Every year at the University of Michigan, School of Natural Resources and Environment, approximately 20-25 interdisciplinary teams of master’s students tackle real world environmental projects with a professional client organization. If you have a potential project idea, we encourage you to consider submitting it.

WHAT IS A MASTER’S PROJECT?
Master’s projects are 12-15 month long (begin in March and most are typically completed by the following April) problem-solving experiences conducted by interdisciplinary teams of SNRE Master’s degree students as the capstone of their academic program at the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and Environment. Projects provide students with a team experience that approximates a future work environment while also providing client organizations with solutions to complex environmental issues and useful products. Clients and faculty advisors provide feedback along the way.

WHY SUBMIT A PROJECT IDEA?
It’s a chance to get an interdisciplinary team of master’s students to tackle an environmental issue of importance to your organization while providing them with a real-world problem solving learning experience.

A FEW EXAMPLES OF RECENT PROJECTS:

• Climate Change Adaptation in Great Lakes Cities
• Building a Sustainable Community in Africa
• Assisting a tribal community with business planning and forestland acquisition
• Green Brewery project

See more project examples here:  http://snre.umich.edu/current_students/masters_projects/masters_archives

HOT MASTER’S PROJECT TOPICS:
This list was generated from looking at the last several years of master’s project topics that were selected by SNRE student teams.  We encourage you to submit project ideas that especially focus on these general topic areas but other topic ideas are certainly welcome.  Feel free to contact Lisa to discuss your project idea.Renewable energy (wind, solar, hydro, biofuels, geothermal)

1. Ecosystem/ biodiversity conservation/ restoration
2. Sustainable agriculture/ food
3. Ecosystem services (ex: forests as carbon sinks, wetlands as water pollution filters, etc.)
4. Freshwater (river/ lake) ecosystem conservation
5. Sustainable urban communities
6. Corporate sustainability
7. Sustainable energy financing
8. Great Lakes
9. Sustainable transportation
10. Projects assisting vulnerable populations/communities
11. Influencing environmental behavior
12. Climate change adaptation
13. Creating sustainable design futures
14. Life Cycle Analysis (LCA)
15. Environmental policy
16. Climate change mitigation
17. Ecotourism

Some additional themes identified by students (in the recent student survey) include: international projects—especially in developing nations, sustainability in healthcare, and energy efficiency.

WHAT’S THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING STUDENTS WITH DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES ON THESE PROJECTS?
A Master’s project is an academic learning experience that encourages SNRE students to work in interdisciplinary teams.  For example, a policy student may work on a team with GIS mapping and sustainable system business students on a wind energy project assessing policy, geographic and economic feasibility issues.  We encourage projects to include at least 2-3 different fields of study to prepare our students for real-world project teams at NGOs, consulting firms, agencies, and companies addressing cutting edge environmental challenges.  Click here to see examples of master’s projects.  Be sure to see how different fields of study were incorporated into each project.

HOW TO SUBMIT A MASTER’S PROJECT IDEA:

• Learn more about Master’s Projects: http://www.snre.umich.edu/current_students/masters_projects (see past projects to get a sense what project topics appeal to students and the scope of a project idea, etc.)
• How to Submit an Idea: http://www.snre.umich.edu/current_students/masters_projects/submit_idea (instructions on submitting a project idea + the form to submit your idea)

Priority Deadline: November 1st (projects submitted by this date have a higher chance of being selected)
Final Deadline: December 13th

Questions? Contact Lisa Yee-Litzenberg, Email: yeeha@umich.edu or Ph: 734-615-1633

The GLRPPR/EPA Webinar provides an opportunity to hear about P2 Programs in the region, ask questions and stay connected.

Agenda:

1. Opening comments by Julie Guenther, Region 5 EPA
2. Presentation by IL: a. GLRPPR – Bob Iverson; b. I-CORE – Mike Springman
3. Presentation by MN – Phyllis Strong: a. P2 Grant work; b. Green Chemistry and Design program; c. P2 integration program
4. Presentation by MI – Karen Edlin: a. Economy, Energy and Environment (E3); b. Michigan’s Sustainable Hospital Initiative; c. Advancing Green Chemistry
5. Presentation by IN – Jennifer Schick

Title: GLRPPR/EPA Region 5 Forum
Date: Thursday, May 12, 2011
Time: 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM PDT  

System Requirements:

• PC-based attendees–Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server
• Macintosh®-based attendees–Required: Mac OS® X 10.4.11 (Tiger®) or newer

Contact Bob Iverson, GLRPPR Executive Director, for further information or questions.

