Visioning Event
The Sustainability Research Visioning Event was designed to connect UW–Madison researchers and facilitate discussion around the RISE-EARTH Initiative and sustainability research on campus. Thank you to everyone who joined us. Session slides can be found in the Breakout Sessions tab below, or read our EVENT SUMMARY.
RISE-EARTH stands for Environment: Adaptation, Resilience, Technology, and Humanity. This initiative is part of the broader Wisconsin RISE Initiative, which aims to address significant environmental challenges through interdisciplinary research and innovation. RISE-EARTH focuses on two main themes:
Reimagining Economic and Environmental Systems: Finding innovative ways to revitalize communities, such as new modes of transportation and renewing agricultural lands to reduce erosion and enhance biodiversity.
Building Sustainable Energy and Technical Systems: Developing new clean energy technologies and methods for capturing and storing carbon.
The event will include RISE-EARTH breakout sessions that aim to inspire collaboration, spark new ideas, and drive forward the mission of RISE-EARTH to address significant environmental challenges through research and innovation.
The event will also include breakout sessions dedicated to exploring the current and future landscape of sustainability at UW–Madison. Click on the breakout sessions tab below for more details on each session.
Session 1
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- Adaptation to climate change may involve building protective infrastructure like sea walls and developing drought-resistant crops, enhancing community resilience through education and policy, and preserving cultural practices while exploring the human experience of climate change through the arts and humanities.
- Led by Morgan Edwards (La Follette), Shawn Kaeppler (Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences), and Steph Tai (Law School)
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- A resilient system is adaptable, flexible, and able to learn from past experiences, allowing it to evolve and thrive in the face of ongoing challenges and uncertainties. In the context of sustainability, resilience involves the ability to withstand and recover from environmental, social, and economic shocks, such as natural disasters, climate change, or economic downturns, without compromising the long-term health and viability of the system.
- Led by Ankur Desai (Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences) and Randy Jackson (Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences)
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- This session aims to develop a comprehensive understanding of how UW–Madison can utilize its campus to pioneer sustainable solutions and foster a more holistic approach to environmental challenges.
- Led by Ian Aley (Green Fund), Mark Anderson (Mechanical Engineering), and Missy Nergard (Office of Sustainability)
Identifying Sustainability Research Strengths
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- This session will explore and highlight the sustainability strengths and expertise within the UW–Madison community. Participants will engage in discussions to map out current sustainability initiatives, build interdisciplinary connections, showcase successful projects, and create a resource map of faculty expertise, research centers, and funding opportunities. The goal of this session is to better understand and leverage the university’s sustainability assets.
- Led by Markus Brauer (Psychology), and Noah Weeth Feinstein (Curriculum and Instruction)
Session 2
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- Technological advancements in renewable energy, smart grids, precision farming, and recycling are crucial for sustainability. They reduce environmental impact, enhance resource efficiency, and promote social and humanitarian well-being by providing clean energy, ensuring food security, and reducing waste. These innovations collectively support a healthier environment, stronger communities, and improved living conditions.
- Led by Mark Anderson (Mechanical Engineering) and Luca Mastropasqua (Mechanical Engineering)
RISE-EARTH: Humanity
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- Sustainable practices are essential for creating a balanced and equitable future. By integrating technologies and behaviors that minimize environmental impact, we can promote social equity and support economic resilience. This holistic approach allows us to tackle global challenges such as climate change, resource depletion, and social inequality, ultimately fostering a more just and prosperous world for everyone, including underrepresented communities .
- Led by Nancy Kendall (Educational Policy Studies) and Nancy Wong (Consumer Science)
Defining Sustainability for UW–Madison
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- This session will focus on defining what sustainability means for UW–Madison, both in terms of research as well as educational and operational practices. The session aims to align student education as well as academic research with operational initiatives and encourage interdisciplinary collaboration. By integrating perspectives from the humanities and social sciences, the session seeks to create a holistic and cohesive sustainability strategy for the university.
- Led by Andrea Hicks (Civil and Environmental Engineering) and Missy Nergard (Office of Sustainability)
Promoting Interdisciplinary Research
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- This session will explore innovative strategies to bridge diverse academic disciplines, encouraging collaboration and knowledge sharing. We’ll identify potential barriers and brainstorm actionable solutions to promote a culture of interdisciplinary research.
- Led by Jennifer Hauxwell (Sea Grant), Alison Mikulyuk (Aquatic Sciences Center), Adrienne Nienow (College of Engineering Research Services), and Erin Silva (Plant Pathology)
Download Event Agenda and Map
Download Event Agenda and Map
12:00 PM Registration (Tripp Lounge – 2nd Floor)
12:30 PM Welcome Remarks – Paul Robbins (Tripp Commons – 2nd Floor)
1:00-1:15 PM Break with refreshments (2nd Floor)
1:15-2:15 PM Breakout Session 1 (See descriptions for room assignments)
2:15-2:30 PM Break with refreshments (2nd Floor)
2:30PM-3:30 Breakout Session 2 (See descriptions for room assignments)
3:30-3:45 Break with refreshments (2nd Floor)
3:45-4:30 PM Panel discussion and Closing (Tripp Commons – 2nd Floor)
The Sustainability Research Visioning Event is taking place at the Memorial Union, located at 800 Langdon Street, Madison, WI 53706. Please consider walking, bicycling, or taking a bus to the gathering, as you are able. Bicycling information can be found here. Bus information can be found here and the following buses have stops near the Memorial Union: A, B, C, D, F, J, O, 80, 81, and 82.
Event Summary
