Prescribed burns are key to prairie management at UW-Madison's Arboretum,
the birthplace of ecological restoration.
Natural Systems
and Environmental Quality
All life is part of an intricate web of dynamic natural systems.
And all living things rely on the continuation of environmental conditions
to which they are adapted.
Our future, and that of many nonhuman species, will hinge on humanity's
ability to sustain healthy natural systems
and to restore damaged ones. It will reflect our success at
harmonizing
human activities with the non-human environment.
UW-Madison programs, units, projects, and groups that significantly
address sustainability of natural systems and/or environmental quality are
listed below.
To search for key words within this page, click on "Edit" in your
browser's menu bar, then on "Find on/in this page."
Academic Programs
- Air Resources Management - Combines education in science,
economics, health, engineering, ecology, and policy in addressing air management at
the ecosystem scale. Graduate-level certificate, Ph.D. minor.
- Atmospheric and Oceanic
Sciences - Focuses on all aspects of the atmosphere and physical
oceanography, their mutual interaction, and their interaction with space
and the rest of the earth system. B.A., B.S., M.S., Ph.D.
- Biological Aspects of Conservation
- Offers broad training in biological and related disciplines
relevant to conservation. Emphasizes basic knowledge of natural history,
whole organism biology, ecological interactions, and conservation
biology. B.A., B.S.
- Botany - Provides an introduction to the living world of
plants, algae, fungi, and bacteria: the diversity of its organisms; its historical origins
through evolution; its principles of structure, function, and ecology;
and its interactions, relationships, and effects on the nonliving world. B.A., B.S., M.S., Ph.D.
- Conservation Biology and Sustainable Development
- Combines studies of the nature and value of biological
diversity with studies of the economic and social dimensions of
development with an emphasis on meeting the growing needs of humanity
while protecting the integrity of nature. M.S.
- Environment and Resources
(formerly Land Resources) - Enables students to pursue a wide range of
interdisciplinary interests, such as environment and health;
environmental policy, governance, and justice; global environmental
systems; and restoration ecology. M.S., Ph.D.
- Environmental Chemistry and Technology
- Trains students for teaching, research, resource management, and environmental consulting in such areas
as the development of advanced technologies and materials for air and water purification and for
saving and storing energy, water and air pollution control, soil and sediment
remediation, environmental technology, chemical limnology, and
groundwater chemistry. M.S., Ph.D.
- Environmental Studies
- Introduces students to environmental problems and issues; explores environmental science, policy, literature,
art, and philosophy; and provides opportunities for environmental
research, field work, and case studies. Undergraduate-level certificate.
- Forest Ecology and
Wildlife Ecology (recently merged) - Science-based instruction in forest and
wildlife resources with emphasis on ecologically and socially
sustainable approaches to maintain and restore healthy
ecosystems. M.S., Ph.D.
- Geological
Engineering - Degree programs focus on the interaction between
people and the environment with emphasis on managing and protecting
resources in engineered and natural geological environments. B.S.,
M.S., Ph.D.
- Geology and
Geophysics
- Interweaves knowledge from many disciplines to explain natural Earth
phenomena. B.A., B.S., M.S., Ph.D.
- Humans and the Global Environment
- Addresses the solution of complex environmental problems by combining understandings of how human and
non-human environmental systems operate with training in professional
communication and knowledge-management skills. Graduate-level
certificate, Ph.D. minor.
- Landscape Architecture - Promotes sensitive and creative
design, planning, and management of the land for the benefit of present and future generations.
B.S.L.A., M.A.,
M.S.
- Limnology and Marine Science
- Embraces biological, chemical, and physical studies of lakes and oceans. M.S., Ph.D.
- Soil Science
- Explores physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils to optimize use and preservation of land for agriculture,
forestry, recreation, transportation systems, urban development and many
other endeavors. Seeks to improve understanding and management of soil
resources in natural, agricultural and urban ecosystems. B.S., M.S., Ph.D.
- Water Resources Management
- Addresses complex, interdisciplinary aspects of managing water resources by integrating the biological and physical
sciences with engineering, law, and the social sciences. M.S.
- Zoology
- Provides a foundation in genetic, cellular, physiological, ecological, and
evolutionary principles and in the related disciplines of chemistry,
physics, and mathematics. Fosters understanding of biological
complexity, including the interrelationships between humans and natural
systems. B.A., B.S., M.A., M.S., Ph.D.
Centers, Institutes, etc.
- Arboretum - Conserves and restores more than
2,500 acres of land, advances restoration ecology, and fosters the land ethic.
- Center for Climatic Research
- Advances scientific understanding of the Earth's
climate through interdisciplinary investigations of past, present, and
future climates, and promotes public understanding of climate-related
issues, including global change.
