The sixth annual Water@UW-Madison spring symposium took place on Friday, April 22. Providing an opportunity for water scholars and policymakers to reconnect around water, it was an inspirational way to spend Earth Day.

More than 130 people joined the online community and it featured more than 15 speakers who reflected on water connections from the humanities, social sciences and policy worlds. You can catch a recording of the event.

Zoom screen

Caroline Gottschalk-Druschke chairs Water@UW-Madison and led an fascinating panel made up of water scholars.

I’m a member of the Water@UW-Madison executive committee but only played a small role in planning and running of the show. I did act as the morning’s Twitter jockey. The full rundown of live tweets can be found here if you want to keep the positive water vibes alive with a quick read.  

There was a panel that explored fellowships that pair governmental agencies and newly minted water professionals to tackle water challenges. A second panel outlined a Water@UW-Madison program called FLOW that matches artists and researchers.

The scholarship of the third panel, made up of impressive water thinkers, could barely be scratched during the one-hour slot into which they fit. Here are links to their pages, which will allow for further exploration. In all but one case, there is also a tweet related to their comments:

Grace Bulltail, professor in the Nelson Institute @GraceBulltail water, energy and land can be markers of dispossession of Indigenous land and resources

Jen Rose Smith, professor in the American Indian Studies Program and Department of Geography. @sprucehen_

Manny Teodoro, professor in the La Follette School of Public Affairs. 50K water systems offer data-rich einvro says @MPTeodoro. I’ll never run out of things to study

Ingrid Diran, professor in the Department of English, Water is messy; it spills. You have to create barriers to think abt it and also think abt it as a connector

Tricia Gorby-Knoot, UW-Extension Natural Resources Institute director. @Gorby-Knoot Water is a natural entrance point to understanding the impact of the land and can tell us abt healing

Water@UW-Madison is an umbrella entity, organizing and amplifying the water expertise of 130 faculty and staff across more than 40 departments and programs. It represents topics such as water quality, invasive species and water policy. Anyone can join.

The post Keeping the positive water vibes alive-symposium recap first appeared on Wisconsin Sea Grant.

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Blog | Wisconsin Sea Grant

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Moira Harrington

 April 7, 2022

In its sixth year, the Water @ UW-Madison Spring Symposium continues to highlight relevant water-related topics and offer connection opportunities for Wisconsin. This year’s free event takes place from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Friday, April 22, and is open to all, although registration at t.ly/Hr is necessary.

It is in partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Madison Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies Earth Day 2022 celebration, which will launch conversations about water the day before (Thursday. April 21).

The 2022 Water @ UW-Madison event will be virtual but is followed by an in-person pizza lunch on the Memorial Union Terrace, 800 Langdon St., Madison, and an optional Lake Mendota kayak or pontoon boat outing.

“Throughout the pandemic, we have all found ways to maintain professional ties and capitalize on learning opportunities” said Jennifer Hauxwell, one of the event’s organizers and associate director of the Aquatic Sciences Center, home of both the University of Wisconsin Water Resources Institute and the Wisconsin Sea Grant College Program. “The 2022 symposium theme, ‘Reconnecting Through Water,’ is a fitting one both literally and figuratively. We will connect in a safe online way that facilitates broad participation, but we are also pleased to offer a setting that fosters in-person networking following the three morning panels.”

Jennifer Hauxwell, Associate Director of the UW Aquatic Sciences Center

The three panels are:

  • New Water Connections From the Humanities, Social Sciences and Policy, moderated by Water @ UW-Madison Co-Chair Caroline Gottschalk Druschke and featuring UW-Madison’s Jen Rose Smith, professor in the American Indian Studies Program and Department of Geography; Ingrid Diran, professor in the Department of English; Grace Bulltail, professor in the Nelson Institute; Tricia Gorby, UW-Extension Natural Resources Institute director; and Manny Teodoro, professor in the La Follette School of Public Affairs.
  • Tackling Wisconsin’s Water Challenges Through UW-Water Science Policy Fellowships and Agency Partnerships, with Hauxwell moderating a conversation among current six science policy fellows stationed at the Wisconsin departments of Natural Resources, Health Services and Administration and at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Three mentors of the fellows will join them.
  • Flow In Across Disciplines; Meet Artists and Water Professionals From “The Flow Project,” which will highlight this project managed by students Julia Buskirk and Alexandra Lakind.

Live captioning of the symposium panels will be provided. If other accommodations are needed, contact Water@UW-Madison.

Water @ UW-Madison is an umbrella organizing and amplifying the water expertise of more than 130 faculty and staff across more than 40 departments and programs..

 

The post Annual Symposium Explores Water-Science-Humanities-People Connections first appeared on WRI.

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News Release | WRI

News Release | WRI

https://www.wri.wisc.edu/news/annual-symposium-explores-water-science-humanities-people-connections/

Moira Harrington