Water Words

Spring, 2025

Spring is in the air, and I look forward to meeting students and talking with funded researchers at upcoming conferences and Research in the Rotunda, which will feature six Freshwater Collaborative–funded projects.

Professional conferences are an excellent place for students to share their work, learn about water research and challenges, and grow their network of potential employers. Please encourage students to attend when possible.

I will be speaking about the Freshwater Collaborative and partnerships at the Wisconsin Lakes and Rivers conference and the annual meeting of the Wisconsin Section of the American Water Resources Association (AWRA). I will also be part of a career workshop for students at AWRA. In addition, we will be hosting a panel at the Wisconsin Society of Science Teachers conference to share information about water-related programs for K-12 students and teachers. Please reach out if you’d like to connect at any of these events.

In this issue, we feature some important research into PFAS and phosphorus, as well as information about hands-on summer courses, camps and undergraduate research experiences. Please share these opportunities with students and colleagues.

And finally, the deadline for our request for proposals is April 1. Before submitting, please speak with your campus Steering Committee member and Office of Sponsored Research to ensure your project aligns with your university’s overall strategy.  

Water is an important issue affecting us all. Many thanks for your continued partnership and collaboration as we build a pipeline to water jobs in Wisconsin.

Best,
Marissa Jablonski

Faculty and undergrads at UW-Stevens Point and UW-Madison are testing ways to remove PFAS from water and raising awareness of PFAS through educational events for middle school and high school students and teachers.

UW-Green Bay, UW-Madison, and Upham Woods are educating the next generation of water scientists. With Freshwater Collaborative funding, they're providing hands-on research and educational programs to tackle phosphorus pollution in our state.

UW-Eau Claire’s Environmental Science Day brings together high school students, teachers, and university faculty and students for a day of freshwater exploration and discovery. The second annual event will take place May 2.

Five Universities of Wisconsin campuses created a transformative freshwater course that answers the fundamental question, "Why is water so important?" Hundreds of students statewide have developed a greater appreciation for water in Wisconsin — and some even discovered their career path.

Are you recruiting undergraduates for research positions, internships or jobs? We can help spread the word and post your positions to our website. Email the information to freshwater-collab@uwm.edu. 

The Universities of Wisconsin will host its inaugural Symposium for Undergraduate Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity on May 3. This event showcases the creativity and innovation of undergraduate research. We encourage Freshwater Collaborative–funded students to submit an abstract. Abstracts due March 15.

Freshwater Collaborative courses offer students immersive field and lab work to prepare them for the workforce. Additional details and downloadable flyers and presentation slides available on our website. 

The Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin supports a number of summer camps and workshops for high school students and K-12 educators. Additional details and downloadable flyers available on our website. 

For its spring Great Lakes Freshwater Symposium, the Freshwater Collaborative is partnering with the UW-Milwaukee Center for Water Policy to feature James Wasley's research on the Port of Milwaukee’s dredged material disposal facilities. This is an online event open to all.

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