Breaking News
MSU environmental activities and accomplishments, from sources on and off-campus. For additional information on MSU environmental work, see these sources.
This is a subset of the breaking news related to Climate Change. Click here to read all the stories in Breaking News.
Michigan Apple Orchards Blossom After A Devastating Year
National Public Radio's Morning Edition
5-14-2013
Last year, almost the entire Michigan apple crop was lost because of 80-degree days in March and then some freezing April nights. This year, the apples are back, but everything always depends on the weather. The state was under a freeze warning Sunday night — a scary prospect if you're an apple grower and your trees have just come into bloom.
Every Wednesday morning during apple season, growers show up at a local restaurant at 7 a.m. for a free breakfast (paid for by one of the farm chemical companies) and a briefing from Amy Irish-Brown, an extension educator from Michigan State University. She talks about spores, beetles, aphids and especially the weather.
More»
Seabird bones reveal changes in open-ocean food chain
MSU Today
5-13-2013
A research team, led by Michigan State University and Smithsonian Institution scientists, analyzed the bones of Hawaiian petrels – birds that spend the majority of their lives foraging the open waters of the Pacific. They found that the substantial change in petrels’ eating habits, eating prey that are lower rather than higher in the food chain, coincides with the growth of industrialized fishing.
The birds’ dramatic shift in diet, shown in the current issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, leaves scientists pondering the fate of petrels as well as wondering how many other species face similar challenges.
“Our bone record is alarming because it suggests that open-ocean food webs are changing on a large scale due to human influence,” said Peggy Ostrom, co-author and MSU zoologist. “Our study is among the first to address one of the great mysteries of biological oceanography – whether fishing has gone beyond an influence on targeted species to affect nontarget species and potentially, entire food webs in the open ocean.” More»
Costa Rican and MSU officials help dedicate new anaerobic digester
MSU Today
5-10-2013
Many dignitaries from the United States and Costa Rica gathered in the Central American country this week to officially commission a newly built anaerobic digester, the product of a partnership between Michigan State University and the University of Costa Rica.
An anaerobic digester takes organic waste – anything from food scraps to animal manure – and turns it into energy.
The project was funded by a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of State’s Division of Western Hemisphere Affairs. Partners included the University of Costa Rica, Nicaragua’s Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Nicaragua León, and Panama’s Universidad Autonoma de Chiriqui. More»
ESPP Student Bonnie McGill wins a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship
Kellogg Biological Station Long Term Ecological Research
5-9-2013
The earth and our society face such “gi-normous” problems like climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss, food security—what can a little person like me do about it?
More»
U.S. sociologist tracks the politics of climate change
UPI
4-29-2013
Americans who believe scientists on global warming are more likely to support government action on emissions regardless of party affiliation, a study says.
However, Michigan State University sociologist Aaron M. McCright said a political schism remains on the existence of climate change despite a scientific consensus that global warming is real. More»
'Chasing Ice' director views film with students
The State News
4-25-2013
By hosting a showing of documentary “Chasing Ice” last night, Department of Geography chair Alan Arbogast hoped to build awareness, not just for environmental issues, but for the geography major at MSU.
“First of all, we want to show a great film,” Arbogast said. “In the context of that, I want to promote the Department of Geography.”
A free screening of “Chasing Ice” was shown last night at Wells Hall. The documentary, directed by Jeff Orlowski, is the story of environmental photographer James Balog and his mission to open the public’s eyes on climate change. Balog placed time-lapse cameras across the Arctic to show how the world’s glaciers change from year to year.
“In 2013, it seems like a simple and obvious idea, but when he came up with the concept back in 2007, nobody had done timelines of glaciers like he was attempting to do, to get the cameras to get working around the world,” Orlowski said. More»
EPA: Tar sands pipelines should be held to different standards
National Public Radio's All Things Considered
4-24-2013
Michigan State University professor Stephen Hamilton thinks more regulation is needed because of the many ways that a tar sands spill can be more harmful to the environment and people than a conventional oil spill. Another example he cited is that tar sands oil is a lot stickier than conventional crude, so everything it touches, even rocks, cannot be cleaned and needs to be thrown away.
"The consequences and the costs of the cleanup, once it gets into surface water systems as we've seen in the case of the Kalamazoo River, are incredibly high," he says. "And, you know, we'll never get it all out." More»
Bioenergy program receives $125 million renewal grant
The State News
4-9-2013
Students and faculty conducting research in the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, or GLBRC will be able to continue research after receiving a $125 million renewal grant for the next five years from the U.S. Department of Energy.
Since the program started in 2007, Ken Keegstra has seen the research in bioenergy grow tremendously.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for students,” said Keegstra, scientific director for GLBRC at MSU and professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Department of Plant Biology. “It’s a great opportunity for training students both at the undergraduate and graduate level.” More»
Everyone goes green with sustainability
The State News
4-9-2013
For students who attended the U.S. Green Building Council Students Regional Conference this weekend, “Go Green” was more than just a cheer for the university’s colors.
The U.S. Green Building Council, or USGBC, student group at MSU hosted more than 60 students and professionals interested in sustainability on campus for the region’s first conference.
Participants watched movies about sustainable topics Friday, listened to speakers Saturday and took a tour of MSU’s sustainable efforts on campus Sunday. Students learned new ideas for sustainable practices and leadership skills to bring back to their own campus. More»
Great Lakes wetlands may mitigate climate change
Great Lakes Echo
4-5-2013
Long valued for biological diversity and flood control, Great Lakes coastal wetlands are now seen as a tool to suck up and store excess carbon dioxide.
It’s an important function as researchers seek to blunt climate change caused by that greenhouse gas. More»
DOE renews funding for biofuels research partnership
MSU Today
4-4-2013
The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded the University of Wisconsin and Michigan State University $125 million to continue their work on advanced biofuels.
The Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, housed at UW-Madison and includes a major partnership with MSU, will use the five-year grant to continue its work providing the basic scientific foundation for the sustainable, large-scale production of advanced cellulosic biofuels technologies to help meet the nation’s growing energy needs.
“GLBRC researchers, in partnership with the state of Wisconsin, the state of Michigan and affiliated industries, have made substantial progress toward developing the next generation of advanced biofuels,” said Tim Donohue, GLBRC director and UW-Madison professor of bacteriology.
“Renewal by the Department of Energy permits us to build on these scientific breakthroughs and accelerate our efforts to develop sustainable biofuels strategies, from growing plants for use as energy feedstocks to exploring novel ways to convert the non-edible components of plants into fuels for the automotive, diesel and aviation sector,” he said.
Rather than focus its effort on designing an ideal biomass crop or a single conversion platform, the GLBRC is taking a holistic “field to fuel approach,” that evaluates the energy efficiency, sustainability and economic viability of several technologies.
“This approach allows farmers or fuel producers in different parts of the country to select the pieces of our technology that work best for their crops, climate or fuels,” said Ken Keegstra, GLBRC scientific director and MSU Distinguished Professor of plant biology and of biochemistry and molecular biology. More»
MSU Students to adminstration: Divest in big oil
Lansing City Pulse
4-4-2013
The gathering may have been small, but the message was big. MSU Fossil Free, a re-launched student environmental group at Michigan State University, called on the school to divest the millions of dollars it has pledged to oil companies.
According to the group’s press release, MSU has “at least $13.8 million of its endowment invested in fossil fuel companies including BP, Canadian Oil Sands, and Shell International through stocks, bonds and asset backed securities.” More»
Great Lakes salmon are the focus of new video series
MSU Extension
4-2-2013
April is an exciting time of year for salmon and trout anglers. Big lake trolling and pier fishing starts off in the southern end of Lake Michigan and the steelhead run is in in full swing in west Michigan streams. Another story unfolds in shoreline eddies, where young wild-spawned Chinook salmon feed on stream insects and put on weight for their journey to Lake Michigan.
The modern Great Lakes salmon fishery began with stocking programs in the late 1960s. At that time, salmon were unable to spawn successfully due to poor water quality, degraded stream habitats, and dams that blocked fish passage or altered river flow. Although salmon are not native to the upper Great Lakes, the Chinook salmon, in particular, has been able to adapt and is now spawning in streams where conditions have improved. More»
Feeding the World's Future
MSU Today
4-1-2013
Researchers at Michigan State University netted a $24.5 million award from the U.S. Agency for International Development, continuing MSU’s long-term commitment to helping developing nations find sustainable and secure food sources.
The main objectives of USAID’s Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Collaborative Research on Grain Legumes, led by MSU, will be to increase the productivity of beans and other grain legumes (cowpea, chickpea, etc.) by smallholder farmers and to enhance the nutritional quality of diets of the poor in Sub-Saharan Africa, Central America and the United States. More»
A changing climate's impact on water and water resources
MSU Extension
3-22-2013
Climate change information from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) agree that increased levels of greenhouse gases will impact our environment in many ways. One area of concern is the influence a changing climate will have on precipitation events. For the U.S., climate change models predict northern areas will become wetter while the western and southwest regions of the U.S. will become drier. Models also predict an increase in the frequency of extreme precipitation events, more rain over shorter periods of time. Michigan is within the region of the U.S. where increased precipitation is predicted during the winter and spring seasons but summers are expected to be drier. These anticipated changes in weather patterns have the potential to have a profound impact on agriculture production and soil and water conservation practices. More»
Current State: The future of Michigan's climate
Great Lakes Echo
3-13-2013
Climate change is continuing to influence Michigan’s environment. Last March a sudden thaw and freeze devastated the state’s berry crops. While recently, record low water levels have forced the government to spend millions on dredging. Jeff Andresen, Michigan Climatologist and assistant professor of geography at Michigan State University discusses Michigan’s climate future. More»
Lessons from China's environmental front
Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability
3-12-2013
China’s investment of money and decades to stem the tide of environmental destruction and protect its natural resources has done more than save flora and fauna – it has also provided a roadmap for itself and the rest of the world.
