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.
Climate Change
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.
UW’s Zero Waste Compass: Your Guide to Sustainable Disposal on Campus
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 …
Wandering Sustainably: From Zero Waste Project Assistant to Cross-Country Traveler
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, …
Cultivating Resilience: How Chris Kucharik is Transforming Agriculture Amid Climate Change
Chris Kucharik’s lab investigates the dynamic interactions between climate change and land management through fieldwork and ecosystem modeling, focusing on ecosystem services like crop production, water quantity and quality, nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, and climate regulation. His research highlights the anticipated stress on agricultural systems due to climate change, which reduces crop yields and harms both farmers and consumers. Dr. Kucharik aims to inform policymakers and develop regulations to support farmers in mitigating climate impacts on their own and surrounding land.
Fight food waste with Free Food Alert
In a world in which college students are always on the lookout for a good (and free) meal, Free Food Alert has become the ultimate campus hack. Imagine you’re walking across campus, trying to decide …
Six Ideas for a Sustainable Move-In
Make your move in more sustainable with these tips! Whether you are living in one of our on-campus residence halls or off-campus, these tips will help you reduce waste and move in sustainably. 1. Plan …
“A foundation of long-term sustainability”: how Wisconet is helping support the farms of tomorrow
It is the year 2010 and Chris Kucharik, a professor of agronomy and environmental studies at UW–Madison, is talking to a bunch of farmers in rural Wisconsin about a not-so-hot topic: climate change. The town …
Where Health and Heat Meet
This essay, by Veronica Goveas, is one of three winners of the 2024 Sustainability Writing Awards hosted by the Office of Sustainability. You can read more about Veronica here. I grew up in a village in Wisconsin, …
Public trust in scientists is falling fast, so Nan Li looks to art and emotion
This article, by Tayt Armitage, is part of a series highlighting members of the Office of Sustainability’s Experts Database. In a collaboration with instructor Hannah Monroe’s course, LSC 561: Writing Science for the Public, students …