Turning Passion into Progress
When Tiffany Clark first started as an undergraduate student, she didn’t plan on majoring in environmental studies.
Six Things You Didn’t Know about Flamingos
On a fall day on campus, you might see sandhill cranes wading in the Lakeshore Nature Preserve, house sparrows cleaning up by the food carts on Library Mall, and if you’re lucky, maybe even a pair of canvasbacks floating along the Lake Mendota shoreline.
Illustrating Prairie Ecology
While attending the Rhode Island School of Design for her undergraduate degree, Liz Anna Kozik became very aware of the fact that she was a Midwesterner on the East Coast.
Can’t-Miss Moments from Rendezvous 2024
Rendezvous on the Terrace, the annual gathering for alumni of the Nelson Institute, looks a lot different today than when it started.
Al Ritmo de la Confianza
“Este es un lugar al que realmente pertenezco”. Así se sentía Gloria Castillo Posada durante su infancia en Bogotá, Colombia.
The Speed of Trust
“This is a place I belong.” That’s how Gloria Castillo Posada felt as a girl growing up in Bogotá, Colombia.
Selling the Dream
It’s Friday night in Washington, DC’s Anacostia neighborhood. Laura Miller is outside washing her car as a neighbor stops by the yard to borrow a few hand tools.
Connect, Adapt, and Thrive
Anna Weinberg has called many different habitats home. From the rolling hills of rural Georgia to the towering mountains of Montana, she can adapt and thrive just about anywhere.
Scientific Service Provider
Naomi Louchouarn never wanted to work with water. In fact, during her master’s coursework in California where “every project was focused on either the ocean or the lack of water,” she says, “I was actively fighting working on anything water related.”
Confidence in Uncertainty
“You need to talk to Tracey Holloway,” Nelson Institute Dean Paul Robbins told Jeff Rudd.
Protect and Preserve
In Nam Et-Phou Louey National Park in northern Laos, a boat of tourists quietly floats down the Nam Nern River.
On Time
If you get the chance to chat with Curt Meine, the man who’s become more or less synonymous with Aldo Leopold, you may be inclined to pepper him with “What would Leopold think about…” questions.
Nelson Institute Announces 2024 Alumni Award Winners
More than 6,000 Nelson Institute alumni work in government, business, and nonprofit organizations, applying their knowledge and skills to make the world a better and more sustainable place.
The Storytelling Side of Science
Surrounded by mangoes, Nyal Mueenuddin remembers his childhood as fun, sweet, and sticky.
Profiting Sustainably
In Kyle Tanger’s playbook, the best defense is a good offense.
An On-Track Diversion
If Travis Blomberg is successful, only 10 percent of UW–Madison’s waste will end up in a landfill.
EC Graduate and Board of Visitors Member Helps connect People to Urban Green Spaces
Hidden among the pavement and large buildings of many urban areas are small but sacred green spaces. From a young age Angélica Sánchez-Mora was able to appreciate both urban and rural living. Now, she works to help connect those living in urban spaces to the slices of nature around them.
A Welcome Return
Caitlin Williamson’s connection with the Nelson Institute runs deep, having graduated with the very first cohort of students to complete the environmental conservation (EC) master’s degree in 2015.
All Risk, All Reward
When Martha Goodell sat down in Science Hall for her first class as a Nelson Institute graduate student, she did as any new student would do — chatted with the person sitting next to her.
Alpha Advocate
As a kid, Francisco Santiago-Ávila had a plan to become a priest.
And the Award Goes to …
Nearly 5,000 Nelson Institute alumni work in government, business, and nonprofit organizations, applying their knowledge and skills to make the world a better and more sustainable place.
A Rendezvous to Remember
It was a night to remember as the Nelson community gathered for the first in-person Rendezvous event since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
Creating a Cleaner Future
Sustainability came into Ashok Sarkar PhD’97’s consciousness on a roof on a New Delhi summer night.
Sharing Credit Where Credit Is Due
When Robert Ribe was 17 years old, his mother handed him a book.
The Connector
Margaret Krome finds connections everywhere.
Leave No Trace
Every summer, typically at the start of August, downtown Madison’s sidewalks transform into junkyards — or, perhaps, thrift stores for the Hippie Christmas devout.
From the Catbird Seat
Megan’s special place was a tree. It was a big, old elm in Warner Park, where she spent the afternoons with Bird Buddies, her after-school group.
In the Shadow of the Old
“We’re building the new in the shadow of the old,” Keefe Keeley MS’14, PhD’21 mused as we meandered about the fields and woodlands of the Savanna Institute’s North Farm, five miles from Spring Green, Wisconsin.
