Michigan University-Wide Sustainability and Environment (MUSE) Initiative: Rackham Interdisciplinary Workshop (RIW)

In the first MUSE meeting of the year, we gather to form relationships with people across disciplines working on sustainability research and practice.  We will discuss plans for MUSE this year so as to be able to deliver seminars, workshops and other events that meet the needs of this group.  All who are doing sustainability work and are interested in learning from people with different disciplinary backgrounds are encouraged to attend. 

Join MUSE for a series of discussions and exercises about how to bring people studying sustainability from different disciplinary backgrounds together to become better problem solvers.  In this session, we will present a series of scenarios, and discuss what people from different disciplinary backgrounds can bring to these situations, as well as how to form connections that make them want to do it.  This session is in response to the siloing of knowledge in academia that often holds back meaningful work.  

Join MUSE for a conversation with Assistant Professor Geoffery Henderson from SEAS on building climate coalition. Geoff will discuss the strategy of forming coalitions to advocate for climate policy, and explain how environmental and labor groups worked to develop a shared policy agenda in Washington state from 2015 to 2021. He will highlight the political factors that motivated environmental groups' strategy, and discuss ways to design climate policies that can build support among organized labor.

Bring a sustainability related book that you have read recently for discussion.  We will talk about how they frame their topic, the authors disciplinary biases, and the impact they intend it to have on their audience.  Be prepared to make a recommendation as to who should and should not read the book.