Campus Sustainability Updates - Jan. 19, 2024 - Sustainability Hub for Innovation & Environment

NMU'S CARBON NEUTRALITY PLAN IS NOW FINALIZED! 

Northern Michigan University’s “Path to Carbon Neutrality by 2050” plan is now finalized, outlining the strategies for achieving that goal and targeted reductions in carbon emission reductions for each decade along the way. While NMU has already reduced its carbon footprint by more than 30% since 2010 and has one of the smallest footprints among the state’s public universities, it is striving to decarbonize the campus.

The carbon neutrality plan includes a timeline of related past and current efforts, along with a table of some of the potential pathways for achieving each of the three targets. To gather campus feedback on the initial draft, the task force held information sessions in October and made a flipbook and feedback survey available online. The finalized plan can be viewed here.

NMU BOARD OF TRUSTEES PLAN FOR DIVESTMENT! 

NMU student group, DivestNMU, has spearheaded the movement of divestment on campus and reached success in the NMU’s Board of Trustees approving the plan to divest from fossil fuels in December 2023. DivestNMU’s statement is below:

“DivestNMU originated in October 2021 from a highly motivated group of students that were a part of the EcoReps student organization. Sitting around a campfire on the shores of Lake Superior, students came together with the goal of the university achieving divestment from fossil fuel companies. With an initial campus wide petition and protest, DivestNMU gained momentum drawing the attention of local news broadcasters, faculty, students, and the Board of Trustees. The administration was very keen to work with us over the last two years and used our objectives from our original proposal to create the university’s divestment strategy. This work could not have been possible without the groups’ advisor and NMU professor Ryan Stock and the group of students dedicated to campaigning for the university to eliminate its investments in the fossil fuel industry. These students include alumni and current students Molly Miller, Hilde Eide, Julia Hrynkiw, Zoe Tardy, Taylor Schmitt, Marley Wolff, Laura Whipple, Mackenzie Geary, Maggie Bailey, and Kolibri Drobish. Students a part of DivestNMU wish to thank and applaud the NMU administration for taking action in this notable step towards campus climate action.”

Components about divestment from NMU’s Carbon Neutrality Plan:

• NMU has a "commitment to not invest in any stand-alone fossil fuel investment endeavours".
• 50% divested of investments in fossil fuel related investments by 2025.
• 100% divested by 2028.
• Shifting investment of up to 15% into sustainable investments by 2028.
• Halt any new investments in those funds now that have any fossil fuels.

MARQUETTE 2049 - CLIMATE CHANGE LEARNING CIRCLES 

What climate change issues will affect us over the next 25 years? Now is the time to talk about climate change and what it means for the Marquette community. This is a kick-off event designed to brainstorm the key issues we need to be thinking about. Join us on Wednesday, January 31, from 12-2:30 pm in Northern Center Ballroom III. Lunch WILL BE PROVIDED - A taco bar buffet with vegan, vegetarian and GF options. RSVP here.

WILDCAT WAY - DESIGNING A PATH FROM CAMPUS TO THE LAKE 

NMU will be working on a campus site design project to, in part, lay out the concept of Wildcat Way as outlined in the 2019 Campus Master Plan. This concept includes new or expanded pedestrian corridors through campus as well as spaces for outdoor activities, places to gather, recreate, and study. Examples of what these spaces could be include expanded art walks, seating gardens, covered pavilions, greens spaces that may double as impromptu sports fields or other points of interest. 

To help explore and develop what these spaces could be there are a number of work sessions planned for January 25th and 26th with the Landscape Architects from the Smith Group. During these sessions the designers will facilitate a series of activities to help develop possibilities to be incorporated into the Wildcat Way design.

• Jan. 25, 10am to 12:30pm / Informal Learning area across from the auditorium in Jamrich. This is open to anyone, but the target is both resident and commuter students.
• Jan. 25, 3pm to 5pm / Jamrich Hall 1322. This is for Faculty/Staff and an announcement is forthcoming.

• Jan. 25, 5:30pm to 8pm / Northern Light Dining. This session is for resident students

   

OFFICE OF SPONSORED RESEARCH IS HIRING STUDENT INTERNS 

Internship Opportunity #1

Job Title: Communication & Outreach Intern – Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP): Research Events

Job Description: The Communication & Outreach Intern for OSP will work closely with Tesse Sayen (CGS&R), the Research Advisory Board, and the College of Graduate Studies & Research team to develop, execute and promote research initiatives, programs and outreach.

In this position, you will be primarily responsible for brainstorming and planning high visibility research events for the campus and greater community (student, faculty & staff as well as the area public); identifying key partnerships, messages and lessons; creating digital content; and you may be asked to assist with other areas of marketing and communications as needed.

Compensation: This is a paid position. $2,000 will be credited to your student account upon completion of this internship.

Work Schedule: Hours are flexible; the right candidate must be available for in-person team meetings at least one hour per week. You may work up to 10 hours per week during the academic year. We will work around your class schedule.

