University of Michigan researchers are joining forces with peers from research universities across the state on five interdisciplinary teams working on projects designed to protect and strengthen Michigan’s water systems, communities and economy. 

Research Universities for Michigan, or RU4M—an alliance of Michigan’s R1 universities that includes U-M, Michigan State University, Wayne State University and Michigan Technological University—has awarded more than $400,000 in its initial round of Livable Futures Initiative Water Collaboration Grants. The recipients include teams made up of scholars from a mix of the four universities. One of the teams is led by School for Environment and Sustainability Professor Drew Gronewold.

His interdisciplinary project, along with the others, were chosen for their potential to address significant challenges, engage partners and communities, and lead to long-term benefits for the state.

Called Co-Creating a Water Resilience Research-to-Action Agenda for Michigan, the project aims to create sustainable research infrastructure and position Michigan to leverage its freshwater abundance for climate resilience by uniting the state’s four R1 universities with diverse stakeholders. Through three thematic workshops and a statewide summit focused on water quality, quantity and land-water interfaces, the team will produce deliverables including a comprehensive action agenda with near- to long-term priorities, a water expertise directory and an integrated data roadmap.

In addition to Gronewold, who is leading the project, collaborators include David Watkins from Michigan Technological University, Ethan Theurkauf, Michigan State University, and Donna Kashian, Wayne State University.

Read the full story in the University Record.