Month: March 2015

Spring Break Science and Engineering Camps

Spring Break CampSpring Break Science & Engineering Camps for Grade 1-3, Grade 4-6 offered Mar. 31, April 1-2

Classes meet 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Great Lake’s Research Center.

Cost: $120 per student. Up to 20 students per class. Register soon!

Register Online: Spring Break Science Camp Registration or http://www.wupcenter.mtu.edu

Pay by credit card: call the cashier 7-2247 (Your space is not reserved until payment has been received.)

Questions? Call: 7-3341

Grade 1-3 Engineering in Our World!

Learning about the engineering design process, each day of camp will present a different challenge to solve: designing bridges, improving play dough and designing walls. Following the Engineering is Elementary curricula for grades 1-3, campers will explore chemical engineering, materials engineering and civil engineering with visits from real engineers to the class.

Instructors: Marcy Erickson, Michelle Miller and Lloyd Wescoat

Grade 4-6 A Taste of Tech!

Kids will explore a variety of labs and do some cool engineering activities along the way!

  • Watch worms at home in the soil with a visit to the Rhizotron
  • Take a hike on Tech Trails
  • Bend water and make silly putty at the chemistry lab
  • Try out a real driving simulator with mechanical engineers
  • Smash concrete and test a Maglev track with civil engineers
  • Have fun with trains with transportation engineers.
  • And enjoy a free lunch at Michigan Tech (MUB) on Thursday, compliments of the Michigan Tech Transportation Institute

Instructors: Joan Chadde, Chris Hohnholt, along with Michigan Tech faculty and students.

Learn more at the Western UP Center for Science, Mathematics and Environmental Education.

Spring break science
Camp offers hands-on learning

“We like to have these camps because it’s an opportunity for these kids to learn about science and engineering in a hands-on way,” said Joan Chadde, director of the Center for Science and Environmental Outreach, which co-sponsored the event along with the Western Upper Peninsula Math and Science Center and the Great Lakes Research Center. “They’ve got available time, being out of the classroom, and it’s challenging for teachers to do a lot of hands-on projects.”

Read more at the Mining Gazette, by Garrett Neese (subscription required).

Undergraduate Research Expo 2015

Undergraduate Research Expo at the Rosza Lobby

by Michigan Tech Honors Institute

The Undergraduate Research Expo was held Friday, March 20, 2015, from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Rozsa Lobby. Thirty undergraduates from twelve different departments and schools were represented this year. Their presentations and posters were evaluated by Tech faculty and staff, and everyone was invited to attend. The posters were displayed in the lobby until noon on Saturday, to coincide with Preview Day.

The Undergraduate Research Expo is sponsored by the Vice President of Research Office, and prizes are sponsored by the Provost’s Office.

From Tech Today.

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Brittany Nelson, The Definition of Death Scare

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Faryn Yovich, Comparing the Relationship Between Children’s Mental Focus and Creativity

Peace Corps Information Session Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Peace Corps Information Session
Tue, March 24, 5pm – 6pm
MUB Alumni Lounge B

Peace Corps Information Session March 24 by Kari Henquinet, director, Michigan Tech PCMI Program Peace Corps volunteers are making a difference all over the world in education, health and the environment. Stop by this information session to learn more about the benefits of service and how you can live, work and learn overseas. For more information, contact Brett Heimann at 312-353-8680 or bheimann@peacecorps.gov.

Michigan Tech Hosts Tivitz Tournament Wednesday, March 18, 2015

TivitzMichigan Tech’s Center for Pre-College Outreach (CPCO) will be hosting the 10th annual Tivitz Tournament today from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the SDC Wood Gym. Seven schools from the western Upper Peninsula will be sending about 150 students from grades 4 through 7.

Tivitz is a board game that combines the logic and strategy of checkers/chess with arithmetic problem-solving. Students move their play pieces (tivits) across the game board, one at a time, until they reach goal spaces. Once they reach the other side of the board, they must solve the indicated math problem correctly to score the most points. Pairs of students will play one practice and three scored rounds in a friendly competition to wind up among the highest-scoring in their grade.

Between rounds of Tivitz play, students and staff of Michigan Tech will lead several hands-on activities that demonstrate mathematical concepts.

“Our goal is to show interesting demos that involve math to compliment Tivitz game play,” says Liz Fujita, coordinator at CPCO. “There is a lot of math in everyday life, and a lot of little oddities that are fun to consider.”

The Tivitz Tournament is made possible by the CPCO in partnership with the Department of Mathematical Sciences and the Western UP Center for Science, Mathematics and Environmental Education.

From Tech Today.

Natural Hazards and Human Impacts Summer 2015 Course

Natural Hazards
Natural Hazards and Human Impacts

Natural Hazards and Human Impacts
August 3 – 14, 2015
SS 5150
3 credits

Register Online at Michigan Tech

This course emphasizes the impact of Earth system processes on societies, and human impacts on local, regional, and global Earth processes. The course will emphasize the integration of field-based activities as a means to insure deep student learning.

Learn more at Teacher Professional Development – Current Institutes.

For more information, contact Certification Officer Judy A Hilss.

Environmental Justice Day March 19, 2015

EnvironmentalJusticeDay2015Environmental Justice Day Speakers and Reception
Please come join Wilma Subra and Jessica Koski (third speaker TBA) for Michigan Tech’s first ever Environmental Justice Day!

The main event will be held March 19th, 4:30-6:45 pm in the MUB Ballroom B. There will also be a reception in the GLRC on March 18th at 5:30 pm, and Wilma will also be available earlier in the day for other meet and greets.

At the panel, we will be discussing what environmental justice is, how that impacts career decisions, and ethics in science.

This event is supported by the Parent’s Fund of the Michigan Tech Fund, Students for Environmental Sustainability, the Center for Science & Environmental Outreach and the Biology Department.

For more information contact Nicolette Slagle at nmslagle@mtu.edu

Read more at Student Organizations News Briefs.

Two Articles in Press for Jeon

Applied ErgonomicsAssistant Prof. Myounghoon “Philart” Jeon (CLS/CS) has two new journal articles in press, “The effects of social interactions with in-vehicle agents on a driver’s angry level, driving performance, situation awareness, and perceived workload” in Applied Ergonomics and “Auditory user interface design: Practical evaluation methods and design process case studies” in The International Journal of Design in Society.

From Tech Today.

Western UP Science Fair 2015 Grades 4-8

Science Fair
Science Fair

Monday, March 23, 2015

Michigan Tech Memorial Union Ballroom
5-6pm Science Fair open to the public
6-8:30pm- Judging of projects.
4:30-7:30pm – Science festival in MUB Common

The 15th Annual Western UP Science Fair and STEM Festival is for students in grades 4-8 from all schools in the 5 western counties of the UP. About 400 students (and their families) will attend. We will hold the Science & Engineering Festival in the Commons Area of the MUB, to give the young scientists a fun time while they are waiting to be judged. The Festival will have more than 20 different stations set up by student organizations, departments, and agencies.