- Brown Bags! The next brown bag seminar will be the 14th of October. It will feature-International Experiences for Graduate Students: A Welsh World Heritage Case Study- with Brooke Batterson, Kathryn Hannum, James Juip, Larissa Juip, Zoé Ketola, and Mark Rhodes.
- Make a Difference Day will be held on Saturday Oct. 22 at 9 am. Registration is due by Oct. 17th at 8 am. For more information and to register check out mtu.givepluse.com.
- This weekend and next at McArdle Theatre, 7:30 (Free for students) Tech Theatre Company presents a performance of R.U.R. (Rossum’s Universal Robots) . This classic Karl Capek play (101 years old this year) imagines a world in which synthetic humanoid beings perform virtually all work previously done by humans. This change has a profound effect on the human race (the birth rate plunges as people struggle with a lack of purpose), and the robots themselves begin to perceive their own worth and rights as sentient beings.
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Congratulations to Dr. Shardul Tiwari for successfully defending his dissertation, titled: THE ENERGY TRANSITION THROUGH AN ENERGY JUSTICE APPROACH: A PUMPED UNDERGROUND STORAGE HYDRO STUDY THROUGH SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, AND TECHNICAL LENS. Excellent work!!
The Graduate School awardees for Social Sciences Fall 2022 are:
- The Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award recognizes exceptional ability as an educator.
- The Outstanding Scholarship Award recognizes exceptional research and scholarship.
They will be recognized at the Graduate Student Government award ceremony held in the spring.
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Social Scientists in Action
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- 2022 Field School documented Finnish American Homesteads in Misery Bay and Toivola. The Summer 2022 Field School was team-taught by MTU Historian, Dr. Sarah Scarlett, Keweenaw National Historical Park Historical Architect John Arnold (Industrial Heritage PhD 2017), and Finlandia University Finnish Studies Associate Professor and folklorist Hilary Virtanen. The instructors and students focused on documenting and creating materials describing a Finnish American homestead farm in the Misery Bay area of Toivola and an adjacent summer cottage built in the 1940s. To read more about this project check out the Social Science Blog here.
- Student Spotlight: After attending Field School with Dr. Sarah Scarlett, Robert Hazen, Michigan Tech Social Sciences Major, shared his experiences in the documentation of historic structures course. Check out the published article detailing his research here.
- Michigan Tech Global Campus Highlights Online Certificate in Public Policy: Dr. Adam Wellstead, director of the Department of Social Sciences Online Certificate in Public Policy, presented the connections between public policy and environmental engineering to the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering (CEGE). He explained that both state and local governments as well as public policy consulting firms require engineers with public policy skills. Whether they’re planning infrastructure, bridges, or water systems, CEGE engineers have to consider local, state, and federal policies. They must conduct risk assessments, consult with publics, and understand the policy process. They must frequently examine issues through a public management lens. For more information about his presentation go to the Global Campus blog here.
- Cider aplenty - gallons and gallons of cider were made and shared with all Sunday at the Blair farm. Many thanks to Dr. Carl Blair and Julie Blair for hosting this event at their beautiful farm & orchard and to Dr. Steve Walton for bringing tons of apples, his apple-scratter, cider press and cider making expertise! Everyone who came learned how to make cider and went away with cider whether they had apples or not. The dogs had fun too. Look for some cider to sample in the SS Dept. refrigerator this week. Plan to come next year, it was a beautiful day.
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Other Student Announcements
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- Dr. Mark Rouleau will be offering SS4009 / SS5003 Survey Methods this upcoming Spring semester instead of Statistics for Social Sciences. It will be offered T/TH 12:30-1:45. This course can be helpful in expanding your methodological skills.
- On Thursday the 13th, the Mexico Spring break study away program will hold an info session in AOB commons at 5:00. Stop by for more information about how to fit this opportunity into your Spring schedule! Email Dr. Hannum khannum@mtu.edu with any and all questions. Mexican snacks and refreshments will be provided.
