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Wisconsin Sea Grant

“Skill, tenacity, humility and compassion”: Jim Hurley, director of the Aquatic Sciences Center, to retire

On: October 9, 2023

In: Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin, James Hurley, Jim Hurley, retirement

After 11 years as the director of the University of Wisconsin–Madison Aquatic Sciences Center, Jim Hurley will retire on Oct. 13.

A portrait of Jim Hurley, director of the Aquatic Sciences Center

Jim Hurley, director of the Aquatic Sciences Center. Photo credit: Wisconsin Sea Grant

Hurley oversees both Wisconsin Sea Grant and the Water Resources Institute, two federal-state partnership programs that support research, education and outreach for the protection and sustainable use of Wisconsin’s water resources. Under his leadership, both programs have addressed some of Wisconsin’s most pressing water issues—PFAS in drinking water, rising levels of radium in groundwater, coastal erosion, flooding and so much more—and provided research opportunities for the next generation of water professionals.

Jon Pennock, director of the National Sea Grant College Program, said Hurley’s leadership is one reason why Wisconsin Sea Grant is the well-respected program it is today.

“Following in the footsteps of his predecessor, Anders Andren, Jim has led Wisconsin Sea Grant to preeminence in the Sea Grant network of 34 programs across all of our coastal and Great Lakes states, Puerto Rico and Guam. He has done so with a combination of skill, tenacity, humility and compassion that serves as an inspiration to all of us in Sea Grant who have worked with him,” said Pennock.

Hurley, an expert on mercury in the Great Lakes, also serves as a professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He’s published over 100 research articles and worked on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency advisory board that developed a risk assessment for mercury emissions.

His career and leadership philosophy reflect the importance of multidisciplinary research—and sharing that research outside the university with communities across the state.

“The Wisconsin Idea is not just a slogan, it’s a way of life,” said Hurley. “It defines our Sea Grant and Water Resources institutes’ missions, and it’s embraced by our researchers, outreach specialists and educators.”

Jim Hurley chats with another gallery-goer in front of a photo of a water lily.

Hurley talks with a student photographer at an event showcasing the Zaaga’igan Ma’iinganag Lakewolves program. Photo credit: Wisconsin Sea Grant

As director, Hurley also prioritized research experiences for undergraduates, launching what would eventually become the Freshwater@UW Summer Research Scholars Program, an initiative about which he is proud.

He served on the steering committee of the Freshwater Collaborative, a state-supported partnership between 13 UW System schools that funds water education and research opportunities for students.

Marissa Jablonski, the executive director of the Freshwater Collaborative, said Hurley was a strong advocate who helped secure legislative funding for the program. Hurley, quite literally, always answered the call.

“I could call him on less than a day’s notice saying, ‘There’s an event tonight in Madison; I simply cannot be there. I wish I could, I’m double-booked, the legislators will be there—is there any way you can go?’ And he would not even take a breath and say, ‘I’ll be there.’”

When it was easy to get bogged down in the details of funding and organizing multi-institution collaborative, Hurley always saw the big picture.

“He was the steering committee member who could easily zoom out in these really difficult conversations and say, let’s keep a perspective on the UW system, Wisconsin Idea and let’s see how we all fit together,” said Jablonski.

Hurley stands among a group of ASC colleagues posing for a photo

Hurley celebrates James “Frizby” Grandt’s retirement with colleagues. Photo credit: Wisconsin Sea Grant

Pennock also lauded Hurley’s ability to bring perspective to big, thorny problems.

“I have seen Jim lead his staff and rally the Sea Grant network during his time as president of the Sea Grant Association. Each time, people with sometimes different views and approaches ultimately followed his lead, supported his efforts and had his back because everyone knew that Jim understood the big picture and complex landscape of each issue and, as importantly, always had their backs,” said Pennock.

Hurley, of course, is quick to redirect the warmth of such high praise to his colleagues.

“Over the past few years, my respect for our ASC staff has continued to grow. They accepted the challenges posed by the pandemic and continued to provide excellent service to Wisconsin citizens. More importantly, they also responded to national social unrest by committing to enhancing diversity, inclusivity, environmental justice and access in all their programming,” said Hurley.

“I’m proud, as an administrator, to have played a small part working alongside a group like that.”

