Past Events

Catherine Chalmers’s debut Michigan exhibition Conifer Trees, Bark Beetles, and Fire delves into the dramas unfolding in America’s western forests. With imagery and materials gathered during her extensive fieldwork in the Rocky Mountains, she reveals the fragile interplay among trees, insects, and wildfire. Chalmers’s visual language is both beautiful and unsettling – a meditation on the forces reshaping alpine ecosystems.

This is an open exhibit in the Institute for the Humanities Gallery. The exhibit is open and free to view Monday - Friday, 9AM - 5PM.

Dive into the future of sustainability with experts leading the charge in climate tech, green infrastructure, and circular economies. In partnership with the City of Ann Arbor, we’ll also honor Green Business Challenge participants who are walking the walk when it comes to eco-conscious operations. If you care about business and the environment, this is your space.

Join the Office of Sustainability and Innovations for an A2ZERO Clothing Swap during Climate Week! This swap will be taking place at Ingalls Mall on September 29th from 11:00am to 1:00pm. Clothing swaps are a great way to give your gently used clothes a new home, and you might just find an item of clothing you have been looking for, without having to buy it new. ​​

How it works: Each person can bring up to 5 items of clothing in good condition (no rips, holes, stains, or unwashed items please!). Accessories are also welcome. You can take clothing without bringing anything, or bring clothing without taking anything. The clothing swap is a completely free event.

Tr@$h C1ub will be helping those who stop by to build their own mending kits from second-hand materials! Those who attend can learn simple fixes and stitches and continue repairs all on your own with their new mending kit. Overall, we aim to provide not only a deeper understanding of the economic and environmental impacts of textile waste mitigation and management but also to show how each student can contribute to such change in the present and into the future by learning the act of repair.

Join the Spectrum Center Programming Board for a hands-on sustainable workshop that pairs visible mending and vibrant sashiko stitching with an easy, low-cost lesson in growing your own edible sprouts. Learn practical skills that increase the sustainability of your closet and pallet while connecting with fellow LGBTQ+ students and allies. No experience or supplies required—we’ll provide everything you need and you’ll leave with a beautifully mended item or patch and a jar of sprouts ready to grow at home (while supplies last)!

This UM Climate Week, join CRLT and PitE for a cross-disciplinary panel discussion with faculty and instructional staff who can help you do just that. Modeled after the annual Embedding Climate Change in the Curriculum (EC3) retreat, we’ll cover multiple course styles and ideas to get you started, and provide resources to support your development in this space. After the panel, our panelists will share their own syllabi and assignments in small, roundtable discussions.

Advance registration is required. Registration link is embedded in the event title.

Want to learn more about the science of climate change? Want to share your exciting climate research? Join us for a poster session highlighting the importance of climate research for society.

Questions? Contact Gretchen Keppel-Aleks (gkeppela@umich.edu)

Join the Student Sustainability Coalition (SSC) for open conversations on topics related to the climate crisis and campus sustainability. Enjoy a free coffee of your choice brewed and prepared by SSC student staff!

Want to apply your climate and engineering education after graduation? Come learn from leaders in climate-related industries! The panel includes experts from various industries, including climate forecasting, climate solutions consulting, risk analytics, renewable energy, and sustainable manufacturing:

+ Dan Cooper - UM Mechanical Engineering, Resourceful Manufacturing and Design group (ReMaDe)

+ Megan Hart - Managing Director within the Catastrophe Risk Analytics Group, Aon

+ Jenny Oorbeck - Co-founder & Managing Director, Fresh Coast Climate Solutions

+ Richard Stocker - Horiba, Principal Engineer

Sign up and submit your questions here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSekzWaDYkKJqE83ZwXz_TAaf7Lo-u8xslDigTdiJkbOtMR1NQ/viewform

Want to join the fight against climate change? Join Michigan Carbon Capture for one of our hands-on workshops where you'll build a device that pulls CO₂ straight from the air. Our experienced project team will guide you step-by-step as you explore the science behind carbon removal and discover the potential of this emerging industry. You'll leave informed, inspired, and empowered to create climate solutions of your own. No technical experience or knowledge of carbon capture required. We encourage people of all majors to participate.

Michigan alum Phimmasone Kym Owens, director of the Refugee Garden Initiative, will speak on her experience as a refugee and as the creator of an interconnected space active in sustaining community, culture, and relationships with the Earth through gardening.

During U-M Climate Week, we hope to empower you to use resources at hand to creatively respond to local sustainability issues. Learn about ways to support refugee communities and the international community at large through campus organizations. Our hope is that, through this engagement opportunity, students and others will understand that our globally connected campus can be a model for change at the local level.

