Social Sciences Newsblog

In Print: Journal Political Geography Publishes Mark Rhodes Paper

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Mark Rhodes Journal Political Geography
Mark Rhodes
Assistant Professor of Geography

Mark Rhodes is the author of an article published in the journal Political Geography. The article is titled “National Museum Wales and the scalar bureaucracies of institutional memory work.”

Rhodes argues for a more deliberate focus on studying the bureaucracy that shapes our cultural heritage institutions, particularly considering how multiple scales of bureaucracy work in tandem. Rhodes’ case study, the seven-museum National Museum Wales system funded and overseen at arm’s length by the Welsh government, offers a unique lens into a national-scale bureaucracy. This bureaucracy must simultaneously negotiate with the larger state (United Kingdom), region (European heritage institutions), globe (UNESCO’s World Heritage program) and local municipalities and communities.

Read the article in Political Geography.

His research interests encompass post-industrial geographies and heritage and national identity in the 21st century. Areas of expertise include memory and memorialization, heritage institutions, cultural landscapes, historical geography, and cultural geography.

Subsequently, Rhodes’s interest benefits students, as he has led many study away programs. This summer Rhodes is leading a study abroad trip to Wales. Students will visit unique expressions of cultural, community, and economic change focusing on industrial communities and heritage institutions. Students will visit the country’s Parliament, national art museum, and four national industrial heritage museums. Additionally, students will tour three national parks and two of the four UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Wales.

About the Social Sciences Department at Michigan Tech

Michigan Tech’s Department of Social Sciences offers bachelor of science degrees in Anthropology, Policy and Community Development, Sustainability Science and Society, and Social Science, along with a bachelor of arts degree in History. Additionally, our graduate program includes masters and doctoral degrees in Environmental and Energy Policy and Industrial Heritage and Archaeology (the only one of its kind in the world), and a master’s in Sustainable Communities. Plus, you can get a graduate certificate in Public Policy in by taking three courses in just one term.

Questions? Contact us at socialsciences@mtu.edu. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest happenings.

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Geographer Kat Hannum Latest Dean’s Teaching Showcase Selection

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College of Sciences and Arts (CSA) Dean Ravindra Pandey selected Kathryn (Kat) Hannum as the featured instructor this week for the Deans’ Teaching Showcase. Nominated by Department of Social Sciences Chair Don Lafreniere, Hannum will be recognized at an end-of-term event with other showcase members and is a candidate for the CTL Instructional Award Series.

Kathryn Hannum
Kathryn (Kat) Hannum Dean’s Teaching Showcase Selection

An assistant teaching professor of geography, Hannum’s expertise is in migration and nationalism. She recently published a book titled “Nationalism” (Routledge 2023) outlining how this global ideology is one of the dominant political forces in the modern world. Nationalism shapes geographical concepts such as territory, homelands, boundaries, and frontiers.

The World is the Classroom for Dean’s Teaching Showcase Winner

An exceptional scholar in the classroom, Hannum’s conception of “classroom” is very different from most instructors at Michigan Tech. As a geographer, she uses the world as her classroom. Hannum leads numerous study-abroad programs in Mexico and Costa Rica. She supports other programs in Wales and a domestic program where students travel across the United States on Amtrak.

In each of these programs, Hannum engages students to think critically about culture and their roles as global citizens in an increasingly interconnected world. She teaches about the impacts of tourism development and tourism-driven migration on regions, as well as how to promote sustainable tourism while understanding the role such development has on national, regional and Indigenous identities. In the rainforests of Costa Rica and the small Mayan villages of Mexico, she introduces students firsthand to the ways human actions impact the human and natural worlds, highlighting the interconnectivity and complexity of our globalized world.

Hannum believes strongly that when students travel, they can engage with the impact that humans have on the world in a deeply personal way. She employs journaling during her study away programs. Students write daily reflections on the lessons learned. They reflect on how their decisions impact the people and environments experienced on the trip.

She also uses social labs, in which students in the class give back to the communities they are visiting. In Mexico, these labs have included projects that support increasing beachfront access for locals in areas of increased exclusion due to tourism developments. Students examine ways to protect village life and culture, too.

Hannum’s Community and Global Focus Praised

Lafreniere praised the impact of Hannum’s teaching and scholarship. “Dr. Hannum’s focus is on supporting communities,” he said. “As a scholar-teacher, she challenges students not to just be consumers of knowledge, but to take their unique skills and passions to make the communities they visit more sustainable, vibrant places.”

