The Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin is training Wisconsin’s water workforce to address water challenges.
We partner with the private sector, nonprofits, government agencies, tribal nations, and community members on programs and collaborative research that
- Engage middle school and high school students and encourage them to study water and environmental sciences.
- Offer intensive hands-on coursework where college students learn lab and fieldwork techniques.
- Teach students technical and professional skills through undergraduate research and internships with on-campus and external partners.
- Create a jobs pipeline that strengthens Wisconsin’s workforce.
The Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin is a statewide initiative of the 13 public Universities of Wisconsin.
Spotlight Stories
- Student Touts Benefits of Joining Summer DAM Crew; Apply by May 20
Robert Boss, a Conservation major at UW-River Falls with an emphasis on restoration management, knows firsthand the opportunities that participating on the DAM Crew opens to students. The two-week summer DAM Crew offers undergraduates the unique experience of learning from… - Freshwater Field Course with Professionals Prepares Students for Workforce
When faculty at UW-Milwaukee’s School of Freshwater Sciences sought to redesign one of their core courses, a top goal was getting input and participation from industry and governmental partners. They wanted to ensure their freshwater field course would prepare students… - UW-La Crosse Student Advances PFAS Research, Educates Local Community
UW-La Crosse senior Anika Oplanic never expected that working in a campus toxicology lab would lead to so many opportunities — especially in the area of PFAS research. The molecular genetics and cellular biology major joined Professor Tisha King-Heiden’s lab… - Gain Hands-on Research Experience in High School Freshwater Summer Scholars Program
When Maddie Mueller saw an Instagram post about a summer high school freshwater program at UW-Green Bay, she immediately applied. “I plan to go into the freshwater science field and wanted some real in-lab experiences.” says Mueller, a senior at… - A Novel Approach to PFAS Removal and Awareness Efforts
When it comes to PFAS research and education, Seyed Javad Amirfakhri is professionally and personally invested. Amirfakhri is an Assistant Professor of Paper science and Chemical Engineering at UW-Stevens Point who is conducting innovative PFAS removal research. He also has… - Research Collaboration Tackles Phosphorus Pollution and Educates Youth
If you’ve seen blue-green algae on local lakes and rivers, you’ve seen the effects of agricultural runoff — particularly phosphorus pollution. This nutrient contaminates Wisconsin’s freshwater lakes and negatively impacts water quality and safety for human consumption and aquatic life.…
News
- PFAS Workshop Helps 6-12 Grade Educators Teach Students About PFASApril 21, 2025
- Freshwater Opportunities Bulletin, April 2025April 8, 2025
- Applications Due May 20 for Hands-On Summer River Restoration ExperienceApril 1, 2025
- Water Words, Spring 2025March 12, 2025
Events
- Great Lakes Freshwater Symposium: Possible Future Uses of New Lakefront at the Port of Milwaukee, April 22March 26, 2025
- April Joint Committee on Finance Listening SessionsMarch 26, 2025
- PFAS Workshop for High School Teachers, April 3March 25, 2025
- K-12 Educator Groundwater Workshop, June 30March 12, 2025
Stay Informed
Our quarterly e-newsletter will keep you informed about how the Freshwater Collaborative is training Wisconsin’s future water workforce and building partnerships that solve freshwater challenges.
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Experts Directory
The Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin includes faculty and staff from the 13 Universities of Wisconsin, creating an extensive network of professionals working in the water industry. They can speak to about a variety of water challenges in our state.
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