Jianguo “Jack” Liu and colleagues at Michigan State University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences take a sweeping look at three enormous programs China has adopted to save natural resources. Their analysis and perspectives are presented in an article in the second edition of “Encyclopedia of Biodiversity,” which was recently released by Elsevier.
The Nature Reserve System – which now is comprised of 2,588 reserves that cover 15 percent of China’s territory -- protects valuable plants, animals and ecosystems, including the endangered giant panda. The Grain to Green Program is an effort to persuade farmers to return cropland to forest and grassland through financial incentives. The National Forest Conservation Program seeks to conserve natural forests by banning logging and creating new forests. More»
Students campaign for 100 percent renewable energy
The State News
2-10-2013
Bundled in her striped wool mittens, printed scarf and foggy glasses, Laura Drotar stood poised with her clipboard, battling the weather while fighting for the environment.
On Friday afternoon near the rock on Farm Lane, the history, philosophy and sociology of science sophomore petitioned beside other members of MSU Greenpeace and Paulie the polar bear, asking passing students to sign a petition to expedite and better clarify MSU’s Energy Transition Plan. More»
Environmentalists Angry with Michigan State for Dumping Coal Ash
WILX-TV
2-7-2013
Under the feet of Spartan students is something they may not expect- coal ash from the 1960s. Before research and regulations on the material went public, the university dumped ash from the T.B. Power Plant at a few sites around campus.
"It was coal ash produced historically and then used as construction fill, so in order to build up the land they disposed of this construction fill," explained Susan Harley, the Michigan Policy Director for the Clean Water Fund.
In 2007, one of these coal ash sites was unearthed when MSU began construction on an overpass. The university moved some of this coal ash to Granger Landfill and some to MSU's police firearms training facility on Jolly Road. More»
MSU Student pursues patent for Current Tidal
The State News
2-7-2013
While on an internship in the New Mexican desert in Albuquerque, N.M., in 2011, an idea sparked within Jonathan DiClemente. He wanted to put windmill-type turbines in the oceans to create energy from tidal shifts, the mechanical engineering senior said.
DiClemente said he had no clue his idea would inspire and lead him to be CEO of his own company, Current Tidal, which retrofits dams to make energy. He’ll do anything to protect it. More»
Activists call on MSU to 'retire' coal plant, properly dispose of toxic ash
Lansing State Journal
2-6-2013
Student activists and others today called on Michigan State University to retire its coal plant and properly dispose of toxic coal ash that was buried on campus.
The coal ash was first discovered in 2007 during an excavation of what is now called Recycling Drive, according to a news release from the group Clean Energy Now.
Although some of the coal ash was properly disposed of in a landfill, more than 92,000 cubic yards was relocated to the university police training facility on Jolly Road, the news release said. More»
Michigan dunes about half as young as initially thought
MSU Today
1-9-2013
Using new lighting technology, Michigan State University researchers found Lake Michigan’s northern coastal dunes to be much younger than previously thought.
In a new book by Alan Arbogast, MSU geography chair, new evidence estimates the age of Lake Michigan’s northern coast dunes between 3,500 and 2,000 years old. This is compared to eastern Lake Michigan’s southern dunes, which were formed about 5,000 years ago. More»
Amazon deforestation affects more than originally thought
MSU Today
12-26-2012
An international team of researchers has revealed a new concern about deforestation in the Amazon rainforest – a troubling loss in the diversity among the microbial organisms responsible for a functioning ecosystem.
The group, which includes a professor from Michigan State University, sampled a 100 square kilometer area, about 38 square miles, in the Fazenda Nova Vida site in Rondōnia, Brazil, a location where rainforest has been converted to agricultural use. The findings in part validated previous research showing bacteria in the soil became more diverse over the years as it was converted to pasture. More»
Summer drought causes hay shortage in Michigan
Ventura County Star
11-24-2012
The Michigan State University Extension estimates overall hay yields dropped 15 to 30 percent in the Midwest.
The lower yields forced prices upward. Hay costs $2 to $6 per bale in a normal year, but now is anywhere from $6 to $15, said Don Coe, a managing partner of Black Star Farms in Leelanau County. Coe sits on the Michigan Commission of Agriculture & Rural Development.
More»
Grants will help Great Lakes region adapt to climate change
University Relations
11-19-2012
Michigan State University scientists and their colleagues at the University of Michigan have awarded six grants to help communities in the Great Lakes basin adapt to climate change.
The grants were awarded by the Great Lakes Integrated Sciences and Assessments Center, a federally funded collaboration between MSU and U-M. GLISA researchers study issues related to climate change and variability in the Great Lakes basin and how the region can respond to climate-related risks, such as potential damages from changes in long-term temperature and precipitation patterns.
“Climate change is expected to have significant impacts on the Great Lakes region, and it’s important for us to understand and prepare for them,” said GLISA program manager David Bidwell, a research fellow at U-M’s Graham Sustainability Institute. “These projects are laboratories for learning best practices for making decisions informed by climate science.” More»
New Thermoelectric Material Could Pave the Way for Low-Cost Energy Solutions
MSU College of Engineering
11-15-2012
Michigan State University is home to one of the most advanced thermoelectric power generation research groups in the world. And now, a new thermoelectric material is on the horizon.
Researchers in MSU's Center for Revolutionary Materials for Solid State Energy Conversion—an Energy Frontier Research Center (EFRC) funded by the U.S. Department of Energy—are developing a thermoelectric material based on natural mineral tetrahedrites. Their work was recently published in the online journal Advanced Energy Materials. More»
U-M, MSU Award Grants for Great Lakes Climate Change Research
ENews Park Forest
11-15-2012
University of Michigan scientists and their colleagues at Michigan State University have awarded six grants to organizations across the region for projects that will help decision-makers adapt to climate change and variability in the Great Lakes basin.
The grants were awarded by the Great Lakes Integrated Sciences and Assessments Center, a federally funded collaboration between U-M and MSU. GLISA researchers study issues related to climate change and variability in the Great Lakes basin and how the region can respond to climate-related risks, such as potential damages from changes in long-term temperature and precipitation patterns. More»
Climate Change Threatens Pandas' Bamboo Food, Study Suggests
Huffington Post
11-13-2012
Though they are one of the most beloved animal species on Earth, pandas aren't safe from the devastating effects of climate change.
According to a new study, projected temperature increases in China over the next century will likely seriously hinder bamboo, almost the sole source of food for endangered pandas. Only if bamboo can move to new habitats at higher elevations will pandas stand a chance, the researchers said.
However, if conservation programs wait too long, human inhabitants and activities could claim all of the new habitats capable of supporting bamboo in a warming world.
"It is tough, but I think there's still hope, if we take action now," said research team member Jianguo Liu, a sustainability scientist at Michigan State University. "If we wait, then we could be too late." More»
Inter-disciplinary Effort Yields New Data on Lake Michigan Coastal Dunes and Archaeology
ESPP
11-7-2012
The combination of archaeological expertise, geographic knowledge and new technology which lets scientists accurately date sand have come together in a new research study on the formation, age and life cycle of Lake Michigan coastal dunes and the archaeological sites found in them.
MSU Geography Chair Alan F. Arbogast has spent years studying the evolution of coastal dunes throughout the lower Lake Michigan basin. Meanwhile, William A. Lovis, curator at the MSU Museum and professor of anthropology has undertaken archaeological studies of human habitation along Lake Michigan. And finally, G. William Monaghan, a senior research scientist and associate director of the Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology at Indiana University was itching to test a new luminescence-based technology to find out the age of windblown sand deposits.
More»
On the Rise
MSU researchers offer input on up-and-down weather in state
The State News
10-30-2012
Jeff Andresen, MSU geography professor and a state climatologist for Michigan, said after having a record-hot March, freezing temperatures in April nearly decimated the entire fruit crop of the state, causing higher prices this fall for many of the crops, including apples and cherries.
MSU researchers now are weighing in on the impacts the weather could have on the state as temperatures dip south on the verge of winter. More»
MSU Extension to help plan for climate variability
University Relations
10-25-2012
A team of Michigan State University Extension specialists and educators has received funding from the Great Lakes Integrated Sciences and Assessments Center to collaborate with GLISA researchers, relevant decision makers and stakeholders in two Michigan local governments units. The primary goal of the project, titled "Adapting to Climate Change and Variability: Planning Tools for Michigan Communities," is to increase community resilience by incorporating climate variability and change adaption strategies into local land use master plans and policies. The second goal of the project is to create an assessment tool that can be used by other communities throughout Michigan.
More»
Small organisms could dramatically impact world’s climate
University Relations
10-25-2012
Warmer oceans in the future could significantly alter populations of phytoplankton, tiny organisms that could have a major impact on climate change.
In the current issue of Science Express, Michigan State University researchers show that by the end of the 21st century, warmer oceans will cause populations of these marine microorganisms to thrive near the poles and may shrink in equatorial waters. Since phytoplankton play a key role in the food chain and the world’s cycles of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous and other elements, a drastic drop could have measurable consequences.
