Dr. Mark Anderson and the thermal hydraulics laboratory leverage heat transfer and fluid dynamics to develop engineering solutions that make energy production systems more efficient. Systems of energy production primarily rely on first generating heat and subsequently harnessing this heat to drive processes that range from powering an electrical grid to driving a car. Heat generation necessarily consumes natural resources so minimizing waste generated during energy production is essential to making energy accessible, affordable, and enduring.
Experts
Do microorganisms hold the key to environmental sustainability? Erica Majumder Aims to Find Out
Dr. Erica Majumder broadly classifies her research as “waste management microbiology.” Her group aims to use microorganisms to develop new strategies capable of removing pollutants from the environment and repurposing industrial and agricultural waste. With 292.4 million tons of solid waste being produced each year, in the US alone, finding new ways to upcycling these resources is crucial for environmental sustainability.
For Emma Hauser, soil might hold the secret new forest management practices
Dr. Emma Hauser focuses on how human activity and climate change influence root nutrient cycles and different ways to mitigate adverse effects on the ecosystem. Current research from the Hauser Lab examines how the soil and roots respond to human activities and how they recover when old-growth forest strategies are implemented on secondary forests. Since root depth affects carbon cycling, nutrient storage, and water table patterns within the soil this research can give insight into how forest management practices can be improved to promote long-term sustainability.
Forest restoration one soundscape at a time, with Zuzana Burivalova
Dr. Zuzana Burivalova’s Sound Forest laboratory collects soundscapes, images, and videos from forests across the world to comprehensively identify the animal species that are present over time and location. As forest biodiversity is increasingly threatened by habitat loss and human encroachment, understanding the baseline levels of diversity in each environment is crucial for assessing forest declines over time and the impacts of new conservation efforts. Research in the Sound Forest lab helps scientists, government agencies, and local communities make more informed decisions about the study, protection, and restoration of their local forests.
Can health opportunities arise from climate change? Jonathan Patz thinks so
Jonathan Patz studies the ways that climate change and related policies directly and indirectly affect human health. While his research on climate change initially addressed detrimental impacts on human health, he and his group now focus on the potential near-term health benefits that will arise from climate change mitigation policies. Through his work, he hopes to influence decision-making by highlighting such health opportunities, e.g. improved air quality or enhanced safe alternative transportation, as options for climate action are considered.
Carol Barford believes collaboration translates research into action
Dr. Carol Barford leads the Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment (SAGE) at UW-Madison, where she connects researchers, educators, and policymakers to address pressing environmental challenges. Her work ensures that sustainability science informs real-world decisions—from land use and climate education to public policy. At SAGE, Barford facilitates collaboration that turns complex systems research into meaningful action.
The Risk We Don’t See: Climate Disasters and Housing Decisions
Max Besbris studies how climate disasters affect housing decisions, with particular attention
to how people assess risk and how post-disaster policies influence rebuilding versus
relocation choices.
His research is increasingly urgent as climate-related disasters affect growing numbers of
Americans each year, revealing critical gaps in risk communication and recovery options that
leave many households rebuilding in vulnerable locations.
By examining these dynamics and advocating for managed retreat policies, Besbris’s work
aims to help communities develop more sustainable housing patterns that can withstand
environmental uncertainties while providing residents with meaningful choices about where
and how to live after disasters.
Christopher Timmins thinks economics is crucial to understanding environmental injustice
Christopher Timmins’s research focuses on the relationship between economics and natural resources, with a specific interest in how economics interacts with environmental injustices, the idea that marginalized communities are more likely to be harmed by hazards in the environment. The relationship between environmental conditions such as air pollution, discrimination, and the places where people live can not only impact the health of the people that live there but also point out the current failures in the economy and real estate market. By understanding this relationship, it is possible to inform policies that govern the markets and affect the people that live in those neighborhoods.
Accessible Energy: Chris Gisriel’s believes photosynthesis is the answer
Dr. Gisriel studies sustainability in his lab by examining photosynthesis, the process that organisms use to produce chemical energy in nature. He also engineers other organisms in the lab to perform photosynthesis in the same way. This research is useful because it explores how certain organisms produce chemical energy, which could lead to more accessible energy sources for humanity. The benefits of this research range from helping organisms survive by improving the efficiency of their photosynthesis to discovering new ways to make energy more accessible for humans.
Dairy Goldmine: Gulustan Ozturk finds the nutrition in waste
Dr. Gulustan Ozturk’s research at UW-Madison focuses on bioactive compounds found in milk and dairy streams. Her main goal is to isolate these compounds using advanced processing methods to develop microbiome-centered interventions for improving human health, with potential applications in personalized nutrition and precision treatments. This work supports sustainability by adding value to dairy coproducts and streams, such as utilizing whey protein phospholipid concentrate which is a byproduct of whey processing, contributing to economic, environmental, and social sustainability as part of the Dairy Innovation Hub’s mission.