The President’s Symposium on Research Impact and Policy Leadership is a new symposium which will spotlight the University’s extraordinary contributions to research, innovation, and public service, with a focus on scholarship that shapes policy, strengthens communities, and advances the public good. The event will celebrate faculty from Regional Campuses, Schools, Colleges and select Centers whose work extends beyond the institution to create meaningful, real-world impact across Michigan and around the world.
Each participating unit will present one project aligned with at least one of the Look to Michigan strategic plan pillars:
- Life-Changing Education
- Human Health and Well-Being
- Democracy, Civic, and Global Engagement
- Energy, Climate Action, Sustainability, and Environmental Equity
- Advanced Technology
Exhibits will highlight how research and scholarship translate into tangible benefits for society through posters, demonstrations, and brief multimedia presentations designed to engage attendees and tell the story of impact.
The President’s Symposium on Research Impact and Policy Leadership is an opportunity to connect faculty, leaders, and partners across the University, celebrate exemplary work, and reaffirm our shared commitment to serving the public good through discovery, innovation, and leadership.
Dearborn Campus, College of Engineering and Computer Science
Pillar: Energy, Climate Action, Sustainability and Environmental Equity
Project: Closing the Loop: Secondary Life Battery Energy Storage Systems for Grid Applications and Recycling
At the University of Michigan–Dearborn, researchers are testing large-scale second-life EV batteries as grid storage—linking reuse, smart grids and advanced recycling to deliver clean, resilient energy while reducing mining, emissions and costs.
School of Dentistry
Pillar: Human Health and Well Being
Project: Smiles for Life: Advancing Non-Invasive Solutions to Stop Childhood Tooth Decay
A study of 38% silver diamine fluoride—a painless, low-cost dental treatment for young children—providing FDA approval data and empowering professionals to stop cavities and pain in diverse settings.
College of Engineering
Pillar: Advanced Technology
Project: Center for Complex Particle Systems (COMPASS)
Building on UM discoveries in nanostructures and networks, the Center for Complex Particle Systems (COMPASS) connects experts worldwide to create cutting-edge materials for energy, transportation, and health—while training the next generation of STEM leaders.
School for Environment and Sustainability
Pillar: Energy, Climate Action, Sustainability and Environmental Equity
Project: Global Center for Climate Change and Transboundary Waters (GCTW)
The Global Center for Climate Change and Transboundary Waters advances accessible data, models, and policy-relevant research—modernizing water governance and guiding sustainable, climate-resilient management of shared water resources worldwide.
Flint Campus, College of Arts, Sciences and Education
Pillar: Democracy, Civic and Global Engagement
Projects: Cracks in the Pavement: Cultures of Democracy in Flint
Cracks in the Pavement supports community-engaged coursework that documents and elevates Flint’s everyday democratic culture—connecting classrooms with community learning to recognize, strengthen, and sustain civic life.
School of Information
Pillar: Advanced Technology
Project: DISCO: Designing Intelligent Spaces for Collaboration
DISCO explores how to design intelligent spaces for collaboration using GenAI. We experiment with different user interfaces to experience GenAI agents as active collaborators, not just tools.
Institute for Social Research
Pillar: Human Health and Well Being
Project: Health and Retirement Study
The Health and Retirement Study provides decades of cutting-edge, publicly available data on aging, supporting research, policy, and innovation to address the challenges of a rapidly aging population. HRS is the largest and most comprehensive nationally representative panel study of Americans over age 50.
School of Kinesiology
Pillar: Human Health and Well Being
Projects: Moving More to Improve Cardiovascular & Brain Health
The Roybal Center at the School of Kinesiology translates basic discoveries about motivation and behavior change into real-world tools to improve physical activity adherence and enhance cognitive function.
Law School
Pillar: Democracy, Civic and Global Engagement
Project: MDefenders
Founded in 2014, MDefenders is a faculty-led initiative that trains practice-ready, resilient public defenders, advances evidence-based reform, and strengthens indigent defense nationwide through education, mentorship, scholarship, and national partnerships.
Life Sciences Institute
Pillar: Human Health and Well Being
Project: Michigan Drug Discovery
Michigan Drug Discovery is a university-wide collaboration to find, fund, and facilitate drug discovery projects from U-M labs and to accelerate those discoveries toward the clinic.
College of Literature, Science, and the Arts
Pillar: Life Changing Education
Project: Detroit River Story Lab
The Detroit River Story Lab partners with regional organizations to build community storytelling capacity through innovative, research-based initiatives in local journalism, public heritage, and place-based education.