“In the tropical oceans, we are predicting a 40 percent drop in potential diversity,” said Mridul Thomas, MSU graduate student and one of the co-authors. “If the oceans continue to warm as predicted, there will be a sharp decline in the diversity of phytoplankton in tropical waters and a poleward shift in species’ thermal niches, if they don’t adapt to climate change.” More»
21 universities team up for Great Lakes Futures Project
The Environment Report, Michigan Radio
10-18-2012
A new project is going to try to predict the future of the Great Lakes.
It’s called... wait for it... the Great Lakes Futures Project. It’s a collaboration of 21 universities from the U.S. and Canada. More»
Opposing points of view: Raise renewable standard to create jobs, clean the air
Detroit Free Press
10-11-2012
A study by
MSU is helping India manage forests, reduce greenhouse gasses
University Relations
10-4-2012
Researchers at Michigan State University will use a $1.5 million grant to help India manage its forests and reduce the developing nation’s greenhouse gas emissions.
The grant, awarded by USAID, is part of an overall $14 million effort to build the nation’s capacity to measure forest carbon and reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses.
Currently, India is faced with the challenge of sustaining its rapid economic growth while dealing with climate change. Climate change may alter the distribution and quality of India's natural resources and adversely affect the livelihood of its people, said David Skole, MSU professor of forestry. More»
MSU hosts international student summit
University Relations
10-2-2012
International students will present research projects in the areas of food production and sustainable energy. They will spend Monday through Wednesday preparing for their presentations. Academic leaders from the students' home universities will spend those days with MSU and Tokyo University of Agriculture faculty members discussing food security, global climate change, crop protection and the role of women in agriculture. More»
New research helps protect dunes
Capital News Service
9-28-2012
New research findings about the geological and archaeological aspects of the Lake Michigan coastal dunes will help local governments and organizations protect them.
“It’s important to make sure we haven’t damaged or destroyed dunes in an archaeological site,” said state Archaeologist Dean Anderson. He said information about dunes in the past concerns not only cultural but environmental methods. More»
MSU President Simon on all things green, at home and around the globe
MLive
9-11-2012
MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon speaks with Kirk Heinze as the 2012-2013 school year begins with updates on being green, initiatives in Detroit, a new museum, politics and the environment, climate change, and more. More»
Michigan State's FRIB funding likely flat for six months
Lansing State Journal
9-11-2012
A stop-gap funding bill that lawmakers hope will keep the federal government operating through March 27 would keep federal funding steady for the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams planned for Michigan State University. More»
Researchers receive grant to fight harmful algal blooms
MSU Department of Geological Sciences
8-31-2012
Using a $749,801 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency, Michigan State University researchers, including from the Department of Geological Sciences, are hoping to curb the growth of harmful algal blooms in lakes and reservoirs across the United States. The implications, however, will resonate globally, said Jan Stevenson, MSU zoologist. More»
Infographic: Climate Change in the Great Lakes
Circle of Blue
8-31-2012
How will predicted changes to water levels and water temperatures affect the future of this region that is home to 38 million people?
Click through the interactive infographic below to learn more about how climate change will affect the economy and ecology of the Great Lakes region. More»
Population and climate change report published
Nature Climate Change
6-10-2012
A new paper co-authored by Tom Dietz (Sociology, ESPP, Animal Studies), “Human drivers of national greenhouse-gas emissions,” examines the effects of a growing human population on climate change. Dietz co-authored the paper with Washington State University research Eugene A. Rosa.
University Relations has more on the publication here. More»
Michigan Sea Grant: Great Lakes temps higher than usual
Petoskeynews.com
6-5-2012
According to Michigan Sea Grant's daily temperature recordings, Lake Michigan, in front of Petoskey and Charlevoix, ranged 13 and 14 degrees warmer than late May of last year. Water temperatures are up because of Michigan's warm winter, which was the fourth mildest winter in more than 100 years. And March's weather madness didn't help matters. “March was extraordinary. I don't think there's any other word for it,” said Jeff Andreson (Geography). “March was the warmest in recorded history.” More»
Swenson awarded prestigious international award
Phys.org
6-4-2012
Nathan Swenson (ESPP, Plant Biology) was awarded this year’s Ebbe Nielsen Prize by the Global Biodiversity Information Facility for his work contributing to a better understanding of how plants respond to climate change. More»
WhadayaKnow? What’s the difference between climate and weather?
Great Lakes Echo
5-29-2012
“Every Monday, Great Lakes Echo runs video clips of random people answering questions that experts believe environmentally literate citizens should understand. In the last clip an expert explains the correct answers.” In this edition, Jeff Andresen (Geography) is the expert on the question of: “What’s the difference between climate and weather?” More»
New book examines climate change in the Great Lakes Region
4-30-2012
A new book edited by Tom Dietz (Sociology, ESPP) and David Bidwell,
of the Great Lakes Integrated Sciences and Assessments (GLISA)
Center, is now available through MSU Press. The genesis of the new
publication, "Climate Change in the Great Lakes Region: Navigating an
Uncertain Future," was the original climate change symposium held
several years ago at MSU. More»
Americans want more and better environmental reporting; help us get some
Great Lakes Echo
4-23-2012
The Knight Center for Environmental Journalism and the Society of Environmental Journalists are hosting two workshops this summer for regional journalists and scientists interested in improving climate change reporting. Part of the plan is to improve the climate change literacy of journalists and give them access to recent newsy climate change issues. Part of it is to improve the communication skills of scientists and foster a desire within them to communicate with journalists and the public. And a big part of it is to foster a greater understanding in each group of the other group's challenges for communicating climate change issues. More»
MSU board OKs Energy Transition Plan
University Relations
4-13-2012
More than a year in the making, the plan was created by the Energy Transition Steering Committee, a 24-member group of students, faculty and staff whose charge was to develop a plan to help MSU reliably meet its future energy needs while keeping a close eye on costs and environmental impacts. The ultimate goal of the plan is to help create an environment in which the university is powered by 100 percent renewable energy. See also: MSU is working aggressively to power the university with 100 percent renewable energy (Greening of the Great Lakes). More»
New art residency program focuses on sustainability
University Relations
4-12-2012
Drawing on MSU's history as a land-grant university and its strong commitment to education and global engagement, the program – "The Land Grant: Art, Agriculture, Sustainability" – will support projects that educate the public and catalyze grass-roots remedies to global challenges, offering an artistic approach to "thinking globally and acting locally." Participants will have access to thought leaders across university departments as they develop projects and acres of university land. More»
Hard freeze hurts Michigan cherry crop
Michigan Radio
4-10-2012
"We're seeing history made before our eyes at least in terms of climatology," said Jeff Andresen (Geography). "And in some ways if we look at where our vegetation is and how advanced it is, it's probably a month ahead of where it typically is." More»
Climate change impacts Michigan blueberry industry
MSU Extension
3-27-2012
In Michigan, like in many other fruit growing regions, tree fruit and small fruit varieties have been selected over the years to fit the ranges of temperatures suitable to maximize productivity and fruit quality. However, record temperatures like the ones observed on March 21 in west Michigan are turned upside down in the fruit grower's production calendar. According to Jeff Andresen (Geography), similar warm spells in the state happened in 1945, and in the past each time unseasonably warm temperatures arrived in March they were followed by periods of freezing weather. More»
Keeping climate change on regional agendas despite public apathy
Great Lakes Echo
2-6-2012
“Climate change is not an issue most people think about on a day to day basis,” Tom Dietz (Sociology & Environmental Science and Policy) said. “So the attitudes expressed in a survey, or around the coffee pot at work, may not reflect a lot of time spent thinking about the issue.” Dietz said the lack of national policy on climate change has more to do with organized lobbying than public opinion. More»
Climatologist: Mild temperatures to continue
CBS Detroit
2-2-2012
"There are hints that we may see a change in the pattern, maybe in the middle of February. But even with that right now the outlook for the month of February still suggests milder than normal temperatures and wetter than normal conditions," said Jeff Andresen (Geography). More»
Researchers help African farmers cope with climate change
University Relations
11-14-2011
A team of MSU researchers secured a $700,000 grant to help farmers in Zambia and Kenya overcome the challenges faced from changes in climate. The project, which will link climate change to coping strategies and impacts on food production, food security and incomes for farm families in those areas, is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development. Eric Crawford (Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics) coordinates the project with Jennifer Olson (Telecommunications). Additional MSU team members are Jeff Andresen (Geography), Gopalsamy Alagarswamy (Center for Global Change and Earth Observations), Steven Haggblade (Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics) and Nathan Moore (Geography). More»
MSU receives grant to study effects of cover crops on greenhouse gas emissions
College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
11-3-2011
Evaluating the effects of cover crops on greenhouse gases, nitrogen availability and carbon accumulation is the focus of a $749,000 grant awarded to a team of MSU scientists. The grant will fund a project that explores how cover crops can be used to improve nitrogen timing on conventional and organic farms. Dale R. Mutch (MSU Extension Agribusiness) and Dean Baas (MSU Extension, Kellogg Biological Station) are leading the project, working with Phil Robertson (Crop and Soil Sciences), Neville Millar (Kellogg Biological Station), and Steve Miller (Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics)
The American 'allergy' to global warming: Why?
