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		Happenings Angela Arpke April 14, 2004 Guest Column © 2004 Angela Arpke. Photos © 2004  and courtesy Michigan Tech Environmental Sustainability Committee. Isle Royale wolves photo © and courtesy Rolf Peterson. Published with Permission

MTU offers variety of Earth Week events Apr. 19 - 24

By Angela Arpke

HOUGHTON -- Interested in wind and innovative technologies? Want to learn more about wolves or bats? Watch birds in flight? Come celebrate Earth Week at Michigan Tech, April 19 to 24! 

A bat roosts on the Quincy Mine in Hancock. Several local former copper mines have been converted into safe habitat for bats. Learn about bats from Laura Kruger, MTU graduate student . Her presentation will be from 11 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, Apr. 21, in the ROTC Blue Room on the Michigan Tech campus. (Photo © 2004 by Laura Kruger. Reprinted with permission.)

The week starts out Monday, Apr. 19, with live folk-style music by Rob Fritz from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. inside the Memorial Union Building (MUB). The MUB and other MTU campus locations will be the scene of a variety of activities for the whole family throughout the week.

Monday, Apr. 19: Earth Week Fair

On Monday evening, come to Commons of the Memorial Union between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. for the Earth Week Fair. At the fair, you will have the opportunity to enjoy live music as you interact with various community and campus groups, including, but not limited to, the Keweenaw Land Trust, Natural History Association, Keweenaw Co-op, Marquette Citizens for Wind Energy, North Woods Recovery, GEM Center, and a representative from the Michigan Tech Trails.

Dr. Rolf Peterson, Michigan Tech professor in the School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science and director of the Isle Royale Wolf/Moose Study, will give the keynote address -- "How can we live with wolves?" -- from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the MUB Commons.

MTU Professor Rolf Peterson photographed these wolves crossing the ice along the shore of Isle Royale. (Keweenaw Now file photo © and courtesy Rolf Peterson. Reprinted with permission.)

This year's fair should be a great kick-off event for the week. Alexis Troschinetz, of the Earth Week Planning Committee and student co-chair of MTU's Environmental Sustainability Committee (ESC), commented she is looking forward to the fair because "it will be a great opportunity to share information about environmental issues with the community and the campus while having a backdrop of great live music from local artists."

Tuesday, Apr. 20: From hybrid cars to wind energy

From noon to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, the lunchtime event features a Hybrid Car demo at the Memorial Union Circle Driveway, by Barry Solomon, MTU professor of Social Sciences. The evening event will be a presentation by Jennifer Silverston of the Marquette Citizens for Wind Energy. Come to Fisher Hall, Room 135, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. to learn about current advances in wind technology.

Wednesday, Apr. 21: Bats to birds in flight

On Wednesday, be ready to focus your eyes on the sky as you have the opportunity to learn about bats from Graduate Student Laura Kruger. Her presentation, "Reclaiming Mines as Bat Habitat," will be from 11 a.m. to noon in the ROTC Blue Room.

These bats find a comfortable roost in the Caledonia Mine in Mass City, Mich. (Photo © 2004 and courtesy Marco Riolo. Reprinted with permission.)

Wednesday night, come to the Minerals and Materials Engineering Building, Room U115, for the movie Winged Migration. The movie starts at 7 p.m., with popcorn and pop being served. Following the movie, a discussion led by a representative from the Copper Country Audubon Club will help you to apply topics presented in the movie, such as how human development impacts the migration of birds.

When asked to comment about Winged Migration, Shalini Suryanarayana, associate director of MTU's Department of Educational Opportunity and chair of the Environmental Sustainability Committee, gave it this rave review: 

"Whether you appreciate the nuances of adaptive behavior or not, if you've always wanted to soar like a bird in flight, watching Winged Migration is guaranteed to carry you on that flight of fantasy. The magnificent cinematography, lush soundtrack and evocative segments are absolutely thrilling. It is the result of four years' filming by hundreds of people on all seven continents who followed several species of birds over thousands of miles during their annual north-south migration. The birds on display are varied and numerous: geese, penguins, pelicans, eagles, more. They all present their own behavioral quirks and distinctive physical features, but the one thing they have in common are the absurd distances they travel in order to find food and an acceptable climate. I believe the shortest travel distance (by air) was 1,800 miles. That's nuts. Most humans I know can't even be bothered to walk to the grocery store!

