CMU College of Science and Engineering Fall 2023 by CmichSE

FALL 2023

Dear CMU Science and Engineering Family,

his edition of our newsletter reflects the diversity of activities and accomplishments of the College of Science and Engineering (CSE) students, staff, and faculty.

We have made incredible strides in research over the past year. For the first time in the college’s history, we passed the $10 million mark in annual new external research funding. One driver behind this growth is a new partnership with the U.S. Army Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC) in Warren, MI, through the Automotive Research Center (ARC) at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Later in this newsletter, you will read about the initial results from one of the new GVSC projects on water treatment. Our faculty and students continue to feature prominently in the National Science Foundation’s polar research programs. Biology professor Andrew Mahon was chief scientist on a spring 2023 Antarctic research cruise aboard the R/V Nathaniel Palmer, which included several students from CSE gathering samples and data to support their research. CSE continues to be at the forefront of education with our new InSciTE (Integration of Science, Technology, and Engineering) certificate program. The first cohort, comprising 32 first-year students from all the departments in the college, took the first InSciTE course in the spring of 2023. As this cohort moves on to the second course in spring 2024, program director Wiline Pangle has recruited a cohort of twice that size to start behind them. You will read more inside about how the InSciTE model changes how we prepare our students for the technical and social challenges facing Michigan and the world in the coming years. Thanks to those of you who were able to join us for the SERC (Science and Engineering Residential College) 25th-anniversary celebration during Homecoming weekend in October, which is captured in more detail later in this newsletter. SERC director Kegan Rojas is doing a fantastic job mentoring and providing meaningful activities for current students while recruiting new students to CSE. Please also take a moment to read the article introducing Becky Walker from CMU’s Advancement team, who has recently been promoted to a larger role in CSE’s advancement activities. If you have not heard from Becky yet, you will soon! Finally, as we enter this season of Thanksgiving, I thank you for your interest in and support of the College of Science and Engineering at CMU. Best wishes to you and your families, and Fire Up Chips! Dave Ford, Dean College of Science and Engineering

/CmichSE

SCIENCE TAKES STUDENTS TO ANTARCTICA

Researchers investigate climate change’s impact on biodiversity This past spring, Jessica Zehnpfennig’s doctoral research took her to East Antarctica, one of the planet’s remotest places. It is also one of the most beautiful, if you ask her.

the region’s biodiversity on two sides of the continent. For Mahon, this year’s expedition marked his eighth visit to Antarctica. His last trip with CMU students was in 2020. The second team from CMU was led by Deric Learman, also a member of the biology faculty. His team was there to study microbes and their role in providing nutrients.

Zehnpfennig was part of one of two CMU teams that embarked on an expedition to the Antarctic. The expedition was led by Andrew Mahon, a CMU biology faculty member and Zehnpfennig’s adviser. The expedition headed to a part of the Antarctic that is especially isolated, the east side, Mahon said. Most expeditions typically go to the region south of Cape Horn, the southernmost point of South America.

Researchers in Mahon’s lab are interested in sea spiders, a littleknown group of animals more closely related to horseshoe crabs than land-based spiders, Zehnpfennig said. During this trip, researchers collected specimens by lowering trawls to the ocean floor, dragging them for a mile and examining the collected mud and critters. Zehnpfennig said she’s studied sea spiders for three years but hadn’t seen one live until going to the Antarctic.

Mahon’s team was there to investigate climate change and what impact it is having on biodiversity.

Seeing them in person was much better than just seeing them in the lab. Zehnpfennig said she was excited by some of the things she saw.