Associated Press
9-25-2011
The study's authors, Aaron McCright (Sociology and Lyman Briggs) and Riley E. Dunlap (Oklahoma State), suggested climate had joined abortion and other explosive, intractable issues as a mainstay of America's hardening left-right gap. More»
Team will help Extension educators integrate climate change into programs
MSUE Spotlight
9-22-2011
Increasingly, stakeholders look to MSU Extension as a trusted source of information on how to slow down, adapt to and communicate about the changing climate. The new Climate Variability and Change Action Team (CV-CAT) will help meet those needs. The project was initiated by Julie Doll (Kellogg Biological Station) and Claire Layman (MSU Extension) and includes MSU faculty and Extension affiliates. More»
MSU scientists suggest how countries can cooperate on climate
University Relations
9-13-2011
When countries try to work together to limit the effects of climate change, the fear of being the only nation reducing greenhouse gas emissions – while the others enjoy the benefits with no sacrifice – can bring cooperation to a grinding halt. In a commentary in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Thomas Dietz (Sociology, ESPP) and Jinhua Zhao (ESPP, Economics, and Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics) suggest using a scalable method of rewards and punishments to help develop strategies that encourage all nations to participate fully in greenhouse gas mitigation programs. More»
University will help Great Lakes cities adapt to climate change
Great Lakes Echo
8-24-2011
The Great Lakes Integrated Sciences and Assessments Center is a collaboration between the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Ohio State University, and Michigan Sea Grant. The center works to “translate national research to regional levels,” according to Tom Dietz (Sociology and Environmental Science and Policy), a co-principal investigator at the center. More»
Grant will develop tools to help farmers deal with climate change
University Relations
8-17-2011
Climate and growing seasons are changing, and an MSU professor is helping farmers adapt to those changes. Jeff Andresen (Geography) is part of a team of researchers who want to give farmers the necessary tools to help navigate these climate changes, cope with climate variability, and lessen their negative impact on agriculture. The five-year project will be funded by a $5 million grant from the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, part of the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. More»
Calling for climate change research
Environment Magazine
7-29-2011
A group of MSU sociologists examines how increased confidence among scientists concerning anthropogenic climate change is not translating into public consensus within the United States. “Understanding Public Opinion on Climate Change: A call for research,” with contributions from Sandra Marquart-Pyatt, Thomas Dietz, Stan Kaplowitz and Aaron McCright (Sociology), appears in the latest issue of Environment Magazine. More»
Cool off on hot days
City Pulse
6-29-2011
Particularly hot days can't be attributed to one factor, but due to climate change, a particular pattern of weather is to be expected, said Tom Dietz (Sociology, ESPP). “These runs of unusual weather give us a sense of what the climate will be like in the future, with good probability.” More»
Climate change evidence is growing stronger (column)
MLive.com
6-21-2011
The scientific evidence that we are creating dangerous climate change becomes stronger with each passing year, Stephen Hamilton (Zoology, Kellogg Biological Station) writes in an opinion piece. More»
Downside to biodegradable products? Methane
MSNBC.com, Discovery News
6-16-2011
When biodegradable trash ends up in landfills, it breaks down more quickly than ordinary garbage does, suggests a new study. The result is a more rapid release of methane, a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming…. The finding should not be over-sensationalized or taken out of context, warned Ramani Narayan (Chemical Engineering and Materials Science). More»
MSU officials: Zipcar program a success
State News
6-14-2011
About five months after its implementation at MSU, Jennifer Battle (Office of Campus Sustainability) said that the Zipcar program has been successful. 224 MSU students and faculty have joined the car-sharing program. More»
Political parties increasingly divided over global warming
MLive.com
5-26-2011
Despite the growing scientific consensus that global warming is real, Americans have become increasingly polarized on the environmental issue, according to a first-of-its-kind study led by Aaron McCright (Sociology). More»
Taylor Fellowship will send PhD student to Australia to study
Centers for Systems Integration and Sustainability (CSIS)
5-23-2011
Abigail Lynch (Fisheries and Wildlife, ESPP) will travel to Australia to study fisheries management in the context of climate change thanks to The William W. and Evelyn M. Taylor Endowed Fellowship for International Engagement in Coupled Human and Natural Systems. Follow Abby’s experience on the CSIS blog. More»
Preparing Extension educators to help state’s field crop industry address realities of climate change
College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
5-16-2011
“How can we help Michigan field crop farmers adapt to and help mitigate a changing climate?” Finding an answer to this question was what brought Claire Layman (Extension) and Julie Doll (Kellogg Biological Station) together on a research project intent on finding ways to engage the producer, scientist and decision maker communities in discussions about the relationship between climate change and agriculture. Phil Robertson (Crop and Soil Science) and Cheryl Peters (Extension) are also partners on the research project, which received funding from a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) education grant and Project GREEEN. More»
Researchers display work to Congress
College of Natural Science
5-13-2011
The Coalition for National Science Funding’s annual exhibition brings science to Capitol Hill. MSU research presented this year included work on climate literacy, presented by Julie Libarkin (Geological Sciences) and graduate students Bob Drost (Geological Sciences, ESPP) and Sheldon Turner (Geological Sciences, ESPP); and work on efficient energy conversion in nanoscale networks, presented by Keith Promislow (Mathematics) and Andrew Christlieb (Mathematics). More»
Democrats and Republicans increasingly divided over global warming
University Relations
4-19-2011
Despite the growing scientific consensus that global warming is real, Americans have become increasingly polarized on the environmental problem, according to a first-of-its-kind study led by Aaron McCright (Sociology). The gap between Democrats and Republicans who believe global warming is happening increased 30 percent between 2001 and 2010 – a “depressing” trend that’s essentially keeping meaningful national energy policies from being considered, argues McCright. The study is featured in the spring issue of Sociological Quarterly, online now. More»
GLISA awards annual research funding to MSU climate change projects
ESPP
4-18-2011
The Great Lakes Integrated Sciences and Assessments Center (GLISA), was created to help integrate climate change information into adaptation planning. The center is supported by a five-year grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and headed by researchers from MSU and University of Michigan. GLISA provides annual funding for projects on climate change in the Great Lakes basin which involve researchers and decision-makers. This spring, GLISA made five awards, four of which went to MSU-led projects. Below, we list MSU researchers involved:
- A modeling framework for informing decision maker response to extreme heat events in Michigan under climate change. Laura Schmitt Olabisi (Community, Agriculture, Recreation and Resource Studies, ESPP) (lead), Ralph Levine (CARRS), and Stuart Blythe (Writing, Rhetoric and American Cultures).
- An assessment of the implications of climate variability and change for Michigan's tourism industry. Sarah Nicholls (CARRS, Geography) (lead), Donald Holecek (CARRS, Hospitality Business)
- Designing a decision support system for harvest management of Great Lakes Whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) in a changing climate. Abigail Lynch (Fisheries and Wildlife, ESPP), William Taylor (Fisheries and Wildlife). The Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability has more on the project.
- Predicting the impacts of climate change on agricultural yields and water resources in the Maumee River watershed. David Hyndman and Anthony Kendall (Geological Sciences) (leads), Bruno Basso (Kellogg Biological Station).
MSU prof calls for carbon labeling of consumer goods
University Relations
3-29-2011
Labeling products with information on the size of the carbon footprint they leave behind could help both consumers and manufacturers make better, environmentally friendly choices. Tom Dietz (Sociology and ESPP) writes in Nature Climate Change that labeling products, much like food products contain labels with nutritional information, could reduce carbon emissions by influencing consumer choices and by encouraging firms to identify efficiencies throughout the supply chain. More»
$20 million USDA research grant to study impacts of climate on corn-based cropping systems
College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
3-22-2011
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded a $20 million grant to MSU along with 10 other institutions. The research will focus on keeping Midwest corn-based cropping systems resilient in the face of future climate uncertainties. MSU co-principal investigator Sasha Kravchenko (Crop and Soil Sciences) said the project’s multi-scale data collection approach will provide researchers, producers and industry with unique capabilities to enhance productivity and resilience of corn-based cropping systems. More»
Gender and the sustainable brain
Reuters
3-11-2011
While not a lot of significant gender-difference research has been done related to sustainability-promoting traits and characteristics, a study published in late 2010 on climate change belief seems telling. Using data from 2001-2008 Gallup Polls focusing specifically on environmental issues, Aaron McCright (Sociology and Lyman Briggs) found that women were more likely to accept climate change science than men. More»
Michigan scientists say the EPA should regulate greenhouse gases
WMUK
3-9-2011
Scientists at many of Michigan's colleges and universities say a proposal to prevent federal regulation of "greenhouse gasses" is a bad idea….Stephen Hamilton (Zoology) says: “Generally speaking, environmental protection has proven to be a net producer of jobs…We need to consider the long-term risks that climate change poses to our economy.” More»
Climate change affecting food safety
University Relations
2-21-2011
Climate change is already having an effect on the safety of the world’s food supplies and unless action is taken it’s only going to get worse, Ewen Todd (Advertising, Public Relations and Retailing) told a symposium.
Yahoo News and U.S. News and World Report had the story. More»
Professor leads global-warming discussion during science cafe event at Jackson restaurant
Bay City Times
2-18-2011
Wolfgang Bauer (Physics and Astronomy) was the final speaker of the year for the Science Café series at Hudson’s Classic Grill, a program made possible by a grant from the Michigan Space Grant Consortium and support from Jackson Community College. More»
Behavior frontiers: Can social science combat climate change?
Scientific American
12-28-2010
U.S. households are responsible for 626 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year, nearly 40 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and 8 percent of global emissions….Still, Tom Dietz (Sociology and Environmental Science and Policy) remains optimistic. “I often hear energy experts who have never studied behavior say that behavior doesn't change,” says Dietz….. “But if we learn anything from the last 50 years, it's that behavior changes in huge ways.” More»
OSU climatologist takes stand on warming
Columbus Dispatch
12-19-2010
Lonnie Thompson, one of the world's most highly regarded scientists on climate change, is often reluctant to step onto a soapbox, a trait shared by other scientists, who prefer letting their research speak for itself. Many scientists... fear accusations of bias, said Michael Nelson (Fisheries and Wildlife; Lyman Briggs; Philosophy) "They are really worried that their credibility is at stake," he said.
