Day: February 18, 2020

Alec Fisher Scholarship

The Alec Fisher Scholarship Fund was established to honor the memory of Alec Fisher, a Michigan Technological University student who had majored in both Environmental Engineering and Management Information Systems, while also minoring in Psychology. In what his family shared as “classic Alec style”, he hadn’t yet told his parents Gregg and Sharon of the switch in his major field of study. Alec’s brother Tony and girlfriend Carolyn shared the information while memorial services were being arranged. Known for being “strong-willed and independent” he also demonstrated great care and love for his family in addition to “the environment and anything in it.” An advocate for the environment and animals, Alec encouraged recycling and reuse; volunteered at the Copper Country Humane Society; and worked with the Animal Care Facility at Michigan Tech. With his girlfriend Carolyn Parker of five years, he adopted Echo, a rescue dog. Alec also had an artistic side, and while working at the Portage Lake Golf Course would take photographs of sunrises and foggy landscapes. He enjoyed the outdoors, and could often be found playing disc golf, spending time on the water, and walking dogs through his volunteer work with the Humane Society.

Alec was raised in Portage Township and was a graduate of the Hancock High School with the class of 2016, where he was a member of the HCH district champion Cross Country Team.  Alec was a member of St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church of Houghton and Blue Key National Honor Society at Michigan Tech.

Scholarship Requirements

  • Must be a current student, Junior status or above
  • Must be enrolled in Environmental Engineering or MIS
  • GPA of 3.2 or better
  • Preference is given to individuals from the Upper Peninsula
  • Financial need is strongly considered

https://www.keweenawcommunityfoundation.org/alec-fisher-scholarship

Event: The Future of Food

Food impacts major problems facing humanity—health, sustainability, global warming, poverty and inequality. Learn how the chemistry community can work to address these challenges through food science in this interactive online video event hosted by the American Chemical Society.

The event will be a live interactive video webcast with featuring presentations and Q&A with experts in food chemistry. There will be a discussion of the chemistry behind new plant-based alternatives to animal meat and how these innovations could help address the major challenges facing humanity.

Internship Opportunity

BNI Coal is now accepting applications for the following position in Center, North Dakota: Civil/Mining Engineering Intern.

Learning Opportunities:
This is a great opportunity to obtain experience in mine engineering and learn how engineers support the daily operations, design civil support structures and develop the long and short range mine plan.  This internship will gain experience in surveying using GPS and drones, drilling and blasting operations, mine production tracking of draglines and truck shovel fleets.  The candidate will provide field engineering support for the reclamation crews and develop drawings to be submitted to state regulators demonstrating compliance with BNI’s mining permit.   

Responsibilities:

  • BNI is searching for an energetic individual with a desire and a capacity to learn about the technologies and processes involved in the operation of a surface coal mine.  The successful candidate will assist the mine’s engineers and surveyors in the day to day support of mining operations.  Dependent on projects and need to support mining operations, responsibilities may include:
    • Surveying related activities using drones and GPS equipment
    • Field and design support for projects relating to mine development such as roads, ponds, diversions and other reclamation activities
    • Field verification of production
    • Assisting engineers and surveyors with daily job duties

Minimum Requirements:

  • Currently enrolled as a sophomore or higher in an undergraduate, accredited engineering program with a GPA of 3.0 or greater
  • Demonstrate safe work behaviors around all mine operations
  • Eligible to work in the United States, possess a valid driver’s license
  • Pass a background check and drug screen
  • Strong work ethic and time management skills

Application close date is March 13th, 2020.

https://chp.tbe.taleo.net/chp04/ats/careers/v2/viewRequisition?org=ALLETE&cws=43&rid=3902

New Horizons in Conservation Conference

The conference is an annual gathering of students and early career professionals who are from historically underrepresented backgrounds in the environmental field and/or committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the field.  It gives the opportunity to network, engage in hands-on workshops, and hear from leaders and visionaries in the environmental field. You can view a highlight video of last year’s conference here.

This year New Horizons is taking place in Ann Arbor, Michigan from April 1st to April 3rd. The conference agenda is available here. The opening plenary highlights Environment, Equity, Justice, and Community Engagement in Southeast Michigan.

Speakers at the conference include Beverly Wright, Peggy Shepard, Vernice Miller-Travis, David Pellow, Rachel Morello-Frosch, Annie Leonard, Gerald Torres, Deeohn Ferris, Gregory Jenkins, Kyle Whyte, Kim Moore Bailey, Malik Yakini, Donele Wilkins, Mona Munroe-Younis, Nayyirah Shariff, and more!

Information about registration, field trips, sponsorship, travel, and lodging is all located on the website. Registration is available here.

Free registration to the first 100 students who register. Use code NHC2020 at registration.

Feel free to reach out with questions at newhorizons-seas@umich.edu.

Great Lakes Water Levels Lecture

Lauren Fry and Chris Warren of the Detroit District Office of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (and both CEE alumni) will be presenting a lecture on Great Lakes Water Levels at the Carnegie Museum in Houghton on Tuesday evening. They will also describe how the Corps forecasts lake levels.

The lecture is free and open to the public. The socializing starts at 6:30 pm, and the lecture starts at 7 pm, ends at 8 pm.