October 2018

Zoology, Theater Combine in 'Sweeney Todd'

NMU senior Abby Persoon
Oct. 31, 2018 —
NMU senior Abby Persoon has found a unique way to combine her zoology major with her theater minor by matching different bird species to each of the principle characters in the Forest Roberts Theatre (FRT) production of Sweeney Todd. Persoon worked closely with FRT director Keli Truckey to base each character on a bird to capture an underlying theme of bird imagery that most people aren’t aware is included in the play.

Studio 102 Enhances Online Course Delivery

Eric Smith
Oct. 30, 2018 —
NMU recently unveiled Studio 102, a new facility in the Harden Learning Resources Center that enables faculty to record content for online courses and explore virtual reality tools. The centerpiece is a glass lightboard that enables a professor to write in luminous liquid chalk while facing the camera, making “eye contact” with the audience and enhancing student engagement. Software flips the text so that it reads correctly during viewing. Studio lighting, along with acoustic panels on the walls and a rubber floor, also contribute to high-quality video and audio recording capability.

Governor Announces New Cyber Hub at NMU

Student on computer
Oct. 29, 2018 —
A new cybersecurity training hub at Northern Michigan University will accelerate talent development for the high-demand cybersecurity industry, creating jobs in the Upper Peninsula and making U.P. residents and businesses less vulnerable to attacks by hackers. Gov. Rick Snyder and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) today announced plans to open the hub as part of the Michigan Cyber Range Network.

Truckey Receives State Award

Image of Dan Truckey and Nathan Kemler
Oct. 25, 2018 —
Dan Truckey, director of the Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center at NMU, was awarded the Peninsulas Prize by the Michigan Museums Association at its annual meeting Oct. 29 in Dearborn. The statewide prize honors an individual or organization that has “demonstrated the significance and impact of community engagement over the last year.” According to the award description, it recognizes the “ability to engage with its community, showcase multiple perspectives, address community needs or concerns, and/or bridge the gap between the past and present.”

NMU Hosts Artificial Intelligence Talks

Image of Bob Stefanski
Oct. 25, 2018 —
Northern Michigan University alumnus Bob Stefanski will present "Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Jobs." He is co-founder and managing director of eLab Ventures, a venture capital firm based in Silicon Valley and Ann Arbor that invests in technology startup companies at the forefront of artificial intelligence development. His talk is scheduled for 3 p.m. Monday, Nov. 12, in Reynolds Recital Hall. It is free and open to the public.

NMU Presents Veteran's Day Concert

Image from iStock
Oct. 25, 2018 —
The Music Department at Northern Michigan University is presenting a Veterans Day choral concert that will feature patriotic American songs from different war periods and guest speakers from different branches of the military. The event is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 11, in Reynolds Recital Hall. There is no cost to attend. Donation-based proceeds will go to DJ Jacobetti Home for Veterans.

NMU Seeks Community Input on Master Plan

Oct. 23, 2018 —

Northern Michigan University is seeking community input on its campus master plan, which will provide a guide for future physical changes on campus. NMU recorded a recent campus forum where alternatives surrounding seven planning themes were presented, and created a corresponding online survey to gather feedback. The survey will remain open through Friday, Nov. 2.

Brain Tumor Center Offers Tours

Oct. 23, 2018 —

The Upper Michigan Brain Tumor Center (UMBTC) at Northern Michigan University is hosting laboratory tours, followed by presentations by master’s students on their thesis projects. The tours will run from 5-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 1, in West Science rooms 1610 and 1612. Refreshments will be served.

The thesis presentations will be held in the Mead Auditorium of West Science, room 2701.

The event comes behind international Brain Tumor Awareness week, which ends Oct. 27. For more information, contact Amber LaCrosse at 227-2377.

Swimming Magazine Cites Jensen Study

Swimming stock photo
Oct. 18, 2018 —

A conference paper published by Randall Jensen, professor of Health and Human Performance, is referenced in a Swimming World Magazine article on the backstroke to breaststroke transition turn in the individual medley. Jensen's study analyzed the turns of 14 NCAA Division II women swimmers and found no difference in force among three common styles—open, bucket and crossover—but the bucket turn held the edge for fastest.

To view news releases published before May, 2018, please visit the NMU News Bureau archive.