Michigan Tech will be hosting its annual Day of Challenges for 5th through 12th grade students on Saturday, Feb. 23, sponsored by the Michigan Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Michigan Tech Army and Air Force ROTC programs. The event focuses on teamwork and mental and physical challenges, with events such as an obstacle course, a leadership reaction course and tests of swimming ability, all the while encouraging participants to learn and have fun.
Read more at Tech Today, by Kevin Hodur.
The Michigan Tech chapter of SPS, the Society of Physics Students, has once again been listed as an outstanding chapter.
Read more at Physics.
The book Aunting: Cultural Practices that Sustain Family and Community Life by humanities faculty member Dr. Patricia Sotirin was awarded the honor of “Outstanding Academic Title” by Choice magazine.
Read more at Humanities.
Lanrong Bi and her research group in the Department of Chemistry will be acquiring an Olympus confocal microscope, which uses lasers and high-end optics to take 3D images of cells, tissue and nanomaterials, without destroying the sample.
The scientists decided to do something about it. They began checking into equipment and rallied support from faculty, chairs and administrators, in particular the dean of sciences and arts.
“We are extremely appreciative of Dean Seely for being our strongest support in times of need,” Bi wrote in her Christmas missive. “His leadership and extraordinary ability to get things done are an inspiration to us all.”
Read more at Tech Today, by Marcia Goodrich.
Computer Science Assistant Professor Chaoli Wang, former CS undergraduate student John Reese, former CS MS student Huan Zhang, CS PhD student Jun Tao, and Physics Professor Robert Nemiroff will receive a Best Paper Award for their paper, “iMap: A stable layout for navigating large image collections with embedded search.”
Read more at Tech Today.
Breaking Digital Barriers: Digital Literacy for the Elderly is a project of Superior Ideas research crowdfunding. The project researchers are Charles Wallace of computer science, Lauren Bown of humanities, and programmer/analyst Leo Ureel.
This outreach project will help seniors to access the digital world.
John Durocher, Erika Hersch-Green, Loredana Valenzano, Myounghoon Jeon, Lauren Bowen, Jinguang Sun, Zeying Wang, Kari Henquinet, Emma Norman, Jonathan Robins, Steven Walton are new faculty and existing faculty who have now accepted tenure-track and lecturer positions in Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Cognitive and Learning Sciences, Humanities, Mathematical Sciences, and Social Sciences.
Read more at Tech Today, by Travis Gendron.
John Durocher, Shiyue Fang, and Andrew Galerneau are among the recipients.
Vice President for Research David Reed has awarded the following Century II Campaign Endowed Equipment Fund (C2E2) awards at the recommendation of the C2E2 Committee. Recipients in the College of Sciences and Arts are:
John Durocher (Biological Sciences/CSA)
“Promoting Wellness at Michigan Tech through Physical Activity Monitored with Wireless Accelerometers”
Shiyue Fang (Chem)
“Acquisition of a Fluid Cell to Enable Interdisciplinary Research . . . Atomic Force Microscopy”
Andrew Galerneau (Chem)
“Gas Chromatograph with Autosampler”
From Tech Today.
The Human Interface Design Enterprise was showing off their driver simulator. It was one of a couple of major projects the group has taken on, according to Margo Woller-Carter, a PhD student in applied cognitive science and human factors. The Human Interface Design Enterprise is advised by Bob Pastel, associate professor in computer science.
Elsewhere, Harriet King discussed her master’s thesis in computer science, which focuses on two categories of daily computer users: those who know just enough (JE) to get their work done and those who are much more proficient and comfortable in their work (intrinsic). It was the focus of her poster presentation at the library. King is advised by Charles Wallace, interim chair of CS, and she received additional guidance from Karla Kitalong from humanities and Bob Pastel from CS.
Read more at Tech Today, by Dennis Walikainen.
Winning first prize and $1,000 was MyPaar (My Love), a dating website for India, created by physics PhD student Abhi Kantamneni.
At the Fourth Annual Bob Mark Elevator Pitch Competition at Michigan Technological University, more than 20 teams made their best pitches promoting ideas for new businesses, and the judges had some hard choices to make. The contest emulates an elevator ride with a potential investor, and this year featured sound effects, dramatic lighting and entertainment.
Read more at Michigan Tech News, by Dennis Walikainen.