Explore your interests, gain experience, and develop your skills
The term "research" might be define as any sort of activity that adds to our knowledge or supports our ability to solve problems.
Students that engage in research opportunities grow from consumers of knowledge to creators of it. By pursuing these opportunities, students will develop their analytical and communication skills, and it may even help them identify their career path. Faculty in our department are dedicated to helping students achieve their goals while affording them research opportunities that support their rigorous academic background.
EEGS also supports travel logistics for our students to local, regional, and national conferences to present their work and professionally network.
Below, learn about past and ongoing projects organized broadly by field or subdiscipline, as well as recent conferences where our students presented their work.
Faculty-Student Research Areas
Agriculture
Agricultural research plays a critical role in ensuring food security, meeting the needs of a growing human population, and ensuring resilience to climate change. Students participating in agriculture-based research have interdisciplinary training to begin working with government agencies, farmers, and ranchers to support their livelihoods and support improvements to our food system.
Air quality
Managing, protecting, and restoring air resources are essential for all life. Clean air supports habitat for wildlife and healthy plant communities, as well as human health and recreation. Students participating in air quality research in the field and laboratory have gained relevant professional experience through the assessing the impacts of pollutants and better positioning themselves to design and implement solutions with stakeholders.
Energy resources
With ongoing challenges related to the extraction and distribution of resources to support our energy needs, harnessing sustainable and renewable resources like wind, sunlight, biofuels, geothermal heat, and rivers is increasingly vital. Students with research experience in energy resources can address real-world social, economic, and technical sustainability issues, and work with relevant stakeholders to develop and implement solutions relevant to local communities.
Environmental justice
Environmental justice involves the meaningful and just treatment of all people regardless of income, race, color, sexual orientation, origin, Tribal affiliation, or disability. Students engaging in environmental justice research are prepared to pursue careers in education, research, consulting, policy, or advocacy.
Natural resources
In a time of rapid ecological change, students with research training in natural resources can apply practical and scientific solutions to current and emerging human–environmental challenges. Our students pursuing research in Natural Resources are prepared for various jobs related to resource and land management, conservation, restoration, GIS, environmental planning and protection, and recreation.
Conferences
Celebration of Student Scholarship
The Celebration of Student Scholarship is an annual event held on the Northern Michigan University campus to recognize the scholarly activity of undergraduate and graduate students in all disciplines. Students share their work with the NMU and Marquette communities by presenting research posters and oral presentations, which include creative written work and artwork. EEGS Faculty actively mentor students as they prepare their oral or poster presentation submission.
Regional conferences
EEGS supports student travel to regional conferences such as the East Lakes Division of the American Association of Geographers (ELDAAG) or West Lakes Division of the American Association of Geographers (WLDAAG) conferences. Students have an opportunity to present their work and professionally network.