They also hope to develop insights into how environmental factors influenced

Among animals, they are one of a few kinds in which the male takes the lead

role in carrying eggs until they hatch. One sea spider was carrying several egg clutches of different colors. The teams worked in twelve-hour shifts, with Zehnpfennig taking the one that started at midnight. That gave her an opportunity to take in sunrises and to work under the Southern Lights, the southern hemisphere’s counterpart to the Northern Lights. “The first time you see them and it’s… wow,” she said. When they found sea spiders in the mud, they’d flash freeze them or put them in ethanol to preserve them for the trip back to Mount Pleasant for further examination. “The big science is still ahead,” Learman said. Zehnpfennig said she hopes to answer questions about how closely related different sea spider species are to each other, and to learn more about how they reproduce. She hopes to wrap up her research by next May and graduate in December 2024.

HOW EL NIÑO COULD AFFECT THIS WINTER Climate scientist shares his expertise to help you prepare A climate pattern called El Niño has officially settled over part of the Pacific Ocean. This pattern can have significant effects on the weather of North America, including the Great Lakes. What could this mean for this winter’s weather in Michigan? Zachary Johnson, a faculty member in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, shared some insights on how your life could be affected by this. Q. How does a phenomenon in the Pacific Ocean affect Michigan’s weather?

Zachary Johnson is a faculty member in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at Central Michigan University. He received his doctorate in climate science from Utah State University and also has worked as a researcher at Purdue University. His research interests include El Niño mechanisms and predictability, climate modeling, and extreme climate events.

The El Niño pattern, warming in the tropical Pacific Ocean, affects climates and weather worldwide. The warmer-than-normal tropical Pacific Ocean warms and increases the humidity of the overlying air, disrupting the tropical Pacific’s typical weather pattern. This disturbed pattern propagates northward, affecting the jet stream off the west coast of Canada and the United States. Eventually, those jet stream changes propagate downstream in Michigan, impacting our local weather.

Q. What do we know about this specific El Niño event? This El Niño event is consistent with past moderate-to-strong El Niño events. We see warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures extending from South America into the central tropical Pacific. Typically, an El Niño will peak in strength in the late fall and winter, coinciding with its greatest impact in the United States. But every El Niño has different flavors and differential impacts to the weather in the United States. Q. What has an El Niño meant for Michigan winters historically? Based on historical records, El Niño events favor warmer and dryer winters locally in Michigan due to a northward migration of the jet stream, which keeps the cold air north of us. As a result, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center forecasts warmer and dryer conditions this winter. This does not mean Michigan will not receive snow and cold snaps, but they may be less frequent and severe. If we average all the weather at the end of the winter, we may find that it is milder than your typical winter. Q. In general, are Michigan winters getting more mild or more severe and how might El Niño affect that? This is an active area of research, assessing whether climate change and climate variability like El Niño events can compound each other and promote a much milder winter here in Michigan than in the past. El Niño events should still favor milder winters moving forward, but combined with a warming climate, winters may become even more mild during future El Niño events. One important scientific question to understand is if the connection between El Niño and our local weather will become enhanced in a changing climate. Our current understanding as climate scientists is that we will not see a change in the El Niño impact on our local winter weather in Michigan in a changing climate. This is an important area of research because El Niños affect many aspects of our society, including our agriculture, local economies, Great Lake water levels, winter ice cover extent, and lake ecosystems. Q. How might this affect winter recreation this year? Should we prepare for winter a little differently? Still expect snow and cold snaps. We will still have lake-effect snow events. But there may be fewer of these weather events. It may be one of those winters where you will look back and think we didn’t have much of a winter. This is welcome news to many looking for a mild winter compared to your standard Michigan winter, but it may negatively affect winter recreation for those looking to get out into the snow. For the downhill skiing in Northern Michigan, the conditions may not be as good as your typical winter, but there will still be good ski days for those looking to hit the slopes. There should still be plenty of opportunities for snowmobiling, cross country skiing, ice fishing, but you may have to go a little further north than normal for those activities. But look on the bright side, if it is milder winter due to El Niño, we won’t have to heat our homes as much.