"There is a disclaimer at the beginning which informs us that none of the scenes of birds in flight were altered or enhanced by visual effects. You might wonder if this was really necessary, until you see the footage for yourself. There are some impressive but standard shots, and then there are the unprecedented aerial shots, where the camera tags along behind or even alongside the birds several thousand feet in the air, giving the audience a chance to see an old phenomena from a new perspective. It must have been insanely difficult to achieve some of these camera angles, and it would be within reason to suspect some digital manipulation if they hadn't told us otherwise.

"Although it will probably not appeal to all tastes, and may be downright boring to non-nature lovers, it is a wonderfully profound, visually stunning, feast for the eyes and ears. It is a beautifully filmed spectacle that captures the imagination, and allows the viewer to literally soar through the stratosphere, in a breathtaking, visceral odyssey that is almost magical in its presentation and scope. Its amazing cinematography will make you feel like part of the flock.

"And though Winged Migration might be light on explaining the science behind bird flight, it is an excellent way to get down with nine species of winged wonders. Winged Migration is not just different from most studio films; it is vastly superior."

Thursday, Apr. 22: More about Wolves

On Thursday, April 22, James Hammill, a wildlife biologist, will present a one-hour presentation about wolves titled "The Wolf is at the Door, Now What?" from noon to 1 p.m., in the ROTC Blue Room. Hammill will briefly describe the expansion of wolves in the upper Midwest and discuss whether wolves will be delisted from the Endangered Species Act in the future.

Northland College student Lori Kret, left, and Adrian Wydeven, Wildlife Manager with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, hold a wolf pup in summer 2001. (Photo © 2001and courtesy Adrian Wydeven. Reprinted with permission.)

Thursday evening, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., come enjoy the presentation "Biology, Ecology and Management of Gray Wolves in Wisconsin," by Adrian Wydeven, Wildlife Manager with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, in Hesterberg Hall Room G002, School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science. Wydeven's presentation will describe various aspects of biology, including breeding habits, pack dynamics, food habits and land tenure systems of wolves. 

Friday, Apr. 23: Spring Fling

Saturday, Apr. 24: Community Clean-up!

"I think the clean-up of Princess Point is a great excuse for people to get outside and enjoy spring," Tillison said. "And, if you're like me and enjoy swimming at Princess Point during the summer -- why not come out and help us make the area a little better!"

For a complete calendar of Earth Week Events, visit the MTU Environmental Sustainability Committee website. If you have questions about parking or building locations, consult the MTU Web site's campus map or contact the Michigan Tech Department of Public Safety at 487-2216. For questions or additional information about Earth Week, send an e-mail to mtugreen-l@mtu.edu. We hope to see you soon!

Editor's Notes: Learn more about the author of this article, Angela Arpke. This year's MTU Earth Week events will be dedicated to the late Nicole Bloom. Alexis M. Troschinetz, ESC Committee member, said she and a few others are putting together a display that will be shown at each Earth Week event. "The purpose of this display is to show the numerous ways in which Nicole was instrumental in the planning and execution of Earth Week at Michigan Tech since its rebirth in 2001. She was also very active in Students Against Violating the Environment (SAVE), and she with SAVE initiated the MTU Paper Recycling Program," Troschinetz explained. "During Earth Week, we will welcome anyone to add comments by hand to the display. Following Earth Week, the quotes and other information on the display will be compiled and placed onto the Environmental Sustainability Committee's Website." For more on Nicole Bloom see "Friends pay tribute to Nicole Bloom, climbing accident victim."

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