2024 Capstone Conference

a

celebration of graduate student research

Table of Contents

Cities, Mobility and Built Environment

Implementing Resilient Washtenaw in City, Township, and Village Operations

Presenters: Bridget Corwin, MS (EPP), MPP; Sam Fleckenstein, MS (EJ, SusSys); Graham Fordice, MS (SusSys); Ann Marie Nicholson, MS (SusSys); Haley Willman, MS (SusSys)

Advisor: Geoffrey Lewis

Location: Washtenaw County, Michigan, USA

Client: Ann Arbor 2030 District

Washtenaw County has a goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. However, many of its cities, villages, and townships lack the resources, staff and roadmap for achieving this goal. This project aims to address the current gaps that exist in academic and local literature about energy efficiency in Washtenaw County’s municipal-owned buildings. Larger cities in Washtenaw County have begun energy efficiency projects in accordance with the Resilient Washtenaw Plan and A2ZERO initiatives, but smaller municipalities have less capacity to execute these kinds of projects.

Our team worked to integrate the Resilient Washtenaw plan into municipal building facilities operations and to bring more awareness to the variety of energy efficiency tools available to municipalities. We began with a research phase exploring existing energy efficiency frameworks, benchmarking techniques, best practices and funding opportunities for municipalities. Then, we engaged local government personnel through surveys and interviews to learn about the needs of the community and worked through different iterations to define and develop a toolkit to implement energy efficiency best practices. In order to increase resource access beyond our project, we held a webinar to connect CVTs with organizations that can assist with these efforts long term.

Visioning Cass: A Roadmap for the Future

Presenters: Kyle Anderson, MS (SusDev); Walid Bamehriz, MS (SusSys); Michael Grady, MLA; Nana Temple, MLA; Taylor Valentine, MS (SusDev, EJ, BEC); Parker Wise, MS (SusDev), MURP

Advisor: Lisa DuRussel

Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA

Client: Cass Community Social Services

Cass Community Social Services (CCSS) is a nonprofit organization operating in northern Detroit and “dedicated to providing food, housing, health services and job programs in areas of concentrated poverty.” With the goal to expand CCSS’s reach and deliver more options and programming to help carry out its mission in service to the community, our team’s project entailed creating a vision plan and roadmap for future sustainable redevelopment opportunities on and around the CCSS campus. Our work consists of projects under the interconnected scopes of health, economic development, clean energy, ecological health, community vitality and strong partnerships. Through site visits, case studies, research, informational interviews, and project management, the team compiled a variety of best practices, funding strategies, partnership opportunities, implementation plans and design renderings to provide CCSS with a portfolio of potential plans to pursue. Additionally, we included recommendations to CSSS for how to best deliver services based on community feedback and strategies for further participatory engagement, ensuring development and programming are in sync with the needs of the community.

Gratiot/Harper Development Project

Presenters: Bingqing Han, MLA; Ziyi Chen MLA, MS (GDS); Zhongyi Zhang, MLA; Jillian Morisette, MS (EPP); Ihsan Akhtar, MS (ESM), MPH, MSE

Advisor: Mark Lindquist

Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA

Client: City of Detroit Planning and Development Department

This project proposed a development plan for a Detroit project site that aims to address three main objectives, which are to protect and improve community members’ quality of life and health; to enhance stormwater management, city services and ecosystem health in the region, with a focus on mitigating the flooding, improving transportation; and to provide opportunities for potential economic growth. An additional deliverable aimed at addressing watershed health provided recommendations for native plantings and other ecological components that can greatly improve the quality of the project sites’ encompassing watershed. To best mitigate issues in these focus areas, the team compiled extensive GIS analyses, community research and data related to all three areas of focus. In addition to an in depth analysis, a well constructed literature review was completed to enhance the qualitative data previously collected. Overall, this project has created an extensive development plan that will aid the City in revitalizing and improving the chosen community area, which will be an asset to the City of Detroit’s Planning and Development Department.

Improving Accessibility at Nichols Arboretum

Presenters: Taryn Farber, MLA; Maia Gallagher MS (SusSys), MEng; Snow Guo, MS, MLA; Jinbo Li, MLA, MS (GDS)

Advisor: Stan Jones

Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

Client: Nichols Arboretum

The Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum team is committed to fostering equitable and just access to the outdoors for everyone via its trail system and varied ecosystems. Currently, outdoor experiential inequities at Nichols Arboretum, specifically, affect individuals with physical disabilities and limitations or non-dominant identities. While there are countless measures that would improve inclusion, this project emphasized how Nichols Arboretum can reduce experiential inequities for visitors with physical disabilities. Through public engagement interviews and surveys, we determined three approaches to enhancing mobility-based accessibility at the Arboretum: 1) improved physical access, 2) improved information dissemination external to and internal to the Arboretum, and 3) physical improvements to trails. To further inform our recommendations, we performed geographical analysis of the Arboretum using ArcGIS data, a LIDAR digital elevation model, and field observations to determine critical trail physical characteristics such as grade and trail cover. Final recommendations include short-term actionable items (improvements to parking and the website, a new signing plan, and a new public-facing map of the Arboretum), long-term actionable items (trail designs for improved trail cover and regrading), and suggestions for non-critical, longer-term, simultaneous, or ongoing projects that could improve accessibility and may be appropriate for future capstone or student projects.

Climate and Energy

Maple Syrup Life Cycle Assessment

Presenters: Jenna Weinstein, MS (SusSys), MBA; Tiffany Win, MS (SusSys); Yuan-Chi Li, MS (SusSys); Zhu Zhu, MS (SusSys)

Advisor: Geoffrey Lewis

Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

Client: Center for Sustainable Systems

This master’s project is a collaboration with the Center for Sustainable Systems (CSS) on a maple syrup Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). While many maple syrup producers are interested in understanding their ecological footprint, a holistic LCA of maple products has yet to be conducted in the United States. This project was designed to illuminate impact hotspots in the syrup value chain and to provide tailored insights for producers on impact reduction solutions given their unique production practices and business models.

The research team worked with the National American Maple Syrup Council and International Maple Syrup Institute to conduct a USDA Acer grant-sponsored LCA of maple syrup products. Over the last 16 months, data was collected from a cohort of syrup producers across the Northeast and Midwest on production methods, materials and energy requirements. The master’s project team worked with CSS to map the maple syrup supply chain, assess the life cycle footprint of syrup products and explore recommendations for impact reduction. Research has specifically focused on current industry knowledge gaps around carbon offsets, systems impacts of packaging choices and mitigation tactics for waste byproducts. Ultimately, this project underscored the need for stakeholder-informed solutions within datadriven projects. Producer engagement was key to devising tailored recommendations that addressed both impact reduction and barriers to solution adoptions within the maple producer community.

Comparative Analysis of U.S. Community Solar Initiatives: Recommendations for the City of Detroit, Michigan

Presenters: Warren Gunn, MS (EJ, SusDev), MPP; Andrea Mahieu, MS (SusDev); Margerie Snider, MS (EJ, EPP); Daniel Vargas-Weil, MS (EPP, ESM); Megan McLaughlin, MS (GDS); Sanya Bery (SusDev), MURP

Advisor: Kerry Duggan

Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA

Client: City of Detroit Office of Sustainability

Like many cities across the United States, Detroit, Michigan, is facing significant challenges due to global climate change. Detroit is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and is already experiencing the effects, including flooding and rising temperatures. The City of Detroit Office of Sustainability seeks tools and strategies for the accelerated development of solar energy to meet goals set forth in the Detroit Climate Strategy to mitigate the effects of climate change for Detroit residents. This report informs and contributes to Detroit’s clean energy transition by highlighting existing community solar programs in Michigan, Chicago, Los Angeles and New York and provides recommendations pulled from these case studies specific to Detroit. Additionally, local community stakeholder perspectives are shared to inform on an equitable and just energy transition. Through extensive online research, interviews and stakeholder engagement, we compiled case studies and recommendations for the successful, expedient and just implementation of solar energy in Detroit. Finally, we conducted a cost-benefit analysis of the Detroit Solar Neighborhood Initiative, a city-owned solar development project that is expected to generate 33 megawatts of renewable energy, power all 127 municipally-owned buildings and significantly improve air quality and health outcomes for local residents. This report finds that solar-specific policy initiatives, extensive community engagement and benefits and a focus on affordability for low-income communities are key indicators for effective and equitable solar energy projects.

Optimizing Dual Land Use for Ecosystem Services and Solar Power in Michigan

Presenters: Elizabeth Healy, MS (SusSys), MSE; Lora Kralik, MS (SusSys); Yuping Wei, MS (EPP); Augie Spieske, MS (GDS); Artur Starobinskiy, MS (ESM)

Advisor: Brendan O'Neill

Location: Michigan, USA

Client: Consumers Energy

Consumers Energy has set a goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2040, including the deployment of nearly 8,000 megawatts of solar energy, which requires significant land use for ground-mounted photovoltaic (PV) arrays. This project explored sustainable ways to optimize dual land use for solar power and ecosystem services at these solar farms. Specifically, the project objective was to develop a framework to analyze the costs and benefits of integrating dual-use land in Consumers Energy’s ground-mounted PV installations. This was done by focusing on potential solar energy and sustainable land use synergies and creating frameworks to evaluate these and future synergies of interest to Consumers Energy. In addition to evaluating dual-use land opportunities for a specific Consumers Energy solar farm, we extended this analysis for use in future sites. We generally found competing incentives when analyzing policy, spatial mapping, levelized cost of electricity and social-economic benefit implications of these dual-use land strategies, and suggest multi-criteria decision analysis with user-designated prioritization of decision criteria as a pathway for future dual-use land optimization.

Upholding Social Justice Principles in Carbon Capture and Sequestration: Case of Southeastern Michigan

Presenters: Hejing Hu, MS (SusDev, SusSys); Michael Somantri, MS (SusSys), MBA; Zirui Peng, MS (GDS); Ziwen Tan, MS (GDS)

Advisor: Rajiv Ghimire

Location: Southeastern Michigan, USA

Client: DTE Energy

As the world is grappling with the escalating climate change crisis, the role of carbon capture and sequestration technologies has become imperative for long- and short-term decarbonization goals. While the technical aspects of carbon capture and sequestration have matured in the past decades, the social, political and justice aspects of the technology are less understood. Given the disproportionate impacts of climate change and decarbonization on disadvantaged communities, such as increased energy burden and job displacement, the deployment of carbon capture and sequestration requires a meticulous understanding of social, political, and justice implications. Our study focused on Southeastern Michigan, a historical place for the environmental and climate justice movement, to understand the societal impacts and benefits of a carbon capture sequestration project, including the implementation of the Justice40 Initiative. Our study combined quantitative and qualitative approaches, including geospatial analysis, social life cycle assessment and stakeholder engagement. The outcomes of the study suggest the need for data-driven decision making, increasing awareness, and stakeholder engagement. Further, decarbonization projects require strategic initiatives and a community benefits plan to ensure that the project benefits reach disadvantaged communities. Through a comprehensive approach, this study presents effective strategies for dealing with carbon capture and sequestration projects that are socially equitable and environmentally sustainable.

Environmental Justice Case Study in St. Clair Township, Michigan

Presenters: Rebecca Beilinson, MS (EJ), MPH; Allie Lawler, MS (EJ); Alexandria Martin, MS (EJ); Margot Ridgeway, MS (EJ)

Advisors: Michelle Martinez; Kyle Whyte

Location: St. Clair Township, Michigan, USA

Client: Freshwater Future

Our community partner, Venessa Davis of St. Clair Township, Michigan, has lived in the shadow of oil and gas storage tanks and offloading facilities for decades. For 11 years, she has worked tirelessly to call attention to the fact that both Enbridge and Energy Transfer (the owners of these oil and gas facilities) are poisoning the air that she and countless others breathe. Freshwater Future, a nonprofit organization based in the Great Lakes region, has supported both the student team and Davis for the past 1.5 years. Davis has recently formed her grassroots organization, Families Reclaiming Our Environment (FROE), into a nonprofit. FROE seeks to support St. Clair Township residents and potentially other similar communities in the future. Our research objective was to determine how people in St. Clair Township regarded both Energy Transfer and Enbridge, and what factors could motivate others in the community to join FROE. Through our final report, we hope to provide concrete evidence to Davis detailing the irresponsibility of the oil and gas facilities. Through a community-based survey and analysis, an extensive document review and independent research spanning multiple topics, we have concluded that our work is perhaps a pilot project for a much larger endeavor for future students at the University of Michigan. As a collective student team, we hope that our work will support Davis as she proceeds to the next phase of her fight for justice.

Meijer Greenhouse Gas Scope 3 Phase II: Supplier Engagement and Emission Reduction Goal

Presenters: Mariana Canepa, MS (SusSys), MBA; Lars Panquin, MS (SusSys); Aiko Ueda, MS (SusSys), MBA; Xinyue Che, MS (BEC)

Advisor: Erik Petrovskis

Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA

Client: Meijer

Meijer, a prominent retailer with diverse operations across multiple U.S. states, faces a significant challenge in decarbonizing its value chain where the majority of its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions occur. The company aims to lead by example in combating climate change by setting GHG emission reduction targets to create a more sustainable economy and environment. To achieve this, Meijer worked with a team of SEAS student researchers to reduce its environmental impact by mitigating GHG emissions in its supply chain.

