Outreach Archives

David Nitz Honored by Argentina Community for Contributions to Education, Commitment to Students

Published January 13, 2026

Professor Emeritus David Nitz was recently honored for his efforts to build bridges for Michigan Tech students from Malargüe, Argentina.

Malargüe is home of the Pierre Auger Observatory, the world’s largest cosmic ray detector, covering an area of 3,000 square kilometers. It is operated by a collaboration of more than 400 scientists from 17 countries with the aim of studying the highest energy particles of the universe — ultra-high energy cosmic rays.

On Jan. 6, the Municipality of Malargüe held a recognition breakfast in Nitz’s honor, highlighting his long-standing contribution to education and his commitment to supporting Malargüe students who attended Tech.

During the event, local authorities presented Nitz with Ordinance No. 2,362/2025 from Malargüe’s city council, which officially designated a public street as “David F. Nitz Street.” The tribute, covered by local newspaper Ser y Hacer de Malargüe, reflects the deep appreciation of the community for a professional career that not only advanced scientific knowledge but also created lasting educational opportunities for students.

The event also emphasized the human dimension of Nitz’s work. Together with his wife, he played a key role in accompanying Malargüe students during their academic experience in Houghton. For many, adapting to a new country, language and academic culture was a significant challenge. In this context, the guidance and personal support provided by Nitz and his family became essential. Over the years, his home served as a place of orientation, reassurance and emotional support for students far from their families, helping ensure not only their academic success but also their personal well-being.

Nitz’s sustained commitment helped strengthen the Malargüe Scholarship Program, which since 2001 has enabled several students to access high-quality education abroad, expanding their academic and professional horizons. In many cases, the emotional and practical support provided to participants by mentors like Nitz was crucial to sustaining their educational journey.

Malargüe’s recognition of Nitz symbolizes more than personal achievement. It highlights the importance of cooperation, mentorship and educational opportunity as drivers of local development. By naming a street after him, Malargüe honors a man who helped open doors for young talent and reinforced the idea that investing in education creates lasting benefits for individuals and communities alike.

Find David F. Nitz Street on Google Maps here.

About the Physics Department

Physicists at Michigan Technological University help students apply academic concepts to real-world issues. Our physicists take on the big questions to discover how the universe works—from the smallest particles to the largest galaxies. The Physics Department offers three undergraduate degrees and three graduate degrees. Supercharge your physics skills to meet the demands of a technology-driven society at a flagship public research university powered by science, technology, engineering, and math. Graduate with the theoretical knowledge and practical experience needed to solve real-world problems and succeed in academia, research, and tomorrow’s high-tech business landscape.

Questions? Contact us at physics@mtu.edu. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube for the latest happenings. Or read more at the Physics Newsblog.

Fathima Farheen Elected Secretary of APS FGSA Executive Committee

Published August 7, 2025

By Nathanael Black

Graduate

Fathima Farheen Nambipunnilath Siddique has been elected as secretary of the American Physical Society’s Forum on Graduate Student Affairs (APS FGSA) Executive Committee.

Fathima, a Ph.D. candidate in Atmospheric Sciences, was nominated by the FGSA Nominating Committee and subsequently elected by its members to serve in this important position. FGSA works to increase graduate student involvement in the APS, provides valuable support services, advocates for graduate student needs, and encourages active participation in professional activities and decision-making within the physics community.

Originally from India, Fathima earned her bachelor’s degree in physics from Christ College and her master’s degree in physics from the National Institute of Technology, Calicut, India. She joined Michigan Tech in spring 2022 as a Ph.D. student under the guidance of Kartik Iyer. Her research explores the complex world of turbulent flows, with a focus on uncovering their topological and geometrical aspects, which could help advance our understanding of their underlying dynamics.

Fathima has been actively involved in leadership roles throughout her time at Michigan Tech. In addition to this exciting new position, she currently serves as president of Michigan Tech’s Women in Physics (WiP) student organization and previously held the role of secretary. She has led impactful initiatives to build community, strengthen student involvement and create a supportive scientific environment through WiP. WiP is open to all undergraduate and graduate students, regardless of major. They work to support the campus community through a variety of workshops, mentorship opportunities, outreach efforts and community-building activities that help students thrive academically and professionally.

Fathima’s election to this national leadership position is a proud moment for the physics department and highlights her dedication, energy and commitment to advocating for graduate students in physics. Congratulations, Fathima!

About the Physics Department

Physicists at Michigan Technological University help students apply academic concepts to real-world issues. Our physicists take on the big questions to discover how the universe works—from the smallest particles to the largest galaxies. The Physics Department offers three undergraduate degrees and three graduate degrees. Supercharge your physics skills to meet the demands of a technology-driven society at a flagship public research university powered by science, technology, engineering, and math. Graduate with the theoretical knowledge and practical experience needed to solve real-world problems and succeed in academia, research, and tomorrow’s high-tech business landscape.

Questions? Contact us at physics@mtu.edu. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube for the latest happenings. Or read more at the Physics Newsblog.