The post “Skill, tenacity, humility and compassion”: Jim Hurley, director of the Aquatic Sciences Center, to retire first appeared on Wisconsin Sea Grant.

https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/news/skill-tenacity-humility-and-compassion-jim-hurley-director-of-the-aquatic-sciences-center-to-retire/

Jenna Mertz

Filling water shoes

On: August 21, 2023

In: Alison Mikulyuk, aquaculture, Dong-Fang Deng, Emma Hauser, Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin, Sharon Moen, Summer Research Opportunities Program

Two new grants set to build water-related workforce development

The labor landscape in Wisconsin is closely bound to demographics and it comes down to this simple reality: shoes are not being filled.

U.S. Census data shows Wisconsinites of traditional retirement age, 65, have increased 42% since 2005. At the same time, the number of people entering the workforce is contracting because state birth rates have slowed and there are fewer young people. Another aspect of this workforce-shortage trend is that young people are bypassing Wisconsin, choosing to work and live elsewhere as they chase their American dreams.

Now, thanks to an infusion of two new grants, Wisconsin Sea Grant is positioned to facilitate the paths young people are considering as they sort through workforce choices, including where they may eventually want to find training and education, take a job and make a home.

With $592,332 in support from the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin (FWC) over two years, the Freshwater@UW Summer Research Opportunities Program will continue its work to develop Wisconsin’s next generation of freshwater scientists.

The program matches water-related mentors from throughout the University of Wisconsin System with undergraduates to guide them in an immersive research experience and acquaint them with the many graduate school opportunities in Wisconsin.

The program just wrapped up its second summer, which attracted 31 students from across the nation to work on the system campuses at Eau Claire, Green Bay, La Crosse, Madison, Milwaukee, Oshkosh and Superior.

Alison Mikulyuk is coordinating the work of summer research scholars.

Sea Grant’s Alison Mikulyuk coordinates the program which, she said, is growing freshwater research and the workforce through collaborative, cross-system programming that trains and will, ultimately, recruit, retain and diversify the next generation of water professionals.

“The program attracts talented students to the Badger State where they gain skills that are directly applicable to future work in Wisconsin,” Mikulyuk said. “Having just seen these young people through the summer, I’m incredibly inspired. The students made an impressive showing at the recent Summer Research Symposium, and so many of them have had life-altering experiences that I know will fuel their future accomplishments.”

The second two-year FWC grant will provide $207,400 for a project called “Partnering to Boost Aquaculture Workforce Development in Wisconsin.”

Sharon Moen, food-fish outreach coordinator, conducted a 2020 needs assessment of Wisconsin’s food-fish farmers and heard over and over again the need to bring young people into the industry.

“The U.S. imports more than 70% of its fish and shrimp. About half of these imports come from overseas farms. Meanwhile, consumers are calling for locally produced food that supports American jobs, and the health of themselves and their loved ones. Wisconsin aquaculture, aquaculture being another word for fish farming, is primed to meet that demand,” Moen said. “The industry just needs workers and this project will expand training opportunities, linking commercial fish farms in the state to high schools, colleges and universities to foster farm experiences and skill-building workshops.”

Sharon Moen will work with colleagues on aquaculture industry workforce development.

She said one such idea for that skill-building will be supporting high school teams to participate in an existing annual aquaculture competition. Students design and build a system to grow fish.

Moen will work with Sea Grant colleagues Dong-Fang Deng and Emma Hauser, both aquaculture outreach and education specialists. Deng is based at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Hauser works out of UW-Steven’s Point Northern Aquaculture Demonstration Facility on the Bayfield Peninsula, not too far from Lake Superior.

“With Dong-Fang’s and Emma’s connections and our collective enthusiasm for this project, we are looking forward to successfully inspiring young people to enter the aquaculture workforce. It can offer a good standard of living and a remarkable quality of life,” Moen said.

The Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin is a partnership of Wisconsin’s 13 public universities, connecting with industry partners, local communities, policymakers and advocacy groups. Its mission is to establish Wisconsin as a world leader in freshwater science, technology, entrepreneurship and economic growth. The Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin is training the next generation of scientists to solve global water resource problems through academic programs, collaborative research and career development across the UW System.

The post Filling water shoes first appeared on Wisconsin Sea Grant.

https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/news/filling-water-shoes/

In: 2023 Freshwater@UW Summer Research Scholars Program, Alison Mikulyuk, enthusiastic Marissa Jablonski, Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin, Jim Hurley, Sofia Mota Chichy, Water@UW-Madison

Summer loving and the research is fine

On: June 5, 2023

When summer stretches before many college undergraduates, they make plans: Spend time outdoors. Connect with friends. Catch up on screen time.

