Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies
University of Wisconsin–Madison

WRM@60

A Legacy of Ripple Effects

Water resources management program at 60For six decades, the Nelson Institute’s water resources management (WRM) program has empowered students to become collaborative, systems-thinking leaders — tackling complex water challenges across Wisconsin and beyond.

WRM@60 is your chance to reconnect with the program and fellow alumni, share your stories, and build the future of this one-of-a-kind program. Whether you’re one of the first graduates or a current student, we invite you to be part of the celebration.

Stay in the loop

Update your contact info, share memories or photos, volunteer to mentor current students, and more. We’re trying to reach members from all 50 cohorts — will you help us?

WRM Through the Years

From muddy fieldwork to memorable practicums, WRM alumni have made their mark on water and each other.

WRM students Alayne Kulp and Madilyn Marti examine sedge meadow vegetation in the wetland near Fancy Creek, following a modified Rapid Floristic Quality Assessment (RFQA) protocol. Photo by Norman Arif Muhammed
WRM student German Gonzalez and instructor Ed Boswell conducting field work on Koshkonong Creek in Summer 2023. Photo by Bryce Richter / UW–Madison
Parr (right) and his fellow WRM students tour the Coon Creek Watershed for their project on flood resilience. Photo credit: Eric Booth
Students touring the Coon Creek Watershed with Monroe County Conservationist Bob Micheel in 2019. Photo by Eric Booth
Winkelman and his WRM group install rain gardens in the Madison area. Photo by James Winkelman
WRM students Thea Showalter and Jake Pinion assist practicum project lead Mike Miller in taking a kickboot sample for macroinvertebrates present in Fancy Creek. Photo by WRM student Norman Arif Muhammad

WRM@60 Events

Weston Roundtable

Thursday, Sept. 18, 4:15–5:15 p.m.
1153 Mechanical Engineering, 1513 University Avenue, Madison

Kick off the WRM@60 festivities with a special Weston Roundtable Lecture, cohosted by the Nelson Institute’s environmental professional program and the Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment. Speaker information coming soon.

This event is free and open to the public; no registration is required.

Rendezvous on the Terrace

Thursday, Sept. 18, 5–7:30 p.m.
Tripp Commons, Memorial Union, 800 Langdon Street, Madison

Join Nelson Institute alumni and friends for a reception at Memorial Union. You’ll also have the chance to meet our 2025 alumni award recipients, who will be honored at the event.

This event is free and open to all Nelson Institute alumni and friends, as well as our graduating seniors. Registration is required (coming soon).

WRM@60

Friday, Sept. 19, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
Frank Holt Center, 1650 Kronshage Drive, Madison

Join us for a day of panels, networking, site visits, and more. This event is only open to alumni of the water resources management program.

Details coming soon.

About the Water Resources Management Program

Since 1965, WRM has trained future water leaders through a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach. Students gain real-world experience working in teams on practicum projects that serve communities, agencies, and ecosystems.

With coursework spanning ecology, policy, hydrology, and planning, WRM prepares graduates to understand water at every depth — and to face the complexities of managing this critical natural resource.

Learn more about the program

Meet Our Students and Alumni