Submit an environmental project for a team of University of Michigan graduate students to tackle

An appeal from the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and Environment. It appears that they will accept projects from outside of Michigan.

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:

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