Improving roads, dealing with PFAS chemicals in drinking water and improving shipping and managing environmental impacts through the Soo Locks will bring together local officials and university researchers as Michigan’s University Research Corridor (URC) continues its Infrastructure Innovation Tour.
The URC kicked off the 2018-2019 tour after releasing the report on the contributions the three universities that make up the URC — Michigan State University, the University of Michigan and Wayne State University — make on infrastructure improvement in the state. Noting that infrastructure is the foundation of our economy and essential to our health and welfare, the URC reported that faculty and students conducted over $1.64 billion in infrastructure research from 2012-2016.
URC researchers tackle big infrastructure challenges in water, mobility, energy and communications, automated and connected vehicles, advancing the Internet of Things and developing renewable energy resources.
The Tour unites legislators and community leaders with researchers from the three URC universities to discuss ways to work together to improve the infrastructure we use for transportation, moving goods and services, and accessing drinking water.
Discussions held last year in Monroe and Sanilac County covered water quality and rural broadband access.
In April, the tour meets in Sterling Heights to discuss better ways to make roads, and in Kalamazoo to discuss how best to deal with PFAS in drinking water.
The URC convenes in Sault Ste. Marie in May to focus on the Soo Locks and the research being done to improve shipping and commerce and manage environmental impacts.
A final summer session in Detroit will look at how research drives action across the state. Visit the URC website for the full Infrastructure Innovation Report and more details about the Infrastructure Innovation Tour.
More details about upcoming stops:
Kalamazoo: PFAS & Water Monday, April 29, 2019 | 10:00 AM Southwest Michigan First | 261 E. Kalamazoo Ave., #200, Kalamazoo, MI 49007
Sault St. Marie: Soo Locks & Shipping/Commerce Tuesday, May 28, 2019 | 11:00 AM Walker Cisler Center at LSSU | 650 W. Easterday Ave., Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783
Previous stops:
Sterling Heights: Roads Monday, April 8, 2019 | 9:00 AM Velocity, 6633 18 Mile Road, Sterling Heights, MI 48314