Our thanks to Donna Walden, Regional Coordinator at the Western Sustainability and Pollution Prevention Network (WSPPN), one of our sister P2Rx Centers, for assisting with the set up and administration of this webinar.

Past awardees were recognized for work to advance principles of green chemistry into chemical design, manufacture or use, or promotion activities that support or implement those technologies.

The awards are open to individuals, groups and organizations in Michigan, both nonprofit and for-profit, including academia, educators, nonprofit advocacy groups and industry.

To learn more about Michigan’s green chemistry program or obtain a nomination packet for the Governor’s award, go to www.michigan.gov/greenchemistry.

Entries must be sent by Aug. 5. Awards are presented during the 2011 Michigan Green Chemistry and Engineering Conference. This year’s conference: “Advancing Innovation for a Sustainable Future,” is scheduled Oct. 27 at the University of Michigan’s North Campus Research Complex in Ann Arbor.

For more information, call the DEQ Environmental Assistance Center at 800‑662-9278.

The P2 Results Task Force has recently worked on upgrading and improving the P2 Results Data System in response to comments and requests from users. In particular, the System now includes greenhouse gas metrics, updated and improved cost calculators, and the capability to identify results associated with EPA grant funding. The Task Force will be conducting webinars to brief System users on these changes and will announce the schedule shortly.

In addition to each P2Rx Center using the results data to generate regional reports, NPPR will utilize this data to help prepare a three-year national report on P2 results that covers 2007–2009. Since 1990, NPPR has documented over 200 billion pounds of waste reduced, 145 billion gallons of water conserved, and 125 billion dollars saved. These results demonstrate the value of P2 in not only environmental terms and natural resource conservation, but also in economic benefits such as job creation and retention.

As you may know, in the past the P2 Results Data System publicly presented the results only on a regional level. Recently, the P2 Results Task Force decided to begin presenting the data on a state-wide level in addition to the regional and national reports. This decision was based upon the results of a recent survey that NPPR conducted of system users, which found that approximately 85 percent of the respondents were in favor of this aggregation of data. The P2 Results Task Force has decided to monitor the use of this state-wide aggregated data and will reevaluate this decision if there appears to be any improper or out of context use. Aggregation of the data at the state level will be accomplished through the System with no extra burden on the programs that share their data.

The survey also found that 75 percent of the respondents were in favor of aggregating and presenting the data on a program level as well. The Task Force is interested in further input from users like you on whether to proceed with publicly displaying this more refined level of data aggregation. The Task Force plans to continue to solicit input and suggestions on the level of data transparency provided through System. Contact Jeff Burke, NPPR (jeff@p2.org), Terri Goldberg, NEWMOA and Task Force co-chair (tgoldberg@newmoa.org), or Ken Grimm, PPRC and Task Force co-chair (kgrimm@pprc.org) to share your thoughts.

Data submitted after the September 30, 2010 deadline will be included in the System but may not be utilized in the upcoming NPPR national report.

If you have questions on how to participate in the system, contact GLRPPR Executive Director Bob Iverson. To obtain an account for the P2 Results Data System, contact Tyler Rubach. Additional questions should be sent to Ken Grimm.

View the fact sheet about the P2 Results Task Force and learn more about it.

Given this trend, it seems appropriate to launch a resource collection on the Great Lakes Regional Pollution Prevention Roundtable (GLRPPR) site focused specifically on e-waste issues. The GLRPPR Electronic Waste Sector Resource will include links to relevant legislation, news, events, funding opportunities, and contacts. This resource list is under development, so if you are aware of resources for e-waste programs in your state, please feel free to send links to Joy Scrogum for potential inclusion in this new resource list. An RSS feed is available for the Electronic Waste Sector Resource so you can be aware of new resources as they are added.

GLRPPR is a member of the Pollution Prevention Resource Exchange (P2Rx) a national network of pollution prevention information centers. Another P2Rx center, the Western Sustainability Pollution Prevention Network (WSPPN) has also developed a P2Rx Topic Hub on Electronic Waste. This is linked to within the new Sector Resource on the GLRPPR site and is also available on the main GLRPPR Topic Hub page.

