Research Archives | Page 21 of 27 | Social Sciences Newsblog

Scarlett Recognized by Utah Division of State History

Published September 23, 2013

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.

Wellstead Publishes on Climate Change Adaptation Planning

Published September 6, 2013

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Adam Wellstead (SS) has published “The neglect of governance in forest sector vulnerability assessments: structural-functionalism and ‘black box’ problems in climate change adaptation planning,” in Ecology and Society 18(3): 23 (2013).http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol18/iss3/art23/

From Tech Today.

MacLennan Presents on Labor in Hawaii

Published September 6, 2013

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Carol MacLennan (SS) presented a paper, “Working Sugar in Hawai`i: Labor and Environmental Change in Remote Oceania” at the European Society for Environmental History biennial meeting in Munich, Germany, on Aug. 22.

From Tech Today.

Robins Publishes on the Colonial Market

Published August 28, 2013

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Jonathan Robins (SS) has published “Coercion and Resistance in the Colonial Market: Cotton in Britain’s African Empire,” in Jonathan Curry-Machado (ed.), Global Histories, Imperial Commodities, Local Interactions (Palgrave MacMillan, 2013).

From Tech Today.

Halvorsen on Bioenergy

Published August 28, 2013

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Bioenergy Must Be Sustainable

The National Science Foundation is funding a Research Coordination Network (RCN) to help researchers, policymakers, industry leaders and others investigate the effects of mass biofuel production on human communities and natural systems. The Sustainable Futures Institute (SFI) manages the RCN program at Michigan Tech.

Partnerships for Research and Education (PIRE) is another NSF-funded project that grew out of RCN. PIRE,’s lead researcher is Kathleen Halvorsen, a professor of natural resource policy at Michigan Tech. The PIRE team is studying impacts from bioenergy production in Brazil, Canada, Mexico, the U.S. and Argentina.

“We’re working to fill the research gaps in bioenergy production so we can maximize the benefits and minimize the negative impacts,” Halvorsen explains. “Another thing we want to do is improve policy in these countries to support the research and development of bioenergy.”

Torch Lake History Project Funding for MacLennan

Published August 11, 2013

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Carol MacLennan (SS) has received $6,200 from the Keweenaw National Historical Park for a 20 month research project “Oral History of Torch Lake Copper Reclamation, 1940-1970.”

From Tech Today.

Digging for Copper Predates Settlers

Published July 24, 2013

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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.

Pat Martin Delivers Keynote in Ironbridge

Published July 17, 2013

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Patrick Martin (SS) delivered one of the keynote addresses at a recent conference in Ironbridge, Shropshire, United Kingdom. Called “Rust, Regeneration and Romance“, this interdisciplinary conference was held in the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site, home of the world’s first cast iron bridge and site of the first successful smelting of iron using coke. Martin’s presentation was entitled “American Iron and Steel: Evolving Cultural Landscapes.”

From Tech Today.

Satellite Images for Land Cover Change

Published July 17, 2013

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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.

TEDx Video of Tim Scarlett

Published July 12, 2013

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Dr. Tim Scarlett was one of the speakers for TEDx Houghton on March 23, 2013. He spoke on “A Vision for Industrial Heritage Professionals in the 21st Century.”

Watch the video and read some of Dr. Scarlett’s comments at the TEDxTalks YouTube channel.

Category: Research