University of Wisconsin–Madison
At UW–Madison’s six dining market locations, staff work hard to feed students by preparing buffet-style meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. To meet the expected demand and decrease food waste, dining market staff use data from annual food waste audits and Leanpath technology to carefully adjust recipe quantities. Though these efforts have been effective at …
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’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.
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 …
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 …
Move in is a busy, exciting time on campus – and a great opportunity to incorporate sustainable practices and contribute to UW–Madison’s Zero Waste goal.
During Black History Month, Social Sustainability Coalition members created a social media campaign to highlight prominent Black leaders in the field of environmentalism and sustainability. These leaders and their contributions were featured on the Office of Sustainability’s Instagram account each business day. This campaign was designed to recenter the historical and present-day contributions of Black …
Each year, University Housing coordinates Sustainability Move Out, a waste diversion program during the housing resident move-out. The student volunteer-run program has three primary goals: Divert waste from the landfill Educate event participants on sustainable behaviors Support the missions of campus and community donation partners Last spring, 160 volunteers provided over 750 hours of staffing …
Earth Week 2018 at UW–Madison, which ran from Monday, April 16 to Monday, April 23, successfully engaged hundreds of students, staff, and community members with a dynamic series of events on campus. A rich array of organizations collaborated, including the Office of Sustainability, the Sustainability Committee of the Associated Students of Madison, the Multicultural Student Center, F.H. King …
The Office of Sustainability is celebrating the 48th annual Earth Day with a dynamic week of events. And they aren’t doing it alone: several organizations on campus are working together, including the Sustainability Committee of the Associated Students of Madison, the Multicultural Student Center, F.H. King Students for Sustainable Agriculture, Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority Inc., …