For the 31 undergraduates participating in the 2023 Freshwater@UW Summer Research Scholars Program, those plans are the same, with slight alterations. The time outdoors is likely to be spent collecting field samples from a body of water. The friends are new ones—made from the pool of program participants who hail from California to Alabama from Virginia to Wisconsin, and points in between. The screen time isn’t about beating The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, but instead entering findings into a larger dataset to further aquatic science projects.

Smiling person standing in a grassy, wooded area.

Sofia Mota Chichy will research magnesium oxide. Contributed photo.

“I looked at many summer REU (research experiences for undergraduates) opportunities,” Sofia Mota Chichy, chemistry major from the University of Michigan, said. “This one at Madison had the most in water chemistry and that’s what I am interested in. I’ve never worked in a chemistry lab before and it’s even better that it is an aquatic one.” Mota Chichy will be a part of University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Christine Remucal’s lab studying magnesium oxide.

A second young woman also expressed her attraction to this opportunity because of its emphasis on water. Plus, said Jessica Alcorn a student at Northwest Missouri State, “I want to go to graduate school here in Madison.” She’ll work under UW-Madison’s Matt Ginder-Vogel, who does both surface and groundwater research.

These springboards from research to a new path in life were celebrated by an enthusiastic Marissa Jablonski at a recent orientation session for the students. “Life will form you without you trying. You’re on your way. You’ve shown up. You’re leaning in.”

Jablonski is the executive director of the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin, one of the funding entities for the summer program, about which, Sea Grant Director Jim Hurley said, “It’s been really positive to be able to expand our program because of support from the Freshwater Collaborative. Last year, we were a fledgling program of nine students.” Hurley secured a nearly $358,300 grant from the collaborative, resulting in this year’s larger cohort.

No matter the size of the group, though, Hurley said the goal remains unchanged, “The overall goal is to provide immersive student research experiences to enhance workforce development skills and allow undergraduates to consider the option of graduate studies in Wisconsin. Research experience as an undergraduate is an important component of a successful application for graduate school. In the job market, it also sets apart recent undergraduates who have addressed the changing needs of water-related fields.”

The 2023 cohort of summer research scholars undertook various orientation activities, including a tour of the UW-Madison Arboretum. Photo: Alison Mikulyuk

Expanding the number of participating students is one thing, another is the broadened involvement from professors, graduate students and others at organizations that are acting as mentors for the students. There are 48 in all, including people on University of Wisconsin System campuses in Eau Claire, Green Bay, La Crosse, Madison, Milwaukee and Oshkosh. Also providing formative experiences will be mentors from the U.S. Geological Survey, the Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve, Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary and Wisconsin Maritime Museum.

In application materials, students this summer expressed interest in pursuing research into topics such as pollution, climate change, molecular structures of water, public health and more. The projects will deliver on that skill-building, spawning a new generation of water leaders. While the students will disperse across the state for these labs and field sites, they have a standing invitation to gather each Thursday virtually—and in-person if they are in Madison—for weekly professional development sessions on topics like science communication, navigating graduate school and proposal writing.

They will add these skills to their already prodigious ones in other areas that demonstrate well-rounded natures. At the orientation session, Alison Mikulyuk, summer research opportunity program coordinator, called out fun facts when she said among the group there was a proficient loon caller, a mushroom finder, dancers, an aspiring author, someone who graduated from high school as a 14-year-old, a boxer, world-medalist baton twirler, two twins, competitive swimmers, a multi-instrumentalist, many who play instruments and several who speak more than one language.

Mikulyuk urged the undergraduates to enjoy those skills of others, and also capitalize on the people who possess them, “Learn from each other. Care for each other…Take advantage of personal and professional connections.” She continued, “I hope you will have a life-changing experience that propels you forward in your next decades.”

The program will run until Aug. 5, culminating in a poster session where students will present their summer’s worth of findings.

In addition to the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin and Sea Grant, the summer program has support from the University of Wisconsin Water Resources Institute, Water@UW Madison and the UW-Madison Graduate School.

The post Summer loving and the research is fine first appeared on Wisconsin Sea Grant.

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In: Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin, Freshwater@UW Summer Research Scholars, Jim Hurley, Manasi Simhan, University of Wisconsin Water Resources Institute

Freshwater@UW Summer Research Scholars Program opportunities now open

On: November 2, 2022

Based on the success of a pilot program on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus last summer, 31 undergraduate Freshwater@UW Summer Research Scholars opportunities are now open for application.

