The Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies is confronting global environmental challenges through imaginative research that transcends disciplinary boundaries, hands-on education that bridges classrooms and communities, and public programs that foster environmental conversations among people from business, government, academia, and advocacy.
Training Tomorrow's Environmental Leaders
The Nelson Institute values and is committed to a liberal arts and professional education, built on the premise that complex environmental issues can best be understood through familiarity with diverse perspectives, and integration of the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities.

Research That's Changing the World
Research drives the social and technological innovation needed to confront the challenges of a rapidly changing global environment. The Nelson Institute is a catalyst of imaginative research that combines skills and knowledge from the humanities, engineering, business, and law to the biological, physical, health, and social sciences.
We Embrace Diversity
The Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies embraces the critical importance of diversity and strives for a community that is supportive, welcoming, respectful, and inclusive of all individuals. Just as our environmental research, education, and service value a wide range of perspectives, our Nelson community is strengthened by the inclusion of historically marginalized people with a diversity of lived experiences and identities. We are deeply committed to working toward a sustainable future and facilitating culturally sensitive approaches to global environmental issues.
Nelson News and Events
Latest News
Top Podcasts in Earth Observation
November 20, 2023Fostering Native Education Pathways into Conservation
November 20, 2023People, Planet, Profit, and Pizza
November 13, 2023How Satellites — and People — Saved the Chimps
November 7, 2023- Read More News
Upcoming Events
- November
- November 28CPEP SeminarTransition of Tsunami-Like Waves from Basin to Out-Flowing Channel1:00 PM, 823 Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space Sciences Building
- November 28Clearing the Air: Progress and Pitfalls of Carbon Dioxide RemovalForward in Energy Forum4:15 PM, Online
- November 28
- November 30Weston RoundtableOur Carbon Hoofprint: Meat and Climate4:15 PM, 1163 Mechanical Engineering Building
- December
- December 2Lakeshore Nature Preserve Volunteer OpportunityEcological Restoration Work Party9:00 AM, Meet at Frautschi Point parking lot, 2662 Lake Mendota Drive, Madison, 53705
Support the Nelson Institute
The Nelson Institute welcomes and is grateful for various forms of support – discretionary funds for our many programs, internships and mentoring opportunities for students, and introductions to new networks that can help advance our reach and build partnerships around Wisconsin and the world.