U-M Climate Week 2026 View Other Sessions

Explore the connections between nature, creativity, and well-being through the living language of willow. Join artist and farmer Howard Peller, botanist Dr. Selena Smith, and invited Indigenous and campus voices for a conversation on willow's cultural history, ecological importance, materiality and role in fostering resilience and human well-being. The event will also introduce the Living Willow Structures future campus wide project, followed by a hands-on willow weaving workshop where participants can experience the mindful, restorative process of creating with this remarkable material.

Building on the momentum generated by the leadership of MassTimber@MSU to foster and expand Michigan's mass timber ecosystem, this event convenes leaders from policy, industry, design, and education to explore the innovations needed to scale mass timber adoption across the Great Lakes region. The symposium is organized into three thematic sessions: Policies and Incentive Structures, Educating Future Professionals, and A Full Systems Values Approach.

Policies and Incentive Structures examines how public policy can accelerate the development of a regional mass timber industry while advancing climate, economic, and community development goals. Educating Future Professionals focuses on educating the future professionals who will help transform a growing mass timber sector. A Full Systems Values Approach broadens the conversation to examine the interconnected relationships among forests, manufacturing, construction, communities, and environmental outcomes.

Connect with fellow U-M community members in a safe space to pause, connect, and talk about their experiences regarding the environment and climate change, a.k.a. Climate Café. In this small group, we encourage participants to share their stories and discover connections between our experiences. During this event, participants will bridge gaps between climate emotions and sustainability action in our lives, and learn how to care for ourselves and others. Light refreshments will be provided.

We wish to provide uninterrupted discussion time, and make sure that everyone has a chance to speak and be heard. Due to the nature of this activity, participants should arrive at the start time promptly.

The event is free and open to any U-M community member, but registration is required. Please email pba-information@umich.edu with questions. The Climate Café structure utilized is inspired by Dr. Michaela Zint’s EAS581 course and the Climate Psychology Alliance-North America (CPA-NA) café framework. This event is brought to you by LSA Sustainability, Student Life Sustainability, and the Planet Blue Ambassador program.

A climate café is a welcoming space where fears and uncertainties about our climate and ecological crises can be safely expressed. Together, we create a space where participants are encouraged to pause, connect, and talk about their experiences with the environment and climate change. We aim to provide uninterrupted discussion time and ensure that everyone has a chance to speak and be heard. U-M School of Social Work will be hosting two Climate Cafés:

Virtual: Wednesday, September 30, 2026 at 5 pm-6:30 pm EST

In-Person at the School of Social Work: Friday, October 2, 2026 at 12-1:30 pm EST

Join U-M Health Sustainability Leaders for a conversation with Victor Dzau, MD, Immediate Past President of the National Academy of Medicine (NAM), Chancellor Emeritus and James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Medicine at Duke University, Past President and CEO of the Duke University Health System, and U-M Health Board Member to discuss the critical role of the healthcare sector in driving meaningful climate action. Come learn about national efforts to decarbonize healthcare systems and what these sustainability movements mean for U-M Health’s clinical practices, facilities, and procurement processes. Discover how our faculty and staff can champion climate-resilient care and lead the way toward a greener future for Michigan Medicine.

This will be a Shark Tank style competition where students can pitch their sustainability improvements for the Residence Halls
at the University of Michigan. We are still working on the details, but we are hoping to fund the winning improvements if it is
feasible.

Will provide an updated version as soon as I get the last speaker confirmed.