WRM alumnus Jackson Parr is working to improve flood resilience planning in Wisconsin
As a journalist in Northeastern Wisconsin, Nelson Institute alumnus Jackson Parr often found himself writing about flooding and water quality issues.
New research by Nelson Institute Environment and Resources alum explores food choices and climate impact
Nelson Institute Environment and Resources alumna Clare Bassi led a new study, which was published recently in the Journal of Cleaner Production, as a master’s student.
A quarter century of leadership in the private sector reinforces the value of Nelson degrees for alumni duo
For alumni Binks and Judy Colby-George, the Nelson Institute is where it all began.
Alumnus Reynaldo Morales promotes environmental education and indigenous rights
Implementing strategic ways that universities can promote sustainable education, action, and social justice is a primary goal for Nelson Institute alumnus, Reynaldo Morales.
From internship to full-time position, WRM graduate continues hydrology work at USGS
Growing up in Vilas County, Wis., Water Resources Management (WRM) graduate Robert Rosner said his interests have always revolved around being outdoors.
Board of Visitors member Ashley Lee works to expand environmental justice opportunities
The Nelson Institute strives to be an inclusive community working to identify equitable and socially just environmental solutions.
WRM alumna coordinates flood resilience and mitigation efforts in Green Bay watershed
Nelson Institute alumna Kayla Wandsnider is taking an environmental approach to urban planning.
Nelson Institute E&R alumna improves global food security through data science
Using satellite data to expand sustainable farming is just one of the ways that Nelson Institute alumna Aparna Phalke is helping to improve global food security.
Nelson Institute alumnus John Francis featured in the New York Times
The work of John H. Francis III, a Nelson Institute emeritus Board of Visitor member, alumnus, and 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award winner, is featured in the recent New York Times article, “Who gets left out of the ‘Great Outdoors’ story?”
“Linking knowledge to action:” the motto for EOI alumna while completing her MS degree
“Linking knowledge to action.” This is the phrase Environmental Observation and Informatics (EOI) graduate Grace Stonecipher says is the embodiment of her time at the Nelson Institute.
International student overcomes challenges on her way to completing the Environmental Conservation MS
From her career as a veterinarian specializing in animal behavior to the development of the Public Policy of Animal Welfare and the direction of a government entity to protect animals in Bogotá, Liliana Rodríguez has …
Vijay Limaye named a Rising Star Alumni Award recipient
Making the climate crisis more tangible, relatable, and local is an urgent goal for Nelson Institute alumnus, Vijay Limaye.
Linda Vakunta named a Rising Star Alumni Award recipient
From the heartland of the United States to the heart of sub-Saharan Africa, Nelson Institute alumna Linda Vakunta is leading efforts to improve environmental education and prepare the next generation of leaders.
Jessica Price named a Rising Star Alumni Award recipient
As cities move to increase renewable energy usage and sustainability, Nelson Institute alumna and Rising Star Alumni Award winner Jessica Price is leading the way.
Dan York named a Distinguished Alumni Award recipient
With more than 30 years of experience researching, analyzing, and implementing energy efficiency policies and programs, Nelson Institute Distinguished Alumni Award winner Dan York has seen the industry rapidly change and grow.
Nelson Institute alumna named Madison’s new sustainability and resilience manager
Jessica Price is graduate of the Nelson Institute Conservation Biology and Sustainable Development MS program and the Environment and Resources PhD program.
Nelson Institute alumna fights climate change with data science
Using data for meaningful environmental impact is at the heart of Nelson Institute alumna Lea Shanley’s work.
Nelson alumna helps to clean the bay
The walleye have returned and the shores of Green Bay, Wis. are cleaner, thanks in part to the work of Nelson Institute alumna, Julia Noordyk. As the water quality and coastal communities specialist for the …
EOI alumna now working for NASA’s DEVELOP program
From completing her master’s in Environmental Observation and Informatics (EOI) to working for the Digital Earth Virtual Environment and Learning Outreach Project (DEVELOP) program at NASA, Paxton LaJoie made her dreams of working with remote …
Nelson alumna is helping to address the human-wildlife conflict
Each year, a few of the world’s 808 whooping cranes are shot and killed. Considered critically endangered, these deaths generally occur in areas of the country where individuals are unfamiliar with the large, white and …
Alumna at the forefront of wildlife-transmitted disease research
From understanding the viral spillover risk of diseases like coronavirus to research on the health of great apes, Nelson Institute alumna Sarah H. Olson is at the forefront of some of today’s most pressing environmental …
Environmental Conservation alumnus brings natural climate solutions to the forefront of the climate change discussion
Sharing the benefits of natural climate solutions is at the heart of Nelson Institute alumnus Nathan Henry’s work, but it wasn’t long ago that he had an entirely different career. For most of his career, …
Nelson Institute grad combines research, tribal traditions in wolf relationship plan
Nelson Institute Environment and Resources graduate Abi Fergus (MS ‘20) is being recognized for her work as the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa wildlife specialist. Fergus worked the job while attending school full-time, but …
Nelson alumna awarded Distinguished Service Award by the North American Regional Association of the International Association for Landscape Ecology
Nelson Institute alumna Jessica Price will be awarded the 2021 Distinguished Service Award by the North American Regional Association of the International Association for Landscape Ecology (IALE-NA). Price, who graduated from the Nelson Institute with …
Center for Ecology and Environment Symposium keynote speaker is UW alumna
The Nelson Institute Center for Ecology and Environment will host its 2021 Spring Symposium on April 27-28. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Elena Bennett, a research chair in Sustainability Science at McGill University in Quebec. …
Tatiana Satchivi studies soundscapes to protect biodiversity
A graduate of the Environmental Observation and Informatics (EOI) program, she studies soundscapes to understand the effects of selective logging in tropical forests on biodiversity.
