University of Wisconsin–Madison
In late October, staff and student interns from the Office of Sustainability traveled to Spokane, WA for the 2019 AASHE Conference. AASHE, which stands for the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, aims to “inspire and catalyze higher education to lead the global sustainability transformation.” The organization offers sustainability resources and toolkits, …
For several years, a lively group of sustainability staff, faculty, and students has come together in the middle of the fall semester for the UW System Sustainability Conference. During these meetings, participants discuss best practices for sustainability initiatives, muddle over challenges, share successes, and identify opportunities for collaboration. This year, the UW–Madison Office of Sustainability …
In a ceremony on October 7, 2019, Chancellor Blank announced that the University of Wisconsin–Madison had been awarded a STARS silver rating for its sustainability performance. Read the full story here.
The Office of Sustainability has completed a major data gathering initiative and is currently soliciting input from the campus community to inform an exciting new effort. UW–Madison submitted its first Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) report this summer, the results of which will be announced in October. With leadership and support from the …
Since early 2019, the Office of Sustainability (OS) has worked to identify, compile, and review data for UW–Madison’s first Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) report. STARS, which is administered by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), is a transparent, self-reporting framework for measuring sustainability performance. From counting livestock …
Professor Cathy Middlecamp, who serves as Director of Sustainability Education and Research for the Office of Sustainability, accepted the George C. Pimentel Award in Chemical Education from the American Chemical Society (ACS) at its national meeting in Orlando, March 30 – April 4, 2019. The ACS is the world’s largest scientific society, with over 150,000 …
In February 2019, Chancellor Rebecca Blank released a statement announcing the creation of a working group that will assist with data gathering efforts as UW–Madison prepares to submit its first STARS report. You can read the Chancellor’s statement below. Sustainability is woven into the fabric of the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Our commitment to conservation and …
At UW–Madison, heating and cooling is all about water. Libraries, offices, dorms, dining halls, hospitals, and other campus locations must be kept warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Meanwhile, sensitive spaces like operating rooms and research labs require precise, steady temperatures. None of this would be possible without a constant flow of …
Many students—and some faculty and staff—leave campus during winter break, so our interns have come up with a list of ideas for how to prepare yourself for a sustainable and meaningful time away. Below, Maddie Clarke and Hannah Kasun offer a range of tips covering cooking, energy savings, travel, and more. Gifting Reuse gift wrap, …
The Wisconsin Science Festival, which runs from October 11-14, is a “four-day statewide celebration with events for all ages.” You can read about four in-depth discussions coming to Madison here.