Tag Sustainability
Burning and Learning
UW–Madison instructors, land care managers and students, along with the help of volunteers and farmers, are returning fire to landscapes on and off campus to restore the beauty of native tall grass prairies and oak savannas.
Streamlining energy regulations on Native American reservations could help alleviate poverty
The researchers identified multiple barriers to development that help explain the disparity between clean energy projects on and off reservation land. One of the biggest is the complexity and uncertainty of the permitting process — for building both the facilities and the transmission lines that feed the generated energy into the power grid.
UW–Madison supports multi-million-dollar U.S. clean energy project to benefit rural Wisconsin communities
Dairyland will use the funding to procure 1,020 megawatts of renewable energy through four solar installations and four wind power installations across rural portions of Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota and Illinois.
Sustainable tips for a successful move-in
Coordinate carefully what you need to bring to campus to avoid waste, use reusable containers like suitcases or duffel bags and make sure to recycle cardboard and plastic.
Biocore Prairie: from fire to flower
At first glance, you wouldn’t guess that fire plays such an important role in shaping the wild beauty of the Biocore Prairie in the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Lakeshore Nature Preserve.
Abandoned farmlands could play a role in fighting climate change. A new study shows exactly where they are.
A research team used machine learning to map nearly 30 million acres of United States cropland abandoned since the 1980s, creating a tool that could guide decisions about how to balance production of energy and food.
Earth Fest Kickoff: Celebrating sustainability progress
Participants in UW–Madison’s first-ever Earth Fest Kickoff Celebration on Friday, April 19, praised the momentum boost for the institution’s sustainability and environmental efforts.
Environmental sustainability is the next focus of RISE
RISE-EARTH will strengthen the university’s ability to address complex problems and opportunities related to the environment, translating discoveries into tangible benefits at home in Wisconsin and beyond.
UW–Madison Earth Fest offers education, inspiration, motivation with nearly 50 campus events
Earth Fest will feature inclusive, holistic ways to learn about the environment; collaborative and interdisciplinary approaches to environmental challenges; and fun, interactive experiences that engage participants with the world we all share.
UW–Madison researchers develop better way to make painkiller from trees
The process is primarily water based, relies on green solvents, and is continuous rather than a batch reaction, which makes it ideal for industrial applications.
Q&A with Prof. Steffi Diem, a UW–Madison fusion scientist and 2024 U.S. Science Envoy
Diem, a fusion energy expert, specializes in heating the ultra-hot fuel for fusion and confining it within efficient and compact magnetic bottles. Her selection as one of four new U.S. Science Envoys highlights growing recognition of fusion's role in building a clean and renewable energy future.
New sustainable visitor and education center to transform Picnic Point, Lakeshore Nature Preserve
With a generous gift from Jerry Frautschi, a new visitor and education center will create increased access for all visitors, provide safer pedestrian crossing and entry to the parking area off University Bay Drive and serve as the new “front door” for visitors to begin their journey.
UW–Madison launches ambitious environmental sustainability initiative
The plan represents the most comprehensive environmental sustainability initiative in UW–Madison’s history and will advance the university’s research and education missions while also making campus a living laboratory for sustainable practices.
In Regents address, Chancellor Mnookin unveils bold new initiatives to innovate for the public good, address global challenges
The University of Wisconsin—Madison will build on its 175 years of excellence with several bold new initiatives designed to address global challenges, notably artificial intelligence and environmental sustainability.
Multitasking microbes: UW–Madison scientists engineer bacteria to make two valuable products from plant fiber
UW researchers have engineered bacteria that can produce two chemical products at the same time from underutilized plant fiber. The discovery could help make biofuels more sustainable and commercially viable.
Dining Farm: Students help grow food for dining halls
The produce serves not only as a stepping stone towards sustainability — including building permanent raised-bed soil — but also serves as an educational community experience.
Sharing discoveries and imagining the future at the second annual Sustainability Symposium
From a keynote address on improving food security through a circular economy, to lightning talks on campus sustainability initiatives and poster sessions on research projects across UW–Madison, enthusiastic attendees learned, swapped ideas and inspired one another.
UW-Madison recertified as platinum Bicycle Friendly University
According to the league, certified institutions address health and environmental challenges by creating welcoming, inclusive environments for people who bike.
Study finds mindfulness training may not be enough to increase eco-friendliness
The innovative study marks the first time researchers have conducted a randomized controlled trial to test whether a direct relationship exists between meditation and eco-friendly attitudes and behaviors.
With UW–Madison assist, project could accelerate nation’s clean energy transition
The project would be the first to demonstrate — at a commercial scale — a closed-loop, carbon dioxide-based energy storage system and could validate the technology for wide-scale deployment in the United States.