The SEAS/Meijer Phase II research focused on developing Meijer’s scope 3 supplier engagement strategy. Research objectives included the development of near-term and net-zero scope 3 emissions reduction goals, supplier engagement strategy and implementation recommendations. The SEAS team leveraged comprehensive industry research to identify emissions hotspots and establish supplier engagement targets. This involved an in-depth qualitative review including the scope 3 inventory hotspot analysis, industry benchmarking, understanding different scope 3 strategic approaches, studying external supplier engagement programs, and conducting surveys and interviews with Meijer's suppliers and internal stakeholders. The team developed a science-based target strategy that will engage 80% of suppliers, based on spend, by 2026, and prioritizes key factors for engagement as Meijer aims to align its emissions reduction plan with Science Based Target initiative standards and effectively mitigate its environmental impact across its supply chain.

Insuring the Net-Zero Transition

Presenters: Prutha Bhide, MS (SusSys); Shagun Sengupta, MS (GDS)

Advisor: Andrew Hoffman

Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

Client: Zurich North America

Climate change is creating new risks that require urgent action from the insurance industry to manage. This project analyzed emerging climate technologies to identify investment opportunities that can accelerate the transition to net-zero emissions. The research aimed to assess market trends, the competitive landscape and risk exposures to inform business strategy for Zurich North America Group, an insurance company. The methodology combined expert interviews, quantitative market analysis and geospatial risk modeling to evaluate growth projections, adoption challenges and the insurability of climate tech sectors.

Key findings show that renewable energy, electric transportation and carbon capture present high potential but also novel liability risks related to technology maturity, infrastructure needs, supply chain and legal uncertainties. The project took a deep dive into offshore wind and carbon capture and storage and found that their rapid growth projections indicate the need to develop specialized risk management solutions like parametric insurance and resilience incentives. Overall, supporting climate tech development allows insurers to align underwriting with climate goals while realising new revenue streams. This project equipped Zurich with a framework to lead in insuring the net-zero transition through strategic climate tech investments and innovation in products and services.

Bridging the Gap: Analyzing Factors Affecting Collaboration in South Korean Air Pollution Policy Development

Presenter: Gahyun Lee, MS (EPP)

Advisor: Steven Yaffee

Location: Seoul, South Korea

Client: Korea Environment Institute

This practicum aimed to examine the factors that hinder or support collaboration between South Korean civil society actors and the state in the transnational field of air pollution policy development. By understanding these factors, I was able to identify and recommend opportunities to enhance collaboration and effective policy formation. These results will further research in this field as well as support the work of my client, Chaeeun Im, in her role at the Korean Environment Institute, where she promotes citizen participation in government decision-making.

I hypothesized that, among other factors, a difference in priorities may obstruct collaboration between actors—with the substate actors primarily focusing on specific air pollution issues, while the state's concerns extend to broader economic and transboundary political considerations. My proposal outlined the research questions, methodology, timeline and deliverables for the practicum.

Numerous researchers have shown interest in understanding how multilateral and bilateral cooperation between state actors can address transboundary air pollution in Northeast Asia. However, in South Korea, researchers and policymakers seldom explore the potential of sub-state actors, such as subnational governments, cities, corporations and civil society, in helping to address this matter. It is crucial to acknowledge that the effects of air pollution are felt at national and regional scales and I aimed to identify ways to ensure that more diverse voices within South Korea and neighboring states can effectively contribute to creative environmental policy development.

My research question was, “What factors hinder or support collaboration between South Korean civil society actors and the State in the field of transboundary air pollution policy development?” The methodologies I used to answer the research question were semi-structured interviews and comparative analysis.

How Do Distributed Energy Resources Change the Economics of Decarbonization

Presenter: Lanzhao Cheng, MS (SusSys), MEng

Advisor: Parth Vaishnav

Location: Michigan, USA

According to the Energy Information Administration, the end-use of residential and commercial energy consumption was one of the major components of the total end-use energy consumption in 2022. As such, decarbonizing these sectors is pivotal to achieving the climate objectives set for 2050. Electrification emerges as a promising decarbonization strategy, particularly through the adoption of heat pumps and solar panels. Given Michigan's substantial reliance on natural gas for heating and other energy needs, it is essential to examine how distributed energy resources (DERs) could alter the state's decarbonization economy. This study utilized ResStock—a detailed model of the U.S. residential building stock— and Cambium, which projects hourly emissions for various future states of the U.S. electricity sector up to 2050. The thesis outlines the projected changes in carbon dioxide equivalent emissions and the associated cost implications for Michigan residents, considering the transition to electrification over the coming two decades under a range of scenarios.

In Situ Warming Has a Positive Effect on Fledgling Growth in American Robins (Turdus migratorius)

Presenter: Isaac Smith, MS (ESM)

Advisor: Brian Weeks

Location: Pellston, Michigan, USA

Variations in temperature during development can impact ontogenetic growth trajectories via developmental plasticity. In birds, warmer conditions are commonly associated with reductions in body size, and studies increasingly show consistent, multi-decadal patterns of warming-associated size reductions across hundreds of bird species from a range of systems. However, the relationship between temperature during development and size plasticity is complex: increases in temperature can stimulate or inhibit growth depending on the timing of warming, the intensity of warming and species identity.

We developed microcontroller-based warming devices to experimentally raise the temperature of open cup nests in situ (those left in place). We then used these devices to warm the nests of American robins (Turdus migratorius) during egg incubation and nestling development ~2C above ambient temperature, measuring the effects of the warming on nestling growth and survival. We demonstrate that individuals in warmer nests were more likely to be larger at fledging and that nest temperature did not affect embryo and nestling survival. Our findings suggest the relationship between warminginduced developmental plasticity and long-term trends in morphology is likely to be complex, indicating that further study across species and temperatures is warranted.

Isaac Smith accessing an American Robin nest to install warmers during summer data collection

Fungal Spore Seasons Advanced Across the U.S. Over Two-Decades of Climate Change

Presenter: Ruoyu Wu, MS (ESM)

Advisor: Kai Zhu

Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

Airborne fungal spores are a primary source of allergy, causing respiratory illnesses such as rhinitis and asthma. Public health risks from fungal spore allergy could be exacerbated by climate change through changing fungal spore seasons. Despite its importance, the impact of climate change on fungal spore phenology is poorly understood, leading to limited consensus to inform global change ecology and public health. To address this knowledge gap, we leveraged a longterm continental-scale dataset of airborne fungal spores, sampled by the U.S. National Allergy Bureau. We extracted 10 metrics of fungal spore seasons, encompassing the timing (e.g., start and end of season) and intensity (e.g., peak concentration and integral) from both ecological and public health perspectives. Using linear mixed effects models, we quantified temporal shifts in the fungal spore season across the continental U.S.

Our findings revealed that the spore season has significantly advanced from both ecological (11 days) and public health (31 days) viewpoints. Additionally, we detected extensions in both the ecological spore season (12 days) and allergy season (16 days). We also found decreases in the annual integral of spore concentration from an ecological perspective and the spore allergy season integral from a public health perspective. Moreover, our study unraveled the strong correlation between these trends and climate change, including warming and drying trends. Overall, our findings suggest possible climate-driven advanced and prolonged fungal spore seasons, highlighting the importance of climate change mitigation and adaptation in public health decision-making.

Implementation Evaluation of Equity-Centered Goals and Actions in California City-Level Climate Action Plans

Presenter: Yuer Wang, MS (EPP), MPP

Advisor: Sara Hughes

Location: California, USA

As climate change accelerates, municipalities are adopting aggressive climate change policies to facilitate transitions to a more resilient future. However, only addressing inequities in the treatment of politically, economically and socially marginalized communities leads to transformational changes in combating climate change and advancing sustainability, as they are the most vulnerable to climate change. Although California cities are increasingly including equity-centered languages in local Climate Action Plans (CAPs), the actual effectiveness of these commitments remains largely unexamined, and it is unclear if the equity promises are merely lip service.

This thesis research aimed to fill the gap to examine whether California cities with equity goals in CAPs have established effective implementation strategies, how the equity actions are implemented and what factors facilitate or hinder successful implementation. The study employed policy analysis, policy evaluation framework development, interviews, qualitative comparative analysis, and statistical analysis to uncover why certain cities are more successful than others in implementing the equity actions and goals specified in CAPs. The findings provide crucial recommendations for future CAPs drafting and revisions as well as resource allocation to bridge the gap between equity-oriented ambitions and the effective and equitable outcomes. Policy stakeholders must prioritize setting measurable equity targets with dedicated funding, improving administrative capacity to implement and scale up well-planned equity-centered projects. Initiating climate and sustainability efforts driven by equity with extensive community input creates the ideal “container” for cities to put mitigation and adaptation measures into action with an equity lens.

Carbon and Energy Footprinting Across Archetypes for U.S. Maple Syrup Production

Presenter: Spencer Checkoway, MS (SusSys), MSE

Advisors: Geoff Lewis; Greg Keoleian

Location: Northern USA

The production of maple syrup from sap requires extensive processing, which has traditionally led to significant energy inputs and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per gallon produced. Technology advancements, e.g., vacuum tubing sap collection systems, reverse osmosis (RO), and electric evaporators have changed the way syrup is produced, resulting in widespread variability in processing equipment and sugar-making operational decisions. This paper evaluates these complex operations through a cradle-to-retail gate carbon footprinting model and by capturing variability in a series of producer archetypes. By isolating energy and emissions impacts, we find that implementing RO has the largest reduction effect on energy (45-78%) and emissions (51-83%), depending on both production size and evaporator fuel (wood, fuel-oil, or electricity). Results also demonstrate the effect of production scale on cumulative energy demand and emissions per gallon of syrup, with small producers ranging from 421-1554 MJ and 36-132 kg CO2e/gal (54-91% biogenic on-site) for wood-fired operations and 25-69 kg CO2e/gal for oil-fired operations. Large producers ranged from 122-166 MJ and 6-9 kg CO2e/gal (electricity to oil-fired operations). Producers of all scales with the highest rates of electrification in their operations also have the lowest GHG emissions and energy use per gallon of syrup produced.

State of Michigan Hydrogen Demand Analysis

Presenters: Brooke Alsterlind, MS (SusSys); Patrick Killian, MS (GDS), MSI; Stephen Lipshaw, MS (SusSys) MEng; Sara Murphy, MS (SusSys), MEng; Shagun Parekh, MS (SusSys), MSE; Yaqi Zhang, MS (SusSys)

Advisor: Greg Keoleian

Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

Client: Center for Sustainable Systems

The State of Michigan’s greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goals require significant decarbonization in emissionsintensive sectors like industry and transportation. Low-carbon hydrogen is a potential decarbonization strategy in hardto-abate industries and medium and heavy-duty vehicles (MHDVs) where electrification opportunities may be limited. This research quantified current (2022) and future (2030, 2050) hydrogen demand in Michigan for 25 industrial facilities and seven MHDV classes, accounting for economic growth, freight increases and technology readiness. Demand models were informed through stakeholder interviews, DOE reports, and other hydrogen roadmaps and strategies. These models indirectly estimated current energy demand using facility CO 2 emissions, state MHDV vehicle miles traveled, and assumptions like fuel substitution ratios. The potential to reduce GHG emissions by displacing incumbent fossil fuels with low-carbon hydrogen was also quantified.

Petroleum refining was the largest consumer of hydrogen (93%) in 2022 followed by the semiconductor industry (6%), with demand totaling 39 metric kilotons. Emerging opportunities in steelmaking and transportation contribute significantly (37%) to demand in 2030 (63 metric kilotons). In 2050, demand ranges from 108-206 metric kilotons, varying due to scenario selection and opportunities in steel, transportation, and cement. Assuming a 100% deployment scenario, demand was estimated at 1,100 metric kilotons. GHG emissions reductions of up to 16% in 2030 and 44% in 2050 are possible compared to incumbent fossil fuel processes and depend on the deployment scenario and hydrogen production pathway. This demand analysis can inform the scale-up of low-carbon hydrogen production in Michigan and the planning of a regional hydrogen ecosystem.

Conservation and Restoration

Tribal Initiatives and Opportunities for Land Return and Co-Stewardship in the Northern Great Plains

Presenters: Mary Edwards, MS (ESM); Weihan Dai, MS (BEC, ESM), Valerie Tafoya, MS (ESM, EJ)

Advisor: Andy White

Location: South Dakota, USA

Client: Buffalo Nations Grasslands Alliance

Our project provided analytical resources aimed at aiding our client, Buffalo Nations Grasslands Alliance (BNGA), in establishing quantitative evidence and historical documentation to facilitate Indigenous-led conservation, comanagement and eventual land return endeavors within the Northern Great Plains (NGP) region. Methodologically, our approach integrated spatial data analysis with a comprehensive inventory and documentation of federal legislation pertinent to reservation boundaries, with a particular emphasis on the diminishment of the Lower Brule Reservation in South Dakota.

Our analytical results show that Tribal trust land in the Northern Great Plains outperforms federal, state and private land on multiple metrics. In particular, our metrics for grassland productivity and below carbon stores were much higher in Tribal trust land than in federally owned land. Our case study focusing on the Lower Brule reservation revealed that land in the neighboring Fort Pierre National Grasslands may have originally been a part of the reservation, sparking discussions over the possibility of co-management with the U.S. Forest Service, and perhaps even eventual land return to the tribe. Our resultant outputs aspire to amplify the visibility of Tribal Nations' role in land ownership and stewardship in the United States, showcasing how tribes have the capacity to steward their land sustainably. Such heightened visibility is deemed pivotal in advancing conservation efforts and addressing the imperatives of climate change mitigation. By furnishing open-access documents and maps, our overarching mission is to empower Tribal Nations with the requisite knowledge to effectively discern and assert their rights.