- Applications are now being accepted for the 2023 Amtrak Tourism: Trains, Cities, and Sustainability faculty-led study away. The program is only $1000+Tuition and makes 6 stops over 19 days where students can earn 6-13 credits over the course of Summer A. Anyone interested is welcome to attend an informational session in the AOB Commons (Rm 209) at 5:30pm on Tuesday October 11th and/or October 26th. There will be snacks. You can also reach out to the faculty director and co-director, directly: Dr. Mark Rhodes (marhodes@mtu.edu) and Dr. Kathryn Hannum (khannum@mtu.edu).
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Upcoming Conferences, Webinars, and Talks
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- October 12 Deadline - Dr. Mark Rhodes is co-organizing a series of sessions for the 2023 Annual Memory Studies Association meeting in Newcastle, England. The conference theme is Communities and Change and their session looking for papers reflective of equitable futures and industrial heritage. If you would like to be involved or have any questions, please reach out to Dr. Rhodes (marhodes@mtu.edu) by October 12th.
- Students and student teams are invited to be a presenter and/or sign up to attend the 2022 Global and Community Engagement (G&CE) Conference (formerly known as D80 Conference.) This is a student centered in-person conference at Michigan Tech on Saturday, October 29, 2022.
- The Michigan Sociological Association has extended its deadline for submissions to the fall conference located at Michigan State University November 4-5th. Colleagues, students and interested professionals are encouraged to submit a paper for the undergraduate paper competition or conference session. There is something for everyone this year as we will be hosting an adjunct panel, as well as an applied professional panel for those interested in exploring nonacademic careers. Our board is interdisciplinary, and scholars from all social sciences are welcome.
- Dec 1 Deadline Deadline for registering for AAG (the American Association of Geographers conference) is approaching. This is a large and fun conference where spatial thinking brings multiple social sciences disciplines together. There is funding for graduate students to attend via the department travel award and through external awards, such as the Graduate Student Affinity Group. The application deadline is December 1, 2022. Please talk to Don Lafrienie, Kat Hannum, and/or Mark Rhodes for more information about this conference.
- If you are interested in attending the in-person MOHA (Michigan Oral History Association) annual meeting in Lansing, please contact Lindsay Hiltunen at lehalkol@mtu.edu. Assistance with travel could be provided if necessary. More information about the meeting can be found here. To learn more about how you would benefit from attending click here.
- The World Social Science Association (WSSA) conference will be held April 12-15 in Tempe AZ. Proposals must be submitted between Sep. 25th and Dec. 10th. If you are interested in attending or finding out more see here or email Chelsea Schelly at cschelly@mtu.edu.
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Jobs and Other Opportunities
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- Dr. Merin Oleschuk in the Human Development & Family Studies department at University of Illinois is recruiting students for fall 2023. Her lab studies social inequalities within households through the lens of food. In her lab, they conduct transdisciplinary community-engaged research that aims to make household food labor and consumption more equitable by helping people in diverse circumstances cook and eat in ways that nourish their bodies and souls and connects them to their communities. Students working with her have the opportunity to develop skills in mixed methods research, with specific emphasis on varied qualitative methods such as interviews, observations, photovoice, media analyses, and focus groups. Those who are interested can learn more here or email oleschuk@illinois.edu.
- Three Job Opportunities at the Keller Science Action Center at the Field Museum in Chicago, IL. One is a science communicator role, and the other two are social scientist roles in the Andes-Amazon Program. For position descriptions and to apply, see the following links:
 
Executive Summary and Key Facts:
- Fully-funded research positions in Rwanda. Funding includes housing, airfare, medical expenses and stipend.
- US-citizen or permanent residents only.
- Must commit to being in Rwanda for 10 weeks during Summer 2023 (Specific dates TBD). Longer stays possible based on research interests and fit. Must be a student in the Summer 2023
- Must have experience with GIS (Esri preferred).
- Excellent match for undergraduate and/or graduate students interested in GIS, disaster management, displacement, humanitarian field research, or other relevant areas.
- Strong preference will be given to applicants who will use the research experience for follow-up research work the academic year after the summer research experience.
- Deadline to apply: November 13, 2023. See details below with more information on how to apply and other useful information.
- For more information click here.