Marsal Family School of Education
Pillar: Life Changing Education
Project: Detroit P–20 Partnership
The Detroit P–20 Partnership unites research, teaching, and practice in a partnership with Detroit Public Schools—supporting children, educators, and future learning leaders through integrated, community-based education and evidence-driven information.
Medical School
Pillar: Human Health and Well Being
Project: Overdose Prevention Engagement Network (OPEN)
OPEN reduces substance use harm by providing education and resources to individuals and communities. Our person-centered programs transform clinical practice and expand treatment access, successfully saving lives across the state.
School of Music, Theatre & Dance
Pillar: Life Changing Education
Project: U-M Symphony Band State of Arts Tour of Michigan
The U-M Symphony Band relaunched a statewide tour, delivering concerts, clinics, and mentorship that strengthened arts education, inspired young musicians, and reconnected the university with students, educators, and families across Michigan.
School of Nursing
Pillar: Human Health and Well Being
Project: AI Consulting Agent Project
The AI Consulting Agent delivers fast, ethical, and explainable access to healthcare knowledge—empowering clinicians, policy-makers, and patients, while bridging the digital divide and protecting user privacy.
College of Pharmacy
Pillar: Human Health and Well Being
Project: Advocates for Universal DPD / DPYD Testing
The Advocates for Universal DPD/DPYD Testing (AUDT) combines research expertise and patient advocacy to expand pre-treatment DPYD genetic testing, that has driven FDA and clinical guideline updates recommending testing before initiating 5-FU chemotherapy for all patients.
School of Public Health
Pillar: Human Health and Well Being
Project: From Evidence to Regulation: Michigan’s CAsToR Shaping Tobacco Policy Nationwide
The University of Michigan–led Center for the Assessment of Tobacco Regulations (CAsToR) uses advanced data analysis and simulation modeling to assess the population impact of major federal and state tobacco control policies.
Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy
Pillar: Human Health and Well Being
Project: Rx Kids
Rx Kids is the nation’s first community-wide, unconditional prenatal and infant cash prescription program—providing direct monthly support during pregnancy and early infancy to improve health, stability, and long-term outcomes statewide.
Rackham Graduate School
Pillar: Life Changing Education
Project: Rackham Program in Public Scholarship: Public Scholarship Grants
Rackham Public Scholarship Grants fund collaborative, community-engaged research—enabling graduate students to apply their expertise alongside partners to advance the public good in Michigan and around the world.
Ross School of Business
Pillar: Life Changing Education
Project: Detroit Neighborhood Entrepreneurs Project
The Detroit Neighborhood Entrepreneurs Project deploys U-M students to work as professional service providers for 300 Detroit businesses/year providing free business strategy, accounting, technology, legal, and design advice and implementation.
School of Social Work
Pillar: Human Health and Well Being
Project: Peaceful Means (Wahwala Iyohlogya)
Through Peaceful Means, an Indigenous co-led initiative at U-M, researchers and Lakota leaders deliver culturally grounded, empowerment-based prevention. Proven effective, the program is expanding to meet growing Tribal demand nationwide.
Stamps School of Art and Design
Pillar: Democracy, Civic and Global Engagement
Project: Creative Campus Voting Project
The Creative Campus Voting Project is a nonpartisan initiative exploring the power of design to clarify the voting process, address critical knowledge gaps and support new voters—helping students build confidence, participate fully, and stay engaged in civic life.
Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
Pillar: Energy, Climate Action, Sustainability and Environmental Equity
Project: Passive Cooling Strategies for Self-Built Housing: Linking Design Research and Community Knowledge to Reduce Heat-Related Health Risks
U-M researchers are co-developing low-cost, passive cooling solutions with residents—combining participatory design, building science, and health research to reduce indoor heat, strengthen climate resilience, and inform equitable housing policy.
University of Michigan Center for Innovation (UMCI)
Pillar: Life Changing Education
Projects: Michigan Engineering Zone
Since 2010, the Michigan Engineering Zone (MEZ) delivers hands-on STEM learning, mentorship, and college pathways for Detroit youth—building skills, confidence, and equitable access to postsecondary education and STEM careers.
University of Michigan Library
Pillar: Life Changing Education
Project: Democratizing Access to Knowledge: Library Support for Open Access Publishing
The Library’s Open Access initiatives remove barriers to U-M’s research by making its research freely available to educators, policymakers, and communities worldwide through innovative publishing agreements and platforms.
