Vision - Western Michigan University Environmental Research Center and The Environmental Institute

• Serve as a major repository of environmental knowledge and expertise for Southwestern Michigan

• Provide research opportunities that produce solutions to global as well as local environmental problems

• Coordinate activities related to the environment for WMU including research, education, and public outreach

• Focus on obtaining research grants that are interdisciplinary and that complement individual research grants through departments

  • Will complement teams from other universities in the state

  • Expertise not present at WMU will be added through collaborations and subcontracts

Current Focus Areas and Programmatic Strengths

• Water Resources in the Great Lakes Region

  • Water Use

  • Development Impacts on Water Availability

  • Fate and Transport of Pollutants and Agricultural Byproducts in Ground and Surface Waters

  • Water Contamination Related to Human and Ecosystem Health Risk Assessment

• Atmospheric Studies

  • Effects of Global Carbon Dioxide and Ozone Increases on Crops, Insects, and Microorganisms

  • Effects of Deforestation and Burning on Global Weather Patterns and Climate Change

• Industrial Site and Brownfield Cleanup Strategies

  • Mapping Contaminant Plumes on Former Industrial Sites and Orphan Oil and Gas Wells Using High Tech Geophysical Methods

  • Identification of Contaminant Mixtures and Health Risks Using New Chemical Techniques

  • Cleanup of Contaminated Sites Using Bioremediation and New Chemical Treatments

• Land Use Planning

  • Shoreline Development Including Inland Lakes and Rivers

  • Impacts of Land and Water Use Patterns on Great Lakes Economies

  • Modeling Impacts of Agricultural and Urban Development on Soil Erosion and Water Quality

  • Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems for Maintaining Habitat Diversity

Action Plan

• Coalesce Areas of Strength and Expertise

  • Bring Investigators Together to Form New Collaborations

  • Organize Symposia Ð Faculty, Students, Agency and Industrial Representatives, Review Panel

  • Provide Guidance Through Agency and Industrial Representatives and External Advisers

• Produce Interactive Grants, Program Project Grants, and Center Grants

  • Federal Agencies

  • State Sponsored Environmental Research

  • Local Environmental Research Issues

  • Corporate and Foundation Research Needs

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