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- The C2C Fellows Network, offered through the Graduate Programs in Sustainability at Bard College in New York, is an international program for undergraduates and recent graduates aspiring to leadership work in sustainable politics, NGO's and business. They will be hosting a virtual workshop from 9 AM-5 PM ET on Saturday 12/3. There is no cost to attend. If you are interested in applying, you can do so here. Any questions can be emailed to ss3043@bard.edu.
- Northern Illinois University’s Department of Anthropology is accepting applicants for its Master’s degree program. Dr. Emily McKee invites applicants interested in environmental anthropology, in particular. Through a partnership with NIU’s Institute for the Study of the Environment, Sustainability, and Energy, one graduate teaching assistantship is reserved for an excellent MA candidate with an environmental focus. (Additional assistantships are available for students with other specialties, as well.) For more information on the program click here.
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- The University of Minnesota is hiring a Senior Data Analyst. Annual salary starting at $55,000- $65,000 depending on qualifications. This position is eligible for fully remote, hybrid, or fully onsite work arrangements.
- Required Qualifications
- A master’s degree in a social science or health-related field with 1 or more years of research training.
- Experience with at least one major statistical software package (SPSS, Stata, SAS, or R). found here.
- Exploring the Twentieth-Century Historic Thematic Framework in the European Context. The International Scientific Committee on 20th Century Heritage (ISC20C) with the Getty Conservation Institute (GCI), invites you to the first in a series of seminars (held between September 2022 and June 2023) on the Twentieth Century Historic Thematic Framework: A tool for Assessing Heritage Places (20cHTF).
- The American Farm Land Trust is hiring a fully remote Western Solar Specialist. Although it is a remote position location in the Pacific Northwest is necessary. A minimum of 7 years of combined related work experience in renewable energy development (preferably solar), fundraising, public policy, public administration, and/or program management. Salary ranges from $75,000-$80,000 with flexible scheduling. The sooner you apply the sooner your application will be reviewed. Deadline is November 21st. To find out more information and apply, see their website here.
- A Course and Workshop on Behavioral Environmental Economics (SLU, Dept. of Forest Economics, Sweden) Applications are now open and close November 1, 2022, 23:00 CET (This is Free online course but requires application to be admitted)
- Course period: November 28, 2022 – December 19, 2022
- Lecture period: November 28, 2022 – December 7, 2022
- For more details check here. With general questions on application, please contact application.sekon@slu.se Dr. Chandra Krishnamurthy. For specific questions on the course, please contact: obenbayrak@sabanciuniv.edu Dr. Oben Bayrak.
- The University at Buffalo is hiring two tenure track faculty in Environment & Sustainability: open rank, any discipline. Seeking applicants with a demonstrated commitment to interdisciplinarity, we welcome unconventional approaches to critical issues. Topical areas include but are not limited to urban ecology, agri-food systems, water systems, energy and climate. A range of quantitative and qualitative approaches with scales from local to global are all appreciated. For more information and to apply click here.
- Open Post-Doc position for a quantitative social scientist to work with Water Insecurity in Higher Income Contexts collaborators. The Post-Doctoral Research Associate is responsible for working with a large interdisciplinary team to analyze a multi-sited study, manage and coordinate the development of a new round of data collection for households in higher-income contexts with HWISE-RCN members. The post-doctoral scholar will also be expected to participate in data analysis and manuscript writing. The pay is $62,000 plus benefits. Click here for the position description and application portal.
- Join our team! MISHPO is looking for 2 Historians! This position will provide analysis and review of statewide Federal historic preservation projects as required under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966. While only one job opportunity is listed, two identical positions will be filled from the applicant pool. Deadline to apply: October 19. Find the detailed job description and application instructions here.
- The Applied Anthropology Graduate Program at Oregon State University is pleased to announce a funded PhD position to work with an interdisciplinary team studying the ecological and social dimensions of river restoration in the Klamath River Basin in southern Oregon and northern California, USA. For more information click here. The application deadline is January 15, 2023, and the position will begin in Fall Term 2023.
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- Last day to Drop Full Semester Courses with a W - Friday Nov 4
- Last day for Seniors to register for graduation this upcoming May - get your application to the Registrar before the end of week 9 - Friday Oct 28
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