The in person talk will be followed by followed by light fare catered by Siam Square.

You may also join us via Zoom at: https://umich.zoom.us/j/98763813502?pwd=z7QpCLOBDU2KXbiHbXLYxUmgcOcpyP.1

The Campus as Lab Open House hosted by Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum (MBGNA) will utilize the dynamic infrastructure of Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Campus Farm as an interactive environment to introduce, connect, and engage the university community in collective celebration of UM’s Campus as Lab opportunities.

Build your community and learn about the work of student sustainability organizations! This informal, networking & discussion style event offers the opportunity to connect with like-minded peers and dream up ways to affect change on campus.

U-M is a founding member of the Midwest Climate Collaborative, a 12-state network of more than 80 members—including local governments, nonprofits, universities, and businesses—working toward a carbon-neutral, climate-resilient Midwest. The MCC amplifies regional successes, connects people across sectors, and builds capacity to accelerate climate action. Its initiatives include the Midwest Climate Resource Network, the Midwest Climate Research Agenda, and the annual Midwest Climate Summit. The MCC also circulates collaboration requests to spark joint research and grant opportunities.

Join MCC for a Climate Week meet & greet co-hosted with Ann Arbor’s Office of Sustainability and Innovation and the Graham Sustainability Institute.

Register at myumi.ch/bV1yk.

A table-top presentation demonstrating the assembly of a solar back-up system. The Students for Clean Energy team will assemble system components while narrating the process and then lead a discussion on the broader implications of solar back-up systems in the context of the climate crisis.

Join our Day of Service to celebrate UM-Dearborn’s Homecoming Week 2025 and U-M’s inaugural Climate Week on Tuesday, September 30 from 11am-1pm. UM-Dearborn community members will gather to plant native Michigan wildflowers and grasses in the natural landscape just west of the Mardigian Library (about 200 feet from the ML foot traffic entrance). Help us beautify campus, while also creating a habitat that protects against harmful invasive plants and supports pollinators, birds, and more. This event will meet West of the Mardigian Library entrance at the natural landscape area!

RSVP required. Register at: https://forms.gle/BtidNkcj51G1CQrS9

Join us for an interactive session where you’ll step into the role of a wholesale electricity trader. Using your laptop as a trading station, you’ll participate in online power exchange simulations that capture the impact of climate policies (carbon taxes, subsidies) and climate-driven uncertainties (heat waves, storms, renewable variability). Through multiple trading rounds, you’ll place bids, watch the market clear in real time, and see how prices, emissions, and profits shift under different scenarios. Together, we’ll explore how uncertainty in climate and policy shapes market dynamics and the profitability of power generation assets.

RSVP link: https://forms.gle/2n3ktnfi2BjZq26s6

A table-top presentation demonstrating the assembly of a solar back-up system. The Students for Clean Energy team will assemble system components while narrating the process and then lead a discussion on the broader implications of solar back-up systems in the context of the climate crisis.

A panel of medical professionals, community members, and local activists will share personal stories of the impacts of climate change and opportunities to get involved in advocacy at different levels. The floor will then be opened up to the audience for shared discussion on climate health, education, and organizing. We hope that this event will allow attendees to engage with and learn from perspectives to which they might otherwise not have access, facilitating interdisciplinary collaboration at many different levels.

Why is the Great Lakes region being touted as a so-called climate haven? How does climate change affect the multi-generational migration of monarch butterflies? What is the relationship between climate change, displacement and emigration in Mexico and Central America?

To mark Climate Week, the LSA Division of Undergraduate Education and LSA Sustainability invite you to a multidisciplinary discussion on Ecologies of Migration. LSA faculty panelists will discuss how climate change impacts human and animal migration locally and hemispherically as well as strategies for solutions-focused learning that encourages active engagement in positive actions for healthy habitats, wildlife corridors, migrant care and climate justice.

Panelists:
Julia Cole, Professor and Chair of Earth and Environmental Sciences
André Green, Assistant Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
William Calvo-Quirós, Associate Professor of American Culture and Director of Latina/o Studies

Catalyzing Connections: Climate, Health & Research for Impact brings together University of Michigan faculty and staff from diverse disciplines to explore the vital intersection of climate and health. Whether you are an experienced researcher in these fields or new to the conversation, this event offers a welcoming space to connect, collaborate, and discover resources to advance impactful work.

Hosted during U-M Climate Week, Catalyzing Connections will feature:

+ Structured networking activities to spark meaningful conversations and new collaborations.

+ Informative presentations on funding opportunities, including the Graham Sustainability Institute’s Catalyst Grants, the Center for Global Health Equity’s Seed Grants, Accelerator Grants, and Impact Scholars, and other campus resources like the Institute for Healthcare Policy & Innovation’s Climate Health Interest Group.

+ An inclusive, collegial environment that encourages curiosity, values diverse backgrounds, and supports both emerging and established partnerships.

We hope that your participation in this event will provide you with new connections, fresh ideas, and a clear understanding of the tools available to help your climate–health research thrive.

RSVP at https://cglink.me/2sF/r382510

Join global correspondent Bill Spindle for an engaging fireside chat where he will draw on his extensive career covering energy and climate issues across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa—the frontlines of today’s climate and energy transitions. Bill will share firsthand insights into the geopolitical complexities shaping the global energy landscape, including the interplay between fossil fuels, renewables, and emerging technologies. The conversation will focus on the real-world impacts of climate policies, the challenges faced by developing countries in balancing economic growth and decarbonization, and how global energy narratives are evolving amidst tensions over resources, technology, and diplomacy. Bill will also discuss the role of journalism in illuminating these critical issues and fostering informed dialogue as the world faces the urgent need to accelerate climate solutions.

This session offers a unique, ground-level perspective on climate and energy challenges that shape global progress and will inspire Climate Week participants to think beyond traditional frameworks toward innovative and inclusive strategies for a sustainable future.

Come learn about how AI is being used and abused to meet our climate goals in a panel based discussion. Panelists include scholars from the University of Michigan and experts from industry with expertise in applying cutting edge machine learning methods to improve weather and climate predictions, the growing energy footprint of generative AI and more!

+ Mosharaf Chowdhury - Associate Professor of Computer Science and Engineering

+ Rabab Haider - Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering

+ Jing Liu - Managing Director of the Michigan Institute for Data Science

+ Mohammed Ombadi - Assistant Professor of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering

+ Hansi Singh - Co-Founder and CEO of Planette

Questions? Contact Jeremy Bassis (jbassis@umich.edu) and Adriana Bailey (abaileyr@umich.edu).

Join the Planet Blue Student Leaders at and 'shop' from the FreeStore featuring clothing, items, and more. Stay sustainable and bring home something new to you. Everything is free!

Join for a high‑energy climate week happy hour that mixes discovery, conversation, and play. Meet students, researchers, alumni, entrepreneurs, and partners working on energy, climate, and sustainability in Michigan and around the world. Explore hands‑on exhibits, swap ideas in a facilitated storytelling circle, and leave with new collaborators and next‑step actions.

Refreshments will be served.

Join other students students in relaxed conversations to support reflection on the events + goals of UMCW25. This event will feature a mixture of small group discussions and larger group share outs. There will be many opportunities to engage -- share your feelings, passions, and stories as connected with environment, sustainability, and climate change!

Register at: https://forms.gle/3gpJswSbMqoKrkw87

The Farm Stand is a weekly pop-up market and education project that sells produce grown by students for students. Powered by the U-M Sustainable Food Program (UMSFP) and the Campus Farm at Matthaei Botanical Gardens, this project seeks to help students access more local food and engage the U-M community in food sovereignty and engagement.

This year, the Farm Stand is open from August through mid-November on S Ingalls Mall. Students receive a 30% discount and the proceeds from the Farm Stand go towards funding student-led sustainable food initiatives here through UMSFP’s Student Food Empowerment Fund!

Join us during Climate Week for a special chef demo from MDining, featuring food grown at the Campus Farm.

The Institute for Energy Solutions has a regular energy seminar series that coincides with Climate Week Activities.

Todd Allen is hosting Shannon Bragg-Sitton to present on integrated energy systems.

Sponsoring Organization: The Institute for Energy Solutions

Start your morning with a curator-guided tour of Catherine Chalmers: Conifer Trees, Bark Beetles, and Fire exhibition in the Institute for the Humanities Gallery. Blending ecology and creative expression, Chalmers’s immersive exhibition brings the forest to life through years of field work and creative experimentation. Experience the story of ecological change in America’s western forests through photographs, watercolor paintings made with ash of burnt trees, and tree resin-based paintings.

Are you interested in developing the skills to tackle complex environmental challenges at the intersection of engineering and sustainability? Join faculty, staff, and students from the School for Environment and Sustainability and the College of Engineering for lunch, highlighting the Engineering Sustainable Systems (ESS) dual degree program. You’ll hear lightning talks from current ESS students about their research into climate solutions, decarbonization, renewable energy, and food production, and engage in a panel discussion with alumni from Ford Motor Company, Argonne National Laboratory, and Positive Scenarios Consulting. This is a great opportunity to learn about the program, network with current students and alumni, and explore how the ESS degree can further your academic and professional goals. Lunch will be provided—please RSVP to attend. You can learn more about ESS here.