NEW STEM CERTIFICATE OFFERS INTERDISCIPLINARY EXPERIENCE

Program develops skills critical to workplace success, promotes diversity and equity A new Central Michigan University certificate program provides realworld STEM experiences while helping students contribute their unique perspectives to solve problems through diversity of thought. The first students of the Integration of Science, Technology, and Engineering program began their four-year, fivecourse journey this past spring in a pilot class. The first year’s topic: working as a team.

on a problem. Three biologists looking at the same problem will likely produce three similar solutions. A biologist, a physicist and an engineer looking at the same problem are more likely to produce three approaches.

An experience to reflect the real Pangle, a biology department faculty world There’s no such thing as a working lab of one, said Dr. Wiline Pangle, InSciTE’s director. Labs today rely on a collaboration of scientists and engineers from across several disciplines.

member, has received support across the College of Science and Engineering. An advisory committee of more than a dozen faculty members from various disciplines helped her develop the program’s infrastructure. While the problems are all drawn from real-world issues, a key component of InSciTE is tapping into the power of self-learning. Students focus on topics that interest them, which makes them active stakeholders in the project. So far, that’s resulted in students who are more productive and engaged in their work, she said.

The power of diversity in ideas

InSciTE is structured to provide its students with that kind of experience. Students are placed into teams that include students from other majors to work on a problem. This interdisciplinary structure brings as many points of view as possible to bear

Diversity of backgrounds is as important as diversity in academic discipline when it comes to science and for the same reason, Pangle said. People from different backgrounds bring different perspectives to a problem, leading to different approaches to solving it. InSciTE applies a broad definition of diversity, she said. They are broken down into racial groups, but there are also first-generation students and students from financially distressed backgrounds.

InSciTE’s teaching builds on ensuring equity, Pangle said. That means recognizing that some students start with additional challenges and then providing them with additional support. For example, some students might require additional support to boost their confidence, Pangle said. It’s less important that they bring skills to the program than it is that they develop them while pursuing the certificate. That meant applying a personal touch during the first group’s application process. Students were permitted to apply in whatever way they felt most comfortable, including video and audio clips, traditional written applications or even text messages. The idea was to give students a chance to introduce themselves to determine whether they were a good fit, she said. Guest speakers play a role too, Pangle said. Successful professionals who can set a positive example and provide encouragement are regularly invited to share their stories.

InSciTE faculty and student retreat at the CMU Biological Station on Beaver Island

Developing skills that are in demand Employers aren’t just looking for people with technical skills, Pangle said. They’re also looking for people who can work in and lead a research team, collaborate and resolve conflicts. Since January, the pioneer group has focused on developing these interpersonal skills. In the second year, InSciTE will focus on developing communications skills. While students will continue developing skills critical for collaboration, they’ll also work on persuasive communication and how to communicate effectively in a multi-disciplinary environment. By the third and fourth years in the program, InSciTE students will pick research projects that appeal to them.

Data to drive the program’s future The first group consists of 33 students, but future classes are expected to include as many as 70 students. When the program is fully operational, up to 300 students could be enrolled in InSciTE across all four years. Collecting information about the students’ experiences and progress through the program will provide Pangle and the advisory panel with a wealth of information that will help them strengthen InSciTE. Data collection will include interviews with students, which will help identify places where the experiences of the students differ from InSciTE self-perception data. It will help faculty program leaders/advisory panel members find ways to better connect students to the desired teaching outcomes. “That should be pretty powerful,” Pangle said.

Learn more about InSciTE

BIOLOGY PROFESSORS RESEARCH POPULATION PATTERNS OF GREAT LAKES FISH Dr. Andrew McNaught and Dr. Tracy Galarowicz received a grant for their research on population patterns of Great Lakes fish

Andrew McNaught, Ph.D., and Tracy Galarowicz, Ph.D. from the Biology Department, received a $223,665 grant for their project titled: Importance of Food Predators to Lake Whitefish and Cisco Recruitment. This study will look into whether changing food sources or predation explain the changing patterns of two larval fish species; Lake Whitefish are declining while Cisco are increasing in the nearshore areas (depths of < 10m) of the Great Lakes. Nearshore areas are crucial for native fish. In the case of Lake Whitefish and Cisco, spawning, egg incubation, and larval stage development all take place in these nearshore zones. The populations of these fish have been fluctuating since the early 1900s, due to factors such as overfishing, predation, and a changing environment. Unfortunately, very little is known about the nearshore ecology of the Great Lakes, despite their potential to be greatly affected by stressors such as sedimentation, nutrient addition, pollution, and climate change.

