This page includes sustainability progress and goals data from a prior year. Click here for current progress and goals updates.

2017 Sustainability Progress Report
Student Engagement

Projects

U-M students and faculty are involved in hundreds of sustainability projects on campus and around the world, from the development of healthy food ventures in Detroit to exploring sustainable solutions worldwide.

  • $33.4K funding given to students through Planet Blue Student Innovation Fund
  • 271 Dow Sustainability Fellows supported to date

America’s number one team

In an innovative, bullet-shaped car, the U-M Solar Car Team took a historic second place finish in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, an 1,800-mile race across the Australian Outback, marking their most successful finish at this international event in team history. Clouds, high winds and overnight thunderstorms added to the challenge and excitement of the team’s five-day, cross-continental journey where they were the first American team to cross the finish line.

 

Erb Institute Impact Projects

U-M graduate student Nick Barret recently attended a conference in Cuba focusing on the future of the country’s renewable energy policy. The trip was made possible through funding by the Erb Institute, a partnership between the Ross School of Business and the School for Environment and Sustainability.

The Erb Institute’s mission is to create a socially and environmentally sustainable world through the power of business. The institute accomplishes this through research, teaching and business engagement focused on preparing and supporting business leaders who can transform companies, industries and entire economies for systemic sustainability.

Dow Fellows program extended through 2020

An additional $3 million gift from The Dow Chemical Company Foundation to the Dow Sustainability Fellows Program at U-M will enable fellows to continue implementing sustainable solutions for food systems, cities, infrastructure, mobility, consumption and energy systems from Michigan to Sub-Saharan Africa.

Since its inception, the program has supported 271 fellows from 17 of U-M’s 19 degree-granting units, and fostered interdisciplinary collaboration among all students on sustainability projects through the Dow Distinguished Awards for Interdisciplinary Sustainability.