Food Availability and Its Influence on the Sustainability of Migratory Bird Populations on the Inspiration Ridge

Preserve in Homer, Alaska, USA

Presenters: Laramie Jeudé, MS (ESM); Dongchen Lang, MS (ESM); Kayla Pringle, MS (ESM); Emilia Shokoohi, MS (ESM); Grant Sprague, MS (ESM,GDS)

Advisor: Allen Burton

Location: Homer, Alaska, USA

Client: Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies

Tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) are migratory songbirds that travel to high latitudes to reproduce and raise young over the summer. Their migratory timeline includes migrating to North America, where they leave their wintering grounds in March, and reach northern regions mid-late May. They will then breed and raise their young until late July and then migrate back to southern regions for the winter. Tree swallows, along with many other migratory birds, are predicted to see declines as climate change progresses due to timing mismatches between their arrival at a nest site and emergence of their prey. Anecdotal reports in Homer, Alaska suggest that climate change is already affecting tree swallow abundance. The Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies (CACS) deployed nest boxes for use by tree swallows on their Inspiration Ridge Preserve property outside of Homer to aid swallow conservation efforts. Our master’s project group traveled to Homer to work with CACS to monitor nest box use by tree swallows and estimate invertebrate prey abundance and composition during the summer in 2023. Our work included conducting songbird, terrestrial arthropod and benthic macroinvertebrate surveys, nest box monitoring, and the development of a citizen science plan to involve youth in conservation efforts.

Nestbox monitoring at the Inspiration Ridge Preserve. From left: Grant Sprague and Laramie Jeudé.

Trails of History and Nature: Developing Ecological

and Cultural Materials for an Ecotourism Hiking Network on the

Aegean

Island of Naxos (Greece)

Presenters: Dominique Valentine, MS (ESM, EJ); Simrin Dhillon, MS (SusDev); Haoting Gao, MLA, MS (Information Science); Peiwen Li, MLA, MS (ESM)

Advisors: Johannes Foufopoulos; Sheila Schueller

Location: Naxos, Greece

Client: Cyclades Preservation Fund; Hellenic Society for the Preservation of Nature; Municipality of Naxos and Small Cyclades

The Cycladic Islands in Greece are a prominent international destination currently grappling with the environmental and sustainable effects of mass tourism and overgrazing. Despite this, tourism presents a key opportunity for locals and a vital step in fostering ecotourism. Specifically, Naxos, situated within a globally significant biodiversity hotspot, boasts various topography, abundant endemic species, and a wealth of cultural and historical resources. The island offers a promising canvas for the development of hiking tourism, through the help of an ancient trail network. However, the potential benefits of ecotourism on the island remain greatly untapped due to a scarcity of accessible information to guide, attract and educate visitors.

This project's research objective was to develop natural and cultural materials, including featured flora and fauna species, archaeological sites and other helpful local information to provide visitors with a fulfilling, sustainable and holistic hiking experience. With the information we gathered through hiking on those ancient trails and the assistance of geographic techniques, we developed trail and species descriptions along with a guidebook that will inform visitors of what they can expect, how they can prepare and offer lodging options. By the development of a model for ecotourism initiatives, this project envisions economic growth not only within the Mediterranean region but globally as well. Sustainable hiking activities enhance rich cultural and ecological diversity and benefit local communities.

The team when hiking on an ancient path in Naxos with typical phrygana habitat nearby.

Advancing Tribal Co-Stewardship to Restore Indigenous Rights to Ancestral Lands

Presenters: Natalie Britton, MS (EJ); Reva Butensky, MS (SusDev); Jamie Brackman, MS (EPP), MURP

Advisor: Andy White

Location: Snowbird, North Carolina, USA

Client: Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Department of Natural Resources

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) is a federally recognized Tribe in western North Carolina whose current land holdings neighbor the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, all of which lie within contiguous Cherokee ancestral homelands. The Eastern Band are descendants of Cherokee families who resisted forced removal under Andrew Jackson in the 1830s, and those who returned to their ancestral homeland following removal. Through Executive Order 14112, the Biden administration has directed federal land management agencies to increasingly recognize the land sovereignty of Tribes through co-management and to consult Tribes in land management decisions.

To support ongoing negotiations between EBCI’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the U.S. Forest Service, this project worked to provide documentation and materials for internal strategic discussions around advancing EBCI’s land sovereignty. Our deliverables were compiled at the request of the Junaluska Museum and the Elohi Dinigatiyi (Earth Keepers)—a group of Tribal elders, speakers and experts in traditional land use practices who are advising the DNR on land and wellness initiatives. Our methods included archival research, literature review, GIS, and policy analysis, and our resulting deliverables include (1) A pilot community mapping project to document narratives of culturally important places and species in the Snowbird community, (2) A report on the implications of federal land designations on Tribal land sovereignty, and (3) A case study of the forced removal of a Cherokee family in the early 1900s through condemnation of their privately held lands.

First Responses to Beech Leaf Disease in Michigan Forests

Presenters: Vincent Ader, MS (GDS); Lauren Bennett, MS (ESM); Ilse Hassler, MS (ESM, GDS); Daniel McConnell, MS (ESM); Jenna Nutter, MS (ESM, GDS)

Advisor: Stella Cousins

Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

Client: Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum

As forest pests and diseases continue to be introduced to Michigan, the need for monitoring and effective mitigation strategies becomes increasingly apparent. To fill this need for the Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum, as well as other land management organizations, our research has been aimed at monitoring mesic southern forests and building response networks for reporting beech leaf disease (BLD). BLD was detected in Michigan by 2022 and has since been confirmed in seven counties. Through the establishment of long-term monitoring plots focused on American beech (Fagus grandifolia) stands, we have been able to understand the potential impacts that BLD has on forest community and composition. In the summer of 2023, we sampled 21 sites, with 10 BLD-positive plots and two new confirmed counties. Through the use of early detection and rapid response protocols, we have been able to inform land management organizations and stakeholders about BLD risk. Additionally, through education and outreach events we have built public awareness of BLD and American beech ecosystem services. We emphasize the importance of American beech conservation as a natural resource and implore that hope is on the horizon.

The BLD team stands with an American beech tree and informative sign about not carving into beech trees.

Accelerating Watershed Conservation Planning and Implementation in Michigan’s Stony Creek-South Branch

River Raisin Watershed: A Bottom-Up Approach to Reducing Phosphorus Loading into Lake Erie

Presenters: Tyler Baird, MS (EPP), MPP; Nivedita Biswal, MS (ESM); Jared Holter, MS (EPP); Abigail McDowell, MS (EPP); Kristina Waterbury, MS (ESM)

Advisor: Mike Shriberg

Location: Dover Township, Lenawee County, Michigan, USA

Client: Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

Over the past three decades, Lake Erie’s Western Basin (WLEB) has become renowned for its annual toxic algal blooms, threatening human health, critical ecosystems and transnational economies. The blooms have spurred responses at state, federal and binational levels, culminating in a formal commitment among the states of Michigan and Ohio and the province of Ontario to reduce phosphorus loading into the WLEB by 40% by 2025. To date, little progress has been made in addressing the primary source of WLEB phosphorus: nonpoint source (NPS) nutrient pollution from agricultural production.

Our objectives were to assess the factors relating to agricultural best management practice (BMP) uptake in the Stony Creek (South Branch River Raisin) sub-watershed and to develop a watershed conservation plan with practical solutions to reduce farm phosphorus effluent with a potential for replicability in other sub-watersheds. We conducted semi-structured interviews to understand local attitudes on conservation. We also established a steering committee of local stakeholders to guide the development of a local watershed management plan. Finally, we assessed field-level risk of phosphorus loss through geospatial analysis of farm practices, topography and soil type. We found five key factors at play in Stony Creek that strongly influence BMP adoption rates: Personal attitudes toward conservation; complexity of conservation programming; customized BMP recommendations; trust in government programs; and public and private finances. In addition to the watershed management plan, we make several recommendations for local and governmental responses to these findings, with an emphasis on bolstering support for Conservation Districts.

Inglewood Oil Field Remediation and Restoration

Presenters: Katherine Geraghty, MS (ESM); Veronika Lubeck, MS (GDS); Yaqi Liang, MLA, MSI; Diana Martinez, MS (BEC); Feixue Qi, MLA, MS (GDS)

Advisor: Lisa DuRussel

Location: Los Angeles, California, USA

Client: Sasaki

The redevelopment of the Inglewood Oil Field is a unique opportunity to create a multifaceted study with real-world applications that facilitates the transformation of a former oil field into a sustainable urban community. This initiative aimed to conduct research and provide recommendations that will play a pivotal role in shaping the future phases of the redevelopment and inform Sasaki's planning and design processes. The overarching objective was to establish a foundation for redeveloping contaminated urban sites; particularly those impacting vulnerable communities like those adjacent to the Inglewood Oil Field. Our research addressed questions regarding human health and the ecological implications of decommissioning and remediating the oil field. Furthermore, the project sought to explore the potential of the redeveloped landscape to enhance the livability of surrounding communities and advance environmental justice principles. This project can serve as a model for future proposals in California in addition to other projects across the U.S. as we transition away from fossil fuels. Through interdisciplinary collaboration and rigorous research, we aimed to set the beginning stages that can help make sustainable change.

An

Our research reimagines this site for a sustainable, greener future by transforming the Inglewood Oil Field with sustainable solutions for a cleaner, healthier tomorrow.

The methods used were a literature review of recommendations for the site; survey design and survey execution; collection of air quality data with PocketLab Air (summer and winter); nature observations (summer and winter); solar suitability analysis; geothermal potential analysis.

The results of the community survey show that a majority of residents are aware of the oil field but are unaware that it will be decommissioned in the next decade. Survey results also indicated that there is a clear desire for the redevelopment to focus on naturalization; there was a strong preference for more green space and natural areas in the new community. Our recommendations for redevelopment of the site focus on suitability for green energy, remediation methods such as phytoremediation, land management strategies such as habitat corridors and community-centered recommendations on urban agriculture and environmental education. Additionally, our data analysis conducted in ArcGIS pinpoints key areas that are most suitable for solar panel implementation based on the slope and aspect of the land, along with oil and gas wells that may be retrofitted for geothermal potential.

oil pumpjack at the Inglewood Oil Field in Los Angeles, California.

Strengthening Tribal and University Relations on Sugar Island

Presenters: Srikari Punyamurtula (EJ); Mya Curth (SusSys, EJ); Skyler Leslie (SusDev, EJ); Deanna Geelhoed (EPP, EJ); Savannah Whaley (EJ); Ally Sung-Jereczek (BEC, ESM, EJ)

Advisors: Kyle Whyte; Andy White

Location: Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, USA

Client: Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians

The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians (Sault Tribe) and the University of Michigan (U-M) have been discussing the expansion of tribal access to the Chase Osborn Preserve (Preserve) on Sugar Island in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, which is currently owned and operated by U-M. The goal of this project was to strengthen the relationship between the Sault Tribe and U-M and support the discussion of a tribally-led collaborative research consortium on the Preserve. Specifically, our objectives are to increase the understanding of the benefits of Tribal management and stewardship by documenting the cultural, ecological and economic conditions surrounding the Preserve and Sugar Island. These objectives were conducted by a thorough literature review of the cultural histories of the Tribe and U-M, informal interviews and a community gathering event discussing the interests of the community and cultural connections to Sugar Island. The results of our research and capstone project demonstrate a significant connection between the Sault Tribe and Sugar Island, as well as a strong capacity to help support U-M in a beneficial and collaborative Tribally-led research consortium on the Preserve.

UMBS Land and Water Stewardship

Presenters: Max Palese, MS (EPP); Jordan Truitt, MS (EPP); Ryleigh Landstra, MS (GDS); Sara Thiessen, MS (ESM, GDS); Matthew Palumbo, MS (ESM)

Advisors: Inés Ibáñez; Shannon Brines

Location: Pellston, Michigan, USA

Client: University of Michigan Biological Station

The University of Michigan Biological Station (UMBS) in Pellston, Michigan is a unique research and education hub with a long history of engaging students in field-based scientific discovery and strengthening understanding of ecosystems from local to global scales. The central purpose of UMBS is to provide world-class opportunities for today’s educators and scientists to conduct classes and cutting-edge research in field biology, ecology and environmental sciences, without compromising future use or degrading the property’s habitats. In order to preserve this mission, UMBS must ensure consistent, long-term stewardship of the 10,000+ acre property.

Our project objective was to document existing procedures and recommend strategies, policies and tools for UMBS to consider in the ongoing development of a comprehensive stewardship plan. We combined findings from literature, UMBS archives and spatial databases, case studies, interviews with staff and on-site observations in Pellston over the summer of 2023. Our report targets management strategies that support the core stewardship values of research, education, outreach and preservation. Recommendations are organized under the following six categories: public outreach and communication; property acquisition and maintenance; public use; timber harvesting; existing and emerging ecological threats; and preservation of habitats and species of concern. This project contributes to the long-term stewardship of UMBS's diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, ensuring their vitality for both scientific research and educational endeavors for years to come.

The team by the ferry access to Sugar Island.

Forest Characteristics and Carbon Storage Within the Obtawaing Biosphere Reserve

Presenter: Keyu Wan, MS (GDS)

Advisors: Kathleen Bergen; Shannon Brines

Location: Obtawaing Biosphere Reserve, Michigan, USA

The Obtawaing Biosphere Reserve (OBR), re-envisioned in 2021, is a considerable expansion to a much larger and more inclusive Biosphere Region from the original University of Michigan Biological Station (UMBS) Biosphere Reserve designated by UNESCO in 1979. The stewards of the expanded OBR lands are more multifaceted than UMBS alone. Like UMBS, a core interest of these diverse partners is the state, condition and health of the region’s forests and the sustainability opportunities and risks associated with them.

