Ask the Expert Series: Life Cycle Awareness Discussion with Professor Shelie Mille
Channel: AIC & FAIC
Date: 2021-04-16

Professor Shelie Miller speaks to members of the AIC Sustainability Committee about her life cycle assessment (LCA) research which has led to some surprising findings that challenge and inform our instincts about what is an environmental choice. This is a broad discussion that encompasses both work-place practice and personal decisions. The information presented paints a nuanced picture of all the components that must be considered when thinking about environmental impact as well as what we can do to make sure our environmental choices are truly beneficial.
 
Professor Shelie Miller
Jonathan W. Bulkley Collegiate Professor in Sustainable Systems
Director of the Program in the Environment
Associate Professor at the School for Environment and Sustainability
University of Michigan
 
Professor Miller has a BS in chemistry from Denison University, a masters in civil and environmental engineering from Clarkston University, and a PhD in civil and materials engineering from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
 
Professor Miller's research uses life cycle assessment and scenario modeling to assess the different environmental impacts of good and behaviors. Some of these findings really challenged our environmental instincts (so to speak) and gave us a more nuanced view of what makes a lower impact choice.  Some recent publications on which Professor Miller has been a lead or co author include:
“The Future of Food: Environmental Lessons from E-Commerce”, 
“Five Misperceptions Surrounding the Environmental Impacts of Single-Use Plastic”, and
“Comparison of life cycle environmental impacts from meal kits and grocery store meals”