Month: April 2014

SURF Award for Kirby

This summer, the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program will fund 23 students from across the University with funds from the Vice President for Research and the Honors Institute. The total funding for the program this year is $80,500.

Among the recipients is Audio Production major Paul Kirby, working with Christopher Plummer on “Capturing the Soundscapes of Point Abbaye.”

From Tech Today.

Water’s Edge Exhibit During Earth Day

With the sun shining and the mounds of snow disappearing, it is starting to feel like spring–just in time for Earth Day. Today is Earth Day and Michigan Tech is celebrating with activities all week long, including a Lake Superior Celebration and a rainforest reptile show.

The Lake Superior Celebration, from 6 to 8 p.m., at Michigan Tech’s Great Lakes Research Center, will feature hands-on activities, a new PBS video on the Great lakes Stewardship Initiative, school-community projects, local foods, “Wildflowers of the UP” by Bob Wild and the “Water’s Edge Art Exhibit.”

A new PBS video will be aired at the celebration. It features local participants in the Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative. The event is free and open to the public and all are welcome. The Lake Superior Celebration is sponsored by the Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative and Michigan Tech’s Western UP Center for Science, Mathematics and Environmental Education.

Read more at Tech Today, by Erika Vichcales.

John Luther Adams at Michigan Tech

John Luther Adams and Libby MeyerA delicate balance
Pulitzer Prize winner visits Tech

Scientists, researchers and artists work daily at Michigan Technological University but do not often come together. In an effort to bridge the gap between two disciplines, faculty and staff gathered for a panel discussion Tuesday featuring composer John Luther Adams, who was awarded the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for music Monday.

“In a lot of his writing he talks about what art and science have to say to one another and I thought, since we are a school that has both, it would be an interesting topic for conversation,” said Libby Meyer, instructor of visual and performing arts at Tech.

That dialogue was facilitated by a panel including representatives from science and humanities disciplines, with John Vucetich, associate professor in the school of forest resources and environmental science; Amy Schrank, research assistant professor in the school of forest resources and environmental sciences; Chris Plummer, associate professor in visual and performing arts; M. Bartley Seigel, associate professor of creative writing and diverse literatures; and Evan McDonald, executive director of the Keweenaw Land Trust.

Read more at the Mining Gazette, by Meagan Stilp.

In the News

National Public Radio (NPR), Associated Press and Canadian Press wire services and other national and international media outlets reported that Alaska composer John Luther Adams was an artist in residency at Michigan Tech when he was notified that he had won the 2014 Pulitzer Prize in Music.

From Tech Today.

Alaskan Composer Wins Pulitzer For ‘Become Ocean’

By telephone Monday afternoon, I located John Luther Adams, 61, in Houghton, Mich. (in the state’s Upper Peninsula), where he is in residence at Michigan Tech. He said he was napping between classes when he got “a most welcome wakeup call” informing him he’d won the award.

Read more at Deceptive Cadence from NPR Classical, by Tom Huizenga.

Details on the 2014 Pulitzer Prize winners in journalism and arts, and reaction

MUSIC: John Luther Adams’ “Become Ocean” (Taiga Press/Theodore Front Musical Literature)

John Luther Adams knew he’d been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for his composition “Become Ocean,” but he had no expectations of winning. He was so busy with classes as part of a residency at Michigan Tech University that he even forgot the day they’d be handed out.

“I was actually taking a quick power nap between classes and got a phone call. It was a quite a wake-up call,” Adams said with a chuckle. “It was pretty great.”

Though based temporarily in Michigan, Adams’ thoughts are never far from Alaska.

Read more at The Canadian Press News Service.

Alumni on Concerts and Artists

Alan ParsonsThe Golden Age of Concerts

Another bonus of living here is all the talent that comes through town: famous lecturers, comedians, acting troupes, and especially musicians have graced the stages at Tech. Through extensive research in the Keweenawan and elsewhere, I’ve discovered a golden age of rock, folk, and jazz concerts at Tech.

Read more at TechAlum Newsletter, by Dennis Walikainen (Dennis ’92 ’09).

More on Homecoming ’83 and More

Thanks for the article on artist, Tony Orrico’s visit to Michigan Tech and Finlandia. I went to high school with the two professors (Anne Beffel, MTU and Carrie Flaspohler, Finlandia) who collaborated on this project.

Read more at TechAlum Newsletter, by Lynda (Gertz) Kuisell ’85.

Great Lakes Showcase 2014 Awards

Awards 2014

BEST IN SHOW
MTU President’s Award
“Tori Gate with Great Eastern Sun” by Sue Stephens

FIRST PLACE 2D
MTU Provost’s Award
“Threads” by Renée L. Michaud

FIRST PLACE 3D
MTU Dean’s Award
“Five Minute Egg” by Russell Prather

COMMUNITY CHOICE AWARD
WINNER
“Pondering” by Ray Lahikainen
RUNNER UP
“Land of Opportunity, Grand Rapids” by Jessica Vitale

SECOND PLACE 2D
“Coastline” by Julie Benda

SECOND PLACE 3D
“GMO Deer Swan Box” by Lindsey Heiden

HONORABLE MENTION
“The Gap” by Donald Kilpela
“Coon Valley” by Michele Tuccini
“Dance of the Incubus #8” by Greg Green