Tap-In: Water@UW-Madison News

While a little further afield, we couldn't resist the opportunity to list this talk by Freshwater@UW alum Samantha Krueger and her advisor, Dr. Laodong Guo! Green Bay, the world’s largest freshwater estuary, and Milwaukee Harbor have experienced significant ecological and environmental changes, driven by increased anthropogenic activities and the introduction of invasive species. Designated by EPA as Areas of Concern (AOCs) in the 1980s, both systems provide natural laboratories for assessing long-term pollution trends. This presentation will explore case studies on the depositional history of black carbon (soot), toxic metals (Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Hg, Co, Ni, Cr, and As), and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Green Bay sediments over the past 50-100 years, with comparative insights from Milwaukee Harbor. 3 - 5pm; School for Freshwater Sciences, Sciences Ballroom; 600 E. Greenfield Ave. MILWAUKEE

The Great Lakes of North America were once at much lower water levels, and during these times, people, plants, and animals inhabited shorelines that are now submerged. Underwater archaeological research has revealed that 9,000 years ago people were hunting animals and using stone tools on the Alpena-Amberley Ridge, a feature that now lies 100 feet beneath the waves of Lake Huron. Join Ashley Lemke, an Associate Professor of Anthropology at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, for an overview of her work as an archaeologist on land and underwater. 1 - 2pm; Online. Register here.

Join us for UW–Madison’s 2025 Climate Change Symposium, an annual event that brings together experts and community members alike to explore timely issues in climate science. This year, our keynote and panel discussion will explore climate solutions for building resilient communities — both in the sciences and society. Anna Michalak is giving the keynote. 6:30–8:30 pm; Marquee Cinema, Union South; 1308 W. Dayton St. Register here.

Larry Nesper, Professor Emeritus, Anthropology and American Indian Studies. This presentation is a retrospective of an ethnographic research career at UW–Madison. As an ethnographer interested in the relationship between law, culture, and society, and oriented by a commitment to doing action, public, and collaborative anthropology, Nesper reviews several projects with the tribes in the state of Wisconsin with environmental dimensions. Noon - 1pm; 140 Science Hall; 550 N. Park St.

Kathryn Cottingham, Center for Limnology Kaeser Scholar. 12:05-12:55pm; Water Science and Engineering Lab (2nd floor West) and Zoom.

Join international climate experts for a timely conversation on how countries around the world are advancing climate action and what lessons the United States can learn from their progress.

This event brings together four international experts: Joana Portugal Pereira (Brazil), Steve Smith (UK), Jan Minx (Germany), and Oliver Geden (EU/UN) to share global perspectives on climate policy and action. They will discuss how different countries are approaching climate challenges, what lessons the U.S. 4-5pm; Pyle Center, 702 Langdon St. Register here.

Kathryn Cottingham, Center for Limnology Kaeser Scholar. 3:30-4:30pm; B302 Birge Hall, 430 Lincoln Dr.

The Departments of Integrative Biology and Botany are seeking candidates for a tenure-track faculty position in Aquatic Ecology to join the research group at the Center for Limnology. We especially encourage candidates with expertise in fish and fisheries ecology. Other areas of interest include quantitative ecology, aquatic conservation, aquatic community and ecosystem ecology, aquatic food webs, and limnology. Our goal is to hire an outstanding and interactive scholar with broad research interests and promise for intellectual growth. Applications due Nov. 21.

The Water Quality Laboratory Director is responsible for overseeing the operations, research activities, and strategic direction of the water quality laboratory. This role involves managing laboratory personnel, ensuring high quality analysis and testing of samples, compliance with safety and quality standards, maintaining and upgrading instrumentation, securing funding through grant writing, determining necessary equipment to establish and expand the lab, and fostering collaborative research efforts within and outside the institution. The Director will support faculty, students, and external partners in environmental water quality sample characterization, and the development of techniques for research and development consistent with the goals of the Kansas Water Institute. Applications due Oct 10.

★Postdoctoral Research Scientists (2) - University of Arizona

The School of Natural Resources and the Environment in cooperation with the USDA Southwest Watershed Research Center seeks two postdoctoral-level research scientists for a two-year project to assess the impacts of legacy earthen berms and stock tanks on ecohydrological processes and erosion in the southwestern United States. The findings of this work will be used to develop tools for the NRCS to assist in designing new earthwork projects. We are seeking one scientist with a strong modeling background (remote option) to lead the modeling aspect of this project and one scientist with strong field and data analysis skills to lead the field portion of the project. Potential applications may reach out to Dana Lapides (dana.lapides@usda.gov) or Mitch McClaran (mcclaran@arizona.edu) with questions about the position. Applications will be reviewed starting October 6 and continue until filled.

The student will work collaboratively with Dr. Kevin Wagner and other faculty on a USDA funded project to evaluate the impact of regenerative agricultural practices including cover cropping, crop rotation, no-tillage, and prescriptive grazing on soil, water, crop yields, greenhouse gases, carbon sequestration, and economics. Our goal is to intensify agricultural production while simultaneously maximizing ecosystem. Reach out to Water@UW-Madison for the full call. Respond by sending a cover letter describing research interests and experience, resume or CV, academic writing sample, and the names and contacts for three references to Dr. Kevin Wagner, kevin.wagner@okstate.edu Applications due Nov 15.

Finnancial support to UW-Madison graduate students to do master’s or doctoral thesis research on wild, stream-dwelling Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) or Brown Trout (Salmo trutta), specifically on individual or group behavior in use of natural habitat structure and the processes that form, alter, or destroy it. In all cases, the research must record and interpret data on habitat use by trout. Submit the following in a single email to Tara Mohan, temohan@wisc.edu:

1. Description of the research, highlighting how it fits the eligibility criteria (1,000 words maximum, not including references/citations), 2. Current resume/CV, 3. Letter of recommendation from UW-Madison faculty advisor. Applications due Dec. 1

This position will be essential to the completion of National Marine Sanctuary-Count effort around the Great Lakes. The sanctuary locations include the Thunder Bay, Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast, and Lake Ontario national marine sanctuaries. The Field Interviewer will conduct face-to-face interviewers with coastal visitors as they exit recreation sites.  Interviewers will travel to a variety of, general recreation sites. 6.5-month position. Applications due Nov. 1

The community-based learning course development grant supports the development of new community-based learning courses or the addition of a community-based component. Administered by the Morgridge Center, up to $5K per course is available for new community-based learning courses or current courses that add a community-based learning component. This grant can only be awarded once per course or course section. Deadline extended through Oct 3.

Community-based research is that which is conducted in collaboration with community members to address a community-identified question, with the goal of producing knowledge and social action, change, and/or justice. Up to $5K available per project. In this context, ‘community’ may refer to a specific organization, geographic area, or collection of individuals or grassroots groups with a common goal. Deadline extended through Oct 3.

Are you a STEM grad student or postdoc interested in a career involving teaching or community engagement? Consider applying to be a WISCIENCE Fellow! We offer three immersive, year-long Fellows Programs that equip you to build a career that has a meaningful impact in the classroom or the community. Each program pairs in-depth training in inclusive, evidence-based practices with hands-on experience in a mentored practicum. Apply by Oct. 18

Support for creatives to work in collaboration with a water professional to create art inspired by water research. $300-500 provided to offset artists' purchase of supplies and travel to the spring exhibition. Now accepting applications from creatives UW system-wide. Also accepting applications from water professionals and researchers interested in collaborating with undergraduate artists (no compensation provided). Applications due Oct. 31.

WCMP Grants are available for coastal wetland protection and habitat restoration, nonpoint source pollution control, coastal resource and community planning, Great Lakes education, public access and historic preservation. We anticipate awarding up to $1.3M. Applications due Nov. 3.