Scientists scramble to bridge the uncertainty gap in climate science
The New York Times
11-9-2010
In the 1970s and 1980s, the United States had an Office of Technology Assessment, which analyzed complex scientific concepts, producing studies for Congress on subjects like the nation's energy future and ecosystem management and giving advice on how to address issues. It is something the United States should consider again, said Tom Dietz (Sociology and ESPP). More»
Michigan climate change initiative nets $4.2 million federal grant
University Relations
9-23-2010
A joint initiative between MSU and the University of Michigan to improve the nation's ability to adapt to climate variability and change earned a $4.2 million grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The grant will support the new Great Lakes Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments Center, which will use the money to help communities and organizations in the Great Lakes region understand and adapt to a changing climate. MSU affiliates include Tom Dietz (Sociology and Environmental Science and Policy), Jeff Andresen (Geography), Julie Winkler (Geography), Charles Pistis (MSU Extension), and Michael Staton (MSU Extension). More»
New video highlights findings of climate panel report
National Research Council
9-23-2010
The National Research Council has released a video based on Advancing the Science of Climate Change, a report from the America's Climate Choices project. The report maps out the realm of our accumulated knowledge regarding climate change, and urges that research on climate change enter a new era focused on the needs of decision makers. In this video…Thomas (Tom) Dietz (Environmental Science and Policy and Sociology) describes the panel's key findings and the lines of evidence that brought them to those conclusions. More»
Study: Women more likely than men to accept global warming
University Relations
9-14-2010
Women tend to believe the scientific consensus on global warming more than men, according to a study by Aaron McCright (Sociology and Lyman Briggs College).
The findings, published in the September issue of the journal Population and Environment, challenge common perceptions that men are more scientifically literate, said McCright.
More»
Environmental ethicist co-edits book calling for action
University Relations
8-27-2010
It's not enough to simply know the environmental impacts of climate change, according to Michael Nelson (Fisheries and Wildlife, Lyman Briggs, Philosophy). Instead, we must do something, and getting from knowing to acting is the challenge. That's the crux of "Moral Ground: Ethical Action for a Planet in Peril," a book Nelson co-edited, which will be released Sept. 1. More»
Green and clueless
Newsweek
8-17-2010
... Research led by Tom Dietz (Sociology and Environmental Science and Policy) estimated behavorial changes would cut U.S. carbon emissions by 123 million metric tons per year, which is 20 percent of household direct emissions.
PBS also had the story.
Climate change education partnership strengthens connections in the Great Lakes
ESPP
8-4-2010
A grant from the National Science Foundation will enable scholars at MSU and other institutions in the Great Lakes to build a network that supports adoption of high quality educational resources related to climate change. Climate scientists, learning scientists, and educational practitioners will work together to assess what resources are available and what’s needed. “Anyone interested in climate change education and literacy can and should be involved,” says Julie Libarkin (Geological Sciences and Division of Science and Mathematics Education), one of the MSU investigators. Others involved at MSU are Dave Poulson (Journalism), Ken Frank (Fisheries and Wildlife and Counseling, Educational Psychology and Special Education), and Rochelle Sturtevant (Fisheries and Wildlife). The NSF abstract is here.
Carbon2Markets program honored for five years of outstanding research
Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station
7-21-2010
A carbon accounting system aimed at helping some of the world's poorest people grow trees that will boost their standards of living and slow climate change has been deemed outstanding for the last five years by one of its international funders.
"We are very pleased to have been recognized by the Asia Pacific Network, which is a joint program of the Japan Ministry of Environment and the National Science Foundation," said David Skole (Forestry), leader of the Carbon2Markets project. More»
Steve Harsh forecasts future of wind energy industry
MLive.com
7-14-2010
President Obama wants 20 percent of U.S. electricity to come from wind sources by 2030. “And if that’s going to happen, it’s going to happen in the Great Lakes region,” says Steve Harsh (Agriculture, Food, and Resource Economics)...But “the key bottleneck is the infrastructure, particularly the grid.” More»
Charles Anderson: A progressive approach to K-12 science curriculum
MLive.com
6-17-2010
Interview with Charles “Andy” Anderson (Teacher Education): Anderson focuses on classroom teaching and learning of science. He works to help students understand science in the context of their own lives. The three key areas that Anderson focuses on are carbon, water and biodiversity. More»
MSU's Land Policy Institute hosts renewable energy event: Michigan residents want renewable energy
MLive.com
6-16-2010
... The message at the Land Policy Institute event was one of hope and promise — the hope that Michigan can gets its ducks in a row and the promise that Michigan can be a prime mover in the coming era of renewable energy. More»
Tom Dietz studies science of climate change for Congress
Mlive.com
6-7-2010
Interview with Tom Dietz (Sociology and Environmental Science and Policy): In 2008, Congress asked Tom Dietz and his colleagues to study climate change and submit a report. Over two years later, the report has been released. The bottom line of the report: The planet is warming, and the warming is mostly caused by human activity. More»
MSU solar panel research - American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
National Science Foundation
5-21-2010
Americans need to move away from fossil fuels, but “each of the options, with the exception of solar, have scalability issues,” says James McCusker (Chemistry). McCusker is leading a team of chemists, mathematicians, and engineers who are trying to develop a cheaper, more efficient alternative to the silicon currently used in solar cells. More»
America’s Climate Choices study released; MSU scientist leads “Advancing the Science” panel
University Relations
5-19-2010
A National Research Council study has concluded what many have assumed: Climate change is very real, is caused by human activities, and action must be taken soon to reduce this global threat.
Tom Dietz (Sociology and Environmental Science and Policy) served as vice chairperson of a panel whose mission was to take a hard look at the science of climate change – past, present and future – and help develop a national strategy to deal with the issue.
Reports and video of the public briefing are available here. More»
State climatologist Jeff Andresen on climate change
MLive.com
5-19-2010
Jeff Andresen (Geography), state of Michigan climatologist, talks with Kirk Heinze about the latest data related to climate change and what it means for all of us. ... More»
Climate change speakers discuss agriculture, adaptation, business
Greening of the Great Lakes/ WJR
5-1-2010
In an interview with Kirk Heinze, NASA scientist Cynthia Rosenzweig discusses projecting and preventing climate change. Heinze also interviewed Bjorn Stigson, president of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. Both were at MSU as part of the Distinguished Lecture Series on Bioeconomy and Global Climate Change.
Michigan farmers, flower festivals adapt to a warm spring
Detroit Free Press
4-20-2010
... Over the past 30 years, night temperatures in Michigan during winter and spring have risen 3-5 degrees statewide, says Jeff Andresen (Geography), the state climatologist. ... More»
Richard Schmalensee: U.S. renewable energy policy "erratic and unfocused"
Greening of the Great Lakes
3-29-2010
Host Kirk Heinze discusses domestic energy policy with MIT economist Richard Schmalensee in this audio interview. Schmalensee was in town as part of MSU's Distinguished Lecture Series on Bioeconomy and Global Climate Change, organized by ESPP and sponsored by the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station. More»
Africa: Finding the food crops of the future
IRIN News (United Nations)
2-25-2010
Many research institutions have been working on models to predict the impact of climate change on food production in Africa. The research could help produce climate-resilient varieties of food crops, says Jennifer Olson (Telecommunications, Information Studies and the Media). More»
Environmental Faculty Fellows chosen
ESPP
2-16-2010
MSU’s Environmental Faculty Fellows Program has its inaugural class. The program, supported by the Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies and organized by ESPP, brings six relatively new MSU faculty members together to work on a theme: this year, it is climate change and coupled human and natural systems. Fellows will discuss research and scholarly approaches to confronting the theme and work to prepare products, in partnership with each other and collaborators at other institutions. A Symposium next Spring will present the work. The new Fellows are: Ravi Bhavnani, Kendra Cheruvelil, Arika Ligmann-Zielinska, Sandy Marquart-Pyatt, Louie Rivers, and Laura Schmitt Olabisi. Brief descriptions of their scholarly interests are available on the ESPP biosketch page.
MSU researchers study climate change, food production in East Africa
University Relations
1-8-2010
For the first time, crop breeders and agricultural specialists in East Africa will have regionally specific climate data to research and manage crops in an effort to improve food production, say MSU researchers.
Using a $430,000 Rockefeller Foundation grant, researchers will study the impact of climate change on the drought-stricken area, including Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, said lead researcher Jennifer Olson (Telecommunication, Information Studies and Media).
“Most of our research has focused on the causes and consequences of climate change,” said Nathan Moore (Geography), co-investigator on the project. “This grant will apply those results in a new way by asking African specialists what their information needs are, and how they want us to help.”
The Associated Press had the story. More»
Study says Michigan climate plan would boost economy
Associated Press
1-4-2010
Michigan could gain a significant economic boost and thousands of new jobs by reducing emissions of gases that cause climate change, according to an analysis released (recently).
The report by the Center for Climate Strategies said a plan devised last year for battling global warming in Michigan would help limit the state's heat-trapping gas emissions over the next 15 years.
Steve Miller (Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics) conducted the study, which is available in summary here. More»
ESPP hosts a Copenhagen simulation
Greenboard (ESPP blog)
11-17-2009
If an ESPP-sponsored Copenhagen simulation is any indication of the real climate negotiations in December, don’t expect an effective climate treaty to pass.
