SNRE Professor Rosina M. Bierbaum was a featured speaker at the 2012 Investor Summit on Climate Risk and Energy Solutions, held last week at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Bierbaum's speech, "An Urgent Challenge: Economic Impacts of Climate Change and Resource Scarcity," linked the issues of climate change, development and economic prosperity. "Climate change has severe economic ramifications, affecting the availability and sustainability of financial capital and natural resource capital," she said. "It could easily exacerbate inequality in the world, as the poorest countries will experience the greatest impacts, yet have the least financial , technical and scientific resources to cope."
Marie Lynn Miranda began her term as dean of the School of Natural Resources and Environment Jan. 1. Dean Miranda has devoted much of her professional career to research directed at improving the health status of disadvantaged populations, particularly children. To inaugurate her tenure, she sent the following email to faculty, students and staff Jan. 1.
More than 3,000 gallons of Huron River water were trucked to the University of Michigan campus recently to create 150 mini-Hurons that are used to study how environmental changes affect freshwater habitats like rivers and streams. The artificial streams are called flumes, and U-M's new $1 million "Flume Room" is in the basement of the Dana Building, home to the School of Natural Resources and Environment. The U-M flume lab is the largest facility of its kind in North America, and possibly the world.
U-M students in the Sustainable Energy Systems course (NRE 574/ESENG 599/PP 519) had two electrifying guests this past week, as a pair of 2011 Chevy Volts came to campus. The Volts, manufactured by General Motors, were used to demonstrate topics being discussed in the course taught by Greg Keoleian, the Peter M. Wege Professor of Sustainable Systems at SNRE and the director of its Center for Sustainable Systems (CSS). Students had a chance to sit inside the cars, look under the hoods at the battery system and learn more about the special monitoring equipment installed by GM to assess the car's performance. Nearly 40 GM engineers are also taking the course via distance learning.
Two SNRE students in the Frederick A. and Barbara M. Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise maximized a prime career and scholarly opportunity this month, as they exchanged ideas and met with global policymakers at the United Nation's global climate change convention in Durban, South Africa. Miguel Sossa (M.S./MBA '13) and Daniel Gerding (M.S./MBA '14) represented the Ross School of Business at the conference, which brought together leaders in business, government and non-governmental organizations. Sossa also moderated an official side event Dec. 2 on the topic of professional standards in carbon markets, an idea generated in part during his first visit to the conference last year.
Scientists recently discovered nitrogen that falls from the atmosphere in acid rain can influence large tracts of sugar maples in North America. The atmospheric nitrogen in acid rain can affect forest ecosystems by acidifying soils and causing nutrient imbalances. Sugar maples in northeastern North America are especially vulnerable. Vast maple areas have been affected by this acidification process, which depletes soil calcium in already calcium-poor soils such as those of the Eastern United States.
Research by David Jude, a research scientist at SNRE, is featured in a cable documentary exploring invasive species in the Great Lakes. Jude's work with Gobies is mentioned in the new series "Silent Invaders," created and being aired by Pursuit Channel TV, a cable channel for outdoor enthusiasts.
Research being conducted by SNRE Assistant Professor Beth Diamond in the Heidelberg Cultural Village area of Detroit is featured in a report on the Fox News Channel University Network. Diamond is the lead designer on the project, which is working to implement a vision for arts-based neighborhood redevelopment for Detroit.
The Obama administration has announced that Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for cars and light trucks will be 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025. What will this mean for drivers? John DeCicco, a clinical professor of natural resources and environment at SNRE and research professor at the Michigan Memorial Phoenix Energy Institute, shares his insights in this video podcast.
In an interview with Metro Times, SNRE Associate Professor Raymond De Young talks about 'nature deficit disorder" and other aspects of environmental psychology. "You can think about environmental stewardship as sustaining our relationship with nature. But it also involves social sustainability — maintaining the sustainability of the neighborhood, our relations to our family, our relations to one another," De Young says in the interview with W. Kim Heron.