Larval Lake Whitefish for experiments in the Biosciences Building at CMU

In one portion of this study, doctoral student Kelly Hoyer is examining gut contents and growth rates of larval stage fish and comparing them to prey availability, as well as conducting laboratory experiments to determine foraging capabilities of larval Lake Whitefish and Cisco. Hoyer is also conducting predation trials with Round Goby and Rainbow Smelt, both of which are nearshore predators. These trials will determine if larval Lake Whitefish are more vulnerable than larval Cisco. In another aspect of the study, undergraduate student Julia Harig is conducting trials to determine if Lake Whitefish and Cisco are spending different amounts of energy on respiration. If larval Lake Whitefish expend more energy on respiration than larval Cisco, Whitefish will have less energy for daily activities such as foraging, predator evasion, and lead to slower growth rates.

This project began in March of 2020, but all field sampling had to be delayed due to the pandemic. Luckily, the project was able to be extended and the research has continued. The information gathered about food resources and predation will help fish biologists better manage the population of Lake Whitefish.

/CmichSE

CMU RESEARCHERS CLEANING WATER ONE DROP AT A TIME

U.S. Army Ground Vehicle Systems Center grant turns research into reality CMU College of Science and Engineering faculty members Itzel Marquez (Engineering and Technology), Anja Mueller (Chemistry and Biochemistry), and Brad Fahlman (Chemistry and Biochemistry) have been awarded a grant from the U.S. Army Ground Vehicle Systems Center for their work on developing materials that remove toxic compounds from water.

Itzel Marquez

Anja Mueller

Brad Fahlman

The team’s research aims to produce an alternative to current water purification systems that cannot meet required water quality standards. The new materials will be designed using specially designed polymers and an adjustable form of carbon that act as filters. The materials will provide a way to produce purified water on-site without relying on bulk distribution. The research team, which includes undergraduate students, master’s students and post-doctoral researchers, will use a portion of the grant to purchase state-of-the-art equipment for the synthesis and characterization of the materials.

This year the Science and Engineering Residential College (SERC) celebrated its 25th Anniversary – the oldest standing residential college at CMU! To celebrate, we invited STRC and SERC alumni back to campus on Homecoming weekend for a fun filled day of events and story sharing. It was amazing to see the lifelong friendships that had been created from their time in STRC/SERC. SERC is a living-learning community for students pursuing one of CSE’s 33 majors. Students benefit from the community experience, personalized student support, peer interactions, field trips, and volunteer opportunities. We welcomed 204 students to SERC for the 2023-24 academic year, the largest group since 2019.

SERC students welcoming prospective students to CMU at CMU & You Day!

DOCTORAL STUDENT STUDIES NEW WAY TO COMBAT TUBERCULOSIS

Priscilla Dzigba researched antibody-recruiting molecules to study and potentially fight against diseases like tuberculosis and nontuberculous mycobacteria Priscilla Dzigba, a doctoral student studying Biochemistry, Cellular, and Molecular Biology, is focused on developing antibody-recruiting molecules to combat the bacteria that cause tuberculosis and other mycobacterial diseases. Mycobacteria are a group of bacteria that cause hard-to-treat diseases like tuberculosis (TB), nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) disease, leprosy, diphtheria, and Buruli ulcer. Many bacteria, including mycobacteria, have become resistant to existing drugs because antibiotics have been used too much or not in the right way. Antibiotic resistance is a global problem that is expected to kill more than 10 million people by 2050. TB and NTM are becoming more and more recognized as major causes of this problem. Antibody-recruiting molecules (ARMs) are man-made molecules that can bind to two different targets: a naturally occurring antibody in the human body and a molecule on the surface of bacteria. When these two targets get

