Innovation for Global Impact Progress

Key Initiatives

Water solutions for a changing climate

The MSU Water Alliance brings together nearly 300 faculty experts across the university to find solutions to water-related challenges through research, education and engagement with communities and industries. In addition, MSU researchers were awarded a $3 million National Science Foundation Research Traineeship. This provides support to train graduate students to be leaders in solving global water issues. The first cohort begins in the fall 2024 semester and includes trainees from engineering, computer science, biology, ecology, public health and social science.

Leveraging FRIB internationally

MSU and the French research organization Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique established the International Research Laboratory on Nuclear Physics and Astrophysics at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams to unite top researchers from France and the U.S. for fundamental nuclear physics and astrophysics research. It is the first of CNRS’s nearly 80 international research laboratories worldwide dedicated to nuclear physics and astrophysics. The United Kingdom Research and Innovation Science and Technology Facilities Council is funding the FAUST (FRIB Accelerated beams for Understanding Science and Technology) instrument with a £3.2M investment to enable new experiments at FRIB.

Supporting interdisciplinary research

The new Tetrad Initiative fosters collaborations among faculty from across disciplines who have not worked together before, resulting in projects that create opportunities for extramural support. To participate, researchers identify collaborators from outside their departments to form a team of three. The program generated strong demand in year one and a lottery system was used to select 40 projects. Seed funding for each project was provided by the researcher’s college with a match from the MSU Research Foundation.

Focus on long-term climate resiliency

A researcher speaks with Michigan farmers in their field

The Agricultural Climate Resiliency Program is a partnership between MSU, the Plant Coalition and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development aimed at solving long-term water and climate-related challenges. The competitive grants program gives MSU researchers and Extension educators the opportunity to apply for funding to address issues around soil and plant health, carbon sequestration, efficient use of water and protection of water resources. In addition, the university has launched a hiring process to attract expertise in critical areas of research and outreach necessary to address such grand challenges.

The Future of Work initiative

Technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, algorithmic management systems and robotics are changing job tasks and reorienting the way work is organized. The Future of Work initiative, led by the College of Social Science, is assessing how these emerging technologies and the changing nature of work affects all facets of modern life. The initiative seeks to identify organizational strategies that can best ensure inclusiveness and improve workers’ lives in the state of Michigan and beyond.

Increasing research opportunities for all

Federally funded training grants at MSU support diversity, equity and inclusion efforts by increasing diversity in training. Since developing new resources and support mechanisms for faculty to apply for these very competitive programs, the number of training grants received is up 20%. These programs also enhance the creation of equitable and inclusive research environments that support the training and career development of every student, postdoctoral fellow and faculty member at MSU. Data from past cohorts indicate that 90% of the students who participate in these programs are accepted to graduate programs at MSU and at other prestigious universities.

Investing in arts

The team at the Broad Art Museum sought to rethink what a visit to an art museum can be with the opening of The CORE – the Center for Object Research and Engagement. Made possible through the largest capital campaign since the museum was constructed, The CORE is providing new ways for the MSU community to experience, interact with and interpret art. In addition, a significant renovation to the MSU Museum will advance it as an integral part of research, teaching and engagement as well as allow the staff to redefine what it means to be an interdisciplinary academic museum in the 21st century.