Consulting with the least developed nationsFor three hours, students negotiated a climate agreement under the motivating force of ESPP faculty member Laura Schmitt Olabisi. The simulation exercise they participated in was developed at MIT and has been used nationally and internationally in preparation for the Copenhagen climate talks December 7-18. More»
Students and Faculty Taking Action
ESPP
10-31-2009
ESPP affiliates and other environmental researchers at MSU are claiming federal stimulus dollars to conduct a variety of projects on topics including climate change, biofuels and pollution cleanup. Among the recipients:
- Alison Cupples (Civil and Environmental Engineering) was awarded $300,000 from the National Science Foundation to study bioremediation of contaminants from leaking underground storage tanks. Her research team will improve knowledge of the microorganisms used to remove contaminants that can migrate into drinking water.
- Andrew Finley (Forestry, Geography) landed $70,506 from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences to develop models for predicting the health effects of climate change. The project aims to boost public health planning by improving prediction of diseases in specific regions.
- David Hyndman (Geological Sciences) is using a $243,532 NSF grant to model the impacts of climate change and land use on the hydrologic cycle and ecosystem health in the Great Lakes basin. The project will explore the dynamics of interaction between plants and water across land cover types, and will have implications for climate models, biofuel crop development, land use policy and other topics.
- G. Philip Robertson (Crop and Soil Sciences) earned a $1.7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to support biofuel sustainability research at the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center.
- Randall Schaetzl (Geography) received $185,086 from NSF to use a new method for dating loess deposits, which will generate missing information about glacial and postglacial environments in the Midwest. The work will provide data on loess and sand deposits that have confounded soil scientists and geologic mappers.
- Julie Winkler (Geography) will work to fill gaps in knowledge about northerly and southerly jet streams in the lower atmosphere over the central United States, using a $421,610 NSF grant. The project’s results will be useful both for short- and long-term weather forecasting, in setting a baseline to assess climate disruption, and for assessing wind energy potential. Graduate, undergraduate and high school students will be involved in the research, including underrepresented minorities.
MSU receives $2.5 million DOE award to build advanced hybrid engine (With video)
University Relations
10-29-2009
MSU researchers have received a $2.5 million federal stimulus grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to build a prototype new engine and generator technology that can dramatically improve efficiencies and reduce costs of electric hybrid vehicles. The project, led by Norbert Mueller, (Mechanical Engineering) has the potential to increase automotive fuel efficiency by five times compared to internal combustion engine cars on the road today while reducing costs by 30 percent. More»
Simple measures can yield big greenhouse gas cuts, Dietz says
University Relations
10-26-2009
New technologies and policies that save energy, remove atmospheric carbon and limit greenhouse gas emissions are needed to fight global climate change – but face daunting technological, economic and political hurdles.
The good news: Basic actions taken by everyday people can yield fast savings at low cost, according to MSU Professor Tom Dietz and colleagues, writing in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
See also: The Behavioral Wedge Web site. More»
Miscounting bioenergy benefits may increase greenhouse gas release
University Relations
10-22-2009
A fixable error in the way carbon is counted in current U.S. climate legislation and in the Kyoto Protocol could undermine efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by using biofuels, says a premier group of national environmental and land-use scientists.
"The promise of biofuels made from biomass is huge, from both climate mitigation and economic perspectives," said Phil Robertson, MSU professor of crop and soil sciences and one of the authors of the paper "Fixing a Critical Climate Accounting Error" published in the Oct. 23 issue of the journal Science. "But the promise could come up short if we don't pay attention to the details,” Robertson said. More»
Scientists making solar more efficient (With video)
University Relations
10-14-2009
A collaboration of MSU chemists, mathematicians and engineers is driving to improve solar panel technology, backed by a $1.9 million grant from the National Science Foundation.
"For renewable energy to succeed, it has to get to a point where it is economically competitive with current technology," said chemistry Professor James McCusker, the project leader. "This means we need totally transformational technologies."
The group is developing a solar cell based on a design that combines a dye with an inexpensive semiconductor -instead of silicon. Research team members include chemical engineer and ESPP affiliate Lawrence Drzal. More»
Study of climate’s effects on global industries (With Video)
University Relations
10-12-2009
A team of international researchers led by climatologist Julie Winkler (Geography) will conduct a first-of-its-kind study to measure the effects of climate change on global industries. Using the tart-cherry industry as an example, researchers will develop a system for conducting climate-impact assessments for international market systems, particularly those with long-term investments such as orchards. The new project could have applications for agriculture, tourism, manufacturing and other industries, Winkler said.
Other ESPP affiliates involved are Scott Loveridge (Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics), Jinhua Zhao (Economics and Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics), Jeff Andresen (Geography), and Sharon Zhong (Geography).
The project is supported by a $1.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation’s “Coupled Natural and Human Systems” Program. More»
Green roofs could counter global warming
United Press International
9-24-2009
A Michigan State University study has determined "green roofs" — those covered with plants — could help fight global warming. The scientists, led by horticulturist Kristin Getter and Brad Rowe, horticulture professor at Michigan State University, found replacing traditional roofing materials with green plants in an urban area with a population of about 1 million, would be equivalent to eliminating a year's worth of carbon dioxide emitted by 10,000 mid-sized sport utility vehicles and trucks. More»
MSU researchers lead the way in alternative energy research
University Relations
9-17-2009
Michigan State University's College of Engineering is working to improve the world's alternative energy future thanks to three grants totaling $141.5 million. "We think that no single solution is going to be able to address the energy problem we're confronting today," said Satish Udpa, dean of the College of Engineering. "So we feel we need to be working in several areas simultaneously. We have strong programs in thermoelectrics, biofuels and battery storage technology." More»
Microbes provide solutions to energy issues
College of Natural Science
8-6-2009
After three years of research, Gemma Reguera (Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Crop and Soil Sciences) has developed a process that can be harnessed to produce clean, cheap electricity and fuel from plant biomass. Microbial fuel cells are attracting interest as they are inexpensive to manufacture and produce no harmful by-products. More»
Chemistry professor receives $1.9M NSF grant for solar cell research
College of Natural Science
8-4-2009
James McCusker has received a $1.9 million NSF grant as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This research proposes to develop efficient, solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells using a synergistic collaboration that couples mathematical modeling with synthesis and characterization of novel polymer-based materials for ion conduction. For more on MSU research funded by the stimulus package, click here. More»
Green ideas
Inside Higher Ed
7-31-2009
Making people aware of the importance of sustainability is often half the battle. That's why Michigan State University decided to implement an environmental stewardship program among its faculty and staff as part of its Be Spartan Green initiative. "We wanted to look first at what we could do with faculty and staff because they tend to make more decisions that create waste," says Lauren Olson, project coordinator in MSU's department of sustainability and the initiator of the steward program. More»
The wisdom of crowds
Nature.com
7-30-2009
Given that changing behavior likely will be pivotal in any response to climate change, Nature magazine delves into the factors inhibiting contributions from the social sciences, quoting Tom Dietz, MSU's assistant vice president for environmental research.
See also the report from an NSF workshop on the topic.
More»
Michigan researchers ponder science's future
Detroit News
7-20-2009
Research into renewable energy, autism and stem cells could be the next great frontiers of science, Michigan researchers say as the 40-year anniversary of the man on the moon is observed today. ... To commemorate the anniversary, researchers from Michigan's leading institutions weigh in on some of the promising areas of scientific research in areas they think could be the next "One small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind." Soji Adelaja, director of Michigan State University's Land Policy Institute, discusses renewable energy and Jack Lipton, professor of neurology at MSU's College of Human Medicine, discusses stem cell research.
Note: This story came from a feature by MSU University Relations.
More»
Coastal communities gain help in planning for wind power
Great Lakes IT Report
7-13-2009
Soji Adelaja (Land Policy Institute) has received grant funding to work with coastal communities to assess the consequences of wind energy development and evaluate policy options, in advance of development proposals. Adelaja received $140,000 from Michigan Sea Grant. More»
A conversation with Michigan's state climatologist Jeff Andresen
MLive.com
7-2-2009
Associate professor of geography Jeff Andresen is the state climatologist for Michigan. Andresen is hosting his state climatologist colleagues from around the world at the American Association of State Climatologists annual meeting in Grand Rapids July 7-10. "Our goal is to look at the collection, analysis and dissemination of climate information, mainly back to the public," Andresen says.
More»
Amazon conservation policy working in Brazil, MSU-led study finds
University Relations
6-15-2009
Contrary to common belief, Brazil's policy of protecting portions of the Amazonian forest from development is capable of buffering the Amazon from climate change, according to a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Robert Walker (Geography), lead researcher, contends that state and federal governments in Brazil have created a sustainable core of protected areas within the Amazon. Photography courtesy Robert Walker.
More»
Study: Michigan mammals rapidly migrating north
Associated Press
5-21-2009
Commonplace rodents such as opossums and white-footed mice are migrating rapidly northward in Michigan, suggesting climate change is taking hold in the upper Great Lakes region, says a newly released scientific report. ... The project was boosted by a treasure trove of records on mammal distribution in the area, including more than a century of field notes and specimen collections housed in research museums at the University of Michigan and Michigan State University.
