University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability

What if AI could help build a more sustainable future?

For SEAS alum Ellen Spooner (MS ’16), the answer lies in the people shaping the technology. Through her Optimist Circuit podcast and her work with the Waitt Institute, Spooner is connecting AI, ocean conservation and storytelling to spark solutions and hope.

From helping protect 30% of Samoa’s ocean to highlighting innovators using AI for good, she believes the future isn’t predetermined; it’s built by people willing to care and act.

“People don’t realize the power of their voice and the change that it can make.”

Read how Spooner is using optimism and innovation to create impact: https://myumi.ch/7JdWz

Last year, six SEAS students had the opportunity to contribute to the preservation of the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica, home to more than 2.5% of the world’s biodiversity.

Working with the ReGenerOsa Collective, which supports the local community's efforts to protect and restore local biodiversity, the master's capstone team analyzed the impacts of tourism, conservation and agriculture on the peninsula’s rural communities. Learn more: https://myumi.ch/7Jd7E

What happens after you recycle your old phone or laptop? ♻️

Of the world's approximately 62 million tons of e-waste, more than 80% is sent to the Global South, where recovering valuable materials often comes at a significant human and environmental cost.

SEAS researchers Brandon Marc Finn and Dimitris Gounaridis are investigating what happens at the end of the electronics supply chain, where discarded devices provide a source of livelihood while also posing serious environmental and health risks for communities in Agbogbloshie, an informal settlement in Ghana that is home to one of the world's largest e-waste sites.

🎥 Watch to learn more about the hidden costs of our growing e-waste economy:

The informal paradox: electronic waste and the toxic circular economy in Ghana When you toss your old phone, where does it actually go? About 15% ...

New SEAS-led research has found that climate change is reshaping plant communities and that just a handful of species can drive major shifts in an ecosystem's overall temperature preference.

Kara Dobson, a postdoctoral research fellow with the SEAS Institute for Global Change Biology and lead author, says this information is helpful for land managers and conservationists who want to preempt climate change: https://myumi.ch/VDerj

How do you fund a carbon-neutral future?

That was the question four SEAS master's students set out to answer as part of a capstone project supporting Michigan's goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

Partnering with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy's Office of Climate and Energy, the team explored how shifting federal funding priorities could impact implementation of the Michigan Healthy Climate Plan and identified innovative financing strategies to help bridge potential funding gaps.

Their recommendations offer practical pathways for advancing the state’s climate goals and provide a roadmap for investing in a more sustainable, resilient future: https://myumi.ch/E7w8e

As drought becomes more intense and frequent across the American West, its impacts are being felt far beyond water supplies and agriculture.

A new SEAS-led study found that severe drought conditions reduced habitat for mule deer, black bears and cougars across Nevada and Utah. Drawing on 12 years of GPS collar data, researchers discovered that habitat loss affected species throughout the food web.

The findings underscore a growing challenge for conservation: as climate change reshapes ecosystems, managing wildlife species in isolation may no longer be enough. Researchers say there is a need for more integrated approaches that consider the interconnected impacts of drought across entire ecosystems: https://myumi.ch/xjQQj

Earlier this semester, Tseten Sherpa (MS ‘27), a SEAS student studying Geospatial Data Science (GDS), and his team took first place at a university hackathon focused on using AI to help cities tackle extreme heat.

As temperatures rise, heat maps can pinpoint urban heat islands, areas where vulnerable populations face heightened risk. But capturing this data often requires expensive thermal cameras, limiting access for many cities.

For the hackathon, Sherpa’s team built an AI model that generates thermal images from standard RGB photos, the kind captured by most drones. Using training images, the team went on to accurately map more than 200 images. Their work showcases how AI could make heat mapping far more accessible for resource-constrained cities, supporting smarter, data-driven planning as extreme heat intensifies.

As part of the Next-Gen Scholars Program, Marianna Coelho Uchoa (MS ’26) and Jenna James (MS/MLA ’27) have been working on a special project, a blog called Next-Gen Now.

The blog, launched in January 2026, features students' experiences, creating a space where new and current students can get advice, learn more about capstone projects, and find support and resources. They collaborated with other SEAS students to write five blog posts covering topics ranging from tips to capstone experiences to scholarships.

You can read the blogs now, and stay tuned for more coming in the fall: https://myumi.ch/zNE4V

🌱 What started as a SEAS doctoral research project is now helping farmers across the Great Lakes region improve soil health and reduce fertilizer run-off.

Since launching five years ago, the Great Lakes Cover Crops Project has partnered with more than 225 farmers across six states, turning nearly 600 fields into living laboratories. By studying cover crops like cereal rye, crimson clover, and hairy vetch, researchers and growers are working together to make agriculture more resilient while protecting waterways.

Cover crop project bridges farming and research to bolster soil, protect water What began as a doctoral project at the University of Michigan is now spreading like red clover across the Great Lakes region to help farmers improve their soil and prevent fertilizer from washing into waterways.