Tap-In: Water@UW-Madison News

We’re dropping a little late this Thursday after a full and energizing day at Water@UW-Madison’s first-ever Water Partnership Workshop. Nine community organizations joined us to share their water-related issues, and together we explored knowledge gaps, exchanged resources, and envisioned new collaborative projects.

The conversations were dynamic and productive, the energy in the room was palpable. One group discussed tradeoffs between organic and conventional farming, another tackled how dam decommissioning processes could better incorporate community knowledge and reshape flood management. We also looked at ways to incorporate culturally-relevant messaging to improve science communication on emerging issues, and we examined the environmental effects of neonicotinoid insecticides. We probed links between urban stormwater practices and trout populations. We worked together to approach ecology through Indigenous frameworks and intergenerational ethics. We considered the cumulative risks of emerging contaminants, and we explored new management pathways for the Madison lakes.

We're excited by the new initiatives born from today’s discussions, and we hope the partnerships forged today will strengthen our collective impact on water sustainability. Thank you to all participants who brought their expertise and vision. What a fun day!

Joel Ferguson, Assistant Professor, Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies. This talk will cover whether changes in violent conflict and economic growth caused by warming could interact to degrade economic opportunities and trap African countries in poverty. Ferguson will provide evidence of an emerging high-conflict and low-growth “poverty trap” equilibrium in Africa and describe theoretically how such an equilibrium could result from warming. He combines historical data on temperature, growth, and conflict with projections from a large ensemble of global climate models to evaluate the risk that warming and subsequent conflict could push African economies into a regime of sustained negative economic growth.

Individual Introductions; Center for Limnology faculty, staff, students and partners.  12:05-12:55pm; Water Science and Engineering Lab (2nd floor West) and Zoom.

Professional development activities targeting early career hydrologists effectively highlight career opportunities within and beyond academia; however, these conversations often overlook the specific needs of early career hydrologists as they embark on their careers. For this year’s Navigating Academic Waters webinar series the AGU Hydrology Section Student Subcommittee is developing a series of webinars to help early career hydrologists identify skill sets for non-academic careers, locate and secure project funding, and explore new data science tools for hydrology. CUAHSI seminar. Noon; Online (register here).

Rich Margerum, Professor of Planning, Public Policy, and Management, University of Oregon (WRM’ 92). Over the past several decades, collaboration has increasingly been used to address complex and difficult environmental problems. In this era of partisanship and demagoguery, collaboration seems like a distant dream or naïve wish. In this talk, Margerum will discuss his book, Challenges of Collaborative Governance, which covers diverse perspectives on identifying difficulties and potential responses. Collaboration is more challenging than ever, but the fundamental concept of people from diverse perspectives focusing on commonly agreed problems is more essential than ever. We have work to do to make collaborative governance effective. 4:15 - 5:15pm; 126 Memorial Library, 728 State Street, Madison.

The position assists with the oversight and strategic planning for the Lake Superior Research Institute (LSRI) and may assist with directing a variety of research activities. The person in this position is responsible for obtaining grants, contracts, and other sources of extramural funds that capitalize on current research staff expertise and existing laboratory infrastructure to support both existing projects or programs or new offshoot projects or programs within LSRI’s core research. Applications due Sept. 15

Support our pollution prevention and pretreatment initiatives. This internship offers the opportunity to apply communication, marketing, and outreach skills to environmental sustainability efforts. The intern will work in the Ecosystems Department under the supervision of the District’s Pollution Prevention Manager, collaborating with technical experts to drive engagement in pollution prevention programs. Applications due Sept. 21.

This undergraduate position works closely with CWP’s two Water Policy and Science Communications Graduate Fellows to identify stakeholder audiences and share research, publications, media spotlights, and other water policy content. The intern will focus on working with Graduate Fellows to create social media content, monitor water law and policy news, and report on the performance of CWP’s communications. Applications due Sept 26, rolling.

