Stories indexed under: Environment

Total: 156   RSSRSS feed

  • Photo of Yellowstone fire and aftermath Rising from the ashes: The science of Yellowstone’s rebirth Aug. 6, 2008 When wildfires raged through more than a million acres of a beloved national park, the destruction seemed complete. But a UW researcher looked closer — and found hope growing among the remains.
  • ESA to feature wide range of UW-Madison presentations Aug. 5, 2008 The Ecological Society of America will hold its 93rd annual meeting on Aug. 3-8, 2008, in Milwaukee, Wis. The society was founded in 1915 to promote the practice and awareness of ecological science. This year’s meeting will highlight the interdisciplinary nature of ecology and linking research with education. A wide range of UW-Madison research will be presented at the meeting.
  • Cover of Fish of Wisconsin Landmark book on Wisconsin fishes is only a cast away online July 29, 2008 George C. Becker's "Fishes of Wisconsin" is the first comprehensive survey of the state's fish species and the environmental challenges they face. Published by the University of Wisconsin Press in 1983, it remains the seminal reference to 157 fish species found in Wisconsin, many which are also found throughout much of the Great Lakes and Upper Mississippi River basins.
  • Photo of snowmobile Green snowmobile logs first month at Arctic research station July 3, 2008 An electric snowmobile built by student members of the University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Engineering Clean Snowmobile Team is now in Greenland, on loan to the National Science Foundation (NSF) for the summer to support climate research projects at the Greenland Environmental Observatory (GEO Summit Camp).
  • Free newsletter offers practical ideas on pro-environmental behavior May 29, 2008 Despite the strong established link between human behavior and environmental degradation, many people continue their daily activities,to pay little attention in daily life to ecological concerns, even when they are aware of how they might live more sustainably. A new, free, newsletter called "Environmental Communication and Social Marketing," created by faculty from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and UW Cooperative Extension, provides innovative, psychology-based strategies for promoting behaviors that positively impact the environment.
  • Crop of print ad Class works to protect Wisconsin lakes in service learning project May 13, 2008 The mention of Eurasian water-milfoil and zebra mussels in Dominique Brossard's strategic communication class last February had students rolling their eyes and swapping puzzled looks. But after a semester of carefully tailoring multimedia campaigns to help a Wisconsin non-profit group get the word out about lake preservation, that initial bewilderment was replaced by an enthusiasm that could help keep state lakes free of invasive species.
  • Notable graduates: Brandon Gador — Co-Founder of Powered Green LLC May 13, 2008 Brandon Gador, a business student majoring in marketing, didn't like the prospect of graduating into a stuffy desk job. So, when the opportunity to enroll in Professor Phil Kim's courses in entrepreneurship and venture creation arose, he jumped at the chance, and throughout the process, developed a feasible idea for a business with a UW-Madison peer.
  • Notable graduates: Craig Kohn — A passion for agricultural education May 13, 2008 In the process of applying for grants to conduct his own environmental research, Craig Kohn was asked to take the lead on implementing an environmental education program through the Wisconsin Future Farmers of America (FFA) Association. Unenthusiastic at first, Kohn soon discovered his passion for education.
  • We Conserve energy conservation initiative yields results April 22, 2008 An energy-saving campaign launched at the University of Wisconsin-Madison two years ago has identified annual energy savings of $3.7 million and reductions of carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 28,000 tons a year.
  • Engineering class infuses green ideas into local building projects April 21, 2008 Earth Day is celebrated once a year, but University of Wisconsin-Madison civil and environmental engineering students are working to create plans that offer sustainable benefits for years to come.
  • Photo of Aldo Leopold Digital project puts Aldo Leopold papers online April 8, 2008 The project to digitize the University of Wisconsin-Madison Archives' complete collection of materials from conservationist Aldo Leopold has made its first installment of online materials available to the public.
  • Photo of greater prairie chicken Watching the birds: Agri-tourism could help save colorful prairie chicken April 7, 2008 In terms of entertaining courtship rituals, few animals can hold a candle to Tympanuchus cupido -- the drummer of love, commonly known as the greater prairie chicken.
  • Forum explores ‘pro-poor rewards’ for ecosystem protection March 26, 2008 Ecologist and MacArthur Fellow Lisa Curran will discuss the use of biofuels in Borneo, a large island in southeast Asia, in a free public lecture at 4:30 p.m. Monday, April 7, in 180 Science Hall.
  • Photo of polar bears Arctic climate models play key role in pending polar bear decision March 11, 2008 The pending federal decision about whether to protect the polar bear as a threatened species is as much about climate science as it is about climate change.
  • Image of Gulf of Mexico dead zone Increased ethanol production to worsen Gulf of Mexico ‘dead zone’ March 10, 2008 The rush in the United States to produce corn-based ethanol as an alternative fuel will likely worsen pollution in the Gulf of Mexico and expand the annual "dead zone" that kills fish and other aquatic life, according to new research.
  • Photo of Sarmadi Textiles professor embraces community service, collaboration Feb. 27, 2008 Larry Eisenberg was in the middle of a remodeling and expansion project, and he needed some new carpeting - $85 million worth of it, in fact.
  • Celebrating Leopold’s legacy Feb. 27, 2008 To celebrate the Aldo Leopold legacy, people are invited to the Arboretum Visitor Center, 1207 Seminole Highway, from 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 1, for “Madison Reads Leopold,” part of Aldo Leopold Weekend. Leopold Weekend is a statewide event that honors Leopold’s contributions to our understanding of the environment.
  • Off the hook: Stronger soft-plastic fishing lure reels in raves Feb. 21, 2008 Working with University of Wisconsin-Madison engineering and business school faculty and students, a Wisconsin entrepreneur has perfected a fiber-reinforced fishing lure that may prevent millions of pounds of toxic plastics from polluting waters nationwide.
  • Photo of wolves Researchers promote coexistence of wolves, people Feb. 14, 2008 For almost a decade, Adrian Treves, an animal behaviorist and ecologist, and Lisa Naughton, a social scientist, have worked closely with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to address the challenges of living with wolves, especially the losses of livestock and hunting dogs that inevitably result.
  • New project to address climate change impacts on Wisconsin Feb. 4, 2008 A new statewide project will assess the potential consequences of climate change for Wisconsin's ecosystems, industries, farms and human health and will recommend adaptation strategies.