Physics Seniors’ Swiss Journey

Published June 15, 2025

By Nathanael Black

Students pose at entry to CERN — L-R: Josh Rolfe, Estyn LaMotte, Rita Wilson, Grant Schlaff, Daniel Barr, Josiah Jahncke, Rose Harvey, Lucas Hetrick, Nico Cifani, Cooper Chiarino

Ten senior undergraduates spent the beginning of May in Switzerland exploring scientific and cultural sites. Notably, the trip focused on a tour of the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). CERN houses the largest high energy particle collider in the world, and performs cutting edge particle physics research. In fact, some of the students were so taken by the tour they returned to take it twice!

Students at a playground with mountain peaks in background — A classic static friction problem in the Alps.

Their trip continued in Interlaken, where they engaged in outdoor activities in the Swiss Alps. They visited Albert
Einstein’s former residence in Bern, and had a day excursion to Lyon, France.

With the help of the Henes Center for Quantum Phenomena, we’re proud to provide our students the opportunity to find their place in the global community of physics.

Women in Physics Outreach

Published May 19, 2022

By Nathanael Black

News

Pictured left to right, back to front:
Tong Gao, Elise Rosky, Oindabi Mukherjee, Sushree Dash, Rita Wilson, James Turkovich, Shreya Joshi, Gabriel Ahrendt, Miraj Kayastha

Polarization of light has more applications than just sunglasses, as Sushree and the students discuss.

Pull Elise! Pull!
Elise and Miraj test the limits of static friction.

Sushree and a student discuss magnetism.

Optics principles like refraction and diffraction can be seen using everyday materials.

Michigan Tech Women in Physics is reaching out to the next generation of scientists, and inspiring more women to pursue physics as a career!

Women in Physics recently organized activities for Daniel Kelpela’s junior and senior physics classes at Gwinn High School. Along with presentations on their research, they provided hands-on activities teaching physics principles – from friction and angular momentum to optics and magnetism.

Nearly 100 students were able to hear what it’s really like to do research on a broad range of topics, including geophysics, atmospheric science, astrophysics, and materials science. They also had opportunities to ask questions about pursuing science themselves after high school. We hope to see some of them again soon at Michigan Tech!

Physics undergrads Rita and James helped organize demos that were tailored to the present studies of the high school students. The students enjoyed the hands-on experience from these demos.

Oindabi Mukherjee discussed the search for dark matter in the cosmos and presented a video from the Astronomy Picture of the Day. Tong Gao got the students excited about the prospect of solving the danger of exploding Li-ion batteries- and maybe winning a Nobel Prize in the process! Elise Rosky showed that science can be an adventure, telling about her research trip to Colorado to take data on a flying laboratory while studying ice nucleation in the atmosphere.

Women in Physics plan to continue visiting high school students in the future, to inspire young scientists and be role models for budding female science enthusiasts.

Some of our favorite reviews:
– It was really fun and awesome!
– It was awesome, not only did we get to see people’s passion, but also watch them and see how much they enjoy their careers. Thanks for the chance to experience this.
– Very swell.

Students get hands-on experience with angular momentum – and dizziness!

A presentation on atmospheric aerosols by Shreya Joshi.

A Metacognitive Moment

Published October 21, 2016

By Heather Powers

We’re beyond the halfway point in most classes, and it may be a good time to take just a (metacognitive) moment to review progress and map the road ahead.

In my physics class, I ask students each day as part of their class preparation to attempt an explanation of a real or simulated physics result. The question is based on material to which they’ve just had their first exposure, by reading or video lecture. It’s challenging, and initially not well liked. But it’s definitely something at which students improve with practice. They become not only more willing to “guess,” but they begin to support their answers with evidence, independent research and/or mathematical analysis far more often.

When I recently told my students that I had begun seeing that progress, a number of them spontaneously reflected and then shared agreement that this was getting more comfortable. It’s easy to lose track, in mid-semester, of how far you’ve come already. And it can be highly motivating to students when they see progress. In a similar way, looking backward momentarily can sometimes help put what remains in perspective.

As a physics student, when I first learned about rotational motion, I missed the idea that every rotational quantity had a linear analog. I struggled mightily as I tried to learn rotational kinematics in about a week, and the pace seemed completely unreasonable to me given that we’d spent about seven weeks learning the same concepts for linear motion.

This week, as I teach the same material, I explicitly connect each new rotational quantity back to the linear one. This seems to help students not only absorb the new material but reinforces the old and makes the pace more reasonable. A look backward could be an open-ended reflection on progress, or an explicit challenge to make comparisons to, connections with, or predictions about what’s coming. It could be done as a formal assignment, an in-class exercise, as a “minute paper” reflection near the end of a class or through a Canvas survey or quiz.

