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
- University Students Monitor Kinnickinnic River in River Falls in Advance of Dam Removal
For a fifth year, students from Universities of Wisconsin Campuses stepped into the Kinnickinnic River in River Falls to gather data that track the ecological health of the river in advance of an expected dam removal project. The students spent… - Lake Superior Becomes Classroom for Educators to Learn About Great Lakes
The Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve in Superior, Wisc., became a classroom for teachers this summer. For three days in June, educators from the Great Lakes region learned how to connect classroom teaching with real-world environmental challenges and solutions… - UWL Student Research Reveals Economic Impact and Community Desire to Preserve Lake Onalaska
Located on the Mississippi River near La Crosse, Wisc., Lake Onalaska is a valued place for fishing, boating and bird watching for both residents and visitors. It brings in millions of tourism dollars each year and also provides a habitat… - Partnership on Lead Pipe Project Leads to Water Jobs
Farron Bussian wasn’t sure what to expect when she applied for an internship with Jacobs Engineering in October 2023, but she was quickly integrated into a national team of water professionals. “At the time, I wasn’t entirely sure what kind… - Three Collaborative Programs Teach Students About Water Science in Western Wisconsin
UW-Stout leads three of the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin’s longest-running programs that train the next generation of water scientists: the Field Hydrology three-week advanced field course, the Red Cedar River Basin Internship Program, and the Water in Western Wisconsin: An… - UW-Eau Claire Workshop Teaches Educators About Groundwater
Dr. Sarah Vitale, associate professor of geology and environmental science at UW-Eau Claire, is helping Wisconsin educators teach their students about groundwater flow and its impact. During a workshop on June 26, 2026, she guided K-12 educators through exercises and…
News
- Undergraduate Students Dive Into Door County Waters, Door County PulseJuly 17, 2026
- Freshwater Collaborative at UWO provides taste of freshwater sciences, careersJuly 17, 2026
- UW-Green Bay program on cutting edge of farm runoff, Spectrum News 1July 10, 2026
- UW-Stout Polytechnic’s Red Cedar Basin Monitoring Group trains next generation of water scientistsJuly 9, 2026
Events
- Green Bay Area of Concern Workshop for Educators, Aug. 19, 2026July 10, 2026
- Freshwater Collaborative Steering Committee, June 24, 2026June 22, 2026
- Freshwater Collaborative Steering Committee Meeting, May 27May 25, 2026
- Registration Open for UW-Green Bay Freshwater Educator Paddle, July 15, 2026May 21, 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