, Fields and his associates found that various neural pathways were activated by different rates of electrical stimulation. Some channels responded to rather rapid-fire stimulations by sending out brief bursts of chemical signals; then they are ready to respond again almost immediately. Other chemical paths were quite sluggish in their response and then took a much longer time to regain their ability to respond to subsequent stimulations. These sluggish channels, however, sustained their chemical messages for a much longer period of time. Still other channels, like those associated with the production of messenger RNA, were rapidly activated and continued production of their chemical messaging 30 minutes or more following stimulation.

The researchers found that rapid bursts of stimulation tended to produce significant but rather short-lived cellular changes. However, if the very same series of rapid bursts was repeatedly applied, with 10-minute intervals in between, the cellular changes appeared to be made permanent. Repetitions followed by the appropriate resting period seem to be a key component of long-term memory formation.

These findings might provide some insight into why cramming for an exam tends to yield few long-term benefits. Similarly, they might suggest that encouraging students to repeatedly retrieve and apply new concepts over time might enable deep and durable learning. The old advice to review your notes each night, rather than cramming for tests, may be more than common sense.

* "Making Memories Stick," Scientific American, February 2005, 76

ENTERTAINMENT AND ENRICHMENT News  |  Entertainment & Enrichment  |  Seminars and Workshops | Regular Features  |  Calendar

18. COMEDY, HYPNOTISM AND A WILD AND GOOFY ROMP AT THE ROZSA
Submitted by University Cultural Enrichment

Hypnotist/stand-up comedian Dale K comes to the Rozsa on Saturday, Jan. 22, for a 7:30 p.m. performance. Rozsa audiences used to the quiet good manners of Frederick Winters are in for a big surprise. Probably the things that most distinguish Dale from other hypnotists are his stand-up comedy and the frenetic pace of his shows, which quickly become wild and goofy romps. He's refreshingly original and eccentric. He appears on stage with his hair spiked up, wearing jeans and a casual shirt, a long way from the conventional uniform for hypnotists, i.e., the neat suit or tailored blazer and khakis.

Dale K is a hypnotist whose unpredictable wit is just as impressive as his ability to mesmerize. His physical comedy and strong personality, sometimes described as professional insanity, have earned him the title of the Association for the Promotion of Campus Activities Performing Artist of the Year, along with four other award nominations.

Dale has appeared on NBC, ABC and MTV in addition to entertaining corporate and campus crowds. And he has shared the stage with comedians Weird Al and Carrot Top. The latter commented, "I met Dale K at 6:00 and by 7:00 I was doing his laundry."

The show comes to the Rozsa sponsored by the Student Entertainment Board and funded by the MTU Student Activity Fee. Tickets are on sale at the Rozsa Box Office (487-3200, Monday-Friday, 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m.) or online at http://www.tickets.mtu.edu .

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19. SNOWFLAKES: MINIATURE ICE MASTERPIECES
Submitted by University Cultural Enrichment

Ken Libbrecht's fascination with snowflakes dates back to his upbringing in North Dakota, where, he says, "Snow wasn't just part of the landscape where I lived, it was part of our heritage." Snow also figures largely in the heritage of the Upper Peninsula. Although many of us are often struck with the perfection and beauty of these crystals that fall from the sky, we don't give much thought to the marvel of why they look the way they do and why each one is unique. All it takes is a simple interaction between water molecules, and nature presents us with a thing of beauty. Libbrecht is currently in Houghton to photograph our local snowflakes and to give a lecture on Tuesday, Jan. 25, at 7:30 p.m., in Fisher 135. The lecture, titled "The Many Facets of Snowflakes: A Close Look at the Genesis of Pattern and Form," is free and open to the public, and is sponsored by the Van Evera Distinguished Lecture Series Endowment.

Libbrecht's beautifully illustrated lecture will include a brief description of why these "miniature ice masterpieces" appear with all their huge diversity of pattern and shape, how they form and grow, and how they're classified and preserved. He will describe the specialized equipment and methods used to photograph and capture the beauty of snowflakes in the seconds or minutes before they start to lose their shape. He'll also include some history of the science of snowflakes, which dates back to Rene Descartes and Johannes Kepler. Libbrecht will be available to sign his book at an informal reception outside Fisher Hall following the lecture.

