GLIMPSE THE UNIVERSE At the High-Altitude Water Cherenkov Gamma-Ray Observatory in Mexico, scientists have discovered a new source of the highest-energy photons in the cosmos: a strange system known as a microquasar, located a neighborly 15,000 light years from Earth. The research team included Michigan Tech’s Petra Huentemeyer, a professor of physics; postdoctoral research associate Henrike Fleischhack; and PhD candidates Chad Brisbois and Binita Hona. “These electrons are some of the highest-energy particles in our galaxy, and it’s hard to explain how something that small got so much energy,” Huentemeyer says. Studying the messengers from this microquasar could offer a glimpse into the secrets of their larger cousins, quasars, and some of the biggest, baddest phenomena in the known universe. 2017 MICHIGANPhoto TECH by Jordan MAGAZINE A. Goodman3 TABLE OF CONTENTS 2018 • VOLUME 55 NUMBER 2 23 12 16 29 STORIES 12 Copper Country Strong 29 Quality (of) Life 39 Q&A: Home Court by Cyndi Perkins by Mare Grohowski ‘10 Advantage by Calvin Larson ‘10 In the aftermath of epic flash A number of alumni have moved floods, Huskies and their back to the Keweenaw. The Sam Hoyt was an All-American community across the Keweenaw question isn’t why come back, guard for the Michigan Tech grabbed boots, gloves, buckets, it’s how. women’s basketball team. and shovels, and got to work. This season, she returns to the 34 A Family Affair Huskies as head coach. 16 Navigating Risk by Mark Wilcox by Stefanie Sidortsova Michigan Tech has always been In January 2018, the State of special to William Bernard Jr. Michigan placed Michigan Tech at ’69 and his family. Through their the helm of an independent risk generous gift, a clock tower analysis of the Straits Pipelines. now shines on Alumni Way—the The mission: evaluate the impact outward symbol of a scholarship of a “worst-case-scenario” spill. that will help other students excel just like he did. 23 Fire Mountain by Kelley Christensen 36 In The Trenches by Cyndi Perkins Volcán de Fuego has been a Michigan Tech research site for The University joined the 2018 decades. When the Guatemalan observances of the centenary end volcano erupted in June, of World War I. Enter the trenches numerous faculty, alumni, and to learn more. students mobilized to respond to the disaster. 4 MICHIGAN TECH MAGAZINE 2018 34 36 39 REGULAR FEATURES 06 1400 Townsend Drive Michigan Tech Magazine Published by University Marketing and Communications 39 Q&A Ian Repp—Assistant Vice President of 42 Alumni Engagement University Marketing and Communications Stefanie Sidortsova—Managing Editor 46 Class Notes Nicole Kelly—Creative Director 50 In Memoriam Vassilissa Semouchkina—Senior Designer Comments to the editor: Jonathan Halquist—Graphic Designer [email protected] Sarah Bird—Photographer Website: mtu.edu/magazine Mare Grohowski ‘10— Articles Editor Class Notes submissions and mailing Sarah Williams—Advancement and address changes: Alumni Engagement Editor [email protected] Crystal Verran ‘11—Director of Michigan Technological University is an Operations equal opportunity educational institution/ equal opportunity employer, which Josh Jaehnig—Freelance Artist includes providing equal opportunity for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. 2018 MICHIGAN TECH MAGAZINE 5 1400 Townsend Drive THE FEI 200KV TITAN THEMIS SCANNING TRANSMISSION THE ANATOMY OF . ELECTRON MICROSCOPE (STEM) A SCANNING TRANSMISSION is a window into the nanoscale. The ELECTRON MICROSCOPE microscope is one of two in Michigan. Its electron beam is smaller than a single atom and creates a digital image of the atomic structure of materials and chemicals including batteries, minerals, and alloys. It can also monitor atom-level interactions within samples. The microscope has six specialized specimen holders. To perform high-resolution STEM imaging, the University built a stand-alone facility to minimize temperature variations and mechanical vibrations generated both externally and internally that would adversely affect the resolution of the microscope. Analyzing STEM outputs means zooming in on the tiniest details to understand the big picture. Michigan Tech’s new Scanning Transmission Electron Microscope (STEM) lets researcher Pinaki Mukherjee zoom in to understand the big picture at the atomic scale. Read more at: mtu.news/2oOUOCb 6 MICHIGAN TECH MAGAZINE 2018 SAMPLE SIZE 50–70 nm thick ARRIVAL AUGUST 2017 COST SIZE $1.7m ~8 $1.2 MILLION COVERED FROM NSF AND $500,000 IN MATCHING FUNDS PROVIDED BY THE COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, THE DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING- ENGINEERING MECHANICS, AND FREQUENCY THE OFFICE OF OF USE THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR RESEARCH. DAILY SPECIAL OPS ON-HAND LOCATION VIBRATION-FREE EXPERT APPLIED ROOM; EXTRA THREE CHEMICAL AND PINAKI ROOMS DEVOTED TO MORPHOLOGICAL MUKHERJEE, PHD, STORING BACKUP ANALYSIS HIRED IN 2017 AS SYSTEMS LABORATORY STEM SPECIALIST 2018 MICHIGAN TECH MAGAZINE 7 1400 Townsend Drive Michigan Tech’s