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Below are examples of of recent faculty- and student-led projects in the community involving sustainability. Each project provides information on the motivation and objectives of the work, a listing of collaborators, and links for project deliverables and/or additional resources.
Northern Woodshed Project | EEGS - Bothwell collaborative | Water is Life Festival | Forest fuels | NMU Hoop House | Youth and family environmental events | NMU Sustainable Food Plan | Northern 2030 | Northern Climate Network | Climate Action Resolution | Other student collaborations
Northern Woodshed Project
Students in GC 489 were given an opportunity to assist in the research and development of the Northern Woodshed Project. NMU’s Carbon Neutrality Plan aims to reduce greenhouse gases 25% by 2030 and 50% by 2040 by reducing energy demand and investing in renewable energy technologies. Specifically, the plan states that NMU will “develop a plan to potentially transition from natural gas to a renewable fuel, such as biomass or renewable natural gas, at the Ripley Plant.” Students in this class helped to assess the feasibility of switching to wood at the Ripley Plant This research will be used to help inform decision-making on NMU's campus.
Years active
2024 - present
Lead faculty project leader
Dr. Sarah Mittlefehldt
Student collaborators
Students in GC 489 - Human Environment Capstone
Faculty and staff collaborators
Kathy Richards (Facilities)
Dr. Adam T. Naito (EEGS)
Dr. Diana Lafferty (Biology)
Dr. Matthew Van Grinsven (EEGS)
Community collaborators
SISU: The Innovation Institute at NMU
Ripley Heating Center
EEGS - Bothwell Middle School collaborative
Students in GC 424 - Environmental Justice taught students at Bothwell Middle School about the social and environmental impacts of fast fashion.
Lead faculty project leader
Dr. Sarah Mittlefehldt
Student collaborators
Kristina Ligas (ENSS)
Erika Rivers (ENV)
Annika Salvaggio (Biology)
Finley Turner (ENSS)
Sarah Vanden Bossche (ENSS)
Community Collaborator
Bothwell Middle School
Water is Life Festival
Working with colleagues in the Center for Native American Studies, students help plan and facilitate a community celebration of Water Protectors in our region. Dr. Mittlefehldt worked closely with CNAS Director Tyler Dettloff to secure funding from the Michigan Arts & Culture Council for this event.
Lead faculty project leader
Dr. Sarah Mittlefehldt
Campus Collaborator
Center for Native American Studies
Community Collaborator
Michigan Arts & Culture Council
Forest fuels: equity, environment, and woody biomass energy technologies in Michigan
Dr. Mittlefehldt received funding from the National Science Foundation to train 12 undergraduate research assistants to assist with research on the environmental justice implications of different types of wood-burning energy technologies in Michigan. This research culminated in five publications, one of which was co-authored with NMU students who have pursued graduate studies at the University of Michigan.
Lead faculty project leader
Dr. Sarah Mittlefehldt
Community Collaborator
Department of Forestry and Remote Sensing and GIS Outreach Services, Michigan State University,
NMU Hoop House
The Northern Michigan University Hoop House serves as a collaborative learning center for eaters of all ages who are curious about where food comes from and how it it grown. Through research and education on sustainable agriculture, the project aims to expand our local food system, improve food security and increase access to fresh, healthy produce.
Mary Kelly led the group to receiving the 2024 Student Organization of the Year
Lead faculty project leader
Dr. Susy Ziegler
Student collaborators
Mary Kelly (ENV, 2023)
Student Organization Collaborators
NMU Hoop House
Youth and family environmental events
Ryan Stock and students collaborated with Great Start Collaborative and Marquette-Alger RESA on various environmentally-themed events for children and families (e.g. Earth Day, education, nature hikes)
Years active
2021 - 2023
Lead faculty project leader
Dr. Ryan Stock
Community collaborators
Great Start Collaborative
Marquette-Alger RESA
NMU Sustainable Food Plan
Dr. Ryan Stock and students in GC 269 and GC 317 collaborated with NMU Dining to create the NMU Sustainable Food Plan.
Years active
2021-2022
Lead faculty project leader
Dr. Ryan Stock
Student collaborators
Students in GC 269 - Introduction to Sustainability
Students in GC 317 - Geography of Food Systems
Northern 2030: Planning for Collaborative Sustainability
Students in GC 424 researched, wrote, and secured approval from the Board of Trustees for NMU's current sustainability plan, "Northern 2030: Planning for Collaborative Sustainability."
Years active
Winter 2021
Lead faculty project leader
Dr. Sarah Mittlefehldt
Student collaborators
Students in GC 424 - Environmental Justice
Northern Climate Network
Dr. Ryan Stock and students coordinated the Northern Climate Network in collaboration with Superior Watershed Partnership and CATF, involving NMU faculty/staff/students, community members and local stakeholders. Climate@Noon talks are well-attended and well-received by community members and organizations.
Years active
2020 - 2023
Lead faculty project leader
Dr. Ryan Stock
Community collaborators
Marquette County Climate Adaptation Task Force
Superior Watershed Partnership
Climate Action Resolution
Dr. Ryan Stock, along with a few students from EcoReps and DivestNMU, drafted a climate action resolution for the Marquette City Commission. We then worked with City Commissioners to ensure its revision and eventual adoption in 2021.
Years active
2020 - 2023
Lead faculty project leader
Dr. Ryan Stock
Student Organization Collaborators
EcoReps
DivestNMU
Community collaborators
Marquette City Commission
Multiple student collaborations with community organizations
Dr. Ryan Stock's course assignments designed around student collaboration with local organizations on a project related to sustainability and/or environment. Some of these are successfully funded through Green Fund, some of these have informed carbon neutrality and fossil fuel divestment efforts.
Years active
2020 - 2023
Lead faculty project leader
Dr. Ryan Stock
Community collaborators
Citizens' Climate Lobby
Citizens for a Safe and Clean Lake Superior
League of Women Voters
Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition
NMU Dining
Partridge Creek Farm
Peninsula Solar
Recycle 906
Superior Watershed Partnership
Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve