Students at UW–Madison will have expanded opportunities to explore the intersection of sustainability and entrepreneurship, thanks to a catalytic philanthropic investment of $660,000 in the Green Fund from alumnus Jim Weinert ’67, MBA ’69.
News
Nora Álvarez-Berríos MS’01
Nora Álvarez-Berríos grew up surrounded by nature in the Puerto Rican mountain town of Aibonito.
Steven Lawry PhD ‘88
Long before Steven Lawry became an international leader in land rights and environmental governance, his career hinged on a phone call that changed everything.
Ken Conca MS’85
As a boy, Ken Conca fished for quahogs — large, hardshell clams — along the coast of Narragansett Bay.
Rob Beattie ’81
When most people retire, they get a lovely card signed by their colleagues.
Vaishnavi Tripuraneni PhD’22
Vaishnavi Tripuraneni has a habit of asking a simple question: What do students need to succeed?
Yun Hang MS’16, PhD’20
You could say that the University of Wisconsin–Madison was influential in Yun Hang’s life.
Lauren Jorgensen ’19
When major federal policy announcements make headlines, Lauren Jorgensen isn’t just reading the news — she’s preparing Colorado’s response.
Becky Goldberg ’15
Sometimes, the most important career decisions begin with a simple question.
Conservation Defined
If you thought you knew the definition of conservation, think again.
Nelson Institute Magazine Receives International Award
CASE has named the recipients of its 2026 Circle of Excellence Award winners, honoring outstanding work in educational advancement from institutions around the world.
Nelson Institute Announces 2026 Alumni Award Winners
If you look closely, you can find Nelson Institute alumni working in nearly every field and sector you can think of.
Tia Nelson recognized at UW–Madison’s spring 2026 commencement
On Friday, May 8, conservation leader and Nelson Institute board member emerita Tia Nelson was recognized with an honorary doctorate at the UW–Madison spring 2026 commencement ceremony.
Rebecca Larson Receives Vilas Mid-Career Investigator Award
Rebecca Larson is among 18 faculty members to receive the Vilas Mid-Career Investigator Award, which recognizes excellence in research and teaching and provides three years of flexible research funding.
Holly Gibbs Elected to American Academy of Arts & Sciences
Holly Gibbs, the Gaylord A. Nelson Distinguished Chair in Integrated Environmental Studies and professor in the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, was one of five University of Wisconsin–Madison faculty members elected to the newest cohort of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences.
Celebrate Earth Day with These Eight Free, Arts-Based Events
Looking for fun and free ways to celebrate Earth Day this year?
Celebrate Earth Day with These Nine Family Friendly Events
Looking for fun, free, family friendly ways to celebrate Earth Day in Madison this year?
Meet Computer Sciences: Our Home Away from Home
The Nelson Institute is going on the road — and we’re taking you with us!
EAP Graduate Students Connect with Policy and Tech Giants
In March 2026, a delegation from the Nelson Institute shared an amazing two days in San Francisco and Palo Alto, California.
Tia Nelson to be awarded honorary degree from UW–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison will award an honorary doctor of science degree to Tia Nelson, a globally recognized advocate for environmental stewardship and sustainability, at its spring commencement ceremony.
Inside the Graduate Classroom: Conservation Planning Environmental Studies 972
The course helps future conservation leaders make informed decisions, drive change, and effectively collaborate with stakeholders to work on solutions together.
A Comprehensive Look at Wisconsin’s Climate-Change Outlook
The Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts (WICCI), a nationally recognized collaboration of scientists and stakeholders working together to help Wisconsin policymakers and citizens understand the impacts of climate change, has released an assessment report that outlines the latest climate impacts and solutions.
RISE-EARTH Lead and Headquarters Announced
Chris Kucharik, professor of plant and agroecosystem sciences and investigator with the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies and the Wisconsin Energy Institute (WEI), has been chosen to lead the RISE-EARTH Collaboration Headquarters (HQ).
Dean Paul Robbins receives lifetime achievement award
Through its annual AAG Honors, the American Association of Geographers recognized Nelson Institute Dean Paul Robbins with its Lifetime Achievement Honors.
Nelson Institute Researchers to Explore Sustainable Development of Data Centers with QTS Partnership
On Friday, November 14, the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies announced a research partnership with QTS Data Centers (QTS).