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NEWMAN CONSULTING2.Circuit card for wildlife camera with infrared LED illumination,fabricated by electrical and eomputer engineering department.job done on deadline, when the researcher was out in thefield. They actually wanted this project finished early inthe spring semester!”Since the projects are student-run, there is always thepossibility that someone will drop the course linked toa Blue Marble undertaking, leaving the rest of the teamscrambling to recover lost information and productivity.But that can happen on an engineering job, too, and “itprovides great opportunities for growth,” said Mr. Archer.The students agree. They believe their involvementwith Blue Marble—working on projects like small, quiet,and remotely operated vehicles; improved inventorysystems; and even a better remote control that MichiganTech’s football coaches are using to review game videos—has brightened their futures. “It’s better to fail here thanwhen I am out in my job,” said Mr. Hillert, who hasbeen offered a software engineering position at a smallcompany in Southeast Michigan.Mr. Demars is also sold on the business side ofengineering. “Product development,” he said. “I like beingable to see all the steps, including creating a system and,after the product is made, seeing what works and whatdoesn’t work.” This prep work can only build toward abrighter future for Michigan’s engineers.Dennis Walikainen, PhD, is a SeniorEditor at Michigan TechnologicalUniversity. He received his doctorate inrhetoric and technical communicationin May 2009.¹ LEED ® CertificationProject Administration¹ Energy Audits¹ Retro-Commissioning of HVACand Lighting Systems¹ Tax Deductions¹ Seminars : IAQ, Energy, LEED ® ,Green Design, ASHRAEStandards, Operating &Maintenance, Sustainability,Legal Liability¹ LEED ® Exam TrainingNewmanConsultingGroup.us248-626-4910Rebuild Michigan ®Partner24 | Technology Century | AUGUST–SEPTEMBER 2009