More»
Advocate for environment, scientist duo urges, as Michigan researchers seek greenhouse gas controls
University Relations
5-20-2009
Scores of MSU researchers urged Michigan’s congressional delegation to support strong federal policies to cut greenhouse gas emissions. The advocacy action coincided with publication of a paper by Michael Nelson (Fisheries and Wildlife, Lyman Briggs) and Michigan Tech scholar John Vucetich urging researchers to speak out on environmental policy. Their ethical analysis of environmental scientist advocacy appeared in the journal Conservation Biology.
Additional coverage: Grand Rapids Press, Great Lakes IT Report
More»
Michigan scientists push legislation to fix climate change
Detroit Free Press, News Blaze (Calif.)
5-19-2009
A group of 178 Michigan scientists from 11 universities have signed a letter backing legislation that would set up a national cap and trade system to curb greenhouse gases. ... "We came together as scientists to urge them to move forward," says Tom Dietz, director of the Environmental Science and Policy Program at Michigan State University.
For a related story, see Grand Rapids Press. More»
What can climate models tell cherry growers?
Scientific American
5-6-2009
By Andy McGlashen
In the glacier-carved hillsides of northwest Michigan where half of America's tart cherries grow, buds that look like half-burst popcorn will erupt any day into brilliant white blossoms. But in that six-county area flanking Lake Michigan, climate change is already in full bloom. The state is two degrees warmer on average than it was 30 years ago, and it's generally wetter, says Michigan State University geographer Jeffrey Andresen, the state climatologist. More»
MSU to Host Federal Energy Frontier Research Center
University Relations
4-30-2009
The U.S. Department of Energy has tapped Michigan State University to lead a new $12.5 million Energy Frontier Research Center, one of 46 to be established nationwide. The Center focuses on thermoelectric energy conversion, which increases energy efficiency by converting energy currently lost as heat into electricity. Researchers in the College of Engineering and College of Natural Science are involved. More»
California Air Resources Board deadline nears
Forbes, Houston Chronicle, San Francisco Business Times, Atlanta Business Chronicle, Earthtimes.org, and several other media outlets
4-20-2009
The California Air Resources Board, an arm of the state's Environmental Protection Agency, will end its comment period next week on the merits of adopting the Golden State's proposed Low-Carbon Fuel Standard. With only days remaining before the comment period ends on April 24, increasing numbers of university professors, scientists, researchers and industry trade organizations have registered their opposition to adoption of the LCFS proposal in its present form. ... Bruce Dale, University Distinguished Professor of chemical engineering and materials science at Michigan State University, says "The report prepared by the staff at the Air Resources Board... is poorly completed and the conclusions that are reached are not supported by data from the scientific literature. The work is based on very few references... and at least one of the references listed in the appendix is incorrect or falsified." More»
NRC Study Says Decision Makers Need Climate Information
ESPP
4-10-2009
A new National Research Council report with input from MSU says government agencies base decisions – for example, how to build bridges, manage water supplies or implement zoning rules – on outdated information that fails to consider climate change.
Joe Arvai (ESPP associate director and CARRS) was part of the committee that wrote the report “Informing Decisions in a Changing Climate,” which recommends that the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration and other federal agencies put more effort into producing relevant climate information and delivering it effectively to decision makers.
The NRC is the policy-advising arm of the National Academies. More»
Simon’s Latest Report Highlights Environmental Work
ESPP
4-10-2009
The 2008 President’s Report from MSU chief Lou Anna K. Simon highlights the university’s accomplishments in the last year, and includes short videos and news stories about research and outreach done by ESPP affiliates and others.
Available online, the report offers feature stories about, among other things:
- Chemical and mechanical engineers teaming up to grow biofuels for automobiles and build engines that burn them more efficiently.
- A project undertaken by ESPP affiliate Jennifer Olson (Telecommunications, Information Studies & the Media) and others that brought a student-designed, solar-powered Internet connection to a Maasai village in Tanzania where few people had ever seen a computer.
- Efforts by ESPP affiliates and entomologists Zachary Huang and Doug Landis to save the world’s honeybees from the mysterious and alarming Colony Collapse Disorder and attract other pollinators to Michigan.
Skole to Help Protect Planet and Poor with Carbon Count
University Relations
4-3-2009
The World Wildlife Fund has chosen Michigan State as its partner in an ambitious effort to develop an accounting system for carbon in the world’s landscapes.
Conceived by ESPP affiliate David Skole (Forestry) and colleagues and funded by a $5 million grant from the Global Environment Facility, the 18-month Carbon Benefits Project aims to allow even the remotest citizens of developing nations to participate in worldwide carbon markets. Through their land-use choices, participants could potentially lift themselves from poverty while protecting the environment.
“What they need is a tool to assess their carbon and climate impact, both positive and negative,” Skole said. More»
MSU reduces energy use by 3 percent during event
The State News
3-31-2009
Efforts to turn off nonessential lights and electrical devices resulted in a 3 percent reduction in campus energy Friday, university officials say. Students, faculty and staff members were encouraged to dim down their lights and electronics Friday from noon to 1 p.m. as a way to raise awareness about global climate change. "It was fantastic; it was a larger turnout than last year," says Lynda Boomer, energy and environmental engineer at the MSU Physical Plant. "We dropped about 1.5 megawatt, which is about a 3 percent (energy) drop for campus." More»
Litchman Lands Prestigious Award for Young Teacher-Scholars
ESPP
3-6-2009
Elena Litchman (Zoology) has won a prestigious grant awarded by the National Science Foundation to young researchers who also excel at teaching. The Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award will fund a five-year project in which Litchman will investigate how factors like climate change and nutrient levels affect toxic algae blooms in lakes. CAREER awards are given “in support of junior faculty who exemplify the role of teacher-scholars through outstanding research, excellent education and the integration of education and research within the context of the mission of their organizations,” NSF says.
More about Litchman’s work
More about CAREER
ESPP Gearing up for 'America’s Climate Choices'
ESPP
3-6-2009
ESPP representatives will join the scientists, policymakers, business leaders and others gathering in Washington, D.C. at the end of March to discuss the changing climate. The National Academy of Sciences charged the Committee on America’s Climate Choices with producing a report on the challenges and importance of responding to climate change, and called for a summit to help define the committee’s research. ESPP Director Thomas Dietz sits on the committee, and is vice chair of the panel responsible for identifying the science of climate change. News writer Andy McGlashen will post reports from the summit on GreenBoard, the ESPP blog. ESPP students, faculty and affiliates are encouraged to e-mail Andy (amcglashen@gmail.com) if they plan to attend the summit, and are welcome to blog from Washington for GreenBoard. More»
ESPP Affiliates Participate in Climate Teach-In
Office of Campus Sustainability
2-2-2009
Scientists and environmentalists have the new president's ear on climate change, and MSU joined more than 600 campuses nationwide in an effort to spark solutions-based conversation during his first 100 days in office.
The teach-in on climate change, sponsored in part by ESPP, featured panel discussions on the developing world impacts, energy issues and the moral dimensions of our response to a changing planet, among other topics.
More»
Rose, Dietz Opine in Detroit Dailies
Detroit News, Detroit Free Press
2-2-2009
Joan Rose (Fisheries and Wildlife) and Thomas Dietz (ESPP) appeared recently on the opinion pages of Detroit's two daily newspapers.
Rose's piece called attention to the critical importance of safe, clean drinking water, citing a recent e-coli outbreak in Colorado as evidence of the need to update the nation's pipelines, and urging the new administration to invest in new infrastructure.
Dietz argued that the upcoming federal economic stimulus package should include major investment in a home weatherization program. Weatherizing all appropriate U.S. homes would cut greenhouse gas emissions by 300 billion tons per year, create nearly 400,000 jobs and save homeowners and renters an average $150 to $450 per year, according to Dietz.
Greenhouse Emissions from Biofuels Overestimated, Study Says
University Relations
1-15-2009
Numerous studies have overestimated the greenhouse gas emissions associated with producing biofuels, according to new research at MSU.
Bruce Dale (Chemical Engineering and Materials Science) and co-authors say past analyses have failed to account for variables like crop management, leading to an overly grim picture of biofuels' environmental role. More»
Ecology Course Mixes Methods to Explain Climate
Connections (College of Natural Science newsletter)
12-3-2008
At the beginning of each semester, Carolyn Malmstrom (Plant Biology) asks students in the ecology class she co-teaches to name the most significant environmental change they’ve witnessed. Increasingly, the answer is climate change.
Malmstrom and teaching partner Mary Bremigan use newspapers, government reports, videos and good old-fashioned discussion to teach their students about climate change in an approachable and lively way.
“It is not just about someone getting a grade and a degree,” Malmstrom said. “It is about their formation as scholars and citizens, and that requires that we really care and engage them.” More»
Journalism Workshop in Alaska Heats Up Climate Coverage
Knight Center for Environmental Journalism
12-3-2008
A group of 12 journalists from around the country ventured to Alaska this summer to delve into the biggest story on the planet: climate change.
Sponsored by MSU's Knight Center for Environmental Journalism, the group visited Kenai National Wildlife Refuge to witness pine bark beetle infestation and drying wetlands, went on a boat tour to see the receding glaciers of Harding Ice Field and talked with scientists at the forefront of climate change research.
The group wrote more than a dozen stories – which appeared in the Washington Post, Reuters and elsewhere – about the impacts of climate change on Alaska’s ecosystems and its people. More»
Hall Blogs on Great Lakes Climate Change, Biodiversity
Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability
12-3-2008
Kimberly Hall (Fisheries and Wildlife, Forestry) was featured as The Great Lakes Town Hall guest blogger during the week of October 13th. Her articles discussed impacts of climate change on biodiversity in the Great Lakes region, and strategies we can incorporate into management and conservation to help species adapt.
