U-M’s Graham Sustainability Institute has announced the recipients of its 2020 Catalyst Grants, which include members of the SEAS community. Catalyst Grants are awarded to multidisciplinary teams that apply their expertise to solve real-world challenges.

Three of the four award-winning projects include SEAS faculty and students.

The projects, listed below, focus on quantifying the emission benefits of electrifying motorcycle taxi fleets in sub-Saharan Africa, developing tools to promote justice and equity in urban climate adaptation plans, and assessing the feasibility of wild rice restoration on U-M lands in partnership with tribal nations and other stakeholders. Each, in their own way, propels our ability to move the needle in creating a more just and sustainable future.

Graham Institute Catalyst Grants are open to all faculty and researchers across U-M’s three campuses. The four featured projects were selected from among 11 proposed this cycle. Each research team will receive $10,000 in funding.

How Much Will Electrifying Motorcycle Taxi Fleets in Uganda Help Human Health and Reduce Emissions?

• PI: Michael Craig, Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
• Additional Team Members: Herek Clack, Civil and Environmental Engineering; Étienne Saint-Sernin, Zembo co-founder; Daniel Dreher, Zembo co-founder; Thomas Courtright, SEAS/Architecture and Urban Planning; Jacob Calzavara, Erb Institute; Pam Jagger, SEAS; and Junghoon Park, Erb Institute

New Tools Will Promote Justice and Equity in Climate Adaptation Plans

• PI: Sara Hughes, SEAS
• Additional Team Members: Richard Norton, Architecture and Urban Planning; Sarah Dobie, Architecture and Urban Planning; Kirsten Schwartz, UCLA Luskin; Kelly Turner UCLA Luskin; Joyce Coffee, Climate Resilience Consulting; and Madeleine Lane, SEAS

Restoring Mnomen, a Step on the Path To Reconciliation

•  PI: David Michener, Botanical Gardens
• Additional Team Members: Rebecca Hardin, SEAS; Gregory Dowd, LSA; Benjamin Secunda, Office of Research; Scott Herron, Ferris State University; Samantha Stokes, SEAS; Maeghen Goode, SEAS/Architecture and Urban Planning); Manavi Jaluka, Vassar University; Doug Taylor, Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi; John Rodwan, Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi; Eric Kerney, Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi; Gary Morseau, Pokagon Band of Potawatomi; Marcus Winchester, Pokagon Band of Potawatomi; Christine Morseau, Pokagon Band of Potawatomi; Shannon Martin, Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe; Carey Pauquett, Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe; Kathy Hart, Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College; William Johnson, Michigan Anishinaabe Cultural and Repatriation Alliance; Alex Wieten,  Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish (Gun Lake) Band of Potawatomi Indians; Montana Riley, Walpole Island Cultural Center; Roger Labine, Lac Vieux Desert; Ricki Oldencamp, Pierce Cedar Creek Institute; Corey Lucas, Pierce Cedar Creek Institute; Barb Barton, author of Manoomin: The Story of Wild Rice in Michigan.

Read More: Graham Sustainability Institute Catalyst Grants