We are interested in innovative, ambitious pitches to improve the Great Lakes Ecosystem. GLPF takes a basin-wide view and has decades of experience creating change. Give us a call! Early conversations help us understand your vision for making a transformational impact on the Great Lakes ecosystem. To start, take a look at our list of strategic priorities and read our funding guidelines. They describe what we’re looking for and what we fund. But remember, we’re open to discussing any project with the potential to transform the Great Lakes for the better.

Check the Sustainability Research Hub's curated list of funding opportunities related to environmental sustainability.

Sept. 29-Oct 3. Traverse City, MI and virtual. The 2025 meeting will feature symposia on piping plovers, common terns, and rails; and a workshop on GPS apps; Fun and engaging student events to foster networking and professional development; A welcoming community of passionate scientists and conservationists. Registration extended.

Great Lakes RENEW: Building the Region's Blue Economy (Fall Great Lakes Symposium)

Oct. 14, noon. Join this Freshwater Collaborative webinar with Alaina Harkness, CEO of Current and CEO & PI of Great Lakes RENEW, as she introduces this NSF-funded, six-state initiative reshaping the future of water in our region. Great Lakes RENEW is focused on recovering critical minerals, removing harmful contaminants, and securing our region’s freshwater resources to strengthen supply chains, protect public and environmental health, and fuel economic growth. Register here.

Oct. 27–29 at the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center in Ashland, WI. The theme, “Stronger Together: Linking Land, Water, and People,” will feature presentations, lightning talks, workshops, field trips, and networking opportunities focused on conservation across Wisconsin's Lake Superior Basin. Register here.

Oct. 28-30. Duluth, MN. Our meetings offer an opportunity for Great Lakes stakeholders to convene with colleagues and share perspectives on important Great Lakes issues. Join us as we continue to address issues of common concern, develop shared solutions and collectively advance an agenda to protect and enhance the region’s economic prosperity and environmental health. Registration closes Oct. 20.

Nov. 4; 4-6pm; Wisconsin Institute of Discovery. Present a poster, work of art or interactive display (other ideas welcome too). You are warmly invited to repurpose work or display something we’ve seen before – the purpose of the event is learning, networking, and spending time together as a community – so please, join us! Register by Oct. 15.

Nov. 4-7. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Navigating Change Together: Enhancing Lake, Reservoir, and Watershed Resilience. Registration deadline Oct. 24.

Nov 17; 10am - 2pm. Join us for the second-annual Wisconsin RISE Initiative summit to learn more about the initiative’s progress over the past year and what’s to come in the months ahead. The event will include a plenary session featuring campus leaders followed by breakout sessions on each of the initiative’s three focus areas. The plenary session will include an opportunity for a brief Q&A with campus leadership. If you would like to submit a question for consideration, please submit via this form. We will address as many questions as we are able in the time allotted. Register here.

Oct. 30 - Nov. 1. Columbus, OH. The NDiSTEM Conference is the leading multidisciplinary and multicultural STEM event in the country, a true celebration of science, culture, and community that serves, equips, and energizes participants for their academic and professional paths in STEM. Late registration available through Oct 30.

Dec. 15-19. New Orleans, LA. AGU25: Where Science Connects us. Connections. They link us together. Make us stronger. Help us grow. Give us hope. Move us forward. The Earth and space science community is all about connection. A vibrant hive of research, discovery, action, and solution. Connections twist and move. They pivot unpredictably. They can challenge us, surprise us, and sometimes delight us. From the lab to the field to the ballot box, science depends on connection. At AGU25 we celebrate all the ways we connect. The purpose of what we connect. The power of how we connect. The promise of where we connect. Early registration closes Nov. 6.

Feb 22-27. Glasgow, Scotland. The Ocean Sciences Meeting (OSM) is the flagship conference for the ocean sciences and the larger ocean-connected community. At OSM, attendees from across the globe come together to advance global science, discover the latest research findings, and connect with peers, leading experts, and organizations committed to ocean sustainability.