Employment Start Date: ASAP - Winter Semester

Internship Opportunity #2

Job Title: Communication & Outreach Intern – Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP): Research Events

Job Description: The Communication & Outreach Intern for OSP will work closely with Tesse Sayen (OSP), the College of Graduate Studies and Research team, and the Northern Michigan University Marketing & Communications team to develop, execute and promote research initiatives, programs and outreach.

In this position, you will be responsible for brainstorming and developing content; updating the OSP website (Drupal 8 training is required), posting and promoting events and information on university calendars and social media platforms; creating content and sending newsletter/emails. You may also assist with other areas of marketing and communications as needed.

Compensation: This is a paid position. $2,000 will be credited to your student account upon completion of this internship.

Work Schedule: Hours are flexible; the right candidate must be available for in-person team meetings at least one hour per week. You may work up to 10 hours per week during the academic year. We will work around your class schedule.

Employment Start Date: ASAP - Winter Semester

CLIMATE@NOON LINE-UP FOR WINTER 2024

Jan 19 - Bio Energy & Environmental Justice with Dr. Sarah Mittlefehldt's

Feb. 2 - Proforestation: Secrets of Carbon Capture with Steve Waller 

Mar. 15 - What is divestment & what is means for NMU with DivestNMU Alumni & current leaders 

Apr 12 - EN-ROADS Climate Simulator with Citizens' Climate Lobby 

Today Dr. Sarah Mittlefehldt's presentation on Bio-Energy & Environmental Justice: Exploring Tools and Approaches to Implement Justice40. Sarah Mittlefehldt is a professor in the Department of Earth, Environmental & Geographical Sciences at NMU. For the past four years, Dr. Mittlefehldt has led an interdisciplinary research collaboration between NMU and MSU that focuses on the environmental justice implications of different applications of wood-based bioenergy technologies. Her research has been used to inform state renewable energy legislation and a federal executive order on the societal impacts of biotechnology. In this talk, Mittlefehldt will explore some of the equity challenges associated with the shift to renewable energy and the circular economy.

Next Climate@Noon is February 2 at noon in Jamrich 1311!

Also, check out Northern Climate Network at the following places:

• Website: https://nmu.edu/northernclimatenetwork/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/188899098115459/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCES8l7AnzWqL8yd2TVs5wnw

The Northern Climate Network is free and open to the public and co-sponsored by Marquette’s Climate Adaptation Task Force. If you know of other climate change-related events happening in our community, please let us know and we’ll be sure to share with our network.

ECOREPS EVENTS & INTERNSHIPS 

EcoReps first meeting will be on February 1st at 5 pm in Jamrich (location TBA).

Internships are open and close 2/9 at 11:59. One is for the Green Fund and one is for Community Outreach! Here is the link to that! Learn more and apply, here.

Register on the Hub to receive EcoReps emails.

Event - Clothing Swap! Jan. 26th from 11 to 4 in the atrium of Jamrich

LEAVE NO TRACE EVENT WITH RESPECT MARQUETTE & NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL ASSOCIATION

Check out this event with Heather Vivian from Travel Marquette, and Lynn Meister Thomas from North Country Trail Association! It is on Thursday, the 25th, from 6 - 8 PM at the Peter White Public Library Community Room. Learn more about this event here.

SUSTAINABLE FOOD MANAGEMENT MEETINGS 

A newly established group centered on sustainable food management and waste will be having monthly meetings on the 3rd Thursdays of each month at 6pm. Organizations from across campus and students meet to discuss pressing issues on how to reduce food waste at NMU and how to locally source the food we eat. Everyone is welcome.

The next meeting will be February 15th at 6pm located at the SHINE Building (1400 Presque Isle Avenue). If you have any additional questions or would like to be added to the email list feel free to contact Delaney Miller (delanmil@nmu.edu).

NMU INNOVATION WEEK - FEB. 21-23 

Innovation Week is a three-day professional development conference bringing together thought-leaders, innovators, and creative minds in Michigan’s beautiful Upper Peninsula. Featuring keynote speakers, carefully curated innovation quests, interactive workshops, and networking opportunities, Innovation Week will inspire, enlighten, and spark curiosity. Learn more about these events here.

SUBMIT YOU RESEARCH - BUILDING A CULTURE OF SUSTAINABILITY AT THE CELEBRATION OF STUDENT RESEARCH 

This event will feature Green Fund Projects, First Generation & Indigenous Student Research. The abstract deadline for this event is Friday, March 29. The Celebration of Student Scholarship takes place on April 18 in Jamrich Hall. More information about this event will be forthcoming in the new year. If you would like to be involved in the planning of the Annual Celebration, or would like to serve as a judge, please reach out to studentcelebrate@nmu.edu.

NMU VOTED ONE OF THE "BEST U.S. COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES FOR OUTDOOR LOVERS" 

To learn more about this feature from Outdoors.com here, and read the Northern Today article here.