Michigan State University hosted a fall forum called Conversations on Circularity on Nov. 14 for recycling and legislative leaders to discuss the state's progress. Government and Environmental agencies in Michigan are focusing on circularity in an attempt to reduce waste in the state.
The ADREC, MSU Culinary Services and the MSU Dairy Cattle Teaching and Research Center have teamed up to convert waste into energy to power campus. They are working to eliminate waste on campus and help the environment.
MSU School of Packaging has partnered with Bioelements Group, a Chilean-based company that prioritizes the environment when creating packaging materials, to create more sustainable, biodegradable packaging.
The banks of the Red Cedar River are eroding, which could cause various issues for MSU in the future. In an attempt to take more aggressive measures to stop the issue, IPF sought a permit from EGLE for a river restoration project, but was denied. Experts discuss what this means for the banks of the Red Cedar in the long run.
Cities in Michigan have come to be known as 'climate havens,' places where people will be safe from extreme weather events. This may be true for now, but climate change will bring the state its own set of issues, such as flooding, gentrification and more.
The Michigan Climate Action Network hosted their annual Michigan Climate Summit in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on Sept. 26. The summit featured big names like Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and panels that focused on civic engagement and the upcoming election.
The Environmental Studies and Sustainability United student group hosted a grand opening event for their pollinator garden project on Sept. 26. The garden has been in the works for about a year and now holds over 300 native plants to encourage pollination and add some beauty to campus.
The Michigan Waterways Stewards hosted a cleanup of the Red Cedar River Trail on Saturday, Sept. 21, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Potter Park Zoo in Lansing. Community members volunteered to help with the clean up, promoting conservation efforts and a dedication to ensuring a healthy environment.
Fast fashion brands, such as Shein and Temu, have skyrocketed in popularity over the last few years, thanks to social media. MSU students and professors explore why fast fashion is harmful to the environment, why it appeals to college students and some of the more sustainable practices to utilize instead.
The W.J. Beal Botanical Garden has committed itself to removing invasive species from the garden and around MSU's campus. In light of the Red Cedar River's tendency to flood and spread these invasive species, the Beal Garden has adopted a new invasive species policy to help them be better stewards of the environment.
MSU is home to extensive pollinator research.
As a part of its spring-long process of stocking rivers and lakes, employees from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources released 3,300 steelhead trout into the Red Cedar River. After molting in the river for a short period of time, the trout will swim downstream toward Lake Michigan to join the local ecosystem.
On April 8, a rare astronomical phenomenon will take place over North America: a total solar eclipse. While solar eclipses are relatively common, occurring a few times a year, the ability to experience totality in the Midwest is rare; the next total eclipse will not occur until 2045. Here's what to know about the astronomical event and how you can participate.
A winter storm warning has been put in place by the National Weather Service and will remain in effect until 7 p.m. on Saturday. According to an NWS Urgent Winter Weather Message, a winter storm is heading toward west Michigan and is forecasted to start snowing shortly after 4 p.m. Friday afternoon. This storm is forecasted to bring anywhere from 8 in. to 13in of snowfall and wind gusting up to 50 mph. Windchill is expected to bring temperatures into the single digits.
As the days start getting shorter and colder, many students are reminded that winter is fast-approaching; so do the plants in the W.J. Beal Botanical Garden and their human caretakers.
MSU’s Department of Geography, Environment, and Spatial Sciences hosted Jonathan Foret, a Cajun folklorist and environmental activist, to give a talk on the challenges of preserving coastal Louisianan culture as climate change and natural disaster slowly deteriorate the land.
In 2010, MSU horticulture professor John Biernbaum sought to develop a method diverting some food waste away from landfills, beginning a vermicomposting project with funding from the MSU Student Life & Engagement, or SLE, formerly known as Resident Housing Services, and the MSU Office of Sustainability with the goal of diverting kitchen preparation scraps from the landfill.
Baker Woodlot, a 73-acre natural forest area in the south section of campus, was inducted into the Old-Growth Forest Network on Oct. 7, becoming the 12th forest in Michigan to become a part of the national network of old-growth forests.
W.J. Beal Botanical Gardens is implementing a restoration initiative to help ensure the longevity of Michigan State University's heart— the Red Cedar River. Evaluation of the riverbank began in 2018, and since then, the staff at W.J. Beal have been taking steps to cultivate the growth of native plant life along the Red Cedar and in the Natural Areas on campus.
Michigan State University’s Dairy Cattle Teaching and Research Center has a new machine for its cows, and it could help farmers fight climate change worldwide. The machine, which dispenses treats for cows and analyzes their output, is part of an ongoing climate change project led by MSU animal science professor Dr. Mike Vandehaar.