If you’re looking for other instructional strategies (and don’t want to wait for next week), stop into or contact the Jackson Center for Teaching and Learning.

by Mike Meyer, CTL Director

Suits Performs New Chamber Music

Published August 7, 2015

News

Two Faculty Members to Perform in Concert

New Chamber Music at the Calumet Art Center

The Calumet Art Center hosts the fifth year of New Chamber Music at 7:30 p.m. tonight featuring two Michigan Tech faculty. Composer and violinist Paul Seitz, assisted by soprano Christine Seitz, composer and violinist Sylvia del Real, violinist/violist Erica Flyte, cellist Pat Quimby (MSE), pianist Jon Ensminger and flautist Bryan Suits (Physics) will perform recently-composed works by participating composers as well as earlier compositions by Bela Bartok, George Gershwin and Henry Purcell that have features in common with the new works. There is an $8.00 suggested donation.
The Calumet Art Center is located on 57055 Fifth Street in Calumet. Call 906-934-2228 or visit CalumetArtCenter.com for more information.

From Tech Today, by Calumet Arts Center.

Nerds Come Out At Night

Published August 6, 2015

News

The Keweenaw Science and Engineering Festival (KSEF) is a four day event that brings learning and fun together for the whole family.

During Nerd Night, teenagers gathered at the Continental Fire Company in Houghton for hands-on activities hosted by Michigan Tech’s Physics Department.

MTU Laboratory Systems Associate Scott Rutterbush says that learning about science now will give these students a leg up in the future.

The Keweenaw Report is sharing a video on Facebook which includes an interview with lab associate Scott Rutterbush.

The KSEF Facebook page is sharing another Nerd Night video.

Kids have fun, also learn at Nerd Night

HOUGHTON – From static electricity to inertia, area fifth- through 12th-graders got to see scientific principles brought to life through demonstrations at Nerd Night Wednesday.

Nerds are the new cool kids in the U.P.

Laboratory Systems Associate in MTU’s Physics Department Scott Rutterbush said, “The more we can expose these kids to that, the more base level of understanding they’ll have and the more we, at places like Michigan Tech, can do with them when they come into our program. It’s making them better engineers, making them better scientists.”

2015 Astronomy Research and Education Award for Nemiroff

Published July 13, 2015

Awards
News

The Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP), one of the most innovative and respected astronomy science education organizations in the U.S., is proud to announce the recipients of its 2015 awards for excellence in astronomy research and education.

The awards will be formally presented at an ASP Awards Ceremony and Banquet on October 10, 2015 at Chabot Space and Science Center in Oakland, CA as part of ASP’s Annual Meeting and Public Festival (Universe 2015).

The Klumpke-Roberts Award for outstanding contributions to public understanding and appreciation of astronomy is awarded to Dr. Robert Nemiroff (left) and Dr. Jerry Bonnell (right) for their work on the Astronomy Picture of the Day. Dr. Robert Nemiroff is a Professor in the Physics department at Michigan Technological University. He is an active researcher, teaches undergraduate and graduate physics courses, and supervises graduate students. Dr. Jerry Bonnell is a research scientist with the University of Maryland Astronomy Department on contract to the Astrophysics Science Division at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. They are the co-creators and co-editors of Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD). Since 1995, they have selected and explained one image of our universe every day. Their explanations include links to additional information, deepening the educational value of the site. Each day’s image and explanation are archived, forming what is one of the largest annotated archives of diverse astronomy images on the web. APOD’s home site is hosted by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and currently gets an average of 1 million hits per day. Its three major social media sites collectively have over 2 million followers. APOD is translated into 21 languages, including Arabic, Russian, Spanish, Indonesian, and Chinese, and has mirror sites in at least 23 countries.

Nerd Night at KSEF

Published May 20, 2015

News

Keweenaw Science and Engineering Festival

Michigan Tech and the community will come together to host the inaugural Keweenaw Science and Engineering Festival.

The event is designed to stimulate and sustain interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) in the Keweenaw.

This four-day festival is an open forum to showcase all facets of STEM in the Western Upper Peninsula. Current scheduled events include the Michigan Tech Mind Trekkers, Nerd Night with Tech’s Physics Department, the Family Engineering Day, Summer Concert Series, Science Pub Crawl, The Wonders of Physics, science comedian Brian Malow and David Gaynes presenting his documentary “Saving Hubble” and more!

This event is scheduled for Aug. 5 – 8, 2015, with most of the activities free to the public. Check out the current schedule. If you would like to get involved and run a hands-on demonstration or volunteer please contact Amanda McConnon at amcconno@mtu.edu.

From Tech Today, by the Center for Pre-College Outreach.

Nerd Night (Teens)

Wednesday, August 5th, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Continental Fire Company, 408 E Montezuma Ave. Houghton
Teens! Bring your friends and come discover the WOW! of science with amazing demonstrations and hands-on activities presented by the Michigan Tech Physics Dept.

Naturally Graphite Supplies Samples for Study

Published December 4, 2014

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.

Tag: Outreach

About the Physics Department

About the Physics Department

Keweenaw Science and Engineering Festival

Nerd Night (Teens)