Humanities News, Features, and Other Updates

Green Film Series Tonight 1-19

Published January 19, 2017

CCM – News

Michigan Tech’s Seventh Annual Green Film Series continues tonight a showing and discussion of the films “After Coal” and “Half Life.” “After Coal,” (60 min.) profiles individuals building a new future in the coalfields of central Appalachia and Wales. Welsh coalfields were shut down in the 1980s, eliminating more than 20,000 jobs while Appalachian coalfields lost more than 20,000 mining jobs from 1994-20014. Both regions have survived disasters associated with mining production & waste disposal, and each has explored strategies for remembering the past while looking to the future. “Half Life: America’s Last Uranium Mill,” (12 min.), describes the Ute tribe’s concern that toxic and radioactive contamination from the White Mesa Mill in SE Utah threatens their water supply and life.

The films begin at 7 p.m. with a discussion facilitated by Roman Sidortsov (SS) to follow. Coffee and dessert will be served. There is no admission but a $3 donation is suggested.

Syd Johnson Chapter Published in New Book Clinical Research Involving Pregnant Women

Published January 10, 2017

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L. Syd M Johnson (HU) published “When Hypothetical Vulnerability Becomes Actual: Research Participation and the Autonomy of Pregnant Women” in Clinical Research Involving Pregnant Women, F. Baylis & A. Ballantyne (eds), Springer, 2016. Read the abstract or download the book here.

Copper Country Reading Council Presentation

Published January 10, 2017

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The Michigan Tech community is invited to attend a presentation by Michigan Reading Association President, Sean Kottke from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan.19 in Alumni Lounge A.

Kottke is a consultant with the Michigan Department of Education and is President of the Michigan Reading Association. The title of his presentation is “Adolescent Boys, Literature and

This presentation is provided by the English Education Program in collaboration with the Copper Country Reading Council. Dinner will be provided at no charge, but it is possible to just attend the talk.

RSVP by January 16.

Roxanne Gay on NPR

Published January 6, 2017

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National Public Radio aired an interview with Roxane Gay, a noted writer and alumna of Michigan Tech’s Humanities program. The interview ran on NPR’s “All Things Considered” program. You can read highlights of the interview here.

Ciara Poe, Events Intern at the Battle Creek Area Chamber of Commerce

Published January 5, 2017

By Paige Short

Humanities

I would say that a moment from my internship that sticks out particularly to me is when we had our Business Excellence Awards night. It was a night to showcase and award smaller businesses around the community for the outstanding marks that they made on the community. Anyways, I was wearing pants from two years ago that I thought fit me just fine, but they were just a tad tight. At the end of the awards ceremony the Chamber president called all of the Interns for the summer up on stage. When it came my turn to go up on stage, my foot caught the last step and I came tumbling down. As I fell, I heard this huge rip and my worst fear ever came true. I had just totally and completely ripped my pants in front of over a hundred people, and my face went beet red. Needless to say I tried to pull it off like nothing happened but I could hear a few giggles going around. Just goes to show you that you should never wear tight pants!!!

But that event caused me to have a memory that’ll last me a lifetime, and my coworkers could not stop telling me all their embarrassing stories. Since the beginning, I’ve been involved in many events with the Chamber and community. From setting up caterers, to calling members to participate in events, I have learned so many amazing skills. I still have two more months of my internship and I have many more events lined up for the Chamber. I cannot wait to learn more skills and experience more of the “adult” world. The number one thing that I will take away from this internship is that you always need to have a little fun with your coworkers. You need to laugh and get to know your coworkers and build connections. The more you connect with your coworkers, the better everything is.

Kati Hook, Graphic Design Intern for the MTU Creative Suite 155

Published January 5, 2017

By Paige Short

Humanities

One of my most exciting moments so far during my internship has been seeing my work outside my workplace, such as being handed out on flyers or most recently, the hanging banners outside of Wads for Summer Youth Programs this summer. It was a really fun and difficult process. I had to create many drafts to present to my boss’s boss, discuss with him what he wanted to see on the pillars, and come up with new design concepts that made everyone happy. I had to create 3 different banners that all had to have similar themes, and do this within a tight deadline. However, it was all worth it when he came in smiling the day they were hung up saying how much he loved the final product. It’s the little moments like that that make me realize this is what I want to do with my career.

