One of the most powerful educational experiences for students is to attend or present at a professional conference. The Wisconsin chapter of the American Water Resources Association (AWRA) prides itself on being student friendly. Its size makes it an ideal place for students to meet water professionals.
“Our AWRA conference is special,” says Vy Le, a PhD student at UW-Madison who presented her research at the 2024 conference. “The scientific community plus the regulators and policy makers and community stakeholders are all in one place.”
Le, who received one of four student presentation awards sponsored by the Freshwater Collaborative, says the conference provided her an opportunity to expand her professional network and gain feedback on her research.
This year’s event takes place April 10-11 at Chula Vista Resort in Wisconsin Dells. Student registrations are discounted and include all the talks from industry professionals, state and federal agencies, and educators and students. Topics include regional groundwater and surface water trends, water regulations, and cutting-edge research on groundwater and surface water interactions, water quality, and agriculture and urban land use impacts.
Students can participate in a free lunch and career workshop on Friday, April 11. The event will include a panel of water resources professionals representing a range of career options. In addition, Freshwater Collaborative Executive Director Marissa Jablonski will share undergraduate opportunities for research and hands-on coursework across the state.
AWRA is recruiting four volunteer student assistants to help with conference setup, run projectors, and do other tasks at the annual meeting. Volunteers receive free registration. If you are interested in a volunteer position, select that option on the registration form. Registration fees will be refunded for those selected. A board member will follow up with interested volunteers to fill the four positions.
For conference details and to register, visit https://www.wisconsinawra.org/2025-annual-meeting.html.