Category: Goals Pages

Six Ideas for a Sustainable Move-In

Make your move in more sustainable with these tips! Whether you are living in one of our on-campus residence halls or off-campus, these tips will help you reduce waste and move in sustainably. 1. Plan ahead Plan ahead to avoid bringing extra or unnecessary items! Coordinate with your roommates to see if they’re already bringing …

My Green Lab Certification Program Seeks More Early Adopters

Over the last three years, 21 labs on the UW–Madison campus have committed to becoming more sustainable by limiting waste, reducing energy consumption, and using greener chemicals. Through the Office of Sustainability (OS), these labs have completed the My Green Lab Certification Program to reduce their environmental impact and become early adopters of a system …

Interactive Story Map Showcases Food Scraps Collection and Composting at UW–Madison

Are you curious about food waste and composting on campus? Maybe you’ve noticed compost collection bins are in some locations around UW, but not everywhere. The University of Wisconsin–Madison has been working on securing sustainable solutions to campus food scraps and food waste since 2009. From an initial pilot project to exploring anaerobic digestion and …

Sustainability Research Hub One Year Later: Expanding Cross-Campus Collaboration 

In February 2024, UW–Madison Chancellor Jennifer L. Mnookin announced an ambitious set of environmental goals for campus. While several of these efforts focused on facilities and infrastructure, they also prioritized the teaching and research mission of the university. From there, the Sustainability Research Hub was born. A little over a year later, the team is …

A Forkful of Sustainability

Imagine a meal from your favorite restaurant. Now imagine one-third of it sitting in a truck, heading to a waste facility. This is the reality for most eating establishments. A large quantity of a restaurant’s most ordered food is prepared at the beginning of the day, and the portions that are not sold are wasted. …

Six environmental reads to bring into spring

With spring right around the corner, the Office of Sustainability Education & Outreach Team has compiled a list of environmental books to welcome a new season filled with growth, warmth, and cultivation. Literature plays a vital role in building community, engaging diverse perspectives, and inspiring action to build a more sustainable world. Here is a …

UW–Madison deploys AI recycling assistants to support waste reduction goals 

The University of Wisconsin–Madison has deployed four state-of-the-art AI recycling assistants called “Oscar Sort” (“Oscars”) across campus, marking an exciting step in the university’s commitment to sustainable operations, education, and research.   The Oscars, which use technology developed by the company Intuitive AI, combine waste bins with interactive, digital displays that are designed to make waste …

Ten Great Sustainability Courses to Take at UW–Madison

The sustainability certificate at UW–Madison empowers undergraduate students to address sustainability challenges by integrating knowledge across diverse fields, from business and engineering to public policy and social sciences. This interdisciplinary approach helps students develop a broad skill set to create positive impacts in academic, professional, and community settings. Whether you’re pursuing the sustainability certificate or …

Public trust in scientists is falling fast, so Nan Li looks to art and emotion

This article, by Tayt Armitage, is part of a series highlighting members of the Office of Sustainability’s Experts Database. In a collaboration with instructor Hannah Monroe’s course, LSC 561: Writing Science for the Public, students interviewed campus sustainability experts and produced short feature stories. Public trust in scientists is falling fast. A study by the …

For Luca Mastropasqua, fuel cells combine basic science and practical applications

This article, by Caiti Lahue, is part of a series highlighting members of the Office of Sustainability’s Experts Database. In a collaboration with instructor Hannah Monroe’s course, LSC 561: Writing Science for the Public, students interviewed campus sustainability experts and produced short feature stories. Despite the worldwide pursuit of green energy alternatives and low- to …