Blog

How a campus Electrician creates UM-Dearborn’s very own Discovery Channel

Jeremie McCoy does more than being a Master Electrician at the University of Michigan-Dearborn–although that in itself is no small feat. In his spare time, he also records underwater footage from the Environmental Interpretive Center’s frog pond of the amphibians that live below the surface.  Jeremie explained, “growing up I’ve always liked watching National Geographic and Discovery Channel” so he … Read More

Finding Your Next Sustainability Course at U-M

Having gone to a much smaller university for undergraduate and graduate school, I’m always amazed by the sheer number of courses offered at the University of Michigan each semester. Just in the area of sustainability, I’ve interacted with students enrolled in courses covering a wide variety of super interesting topics including ecofeminism, sustainable architecture, food justice, renewable energy policy, campus … Read More

Sustainability Tips for Incoming Students

New school year, new tips! We’ve refreshed the information below for the 2023-2024 school year. Welcome Wolverines! Over the next month or two, thousands of new students, both undergraduate and graduate, will be preparing to start their first semester at the University of Michigan. Picking classes, completing required orientation materials, figuring out financial aid and housing, moving, meeting new classmates … Read More

Exploring Our New Sustainability Resource Toolkit

GIF of how to filter the toolkit

I’ve been working with the Planet Blue Ambassador program for about six months now, and one of the most commonly asked questions I receive is, “How can I impact sustainability on campus or at home as an individual?” Across the university, sustainability professionals provide outlets for individuals to get involved in campus sustainability  through co-curricular student engagement programs  and workplace … Read More

Breaking boundaries: How students are leading the charge for sustainable change

Reimagining architecture with the natural environment in mind. Translating the dense, complex federal funding process for local governments. Researching the social implications of carbon offsets. These are a few projects and passions of students who received a special set of cords during University of Michigan’s 2023 spring commencement for their dedication to sustainability. Since 2020, students engaged in sustainability activities … Read More

My Vision for a Sustainable Outdoor Study Space at U-M

AI generated image of a green clover field with solar panels and trees.

With the weather getting warmer recently, I have been seeing our green spaces across campus such as the Arb and the Diag fill up with students enjoying the outdoors. In addition to playing Spikeball and tossing a frisbee, many students are even opting to study outside. Both the Diag and the Arb are beautiful green spaces, but I think it … Read More

Planet Blue Student Innovation Fund: a Meaningful Outlet for Experiential Learning and Change Making

Image of the current farm stand set up with an arrow pointing towards the new design for the mobile farm stand

Since 2019, in addition to running the Planet Blue Ambassador program, I have had the opportunity, challenge, and joy of co-advising the Student Sustainability Coalition (SSC). For those of you less familiar with the multitude of sustainability programs at the University of Michigan, SSC is a group of undergraduate and graduate students who aim to amplify the student voice on … Read More

Fighting “Grind Culture”: Prioritizing Wellness this Finals Season

Student bites pencil while nervously studying on her computer.

Coming into college, I was shocked at how my classmates talked about studying like it was the most important thing in the universe. It was normal to hear about people studying instead of sleeping or studying through meals—just studying, studying, studying. With finals season rapidly approaching, it can be easy to get swept up in that chaos—crafting the perfect study … Read More