closer to each other, ARMs can tell the immune system to fight the pathogen and kill it. Dzigba developed the first ARM to target mycobacteria. She made a new compound named Tre-DNP, which is an ARM that puts a dinitrophenyl (DNP) molecule on the surface of mycobacteria. She also demonstrated that the DNP binds antibodies naturally present in blood that recognize DNP molecules. People have many of these antibodies, which bind strongly to the DNP molecules on the bacterium’s surface. By making these antibodies interact with mycobacteria, ARMs can possibly help the immune system find and get rid of mycobacteria faster. Dzigba found that modifying mycobacteria with ARMs influenced how immune cells respond to the bacteria, which is a significant step toward figuring out how to use the host’s immune system to fight illness. Dzigba says, “I hope that my findings will help to lay the groundwork for more effective therapies in addition to existing conventional therapies for patients with

TB and NTM, particularly those afflicted with drug-resistant strains.” She also hopes that her findings will spur additional studies into the design and synthesis of ARMs for other infectious diseases as well as non-infectious diseases such as autoimmune disorders and allergies. “ARMs may provide a viable and adaptable platform for engaging immune activity in human diseases.” After graduation, Dzigba plans to pursue a career in synthetic immunology and intends to work with other researchers to transfer scientific discoveries into therapeutic applications and social advantages. On her journey to CMU, Dzigba says, “I was especially pleased to come in and work with two experts in Synthetic Chemistry and Immunology, Dr. Benjamin Swarts and Dr. Mallary Greenlee-Wacker, on creative ideas and collaborative research like mine. CMU seemed like the appropriate setting and support system for me to pursue graduate research and fulfill my academic and professional goals.”

CMU NSF AWARD TO IMPROVE EQUITY AND INCLUSION FOR FACULTY CMU has received a nearly $1 million, 3 year National Science Foundation (NSF) ADVANCE Adaptation Award to build a culture of equity, create transparent policies, and improve recruitment and mentoring to benefit all faculty at Central Michigan University. The NSF ADVANCE program contributes to the National Science Foundation’s goal of increasing the representation and advancement of women in science and engineering in academia, thereby contributing to a more diverse science and engineering workforce. The CMU ADVANCE Leadership team includes Mathematics professor Dr. Katrina Piatek-Jimenez and CSE Associate Dean, Tracy Galarowicz. Other team members include Communication faculty Dr. Kirsten Weber and Psychology faculty Dr. Kim O’Brien.

FACULTY AWARDED MULTI-ACCESS TO SYNCHROTRON FACILITIES IN THE UNITED STATES AND EUROPE CMU Earth and Atmospheric Sciences faculty member and Director of the STARLAB Anthony Chappaz, was recently awarded multi-access to some of the best analytical facilities in the world to investigate the molecular properties of critical elements in Earth’s materials: Synchrotrons. A synchrotron machine is an extremely powerful source of X-rays and exists to accelerate electrons to extremely high energy. The resulting X-rays emitted are then directed toward beamlines that are adjacent to the accelerator. The process of securing beamtime at synchrotron facilities is highly competitive, with only a limited number of spots available. The cost for 24 hours of beamtime can be as high as $40,000. Dr. Chappaz secured access to unique beamlines (i.e., beamtime) via six successful proposals submitted at four synchrotron facilities in the United States and Europe. The projects involve the participation of five PhD students from five different institutions and five different countries, including the United States, Canada, England, Brazil, and Estonia, who are all officially co-supervised by Dr. Chappaz. Through these successful proposals, Dr. Chappaz and his vast international team have been awarded a total of 25 days of beamtime within the next six months, representing an in-kind contribution of approximately $1 million. In addition to the overall success of the proposals, one project led by a PhD student visiting the STARLAB (Marcelo Prianti) and co-supervised by Dr. Chappaz was ranked number one among 35 other submissions at the SOLEIL synchrotron in France. Dr. Chappaz expects that the data collected during this beamtime will lead to the publication of 12-15 papers over the next two years, further solidifying the CMU’s Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences reputation as a leader in the field of investigating critical metals using molecular geochemistry approaches.

