Can health opportunities arise from climate change? Jonathan Patz thinks so

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

Cows, Crops, and Climate: Rebecca Smith’s Research on Sustainable Forage Crops and Plant-based Biofuels

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Dr. Rebecca Smith’s research focuses on making forage crops, which are crops grown to feed animals, more sustainable by reducing methane emissions and improving plant traits, like digestibility. This is done by altering the lignin within the plant cell wall. The altered lignin increases nutrient availability and potentially reduces the time required for cow digestion. Dr. Smith hopes that her work will benefit the scientific community and improve the quality of forage crops and plant-based biofuels to make agriculture more sustainable.

5 Ways to Have a Sustainable Game Day

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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 …

Badgers Celebrate UW–Madison’s 12th annual Sustain-a-Bash

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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 …

UW’s Zero Waste Compass: Your Guide to Sustainable Disposal on Campus

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Have you ever had questions like “Does plastic cutlery go in the recycling?” or “Are greasy pizza boxes recyclable?” So have we. That’s why we created the Zero Waste Compass  — a tool to help you find the right way to dispose of common items on campus. Recycling can be confusing; the Zero Waste Compass …