Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has gained importance in the recent years, both in terms of methodological research and its application in all sectors of the economy. Assessing impacts of products over their whole life cycle has become a key step for effective improvements towards sustainability.

University of Michigan (U of M) has a unique record of achievements in Life Cycle Research among North American Academic Institutions with more than 20 years of research experience in Life Cycle Inventories, Impact Assessment, Input-Output and Life Cycle Costing applied to a diverse variety of topics for instance sustainable materials, buildings, transportation, energy, food, and consumer products. This research has been carried out throughout several laboratories and schools across the campus including the School of Natural Resources, the School of Public Health, the College of Engineering and the Ross School of Business.

To foster the interaction between U of M researchers and further stimulate the emergence of innovative and interdisciplinary research in life cycle related areas, we invite you to join an intensive interactive ½ day Symposium on Life Cycle Research that will take place on May 31, 2012. Please register, come and present your current research and your ideas for future developments.