University of Wisconsin–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, Stephanie Wells relates her conversation with Eliza Lindley, who was formerly a Campus Sustainability Intern with the OS. From leading …
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 …
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 …
One of UW–Madison’s five institutional sustainability goals, first announced by Chancellor Mnookin in February 2024, is to reach net-zero emissions by 2048. Campus leadership set an interim target of 100% renewable electricity by 2030 as an important step on the path to this ambitious goal. Through a strategy that includes working with electric utilities, supporting …
If you’ve been in Union South or Memorial Union lately, chances are you’ve met Oscar. Oscar Sort is UW–Madison’s new AI waste and recycling assistant, introduced by the Office of Sustainability’s Zero Waste Team to improve recycling accuracy on campus. If you hold up a waste item to Oscar Sort’s cameras, it’ll identify it and …
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.
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.
Wisconsin Football games are in full swing, and with Homecoming weekend ahead, we want to make sure Badger fans have all the information and resources they need to be “green” on game day. From getting to Camp Randall to cleaning up after the tailgate, here are five simple ways to make your game-day traditions a …
Despite a rainy start, Sustain-a-Bash 2025 was a huge success. Sustain-a-Bash is an annual week-long celebration of sustainability on campus, co-hosted with University Housing. This year, Sustain-a-Bash consisted of a native planting party, Green Fund and Wisconsin Urban Planning Association kickoff events, national voter registration day, a crafternoon with the Disability Cultural Center, and a …
In February 2024, Chancellor Jennifer L. Mnookin announced a university-wide environmental sustainability initiative centered around five goals: launching the Sustainability Research Hub to accelerate interdisciplinary research and external collaboration; attaining STARS Gold as a framework to drive cross-campus involvement; creating widely accessible sustainability educational experiences for all interested students; becoming a zero waste campus through improved systems, engagement, and materials management; and …