Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 66.00
Liaison Jonna Korpi
Submission Date Nov. 4, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Minnesota, Duluth
IN-24: Innovation A

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 1.00 Jonna Korpi
Sustainability Activities Coordinator
UMD Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Name or title of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:
Our Climate Futures: Meeting the Challenge in Duluth

A brief description of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome that outlines how credit criteria are met and any positive measurable outcomes associated with the innovation:

In March 2019, UMD hosted a 2-day summit focusing on climate change and where our region is headed. Central to the conference were conversations about future planning and how communities can adapt to climate change in Minnesota.

Sixteen sessions and a keynote address were held over the course of the two days. Panelists included representatives from academia, government, businesses, and community. The keynote was delivered by a Harvard professor who studies climate migration and planning and drew a large crowd from both the local community, university faculty & staff, and students.

This summit was the first of its kind for UMD, both in size and scope, as well as topic and audience. The summit and its content has certainly generated ripple effects throughout the community and pushed climate change planning to the forefront of conversations across Duluth.

The event was an interdisciplinary collaboration between many groups at UMD, being hosted by the UMD Research Scholarship and Creative Activities Committee and Institute on the Environment at UMD, with financial support from the UMD Distinguished Visiting Speakers Series Endowment, University for Seniors, Natural Resources Research Institute, and Minnesota Sea Grant.

The event garnered national press coverage with articles in publications like the New York Times (link to story below) and Newsweek.


Which of the following impact areas does the innovation most closely relate to? (select up to three):
Research
Public Engagement
Air & Climate

A letter of affirmation from an individual with relevant expertise or a press release or publication featuring the innovation :
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The website URL where information about the innovation is available :
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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