Sustainability Focus Areas

Sustainability Focus Areas

Sustainability Focus Areas

Graham focuses on three critical areas of sustainability: climate, water, and communities. These topics are intentionally broad and flexible, allowing us to catalyze and facilitate a wide range of important work. As we evaluate opportunities for growth, new focus areas may be added, provided they align with our vision, mission, values, and strategic priorities.

Climate

Climate

We advance the discovery and application of science-based strategies to combat climate change and its impacts by catalyzing new research, building strong partnerships, and leading critical initiatives. See objectives in our strategic plan »

Be Counted Among U-M’s Sustainability Experts

Join U-M's Sustainability Experts Database, maintained by Graham, to help make our collective sustainability expertise transparent and accessible. 

Learn more

Apply Now! Michigan Community Climate Action Fellowship

U-M undergrads: Spend next summer with a Michigan climate organization, gaining experience and building your career!

Apply by Nov. 2

Join a Clean Energy Conversation

The Clean Energy Conversation series is designed to catalyze collaborations by identifying areas ripe for proposals and applied research.

Learn more

Water

Water

We contribute to restoring, enhancing, and sustaining water and water-dependent resources through policy and management-relevant processes that engage and benefit diverse stakeholders, particularly historically underrepresented and overlooked communities. See objectives in our strategic plan »

Thumbnail: Augmenting Michigan’s Water Conservation and Efficiency Efforts: Climate, Energy, and Water Infrastructure

Photo credit: Andrew S. | Unsplash
Augmenting Michigan’s Water Conservation and Efficiency Efforts: Climate, Energy, and Water Infrastructure
Dow Sustainability Fellows Program

Photo Courtesy of Michigan Sea Grant

Photo Courtesy of Michigan Sea Grant
Stuck in the muck: Comparing how experts and local communities see beach muck in the Great Lakes
Water Center U-M Capacity Building Grants

Photo credit: Tijuana River NERR

Photo credit: Tijuana River NERR
Monitoring and Management of Lagoon Mouths in Southern California
NERRS Science Collaborative

See all projects in our project finder »

Be Counted Among U-M’s Sustainability Experts

Join U-M's Sustainability Experts Database, maintained by Graham, to help make our collective sustainability expertise transparent and accessible. 

Learn more

Join the October Coffee Talk

Explore what’s next for the Great Lakes Compact and connect with experts shaping resilient water futures across the region.

 

Register for Coffee Talks

Watch Lake Erie Webinars

Gain expert insights on the most pressing issues facing Lake Erie and what’s being done to address them.

Watch the 2025 Winter Webinar Series

Communities

Communities

We endeavor to support and strengthen local communities, promoting resilience and sustainability through inclusive approaches that center on understanding and serving their needs. We also foster and fortify professional communities of practice that work collaboratively toward shared sustainability goals. See objectives in our strategic plan »

Be Counted Among U-M’s Sustainability Experts

Join U-M's Sustainability Experts Database, maintained by Graham, to help make our collective sustainability expertise transparent and accessible. 

Learn more

Apply Now! Michigan Community Climate Action Fellowship

U-M undergrads: Spend next summer with a Michigan climate organization, gaining experience and building your career!

Apply by Nov. 2

Present at the 2026 Conference

Have ideas for sessions, speakers, or field trips? Help shape a conference that advances Lake Erie stewardship.

Apply to Present