Outreach and Alumni Archives | Page 5 of 9

MESTA to Award Salotti Earth Science Education Award

Published December 9, 2014

News

Since 1999, the A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum has recognized individuals for excellence in earth science education with the Charles A. Salotti Earth Science Education Award. Now the mineral museum has a new partner in selecting the awardee: the Michigan Earth Science Teachers Association (MESTA).

“I am delighted that MESTA has agreed to partner with the museum to advance informal earth science education,” said John Jaszczak, museum adjunct curator and professor of physics, who has played a key role in the Salotti Award since its inception. “My own path to becoming a scientist started with informal mentoring in the mineral collecting hobby.”

Naturally Graphite Supplies Samples for Study

Published December 4, 2014

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Graphite on Tape — K-12 students prepare graphene using graphite and scotch tape.

Naturally Graphite^TM is a local business that started as a project of Nanotech Innovations Enterprise, a former Enterprise program at Michigan Tech operated by undergraduate students. The business, advised by Professor of Physics Dr. John Jaszczak, supplies high quality natural graphite crystals and substrates for research, industry, and education. Jaszczak also serves as adjunct curator at the A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum.

Naturally Graphite was recently credited with supplying graphite crystals to a research group at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec in Canada. The research, published in Physical Review Letters, involved the use of high-speed electron diffraction techniques to study electron-phonon coupling in graphite.

High quality graphite crystals from Naturally Graphite are also routinely sought by laboratories around the world for the production and study of graphene. As a single layer of carbon atoms in graphite, graphene often generates much interest in carbon-based nanotechnologies. Graphene exhibits unique and amazing mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties. It is strong, highly conductive, transparent, elastic, and impermeable.

Naturally Graphite also donated graphite crystals to K-12 for an outreach event, Family Math Night based in Rocklin, California. The event involved simple experiments with graphite, including an activity for cleaving the graphite into layers using scotch tape. This was the original experiment by Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov from the University of Manchester that led to the discovery of graphene and a Nobel Prize in 2010.

Learn more about the graphene sheet lesson plan in the 22-minute video Family Math Night Collaborative Project: Graphene Sheet by Elementary Mathematics Specialist Karyn Hodgens,. The description of the experiments begins at about 16:20.

Mineralogical Miracles at Merelani, Tanzania

Published December 1, 2014

By

John A. Jaszczak
Department of Physics and the A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum Michigan Technological University

December 5, 2014, 3:00pm Chemical Science Building, Room 101

Abstract:

The Lelatema Mountains in northern Tanzania are host to one of the world’s richest flake graphite deposits, but it is the purple-blue gem variety of zoisite called “tanzanite” that has brought renown to the region since the 1960s.

50 Years of Fisher Hall

Published November 26, 2014

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History
News

Fisher Hall has reached a milestone this fall: the big 5-0.

Anyone attending Tech within the last fifty years knows this campus landmark, which has been many things for many people—home for mathematics and physics majors, headquarters for gen ed courses, terror for first-years in chemistry, budget entertainment, and even a venue for true love (more on that later). Fisher has a character all its own—an identity that is as much tied to the Huskies who walked its halls as it is seated in the building’s physical attributes.

Fisher Hall is dedicated on October 7, 1964, replacing Hubbell Hall as the new home for the mathematics and physics department and engineering graphics. Much fanfare follows.

Campus Campaign Spotlight on Gowtham

Published November 24, 2014

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News

Michigan Tech faculty and staff provide meaningful support for numerous University departments, programs and initiatives each year through the annual Campus Campaign.

Gowtham S., director of research computing and adjunct assistant professor in Physics/ECE, shares why he chooses to participate in the Campus Campaign.

“I contribute to the Campus Campaign because I want Michigan Tech to be in existence long after I am gone. I want it to continue to be a place where people get their education and create their careers, and in turn make contributions to the society that we live in. Also, I want my Michigan Tech degree—and everyone else’s—to have value. For that to happen, the University needs to stay here, and stay strong.”

Editor’s Note: Periodically throughout the year, Tech Today will shine a spotlight on a Michigan Tech employee who gives to the Campus Campaign.

From Tech Today.

New Funding for Pandey and Nemiroff

Published September 25, 2014

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News

Ravi Pandey (Phys) has received $75,000 (with a potential award total of $726,291) from the US Department of Defense-Army Research Laboratory for the first year of a potential three-year research and development project titled “First Principles Studies of Structure-Property Relationships in Two-dimensional Nanomaterials Beyond Graphene for Defense Applications.”

Robert Nemiroff (Phys) has received $30,000 of $238,362 from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for the first year of a three-year project titled “Supporting Astronomy Picture of the Day.”

See the Supermoon From Campus Tonight

Published September 8, 2014

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News

The Department of Physics invites you to view the supermoon tonight from 9 to 10 p.m. through the telescopes near Fisher Hall. The viewing will take place as long as the sky is clear and conditions allow for moon gazing.

From Tech Today.

Professor Daavettila and the Nuke Program

Published May 7, 2014

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History
News

Physics Faculty Emeritus Don Daavettila fondly recalls the days of the nuclear engineering master’s program at Michigan Tech. And the fact that nuclear power seems to be coming back in vogue after nearly fifty years doesn’t surprise him.

“Nuclear is the way to go,” says the former chemistry and physics professor. “It’s a solid 20 percent of where we get our power today.”

Professor Daavettila

Physics alumni Kim Bylund (Warner), Ken Kok, and Marty Vonk share experiences with Professor Daavettila in From the Email Bag.

Perry Martin and California Chrome

Published May 5, 2014

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News

Perry and Denise Martin, along with Steve and Carolyn Coburn, are co-owners of Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome. Perry Martin earned a degree in applied physics from Michigan Tech in 1978. Perry is President of Materials Technology Labs in McClellan, California.

Extra points: Kentucky Derby winner (partially) made in Michigan

His name may be California Chrome, but you can trace the Kentucky Derby-winning horse owner’s roots to Michigan.

Perry Martin, one of the co-owners, graduated from Michigan Tech in 1978. Catherine, his 83-year-old mother, is from Iron Mountain but now lives in Dickinson County.

Teresa Wilson on Dark Skies

Published April 24, 2014

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News

It’s International Dark Sky Week: Take Back the Night

The Lyrid meteor shower peaked earlier this week, and here in the Upper Peninsula it would not have been difficult to see from pretty much anywhere. For the best view, one might drive out of town a little ways, maybe to the Breakers or McLain parks, but a short drive is all it takes.

The International Dark Sky Association tries to raise awareness to these affects and more. Information can be found at the IDSA website.

Category: Outreach and Alumni