Ongoing Projects and Sub-Teams
Here you will find more informations of the different teams we have in BLUElab Metro. As a member, you can take part in any of the projects, or help create your own.
01
Bryant Carbon Capture
We work closely with the Bryant Neighborhood Community Center on the Bryant Electrification Project. The Bryant Electrification Project has a goal for the neighborhood to reach carbon neutrality by 2026. This year, we will continue to conduct outreach to inform members of the community about the project and how they can get involved. We also plan to design and build a carbon capture kiosk for the community. The kiosk will foster community engagement, include a solar charging station, and utilize moss to sequester carbon emissions.
02
Canopy Cover (Biosequestration Team):
We recently completed our Covering Campus project where we collaborated with the Grounds Department to plant 35 native species around campus. This year, our new project is designing an interactive website where users can model ways to repurpose land with Michigan native species that maximize carbon sequestration potential. We are looking for people who have a background in or are interested in learning about native ecology, web design, and user experience. We also plan on hosting more nature clean-up events.
03
Data Visualization
Our project team focuses on utilizing programming and data analysis to better understand both local and campus sustainability data. Last year, we collaborated with the Canopy Cover team to build a carbon offset calculator, modeling the amount of CO2 sequestered in the trees our teams planted. This year, we’ll be finishing up that project, as well as designing a new project by finding either a community or campus partner that can provide us with data. We welcome students of all backgrounds with interests in environmental impact, computer science, and data science.
04
SEAS Facilities
We are working on modifying the compostable toilets in the School of Environment and Sustainability to address issues with bug accumulation, as well as contacting farms that could take the compost. This semester, we will focus on completing a proposal describing the project and our objectives so that we can reach out to experts on/off campus to help with the design, as well as continuing to research methods to improve the composting system.
05
Waste Management
As members of U-M’s campus, we must participate in the waste practices available to us. We might use recycling and compost bins when they are accessible or take part in clean-up events when they are organized. There are many more ways to easily reduce the waste we produce, though. This team develops and executes projects to make it easier for everyone on campus to produce less waste. This year, we will partner with U-M Dining to improve composting in the Michigan Union, continue promoting our free exchange platform Freecycle and identify spots & practices on campus that could be altered to make sustainable routines simpler and appealing for all of us.