Category: Notables

President Mroz Appoints Susanna Peters as Ombuds Officer

Susanna Peters
Susanna Peters

Susanna Peters, a lecturer in law and society in Michigan Tech’s Department of Social Sciences, has been appointed the University’s new ombuds officer. Her appointment takes effect on April 15.

The ombuds officer provides informal conflict mediation services for faculty, staff and students, to help them resolve conflicts fairly and informally before initiating any formal grievance procedure. The Ombuds Office operates independently and confidentially.

Starting April 15, faculty, students and staff who would like to contact the Ombuds Office can email speters@mtu.edu or call at 7-2391 to set up an appointment.

Read more at Tech Today, by Jennifer Donovan.

Seed Funding for Baird on Australian Heritage Project

Seed Funding GrantsMelissa Baird, assistant professor of anthropology, social sciences, is part of an international group of scholars who received the 2013 Perth USAsia Centre Seed Funding Research Grant. The grant, “Western Resource Frontiers: How Indigenous people, mining and heritage in Australia and the US shape our nations” analyzes issues of heritage, rights, and sustainability on the Australian and US Western ‘resource frontiers’ to broaden our understanding of global heritage and environmental politics. The project includes Jane Lydon (UWA) the PI, Aileen Walsh, UWA; Alistair Paterson, UWA; and Lynn Meskell, Stanford University.

From Tech Today.

Norman and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian

NMAI
NMAI

Emma S. Norman, assistant professor of geography (SS/GLRC) has just been named a research associate with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian. This affiliation will allow her direct access to Smithsonian materials for research and educational purposes and also provide her the opportunity to collaborate with Smithsonian employees. The first project she is undertaking is to work with their staff cartographer and senior geographer to create a series of maps that show the changing settlement patterns of indigenous peoples along the Canada-US border (pre- and post-contact) and how those patterns impact access to and governance of water. These maps will appear in her forthcoming book, Governing Transboundary Waters: Canada, the United States, and Indigenous Communities (Routledge) and will also also be made publicly available through the Smithsonian.

From Tech Today.

Dyble Receives Award for Best Public Works Article

Louise Nelson Dyble, former assistant professor of social sciences, has received the American Public Works Association (APWA) Michael Robinson Award for her article “Tolls and Control: the Chicago Skyway and the Pennsylvania Turnpike.”

The award is presented by APWA’s Public Works Historical Society and recognizes the best essay or article published on a public works historical topic. Dyble’s article, published in 2012 in the Journal of Planning History, provides a historical perspective on two high-profile toll roads: the Pennsylvania Turnpike, operated by an independent public authority, and the Chicago Skyway, originally built and managed by the City of Chicago.

Dyble notes that great public works have resulted from cooperation among governments, and that the lack of cooperation is one of our society’s greatest obstacles. “Embattled cities, balkanized regions and dysfunctional states can’t support the infrastructure systems that we need,” she said.

Dyble is a member of the Public Works Historical Society’s Board of Trustees and is pursuing a law degree at the University of California, Berkeley.

From Tech Today.

Scarlett Recognized by Utah Division of State History

Tim Scarlett TEDx 2013
Tim Scarlett

Associate Professor Tim Scarlett (SS) was recognized by the Utah Division of State History for his archeological work with Utah’s early pottery. He won one of five awards for outstanding contribution in history. The 2013 awards were presented at the Utah State History Conference earlier this month.

Scarlett “has promoted history and historical archeology in Utah, bringing to light Utah’s unique early pottery,” the Division of State History said in a news release about the awards. “His studies, excavations and publications have brought Utah pottery to an international audience. His work led to the first formal exhibition of early-pioneer ceramics and pottery at the Frontier Homestead Museum in Cedar City, Utah. He involves the public in innovative ways in discovery and has had an incalculable influence in training students to continue the work.”

The organization also presented awards for articles and books about Utah history.

From Tech Today.

Digging for Copper Predates Settlers

Wonderful Power
Wonderful Power

Digging for copper predates European settlers in the Keweenaw by 7,000 years

Susan Martin, retired professor from the Michigan Technological University Department of Social Science, has written a book about the use of copper by ancient people in the Lake Superior region.

She said the title of the book, “Wonderful Power,” was a term used by a 19th century Ojibwa man to describe copper.

Jo Urion, Keweenaw National Historical Park historian, said park officials work with tribal members whenever work is planned on properties that are eligible to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including archeological sites.

Jessica Koski, mining technical assistant for the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, said copper has traditionally been an important part of Ojibway/Anishinaabe people of the Keweenaw, and it still is.

Read more at the Mining Gazette, by Kurt Hauglie.

Satellite Images for Land Cover Change

PhD student Riccardo Tortini (GMES) has won free satellite imagery to aid in research. The firm DMCii provided the prize and conducted the contest, which drew entries from all over the world.

Over the summer, Tortini has been working with Associate Professor Audrey Mayer (SS) to monitor land cover change from timber to non-timber use in Michigan and calculate the rate and intensity of forest harvesting in the area.

Tortini’s advisor is Associate Professor Simon Carn (GMES).

From Tech Today.