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
- High School Students Explore Freshwater Science from the River to the Lab
This summer, 24 high school students from across Wisconsin came together at UW- La Crosse for a five-day residential freshwater science camp. They deepened their understanding of freshwater ecosystems and made connections between environmental health and human health. The annual… - Cross-Campus Freshwater Course Gives UW Students Real-World Lab and Field Experience
A popular summer freshwater science course brought together students and faculty from opposite sides of Wisconsin for intensive hands-on lab and field work. In its third offering, Special Topics in Freshwater Science Laboratory and Field Techniques at UW-River Falls expanded… - UW Researchers Train Future Scientists and Educate Communities About Wisconsin’s Peatlands
Peatlands are powerhouses when it comes to improving water quality, minimizing flood risks, providing habitat and storing carbon. Yet, most people are unaware of these important ecological places. Researchers and students from UW-Green Bay and UW-Madison hope to change that.… - 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…
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
- Freshwater Collaborative Steering Committee Meeting, Oct. 9, 2026October 6, 2026
- Great Lakes Freshwater Symposium on BenthicNet: Expanding Access to Specimen Collections for Biomonitoring, Oct. 30, 2026September 18, 2026
- 4th Annual FresH2O Partner Event, Friday, Oct. 9September 1, 2026
- Freshwater Collaborative Steering Committee Meeting, Aug. 26, 2026August 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