The objectives of this project included compiling regional-scale geospatial datasets customized to the newly reenvisioned OBR, analyzing geospatial data to produce OBR-wide maps and statistics, and facilitating the effective usage of steward-partner input on the geospatial framework. Analyses involve geovisualization accompanied by pie charts, graphs and tables of descriptive statistics. Further statistical analyses utilize chi-square tests for independence on categorical variables, shedding light on associations or over- or under-representation of forest characteristics such as hierarchical aboveground and underground biomass and net primary production within three different biosphere zones and seven different land cover types. Areas with significantly high and low forest characteristics have been identified, providing valuable insights for decision-making regarding sustainable forest and carbon management within the OBR.

Impact of Human Activity on Large Mammal Spatial Ecology in Homer, Alaska

Presenter: Adrienne Calistri-Yeh, MS (ESM, GDS)

Advisor: Neil Carter

Location: Homer, Alaska, USA

Client: Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies

My practicum research investigated large mammal distribution across two wildlife preserves in Alaska with differing levels of human disturbance. Urbanization increasingly threatens wildlife populations worldwide, and although protected areas conserve wildlife habitat, they have varying levels of management and recreation. Many large mammals avoid areas with high human presence, even if the land is protected from development. Therefore, protected areas that limit human activity may be more effective for wildlife conservation. This study aimed to analyze the impact of human activity on the spatial ecology of moose (Alces alces), coyote (Canis latrans), and black bear (Ursus americanus), in order to inform conservation and management decisions. Inspiration Ridge Preserve (IRP) and Wynn Nature Center (WNC) are two wildlife preserves managed by the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies in Homer, Alaska, with different access policies: IRP limits visitation to 30 people on the preserve per day, while WNC is open to the public for hiking and recreation. My research used a quantitative analysis of camera trap data and soundscape recordings, paired with qualitative methods including interviews and anecdotal evidence, to determine if wildlife activity was higher in areas with limited human activity. I found that IRP had lower human impact and greater wildlife presence than WNC. These results suggest that the 30-person policy at IRP is an effective conservation management strategy; decreased human presence allows more wildlife to utilize this habitat. This policy can serve as a template for protected areas to reduce anthropogenic impact and most effectively support threatened wildlife populations.

Prairie Learning: Integrating the Arts and Environmental Education with Ecological Restoration in Ann Arbor, Michigan

Presenter: Esha Biswas, MS (ESM)

Advisor: Sara Adlerstein-Gonzalez

Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

Client: Freeman Environmental Education Center, Ann Arbor Public Schools

This practicum is a collaboration started in 2020 with the Freeman Environmental Education Center in the Ann Arbor Public School District, and includes an ecological restoration plan developed to transform a former athletic field into an educational native prairie; interdisciplinary curricula to involve K12 students in various steps of prairie restoration; and the integration of the arts as a tool for environmental education and research documentation including through the creation of a children’s book and a collaborative outdoor sculpture. K-12 students were involved in species selection, growing and planting seedlings, broadcasting seed, and seed collection and processing. The culmination of one portion of this practicum was the installation of a temporary outdoor environmental sculpture titled, “Deeply Rooted,” built with 50 fifth graders who learned about prairie ecosystems and their root systems through a set of interdisciplinary and place-based lessons. The children’s book I wrote, titled, “We Planted a Prairie,” tells a story of a community of humans and non-human animals who come together to restore a prairie. Aspects of this practicum, including the entire children’s book, can be viewed in the SEAS EnviroArt Gallery as a part of the exhibit “Monarch Wings: A Mother-Daughter Ecological Journey.”

The Effects of Plastic Waste on Seabirds and Their Nesting Island Ecosystems

Presenter: Katherine Leeson, MS (ESM)

Advisor: Johannes Foufopoulos

Location: Cyclades, Greece

With an ever-increasing human population reliant on plastic products, plastic waste is only increasing in the world. The effects of this waste are still poorly understood, especially in terrestrial ecosystems. Islands are at the forefront of many ecological threats and are at risk of this new ecological threat as well since aquatic systems bring the plastic straight to the islands' shores. The islands are further subjected to this new threat via introduction of the plastic into the interior of the islands by seabirds who eat and then regurgitate the plastic onto their nesting islands. Despite the clear threat islands face from plastic waste, little work has been done to assess how the island ecosystems are responding to the plastic. This study evaluated the effects of plastic at varying levels on the island ecosystems by measuring levels of oxidative stress in three main trophic levels of the islands; plants, insects and seabirds. The results suggest all of the measured organisms suffer from increased levels of oxidative stress caused by the presence of plastic waste in the interior of the islands brought in by the nesting seabirds. Conservationists will take this new information into account when making conservation plans and it will also be used to alert the rest of the scientific community to the plastic threat reaching critical levels.

A page from the children's book "We Planted a Prairie" written and illustrated by Esha Biswas.

Katherine Leeson collecting samples on a Greek island.

Anthropogenic Disturbance on the Space Use of Locally Endangered Formosan Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus formosanus) in Taiwan

Presenter: Fang Chen, MS (ESM, GDS)

Advisor: Neil Carter

Location: Yushan National Park, Taiwan

Anthropogenic impacts, such as habitat degradation and overhunting, threaten wildlife populations globally. In Taiwan, alongside habitat loss due to urban development, the proliferation of illegal snare traps has escalated threats to the locally endangered Formosan black bear (Ursus thibetanus formosanus), leading to increased mortalities and physical injuries. However, there is limited information about the preferred habitat characteristics of the bears and the long-term behavioral impacts of snare trap-derived injuries. In this study, I used two habitat selection models to analyze the habitat selection patterns of 15 bears (6 injured, 9 healthy) inhabiting Yushan National Park, Taiwan. Further, I generated a habitat suitability map and compared the habitat selection patterns between healthy bears and those injured by snare traps. Population-level results indicated bear preferences for greener, rugged terrain away from roads and favoring deciduous forests. However, injured bears exhibited diminished preferences for vegetation greenness and terrain ruggedness and showed no avoidance of roads and trails compared to healthy bears. These results suggest that the ability of injured bears to access high-quality habitat patches might be constrained, potentially increasing the encounters and risks from humans and impacting their energy gain in the long term. This study highlights that the impacts of snare traps extend beyond mortality and physical injury, possibly influencing the behavioral and energetic dynamics of bear populations. Conservation efforts must prioritize the preservation of high-quality habitats and regulations on snare trap usage to protect this locally endangered species.

A New Bio-Logging System Unveils Behavior of Free-Living Prairie Voles

Presenter: Mengxiao Zhang, MS (ESM)

Advisors: Ben Dantzer; Brian Weeks

Location: Oxford, Ohio, USA

Individual behavior variation is an intricate interplay between genetic and environmental factors, impacting individual fitness, population dynamics and community interactions. The shank3 gene, recognized as a monogenetic cause of a form of autism spectrum disorder in humans, has been primarily studied using a single inbred mouse species in laboratory settings. Prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster), known for exhibiting social monogamy, offer an intriguing model for exploring the mechanistic causes of complex social behavior. We leverage advancements in bio-logging to present a novel approach for studying the effects of shank3 mutations on prairie vole social behavior in semi-natural settings. We placed wild-type and shank3 mutant voles into four field enclosures, equipped them with self-developed proximity loggers (called Juxta) and live-trapped them regularly. Based upon previous research, we expected that voles with the shank3 mutation would exhibit reduced levels of social behavior. Preliminary findings indicate smaller home ranges for mutant voles compared to wildtype voles within the same sex category. Mutant voles weighed less than wild-type voles of the same sex. Additionally, mutant females tended to have a shorter lifespan than wild-type females while in the field enclosures. The use of proximity loggers significantly increased the amount of interaction data collected, offering the potential of constructing social networks in secretive free-ranging small animals. Overcoming trade-offs in battery life, data resolution and device weight, along with improved deployment methods on animals and rigorous quantification of intra-logger bias and interlogger variability, will be crucial for achieving less biased and more comprehensive social networks.

Mengxiao Zhang spent three months trapping prairie voles in the field enclosures in Oxford, Ohio.

Engaging Invasive Species: Re-membering Management to Promote Collaborative Stewardship Across Cultures

Presenter: Cameron Scharff, MS (EJ)

Advisor: Kyle Whyte

Location: Eastern USA and Canada

Invasive species management, as currently practiced, is complicated, and based upon normative assumptions of settler states. The danger here is the use of objective science to subjectively recreate the “settler homeland,” facilitating settler lifeways and inhibiting Indigenous ones. In order to prevent this, there must be equitable engagement between settler agencies and Indigenous nations—in practice, not just theory.

The objective of this research is to demonstrate the culturally specific normative assumptions that invasive species management practices are based upon, to describe the incompatibility of these practices with Indigenous ways of being, and to advocate for authentic and equitable collaboration between settler agencies and indigenous communities.

The method of research is confined to literature reviews due to time constraints and the need for research to stem from authentic, deep relationships with Indigenous people that take more time to develop than this project allowed for.

The purpose of this research was to demonstrate the biases of current invasive management practices toward recreating and maintaining the “settler homeland,” and demonstrate how this is antithetical to the facilitation of Indigenous life ways. The research suggests that only by honoring Indigenous rights and sovereignty and elevating indigenous communities to the status of equal with State agencies in collaborative management can equitable management be achieved. Only together can we work to steward the landscape to preserve ecological function, culturally specific practices, and “collective continuance.”

Evaluating the Effects of Patch-Level Characteristics and Surrounding Land Cover on Grassland Bird Communities in Prairies and Savannas Undergoing Restoration in Ann Arbor, Michigan

Presenter: Sam Heilman, MS (ESM)

Advisor: Sara Adlerstein-Gonzalez

Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

Since European colonization, native prairies and savannas have seen a catastrophic decline in North America as well as in the state of Michigan. Consequently, grassland birds are the most threatened group of birds in North America. Additionally, urbanization has caused many conservation challenges for grassland birds through landscape fragmentation and increased human activity. This has made it crucial to understand how grassland bird communities within urban and suburban areas are affected by both patch-level characteristics and the composition of the surrounding landscape. I collected data at eight grassland areas undergoing restoration to dry-mesic prairie and savanna. I used unlimited-distance bird point count surveys, vegetation meander surveys and inspection of the landscape via satellite imagery to investigate how species richness and abundance of grassland birds are affected by 1) local vegetation structure, 2) vegetation composition, 3) surrounding land cover, and 4) area of the grassland. Seven grassland bird species were observed: American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis), Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis), Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia), Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla), Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas), Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius), and Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens). Grassland bird species richness showed positive trends with area of the grassland, as well as plant and tree species richness.

Evaluating the Empirical Basis for Threat Attribution in the IUCN Red List

Presenter: Ena Humphries, MS (ESM, GDS)

Advisors: Brian Weeks; Neil Carter

Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

Understanding the drivers of extinction is a longstanding goal in ecology and evolutionary biology, and effective threat assessment is central to successful conservation interventions and policy. The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species (the Red List) is greatly influential on the scientific community. We aim to assess what quantitative empirical data underlie the threats listed for bird, amphibian and ray-finned fish species accounts on the Red List through a systematic review of species threats and publication sources. We randomly selected 5% of the species accounts for ray-finned fishes, amphibians and birds from the Red List. For each account, all accessible references in the bibliography section were reviewed to determine if there was direct empirical evidence linking a listed species threat to the population size, population dynamics or individual survival of the species. We used a random forest classifier to understand the relative importance of predictors of the presence of direct empirical support underlying the species threat listing and pairwise Fisher’s exact tests to assess differences in the amount of empirical support across the important factors. We find that across birds, ray-finned fishes and amphibians, only 5% of threat listings have empirical evidence linking the listed threat to the evaluated species. However, there is more data on threats that are less predictable and less well-known, and for species that are threatened, suggesting this lack of data may not be problematic. Evaluating how increased species-specific threat data alters our understanding of threats is a critical avenue of future research.

Indicators for Conflict With Bobcats and Coyotes in California

Presenter: Carly Thompson, MS (ESM, GDS)

Advisors: Neil Carter; Sheila Schueller

Location: California, USA

California is the most biodiverse state in the country and has a large range of land and topographic diversity. This presents a significant challenge for those responsible for conservation, urban planning, farming, infrastructural development and more. California’s major cities are experiencing urban sprawl, and as development reaches into new areas, opportunity for human-wildlife conflict increases. In recognition of this, my master’s project looked at hot spots and cold spots for conflict to understand the socioeconomic drivers behind high and low-conflict areas.

The goal of this master's thesis was to analyze conflict data on coyotes and bobcats throughout the state of California for the benefit of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), as well as other conservation agencies. In analyzing the data, we aimed to focus on socio-economic drivers of conflict with meso predators to help CDFW understand how conflict has occurred over space and time. The objective was to provide relevant insight to improve CDFW’s understanding of wildlife conflict for these predators and mitigate the possibility of future incidents.

The analysis used conflict data, GIS analysis, and R programming to visualize conflict and analyze biotic (vegetation) and abiotic (road density) factors that are indicators of where conflict may take place with these medium-sized carnivores.

