Psychology and Human Factors News

Free scientific excursions aboard Michigan Tech’s research vessel Agassiz will be held at the Strawberry Festival, 1-5 p.m., Saturday, July 12 at Chassell Marina. “How do scientists assess the health of Lake Superior?” is the focus of the excursions.

The public is invited to sign up for a free 30-minute excursion by calling the Center for Science, Math and Environmental Education at 7-3341 or coming to the Chassell Marina dock on Saturday between 12:30 and 4 p.m. Spaces go quickly. On-site sign-ups begin at 12:30 p.m. with first departure at 1 p.m. Half of the spaces will be saved for onsite participants.

On each scientific excursion, a Marcel Dykstra, a Michigan Tech Great Lakes scientist, will demonstrate how sampling equipment is used to collect plankton and sediment, evaluate water clarity, temperature and turbidity, which tell us about the health of Chassell Bay. Microscopes will be on shore so participants can view the organisms. Participants will investigate the connection between land uses and the health of the Great Lakes.

Scientific excursions will depart from the Chassell Marina dock approximately every half hour. Space is limited to 15 persons per excursion (children must be at least 7 years of age and accompanied by an adult). Life jackets are available for all passengers.

Remotely-Operated-Vehicle (ROV) demonstrations will also be conducted from the Chassell Marina dock throughout the afternoon.

“Copper Country residents and visitors are encouraged to learn how scientists study the Great Lakes and what factors contribute to a healthy lake,” explains Joan Chadde, education program director. “These scientific excursions for the public have been offered at the Strawberry Festival since 2006 and have been extremely popular. Youth and adults enjoy the opportunity to interact with Great Lakes scientists and get their questions answered.”

The event is coordinated by the Western UP Center for Science, Mathematics and Environmental Education and Michigan Tech’s Great Lakes Research Center. This year, the program is funded by the GM Ride the Waves Program putting more than 500 Copper Country youth and adults on the water to learn about the Great Lakes and promote STEM careers, along with support from the Michigan Tech Center for Water and Society and the Chassell Lions Club.

For more information or to sign up for an excursion, call 487-3341. More information on the Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative is available online.

From Tech Today.

‘How do scientists assess the health of Torch Lake?’ is the theme of free scientific excursions on Michigan Tech’s research vessel Agassiz on July 4 at the Lake Linden Village Park and Marina. Four scientific excursions will leave the Lake Linden Marina dock from noon to 3 p.m. On-site sign-up begins at 11:30 a.m. Trips depart at noon, 12:45 p.m., 1:30 p.m. and 2:15 p.m. Space is limited; the Agassiz’s capacity is 14.

On each scientific excursion, a Michigan Tech Great Lakes scientist will demonstrate the use of sampling equipment to collect plankton, sediment and other water-quality information that reveal the health of the lake. Microscopes will be available on land for participants to view the aquatic organisms. Participants will investigate the connection between land use and the health of the Great Lakes. Participants must be at least 7 years of age. Life jackets are available for all passengers.

Amy Keranen of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) Remediation and Redevelopment Division will be on hand to answer questions about MDEQ’s work on Torch Lake in Lake Linden, Hubbell and Tamarack City.

“Copper Country residents and visitors are invited to learn how scientists study the Great Lakes and what factors contribute to a healthy lake,” explains Joan Chadde, education program director at he Western UP Center for Science, Mathematics and Environmental Education and the Great Lakes Research Center at Michigan Tech, coordinators of the event. “These scientific excursions for the public have been offered at the Chassell Strawberry Festival since 2006 and have been extremely popular. Youth and adults enjoy the opportunity to interact with Great Lakes scientists and ask questions. We wanted to make this available to Lake Linden residents too.”

This year’s excursions are funded by the GM Ride the Waves program, which puts more than 500 Copper Country youth and adults on the water to learn about the Great Lakes, along with support from the Michigan Tech Center for Water and Society.

To sign up in advance for an excursion, call 7-3341.

From Tech Today.

Twelve middle and high school teachers will be on campus for the 5-day Global Change Teacher Institute, which has been offered annually since 2005. The institute provides a real-world study of the effects of global change on ecosystems, including the impacts of climatic change on forests–elevated carbon dioxide and ozone levels, nitrogen saturation, acid rain and invasive species.

Teachers will participate in the Michigan Environmental Education Curriculum Support (MEECS) Climate Change workshop and receive a copy of the new MEECS Climate Change Unit. The institute is partially supported by a National Science Foundation. Andrew Burton is the lead faculty instructor. The institute is coordinated by Joan Chadde and the Michigan Tech Center for Science and Environmental Outreach.

From Tech Today.

The Michigan Tech Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC) is partnering with Portage Lake District Library to host a special science program to give participants a hands-on look at how scientists study the Great Lakes and what lives there.

