Join us for the 2nd Annual FresH2O Partner Event on Friday, Sept. 27.
Are you looking for new ways to partner on freshwater science, water policy and workforce development?
The Freshwater Collaborative annual FresH2O Partner Event brings together faculty and staff from the 13 Universities of Wisconsin to discuss water challenges and workforce development in Wisconsin with current and prospective partners from industry, government agencies, tribal nations, K-12 schools, and nonprofit and advocacy groups.
This year’s event will include a keynote discussion on Wisconsin’s water priorities; collaborative sessions on PFAS, water policy, K-12 outreach and partnerships. The Connections and Conversations networking event will provide opportunities to deepen conversations.
REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED. If you would like to be on a waiting list should someone cancel their registration, please email freshwater-collab@uwm.edu.
This is a free, in-person event. Advance registration is required for planning purposes. If you register and cannot attend, notify freshwater-collab@uwm.edu ASAP to open the spot for another attendee.
Event Details
Friday, Sept. 27, 2024
12:30-6:30 p.m.
UW-Madison Pyle Center
702 Langdon Street | Madison, WI 53706
pyle.wisc.edu/
https://pyle.wisc.edu/about/parking/
Agenda
| 12:30-1 p.m. | Event Check In |
| 1-1:45 p.m. | OPENING SESSION Freshwater Collaborative Welcome and Keynote Address: Wisconsin’s Freshwater Research and Policy Priorities |
| Jim Zellmer, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources | |
| Mike Strigle, Assistant Deputy Secretary, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection | |
| 2-3:15 p.m. | BREAKOUT SESSION ONE |
| Developing Successful Freshwater Programs with K-12 Students and Educators | |
| Water Policy Network Meeting | |
| 3:15-3:30 p.m. | BREAK |
| 3:30-4:45 p.m. | BREAKOUT SESSION TWO |
| Creating Partnerships that Expand Freshwater Research and Workforce Development | |
| PFAS Collaboration Group Meeting | |
| 5-5:30 p.m. | Sharing Lessons from Sessions |
| 5-6:30 p.m. | CONNECTIONS & CONVERSATIONS |
| Enjoy drinks, appetizers and conversations with colleagues and potential new partners. |
Session Details
Developing Successful Freshwater Programs with K-12 Students and Educators
Growing Wisconsin’s water workforce starts with actively engaging K-12 students who are interested in water science and giving them opportunities to explore water systems and career paths. Learn about highly successful K-12 outreach programs at the Universities of Wisconsin, including educator workshops, high school internships, hands-on summer camp, yearlong water monitoring programs and more. Talk with leaders from Learn Deep, which engages K-12 educators and develops Community Engaged Learning Experiences. The goal of this session is to brainstorm how we can grow existing programs and develop a long-term plan for supporting K-12 offerings statewide.
Freshwater Collaborative Water Policy Network Meeting
The Freshwater Collaborative Water Policy Network is a statewide network coordinated by the Center for Water Policy at UW-Milwaukee. They convene water policy experts from the 13 Universities of Wisconsin. Members share ideas, leverage research methods, collaborate on research proposals, and develop water policy curricula. In this breakout session, we will hear from DNR water and environmental justice policy experts about statewide priorities and have a chance to discuss how our research, teaching and service relates to these priorities. This meeting is open to anyone interested.
Creating Partnerships that Expand Freshwater Research and Workforce Development
How can we create effective partnerships that address the needs of Wisconsin’s employers and communities while preparing graduates to work in water-related fields? Greg Kleinheinz, director of the UW Oshkosh Environmental Research and Innovation Center (ERIC), will share how the ERIC provides undergraduate and graduate students with training while providing testing services, community-based project management, and R&D to a diverse set of stakeholders. Eric Booth, associate scientist in the Department of Plant & Agroecosystem Sciences and the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering at UW-Madison, will share how Grassland 2.0 is working with community partners in a process of Collaborative Landscape Design in place-based Learning Hubs. The session will include opportunities to brainstorm ways that academia and external groups can partner to address workforce development needs.
PFAS Collaboration Group Working Session
This will be the first in-person working session for the PFAS Collaboration Group. Participants will receive a summary of the identified gaps in current PFAS research in the areas of Environmental Toxicity, Source/Fate/Transport, and Remediation. They will then break into groups to create plans to write a white paper and/or collaborate on research proposals.
Connections and Conversations
Participants will share what was learned during the sessions followed by time to dive into deeper conversations with those you met during the breakout sessions. Connect with potential collaborators. Light appetizers and non-alcoholic drinks provided by the Freshwater Collaborative. Cash bar available.