The physics of snowflakes is a major research interest for Libbrecht, who recently coauthored an exquisitely illustrated and fascinating book, "The Snowflake: Winter's Secret Beauty" (Voyageur Press, 2003), which is available in local bookstores. Libbrecht wrote the text, Patricia Rasmussen took the photographs using Libbrecht's equipment, and the book won rave reviews from the critics.

Libbrecht, a graduate of Princeton University, is a professor of physics and the executive officer for the Physics Department at the California Institute of Technology, in Pasadena. His active research includes work at the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory, a facility at Caltech dedicated to the detection of cosmic gravitational waves and harnessing them for scientific research. He has published numerous articles on a broad range of scientific topics, which have appeared in the New York Times, Newsweek, The London Times, Science News, Science, Nature, Scientific American and others.

Libbrecht's visit is coordinated by the MTU Great Events Series Office (487-2844).

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20. JAZZ CABARET THIS WEEKEND
Submitted by the Department of Fine Arts

Enjoy a relaxed evening of jazz in Michigan Tech's own cabaret for two nights only, Jan. 21-22, in McArdle Theatre. MTU's fine combos, Jaztec and Momentum, plus RealTime featuring Mike Irish, Kirsten White, Charles White and Mark Lucier, invite jazz lovers to come for great music in an intimate club setting with small tables and low lights.

Mike Irish, Michigan Tech's director of jazz studies, says, "This is one of my favorite events of the year, because everyone loves to play in a club environment. It's relaxed, informal and often produces our best sounds. A jazz club is an ideal place for making music and, of course, to hear it."

The evening will feature a creative mix, from classics by jazz stars Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Charlie Parker to sizzling Latin jazz, bossa novas and sambas; from swinging vocals by Irving Berlin, Gershwin and Cole Porter to hot originals and the latest funk.

All seats for the jazz club are $4, with proceeds supporting the MTU jazz program. The music starts at 7:30 p.m. each night.

SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS News  |  Entertainment & Enrichment  |  Seminars and Workshops   |  Regular Features  |  Calendar

21. LUNCH AND LEARN ON BREAST HEALTH JAN. 26

A lunch and learn, "The ABCs of Breast Health," will be held Wednesday, Jan. 26, from noon to 1 p.m. in the Memorial Union Red Metal Room.

The presentation is sponsored by the Benefits Office in cooperation with Keweenaw Memorial Medical Center. The guest speaker will be Michelle Nordstrom, RN, BSN, women's health educator for KMMC.

When breast cancer is found in its earliest stages, the chance for successful treatment is the greatest. That is why every woman should set up an action plan that includes annual mammograms, annual clinical breast exams and breast self-awareness--the ABCs of breast health.

Bring your lunch; water and beverages will be provided. Show your BCBSM Group 55284 ID card, and be eligible to win some great prizes.

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22. MPSERS VIDEOCONFERENCE FEB. 2

Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System invites MPSERS participants to a videoconference designed to answer questions about your retirement plan.

The conference will be held in the distance learning room at the Copper Country ISD office, 809 Hecla St., in Hancock, on Wednesday, Feb. 2, at 3:30 p.m. This two-hour videoconference provides an overview of your MPSERS retirement benefits so you can make informed decisions about your retirement. Topics will include earning/purchasing service credit, eligibility requirements, calculating retirement benefits and insurance coverage.

If the facility is closed due to inclement weather, the meeting will be canceled.

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23. PORTAL WEBINAR SLATED

Student Affairs is sponsoring a webinar, "Inside Out: How Campus Portals Influence Web Strategy," on Thursday, Feb. 10, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in EERC B18. The webinar is being produced by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education and coordinated by University Communications and Information Technology. If you would like to attend, please email Dennis Walikainen, dkwalika@mtu.edu.

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24. INSTANT MESSAGING BROWN BAG LUNCH JAN. 25

System Administrator Pat Hopp (SAS) will present a brown bag luncheon about Instant Messaging on Tuesday, Jan. 25, from noon to 1 p.m. in the Memorial Union Alumni Lounge.

Hopp will present a brief overview of what Instant Messaging is and how it is used in businesses, homes and at our university.