The program is scheduled for 6-9 p.m., Tuesday, July 1. It begins at the Library, on the waterfront in downtown Houghton. Participants will ride the Agassiz to the GLRC, where they’ll visit a laboratory to use microscopes to get a close-up look at the water. They will also dissect a fish stomach to find out what they eat. After the lab, participants travel by Michigan Tech van back to the library for more activities, including:
Book activity in the Library Community Room
Remotely operated vehicle (ROV), by the Dollar Bay High School SOAR group, outside the library on the dock
Scientific excursion on the Agassiz, open to ages 7 and up, departure times 6 p.m., 6:45 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 8:15 p.m.
Boatmaking in the library

Reserve a space on the Agassiz by calling the Portage Lake District Library at 482-4570, or sign up at the library checkout desk. Space is limited.

For more information contact: Joan Chadde at 7-3341 at the GLRC or Chris Alquist at 482-4570 at the Portage Lake District Library.

From Tech Today.

This week Joan Chadde, education program coordinator for Michigan Tech’s Center for Science and Environmental Outreach, and Christopher Hohnholt, development and outreach director for the School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, are in Detroit conducting the Urban Forestry Teacher Institute June 23-27 with teachers from across lower Michigan. They are touring the Hardwoods of Michigan sawmill in Clinton, Hawk Woods Nature Center in Auburn Hills and Belle Isle in Detroit. SFRES Dean Terry Sharik was a guest presenter.

From Tech Today.

The Michigan Tech Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC) will partner with Portage District Library to host a special science program that will pique students interest in the Great Lakes and what lives there.

The program is scheduled for 6-9 p.m., Tuesday, July 1, and will begin at the library. Participants will ride the Agassiz to the GLRC where they’ll visit a laboratory to use microscopes to peer at the water and dissect a fish stomach to find out what they eat! At the completion of the lab, students and adults will travel by Michigan Tech van back to the library where there will be more to do.

Station Activities

Station One: A library book activity run by the library staff in the community room of the library. All ages are welcome.

Station Two: The remotely operated vehicle run by Dollar Bay High School SOAR and will be held outside on the dock. All ages are welcome.

Station Three: The scientific excursion on Agassiz, which will board at the dock by the library. It is for ages seven and up, with room for 14 youth and adults. The Agassiz departure times are as follows: 6, 6:45, 7:30 and 8:15 p.m. It is advised to arrive 15 minutes early.

Station three also has boat making at the library, which will be run by the library staff and will be held at the swimming pool on the lawn outside. All ages are welcome.

Station Four: A visit to the GLRC Lab to view plankton with a microscope, dissect fish stomachs and examine sediment/Diporeia. The Agassiz will drop off youth and adults at the lab. Lab participants will return to the library via Michigan Tech van.

Station four also will be hosting the opportunity to make A Great Lakes Mural along the library windows. The library staff will be running this event. All ages are welcome.

Reserve a space on the Agassiz by calling the Portage District Library at 482-4570 or sign up at the library checkout desk. First come, first served.

For more information, contact Joan Chadde at 7-3341 at the GLRC or Chris Alquist at 482-4570 at the Portage Lake District Library.

This program is funded by General Motors and the Portage District Library.

From Tech Today.

Ride the Waves with General Motors (GM) who invites Copper Country youth in grades 4-12 to join scientists from Michigan Tech’s Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC) in the exploration of Lake Superior, Portage Waterway and Torch Lake. There are four different programs to choose from–each 4 hours in length–that will accommodate approximately 14 youth and chaperones.

Aquatic Food Web and Lab Investigation
Find out how scientists investigate water quality and collect samples to examine in the lab to find out “what makes a lake trout?” All ages are welcome. A four-hour session (two on the boat and two in lab) on June 23-27, June 30, July 1, 24, and Aug. 1, 4-7.

Mine Waste Remediation and Torch Lake Restoration
The history of the Copper Country is explored by land and water as students visit historic copper milling sites, reclaimed mine waste sites and the bottom of Torch Lake. It is ideal for middle school students. A four-hour session (two on Agassiz and two in Lake Linden) on July 1, Aug. 4-7.

Investigate the Lake with a Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV)
Unless you’re a diver, few get to see what lies beneath the waves without a remotely operated vehicle. What surprises await you? This program is ideal for middle/high school students. They are two-to-three hour sessions on Agassiz on July 21, 23 and 30, departing from various locations. An optional shuttle is available from Michigan Tech.

Lake Superior’s Ring of Fire
Explore an area in Lake Superior where the shrimplike organism Diporeia is up to 20 times more abundant than in any other part of Lake Superior! How does this affect the Lake Superior food web? This program is ideal for high school students. A four-hour session on Agassiz on Aug. 18-22.

Register online at the Ride the Waves Registration Form. Please list all dates and times that work for you and we will reply and fit you into the earliest available slots.

Groups of five or more students will be given preference in scheduling, so get with your friends and form a group!

The Ride the Waves Program is funded by GM and the GLRC.

For more information, contact Joan Chadde (jchadde@mtu.edu) or Lloyd Wescoat (lwescoat@mtu.edu) or call 7-3341.

From Tech Today.