Adventitious Root Effects on Invasive Phragmites australis in High Water

Presenter: Priya Gahir, MS (ESM, EJ)

Advisor: Sheila Schueller

Location: Michigan, USA

The increase in the prevalence of invasive Phragmites australis (Common Reed), has threatened biodiversity and displaced native plant species nationally. The surge in Phragmites, particularly in the Laurentian Great Lakes Basin, coincides with Great Lakes water levels fluctuating in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The prolonged period of low water exposed vast stretches of shoreline and lake bottom, facilitating the expansion of Phragmites. Phragmites survive in high water by growing above the water's surface and transporting oxygen from above to below water. One way to prevent this transportation of oxygen is by restricting access to above-water oxygen. Cut-to-drown management is a control strategy whereby Phragmite stems are cut below the water line and drowned. This strategy can be effective at managing invasive Phragmites, however Phragmites plants may develop adventitious roots as a stress response to high water environments. These adventitious roots could help the plants withstand cutto-drown by making their impact less severe by providing an additional oxygen source to the plants after they have been cut under water. It is necessary to know the role these adventitious roots play in the survival of Phragmites for management strategies to be broadly effective in the Great Lakes.

To examine the function of adventitious roots on Phragmites, we incorporated cut-to-drown treatments (full/partial/no cuts) in conjunction with manipulation of dissolved oxygen and adventitious root removal. We conducted a controlled greenhouse study along with a field study that tested the effects of submergence, dissolved oxygen and presence of adventitious roots on Phragmites growth and viability post-treatment. We measured belowground, aboveground and new rhizome biomass, as well as rhizome non-structural carbohydrate content as measures of Phragmites growth and viability.

Results showed that full cuts (all the way to the soil surface) and partial cuts (cut below the water but above the sediment) had significantly less belowground biomass and rhizosphere carbohydrates than controls. Additionally, partial cuts sprouted significantly more stems over time than full cuts or controls. New sprouts were more common when those partial cuts had adventitious roots and/or added dissolved oxygen. This implies that adventitious roots may be providing increased oxygen to the plants allowing them to respire and produce new shoots following cuts. The cut treatments, dissolved oxygen and adventitious root removal together played a significant role in new rhizome biomass. Together, our results suggest that full cuts are most effective in eliminating Phragmites because there is a larger water barrier to overcome, and adventitious roots are removed. This information could be incredibly valuable to land managers who are implementing cut-to-drown and want to increase effectiveness and decrease the need for retreatment.

Greenhouse experiment studying adventitious roots on Invasive Phragmites australis.

Food Systems

Developing and Designing the ‘Umeke ‘Ai Center

Presenters: Carlina Arango, MS (EJ, EPP), MURP; L’Oreal Hawkes-Williams, MS (EJ); Taylor Kaili McKenzie, MS (EJ); Benjamin Krueger, MS (EJ, ESM); Albert Ponce, MS (SusSys); Natasha Vatalaro, MS (SusSys, GDS)

Advisor: Kyle Whyte

Location: Molokai, Hawaiʻi, USA

Client: Sustʻāinable Molokai

SEAS students make lei in preparation for a community event under the guidance of Leilani Chow, Energy Coordinator at Sust’āinable Molokai.

Hawaiʻi, due to its position as an actively colonized island state in an era of rapidly increasing climate change, is faced with myriad challenges, including but not limited to food and energy insecurity, wildfires, economic hardship, sea-level rise and erosion of agricultural soil. Climate adaptation and resilience are critical to combat these issues and increase equity for Native Hawaiians. Moloka’i is an exemplar of Hawaiian frontline communities. Sustainable Moloka’i (SM), a local and Indigenous-run nonprofit organization, is seeking to change this through the development of the ‘Umeke ‘Ai (food bowl) Center, a resilience and sustainable agriculture hub that will serve the whole of Moloka’i. The ‘Umeke ‘Ai Center will be multifunctional: disaster shelter, food bank, sustainable building model and supplier, an off-grid renewable energy system, a community and ‘ohana gathering space, a sustainable farm and a business incubator.

Given the many needs of such a wide-reaching project, we performed simultaneous research toward these objectives, including but not limited to site visits on Moloka’i, literature reviews, energy and greywater modeling, GIS mapping and general data collection on best practices. We conducted precedent studies, site assessments and feasibility studies for energy availability, water resources, and cost, in addition to producing other materials that might be useful to developing the Center, such as a story map and educational Gala case study. Our results show that the ‘Umeke ‘Ai Center can address Molokai’s infrastructure needs while promoting access to locally grown food, clean energy and water, all rooted in Native Hawaiian environmental stewardship frameworks.

Assessing Sustainable Transformational Change of Food and Agricultural Commodity Systems through Multi-Stakeholder Platforms in Indonesia

Presenters: Sarah Andrews, MS (SusDev); Yoonseo Choi, MS (EPP); Olivia Downey, MS (SusDev); Lauren Furey, MS (SusDev); Macy Robinson, MS (SusDev)

Advisor: Arun Agrawal

Location: Indonesia

Client: United Nations Development Programme

Indonesia is the world’s largest producer of palm oil, a staple commodity used globally. Palm oil comprises 4.5% of Indonesia’s GDP, employs three million people and has double-digit growth rates. However, palm oil production can also have adverse effects on the environment. Thus, minimizing these negative effects while maintaining economic growth is crucial. To enable sustainable transformation of the commodity sector, the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Food and Agricultural Commodity Systems program facilitates multi-stakeholder collaboration through national and sub-national platforms.

The goal of this research was to better understand the changes that have occurred in the palm oil sector as a result of these multi-stakeholder platforms (MSPs) and the potential of these changes to lead to transformation of the sector. To do this, we established a framework to assess transformational change based on the UNDP’s Signals of Change Framework, with a specific focus on changes at the individual and collective levels. We focused on four MSPs in Indonesia, collecting data through a survey disseminated at platform meetings and interviews with select stakeholders.

We plotted the changes that resulted from the platform on our framework. The most commonly noted changes include shifts in mindsets toward sustainability, an increase in sustainable practices, increased collaboration and communication among stakeholders and numerous policies focused on sustainability. However, we found that these changes were not system-wide and many challenges remain for the sector to become truly sustainable. Thus, despite changes occurring in the sector, it cannot be concluded that transformation has occurred.

The Impact of Refrigeration on Food Losses and Associated GHG Emissions Throughout the Supply Chain

Presenter: Aaron Friedman-Heiman, MS (SusSys), MBA

Advisor: Shelie Miller

Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

We explored how optimized food supply chains via improved cold chain (i.e., refrigeration) technology can reduce food losses and GHG emissions. Our model estimates that poor cold chain infrastructure could be responsible for up to 621 billion kg of food loss and 1.8 trillion kg of associated carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions. Expanding and optimizing the cold chains in South and Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa could save 107 billion kg CO2e of fruit and vegetable loss and 702 billion kg CO²-eq from meat loss, respectively. It is our hope that this research can be used by both larger governmental and nongovernmental institutions and smaller stakeholders within the supply chain to inform regional, national, and local decision-making to support more effective and sustainable food supply chains.

La Finca da Vida: Coffee Farming, Food Security, and Livelihoods

Presenter: Nayethzi Hernandez, MS (ESM)

Advisor: Ivette Perfecto; M'Lis Bartlett

Location: Western Puerto Rico

For decades, U.S. policies have reshaped and diminished Puerto Rico's diverse agrarian landscape and culture, transforming it into an archipelago heavily reliant on imported foods, now accounting for 90% of its food consumption. Despite the perception of coffee solely as a cash crop, its diverse cultivation and management present an often-overlooked opportunity for synergies between coffee and food security. This case study sought to understand how smallholder coffee farming systems contribute to household food security, dietary diversity and support livelihood activities. Through farmer-directed farm walks and interviews, farmers share deep convictions in supporting themselves through strengthened ecosystems, mitigating risks through diversification, as well as their struggle between those desires and the reality of balancing labor and necessity. Ultimately, this case study aimed to elucidate the realities of the current food landscape for smallholder farmers as a means to engage the idea of coffee farming as a tool for rebuilding the archipelago's food future.

This seven-acre coffee farm has over 60 food crops. Here Nayethzi Hernandez is admiring an archway of dragon fruit and citrus.

Toward Life-Affirming Institutions: A Case Study of Agroecological Collectives in Puerto Rico

Presenter: Megan Gross, MS (EJ)

Advisor: Ivette Perfecto

Location: Puerto Rico

Agroecology has been endorsed globally as a tool to articulate steps for the positive transformation away from the socially oppressive and ecologically destructive industrial food regime. However, the material ways in which the values of autonomy—or food sovereignty—are socially produced through agroecological practice are still not well understood. In Puerto Rico, a territory where food sovereignty is at once threatened by U.S. colonial trade policies, neglectful governance, industrial development, and climate disasters, the social organizing of agroecological farmers can provide a model to examine the potency of agroecology as a solution in a modern colonial context. This thesis adopts an abolitionist lens to examine how the growing agroecology movement in Puerto Rico countervails state abandonment through modes of autonomous organizing and life-affirming institutions.

Across 10 weeks from June to August 2023, I built relationships within the local web of agroecological practitioners, tracing how farmers reorganize their social relationships around the tenants of agroecology and promote selfdetermination around food. Through knowledge shared through interviews and participant observations, I characterized collective social and economic practices in the Puerto Rican agroecology movement and found that agroecological practice can potentially strengthen food sovereignty when farming collectives have access to additional social and institutional networks. By aligning abolition and agroecology as parallel theories, this framework invites researchers to evaluate mobilizations for food sovereignty as strategies for cultivating institutions that affirm life.

Regenerative Ranching: Analyzing the Impact of Specific Variation in Rotational Grazing Practices on Pasture Health and Biodiversity

Presenter: Kelly Benoit, MS (ESM)

Advisor: Sheila Schueller

Location: Washtenaw County, Michigan, USA

Regenerative agricultural practices such as rotational grazing, in which livestock are systematically relocated to fresh pastures, have been recognized as a viable sustainable alternative to conventional grazing methods that often lead to overgrazing and land degradation. This study delved into the varied management strategies inherent in the broader term of rotational grazing and evaluated their influence on both pasture recovery and arthropod biodiversity. The research focused on two ranches in southeast Michigan that have adopted an intensive rotational grazing protocol, entailing daily herd movements. Across a full grazing season, vegetation and arthropod populations were systematically sampled using a combination of sweep netting, pitfall traps and vegetation quadrats to assess how these ecological outcomes depend on specific management decisions, the frequency of grazing, the types of livestock used (cattle and sheep) and the days since last grazed. Plant and arthropod community measures do directly relate to some fine-scale variation in management, especially time since last grazed. Differences between the farms also suggest that ranches with a longer history of rotational grazing exhibit a trend toward more rapid recovery. These results support the idea that strategic and long-term implementation of rotational grazing could provide a more regenerative and sustainable approach to livestock rearing. Furthermore, this study highlights the importance of a detailed understanding of the various ecological responses prompted by different rotational grazing practices, emphasizing that such knowledge is crucial for refining sustainable grazing practices.

Information and Education

Unmasking Environmental Racism in Dallas, Texas: A Community-Based Research Approach to Remediation and Reparations

Presenter: Tyler LaBerge, MS (EJ); Latia Leonard, MS (EJ); Danielle Moore, MS (EJ); Tre’Nard Morgan, MS (EJ), MURP; Naajia Shakir, MS (EJ), MURP

Advisors: Michelle Martinez; Kyle Whyte

Location: Dallas, Texas, USA

Client: Faith in Texas

The City of Dallas, Texas is one of the fastest-growing cities in America. Despite a growing economy, diverse culture and booming population, many Dallas residents have continuously felt the devastating impacts of environmental racism. Prioritization of big oil and gas has shaped Texas political culture while marginalizing the voices of many who demand change, particularly Black, Brown, Indigenous and low-income residents in Dallas.

Our research sought to gain collective insight into the community approaches and practices of the environmental justice landscape at the intersection of racial and economic justice while exploring barriers to achieving long-term goals of racial equity. This included understanding the organizing strengths of Dallas grassroots, perspectives of environmental justice and past harms. Research methods included interviews with local activists working in a variety of organizations focused on environmental, economic and faith-based concerns. Interviews were also conducted with members of the City of Dallas. Additionally, we conducted a focus group with impacted residents in the southern region of Dallas to better understand their personal experiences and desire for community reparations. We found that very diverse methods are being employed by different groups to meet environmental justice goals in Dallas. To increase their effectiveness, many leaders cited a need for increased solidarity across movements, education to bring more residents into the fight for environmental justice and additional budget resources.

Students learn about the connection between climate, poverty and incarceration at a bail-out action in Dallas, TX.

Media with Impact: Building a Community-Driven Model for Environmental Justice Coverage in the Great Lakes Region

Presenters: Hira Ahmad, MS (EJ, ESM); Kausthubh Sumanth, MS (ESM); Francesca Levethan, MS (BEC); Madeline Rieders, MS (EJ); Hannah Rieders, MS (EJ)

Advisor: Mike Shriberg

Location: Great Lakes Region, USA

Client: Great Lakes Now

Due to the financial strain of the journalism industry since the early 2000s, local media has declined and created a void of reliable news sources for many historically marginalized communities. Alongside the decrease in local media coverage, large, privately-owned and corporatized mainstream media organizations that seek to produce high quantities of stories have been a predominant source of news. This mainstream media model has historically contributed to misrepresentation, victimization and perpetuation of dominant narrative tropes, all of which have eroded the trust of many marginalized communities facing the brunt of environmental and climate change impacts. In addition, many environmental journalists lack the general knowledge, training and resources to accurately report on environmental justice issues. This has resulted in a growing need and interest to help rebuild media organizations to more equitably uplift the narratives of frontline environmental justice communities.

While some existing toolkits and literature provide media organizations with suggestions on how to equitably engage with communities and/or how to report on environmental justice issues, this study sought to further the field by centering the diverse insights of key stakeholders into a comprehensive set of recommendations intended for both media organizations and philanthropic institutions. The key findings from our study have been operationalized into a toolkit that provides recommended goals, strategies, and actions for media organizations and journalists to advance equitable and community-based environmental journalism. Thus, the recommendations in this report and our corresponding toolkit will help amplify the lived experiences and stories of frontline environmental justice communities in order to promote community change.

