From my guest commentary in Bridge Magazine: The Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed Clean Power Plan will limit greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector. Under the proposed rule, the EPA will assign each state an emissions reduction target for carbon dioxide, the predominant greenhouse gas. Michigan’s proposed target would be to reduce carbon dioxide emissions […]
Climate policy is innovation policy
My guest column “Climate policy is innovation policy” was published on MLive.com (Michigan newspaper consortium) on December 23, 2014. It seems to have struck a chord – it generated 1,985 comments in the first 24 hours. http://www.mlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/12/guest_column_climate_policy_is.html

Building resilience in St. Vincent and the Grenadines
St. Vincent and the Grenadines is one of the most disaster-prone nations in the world. The changing climate may make these disasters even worse. There is, however, hope in building a nation that is more resilient to storms, floods, earthquakes, and fires; more adaptable to changes in temperature and precipitation patterns; and stronger in the […]
Climate change adaptation in St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Erik Nordman, Ph.D. will be working with the Pan American Development Foundation to create a curriculum in climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction for St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The curriculum will prepare young adults of the Caribbean island nation to build resilient communities in the face of natural disasters and a changing climate. […]
Renewable energy opportunities for Africa
Erik Nordman gave a lecture at Grand Valley State University on the renewable energy opportunities for Africa and some of the Michigan-based companies that are delivering energy services to the region. http://www.lanthorn.com/article/2014/02/gvsu-professor-explores-renewable-energy-options-in-africa
Suggestions for Fulbrighters and others living abroad
Jen and I put together a list of suggestions and “things we wished we had known.” It is specific to our experience as Fulbrighters in Kenya, but anyone studying or living abroad might find it useful. Money and Finance Set aside about 15% of the total grant value for taxes. Set up wire-transfer paperwork at […]

Interview, pictures, and meeting a GVSU alumna in Nairobi
Erik and GVSU alumna Katie Hekstra at Nairobi National Park (with some random kids) It’s been a busy time these last few months, trying to wrap up projects before we leave in July. It’s hard to believe we’ll be back in Michigan in 3 weeks. Here are a few things we’ve been up to. I […]

More student pictures from field trip
Here are more pictures of students from the field trip. Click on the image to see a larger picture. If anyone would like high-quality copies, just ask and I will send them to you.

Student Field Trip to Western Kenya
The 3rd year environmental studies students traditionally take an extended field trip touring the western part of Kenya including the northern Rift Valley, Lake Victoria, Kakamega Forest, and Lake Bogorio. I was invited to tag along on this year’s trip. We started our journey at lunchtime on Monday, after the students had completed their last […]

Digging out the termite mound
I heard the workers in our backyard, but I assumed they were chopping up the tree stump left over from last week’s felling. After about an hour, I looked out and noticed they were digging up our termite mound. Yes, our house has a “proper termite mound” as our English biologist friend Harry put it. […]