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 Q&A: BenthicNet Team’s Biomonitoring in Wisconsin
Each year Research in the Rotunda at the Wisconsin Capitol features undergraduate research at the 13 Universities of Wisconsin. Six Freshwater Collaborative-funded projects, including BenthicNet, were showcased. The project involves students and faculty from UW-Parkside, UW-Stevens Point and UW-Madison. Two of the students… - Student Q&A: Monitoring Toxins Released by Algal Blooms
Each year Research in the Rotunda at the Wisconsin Capitol features undergraduate research at the 13 Universities of Wisconsin. Six Freshwater Collaborative-funded projects were highlighted in 2026. Poster Title: Monitoring Microcystin Concentrations of Inland and Great Lakes in WisconsinStudent: Cole Lodholz, UW Oshkosh, Environmental… - Michigan Student Falls in Love with Wisconsin and Water Science
A year and a half after participating in the Freshwater@UW Summer Opportunities Program, Hope Dzik still raves about the experience and how it changed her career path to water science. In fact, Dzik is presenting her research from the summer… - ARTS Sites Reduce Phosphorus Runoff, Provide Training for Students
Finding cost-effective ways to reduce agricultural runoff is critical to improving water quality in the Fox-River basin. To help, Brown and Outagamie Counties have begun installing agricultural runoff treatment systems (ARTS). ARTS were developed with a grant from the Great… - Student Q&A: PFAS in Drinking Water in Eau Claire County
Each year Research in the Rotunda at the Wisconsin Capitol features undergraduate research at the 13 Universities of Wisconsin. Six Freshwater Collaborative-funded projects were highlighted in 2026. Poster Title: A Systematic Approach to Testing of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Drinking Water in… - Freshwater@UW Research Program Inspires Missouri Native to Study and Work in Water
A native of Kansas City, Mo., Emily Valentine hadn’t considered a career in water until she went to UW-Madison. “I loved that the campus was on Lake Mendota,” she says. She enrolled as a chemistry major and after getting involved…
News
- Freshwater Opportunities Bulletin, April 2026April 1, 2026
- Water Words, Spring 2026March 26, 2026
- Freshwater High School Scholars Present at Annual SymposiumMarch 24, 2026
- Blugold researchers at forefront of community PFAS testingMarch 18, 2026
Events
- Great Lakes Freshwater Symposium: Powering Progress or Peril? The Hidden Environmental Costs of AI-Data Centers, May 7April 9, 2026
- UW-Superior Event Showcases Careers in Commercial, Rescue and Research Diving, April 9March 26, 2026
- Freshwater Collaborative Hosts Plenary Session at NACCR Conference, July 13March 24, 2026
- Freshwater Collaborative Steering Committee Meeting, March 25March 24, 2026
Stay Informed
Our 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.
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.
View Experts Directory