Dany Jacob Joins Department

Published December 11, 2016

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Dany Jacob joins Michigan Tech’s Department of Humanities as a visiting assistant professor. He earned his PhD in Romance Literature and Languages at State University of New York, Buffalo.

Jacob worked as a graduate teaching assistant at SUNY, Buffalo, teaching multiple levels of French. He also served as Graduate Student Association president for romance literature and language and “The French Connection,” as well as graduate student representative for academic integrity and grievance pool and round table moderator for “Re-opening our Minds” at SUNY, Buffalo. He was a nominee for the Milton Plesur Award and is a member of Association of Teachers of French.

Write a Cover Letter that Gets Attention

Published December 5, 2016

By scollins

CCM – News

Check out this Career Services tutorial!

Only three percent of applicants personalize and tailor their cover letter to the job they’re applying for, and it’s that three percent that end up in the “yes” pile. Write a cover letter that makes you stand out from the hundreds of other applicants. This session will be offered twice, from 12:10 to 12:50 p.m. tomorrow (Dec. 6) and Wednesday (Dec. 7) in Administration Building Room 220 – Career Services.

Tech Humanities Research Ranks in Top 100 NSF Grants

Published November 30, 2016

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In the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) latest rankings of universities by total research expenditures, Michigan Tech ranked 116th in the nation among public institutions and Tech’s atmospheric science and oceanography research ranked first in Michigan.

Nationally, atmospheric science research at Michigan Tech ranked 39th in research expenditures and oceanography ranked 53rd. Environmental science also ranked 53rd.

“Michigan Tech has been growing our capabilities in environmental science through our faculty hiring processes like the strategic faculty hiring initiative, our facility development efforts like the Great Lakes Research Center and in our equipment investments such as the cloud chamber in the Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences Institute,” said Dave Reed, vice president for research. “NSF’s report reflects the impact of those investments and the significant research role that Michigan Tech is playing both nationally and within Michigan.”

The NSF report covered fiscal year 2015.

Other research areas at Tech that ranked in the top 100 nationwide include:

Biomedical engineering, 96th
Chemical engineering, 98th
Civil engineering, 92nd
Electrical engineering, 55th
Mechanical engineering, 23rd
Materials science and engineering, 61st
Mathematical sciences, 75th
Business and management, 73rd
Humanities, 98th
Visual and performing arts, 85th

The NSF report showed that research expenditures at Michigan Tech totaled $69.6 million for fiscal year 2015.

Tech Talks, 2016

Published November 28, 2016

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Two minutes, two slides, 13 faculty—a research showcase at (not quite) warp speed.

The Michigan Tech Research Forum is a new University presentation series showcasing the work of Michigan Tech faculty, postdocs, and researchers.

Join us from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Thurs. Dec. 1 in MUB Ballroom B for the third Michigan Tech Research Forum of the semester and the second TechTalks session.

Thirteen researchers from across campus will present rapid-paced samplings of their work, both published and unpublished. Via warp speed talks, attendees get a quick taste of the cutting edge research and can follow up with one-on-one discussions that lead to collaborative ventures and strengthen our community.

Complimentary snacks and drinks will be provided.

Special note: On-site, low-cost childcare at the MUB is available during the TechTalks. Childcare will be available on-site for the Dec. 1 TechTalks. Pre-registration is required by Nov. 29 to ensure adequate caregivers. Complete the the registration form.

Three Humanities faculty are participating in TechTalk:

Andrew Fiss, Department of Humanities: “Learning from the Past: 19th Century Student Perspectives on Science Education”
Stefka Hristova, Department of Humanities: “Culture In-color”
Laura Kasson Fiss, Department of Humanities: “Clubs for the Unclubbable: Humor and Literary Sociability”

Michigan Tech Research Forum events are presented by the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs in coordination with the Office of the Vice President of Research.

Additional TechTalks sessions are coming up in Spring 2017. Interested in nominating yourself or others? Use this online form.