Tag: Climate Change

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.

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.

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 …

Wandering Sustainably: From Zero Waste Project Assistant to Cross-Country Traveler

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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 Rachel Schumacher, a student who was involved in the Zero Waste Team within the …

Cultivating Resilience: How Chris Kucharik is Transforming Agriculture Amid Climate Change

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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

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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 what to eat for lunch, when suddenly your phone buzzes with an alert: Free pizza at the student center!  Discover …

Six Ideas for a Sustainable Move-In

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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 ahead Plan ahead to avoid bringing extra or unnecessary items! Coordinate with your roommates to see if they’re already bringing …

“A foundation of long-term sustainability”: how Wisconet is helping support the farms of tomorrow

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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 hall meetings are typical Dairyland: brats, beer, and agriculture talk.  At the time, the Midwest was experiencing the wettest decade …

Where Health and Heat Meet

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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, where summer heat was mild and fleeting. We measured storms by the inches they left on the sidewalk, not by …

Public trust in scientists is falling fast, so Nan Li looks to art and emotion

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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 interviewed campus sustainability experts and produced short feature stories. Public trust in scientists is falling fast. A study by the …