Maria Bergstrom, associate dean for undergraduate education in the CSA, noted the importance of Hannum’s curricular innovations. “Michigan Tech students of all majors have benefited from participating in Dr. Hannum’s global classrooms — gaining a broader perspective and a better understanding of how communities are impacted as new practices and technologies are introduced,” she said. “The study abroad and study away programs developed by Dr. Hannum and others at Michigan Tech have also served as an inspiration for aspects of the new Essential Education program, particularly the Essential Education Experience, which seeks to provide similar community engagement opportunities for all undergraduates. We are grateful for her leadership in developing this type of experiential education at Michigan Tech.”

About the Social Sciences Department at Michigan Tech

Michigan Tech’s Department of Social Sciences offers bachelor of science degrees in Anthropology, Policy and Community Development, Sustainability Science and Society, and Social Science, along with a bachelor of arts degree in History. Our graduate program includes masters and doctoral degrees in Environmental and Energy Policy and Industrial Heritage and Archaeology (the only one of its kind in the world), and a master’s in Sustainable Communities. Plus, you can get a graduate certificate in Public Policy in by taking three courses in just one term.

Questions? Contact us at socialsciences@mtu.edu. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest happenings.

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In-Print: Langston Quoted On Michigan Climate Change Impacts

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Nancy Langston
Nancy Langston

Bridge Michigan quoted Nancy Langston in a story about the impacts of climate change on Michigan winters. The article highlights the residents whose identities and livelihoods are tied to the winter season. The Michigan climate change impacts story also ran in Bridge Detroit.

Image by Nancy Langston's quote on Bridge Michigan and Detroit about Climate Change Impacts
There’s much less snowmobiling in the UP this winter

“We’re northern people, who have chosen to live in a cold, remote place at the edge of the universe. And people who live here are really proud of that. Who we are is shaped by our relationships not just with other humans, but our relationships with the trees around us, the snow, the caribou, the fish, sturgeon … these relationships are pulling apart.”

Nancy Langston, Bridge Michigan

About the Social Sciences Department at Michigan Tech

Michigan Tech’s Department of Social Sciences offers bachelor of science degrees in Anthropology, Policy and Community Development, Sustainability Science and Society, and Social Science, along with a bachelor of arts degree in History. Our graduate program includes masters and doctoral degrees in Environmental and Energy Policy and Industrial Heritage and Archaeology (the only one of its kind in the world), and a master’s in Sustainable Communities. Plus, you can get a graduate certificate in Public Policy in by taking three courses in just one term.

Questions? Contact us at socialsciences@mtu.edu. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest happenings.

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Meyer Fun Facts Podcast Features Steven Walton

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Meyer Fun Facts podcast in Spotify

Steven Walton was a guest on a Meyer Fun Facts podcast released on February 7. He appeared in the episode entitled “Project ELF.” The podcast centers on the Cold War-era use of extremely low-frequency (ELF) lines in the Upper Peninsula and northern Wisconsin to facilitate top-secret military communications. Walton discusses the science and technology behind the communication system intended to keep in contact with American submarines around the world.

Walton touched on a variety of topics. For instance, environmentalists expressed concern about project impacts on the Northwoods. Walton visited Michigan Tech’s role in later iterations of the project planned for the Upper Peninsula, too. In addition, Walton reviewed the political controversy and protests surrounding the ELF projects. Finally, Walton reviews the project timeline from the 1950’s through 2004.

About the Meyer Fun Facts Podcast

Started by Steve Meyer, the Meyer Fun Facts podcast became a way for Meyer to fill his time during retirement. His podcast visits different people, places, and moments of interest throughout history. The podcast can be found on iTunes, Spotify, and most other podcast platforms.

About the Social Sciences Department at Michigan Tech

Michigan Tech’s Department of Social Sciences offers bachelor of science degrees in Anthropology, Policy and Community Development, Sustainability Science and Society, and Social Science, along with a bachelor of arts degree in History. Our graduate program includes masters and doctoral degrees in Environmental and Energy Policy and Industrial Heritage and Archaeology (the only one of its kind in the world), and a master’s in Sustainable Communities. Plus, you can get a graduate certificate in Public Policy in by taking three courses in just one term.

Questions? Contact us at socialsciences@mtu.edu. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest happenings.

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In Media: Mark Rhodes on the Role of Coal in Industrial Heritage and National Identity in Wales

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Mark Rhodes
Mark Rhodes

Mark Rhodes, assistant professor of geography was a guest on the Tourism Geographies Podcast last Friday (Nov. 24). The episode centered on a recently published paper co-authored by Rhodes which traces the role of coal in industrial heritage and national identity in Wales over the past 60 years. Discussion topics included the value of historical and contemporary research at heritage sites; how such work can reveal the complexity of identity; and how nations, memories, and our collective heritage change with time, political shifts, and cultural expression.