Register Now

Join us for a dynamic alumni panel exploring diverse career paths in sustainability. This event will bring together University of Michigan alumni working across sectors—nonprofit, corporate, government, and academia—to share insights from their professional journeys and how they are driving change in the face of today’s most pressing environmental and social challenges.

Through a moderated discussion and audience Q&A, students will gain practical advice on building a meaningful career, understand how different disciplines contribute to sustainable solutions, and learn strategies for leveraging their education and networks to make an impact.

Our Panel of Experts:

Gillian Gainsley, Chief of Staff, EGLE

Arman Golrokhian, Energy Consultant

Marcus Jones, President, MJ Construction Service

Dennis Meany, Senior Energy Investor and Consultant

Andrea Paine, Program Manager, HRWC

Moderator: Alex Kutsupis, Graduate Student and Dow Sustainability Fellow

What is required to approach the creation of performance, visual art, architecture, and design in a sustainable way? As climate change continues, how do artists, architects, and designers need to reconsider how they do their work? How might students incorporate environmental justice into their emerging artistry?

In this interactive conversation, facilitated by UM Faculty Director of Arts Research/Creative Practice Clare Croft, artists, architects, and arts administrators–from across UM and Southeast Michigan–will share approaches to these necessary and contemporary questions. Together we’ll look at examples of how all of us in the arts are shifting how we work and/or amplifying particular aspects of our practice in response to climate change and other environmental realities.

Speakers include:

Sarah Oliver, Associate Professor, Theatre & Drama

Jen Maigret, Professor of Architecture & Director, Climate Futures

Alexis Lamb, Founder, CEO & Artistic Director, Refugia Festival

Émilie Monnet and Waira Nina, artists, Nigamon / Tunai

Shawn Rieschl Johnson,Chief Programming and Production Officer, Detroit Opera

Joseph Trumpey, Professor, Stamps

This panel conversation will flow into the Climate Futures event that begins at 3 pm in the Taubman Courtyard.

Following the panel conversation, 'Artistic Approaches to Making an Environmentally Just World,' join us for a North Campus Faculty Climate Collective mixer. The event will include short, structured games as icebreakers and enable continued conversation about how climate work at U-M can be understood and fostered through strengthened social connectivity. The mixer is open to all faculty.

Join the Student Sustainability Coalition (SSC) for open conversations on topics related to the climate crisis and campus sustainability. Enjoy a free coffee of your choice brewed and prepared by SSC student staff!

Sports are a driving force in shaping culture, community, and campus life—but how can athletic programs, student athletes, and universities be leaders in the movement for sustainability? Join us for an engaging panel discussion moderated by former Michigan quarterback and sports commentator Brian Griese as we explore innovative approaches and real-world solutions at the nexus of athletics and environmental responsibility.

Panelists include Paul Dunlop, leader in U-M Athletics sustainability; Dr. Brian McCullough, renowned U-M faculty expert on sustainable sports management; Dr. Sara Soderstrom, faculty leader in sustainability; and CY Cheng, U-M Soccer player and alum committed to environmental advocacy. We'll also hear from Sophie Homan, current soccer player and PitE/SEAS student, and Natalie DeSarbo, former track and field athlete and PitE alum, about how they have led U-M student-athletes around sustainability efforts.

Panelists will discuss their personal journeys, the unique challenges faced by athletic programs, and emerging strategies for integrating sustainability into team culture, facilities, fan engagement, and beyond. From operational changes to community impact, discover how sports at Michigan—and beyond—can move from the sidelines and lead the charge toward a more sustainable future. Don’t miss this spirited conversation at the intersection of passion, performance, and planetary well-being!

Want to join the fight against climate change? Join Michigan Carbon Capture for one of our hands-on workshops where you'll build a device that pulls CO₂ straight from the air. Our experienced project team will guide you step-by-step as you explore the science behind carbon removal and discover the potential of this emerging industry. You'll leave informed, inspired, and empowered to create climate solutions of your own. No technical experience or knowledge of carbon capture required. We encourage people of all majors to participate.

Help Ann Arbor and the University move towards a local circular economy while showing off your school pride by bringing in gently used UM-themed clothing and accessories that can be redistributed to others at a future A2ZERO Clothing Swap.

CLOTHING DROP-OFF DETAILS:

• Saturday, October 4th before the game vs. Wisconsin
• Office of Campus Sustainability Tent (NE entrance to the Crisler Center)
• Please only bring in clean, gently used clothing in good condition

Sponsoring Organization: A2ZERO - City of Ann Arbor, Planet Blue