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Feature Story: Technology and its Impact on Society
The dynamic duo of AI and ML has the potential to revolutionize much more than business practices. It is present already in many aspects of daily life, such as mapping apps, movie recommendations, facial recognition and car collision warning systems—just to name a few.
“Some believe AI will be as ubiquitous, and world-changing, as the internet,” Jim Shaughnessy said. “I think that they’re right.”
Issue Index
Northern Magazine, Spring/Summer 2021, Vol. 110, No. 2
President's Welcome
Catching up
Features:
- The New Ding Thing
- NMU's Innovation Institute
- Cyber Partnerships are Growing a Digital Economy in the U.P.
- Virtual Reality Provides Patient Perspective to Nursing Students
- Studio 102 Combines Tech Innovations
- Transforming COVID PPE Waste
- Targeting DNA Molecules
- Technology and its Impact on Society
- The Wildcat and the Sea
- Space Rangers
- 3 Answers: Tech Trends and Predictions
- Fully Charged
- Battling Evil Doers of the Dark Web
University Updates:
Keeping Track
Fully Charged
“Tesla’s mission is plastered all over the place: ‘Accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy,’” said Tyler Aymond ‘10 BFA, a senior manufacturing engineer with the revolutionary electric vehicle, energy storage, and solar company. “Almost everyone who works at Tesla is here for the mission. People are impassioned to fully contribute not because they want to get a promotion, but because they want to change the world in some small way.”
Space Rangers
Even though a piece of space junk falls to Earth each day, Austin Morris ’18 BS shares, “The threat isn’t it hitting us, but hitting the satellites we depend on in our everyday lives—for financial transactions, emergency weather alerts, navigation GPS, cell phone calls, online purchases, controlling autonomous vehicles.” And things like monitoring nuclear weapons.
The Wildcat and the Sea
Abandoned or discarded fishing nets, lines and ropes, commonly known as ghost gear, represent the bulk of large plastic pollution in the oceans and pose the greatest threat to marine life, according to the World Wildlife Fund. In addition, a National Geographic story last year stated the amount of plastic trash that flows annually from rivers into the oceans is expected to nearly triple by 2040 to 29 million metric tons.
NMU alumnus Dr. Ray Timm '92 BS is charting a course for cleaning up the largest plastic accumulation in the Pacific.
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NMU Plans Return to Full Operation This Fall
The university is preparing to be fully operational this fall, returning to pre-pandemic levels of face-to-face instruction, services and campus activities. President Fritz Erickson said Northern’s ability to continue in-person classes and keep its residence halls open this past academic year has increased his optimism for the fall semester.
“Our goal is to be back to the way things were in 2019. We see no reason at this point in time why that shouldn’t happen, and we look forward to the vibrancy that’s normally on campus to return. We’ve learned that what students want most of all is the interactive experience of face-to-face learning. That’s what is guiding us as we prepare for the fall.” -President Fritz Erickson
Summer orientation sessions are being held virtually, but summer academic and athletic camps for youth are being held in person, as well as a “Northern Experience” for families. Most summer courses are usually offered online. The campus is again open to visitors.
For the ability to remain open this past year and keep COVID-19 case numbers relatively low, Erickson credited the faculty, staff and students’ flexibility and adaptability; mass testing of all students and employees at the start and throughout the semesters; and strong relationships with various community groups, such as the Marquette County Health Department, which provided vaccines to the community at the Northern Center and valuable guidance to NMU.
He also credited Northern’s notebook computer program and high-speed broadband provided through its Educational Access Network (EAN), which were critical to students, faculty and staff. The EAN also benefited school districts and families in rural communities across the Upper Peninsula that previously had no internet and were suddenly confronted with the demands of virtual instruction.
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Marquette Love
A student takes a swim in Lake Superior near Middle Island Point.
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Congratulations to the class of 2021!
Nearly 900 NMU graduates were honored at the 121st spring commencement ceremony on May 1, which was once again held virtually. Bryan Terrell Clark, a Broadway star who played George Washington in Hamilton, was the featured commencement speaker; graphic design major Jalen Sims was the student speaker.
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$5,400 worth of food donated by NMU students as part of Giving Day
It started with an idea from social work major Jacob McCann, who expressed an interest in using his Dining Dollars, which were about to expire, to purchase food and donate it to the NMU Food Pantry. It ended with 130 other students joining him to generously provide $5,400 worth of food as part of Giving Day.
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Psychology student featured
Psychology student Hannah Kaull will be featured in the Association for Psychological Science Observer magazine for her research with NMU Professor Josh Carlson suggesting that positive images of climate change solutions are more attention-grabbing and in turn may be the most suitable images to motivate environmentally friendly action or behavior.
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U.P. History From the Vaults
The Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center has a new weekly video program called, “From the Vaults,” featuring items from the center’s wide and diverse collection. Episodes focus on Glenn Seaborg’s Eisenhower hat, Joe Priante and the NMU Ski Team, President James Appleberry’s Zenith Laptop, The Voelker family steamer trunk, Dallas Cowboys Training Camp, the Sam Cohodas Collection and much more! Tune in on YouTube.