GRAD STUDENT CREATES MEMBRANE THAT REMOVES ZINC FROM WASTEWATER

John Jalkanen created a polymer resin membrane to be used and reused in wastewater treatment facilities John Jalkanen, a graduate student studying chemistry, created a polymer resin membrane to be used in wastewater treatment facilities. The basic function of the resin and membrane is ion exchange with the zinc or other heavy metal ions. The membrane binds the material and traps it within the polymer. Jalkanen’s polymer membrane allows for repeated use by regenerating it with a brine rinse to remove bound ions. Jalkanen’s greatest challenge during his research was implementing the resin as a membrane on its own. The membrane was initially too brittle and had difficulty in allowing water to pass through it. To counter these difficulties, Jalkanen added a support structure for the membrane and modified the application of the molecule that binds the zinc. These modifications allowed the membrane to be more flexible while allowing water to pass through it. The membrane successfully retained 100% of the 10ppm ZnCl solution that was passed through the membrane. Still, the membrane was not specifically capturing only zinc ions. To capture only zinc ions, Jalkanen molecularly imprinted the membrane during the synthesis process. This formed cavities in the membrane to specifically bind with only zinc. Jalkanen began working on this project with Anja Mueller, Ph.D., during his undergraduate education to develop a polymer resin for ion removal from wastewater. At the end of his undergraduate, he completed polymer resin research on the project. Starting his graduate studies, he transitioned to implementing the polymer resin as a membrane.

CMU JOINS MICHIGAN SPACE GRANT CONSORTIUM

After presenting to the board, CMU was unanimously approved to join the consortium participating in NASA projects Central Michigan University was approved to join the Michigan Space Grant Consortium (MSGC). The MSGC’s mission is to “create, develop, and promote programs that reflect NASA’s strategic interests and support cooperation between academia, industry, state, and local government in science and technology in Michigan.” With the University of Michigan as the lead, a consortium of 12 Michigan universities participates in NASA’s projects and offers a variety of funding opportunities to support student and faculty lead research projects, as well as fellowships, internships, and educational programs. Additionally, a conference is held each year to showcase the outcomes of the new research developed through the consortium’s funding. Tao Zheng, Ph.D., Professor of Geography & Environmental Studies, will serve as the CMU affiliate liaison. At the recent MSGC board meeting, Zheng presented on CMU facilities, faculty expertise, capabilities, and more. Rachael Nelson, Ph.D., Professor of Exercise and Health Sciences, and David Weindorf, Ph.D., Vice President for Research and Innovation, joined Zheng to answer questions from the board. After the presentation and questions, the board unanimously approved CMU’s application to join the board. Weindorf says, “The space grant program has a strong focus on student engagement which is a really good fit for CMU! While many of these grants are fairly small, they can be used for initial data collection or proof of concept ideas in support of much larger NASA funding requests. […] One other thing to note is that while most people think about NASA funding aerospace engineering, etc., they fund so many other things as well – everything from medical or human physiology research to geosciences, atmospheric science, even textiles used to make space suits.”

