Avital Polston (Keeley), a Physics Research major, was awarded a slot in the National Science Foundation-funded Research Experiences for Undergraduates (NSF REU) program at the University of California at Santa Barbara for Summer 2022. Avital will be developing Python computer programs that will accelerate the search for exoplanets, which are planets outside our solar system. The programs will combine simulations of the performance of Earth-based and space-based scientific instruments to determine the most effective instrument and technique for exoplanet observation. The nine-week program starts in June, and includes a stipend and housing.

As a transfer student, Avital heard about the NSF REU program during initial advising, and then again from other physics students and her physics professors. Her advice: "Start early and treat it like an assignment." The application process involved writing a statement and obtaining letters of recommendation. According to one of her professors, Dr. Behringer, "In class, Avital demonstrated a great attitude and willingness to work hard and to work well with her classmates. Even when faced with a completely new task – like coding in python – she just simply got to work and asked for help when needed. All of these skills made her a great candidate for an REU. Obtaining an REU slot during the pandemic has been very challenging, and we are delighted that she has this opportunity." The Department of Physics and Astronomy looks forward to her return so that she can share all that she learned. For students who may be uncertain about whether to apply for REUs, Avital suggests: "Just get your foot in the door and do everything you can…just try, let the other person say no, and don’t lose hope."

Dr. Eric Portenga and his former student, Leah VanLandingham, have a new paper that is the result of Leah’s Undergraduate thesis. The paper, entitled "Comparison of basin-scale in situ and meteoric 10Be erosion and denudation rates in felsic lithologies across an elevation gradient at the George River, northeast Tasmania, Australia", appears in the European Geosciences Union's new, open-access journal, Geochronology.

Dr. Portenga commented that "This is a really momentous opportunity for celebration of the research our undergraduate students do. Leah approached me to take on a small project to contract ESSC 325 Geomorphology for Honors, and she enjoyed working on a small dataset, so she asked if she could continue working on it for her thesis. I enjoyed working with her so much; her enthusiasm and dedication to the work encapsulated all the reasons why working with undergrads at EMU can be so fulfilling! And to have it published in a peer-reviewed, international journal, is just amazing."

Since graduation, Leah is happily working for Ford where she co-manages (non-)hazardous waste at 30+ sites in Dearborn.

EMU's Michigan-American Council on Education Women's Network has selected Dr. Marilyn Corsianos, Professor of Criminology and Women's & Gender Studies, as the 2022 Distinguished Woman in Higher Education Award recipient. The selection committee noted, "EMU's MI-ACE network overwhelmingly agreed that your contributions and work not only showcase your phenomenal contributions as a woman leader, but also showcase how you have served as a trailblazer in advocating for policy change and addressing barriers." Dr. Corsianos will be EMU’s nominee to the MI-ACE State Awards Committee for consideration to be the 2022 MI-ACE Distinguished Woman in Higher Education for the state of Michigan.

Company E Dancers performed in the Annual Faculty and Guest Artist Choreography Concert on April 8 and 9 in Pease Auditorium. Company E members are dance majors and minors who are selected to be company members via audition. The concert featured the work of four guest Detroit-based choreographers who worked on campus with students for eight months to produce an original piece of choreography for the concert. EMU Dance values versatility in dance training and that was certainly on display in the concert as the pieces ranged from classical ballet to Detroit-based Jit/Funkateer dance.

On April 19th, the EMU Opera Workshop joined forces with the EMU Symphony Orchestra for the performance of the comedic opera Gallantry, by Douglas Moore. While the Opera Workshop students performed the piano version of this opera earlier this semester, this collaboration marks the first-ever performance they have held with the Symphony Orchestra.