Water Words

Fall 2024

Dear Friends and Partners,

What an amazing summer it has been for students interested in water science!

At the Freshwater Collaborative, one of our goals is to support programs that introduce high school students to field work and careers in water. It's working! 

This summer, we funded four summer programs for high school students across the state. A new camp at UW Oshkosh reached capacity in just a few weeks, and already this month two parents reached out to ask about programs for next year.

In addition, undergraduates from the Universities of Wisconsin and colleges across the country gained hands-on training through a multitude of summer courses, research opportunities and internships. We've featured a few below.

These young people are our future water professionals! I've had the pleasure of meeting a number of them over the summer, and their enthusiasm is motivating and inspiring.

As the weather cools, the hands-on experiences will continue with fall courses and research opportunities. At the Freshwater Collaborative, we'll be continuing to create and enhance partnerships. Please reach out if you have ideas or are looking for ways to connect with others working in water.

Best,
Marissa Jablonski
Executive Director

Students and faculty from UW-Milwaukee and UW-Stevens Point are developing and testing materials that can filter out PFAS — harmful "forever chemicals" — from water. Their research could pave the way for safer drinking water and a healthier environment.

High school students from Wisconsin and Illinois explored water science during a new three-day camp hosted at UW Oshkosh. Through hands-on activities, they learned about career opportunities related to water resources and technology.

Undergraduates are working closely with government agencies to study the reproduction and survival rates of lake sturgeon that use the Menomonee River to spawn. Their research could help ensure the future of this prehistoric fish in the Great Lakes.

Over the summer, students from multiple universities learned about the impacts of human activities on Wisconsin’s freshwater coast and gained hands-on experience with scientific research techniques.

Did you miss the Sept. 10 Great Lakes Freshwater Symposium on harmful algal blooms? Our panel of experts from around the Great Lakes highlighted the challenges of monitoring and responding to blue-green algae blooms and their economic and public health impacts. 

Watch Recording

Are you recruiting undergraduates for research positions or internships for fall semester? We can help spread the word and post your positions to our website. Email the information to freshwatercollab@uwm.edu.

Jacobs Engineering, in partnership with the Universities of Wisconsin and Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin, has flexible short-term positions for 15-20 students interested in drinking water quality and public health and safety.

This is an exciting opportunity to get hands-on experience in assisting public water systems across Wisconsin and working with local government entities and public utilities. Positions run October 2024 through February 2025. Info session recording available on website. Apply by Sept. 22. 

The Green Lake Association is hiring a project and operations manager to oversee and manage lake conservation projects and operational needs. This role requires an individual with strong project management experience, the ability to lead stakeholders toward achieving environmental goals, and a solid understanding of the scientific principles driving water quality improvement efforts. 

The position will stay open until filled with preference to applications received by October 7. Job description at https://www.greenlakeassociation.org/employment-internships. Open to recent graduates!

Do you have something you'd like to share at the 2025 Lakes and Rivers Convention? The call for presentation proposals is open for concurrent sessions, pre- and post-convention workshops, lightning talks, and posters. Students and faculty are encouraged to submit a proposal. Deadline to submit: Oct. 1.

• Oct. 1-3: Great Lakes Beach Association Conference, Grant Portage, MN
• Oct. 29-30: Nexus Sustainability Leaders Summit, Milwaukee
• Feb. 25-27: Wetland Science Conference, La Crosse
• March 26-28: Wisconsin Lakes and Rivers Convention, Stevens Point
• April 2: Research in the Rotunda, Madison

Thanks to the Sustainable Phosphorus Alliance for highlighting some of Wisconsin's phosphorous research and how the Freshwater Collaborative is working to build collaborations in our state! Read the blog.

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