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
- 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… - What’s It Like to Be a Marine Tech? Students Board the Research Vessel for Expedition to Lake Michigan Course
What’s it like to work as a marine tech? Four UW-Milwaukee students took a five-day crash course that taught them all about this career — and earned them a marine tech deck microcredential from the Marine Technology Society. The 2026… - Students Explore Water and Farming Practices in Wisconsin’s Driftless Area
With its bluffs, caves and cold-water trout streams, Wisconsin’s Driftless Area — the only area of the state not covered by glaciers during the last ice age — is uniquely beautiful. The topography also creates unique farming challenges such as… - Summer Field Hydrology Course Offers Experiences at UW-Eau Claire, UW-River Falls and UW-Stout
Students from UW-Eau Claire, UW-River Falls and UW-Stout recently participated in a three-week field study course in hydrology, the study of water, its movement and interactions with the environment. They spent a week with faculty on each campus examining the…
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