women’s basketball team has the highest GPA in all of women’s college basketball. The Huskies not only led all of NCAA Division II, but their average GPA of 3.796 makes them the top team across all divisions of collegiate women’s basketball. MICHIGAN TECH SUSTAINABILITY DEMONSTRATION HOUSE 21680 WOODLAND ROAD, HOUGHTON, MICHIGAN 49931 It’s not your ordinary rental. A 5,000-square-foot, three-floor home built in 1953, with five bedrooms and six bathrooms, and an 8.6 watt solar array system bringing 10 kilowatts of renewable energy into the Support the tenants supporting the environment. house. Aquaponics garden and composting system in the backyard; Follow their blog or Facebook page: WiFi-controlled LED bulbs and induction cooktops in the kitchen. The aee-mtu.org/house first five tenants moved in last fall and were obliged to work on the facebook.com/mtu.sdh home 20 hours per month in addition to paying rent. Tenants compost, mow, and clean solar panels as needed. They host two open houses per semester and contribute to the house’s Facebook page and blog. Being environmental stewards: just another way our students show they’re crazy smart. 8 MICHIGAN TECH MAGAZINE 2018 IMPRESS-IVE HUSKIES ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY SCHOLARS IMPROVING RETENTION AND STUDENT SUCCESS The School of Technology was awarded neighboring states—receive either four- or nearly $1 million from the National Science two-year scholarships (depending on their Foundation (NSF) for a five-year program, academic standing at time of enrollment). “Engineering Technology Scholars- IMProving Retention and Student Success” School of Technology Professor and Program or ETS-IMPRESS. Chair Nasser Alaraje leads the project, helping choose and mentor nine students for the 2018- The project aims to expand the number 19 school year: five first-year undergraduates and diversity of people entering the and four transfer students. Applications for engineering technology STEM pipeline, the second year of the program opened in including underrepresented groups. September 2018, and the application deadline “Impress-ive” Huskies—first-time is February 15, 2019. Impress-ive Huskies undergraduate engineering technology encouraged to apply! students and students transferring from community colleges in Michigan and mtu.edu/ets-impress Berger, a former Husky All-American who retired earlier this year after a 13-year career ON THE MEET in the National Football League, said, “It’s a tremendous honor to be selected with this LIST? THE 2018 group. I think it says a lot about the coaches and players that I had the chance to play with GET TECH’S over the years. Michigan Tech and the people INDUCTEES I met there helped give me an opportunity to ENEWSLETTER do things I never could have dreamed of. It will always be a special place for me.” DELIVERED TO Seven new members of the Michigan Tech Sports Hall of Fame were inducted on YOUR INBOX October 12. Honorees included former Read more about Berger’s time at Michigan Tech and in the NFL: mtu.edu/ hockey players Steve Coates ‘73 and Kip The Michigan Tech alumni enewsletter Noble ‘93, former men’s basketball player magazine/2015-1/stories/field-engineer is delivered monthly to your inbox. For Mike Kissman ‘98, former Nordic skier news and events from campus, alumni Kristina Owen ‘07, former football players profiles, interesting history (or fun facts) Jim Peters ‘58 and Joe Berger ‘04, and from the archives, snowfall contests, former sports information director Dennis alumni memories, and more, contact the Hanks. Alumni House at [email protected] or call 1-877-688-2586 to make sure you receive our monthly enewsletter. You can also update your email preferences by logging into the alumni portal MyMichiganTech. 2018 MICHIGAN TECH MAGAZINE 9 MASTER MINDS SPOTLIGHTS ONE OF MICHIGAN TECH’S 43 MASTER’S DEGREE PROGRAMS. Visit mtu.edu/gradschool/programs/degrees to explore all programs. MASTER MINDS: A FINGER ON THE PULSE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES Meditation, nitrogen in streams, aspen With a team of graduate student researchers, With state-of-the-art equipment, and in biofuel, protein misfolding, sugar-cancer Amy Marcarelli, an associate professor in updated labs, Huskies have their finger interactions, and binge drinking: a few biological sciences, studies nitrogen cycles in on the pulse of learning and research that areas of study our interdisciplinary master’s streams. In the nitrogen cycle, the balance of counts. Want to get involved? program in biological sciences offers. nitrogen fixation and denitrification is not a perfect yin-yang. Apply for free: In the recently opened Michigan Tech mtu.edu/biological Sleep Research Laboratory, studies hinge Unbalanced systems can lead to more than on research into the effects of sleep on just August pond scum; excess nitrogen is cardiovascular health, contributing to the the main driver of the world’s dead zones broader field of sleep research—a field that at major river deltas. Marcarelli’s research, is growing rapidly.