TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCES IN FRESHWATER SCIENCE IN WESTERN WISCONSIN

The Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin (FCW) is an integrative consortium of University of Wisconsin campuses designed to establish Wisconsin as a global leader in freshwater science. A primary objective of the Collaborative is the development of skilled workforce, which will be achieved through the establishment of new water-centric training programs focused on undergraduates.

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, in collaboration with UW campuses in Oshkosh, Stout, and River Falls, is applying a multi-pronged approach in developing a Freshwater Science program in western Wisconsin.

The first prong of the approach is the development of a week-long, field intensive learning experience that will introduce student participants to a wide range of freshwater science topics. The Freshwater Science Field Experience (FSFE) is an outreach and recruitment program targeting junior and senior high school students from Wisconsin and intended to be a gateway course for new undergraduate students interested in freshwater science. The program consists of a series of modules focused on both field and laboratory aspects of freshwater science across western Wisconsin including groundwater contamination, biodiversity, lake eutrophication, and a critical evaluation of water sustainability. Participants also engage in a 2-day experience in Door County exploring aspects of Great Lakes ecology and restoration.

The second prong is an 8-day Western Wisconsin Advanced Freshwater Field Course designed for university students pursuing majors related to freshwater science. The 2-credit course is composed of hands-on modules designed by experts in freshwater science across departments of geology, biology, geography, environmental science, and engineering among the collaborating institutions. The goal of this course is to provide university students across the UW System with an in-depth exposure to freshwater issues in western Wisconsin beyond the curriculum available through any institution’s individual curriculum. This course aligns with the aspiration of the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin to fill the global, regional, and local demand for a water workforce through explicit structuring of curriculum, training, and workplace experience.