Activating Public Land to Promote Urban Agriculture for Community Health, Equity and Resilience

Presenters: Tzu-Yun Fun, MS (SusDev); Juntao Gao, MLA, MSI; Tongyu Lian, MLA, MSI; Bhargav Reddy, MS (GDS); Sailing Tang, MS (GDS), MPH; Mengfan Yu, MS (GDS)

Advisor: Joshua Newell

Location: Los Angeles, California, USA

Client: Los Angeles County Chief Sustainability Office

The project aimed to address the problem of vacant lots and underutilized outdoor space in low-income and frontline communities that suffer from high pollution levels and lack of access to basic amenities in Los Angeles County. Regenerative agriculture and soil improvement activities, such as community composting, can help mitigate issues of food insecurity, unhealthy soil and water runoff. However, identifying suitable land where landowners are willing to allow such practices can be difficult. This is compounded by the lack of resources and knowledge among community members to implement sustainable agricultural systems. To overcome these challenges, solutions may involve partnering with landowners, local governments, and community organizations, and providing resources and training to community members.

Our project methods were to create a web tool of existing publicly available data to find site suitability for urban agriculture. The filtering criteria resulted in approximately 480 vacant parcels that interested stakeholders can choose as final sites based on their preferences. The main tools were using ArcGIS functions to create composite indices based on environmental needs, community indicators, and topography. Final deliverables were shared with stakeholders and experts in the field to envision future projects and improvements.

Strengthening Disaster Resilience and Justice for CommunityBased Organizations in Oregon

Presenters: Chloe Brush, MS (EJ); Rachel Fink, MS (BEC); Naomi Cutler, MS (BEC, GDS); Bailey Nock, MS (ESM); Ginger Harris, MS (BEC)

Advisor: Heidi Huber-Stearns

Location: Oregon, USA

Client: United Way Willamette Valley and Trauma Informed Oregon

Oregon is experiencing increased frequency and severity of climate-related disasters, including wildfires, flooding and smoke events. During and after these extreme events, many community-based organizations (CBOs) divert from their typical workload to support impacted communities. There is an increasing need to understand how CBOs are navigating their own wellness in the midst of significant crises, and how they are able to maintain continuity for safe spaces while navigating these crises. The aim of this research was to propose how these wellness practices could be adapted to support the sustainable transitions of other organizations, prioritizing culturally competent and clinically-informed approaches to climate anxiety and displacement and trauma-informed care. The team conducted literature reviews and interviews to probe these questions. We then developed recommendations from the literature based on information gathered from the interviews.

Avian Specimen Collection, Storage and Access Through Time and Space

Presenter: Summer Mengarelli, MS (GDS), MSI

Advisor: Brian Weeks

Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

Biological specimens are key sources of data in wide-ranging topics including ecology, species distribution, morphology and monitoring and responses to emerging infectious diseases. As their power to answer pressing questions grows, those who curate, manage and use these collections are reckoning with the ways in which they embody colonial histories. Concurrently, institutions aim to address the pressing practical and ethical imperative to improve access to specimens and specimen-associated data for people and institutions in less resourced areas, including those local to the places where specimens were collected. Understanding the history of specimen collections and their relationships to place/space is crucial to effectively expanding access. This project provides an overview of the history of avian specimen collection by analyzing specimen records accessible from VertNet and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). I quantified the distances that specimens traveled from collection locality to storage destination and tested that data to understand whether specimens are increasingly accessioned into collections that are closer to or farther from their collection locality, and in particular whether there is a tendency for specimens collected in the global south to be accessioned into collections further from their collection locality than those collected in the global north. I found significant relationships between distance traveled and several factors, including whether the specimen was collected in the global south. These findings establish a baseline from which natural history collection managers and users can consider both the structural barriers reinforced in collections’ histories and the way forward for increasing access to these indispensable resources.

Characterizing Meaningful Engagement Within Collaborative Science

Presenter: Arianna Stokes, MS (EJ, EPP)

Advisor: Julia Wondolleck

Location: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Estuarine Research Reserve System, USA

Collaborative science is a knowledge co-creation process that informs natural resource management decisions by involving scientists, managers, communities and others to advance understanding in a manner that none of them working alone could accomplish. For 10 years, the U-M Water Center has managed the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) Science Collaborative, a program that supports collaborative science projects. The Science Collaborative has observed how meaningful engagement is foundational to effective collaborative science. However, “meaningful engagement” has become a catchphrase in public participation. Its characteristics are assumed to be self-evident yet many struggle with its implementation and, until recently, there has been surprisingly little work shedding light on how to achieve it. Seeking to unpack the dimensions of meaningful engagement within the realm of collaborative science, the NERRS Science Collaborative has supported research that draws on the experiences and insights of collaborative science teams. Using a qualitative approach, this research aimed to answer questions such as: What exactly does meaningful engagement mean in practice? What are the tell-tale signs when it is being achieved, and when it is not? What factors help advance it? What are the challenges to realizing it, and how might those challenges be addressed? The findings of this research will aid the Science Collaborative and collaborative project teams in assessing meaningful collaborative engagement and the degree to which it advances the central principles of collaborative science. Watch a presentation of this research's findings by scanning the QR code.

A presentation of this research's findings.

Sustainability and Development

The Case for ‘Āina Back on Moloka’i: A Historical Narrative of Community Self-Determination

Presenters: Sierra Mathias, MS (EJ); Emma Fagan, MS (BEC, EJ); Georgina Johnston, MS (EJ); Jack Baylis, MS (GDS); Satara Fountain, MS (EJ); Catherine Seguin, MS (ESM, EJ)

Advisors: Kyle Whyte; Malu Castro

Location: Moloka’i, Hawaiʻi, USA

Client: Sustʻāinable Moloka’i.

Moloka’i, Hawaii, is considered the “most Hawaiian” island due to its activist history and predominantly Indigenous population. Moloka’i. Ranch comprises 30% of the island and has been historically exploited for unethical development, but Sust’āinable Moloka’i. (SM) and the Moloka’i community are organizing to buy back the $260 million ranch. Our work aims to document the unbroken tradition of self-determination on Moloka’i, avenues for decision-making and to map the activist history of the island through social research methods that support the Land Back movement and rematriation of Moloka’i.. Our research approach was grounded in relationship building and community engagement. Through a combination of historical research, qualitative interviewing and analysis, and spatial analysis, we created deliverables intended to be used to support the case for Land Back on Moloka’i.. This work has culminated in a timeline of human rights and activism on Moloka’i, a power map of the island, a qualitative report outlining key insights from in-person interviews about decision-making and Land Back, and an Arc GIS story map to weave these works together. In addition, we have compiled spatial data of the island for Sustʻāinable Moloka’i to use for understanding land use and for future planning efforts. These efforts will continue with the next cohort of students who will work with SM and build upon this set of deliverables.

SEAS students learning about dryland taro cultivation from Puna Kalipi, land manager at Molokai Heritage Trust.

Approaches to Offshore Wind Farm Visual Impact Assessments: New York Bight Case Study

Presenter: Margaret Lobbig, MLA

Advisor: Joan Nassauer

Location: New York, New York, USA

Client: Argonne National Laboratory

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is currently planning the nation’s first large-scale offshore wind farms, slated to be installed throughout the mid-Atlantic. A key consideration in the planning process is the visual impact of these wind farms and how this will affect coastal landscapes and local communities. The New York Bight is one of the areas currently undergoing such a Visual Impact Assessment (VIA).

This report sought to assess the efficacy of the New York Bight VIA through a comparison with other offshore wind VIAs currently employed in the U.S. and the United Kingdom, the latter being a leader in advancing the application of VIA methodology to offshore wind energy. The report analyzes the theoretical frameworks and techniques used in the New York Bight VIA and, by extension, the benefits and limitations of offshore wind VIAs specific to the midAtlantic. The analysis identifies shortcomings in the process used to establish landscape baselines and the technologies used to communicate the nature and impact of potential visual change. In the long term, improved assessments and communications will help mitigate adverse effects and therefore strengthen public support for offshore wind farms in this part of the country, helping ensure the continued growth of this important development in generating sustainable energy.

Determinants of Adoption and Sustained Use of Household Solar in Rural Malawi

Presenter: Andrea Mahieu, MS (SusDev)

Advisors: Pamela Jagger; Michael R. Moore

Location: Lilongwe, Malawi

Malawi has one of the lowest rates of electrification in the world, particularly in its rural areas. Using household survey data from a two-period quasiexperimental impact evaluation in rural Malawi, this research project used a series of multivariate logit and linear regression models to determine factors associated with the adoption and sustained use of household solar devices. We looked across a panel of households to examine the adoption of household solar in general, as well as disaggregate between solar home system kits and standalone solar panels to detect commonalities and differences between types of solar devices. Furthermore, we computed each household’s total solar energy capacity to identify factors associated with ownership of greater overall capacity. We also assessed changes in hours of solar use and number of solar devices to understand patterns of sustained use and overall system build-out and/or shrinkage over time. As a result, we identified the need for more targeted programming towards low-income households to improve the uptake of solar.

Andrea Mahieu working with a team of local enumerators to administer surveys in rural villages in Malawi.

Baseline Study of Development Funding to Support Indigenous Peoples, Local Community-led Research and Research Institutions

Presenter: John Olusegun Okunade, MS (GDS)

Advisor: Andy White

Location: Global South

Client: Pathways Alliance for Change and Transformation

Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC) possess a wealth of cultural knowledge and expertise, particularly regarding their land and resources. They were able to produce their own food and goods sustainably for generations because they had a culture and practice of science, research and innovation. Unfortunately, colonialism first diminished these invaluable traditions that spanned millennia, followed by the rise of imperialistic Western scientific traditions and institutions. These events caused widespread damage and had a negative impact on us all.

Despite having their sovereignty and economic viability attacked by colonialism and capitalist exploitation, they are also growing in political and economic strength in many arenas. IPLC organizations and institutions continue to work with few resources and support to advance their science and the development of their young researchers, analysts and activists—the next generation of leaders.

The project's main objective was to conduct a baseline analysis of the current international development funding allocated to IPLC-led research in low and lower-middle-income countries. The study aims to highlight the gaps and opportunities in funding, advocate for increased support, and promote the integration of IPLCs into the global research community. By doing so, the project seeks to enhance the effectiveness of development funds and ensure that IPLCs receive the necessary resources to lead research initiatives that are crucial for their communities and the broader goals of sustainable development and conservation.

The study computed a comprehensive international development funding inventory for IPLC-led research, which involved analyzing existing data on funding flows, conducting interviews with leaders of IPLC research institutions and reviewing literature to understand the current funding landscape. The research identified funding gaps, opportunities and best practices for supporting IPLC-led research. This methodological framework is designed to produce actionable insights that can inform policy, enhance funding strategies and ultimately empower IPLCs in research and decisionmaking processes related to their lands and resources.

Indian Agritech: Boom or Bust for the Smallholder Farmer

Presenter: Meghna Patnaik, MS (SusDev)

Advisor: Bilal Butt

Location: Northern States of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, India

Amidst growing concerns over an agricultural crisis, efforts to financially include the rural poor, and a nationwide “Digital India” campaign to embrace digital modernity, a new class of financial technology firms have emerged in Indian agriculture. Indian agritech companies seek to make agriculture more “efficient, inclusive and resilient” by digitally disrupting agricultural supply chains and providing informational and financial services for agricultural livelihoods. Despite international media coverage and venture funding for these initiatives, few studies have highlighted the perspectives of the recipients of agritech solutions, including those of Indian farmers. Using an auto-ethnographic approach, I recount my experience searching for agritech solutions in the Green Revolution state of Haryana, interning with one high-ranking agritech company in its Gurugram corporate office, and speaking with its affiliated farmers and retailers in the nearby state of Uttar Pradesh. I argue that services offered by the company align themselves with development-oriented campaigns for financial and digital inclusion, but could adversely incorporate both farmers and retailers into a disadvantageous sociotechnical system; resulting in their exploitation and furthering a sense of ‘individualization’ in Indian agriculture, through the creation of a new social world.

Waste and Circular Economy

A Biomass Circular Economy

Presenters: Brianna R. Fogal, MS (SusSys), MSE; Claire G. O'Dea, MS (SusSys); Angie F. Sillah, MS (SusDev)

Advisor: Sara Soderstrom

Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA

Client: Detroit Dirt

This master's project, in collaboration with community partner Pashon Murray, developed a biomass waste toolkit to be utilized in the development of a circular bioeconomy in communities throughout the United States. The goal of this project was to address the growing waste crisis and establish solutions that are beneficial to both communities and the environment. Biomass waste has the potential to act as a feedstock for a variety of products including compost and bioenergy, as well as the input for products that utilize waste as-is to develop a byproduct. Creating market segmentation allowed us to identify the gaps in a circular food economy that can be filled with the development of byproducts and allow communities to connect companies and businesses to keep revenue and products local. Our research expanded on the growing projects that aim to keep the life cycle of food and crops local—this included all stages from crop development to end of life as compost and the development of organic fertilizers and biofuels. Given that urban food waste is a growing concern in many communities across the country, there has been a special emphasis on addressing the problems it poses. The toolkit emphasizes the significance of equity and environmental justice at every step, underscores the need for systemic changes in how waste is approached and highlights the positive potential outcomes achievable through the effective utilization of biomass waste.