The new Freshwater and Marine Sciences Certificate is now open for declaration! Freshwater and marine ecosystems are vital to human well-being.  Both freshwater and marine systems are also highly threatened. Creating a sustainable future will require people with a foundational understanding of these ecosystems.

Surface water education, outreach, planning and implementation. Funding caps vary from $5K (education) to $500K (AIS Research & Demonstration). Pre-applications due to DNR Sept. 15 for eligibility to submit a final application on Nov. 15.

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. Applications due Sept 26.

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. Applications due Sept. 26.

Grants to foster public engagement and the advancement of the Wisconsin Idea, the principle that education should influence people’s lives beyond the boundaries of the classroom. Proposals are encouraged for new community-engaged activities that partner with community and off-campus organizations to extend and apply research, education, and practice-based knowledge to address needs and foster mutual learning. Up to $4K seed grant proposals and $120K project grant applications due Sept. 30.

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.

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

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. Applications are due Nov. 3.

Sustainability Research Hub – UW–Madison: UW-Madison’s Sustainability Research Hub works with the UW’s College of Agricultural and Life Science to produce a curated list of funding opportunities related to environmental sustainability.

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.

Sept. 21-18; Ithaca, NY and Livestream. Critical climate conversations—spanning nuclear energy, AI for climate, nature finance, built environment, health, and agriculture.

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.

Oct. 7, 6:30–8:30 p.m; join us for UW–Madison’s 2025 Climate Change Symposium. The Climate Change Symposium is 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.

Nov. 4-7; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Navigating Change Together: Enhancing Lake, Reservoir, and Watershed Resilience. Early bird registration by Sept. 12. Regular deadline Oct. 24.

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. Register for regular rates by Sept. 30.

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.

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. The Call for Special Sessions is open now through Sept. 29, 2025.

April 15-17; Stevens Point, WI. The 2026 Lakes and Rivers Convention is accepting presentation proposals for its annual conference. The deadline is Oct. 1. 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, 2026, 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. Speaker and panel session proposals accepted through Sept. 30.

May 12-16 2026; 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

As a new outreach effort of the Maternal Child Health Equity & Safety (MatCHES) Lab at the School of Human Ecology (SoHE), University of Wisconsin-Madison, led by Dr. Zoua Vang, the Grant Writing Resource Opportunity to Strengthen Community Wellbeing (GROW) Initiative provides pro bono support to community-based organizations seeking to secure new funding streams. Send an email to Dr. Vang (zoua.vang@wisc.edu) by Sept. 12 to participate.

A day of fun activities, farm tours, food, music, and more at Bouressa Family Farm. This event will showcase the organizations affiliated with the conservation work and agriculture happening on the farm. Sept. 13 from 3pm - 11pm

Join University Housing and the Office of Sustainability from Sept. 15-19, 2025 for a week-long celebration of sustainability and campus life! Pedal fast on the blender bike or cycle through the Sustainability Showcase. Pick up a meal at the Green Fund Kickoff or drop off clothes at the all-campus swap. Whether you’re a first-year resident or a returning Badger, Sustain-a-Bash invites students to come together, have fun, and learn how #BadgersLiveSustainably

Collaborative Action for Lake Michigan Coastal Resilience (CALM) is hosting a field trip to Upper Lake Park and Valley Creek in Port Washington. The event will be led by Interim Executive Director of Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership Amy Lentz, Port Washington Public Works Director Robert Vanden Noven, and Stantec Environmental Scientist/Botanist Melissa Curran. Attendees will receive a tour of both sites and learn about how the city is planning to address bluff instability, preserve beach access, and implement a watershed-wide project that reduces flooding. Sept. 30th, 10am-12pm. Those interested may register 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. Ying Li from UW-Madison is presenting on Membrane design on Oct. 1, at 2pm.

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.

Great Lakes Commission Email Groups

GLIN-Announce; GLIN-Jobs; Great Lakes Daily News; Great Lakes Commission News