Throughout 2024, the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts will embark on a Year of Sustainability, to serve as a launching pad for many years of a Sustainable LSA to come. In the year we will continue to collectively evaluate current and future actions in our teaching, college culture, research, operations, facilities, and more to advance University and College-level sustainability and carbon neutrality goals.
A Bit Of Background…
The idea of the Year of Sustainability stemmed from the LSA Carbon Neutrality Task Force which was convened by Former Associate Dean Chris Poulsen from 2021 to 2022. Students, staff, and faculty were a part of three committees (Research and Education, Scope 3 Emissions, and Facilities and Operations) and made nine key recommendations to LSA Leadership which are all currently under review and consideration. You can read more about the Task Force recommendations on our Impact page and learn more about the Faculty leadership and their role in starting the Year of Sustainability on our News and Media Page.
Ways To Get Involved
Incentives and Innovations Fund
Do you have a project in mind that can help U-M and LSA meet their carbon neutrality goals or improve sustainability awareness and practices on campus? Apply to our Innovations Fund, with a chance to bring your ideas to life with funding up to $25K. This fund type is open to all LSA departments, units, staff members, student groups, and faculty members. Do you have an idea of how to reduce your carbon, water, or material footprint in your operations, teaching, or research? Apply to our Incentives Fund, where you can request up to $25K for your project. This fund type is specific to LSA departments and units.
Sustainability Champions Program
Are you a graduate student, faculty, or staff member wanting to get more involved with sustainability in LSA? Join our Sustainability Champions program to serve as the point contact in your unit for sustainability questions, participate in development and training events, and help set a vision for LSA through long-term planning.
International Lab Freezer Challenge
This friendly international competition is designed to promote best practices in cold storage management. This challenge is run by My Green Labs and the International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories and U-M will be running a campus-specific challenge between labs on campus. Why should you participate? Reduce your lab’s carbon footprint, proper cold storage techniques can help avoid potential future failures, reduce the cost of maintenance, free up space for new samples, and the chance to win a pizza party! The competition opened on January 1st but you have until the end of June to participate.
Run by the National Wildlife Federation, the Campus Race to Zero Waste is a North American competition between different higher education institutions that runs from January 28th until March 23rd. The goal of the program is to increase recycling and composting while encouraging the reduction of consumption, food waste, and single-use plastics. Each LSA building will have its waste streams measured and scored based on its diversion rate and waste reduction rate.
LSA Resources
Winter 2024 Sustainability Course List
The Year of Sustainability team has compiled a list of courses with a sustainability focus that LSA students can take. You can view this on our website under the Courses tab or on this Atlas spotlight.
Sustainability in LSA Buildings
Wondering what your building is up to? Take a look at our LSA Buildings page to learn about building energy consumption, operations, research, featured courses, and a fun fact!
These are stories written for, about, and by the LSA community on their experiences in our changing climate. Check out the first edition of stories written by Cherish Dean.