From Local to Global Waste Justice Action: The Climate Benefits of Grassroots Zero Waste Strategies in Detroit, Michigan and Supporting Efforts to Center Indigenous Rights During the Global Plastics Treaty Negotiations

Presenter: Catherine “Cat” Diggs, MS (EJ), MURP

Advisor: Kyle Whyte

Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA, Regional (Latin America and the Caribbean) and International (in the context of a global multilateral agreement to reduce plastics pollution)

Client: Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives and the Indigenous Peoples Caucus

Plastics, which are a byproduct of the fossil fuel industry, disproportionately impact the lives, health and environments of low-income and people of color communities throughout their lifecycle from production to disposal.

The purpose of this practicum, which involved two intersecting projects, was to bring visibility to grassroots solutions and advocacy efforts being put in place by frontline communities to address the global waste and plastics crisis and to uplift the benefits of such solutions. Knowing that 70% of global greenhouse gas emissions are embedded in the life cycle of all products, it is undeniable that waste reduction strategies are fundamental to tackling the climate crisis (The Circularity Gap Report, 2019).

Through my Marshall Weinberg-funded internship, I supported the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) in co-producing their flagship report, Zero Waste to Zero Emissions: How Zero Waste is a Climate Game Changer (2022), especially the Detroit case study featured in the report. Research methods included municipal waste diversion data collection, gray literature review and stakeholder engagement (e.g., interviews and community visioning sessions) with 40+ stakeholders during a period of eight months.

The Detroit case study found that the city has the potential to reach net negative waste sector emissions by 2030 through zero waste strategies, all of which have primarily been led by grassroots organizations and coalitions across the city. The case study can serve as an advocacy tool for municipal zero-waste efforts in Detroit and beyond.

Following this publication effort, I started to work with GAIA’s Latin America and Caribbean team to build the capacity of Indigenous groups at the ongoing Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) on Plastic Pollution. In this work, I have been fostering a growing partnership with one of the Indigenous leaders and founding members of the Indigenous Peoples Caucus (IPC), the formation of Indigenous groups working to ensure their rights are heard and affirmed in the Plastics Treaty negotiation and ratification process. I have analyzed the Zero Draft of the treaty as it relates to Indigenous demands and supported the administrative capabilities of the Caucus as they enter different negotiation cycles. I am ramping up to accompany the Caucus during INC-4, which takes place in Ottawa, Canada, April 23-29, 2024.

My ongoing work with the IPC emphasizes the capacity-building needs Indigenous groups have in the emerging multilateral environmental agreement space of plastics and the vital importance of centering their rights and knowledge systems in a legally binding treaty that will directly impact their lifeways for generations to come.

Zero Waste to Zero Emissions: How Zero Waste is a Climate Game Changer Detroit case study

Textile and Apparel in the Circular Economy

Presenter: April U. Sunid, MS (EPP)

Advisor: Allen Burton

Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

In the last 15 years, clothing production has approximately doubled mainly due to the “fast fashion” phenomenon, with quicker turnaround of new styles, increased number of collections offered per year, and often lower prices. Today's clothing system is largely reliant on nonrenewable resources that pollute the environment at every step of the way, from fiber production, to clothing production and after use. These garments are largely lost to landfill or incineration, further adding to the negative environmental impact. Clothing is being underutilized, with more than half of fast fashion products disposed of in under a year. My case study and qualitative research focused on H&M Group, The Ellen Macarthur Foundation and the Global Fashion Agenda. They are leaders in the industry and have provided strong reporting with current figures and projections about the future of textile and apparel production.

Water

Great Lakes Federal Marine Protected Areas: Designating and Managing for Success

Presenters: Alexis Rolling, MS (SusDev); Cassie McHugh, MS (ESM); Ian Stone, MS (EPP); Sophie Bryden, MS (EPP); Willy Pevec, MS (EPP)

Advisors: Mike Shriberg

Location: Great Lakes Region, USA

Clients: National Ocean Atmospheric Administration and Parks Canada

The U.S. and Canada have each set goals to conserve 30% of lands and waters by 2030 (i.e., 30x30 goals). Marine protected areas (MPAs) serve as one method for the U.S. and Canada to safeguard Great Lakes ecosystems and resources and achieve those 30x30 conservation goals. However, the U.S. and Canada employ different approaches to designating, regulating, and managing MPAs in the Great Lakes, leading to potential discrepancies in social and conservation outcomes. As 2030 approaches, we investigated how the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Parks Canada might best leverage their MPA programs to meet 30x30 conservation targets, optimize conservation effectiveness, enhance transnational collaboration, involve local stakeholders and incorporate Indigenous peoples and First Nations in governance. We used a multi-pronged approach consisting of a literature review, geospatial analysis, and semi-structured interviews to evaluate NOAA’s and Parks Canada’s Great Lakes MPA programs. Our analysis concentrated on Lake Superior as a case study, and we extrapolate applicable lessons from that case study to the broader Laurentian Great Lakes region. Based on our analysis, we discuss the value of MPAs for achieving Great Lakes conservation goals and provide recommendations for how NOAA and Parks Canada might enhance their MPA governance processes and collaboration.

The SEAS Great Lakes MPAs tram traveled to Fathom Five National Marine Park and Bruce Peninsula National Park in Tobermory, Canada to learn more about the inner workings of Parks Canada.

Understanding Nonpoint Source Pollution and Public

Perceptions: A Study of the Black Lake Watershed

Presenters: Dana Pflughoeft, MS (BEC); Andrea Behrmann, MS (ESM); Bailey Greene, MS (SusSys); Maria Di Cresce, MS (ESM)

Advisor: Mike Shriberg

Location: Black Lake Watershed, Michigan, USA

Client: Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council

As graduate students at SEAS and consultants to the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council, we studied nonpoint source pollution causing poor water quality and harmful algal blooms in Northern Michigan in the Black Lake Watershed. To determine the location and impact of this nonpoint source pollution, we conducted five geographic inventories that included analyzing streambank erosion, road/stream crossings, agricultural run-off, stormwater drainage systems and forestry operations, all deemed the most frequent contributors to nonpoint source pollution. We distributed a social indicator survey to Black Lake Watershed residents to understand their current practices, behaviors, beliefs and attitudes toward water protection strategies. The combination of quantitative and qualitative information will inform the watershed protection strategies and recommendations we plan to share with Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council and the Black Lake Watershed community.

Integrated Water Resources Management in the Caribbean: Analysis of Key Barriers to Full Implementation

Presenters: Maxwell Tanner, MS (ESM, EPP); Daniel Patmon, MS (EPP); Lis Huang, MS (SusDev); Alifaire Noreen, MS (BEC, SusDev)

Advisor: Avik Basu

Location: Barbados and St. Lucia

Client: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) has been the subject of great study in the Caribbean due to its low implementation and success rates as compared with other nations. Our research sought to generate a greater understanding of this issue by asking the question: What are the barriers to IWRM readiness? From this query, we strived to understand what is needed for further IWRM implementation within the region by examining case studies from two countries—one that is classified as water-scarce (Barbados), and one that is not (St. Lucia). By examining these nations in-depth, we began to determine barriers to full IWRM implementation that can be utilized in other locations. This research was undertaken using several methods including literature reviews, interviews with water experts and end users of municipal water, as well as travel to Barbados, where members of our team were able to gain firsthand insights into the key barriers we have proposed. Ultimately, we have validated the barriers to full IWRM implementation that we found through literature review and interviews. These barriers include financial capacity, the collaborations and partnerships formed with stakeholders, availability of data, capability for public advocacy and overall technical capacity, as well as governance and political support for IWRM. The identification of these barriers does not constitute a solution, but they do present a deeper understanding of the factors that are limiting to full IWRM implementation for which individual solutions may be implemented depending on the needs of any given Caribbean nation.

Bailey Green conducts a stream bank erosion analysis along the Rainy River in the Black Lake Watershed.

The Risk of Landfill Leachate Contamination for in Proximity Well Water Sources

Presenter: Taylor Mitchell, MS (SusSys)

Advisors: Drew Gronewold; Shelie Miller

Location: Michigan, USA

As Earth’s population hits eight billion, waste management, or the proper disposal of solid material, is crucial for the sanitation and environmental health of the planet. Landfills have been used for centuries and are engineered to cover solid waste through the mechanics of plastic liners and/or other material to protect the subsurface from contamination. Landfills come with many environmental consequences like high levels of methane release and “leachates” or “trash juice” which is the liquid by-product of buried waste from developed moisture, which if it secretes into the soil and groundwater can cause major pollution to aquifers. Leachates can contain ammonium, Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), heavy metals and more (Han et al., 2016). With approximately 45% of Michigan residents using groundwater wells as their primary source of drinking water (Steinman et al., 2022), landfill leachates can put almost half of the state’s population at risk through its contamination of subsurface aquifers. My thesis research focused on the distance/proximity of landfill sites to groundwater well sites. This included an analysis and discussion on the increased risk Michigan communities face by living near a landfill and the public health risk associated with leachates. ArcGIS was used to map the location of landfills to groundwater wells in Michigan. The discussion included ways to decrease the use of landfills and ways that waste material can be disposed of sustainably. The goal of the recommendations is to provide a better understanding of mitigation efforts that are needed to protect our drinking/fresh waters."

Mono Lake Water Levels Forecasting Using Machine Learning

Presenter: Bhavarth Shah, MS (SusSys)

Advisor: Drew Gronewold

Location: Mono Lake, California, USA

This thesis explored the application of advanced machine learning techniques to forecast water levels in Mono Lake, California, a critical ecological and hydrological resource. Given the complex interplay of factors influencing water levels, such as precipitation, evaporation, natural runoff and diversions, accurately predicting these levels presents a significant challenge. This research employed three main approaches: utilizing historical water levels data, integrating multiple precipitation datasets using a Bayesian model and leveraging outputs from the Large Lake Statistical Water Balance Model to develop various machine learning models, including support vector machine, random forest, and long short-term memory (LSTM) networks. A novel contribution of this study is the development and application of an LSTM Ensemble model, which develops true forecasts from multiple LSTM models to improve Mono Lake water levels prediction accuracy. By training on historical data from 1970 to 2009 and validating predictions against actual data from 2009 to 2018, the study offers a comprehensive evaluation of the model's performance, followed by true forecasts from 2019 to 2023. The findings reveal that the LSTM Ensemble models can accurately predict water level fluctuations within a defined range, demonstrating the potential of machine learning in supporting Mono Lake water resources management. Notably, this thesis identifies a critical balance in model complexity, where neither overly simplistic nor excessively complex models yield the most accurate predictions. Instead, a balanced approach, incorporating dropout techniques and optimal lookback periods, emerges as crucial for minimizing model overfitting and capturing the nuanced patterns of Mono Lake's water levels forecasting. These insights are pivotal for informing water diversion strategies, ecological conservation efforts, and policy development, ensuring Mono Lake's sustainability amidst changing environmental conditions.

Mountain Pine Beetle and Algae Blooms in Sub Alpine Lakes

Presenter: William James, MS (ESM)

Advisors: Donald R. Zak; Gregory Dick

Location: Teton and Fremont County, Wyoming, USA

Mountain Pine Beetle (MPB) is a tree pest native to North America that has led to the death of up to 90% of conifers in some mountain regions. In concert with MPB infestations, there has been an increase in algae blooms in historically oligotrophic mountain lakes. This study sought to assess the impact of MPB-induced tree mortality on soil and water nutrient concentrations, as well as the frequency and severity of algae blooms. During July and August of 2023, tree mortality estimates and soil and water samples were collected from eight sub-alpine lakes in northwestern Wyoming. Tree mortality estimates were paired with soil nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations to assess patterns of potential nutrient loading into the lakes of interest. Utilizing shotgun sequencing and metagenomics, water samples were used to compare the microbial communities between watersheds with varying MPB-induced tree mortality. Remote sensing was also utilized to understand when these blooms began to occur and how their intensity may have shifted since MPB infestation. Soil nutrient concentrations showed no significant correlation with MPB-induced tree mortality. Remote sensing efforts also showed no significant change in lake color since MPB infestation. This may point to a combination of local geology, atmospheric nutrient deposition, or climate change playing a greater factor in facilitating the algae blooms observed in this region.

Modeling the Health Risk of Stream E. coli and Its Relationship with Social Vulnerability Index Using Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment

Presenter: Yiyi Liu, MS (GDS)

Advisors: Runzi Wang; Derek Van Berkel

Location: USA

Clients: Obtawaing Biosphere Region, University of Michigan Biological Station; Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy; Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council; The Nature Conservancy, Great Lakes Program; National Audubon Society, Great Lakes; Central Michigan University Biological Station

Harmful E. coli strains as waterborne pathogens pose significant health risks to various human populations, including gastrointestinal infections and respiratory illnesses. To manage E. coli pollution, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has established safety protocols with a minimum threshold of 100 cfu/100 mL in drinking water and recreational water quality. Understanding and estimating the E. coli health risks of different social groups is crucial for addressing disparities and guiding targeted interventions. Presently, most research assesses the health risk of E. coli at a local scale, without considering the influence of social vulnerability at a broader scale (e.g., regional or continental scale).