Feb. 24-26. Baraboo, WI; The annual Wetland Science Conference is a program of Wisconsin Wetlands Association. The conference typically runs for 2-3 days and includes a keynote address, topical oral sessions, a poster session, workshops, working groups, a Wednesday evening networking event, and field trips to area wetlands. Scholarship applications due Jan 12, 2026. Call for abstracts through Nov. 15.

April 15-17. Stevens Point, WI. The 2026 Lakes and Rivers Convention is accepting presentation proposals for its annual conference. This is a student-friendly event! Students are encouraged to present a poster or lightning talk. The event will take place April 15-17 in Stevens Point. Details for submissions are here. 

April 28-29. Champaign, IL and Online. The conference will feature traditional 15-minute presentations and a poster session on the latest in emerging contaminant research, policies, and outreach in the soil, water, and air. In addition, there will be plenty of opportunities for discussion and networking with those interested in all aspects of emerging contaminants in the environment. Registration opens March 2026.

May 12-16. Montreal, Canada. Aquatic Confluence: Science. People. Knowledge. This congress will stimulate exchange of methodological approaches and learning across scales by bringing together scientists from freshwater and marine realms. The many ways these environments intersect will be a focal point, be it through organismal interactions or processes of stratification that underpin biogeochemical states. Furthermore, we wish to evoke connections among scientists as well as with stakeholders and indigenous knowledge keepers in the spirit of codesign to address society’s greatest issues around aquatic habitats and water resources. Abstracts due & early registration ends Nov. 5

A new lunch and learn seminar series hosted by SERA-46. The first seminar focuses on the Upper Basin and features three outstanding early career researchers from Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa. This series showcases innovative solutions from the next generation of water quality scientists - "Emerging Voices, Innovative Solutions." It's a great opportunity to learn about breakthrough research and connect with the broader Mississippi River Basin research community. Oct. 6, noon-1pm. Online. Register here.

Through this challenge, we seek technology solutions and/or new systems, processes or tools for decision making support for water quality addressing any stage of the water cycle related to human consumption, including drinking water and wastewater systems across residential, commercial and utility-scale applications well as their distribution networks. Compete for a top prize of $10,000, opportunity for corporate partnerships, receive corporate experts and feedback. Application deadline is Oct. 10.

Waterpower Club Launch Meeting

We invite you to join us at our club kickoff and networking event. We will provide an introduction to the Waterpower Club and its leadership, pizza and drinks, and opportunities to network with industry experts. email waterpowerwi@gmail.com for more information. Oct. 10, 6-8pm, Room 1115 of the Wisconsin Energy Institute. RSVP here.

NALMS is working to better understand the lake management needs and interests across Latin America. This short survey is part of a broader effort to build stronger, more inclusive relationships between NALMS, CALMS (California Lake Management Society), LAGO (Latin America Global Outreach), and lake-focused organizations throughout the region.Your input will directly inform our outreach strategies and help ensure that NALMS continues to engage diverse voices in meaningful ways.

Open until Nov. 21, 2025

Current’s Third Coast Water Seminar Series is back! Relaunching in Fall 2025, the series returns with a sharpened focus on the research, technologies, and policies advancing a circular water economy both in the Great Lakes region, the broader U.S., and globally. First Wednesday of each month.

Every Wednesday 12:05 - 12:55 in WSEL 2nd floor West and Zoom

Educational talk series open to the public. Approximately monthly at the East Side Club, 3:30-5pm.

Every Tuesday from 1-2 pm in AOSS room 823 or livestreamed

Click here to receive notifications for upcoming webinars.

To subscribe/unsubscribe: Send an email with the word 'subscribe' or 'unsubscribe' in the subject or body to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov

Sept. 24, Oct. 22 and Nov. 19; 1-2pm

Bring your coffee and learn about wetlands! Sessions are held on Zoom and feature time for audience Q&A. Dates vary.

Help out with office work, events, fieldwork, or a group volunteering event. 

We are happy to place volunteers on projects that support our lakes! Opportunities include skilled office and administration assistance, special events, and watershed projects like shoreline restoration or beach clean ups.

Subscribe here.

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