Tech Student Brings Solar Power to Chinese Village

Yawei Wei inspects the solar panels he and his family installed on his cousin's roof in the rural Chinese community of Zao Yuan.
Every Chinese New Year, the power goes out for everyone in Yawei Wei’s hometown. That got him wondering: isn’t there some way to get more electricity to China’s rural villages?

Wei, whose specialty is power engineering, realized he might not be able to keep the lights on during the surge in power demand over New Year’s Eve. But he could do something. He could bring solar panels to sunny Zao Yuan. Specifically, he could bring them to his cousin’s roof.

Read the full story.

Published in Tech Today by Marcia Goodrich, magazine editor

Forum on University Finances and Budget Process

The University Senate, Staff Council, Graduate Student Government, and Undergraduate Student Government is hosting a forum on “University Finances and Budget Preparation/Planning Process” on Friday, Jan. 31 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Dow 642.

David Reed, VP for research, will give a short presentation on:
1) The current University financial situation at the mid-point of FY14
2) Where we are in the FY15 budget preparation/planning process

Questions, comments and input are encouraged from faculty, staff and students either in person or passed along in writing.  Anyone wishing to send questions or comments can email them to:  Wendy Davis wmdavis@mtu.edu or to Brian Barkdoll barkdoll@mtu.edu.

All faculty, staff and students are encouraged to attend this informative session.  The forum will be recorded and available for viewing on the Senate website sometime after the event for those who are unable to attend in person.

Published in Tech Today

GSG Lunch-n-Learn: How to be a Great Graduate Student

GSG’s first Lunch ‘n’ Learn of 2014 will be held January 27th from  12-1pm in MUB Ballroom A. This lunch-n-learn will focus on how to be a great graduate student and what you can do to get the most out of your graduate education at Michigan Tech. Presenters will include professors from five departments across Michigan Tech. This is a great opportunity for first and second year graduate students to gain valuable insight into what matters most in the graduate education process. The format of this Lunch-n-Learn will be a panel discussion; an open discussion where you can ask your own questions.

RSVP is NOT required.

Where: MUB Ballroom A

When: Monday, January 27th

Time : 12:00PM -1:00PM

A light MUB catered lunch will be provided for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians.

Library presenting a series of EndNote workshops

The J. Robert Van Pelt and John and Ruanne Opie Library presents a series of EndNote workshops.

EndNote is citation management software which allows anyone to easily collect, organize, and use their research references.  Learn how EndNote can save you hours of time in your library research and document preparation process.

Seating for these workshops is limited and registration is required.  To register please visit: our EndNote LibGuide

Seminar: Submitting your Dissertation, Thesis, or Report

Students planning on finishing a dissertation, thesis, or report in spring 2014 or summer 2014 are invited a seminar designed to help students understand the submission process and answer questions about it. Faculty and staff who assist students with submissions are also welcome to attend.

  • When: January 23, 2014 at 4:05 – 4:55 pm
  • Who: Students defending in the spring or summer; faculty and staff who assist students with submission
  • Where: Please register online for the event and receive the location. The seminar will be available online as well as on campus.

Once you register, you will receive a confirmation with the location and a reminder of the date and time, or information on how to join us online.

If you are unable to join us, this seminar will be taped and available online after the event.

Information on submitting, formatting, and more can be found online for dissertations and theses or reports.

IIASA’s Young Scientists Summer Program (YSSP) opportunity

Each summer, the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), located in Schloss Laxenburg near Vienna, Austria, hosts a selected group of graduate students, primarily doctoral, from around the world in its Young Scientists Summer Program (YSSP).  These students work closely with IIASA’s senior scientists on projects related both to their thesis research and one or more IIASA research programs.

Application deadline is January 13, apply online.

For students selected to participate, funding is available for travel and living support, principally from IIASA’s twenty-one National Member Organizations (NMOs), who fund primarily students from NMO countries.  However, applicants from all nations are eligible to apply, and some unrestricted fellowships  are available.

IIASA is an international, nongovernmental research institution located just outside Vienna, Austria, supported by its twenty-one National Member Organizations.  IIASA is known for its interdisciplinary research, combining natural and social sciences with integrated assessment techniques and advanced mathematical methodologies, with a goal of providing policy insight on issues of regional and global importance in the following fields:

GLOBAL PROBLEM AREAS

  • Energy and Climate Change
  • Food and Water
  • Poverty and Equity

PROGRAM AREAS

  • Energy
  • Transitions to New Technologies
  • Advanced Systems Analysis
  • Ecosystem Services and Management
  • Mitigation of Air Pollution and Greenhouse Gases
  • Evolution and Ecology
  • World Population
  • Risk Policy and Vulnerability
  • Water

Michigan Tech Online Programs Rise in US News Rankings

Michigan Tech’s online graduate programs in business and engineering rank in the top 40 of such programs nationwide. Best online rankings released today by US News and World Report rated Michigan Tech’s online graduate engineering program 35th of 74 programs and Tech’s online MBA program placed 36th of 239 programs.

“This is very good news for Michigan Tech,” said Jacqueline Huntoon, dean of Michigan Tech’s Graduate School. “Given our remote location, our efforts to provide graduate education online allows us to reach a larger number of students than we can otherwise.

“We at Michigan Tech know that we have high-quality offerings, and it is great to see that we are beginning to receive the recognition we deserve,” Huntoon went on to say. “Of course, the faculty members involved in teaching the courses and advising the students are the ones who deserve the most credit for these achievements.”

Office of International Climate Change Policy and Technology Fellowship

The Office of International Climate Change Policy and Technology within the Office of International Affairs (IA) is now accepting applications for talented, committed fellows to support efforts related to the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM), which is a high-level forum to promote policies and programs that advance clean energy technology, to share lessons learned and best practices, and to encourage the transition to a global clean energy economy.

Application deadline:  Wednesday January 15, 2014

Eligibility:

  • Applicants must have received an undergraduate (BS/BA) or graduate (MS/MA or PhD) degree from an accredited institution within the past five years.
  • Must be a U.S. citizen to apply.
  • Must be available for full-time commitment for one-year appointment in Washington, D.C., starting in February/March 2014; appointments may be renewed for a second year.

Stipends range from $60,000 to $90,000 depending on academic level, skills, and experience.  Additional allowances for medical insurance or transportation may be provided.

Participating governments include Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, the European Commission, Finland, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Norway, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.  The Fellowship position would involve frequent interactions with international counterparts and some international travel.

More information can be found at www.cleanenergyministerial.org.