In this study, we used quantitative microbial risk assessment to analyze national-scale stream E. coli concentration data to measure the probability of infection via recreational water contact. We then investigated the spatial patterns of calculated health risks and the social vulnerability index (SVI), encompassing four themes: socioeconomic status, household composition and disability, minority status and housing types and transportation. Our analysis spans the seven regions of the mainland U.S. from 2000 to 2020. Specifically, we used Monte Carlo techniques to estimate the risks of infection associated with human exposure to stream E. coli based on a published dose-response model. Employing Bivariate Moran's I analysis, we identified significant hotspot clusters, where populations with higher vulnerability experience greater impacts from stream E. coli health risks, particularly in South Central, North Central and Southwest regions. Additionally, the highest value of Moran's I in the minority theme of the SVI indicates elevated health risks for minority populations. In conclusion, we found minority populations with low income and inadequate insurance coverage are more likely to reside in areas of poor aquatic environments potentially caused by insufficient water management regulations. Our study contributes to promoting health equity and providing targeted measures to mitigate stream E. coli risks across the U.S.

Examining the Relationship Between Water Quality and Land Use/Land Cover in the Huron River Watershed

Presenter: Maya Rose Morgan, MS (ESM, GDS)

Advisor: Andrew Gronewold

Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

The nature of the landscape that composes a watershed plays a role in determining the chemistry of runoff that makes its way into the body of water. The goal of this thesis was to assess the impacts of different patterns of land use/land cover on water quality outcomes in the Huron River Watershed. Focusing on two different sub-watersheds, Mill and Allen Creek, I used RStudio to create a series of statistical models for the prediction of five different water quality indicators using percent cover by urban area, percent cover by agriculture and percent cover by impervious surfaces as explanatory variables. The water quality indicators in question were total dissolved solids, total suspended solids, total phosphorus, nitrite and nitrate. I experimented with several different types of models, including generalized additive models, support vector machine regression, random forest regression, neural network regression and a linear model in OpenBUGS. These methods were met with varying degrees of success as indicated by r-squared values and mean squared error. As the ways in which humans interact with land continue to evolve, it may be useful to devise viable methods of predicting how these changes will affect the quality of the water that we rely on for both drinking and recreation.

Evaluating the Effects of Land Use/Land Cover and Agricultural Conservation Practices on Water Nutrients in the Maumee River Watershed Under Future Climate in 2046

Presenter: Yilun Zhao, MLA (GDS)

Advisors: Runzi Wang; Drew Gronewold

Location: Maumee River Watershed (Ohio, Michigan and Indiana), USA

Our study examines the influence of land use/land cover (LULC) changes and future climate on water quality in the Great Lakes Region, with a particular focus on the Maumee River Watershed. Recognized as a significant source of nutrient pollution in Lake Erie, the watershed contributes to the proliferation of harmful algae blooms, posing ecological and human health risks. This research aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of future LULC modifications versus traditional agricultural conservation practices in mitigating phosphorus (P) loading. Utilizing the Soil & Water Assessment Tool Plus integrated with the Land Change Modeler (LCM), the study projects future land use impacts through various scenarios: baseline (maintaining historical LULC transitions), low-intensity development, compacted development, pasture protection and agriculture protection. Findings suggest that low-intensity development and pasture protection may effectively reduce P loading in certain subbasins, whereas compacted development could increase nutrient loadings in urban areas. The research indicates that neither limiting agriculture nor promoting high-intensity development consistently diminishes nutrient loadings. Moreover, the preservation of open spaces and pastures might not always be effective across all sub-basins. These results highlight the necessity for targeted LULC strategies to address water quality degradation under future climate conditions, providing valuable insights for policymakers and urban planners in the Great Lakes region and beyond in their pursuit of sustainable water management.

Investigating the Differences Between Subjective Environmental Perception and Objective Environmental Quality

Presenter: Tianshu Lin, MS (GDS)

Advisors: Runzi Wang

Location: Huron River, Michigan, USA

This study investigated the discrepancy between subjective environmental perceptions and objective environmental indices in the riparian zone of the Huron River, Michigan. The research objectives included formulating research questions, designing a comprehensive research framework and survey and assessing the environmental quality of eight waterfront parks using water sampling and remote sensing indicators. The project involved the distribution of over 600 surveys to gather subjective perceptions of environmental quality.

The methodology encompassed structural equation modeling, regression analysis, and principal component analysis to uncover the gap between subjective perceptions and objective environmental measurements. These analytical tools facilitate a deeper understanding of the relationship between perceived and actual environmental quality.

The findings of this study are expected to be disseminated through presentations at conferences and publication in academic journals. By highlighting the disparities between perceived and objective environmental quality, this research contributes valuable insights for environmental management and policy-making, particularly in the context of riparian zones.

Thank You, Clients!

Our sincere thanks to the project client organizations (listed below). You provide SEAS students with key opportunities for research and the development of professional skills. We greatly value your partnership.

Ann Arbor 2030 District

Argonne National Lab

Buffalo Nations Grasslands Alliance

Cass Community Social Services

Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies

Center for Sustainable Systems

City of Detroit Office of Sustainability

City of Detroit Planning and Development Department

Consumers Energy

Cyclades Preservation Fund (CPF), Hellenic Society for the Preservation of Nature (EE), and Municipality of Naxos and Small Cyclades

Detroit Dirt

DTE Energy

Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Department of Natural Resources

Faith in Texas

Freeman Environmental Education Center, Ann Arbor Public Schools

Freshwater Future

Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) and the Indigenous Peoples Caucus

Great Lakes Now

Korea Environment Institue

Los Angeles County Chief Sustainability Office

Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum

Meijer

Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD)

National Ocean Atmospheric Administration

NERRS Science Collaborative

Nichols Arboretum

Parks Canada

Pathways Alliance for Change and Transformation

Sasaki

Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians

SEAS Sustainability Clinic

Sustʻāinable Moloka’i

Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council

United Nations Development Programme

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

United Way Willamette Valley and Trauma

Informed Oregon

University of Michigan Biological Station

Zurich North America

University of Michigan

One of the nation’s top public universities, the University of Michigan has been a leader in research, learning and teaching for more than 200 years. U-M’s alumni body is one of the largest in the world and includes a U.S. president, scientists, actors, astronauts and inventors. The university, which also boasts a world-renowned intercollegiate athletics program, has been the site of many important events in U.S. history, including JFK’s announcement of the Peace Corps, LBJ’s “Great Society” speech, and the clinical trials of the Salk polio vaccine. The main campus in Ann Arbor comprises 19 schools and colleges; there are also regional campuses in Dearborn and Flint, and a nationally ranked health system, Michigan Medicine. In 2017, U-M celebrated its bicentennial, marking 200 years since its founding in the city of Detroit.

School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)

The School for Environment and Sustainability is at the forefront of building a more sustainable and just world for all by transforming the impact of higher education and reimagining the future. We are advancing action through innovation, research, education and engagement in society, and developing leaders who are empowered to halt the climate crisis and create an environmentally sound future for generations to come.

Land Acknowledgement

The School for Environment and Sustainability acknowledges the university’s origins through an 1817 land transfer from the Anishinaabek, the Three Fires People: the Odawa, Ojibwe, and Bodewadami, as well as Meskwahkiasahina (Fox), Peoria and Wyandot. We further acknowledge that our university stands, like almost all property in the United States, on lands obtained, generally in unconscionable ways, from Indigenous peoples. In addition, our research on environmental science and sustainability has benefited and continues to benefit from access to land originally gained through the exploitation of others. Knowing where we live and work does not change the past, but understanding and acknowledging the history, culture, and impacts of colonial practices is an important step towards the creation of an equitable and sustainable future.

Regents of the University of Michigan

Jordan B. Acker, Huntington Woods

Michael J. Behm, Grand Blanc

Mark J. Bernstein, Ann Arbor

Paul W. Brown, Ann Arbor

Sarah Hubbard, Okemos

Denise Ilitch, Bingham Farms

Ron Weiser, Ann Arbor

Katherine E. White, Ann Arbor

Santa J. Ono (ex officio)

Nondiscrimination Policy Statement

The University of Michigan, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University of Michigan is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, height, weight, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions. Inquiries or complaints may be addressed to the Senior Director for Institutional Equity, and Title IX/Section 504/ADA Coordinator, Office for Institutional Equity, 2072 Administrative Services Building, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1432, 734-763-0235, TTY 734-647-1388, institutional. equity@umich.edu. For other University of Michigan information call 734-764-1817.

Design: Maddie Fox

Editing: Nathan Geisler, Nayiri Mullinix, Cindy Richards, Jennifer Taylor, Katie Trevathan

Student Name Index

Vincent Ader, 18

Hira Ahmad, 33

Ihsan Akhtar, 7

Brooke Alsterlind, 14

Kyle Anderson, 6

Sarah Andrews, 29

Carlina Arango, 28

Tyler Baird, 19

Walid Bamehriz, 6

Jack Baylis, 36

Andrea Behrmann, 43

Rebecca Beilinson, 10

Lauren Bennett, 18

Kelly Benoit, 31

Sanya Bery, 8

Prutha Bhide, 11

Nivedita Biswal, 19

Esha Biswas, 23

Jamie Brackman, 18

Natalie Britton, 18

Chloe Brush, 34

Sophie Bryden, 42

Reva Butensky, 18

Adrienne Calistri-Yeh, 22

Mariana Canepa, 10

Xinyue Che, 10

Spencer Checkoway, 14

Fang Chen, 24

Ziyi Chen, 7

Lanzhao Cheng, 12

Yoonseo Choi, 29

Bridget Corwin, 6

Mya Curth, 21

Naomi Cutler, 34

Weihan Dai, 15

Simrin Dhillon, 17

Maria Di Cresce, 43

Catherine “Cat” Diggs, 40

Olivia Downey, 29

Mary Edwards, 15

Emma Fagan, 36

Taryn Farber, 7

Rachel Fink, 34

Sam Fleckenstein, 6

Brianna Fogal, 39

Graham Fordice, 6

Satara Fountain, 36

Aaron FriedmanHeiman, 30

Tzu-Yun Fun, 33

Lauren Furey, 29

Priya Gahir, 27

Maia Gallagher, 7

Haoting Gao, 17

Juntao Gao, 33

Deanna Geelhoed, 21

Katherine Geraghty, 20

Michael Grady, 6

Bailey Greene, 43

Megan Gross, 31

Warren Gunn, 8

Snow Guo, 7

Bingqing Han, 7

Ginger Harris, 34

Ilse Hassler, 18

L’Oreal HawkesWilliams, 28

Elizabeth Healy, 9

Sam Heilman, 25

Nayethzi Hernandez, 30

Jared Holter, 19

Hejing Hu, 9

Lis Huang, 43

Ena Humphries, 26

William James, 45

Laramie Jeudé, 16

Georgina Johnston, 36

Patrick Killian, 14

Lora Kralik, 9

Benjamin Krueger, 28

Tyler LaBerge, 32

Ryleigh Landstra, 21

Dongchen Lang, 16

Allie Lawler, 10

Gahyun Lee, 11

Katherine Leeson, 23

Latia Leonard, 32

Skyler Leslie, 21

Francesca Levethan, 33

Jinbo Li, 7

Peiwen Li, 17

Yuan-Chi Li, 8

Tongyu Lian, 33

Yaqi Liang, 20

Tianshu Lin, 47

Stephen Lipshaw, 14

Yiyi Liu, 45

Margaret Lobbig, 37

Veronika Lubeck, 20

Andrea Mahieu, 8, 37

Alexandria Martin, 10

Diana Martinez, 20

Sierra Mathias, 36

Daniel McConnell, 18

Abigail McDowell, 19

Cassie McHugh, 42

Taylor Kaili McKenzie, 28

Megan McLaughlin, 8

Summer Mengarelli, 34

Taylor Mitchell, 44

Danielle Moore, 32

Maya Rose Morgan, 46

Tre’Nard Morgan, 32

Jillian Morisette, 7

Sara Murphy, 14

Ann Marie Nicholson, 6

Bailey Nock, 34

Alifaire Noreen, 43

Jenna Nutter, 18

Claire O'Dea, 39

John Olusegun Okunade, 38

Max Palese, 21

Matthew Palumbo, 21

Lars Panquin, 10

Shagun Parekh, 14

Daniel Patmon, 43

Meghna Patnaik, 38

Zirui Peng, 9

Willy Pevec, 42

Dana Pflughoeft, 43

Albert Ponce, 28

Kayla Pringle, 16

Srikari Punyamurtula, 21

Feixue Qi, 20

Bhargav Reddy, 33

Margot Ridgeway, 10

Hannah Rieders, 33

Madeline Rieders, 33

Macy Robinson, 29

Alexis Rolling, 42

Cameron Scharff, 25

Catherine Seguin, 36

Shagun Sengupta, 11

Bhavarth Shah, 44

Naajia Shakir, 32

Emilia Shokoohi, 16

Angie Sillah, 39

Isaac Smith, 12

Margerie Snider, 8

Michael Somantri, 9

Augie Spieske, 9

Grant Sprague, 16

Artur Starobinskiy, 9

Arianna Stokes, 35

Ian Stone, 42

Kausthubh Sumanth, 33

Ally Sung-Jereczek, 21

April Sunid, 41

Valerie Tafoya, 15

Ziwen Tan, 9

Sailing Tang, 33

Maxwell Tanner, 43

Nana Temple, 6

Sara Thiessen, 21

Carly Thompson, 26

Jordan Truitt, 21

Aiko Ueda, 10

Dominique Valentine, 17

Taylor Valentine, 6

Daniel Vargas-Weil, 8

Natasha Vatalaro, 28

Keyu Wan, 22

Yuer Wang, 13

Kristina Waterbury, 19

Yuping Wei, 9

Jenna Weinstein, 8

Savannah Whaley, 21

Haley Willman, 6

Tiffany Win, 8

Parker Wise, 6

Ruoyu Wu, 13

Mengfan Yu, 33

Mengxiao Zhang, 24

Yaqi Zhang, 14

Zhongyi Zhang, 7

Yilun Zhao, 46

Zhu Zhu, 8