Ann Arbor Times

Five research projects focusing on pivotal sustainability matters have received funding from the Sustainability Catalyst Grant Program, led by the Graham Sustainability Institute at the University of Michigan. These varied projects, addressing issues such as PFAS detection to sustainable fashion, underscore the university's goal of working with communities to create scalable solutions for a sustainable future.

“The Catalyst Grant Program helps bridge the gap between academic research and real-world impact,” stated Jennifer Haverkamp, Graham Family Director of the Graham Sustainability Institute. "These projects exemplify how collaborative, cross-sector approaches can catalyze meaningful change, whether that’s creating safer drinking water, more sustainable health care practices or resilient local economies.”

The funded projects unite researchers, community organizations, industry partners, and public agencies to develop practical, inclusive, and measurable solutions. One notable project aims to map Michigan’s natural fiber ecosystem. This initiative, dubbed “Fibershed Thinking” by principal investigator Melissa Duhaime, seeks to create cross-disciplinary connections on campus to prepare future leaders in sustainable fashion and regenerative material systems. Off campus, the project collaborates with entities like Michigan Fibershed and Fibershed.org to develop a survey framework to bolster regional textile economies.

According to Duhaime, the idea behind the project was long in progress but was actualized due to the Catalyst Grant Program's structure and timely partnerships. “The priority that the program places on the real-world translation of the work was an immense draw,” Duhaime remarked.

Another project, directed by Nikita Consul, focuses on reducing the carbon footprint of radiology while maintaining care quality. With medical imaging services contributing an estimated 1% to global greenhouse gas emissions, her team is analyzing energy use across imaging protocols to integrate sustainability into patient care decisions.

Consul notes the grant provided a unique chance to merge her interests in medical radiology and sustainability, tracing back to her engineering studies at MIT. “When I received an email in my inbox about the Catalyst Grants, I already had an idea I was working through, and I was not afraid to branch out of the usual medical grant submission channels to apply through Graham,” Consul said.

Details on these projects and others in the current Catalyst Grant cycle, which aim to translate research into actionable steps for communities and equitable outcomes, can be found on the Catalyst Grant webpage at graham.umich.edu/catalyst.