Hall was asked to contribute to the site after her presentation at last April’s conference on Climate Change in the Great Lakes Region. She said she enjoyed writing less scientifically than usual, and that her first blogging experience was “a nice opportunity to convey the emotional side of spending a lot of time thinking about an environmental challenge with such huge potential to impact species and people around the world.”
“Do we value biodiversity in the Great Lakes?” she wrote in one post. “What about water quality, clean beaches, and all of the other traits of healthy Great Lakes ecosystems? If so, we need to be working hard now to minimize all of the other stressors that we already know put our lakes at risk, and moving forward with climate-specific strategies as well." More»
It's Cool to Keep Heat Turned Low
Lansing State Journal
11-29-2008
For the second year in a row, residents of Bower Co-op in East Lansing are competing with Raft Hill Co-op, another of the 12 houses that make up the Michigan State University Student Housing Cooperative, to see which could go the longest without switching on the furnace. Both caved around the middle of November when the weather began to turn icy, and both seem to think the other house won. But the contest was about more than winning. It was about reducing environmental impact, about finding ways to live with a smaller carbon footprint...
Terry Link, director of the Office of Campus Sustainability at MSU, says more students are working to make their environmental ideals part and parcel of their day-to-day lives. More»
"Cool" Idea for Efficient Climate Control Wins Recognition
PhysOrg.com
11-25-2008
A Michigan State University researcher and a colleague have won the Boston Innovation Prize for the design of a low-cost, energy-efficient method of cooling and dehumidifying residential and small commercial spaces.
Norbert Müller, assistant professor in Michigan State University's Department of Mechanical Engineering, and John Barrie, of the Appropriate Technology Collaborative in Ann Arbor, Mich., collaborated on the award-winning project. "The technology used for this air conditioner is radically different," Müller says. "We are using the most natural refrigerant, water." More»
Dietz Advises Congress on Climate Policy
University Relations
11-17-2008
It seems all but certain that the next Congress will take legislative action on climate change, and when it does, ESPP Director Thomas Dietz will be among its advisers.
The National Academy of Sciences tapped Dietz to help lead a $6 million study called America’s Climate Choices. The two-year study will assess short and long-term strategies for slowing and adapting to climate change, and will identify challenges and new directions for research.
Dietz said Michigan State takes a unique approach to climate change research, and that the appointment speaks highly of the MSU model.
“There is a lot being done around campus on climate change, and this is a huge validation of that,” he said.
Dietz interviewed on Spartan Podcast, 11/19/08 More»
Students Race to Finish MSU's First Solar Car
The State News
11-13-2008
An efficient vehicle cruising in the Michigan sun is what a team of students envision as they work to finish Michigan State University's first solar car. The car, which will be powered by the sun's energy and contains no pollutants, is 90 percent complete and looks far different from a normal gas-powered vehicle. It is expected to be able to reach speeds of at least 40 mph. More»
Jinhua Zhao Wins Award for Climate Paper
ESPP
10-1-2008
Jinhua Zhao (Economics and Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics) has been awarded first prize in an international competition for a paper addressing global climate change. Jinhau co-authored the paper with Larry Karp of the University of California, Berkeley. It was one of 36 submissions, with authors from 18 countries, to the Harvard Project on International Climate Agreements. More»
Rachael Shwom Blogs on Climate Change & Values
Great Lakes Town Hall
7-28-2008
Ph.D. candidate Rachael Shwom (Sociology and ESPP) was guest commentator on the Great Lakes Town Hall during the week of July 28. Shwom wrote about connections between the Great Lakes, global warming, and the public's perspective. The Great Lakes Town Hall is sponsored by the Biodiversity Project, in Chicago. More»
Students' Renewable Energy Argument Wins Air and Waste Management Association Award
ESPP
6-27-2008
A team of five MSU students won second place in a student environmental challenge at the Air and Waste Management Association's 101 st Annual Conference in Portland , Oregon . Eight student teams from Canada and the United States participated in the challenge, which asked students to either reject or accept a proposal for a new 1,000 MW Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) coal facility meant to serve the Pacific Northwest region. The MSU team included Brandon Knight, Michael Collins (Journalism), Lauren Olson (CARRS), Rebecca Hullman (ESPP and Environmental Engineering), and Tan Zhao (Environmental Engineering). The team decided to abstain from the use of fossil fuels, and instead proposed a renewable portfolio consisting of wind, biomass, geothermal, compressed air storage, wave, solar, and energy efficiency/conservation. MSU students will have another chance to compete in a similar challenge when the conference moves to Detroit in June 2009.
Nobel Prize Shines on MSU Faculty
ESPP
6-19-2008
MSU faculty contributed to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports, which recently won the Nobel Prize for Peace. David Campbell (Geography), K. Hall (Fisheries and Wildlife and Forestry), and Julie Winkler (Geography) were reviewers for the 2007 report's Working Group II, on "Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability." Campbell and Hall were reviewers for the 2001 report's Working Group II, also, and David Skole (Forestry) reviewed for the 2001 report's Working Group I, on "The Scientific Basis." Skole was also a lead author for the first assessment of Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry and received a special Nobel Diploma given to those who contributed to the IPCC in substantial ways.
Knight Center for Environmental Journalism Produces "Meltdown" Program on Climate Change, Featuring MSU Faculty
ESPP
6-19-2008
The Knight Center's Lou D'Aria and students from journalism, broadcasting, theater, zoology, music, and fisheries and wildlife produced a program on climate change in the Arctic. The program features MSU faculty members Nathaniel Ostrom (Zoology), David Skole (Forestry) and Merrit Turetsky (Plant Biology). More»
MSU Faculty Present to Legislators on Climate Change
ESPP
6-10-2008
As Jeffrey Andresen, of MSU's Department of Geography, and Nathaniel Ostrom, of MSU's Department of Zoology, testified on June 10 at a hearing on climate change organized by Representative Rebekah Warren, Chair of the House Great Lakes and Environment Committee, and Steve Chester, Director of the DEQ. Dr. Andresen specializes in agricultural meteorology & applied climatology, while Dr. Ostrom studies how carbon dioxide and nitrogen function within the climate and carbon cycles. David Skole , of MSU's Department of Forestry, also spoke to legislators recently. Dr. Skole studies global carbon cycles and the role of forests in climate change.
MSU Launches Campaign to Cut Power Use by Up to 17 Percent
Lansing State Journal
6-2-2008
Michigan State University's leaders can't do much about the skyrocketing prices of coal and natural gas. But they think they can convince students, faculty and staff to turn off a few lights and power down their computers at the end of the day, particularly if it means smaller tuition bills and more money for university programs. "The challenge we have on campus is people don't get the electrical bill," says Kathy Lindahl, assistant vice president for finance and operations. More»
Microbes in the Energy Grid
Science Magazine
5-23-2008
The current surge in food and fuel prices has sounded an alarm showing why providing a sustainable global energy supply and minimizing climate change are arguably two of the greatest challenges facing 21st-century society. With adequate research and proper implementation, the diverse and often unseen inhabitants of the microbial world -- bacteria, yeasts, fungi and archaea -- can help address these challenges... James Tiedje is a professor of microbiology and crop and soil sciences and director of the Center for Microbial Ecology at Michigan State University. More»
Renewable Energy Standards Gain Momentum in Michigan
Business Review (Mich.)
5-1-2008
Support is building among local alternative energy leaders for the approval of a renewable portfolio standard in Michigan which would require electricity companies to ensure that a certain percentage of their energy comes from renewable sources... Adesoji Adelaja, director of Michigan State University's Land Policy Institute, says Michigan has a potential to produce 16,500 megawatts in power generated by wind turbines. But right now the state produces less than 1 percent of that. More»
Warming Could Sap Superior - Great Lakes Face Algae, Disease
Detroit Free Press
4-11-2008
Lower lake levels, less ice cover, more algae, more invasive species and more waterborne diseases linked to sewer overflows after severe storms. Those are among the dire forecasts about the impact of global warming on the Great Lakes from scientists who concluded two days of presentations Thursday at Michigan State University. More»
Shades of Gray: Climate Change’s Mixed Effects on the Tourism Industry
Green Ink (ESPP's newsletter)
5-1-2007
When people think of climate change’s consequences, they generally have negative expectations: life-
threatening heat waves, droughts and wildfires, more frequent storms, rising sea levels and the accelerated
extinction of species. But when it comes to the effects of climate change, the issue isn’t just black and
white.
According to Dr. Robert Richardson, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Community, Agriculture,
Recreation, and Resource Studies (CARRS), climate change can present positive opportunities as well,
especially in the tourism industry. More»
ESPP Students Win Honorable Mention in AAAS Student Poster Competition
ESPP
4-4-2007
Congratulations to ESPP doctoral students David Bidwell and his co-author Rachael Shwom who recently received an honorable mention in the 2007 American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Student Poster Competition. Their poster, entitled "Deliberation Lite: How Does Feedback Influence Public Climate Change Policy Support?" was presented at the AAAS Annual Meeting held in February. More»
Knowledge is Power: ESPP Student Educates the Next Generation on Climate Change
ESPP
4-2-2007
Climate change is happening right now. But though some people are already being affected by climate change, those currently in grade school will be most affected in the future... Sara Parr, a Ph.D. student in the Department of Crops and Soil Sciences and ESPP specialization student, is one of eight fellows at Kellogg Biological Station (KBS) participating in a project designed to help arm students with the tools and knowledge they will need to make informed decisions about climate change. More»
