Where can you learn about DIY clothing dyes, sustainable chickpea farming, and insect pets — and find inspiration from live theatre, original music, and ephemeral wildflowers?
The Commons
Poetry, Places, and Partnerships
Sarli E. Mercado is a literary critic, author, and teaching professor at UW–Madison studying the life and work of contemporary Latin American poets.
Spring Symposium
We are pleased to announce the successful conclusion of our recent event, which demonstrated an impressive turnout and diverse participation.
How to: Design Sustainably with Natural Dyes
During last year’s Earth Fest celebration, UW–Madison’s D.C. Smith Greenhouse was adorned with beautiful hangings dyed in all colors of the rainbow.
How to Build Climate Courage
Fill in the blank: It takes courage to ___________.
Healers and Harbingers
Nothing is more universal than the idea of the “end of the world.” From religious revelations to the yearly climate reports, the apocalypse always seems to loom just around the corner.
Trivia Category: Earth Fest Events
When did the first Earth Day take place? What’s the driest place on Earth? What is Wisconsin’s state bird?
The Sound of Science
What makes El Niño important enough to rise to the level of a Schoolhouse Rock analogy?
All Walk, No Talk
On January 18, 1971, two oil tankers, the Arizona Standard and the Oregon Standard, collided in the San Francisco Bay.
Meet Manny Teodoro
Manny Teodoro’s area of expertise can be boiled down to the difference between a hydrated, well-functioning society, and a brutal, post-apocalyptic wasteland where scorching deserts stretch endlessly, rusted remnants of civilization litter the landscape, and lawless marauders clad in scavenged armor battle for dwindling resources amid a backdrop of anarchy, dust storms, and relentless survival.
Embracing Every Opportunity
Anna Staresinic graduates this month with a list of experience ranging from robotics to clothing swaps.
He’s Green
Raines Lucas is an undergraduate student at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, a guitarist in a touring band, and a GLUE researcher.
Lighting the Path Forward
Dorothy Lsoto never imagined she would be earning her doctorate in environment and resources at the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies.
Is It Time to Rethink the Wisconsin Phosphorus Index?
New data suggests that existing standards will fall short.
Where Sustainability Meets Chemistry
“If you want to save the world, be a chemist,” Amy Cannon said to a room of students, faculty, and staff at the Nelson Institute’s Weston Roundtable in late January.
Natural Landscapes Meet Digital Cityscapes
Digital artist Tim Portlock is helping viewers see the bigger picture when it comes to urban spaces.
The American Dream Was Buried in Southern Utah
Read Lily Smogor’s winning essay from the 2024 Sustainability Writing Awards, hosted by the Office of Sustainability.
Sticking with Sustainability
The votes are in! Meet Lia Tabor, the winner of the Nelson Institute’s recent sticker design competition.
Winter on Thin Ice
Coverage, fish, cube, duration. What connects these four words? That’s right, ice!
Charging Toward a Greener Future
What’s the best surge protector on the market? Which portable charger is going to last me the longest? How do I recycle batteries?
Breaking Down Borders
“When I was young, I never walked on roads,” says Induja Gandhiprasad, a graduate student pursuing a master’s degree in environmental conservation.
The Ethics of Conservation Genetics
Across the globe, human activity has led to the rapid decrease in biodiversity.
How to Win Friends and Influence Policy
What do a communication arts major, a consultant, and a professor have in common? They’re all Rob Beattie, a familiar name to anyone who’s come through the Nelson Institute in the past, oh, 20 years or so.
How-To: Salt Wisely
When it’s cold and snowing outside, don’t be so salty.
Celebrating CESP
UW–Madison student Journey Prack is an entomology major who loves cooking.