Lewis “Lew” Hanson, UW–Madison alumnus and devoted supporter of the Nelson Institute, passed away on November 23, 2022, at the age of 90.
The Commons
Introducing the Stephen Born Scholarship
When it comes to Wisconsin conservation and water management, few names are more synonymous than Stephen Born.
Q & A: Meet Hannah Zanowski
If you have ever asked yourself the question “What’s really going on in the ocean,” Assistant Professor Hannah Zanowski has the answers for you.
CEE Fall Symposium
When Sarah Ensor was invited to open the Center for Ecology and the Environment (CEE)’s 2022 Fall Symposium, she accepted with a disclaimer: “What I would have to say as a literary scholar, environmental humanist, and queer theorist, would undoubtedly sound like it was coming out of left field,” joked Ensor, a Nelson affiliate and assistant professor of English, in her opening remarks.
Director’s Cut
I’m grateful for the opportunity to reintroduce myself as the director of the Center for Ecology and the Environment (CEE), the newest research center in the Nelson Institute.
Creating A Buzz for Mosquito Hill Nature Center
On a brisk October afternoon, a group of University of Wisconsin–Madison students set out on three miles of trails winding through Mosquito Hill Nature Center to fully experience the outdoor community resource in Outagamie County.
UW Establishes Rural Partnership Institute
The Nelson Institute’s Center for Climatic Research (CCR) will be partnering on a new initiative to support Wisconsin’s rural communities.
Adapting to Evolving Climate Challenges in Wisconsin
WICCI’s Community Sustainability Working Group addresses challenges and shares recommendations.
Operation Wisconsin Idea
On Wednesday, Dec. 14, Bascom Hall hosted an intriguing trio: leaders from UW–Madison leadership, the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, and the United States Department of Defense (DOD).
2022 Year in Review
Take a look back at some of our favorite moments of 2022.
In Their Words: UW Undergrads on Environmental Issues
The first weeks of each UW–Madison fall semester are alive with activities, fairs, and events.
When the River Runs Dry in Lusitu, Zambia
Their parents were forcibly displaced by a colonial dam project in 1958. Now, the residents of Lusitu, Zambia, rely on traditional knowledge to grow food in the face of climate change.
The Resilience of Mallards, and Us
Allyson Mills, an environmental studies certificate student, was one of three winners of the Office of Sustainability’s inaugural Sustainability Writing Awards.
Farm-to-Table, UW-to-Community
Students in Nelson Institute PhD candidate Jules Reynolds’ capstone course have had the unique opportunity to make a difference in their local community.
The Next Chapter
Ford Freyberg is starting a new chapter of his life. Recently married, he began a new job in October and will be moving out west early next year to live in the mountains that he and his wife love being around.
Championing Campus Sustainability
In his four short years at the university, Bennett Artman has taken on a full plate of activities and responsibilities to give back to the environment.
Q & A: Meet James Crall
Have you ever wondered how insects fly? If you have, you’ve got good company in James Crall, Nelson affiliate professor and researcher in the Department of Entomology.
Salt Tips
Did You Know?
It only takes one teaspoon of salt to pollute five gallons of water to a level that is toxic to freshwater organisms, according to Wisconsin Salt Wise.
How the Tropics Work
For years, the prevailing belief among climate scientists was that Earth’s tilt was the primary factor in determining seasonal climate in the tropical Pacific.
STEM, Sustainability, and Scholarship
“I believe the Nelson Institute is the only part of campus that has ever successfully won a National Science Foundation S-STEM grant,” says Rob Beattie, his voice tinged with excitement and pride.
Creating Climate-Resilient Infrastructure
Wisconsin’s changing climate conditions affect the structures and facilities we use daily.
Pass the Salt
UniverCity Year partnership helps Marathon County get less salty.
A Decorated AOS Alumna
UW graduate and former CCR scientist was recently honored with an alumni award.
Everyone’s Earth lecture discusses enslaved people’s mobility
On November 2, the Nelson Institute’s Everyone’s Earth lecture series hosted Dr. Christy Hyman, assistant professor of human geography at Mississippi State University, where she spoke on the intersections of the social, political, and economic costs of enslaved freedom seekers and their journey to liberation.
Back in Bangladesh, EC Alumna Uses New Skills
Traveling from the opposite side of the world, Sumaiya Firoze came to the Nelson Institute determined to grow her conservation knowledge and skills to help her home country of Bangladesh.