Month: September 2012

Pennington, AGI to Provide Input to United Nations

by Dennis Walikainen, senior editor, University Marketing and Communications

Wayne Pennington, chair of geological and mining engineering and sciences, is participating in discussions to help the United Nations’ advance peoples’ right to “enjoy the benefits of scientific progress and its applications.”

Pennington, who is also president of the American Geosciences Institute, is part of a focus group led by the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s (AAAS) Science and Human Rights Coalition. Historically, this process has not included input from scientists and engineers; but this year the geoscience community is contributing.

“It may surprise some, but most inequities in the world start with a geologic situation,” Pennington said. “Earthquakes, volcanoes, and floods are obvious examples but so are mineral wealth and its management or soil quality and farming practices.”

Pennington and AGI President-Elect Sharon Mosher join members of the Geological Society of America (GSA), the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, and AAAS to promote different scientific interests, including those from early-career geoscientists. Findings generated from this and other focus groups will be presented to the United Nations.

The AAAS Science and Human Rights Coalition is a network of scientific and engineering organizations that includes the Association of American Geographers, the Council on Undergraduate Research, and the American Society of Civil Engineers. AGI, GSA, the Association of Earth Science Editors, and the Soil Science Society of America are Affiliated Organizations.

The American Geosciences Institute is a nonprofit federation of geoscientific and professional associations that represents more than 250,000 geologists, geophysicists and other earth scientists.

First-Year Engineering Lecture Series: David House

This Fall Semester the new class of engineering students assembled in the Rozsa Center Performance Hall to hear a speech by Michigan Tech alumnus David House on September 4th, first day of classes. He shared his engineering experiences from a 47 year career.

Watch the Video “David House Speaks to the Engineering College at Michigan Tech”
on Engineering – Michigan Tech Channel on Vimeo

MORE