UMSI is excited to introduce its first-ever theme year, which will connect students, faculty and staff on a common social issue affecting our local and global communities. 

Water is a vital yet complex resource. The current and forthcoming challenges associated with water — ranging from access and sanitation to conservation and agriculture — are massive and span the globe. We are proud to be part of the Great Lakes region, which contains 90% of all U.S. freshwater, and want to highlight the significance of water to lives and livelihoods here on the pleasant peninsula. 

Each UMSI theme year features special events, theme courses, a theme-specific category at the annual Exposition and funding for students who pursue theme-related projects. UMSI partners with organizations and subject matter experts to promote shared awareness and action.

Courses

Select courses will have a Water Conservation and Access theme that will manifest through client-based projects, accessible data sets or UX-specific situations. 

• SI 305 - Introduction to Information Analysis
• SI 307 - Introduction to User Experience Design
• SI 501 - Contextual Inquiry and Consulting Foundations

Check out the full theme year website for additional information and contact the Engaged Learning Office team at [email protected] with specific questions.

Stories

UMSI launches theme year on water conservation and access

Learn how students are using information science to tackle invasive species in the Great Lakes, inform storm management policy and ensure access to clean drinking water in Michigan.

Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II to deliver keynote talk on water challenges in Michigan

Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II will join the UMSI community to discuss water-related issues facing Michigan communities. His keynote talk comes as part of UMSI’s theme year on water conservation and access.

Water management is challenge of a generation, Lt. Gov. tells UMSI students

Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II gave a keynote talk on Sept. 28 about water infrastructure and access in Michigan, highlighting the important role of information professionals in solving these issues.

8 things Michiganders should know about our drinking water

Time to check your faucet? While drinking water in Michigan is strictly regulated, contamination often occurs at the household level. A few practical tips can keep you safe.

It's raining data: A2 Data Dive returns to UMSI with a fitting theme

Founded in 2011, the data hackathon challenges students to find solutions for local nonprofit organizations. This year was all about water. 

Environmental economist Catherine Louise Kling to speak at 2024 UMSI commencement

Kling is an expert on water quality issues, sustainability and the power of data to make the world a better place.

‘More than a class project’: UMSI Expo features student innovations with social impact

MSI students Alexandra Balmaceda and Nina Chen, who earned first prize in the theme year category, were motivated by increasing access to clean water for the homeless population.

A leak in the system: How UMSI students confronted a statewide septic system crisis

An estimated 31 million gallons of sewage enter Michigan’s groundwater every day from failing septic systems. The real culprit, according to master’s students at UMSI, is a gap in information.

UMSI team wins CHI 2024 Student Design Competition

For an app that improves access to clean water for the homeless population, MSI graduates Alexandra Balmaceda and Nina Chen earned first prize in the global competition. 

A year of water: Snapshots from UMSI's first theme year

From giant goldfish to a behind-the-scenes look at Ann Arbor's water treatment plant, here are our favorite moments from a year that made ripples.