and environmental science . With Lake Superior in its back yard , Michigan Tech is known for its water research , based in the Great Lakes Research Center ( GLRC ). GLRC provides state-of-the-art laboratories to support research on a broad array of topics . Faculty members from many departments across the University ’ s campus collaborate on interdisciplinary research , ranging from air – water interactions to biogeochemistry to food web relationships . One of the GLRC ’ s most important functions is to educate the scientists , engineers , technologists , policymakers , and stakeholders of tomorrow about the Great Lakes basin .
The School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science includes a 3,700-acre research forest well-known as Ford Forest . The forest management and sustainability principles that donor Henry Ford began here continue , and expand — from selective cutting , to determining hybridization and gene flow in distinct tree populations . Students come here to learn tree species , geospatial mapping , how to evaluate wildlife habitat and safely operate a chainsaw . One-eighth of their undergraduate programs are completed at the Ford Forest , including a sixweek integrated field practicum bringing classes to study and live in the forest in fall or summer . focused on pumping fundamentals , heat exchange , membrane separation , kinetics , liquid extraction , vacuum drying , and flow measurement , among other chemical processes . Students gain hands-on experience with two fully automated pilot plants : a threestory distillation column ( solvent recovery unit ) and a two-story batch reactor . This unique facility affords students the opportunity to learn in a real-world chemical-processing work environment providing a practical , hands-on experience .
Together with researchers , faculty , and industry partners , Michigan Tech ’ s Huskies create the future through research . Michigan Tech ' s achievers and athletes are fondly known as Huskies owing to their joyful demeanor , exuberance , friendliness and extreme endurance . Battling the North wind , trudging through 200 inches of snow each winter , and staying late in the lab to discover that one , new piece of the puzzle typifies the hard work that keeps them motivated . Their mission to create a just , prosperous , and sustainable world is expressed through their entrepreneurial spirit — equal parts curiosity and grit .
Promoting STEM Education for Students to thrive in the Knowledgebased Economy In this fast-paced era , educational technology is also evolving rapidly . But the foundation of a Michigan Tech education is not going to change . Based on hands-on experience with real-world problems and an interdisciplinary approach to learning and problem-solving , a Michigan Tech education prepares — and is going to continue to prepare — students to succeed in a rapidly changing technological world . The University has developed a number of initiatives to promote interdisciplinary education in their institution ’ s environment .
Michigan Tech ’ s signature Enterprise Program , provides interdisciplinary teams of students with experience in working together to solve real-world problems and challenges presented by their industry partners ; Senior Design is a platform that gives senior engineering students opportunities to design a solution to an industry sponsor ’ s problem ; there are co-ops and internships arranged by Michigan Tech ’ s Career Services . Design Expo is an annual competition where the best student-designed research projects are showcased to the campus and community . Also there ’ s a Graduate
The Chemical Engineering Department has a 6,500 square foot , multi-story Unit Operations Lab , the largest pilot-scale chemical processing educational facility in the country . The laboratory features 18 bench and pilotplant-scale unit-operations experiments