University of Wisconsin–Madison
This guest article was written by Jason Gallup, former Student Programs Director at the Office of Sustainability. The window for avoiding the catastrophic effects of environmental degradation is small. As a society, we are now well aware that without major reductions in our carbon emissions, we soon will face irreversible changes to our planet that …
As summery June weather arrived in Madison, the Office of Sustainability welcomed a talented new group of student interns to work on campus sustainability projects over the course of the 2018-2019 school year. The eleven students joining the Student Intern program come from a variety of backgrounds and majors, but they all share a passion …
Summer is the perfect time to go green! Check out these five sustainability tips for the warm season ahead. Eat Seasonally & Locally (& Go Heavy on the Veggies) Show seasonal produce some love! Treat yourself to nutritious vegetables and fruits that benefit your health, while also supporting local Wisconsin farmers and the planet. Find …
A recent UW–Madison study shows that the increased frequency of high-intensity rain events is worsening phosphorus runoff from manure-covered agricultural fields more than scientists expected. To learn more about a new effort aims to address this problem in Dane County, read the full article on the UW–Madison news page here.
“Zero waste”—it’s an idea that can feel slightly naïve in our consumerist culture. Nearly everything we do produces waste of some kind. And when large groups of people gather for an all-day event—say, hundreds of attendees at the 2018 Earth Day Conference, hosted by the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies and held at Monona Terrace—the …
It has become commonplace to categorize climate change as a “wicked problem”. It is “wicked” because, in addition to its profound complexity as an atmospheric phenomenon, preventing climate change from causing catastrophic damage will require unprecedented global cooperation. Sadly, it is also commonplace to feel doubtful that world governments will succeed in this feat of …
Each year, University Housing coordinates Sustainability Move Out, a waste diversion program during the housing resident move-out. The student volunteer-run program has three primary goals: Divert waste from the landfill Educate event participants on sustainable behaviors Support the missions of campus and community donation partners Last spring, 160 volunteers provided over 750 hours of staffing …
On a Monday in early April, hundreds of high school students from across the state of Wisconsin woke up early and took buses to Union South for an entire day of discussion about Rachel Carson’s famous book, Silent Spring. They read papers, performed skits, displayed original art work of all descriptions, and interacted with Dr. …
Earth Week 2018 at UW–Madison, which ran from Monday, April 16 to Monday, April 23, successfully engaged hundreds of students, staff, and community members with a dynamic series of events on campus. A rich array of organizations collaborated, including the Office of Sustainability, the Sustainability Committee of the Associated Students of Madison, the Multicultural Student Center, F.H. King …
The Office of Sustainability is celebrating the 48th annual Earth Day with a dynamic week of events. And they aren’t doing it alone: several organizations on campus are working together, including the Sustainability Committee of the Associated Students of Madison, the Multicultural Student Center, F.H. King Students for Sustainable Agriculture, Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority Inc., …