Nelson institute alumna and author Heather Shumaker shares advice with professional students
After more than twenty years of experience in land conservation and a career that spans many disciplines, Nelson Institute alumna Heather Shumaker has gained a unique perspective on environmental challenges. It’s a perspective that she shares through …
Nelson Institute alumna working with Google, LinkedIn and Project Drawdown to create powerful climate change solutions
Nelson Institute alumna, Elizabeth Bagley, is at the forefront of developing sustainability and climate change solutions by connecting the public to the world of complex ecosystems.
Nelson Institute alumnus connecting environment and community with Iowa DNR
For Nelson Institute alumnus Steve Hopkins, pursuing a career in environmentalism was an easy choice. Hopkins grew up learning about animals, gardening, and the outdoors from his grandparents who had a cattle farm in Missouri. He credits his grandparents with introducing him to his passion and ultimately leading him to his current position with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Recent Nelson grad follows passion for people, sustainability, and the planet
Nelson Institute alumna Jackie Millonzi’s passion for sustainability began as a freshman in high school, when she took a humanities course that opened her eyes to major environmental issues such as pollution and climate change. …
Alumna leads the way with Conservation Standards
As a senior researcher at the Research Center for Endangered Species National Institute of Ecology in the Republic of Korea, Nelson Institute alumna Anya Lim works on a wide variety of conservation planning projects. Whether the project …
Alumnus continues to be inspired by Nelson Institute experience decades after graduation
Throughout his career, Nelson Institute alumnus Warren Buchanan has continued to pursue an interdisciplinary approach to science. A lesson he says he learned during his time as a graduate student with the Nelson Institute in …
Nelson alumnus devotes nearly three decades to protecting vital water resources
Steve Jann was a senior at the University of Michigan when he first discovered his passion for water. As an undergraduate studying natural resources, he enrolled in an aquatic ecology course where he had the …
Visualizing the environment
As a Geospatial Software Engineer with the Pacific Wildland Fire Sciences Laboratory, Nelson Institute graduate Stuart Illson turns data into models and tools that help scientists to better understand forest fires, smoke, air quality, and so much …
Nelson Institute alumni working to create a bright future for solar power
As cities and states move to increase renewable energy usage, two Nelson Institute alumni will be leading the way on Long Island. August Schultz, Environmental Observation and Informatics (EOI) alumnus, and Jessica Price, Conservation Biology …
An algorithm for understanding conservation agriculture
According to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture and Consumer Protection (DATCP), Wisconsin is home to 64,793 farms on 14.3 million acres. Of those acres, it’s estimated that about six percent are utilizing conservation agriculture methods …
Nelson Institute alumna expands community conservation efforts around the globe
From the lush rainforests of Napo Province, Ecuador to the golden shores of Coron Island in the Philippines, Nelson Institute alumna, April Sansom has traveled the world to work with communities on land rights and …
Environmental conservation alumna uses her diverse background to expand landscape conservation design
Along the bike paths of Iowa, mixed in with the lush green grass and the wildflowers, is the unassuming, but essential milkweed plant. The host plant of Monarch Butterflies, this green, leafy vegetation has been …
Alumna Utilizes Nelson Institute Open Standards Training to Improve Conservation Efforts Around the Globe
During her 15-year career in communications and media production, Nelson Institute alumna Marika Suval developed an acute awareness of the planet’s growing environmental problems. Whether reporting for public radio on environmental policies or highlighting the …
Emmanuel Urey’s Educational Experiences Help Him Become a Leader in Liberian Education and Land Rights Reform
Growing up in a rural, Liberian village during wartime made it difficult for Emmanuel Urey to secure an education. From a young age, he dreamed of attending school, but he didn’t have the opportunity until …
