Taubman College MECC Project awarded for Interdisciplinary Sustainability
The University of Michigan’s Dow Distinguished Awards for Interdisciplinary Sustainability program recently selected several student-run sustainability projects to receive $5,000 each in seed money. A project developed by Michigan Engaging Community through the Classroom (MECC): Willow Run Sustainability Project 2014 was awarded a grant. Their project seeks to boost energy efficiency in rental and for-sale housing units through a “town-and-gown” collaboration focused on implementing home improvements and educating female heads-of-households in the West Willow neighborhood of Washtenaw County.
Other winners include:
- BLUELab India: Install a sustainable water storage system in every household in Kalol, India and educate community members on water sanitation over the course of five years.
- Future Vehicle Sharing Service Design for Ann Arbor: Develop profitable future vehicle sharing service for Ann Arbor
- Greek Life Sustainability Team: Big House, Small Footprint: Retrofit fraternity and sorority chapter houses to reduce energy and water consumption.
- JusTake: Develop a mobile application to help counter the disposable mindset of many consumers.
- Urban Revitalization through Sustainable Small-Scale Indoor Aquaculture: Address the issue of an excess of vacant homes and seafood security by assessing the feasibility, profitability, and community impact of a small-scale indoor shrimp aquaculture system in an abandoned home in Detroit.
The competition is also accepting additional proposals through August 1, 2014 (or until the first 20 project proposals have been funded, whichever comes first). Student-led teams are encouraged to apply now.
Project teams selected not only receive valuable funding for getting their project ideas off the ground, but they become eligible to receive the top award of up to $50,000 to pursue their sustainability projects at full scale.
The Dow Awards program is designed to spur high-impact sustainability collaborations across disciplines and academic levels at the university. Visit U-M’s Planet Blue website to learn more.