- Center for Limnology
- Conducts and facilitates inland freshwater research, including long-term studies,
synthesis, modeling, and Great Lakes research, and application to
resource management and environmental issues.
- Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment
- Examines links between natural resources, human health and security, and changes in the global environment, and
disseminates its findings through teaching and outreach.
- Environmental Resources Center
- Promotes informed decision making on natural resource
issues in Wisconsin and nationwide by working with individuals,
community leaders, and resource professionals to develop and deliver
research-based educational programs and materials.
- Forest Landscape Ecology Lab
- Investigates spatial patterns and ecological processes in forested ecosystems, often at broad scales, to understand the basis
of sustainable forest landscapes.
- Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies
- Explores environmental problems and issues through interdisciplinary instruction, research, and outreach.
Seeks to protect and enhance the environment by addressing human needs in
environmentally sustainable ways.
- Sea Grant Institute -
Promotes applied research, education, outreach, and technology transfer for
stewardship and sustainable use of the nation's Great Lakes and ocean
resources.
- Spatial Analysis for Conservation and Sustainability
(SILVIS) Lab - Studies processes that cause broad-scale environmental changes, quantifies patterns of change, and
assesses effects of these changes on the environment.
- Solid and Hazardous Waste Education Center
- Enhances Wisconsin's environment and economy through education, information, and technical assistance to promote sustainable
use of natural resources. Program areas include pollution prevention, industrial and community recycling, environmental
management planning, solid waste source reduction, community environmental protection, green building, energy conservation, and
renewable energy.
- Space Science and Engineering
Center - Conducts geophysical research and develops technology to
enhance understanding of the atmosphere of Earth, the other planets in
our solar system, and the cosmos.
- Water Resources Institute -
Coordinates research, training, information transfer, and public
service programs aimed at solving current and emerging water resource problems.
Research and Outreach Programs
- Aquatic Invasive Species Education Project -
Works with boaters and anglers to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species in Wisconsin lakes and rivers.
- Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development
in Southwest China - Seeks to expand scientific understanding of the interactions of natural and human processes
integral to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development in the eastern Himalayas of southwest China.
- Bryson Interdisciplinary Climate, People, and Environment Program
- Advances understanding of the relationships between climate, natural resources, population, and culture.
- EarthdayAction.org -
An on-line clearinghouse for events and activities in Wisconsin related to Earth Day.
- Great Lakes Regional Water Program
- Addresses water quality research, education, and extension/outreach efforts common to the six states in the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency's Region 5: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
- Mexico Training, Internships, Exchanges, and Scholarships Project
- Seeks to strengthen the capacities of municipal governments along Mexico's Ayuquila River to develop and maintain a
regionally integrated watershed-based management approach.
- North Temperate Lakes Long Term Ecological Research
- Studies the ecology of lakes as one of a network of sites established by the National Science Foundation to support research
on long-term ecological phenomena. Considers how biophysical setting, climate, and changing land use and cover interact
to shape lake characteristics and dynamics over time.
- Small-Scale Waste Management Project
- Provides wastewater, soil, and land use publications and educational resources to the public.
- Taimen Conservation Research
- Collaborative research in support of a conservation effort to sustainably protect Mongolia's giant salmonid, Hucho taimen.
Information produced by the science team is helping to develop a natural resource management plan for the region.
- University of Wisconsin Press - Publishes
regional books on conservation, environmental protection, natural
history, and related topics. Also publishes relevant scholarly
journals.
- Water Action Volunteers - A statewide extension
program for citizens who want to learn about and improve the quality of Wisconsin's streams and rivers.
- Wisconsin's Basin Education Initiative - Designs and delivers
educational programs, assists organizations, and builds partnerships to promote understanding and stewardship of Wisconsin's natural resources
at the watershed and landscape scale.
Campus Initiatives
- Lakeshore Nature Preserve
- Protects undeveloped lands and biologically significant plant and animal communities along the
UW-Madison shore of Lake Mendota for teaching, research, outreach, and
environmentally sensitive use, and safeguards beloved cultural
landscapes.
Interest Groups
- Environmental Studies Club
- Student organization that promotes a healthy campus and city environment and enjoys the outdoors.
- Global Warming: FACT - Student group focused on
educating its members and the general public about global warming and on the need to take action to mitigate its
possible consequences.
- Madison Ecology Group - Ad hoc group of faculty
members, academic staff, and students from across the UW-Madison campus who are interested in ecology.
Provides a sense of identity and fosters communication among campus ecologists.
-
Sierra Student Coalition
- Grassroots environmental organization involved in education, human rights, local, regional, national, and international causes.
Contact Us
This site is maintained by the
Nelson Institute for Environmental
Studies. If you have comments
or questions, please contact us.