“The experience over summer definitely cemented my interest in research,” said Manasi Simhan, who was in the 2022 nine-person cohort and participated in a Wisconsin River sediment analysis led by Eric Roden of the UW-Madison Department of Geoscience. “If I had a chance to do it again, I would definitely do it again.”

Like Simhan, summer 2023 undergraduates will be matched with water-related faculty mentors and graduate students to align interests and grow skills applicable to post-graduate studies and future careers. There will be professional development and cross-campus programing, concluding with the chance for students to present results of their individual projects in a group setting.

In-state undergraduate applicants are encouraged to select opportunities that are not on their home campus in an effort to increase collaboration among the eight University of Wisconsin System campuses participating in 2023. Those campuses are Eau Claire, Green Bay, La Crosse, Madison, Manitowoc-Green Bay, Milwaukee, Oshkosh and Superior. Find details and apply at this link: https://water.wisc.edu/wateruw-madison-undergraduate-research-experience The deadline is Feb. 15, 2023.

An additional goal of the program is to create a diverse academic environment by increasing the number of traditionally underserved students in Wisconsin graduate programs, and ultimately, a well-prepared freshwater workforce.

Standing man wearing sunglasses talking with seating listeners and a lake in the background.

Sea Grant Director Jim Hurley enthusiastically describes the summer of research and collaborative learning to come at the kick-off of the summer 2022 scholars’ experience. Photo: Bonnie Willison.

Wisconsin Sea Grant Director Jim Hurley said, ““We’ve had great success with the pilot program last year and we’re anxious to greatly expand opportunities statewide so students can work alongside more of the UW System’s outstanding water researchers.”

The program will run from May 31 through Aug. 5, 2023. In terms of remuneration, there is a $6,000 stipend, $600 meal allowance and provision of housing.

The 2023 freshwater science experiences are funded by Sea Grant and its sister organization, the University of Wisconsin Water Resources Institute, along with resources from the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin.

The Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin is a partnership of Wisconsin’s 13 public universities, connecting with industry partners, local communities, policymakers and advocacy groups. Its mission is to establish Wisconsin as a world leader in freshwater science, technology, entrepreneurship and economic growth. The Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin is training the next generation of scientists to solve global water resource problems through academic program, collaborative research and career development across the UW System.

The post Freshwater@UW Summer Research Scholars Program opportunities now open first appeared on Wisconsin Sea Grant.

https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/news/freshwateruw-summer-research-scholars-program-opportunities-now-open/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=freshwateruw-summer-research-scholars-program-opportunities-now-open

Freshwater@UW Summer Research Scholars Program opportunities now open

On: November 2, 2022

In: Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin, Freshwater@UW Summer Research Scholars, Jim Hurley, Manasi Simhan, Wisconsin Sea Grant

large group of people sitting at tables outdoors with a lake in the background — Water Resources Director Jim Hurley addresses the first gathering of researchers and freshwater summer scholars in 2022.

Based on the success of a pilot program on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus last summer, 31 undergraduate Freshwater@UW Summer Research Scholars opportunities are open for application today.

In-state undergraduate applicants are encouraged to select opportunities that are not on their home campus in an effort to increase collaboration among the eight University of Wisconsin System campuses participating in 2023. Those campuses are Eau Claire, Green Bay, La Crosse, Madison, Manitowoc, Milwaukee, Oshkosh and Superior. Find details and apply at this link: https://water.wisc.edu/wateruw-madison-undergraduate-research-experience The deadline is Feb. 15, 2023.

Jim Hurley, director of the University of Wisconsin Water Resources Institute (WRI), said, ““We’ve had great success with the pilot program last year and we’re anxious to greatly expand opportunities statewide so students can work alongside more of the UW System’s outstanding water researchers.”

The program will run from May 31 through Aug. 5, 2023. In terms of remuneration, there is a $6,000 stipend, $600 meal allowance and provision of housing.

The 2023 freshwater science experiences are funded by WRI and its sister organization the Wisconsin Sea Grant College Program, along with resources from the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin.

The Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin is a partnership of Wisconsin’s 13 public universities, connecting with industry partners, local communities, policymakers and advocacy groups. Its mission is to establish Wisconsin as a world leader in freshwater science, technology, entrepreneurship and economic growth. The Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin is training the next generation of scientists to solve global water resource problems through academic program, collaborative research and career development across the UW System.

