Posts under the ‘News’ category

Seven Mile Point

Students and faculty at Michigan Tech collaborated with the North Woods Conservancy on a project to help maintain a small piece of nature for future generations.

Senior Lecturer A. J. Hamlin joined this project because her Engineering Modeling and Design course bridges the needs of the NWC and the goals of Social Sciences Assistant Professor Emma Norman’s World Resources and Development course perfectly. “When Emma asked if my first-year students might be interested in building a compostable toilet, I thought it would make a great design project,” Hamlin said.

Read more at Michigan Tech News, by Kevin Hodur.

Mary Durfee in Malta

Associate Professor Mary Durfee (SS) gave an invited lecture to graduate students and faculty at the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomacy on May 16 at the University of Malta. The talk was on, “The Problem of US Power (and why the rise of China is good for America).”

From Tech Today.

PI Mark Rouleau and co-PIs Richelle Winkler and Audrey Mayer (SS) have been awarded a $79,985 research grant for “Self-Regulated Forest Sustainability: A Simulation and Sociological Analysis of Voluntary Incentive Programs” from the National Science Foundation.

From Tech Today.

Michigan Tech Employee Service Recognition Event

On May 15, faculty and staff members, along with their guests, gathered at the Memorial Union Ballroom for an awards dinner recognizing 25, 30, 35, and 40 years of service to Michigan Tech.

Professor Emeritus of History Terry Reynolds was recognized for 30 years of service.

Professor and Chair Patrick Martin was recognized for 35 years of service.

Read more at Tech Today.

Study: Art Strengthens Community Ties in Calumet

Art has long fostered human connection. Now a Michigan Technological University social sciences professor and her class are examining how art is working as a social glue in Calumet.

Students in Richelle Winkler’s Topics in Rural Community Sustainability class focused on the art scene in Calumet to better understand how the village’s First Fridays art tours benefit the community. On the first Friday of each month, Calumet’s participating art galleries and cafes extend their business hours late into the evening, offering refreshments, artist receptions, demonstrations, menu specials and more, depending on the season.

Read more at Michigan Tech News, by Karina Jousma.

Emma S. Norman (SS) recently published an article, “Who’s counting? Spatial politics, ecocolonisation and the politics of calculation in Boundary Bay,” in Area and has been made freely available for a year as part of a Virtual Issue on New geographical frontiers, the theme of this year’s conference (www.rgs.org/AC2013). You can see the Virtual Issue at: www.rgs.org/FrontiersVI.

From Tech Today.

Assistant Professor Pasi Lautala (CEE/MTTI), Assistant Professor Louise Nelson Dyble (SS/MTTI) and Joan Shumaker Chadde (CEE/MTTI), “CFIRE University Transportation Center-National,” University of Wisconsin-Madison.

From Tech Today.

Michigan Tech’s Peace Corps Program Ranked Number 1 in the Nation

Michigan Technological University ranks as the top Peace Corps Master’s International (PCMI) university nationwide for the eighth consecutive year. With 35 PCMI graduate students currently serving as Peace Corps Volunteers, Michigan Tech has earned the top spot in the 2013 rankings of PCMI and Paul D. Coverdell Fellows graduate schools.  Tulane University placed second.

“Students in our PCMI programs experience a truly interdisciplinary curriculum at Tech that prepares them to take a holistic and culturally-sensitive approach to solving real-world problems,” said Kari Henquinet, director of Michigan Tech’s PCMI programs. “They then are immersed in a new culture for two years and take on the challenges of language learning, building relationships and working together collaboratively with individuals and groups in their host countries.”

Read more at Michigan Tech News, by Jennifer Donovan.

Michigan Tech Peace Corps best in the nation

And for those thinking about joining the Peace Corps, they caution it’s the toughest job you’ll ever love.

“It’s a strong commitment. I mean, a lot of people don’t necessarily always make it through,” Brian Barbre explained. “It is difficult. There’s a lot of family separation, but for anyone who is thinking about Peace Corps, I would say, go get it!”

Read more and watch the video at Upper Michigans Source, by Sarah Blakely.

Michigan Technological University Remains Top Peace Corps Master’s International Graduate School Nationwide

“Every year, hundreds of Peace Corps Volunteers make a difference by combining meaningful service with graduate studies through Peace Corps’ Master’s International and Coverdell Fellows programs,” Peace Corps Deputy Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet said. “After completing Peace Corps service, volunteers return to the United States as global citizens, with leadership, cross-cultural understanding, and language and technical skills that position them for success in today’s global job market.”

Read more at Midwest Peace Corps Volunteers Making a Difference.

Michael Howlett and Adam Wellstead (SS) have written “Policy Work in Multi-Level States: Institutional Autonomy and Task Allocation among Canadian Policy Analysts” in the Canadian Journal of Political Science, Volume 45, Issue 04, December 2012, pp 757-780.

Emma S. Norman (SS) has been accepted as a writing fellow to the Helen R. Whiteley Center at Friday Harbor Labs (Washington State) for July-August 2013. She will be working on her book project, “Whose Border, Whose Water? Postcolonial Governance of (Trans)boundary Waters–First Peoples, Canada, and the United States” (Routledge Press, Earthscan Series). http://depts.washington.edu/fhl/Whiteley/

From Tech Today.