"Is it safe? Is it secure? How can it help or hinder our productivity? What kinds of Instant Messaging are there? What do I need to be able to do it?"

Hopp will answer these questions and any others you may have. Also, Scott Bershing from MTU's portal development team will discuss how MTU will be using Instant Messaging technology help students who are looking at Michigan Tech feel connected to campus.

For more information on Instant Messaging, visit http://www.studentaffairs.com/ejournal/Fall_2004/InstantMessaging.html

This brown bag luncheon is free and open to the Michigan Tech community. Refreshments and dessert will be provided.

Contact Lynda Heinonen in the Student Affairs office if you have any questions at lheinone@mtu.edu or 487-2212.

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25. EPA PROGRAM COORDINATOR HERE JAN. 27-28 TO SPEAK ON SUSTAINABLE FUTURES

Julie Beth Zimmerman, engineer/program coordinator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Research and Development, will be on campus Jan. 27-28 to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Sustainable Futures Institute.

Zimmerman will give a presentation, "Design and Evaluation of Green Metalworking Fluids," on Thursday, Jan. 27, from 3 to 4 p.m. in MEEM 112. She will also present "Green Engineering: The 'How' of Sustainability" on Friday, Jan. 28, from 3 to 4 p.m. in Dow 642.

Both talks are open to the public.

In recognition of the emerging importance of sustainability, Michigan Tech founded the Sustainable Futures Institute in January 2004. SFI's mission is to help create and disseminate new methods and processes that generate scientific knowledge and engineering products in support of sustainability decisions and education.

Zimmerman helped organize the Federal Sustainability Summit. As a result of the summit, Zimmerman is drafting a charter including mission and vision statements for a Federal Sustainability Council, a voluntary interagency working group that will guide research and policy development for sustainability at federal agencies.

Zimmerman coordinates several competitive grant programs and has contributed to the development of EPA's Sustainability Research Strategy. The Technology for a Sustainable Environment grant program manages grants in the areas of green chemistry and engineering. In 2004, EPA also added the P3 Award: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability to its grants portfolio. She also serves on the Steering Committee for the U.S. Partnership, a grass roots public-private partnership to respond to the United Nations Decade for Education for Sustainable Development, a global effort to provide education and training for sustainability.

Zimmerman's visit is hosted by the Sustainable Futures Institute, the Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics, and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

For more information on the Sustainable Futures Institute, visit http://www.sfi.mtu.edu .

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26. TEACHING WORKSHOP ON ELECTRONIC LEARNING PORTFOLIOS JAN. 27

The Center for Teaching, Learning and Faculty Development is conducting a workshop entitled "Electronic Learning Portfolios" on Thursday, Jan. 27, noon-1 p.m. Lunch will be available at 11:45 a.m. to those who register by Monday, Jan. 24.

Learn how colleagues are encouraging deep and durable learning by requiring students to produce and maintain selective collections of their course work on the web. Educators across the academy are using these tools and techniques to increase engagement and to encourage students to become more self-directed, responsible learners.

To register, contact the CTLFD, 487-2046 or email Marlene Brown (mbrown@mtu.edu), by Monday, Jan. 24.

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27. PHYSICS COLLOQUIUM JAN. 27

Professor Scott Dodelson from the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Chicago will present a physics colloquium, "Dark Energy in the Universe," on Thursday, Jan. 27, at 4 p.m., in Fisher 139. He will discuss how the dark energy of the universe is connected to and explained by fundamental physics. Addressing this question may lead to a radical revision of our notions of space and time.

Dodelson is also the head of the Theoretical Astrophysics group at Fermilab. He authored the advanced undergraduate/graduate text Modern Cosmology and is a fellow of the American Physical Society. For more information, contact Yoke Khin Yap (ykyap@mtu.edu, 487-2900) or Ranjit Pati (patir@mtu.edu, 487-3193).

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28. MEEM SEMINAR THURSDAY

Professor Mark S. Shephard of the Scientific Computation Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute will present a graduate seminar, "Automated Adaptive Analysis for Simulation-Based Design," Thursday, Jan. 20, from 3 to 4 p.m. in MEEM 112.

His seminar is sponsored by the MEEM department.