Around NMU

Finnish Folk Supergroup Frigg to Perform at NMU

Jan. 28, 2025
The Finnish folk supergroup Frigg will perform at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27 in Reynolds Recital Hall at Northern Michigan University. This concert will be part of the 2025 Winter Roots Festival, a collaboration between the Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center at NMU, Hiawatha Traditional Music Co-op, the Peter White Public Library, and the City of Marquette Arts and Culture Center. Frigg's new album, "Dreamscapes," is scheduled for release on Feb. 21.
Frigg (photo by Marek Sabogal)

Harris Praised for Help Identifying Human Remains

Jan. 27, 2025
Northern Michigan University's Center for Forensic Science Director Jane Harris has elevated her professional reputation, the center's profile and student hands-on learning opportunities by contributing her expertise to Operation UNITED, an effort by the FBI and law enforcement agencies in Detroit and Philadelphia to exhume the remains of unidentified victims of decades-old homicide cases. The hope is that advanced DNA testing can provide names and answers for their respective families. She was highly commended for her most recent work in letters from the former FBI director and the Philadelphia Police Department (PPD).
Harris (left) with Dr. Carolyn Isaac of MSU, collaborating on the assessment of one of the victims.

Rural Leadership Fellows Advance U.P. Projects

Jan. 27, 2025
Four Northern Michigan University students have been selected to participate in the second cohort of NMU's Rural Leadership Fellowship Program, a public-private partnership with InvestUP that promotes immersive, project-based learning while also supporting U.P. economic and community development projects. The fellows and their project partners are: Aimee Doyle, Marquette County Emergency Management; Travis Garvey, Michigan Office of Rural Prosperity; Rachel Raak, Village of Laurium; and Miki Rogers, Partridge Creek Compost in Ishpeming.
Rural Leadership Fellowship logo

NMU Sustainability Summit Feb. 18

Jan. 24, 2025
Northern Michigan University will host a campus Sustainability Summit from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18. The event will kick off in Forest Roberts Theatre with keynote speakers Chef Bryan Flower and Courtney Gallaher from Northern Illinois University discussing their Edible Campus. Other activities are scheduled throughout the day in Jamrich Hall and the Hedgcock Atrium.
SHINE (NMU Sustainability Hub for Innovation & Environment) graphic

Campus Cinema Presents 'We Live in Time'

Jan. 17, 2025
Northern Michigan University's Campus Cinema student organization will present the film “We Live in Time,” a 2024 rom-com starring Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh, on Saturday, Jan. 18. The movie is being shown in John X. Jamrich Hall on Northern's campus, room 1100. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the movie begins at 7 p.m. The showing is free to NMU students or $1 for the public, and concessions will be available for purchase. 
Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh in a scene from "We Live in Time."

Ugandan Scholar Researches Jackfruit at NMU

Jan. 15, 2025
Visiting scholar Justine Nakintu seeks to discover ways to extend the shelf life of nutrient-rich jackfruit, which is available year-round in her home country of Uganda, but spoils within five days of being harvested. “In Africa, people are hungry because food is wasted,” she said. “We need to preserve it so it can be eaten later.” Mapping the best locations for cultivating jackfruit, based on soil suitability and climate, is another goal toward making it a value-added commodity. She has engaged 10 NMU students in lab and GIS analysis for this ambitious, international project.
Ugandan visiting scholar Justine Nakintu on campus last semester exploring the fall leaves.

NMU Engineering Tech Builds Nordic Sit-Skis for Adaptive Athletes

Jan. 13, 2025
Nine-year-old Oskar Alan of Marquette had a strong desire to pursue Nordic skiing, but his balance, coordination and strength are compromised by cerebral palsy, preventing him from engaging in the activity from a standing position. Undeterred, and with support from the Superiorland Ski Club (SSC), he tested a borrowed commercial sit-ski last winter and was hooked after his first run. Now more children with disabilities have an opportunity to participate in the sport, thanks to the efforts of Northern Michigan University Engineering Technology faculty. They built four sit-skis for the SSC, saving the nonprofit money and advancing its initiative to promote inclusion and belonging among youth skiers.
Oskar on a borrowed sit-ski at the Noque (Melissa Alan photo); and the four new sit-skis built at NMU for the SSC (Kevin Carr photo).