University of Wisconsin–Madison
Written by Tia Gaffney, UW–Madison undergraduate & Zero Waste Project Assistant As an eager incoming freshman obsessed with all things sustainability, I regularly scoured the Office of Sustainability Instagram for a taste of the opportunities coming my way. One day, I came across a post about a program dedicated to freshmen living in the residence halls. “Serve as …
When it comes to study abroad options, UW–Madison has plenty! In 2025, UW–Madison ranked #6 among all U.S. public universities and colleges for total students studying abroad. With more than 300 programs exploring 80+ countries, there is no shortage of opportunities. Study abroad programs can be educational and transformative experiences; however, they may also carry …
On warm days along Lake Monona, walkers and cyclists pass a steady stream of traffic on John Nolen Drive. Every so often, they also pass something unexpected: UW–Madison students carrying bright green Menards buckets and collecting water from the lake. The story behind these buckets starts in August of 2023, when the City of Madison …
In our “Where Are They Now?” series, current student interns interview former students about their experience at the Office of Sustainability (OS), particularly how that experience has helped them since graduation. In the following entry, Tia Gaffney relates her conversation with Olivia Grose, a student who was involved in the Zero Waste Team within the …
Rising tides, solarpunk cities, ghosts that haunt us. This year’s winners of the Sustainability Writing Awards looked beyond the now to imagine what the places we love might look like in a world shaped by unchecked climate catastrophe. The winning essays, all written by students at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, explore the tension between hope …
This story, by Devin Guthrie, is one of three winners of the 2025 Sustainability Writing Awards hosted by the Office of Sustainability. You can read more about Devin here. Octavia removed the last piece of Estelle from her hair, placing it into the bag upon her shoulders. Her overgrown braids finally laid bare after eight years of …
This story, by Ross O’Donnell, is one of three winners of the 2025 Sustainability Writing Awards hosted by the Office of Sustainability. You can read more about Ross here. The city barely looks like a city from overhead. The generations who first paved its overgrown streets and erected its shored-up high-rises would struggle to recognize their old …
This story, by Lily Smogor, is one of three winners of the 2025 Sustainability Writing Awards hosted by the Office of Sustainability. You can read more about Lily here. Josey knew it was over three weeks before the government did. She’d woken to birdsong, a cardinal perched on her windowsill opposite the fraying screen, its flat black-marble …
For students looking to get involved with sustainability efforts on campus, it may be difficult to figure out where to start. Internships or a certificate may seem like a big step, but finding sustainability clubs can be a great way to involve yourself in a small community and explore a personal passion! Here, we list …
Twice a week, the UW–Madison community comes together to share a warm meal. At the front of the room sits a buffet with dishes from cornbread to curry, while chatter-filled tables span the remaining space. Even better, it’s completely free! The Food Recovery Network (FRN) is a UW–Madison student organization that is responsible for …