Institutes & Centers

The University of Michigan (U-M) offers a wide range of non-departmental opportunities for collaborative and interdisciplinary research, education, and advocacy of environmental sustainability. To enhance and promote the University’s environmental sustainability initiatives, U-M institutes and centers work with internal and external stakeholders, corporations, NGOs, public policy leaders, and other research institutions. Listed below is a sampling of institutes, centers, and initiatives at U-M that are working on a variety of environmental sustainability issues. The list is representative but not all-inclusive. Please check back regularly as the list evolves over time and as new activities and programs are added.

Business Engagement Center
The Business Engagement Center (BEC) provides companies with a gateway to the University of Michigan, helping them to identify, assess, and potentially use the University's vast resources, including research capabilities, new technologies, faculty expertise, student and alumni talent, continuing education programs, and strategic giving opportunities.

Center for Advancing Research & Solutions for Society (CARSS)
CARSS is an innovative forum involving academic experts, business leaders, the media and policy makers from around the world seeking new knowledge and potential solutions for society’s most pressing problems.

Center for Biologic Nanotechnology
Study of nanomaterials and bio-inspired nanostructures for biological and medical applications.

Center for Global Health
While the U-M School of Public Health (SPH) offers a wide range of courses and lectures related to global health, the Center for Global Health helps the university and SPH to take a more active role in this critical issue by offering hands-on training programs, by supporting global-health across departments, by offering special conferences and symposia, and by pursuing other multidisciplinary projects.

Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy (CLOSUP)
Conducts research on state and/or local issues of importance to policy makers. These might include, for example, education and local public finance; economic development, environmental protection, and land use.

Center for Risk Science and Communication (CRSC)
Promoting informed decision-making about health risks through analytical methods and effective communication.

Center for the Study of Complex Systems (CSCS)
Interdisciplinary analysis using mathematical modeling to study environments that exhibit: heterogeneous makeup, dynamic change, feedback, and hierarchy organization.

Center for Sustainable Systems (CSS)
CSS develops life cycle based models and sustainability metrics to evaluate the performance and to guide the continuous improvement of industrial systems for meeting societal needs.

Cooperative Institute for Limnology and Ecosystems Research (CILER)
CILER’s research focuses on climate and large-lake dynamics, coastal and near-shore processes, large-lake ecosystem structure and function, remote sensing of large-lake and coastal ocean dynamics, and marine environmental engineering.

Frederick A. and Barbara M. Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise
The Erb Institute creates and disseminates leading-edge knowledge in the area of global sustainable enterprise. This field explores how organizations throughout the world can achieve long-term success through the harmonization of economic, environmental and social interests.

Graham Environmental Sustainability Institute
Reporting directly to the University of Michigan (U-M) Office of the Provost, the Graham Institute serves as the university's "front door" for discovering and engaging in the far researching environmental sustainability activity that permeates our university. The Graham Institute leverages the university's strengths and resources by orchestrating interdisciplinary research, education, and outreach initiatives focused on helping to make meaningful progress toward environmental sustainability at U-M . . . and beyond.

Institute for Research on Women & Gender (IRWG)
The Institute for Research on Women and Gender provides stimulation, coordination, and support for research on women and gender at the University of Michigan. The Institute encourages and facilitates activities that link research in Women's Studies, disciplinary departments, interdisciplinary programs, and the professional schools. This research explores differences and commonalities among and between women and men in the multicultural United States and internationally.

Michigan Memorial Phoenix Energy Institute (MMPEI)
The mission of MMPEI is to chart the path to a secure, affordable and sustainable energy future by applying our strengths in public policy, economics, business, and social sciences to lay the foundation for successful implementation of our scientific and technological achievements. Its goals are to: develop, coordinate, and promote multidisciplinary energy research and education across the University; grow the intellectual activity and infrastructure in key energy topics in addition to our existing strengths; establish new faculty and research appointments that combine strengths in science/technology with those in public policy, business, economics and social sciences; and to serve as a unified voice on energy research and education for the University.

Population Studies Center
The Population Studies Center conducts interdisciplinary research in the areas of health, disability, and mortality; human capital, labor and wealth; aging; population dynamics; and regional studies.

The William Davidson Institute (WDI)
The WDI provides a forum for business leaders and public policy makers to discuss issues affecting business enterprise and public policies in transition and emerging market economies. The objective of the Institute's educational and research programs is to develop knowledge and expertise that helps improve the effectiveness of firms and social welfare in these economies.