FACULTY DEVELOP CARBON DIOXIDE TRACKING METHOD

Faculty member’s research to help scientists understand how carbon dioxide travels around the atmosphere Tao Zheng is developing a method for tracking carbon dioxide emissions. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that traps heat in the Earth’s atmosphere, creating a livable temperature. However, an excess of greenhouse gases can have negative effects on the environment, such as climate change and global warming. Dr. Zheng received a grant from NASA to investigate the man-made and naturally occurring sources of carbon dioxide over North and South America. To efficiently track carbon emissions, he is using an atmospheric modeling system and satellite observations. The atmospheric modeling system is a set of complex computer codes that simulate the governing physics of

certain atmospheric processes, such as radiation. The satellite observations provide information on the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, while the atmospheric modeling system links the carbon dioxide to their sources. The project is in the initial stages but is expected to be completed in three years. The findings from this research will be combined using sophisticated numerical methods and will provide scientific support for implementing carbon emission regulations aimed at reducing climate change. According to Dr. Zheng, “The project has been developing a global carbon dioxide inverse modeling system based

on National Center for Atmospheric Research’s latest atmospheric model MPAS (Model Predictions Across Scales). The newly developed system will enable high-resolution CO2 flux estimation at high resolution using multiple sources of CO2 observations, including NASA’s OCO-2/3 satellites and airborne and tower measurements.” Matthew Liesch, faculty member and Chair of the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies added, “Tao’s research will be useful for helping scientists and policymakers understand how carbon dioxide travels around the atmosphere.”

During the 2022-2023 year, the CMU Institute for Great Lakes Research: Published 50 peer reviewed scientific manuscripts Presented 53 international seminars Was awarded $4,766,942 in external funding

he CMU Biological Station has celebrated another successful season on Beaver Island in northern Lake Michigan.

• The CMUBS Research Experience for Undergraduate Students attracts students from across the country each year to work with CMU scientists for 10 weeks on Beaver Island.

During the 2022-2023 year, the CMU Biological Station on Beaver Island Housed:

50 CMU staff members, 20 CMU faculty members conducting research, 5 undergraduate researchers, 30 visiting faculty members, 83 visiting students, 115 students taking classes, 446 individuals attending events, and 268 guests. • CMUBS Director, Dr. Don Uzarski, worked with the Personal Submersibles Organization and Innerspace Science to bring submersible vessels to the station to explore Lake Michigan and contribute to research projects.

• The College of Science and Engineering hosted the Engineering Society of Detroit Girls in Engineering Academy. After ten days on the main campus, the girls spent a week at the CMUBS taking engineering and ecology courses

• Researchers use a one-of-a-kind monitoring system that collects data on climate change factors and water quality issues in the Great Lakes aboard the M/V Emerald Isle that services Beaver Island from Charlevoix. The equipment records 13 water quality variables every two minutes and collects water samples every 12 minutes on each trip.

• The CMU Biological Station is part of The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to conserve biodiversity, restore and enhance ecosystem services, and foster sustainable use of natural resources, all through the generation of scientific knowledge.

ello, College of Science and Engineering alumni. My name is Becky Walker, and I am the Development Officer for CSE. My role is to engage and connect with alumni and to generate philanthropic support from alumni and friends of CMU to support our students and faculty. I am in my second year at CMU, and I have been fortunate to meet and visit with many of you. Your support of Science and Engineering is greatly appreciated, and I have enjoyed hearing your stories. Many of you have shared about your love for Beaver Island and your time at the Biological Station. I’ve heard stories of Geology field trips, favorite professors, and experiences in the Residential College. Wonderful stories that have helped me learn about you and your passion for CMU’s College of Science and Engineering. I welcome the opportunity to connect with many more of you and to hear your stories as well. Philanthropic support comes in all shapes and sizes and every gift counts. The financial challenges that many students face can hinder their ability to learn and pursue their career aspirations. The generosity of our donors provides life-changing opportunities for these students. We are grateful to all of our donors whose impact has been felt by many students over the years, and I look forward to working with you to ensure that our students continue to feel this impact. If you have questions about becoming an annual donor, starting an endowment, discussing a planned gift, or anything else related to philanthropy, please reach out to me at 989-774-2923 or becky.walker@cmich.edu Fire up!

MAKE A GIFT Sustained support from alums, corporate partners, and other friends ensures that College of Science & Engineering students continue to receive the quality education that best prepares them for a meaningful career. Please consider making a gift to the College of Science and Engineering today.