About the Social Sciences Department at Michigan Tech

Michigan Tech’s Department of Social Sciences offers bachelor of science degrees in Anthropology, Policy and Community Development, Sustainability Science and Society, and Social Science, along with a bachelor of arts degree in History. Our graduate program includes masters and doctoral degrees in Environmental and Energy Policy and Industrial Heritage and Architecture (the only one of its kind in the world), and a master’s in Sustainable Communities. Plus, you can get a graduate certificate in Public Policy in by taking three courses in just one term.

Questions? Contact us at socialsciences@mtu.edu. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest happenings.

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Keweenaw Time Traveler Wins Historical Society of Michigan Best Website Award

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Keweenaw Time Traveler logo

The Keweenaw Time Traveler won the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM) 2023 State History Award in the category of Websites. This prestigious award recognizes the hard work of the team led by Don LaFreniere, Sarah Scarlett, and John Arnold. The internet has transformed the world of historical research. The Keweenaw Time Traveler uses spatial data infrastructure to create a website that allows researchers to access detailed information through a “deep map” with layers of historical data and maps. It is also interactive, allowing professionals and amateurs alike to contribute data to the site. The digital archive covers Michigan’s “Copper Country” from 1880 to 1970 and will continue to grow in the future.

Don Lafreniere
Don Lafreniere

“There is so much that goes into a project of this scale and the fact we have been recognized by the Historical Society of Michigan is a testment to every contributor,” said Don Lafreniere, Social Sciences Department chair, professor of geography and GIS, and director of the Geospatial Research Facility. “Our current project team members and our time traveler alumni have contributed thousands of hours in the collection, digitizing and linking historical records that make up our massive database as well as the digitization and referencing of the hundreds of historic maps present on the Keweenaw Time Traveler.”

Sarah Scarlett
Photo: Keweenaw Time Traveler

Lafreniere is thankful for the generous support of project funders including the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Council of Library and Information Resources, as well as support from the Geospatial Research Facility and the Great Lakes Research Center at Michigan Technological University. “Of course, none of this would be possible without our heritage partners and the thousands of individuals who use the Keweenaw Time Traveler to explore and share memories of our Copper Country past. I thank them so much for their support!”

The Keweenaw Time Traveler team will be recognized during the 149th Annual Meeting and Michigan History Conference on September 22-24, 2023. The Society presents the State History Awards every year to individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the appreciation, collection, preservation, and/or promotion of state and local history. The awards are the highest recognition presented by HSM, the state’s official historical society and oldest cultural organization. 

The Historical Society of Michigan is the state’s oldest cultural organization, founded in 1828. A nongovernmental nonprofit, the Society focuses on publications, conferences, education, awards and recognition programming, and support for local history organizations to preserve and promote Michigan’s rich history.

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Mining for clues of those who mined for copper – An Article from The Daily Mining Gazette

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With just a few days left in the archeology field school term, the site trenches and pits that have been excavated have revealed some significant artifacts!

Learn more about a stone that appears to be a tool used extensively for grinding! The face of the rock, which is in stark contrast to other rocks unearthed in the trench, indicates that the marks and smoothness are cultural or man-made.

Read the full article at The Daily Mining Gazette.

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Kendra Lachik Reflects on COP27 Experience

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Keweenaw Now recently published a blog post written by Kendra Lachik ‘23 (environmental engineering) about presentations given by Michigan Tech’s delegation to the COP27 climate conference, held in November of 2023 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. MTU students Anna Kavanaugh (environmental engineering, sustainability science and society), Rose Daily (environmental engineering) and Alexis Pascaris (environmental and energy policy) were quoted in the article about their experiences at the conferences.

You can read Kendra’s article on Keweenaw Now.

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Professor Richelle Winkler to Speak at 2023 Policy Summit

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2023 Policy Summit Logo

Richelle Winkler, Professor of Sociology and Demography in the Social Sciences Department, will be a speaker at the 2023 Policy Summit in Cleveland, OH on Friday, June 23. Dr. Winkler and her colleagues will be discussing the implications of migration patterns in the moderated panel “Do Pandemic Population Shifts and the Increase in Remote Work Mean Opportunities for Small Cities and Rural Areas?”.

The event, hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, is in it’s 16th year and will feature experts presenting on policies and programs affecting lower-income communities across the United States.

For more information on the 2023 Policy Summit, visit the event website.

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Third-Year Sustainable Sciences Student Mariah’s Mexican Adventure

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Michigan Tech students spanning majors and class standings embarked on the first Mexico Spring Break study abroad program in early March. Mariah Mellendorf ’25 chronicled the group’s visit to communities in the Yucatan Peninsula to learn about tourism and conduct research.

Read more about Mariah’s Mexico study abroad experience on the Unscripted Research Blog.

MTU students at Chichen Itza
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