The post Freshwater@UW Summer Research Scholars Program opportunities now open first appeared on WRI.

News Release | WRI

https://www.wri.wisc.edu/news/freshwateruw-summer-research-scholars-program-opportunities-now-open/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=freshwateruw-summer-research-scholars-program-opportunities-now-open

New undergraduate research program focused on water launched

On: March 22, 2022

In: Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin, Jim Hurley, minority-serving institutions, undergraduate research experience, underserved

The University of Wisconsin Water Resources Institute (WRI) and its sister organization the Wisconsin Sea Grant College Program Tuesday received a $358,000 two-year grant from the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin to set up summer undergraduate research experiences for students on University of Wisconsin System campuses. The experiences will focus on freshwater science.

WRI Director Jim Hurley said the program will, “provide immersive student research experiences to enhance workforce development skills and allow undergraduates to consider the option of graduate studies in Wisconsin.”

man with beard and glasses — James Hurley, director of the University of Wisconsin Water Resources Institute. (Photo by Bryce Richter / UW-Madison)

He said a related goal is to create a diverse academic environment by recruiting traditionally underrepresented students to graduate programs and ultimately into academia, or into employment. That is also the goal of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Summer Research Opportunity Program (SROP), with which WRI and Sea Grant will be coordinating the recruitment and mentoring process.

In year one, four students using Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin funding will be selected through SROP’s central application hub for both UW System faculty and staff researchers seeking to pair with aspiring research undergraduates, and the student applicants. An additional four students will be supported through combined funding from WRI, Sea Grant and UW-Madison’s Graduate School and also using the SROP hub.

Along with UW-Madison, three other UW System campuses, Eau Claire, La Crosse and Platteville, will participate in the program in year one.

In 2023, the program will be expanded to 20 students. At that time, all four-year UW System campuses will be offered the opportunity to propose opportunities for hosting the students.

In both years, these experiences will include larger partnership programming that supports, among others, students from minority-serving institutions.

The freshwater collaborative funding coming to WRI and Sea Grant is part of a statewide initiative, backed by the Wisconsin State Legislature and Gov. Tony Evers, to tackle 10 grand water challenges and support curriculum development, undergraduate research opportunities, career development and field training experiences for students interested in studying water-related fields at the UW System schools. The collaborative is a partnership of the universities, connecting with industry, local communities, policymakers and advocacy groups. Its mission is to establish Wisconsin as a world leader in freshwater science, technology, entrepreneurship and economic growth.

The post New undergraduate research program focused on water launched first appeared on WRI.

News Release | WRI

https://www.wri.wisc.edu/news/new-undergraduate-research-program-focused-on-water-launched/

Water science is the focus of a new undergraduate research program

On: March 22, 2022

In: Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin, Jim Hurley, minority-serving institution, undergraduate research experience, underserved

The Wisconsin Sea Grant College Program and its sister organization the University of Wisconsin Water Resources Institute (WRI) Tuesday received a $358,000 two-year grant from the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin to set up summer undergraduate research experiences for students on University of Wisconsin System campuses. The experiences will focus on freshwater science.

Sea Grant Director Jim Hurley said the program will, “provide immersive student research experiences to enhance workforce development skills and allow undergraduates to consider the option of graduate studies in Wisconsin.”

Wisconsin Sea Grant Director James Hurley. Image credit: Wisconsin Sea Grant

Along with UW-Madison, three other UW System campuses, Eau Claire, La Crosse and Platteville, will participate in the program in year one.

In 2023, the program will be expanded to 20 students. At that time, all four-year UW System campuses will be solicited to propose opportunities for hosting the students.

In both years, these experiences will include larger partnership programming that supports, among others, students from minority-serving institutions.

The freshwater collaborative funding coming to Sea Grant and WRI is part of a statewide initiative, backed by the Wisconsin State Legislature and Gov. Tony Evers, to tackle 10 grand water challenges and support curriculum development, undergraduate research opportunities, career development and field training experiences for students interested in studying water-related fields at the UW System schools. The collaborative is a partnership of the universities, connecting with industry, local communities, policymakers and advocacy groups. Its mission is to establish Wisconsin as a world leader in freshwater science, technology, entrepreneurship and economic growth.

The post Water science is the focus of a new undergraduate research program first appeared on Wisconsin Sea Grant.

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