The three-bill package includes a renewable portfolio standard (RPS) that mandates 10 percent of the state’s energy come from renewable sources by 2015, regulatory reform that protects Michigan ratepayers and allows utility companies to build new electricity generation in Michigan, and a requirement that utilities meet an additional 5.5 percent of Michigan’s annual electricity demands through energy efficiency by 2015. The package also includes an income tax credit to offset a portion of ratepayers’ investments in renewable energy for Michigan and a “net metering” law that allows customers to sell renewable electricity they produce at their homes or businesses to their utility companies.

Read the full press release here. See the Michigan Office of the Governor web site to listen to a podcast by Governor Granholm regarding the passing of this legislation.

In October 2006, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm issued Executive Directive No. 2007-6, “Promotion of Green Chemistry for Sustainable Economic Development and Protection of Public Health,” that established state policy encouraging the use of safer, less toxic, or non-toxic chemical alternatives to hazardous substances and the research, development, and implementation of Green Chemistry in Michigan.

The DEQ has been given primary responsibility to implement the Green Chemistry Executive Directive, including establishing a Michigan Green Chemistry Program and convening a Michigan Green Chemistry Roundtable. The Roundtable, which is comprised of experts representing business, academia, environmental interest groups, and the public, had significant input into the development of the Action Plan and will be participating in the implementation of the Michigan Green Chemistry Program.

Source: Michigan DEQ, 9/15/08.

• Ski Areas Topic Hub: Developed and maintained by the Peaks to Prairies Pollution Prevention Information Center, this P2Rx Topic Hub provides P2 information for ski area operations managers and technical assistance providers.
• Clean Snowmobiles Topic Hub: Another great resource from the folks at Peaks to Prairies, this guide discusses the pollution and wastes associated with snowmobile operation, more environmentally-friendly snowmobiles, and what snowmobile dealers, tour operators, fleet managers and enthusiasts can do today to prevent pollution from their snowmobiles.
• GLRPPR’s Outdoor Recreation Sector Resource includes a subcategory devoted to Ski Areas. The Tourism/Leisure Sector Resource may also provide helpful information if you’re traveling to a resort.
• The GLRPPR Help Desk Archive includes a question and answer related to how to make an ice arena more energy efficient.
• A recent post from Treehugger discusses an environmental scorecard for U.S. ski resorts provided by the Ski Area Citizens Coalition.
• Check out the web site for Crystal Mountain resort in Michigan. This ski area has a chairlift called the Crystal Clipper that is powered by wind energy.
• The USDA Forest Service provides Ski Area Best Management Practices (BMPs).
• The Green Room is a database of ski area environmental programs and practices provided by the National Ski Areas Association.
• Protect Our Winters (POW) is a non-profit organization that focuses on global warming and the winter sports community.
• Venture Snowboards and Arbor Snowboards are a couple of snowboard manufacturers that use sustainably harvested materials and donate portions of their profits to conservation efforts.

The (Diamler) Chrysler Detroit Axle plant, in cooperation with Kettering University and Crystal Filtration, integrated an innovative coolant filtration system into the facility’s primary metal working operation. The system achieved a 40 – 60 percent reduction in filter media usage resulting in an anticipated annual savings of up to $60,000.

Professor Terri Lynch-Caris, Kettering University, will present the technology, its implementation, and the project’s economical and environmental analysis. Mr. Glenn Rowe, Crystal Filtration, will describe the system installation and technology’s applications.

For more information, contact David Herb, RETAP Manager, at 517-241-8176 or herbdw@michigan.gov.

KC Jones Plating, in cooperation with the Laboratory for Multiscale Complex Systems Science and Engineering at Wayne State University (WSU), integrated advanced rinse water recycling systems into their bronze cyanide plating line. These changes successfully reduced the line’s chemical and water usage requirements by 20 – 45 percent, while reducing associated wastewater treatment costs by up to 70 percent. The simple payback for the project was less than one year.

Professor Yinlun Huang will present the technology, its implementation, and the project’s economical and environmental analysis. Mr. Thomas Januszek and his team at KC Jones Plating will describe the system installation.

Due to limited spacing, please register in advance by contacting David Herb, RETAP Manager, at 517-241-8176 or herbdw@michigan.gov.

Thanks to David Herb of Michigan DEQ for providing this information.