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In: class, design, fashion, fish, Ginny Carlton, leather, Sharon Moen, Titus Seilheimer, UW-Madison, Waste

About 20 UW–Madison students got a unique – and very squishy – hands-on lesson in sustainability this spring when they learned to make leather from fish skin in a class called “Building a Sustainable Creative Practice.” Follow them throughout the process in “Bringing Fish Leather to UW-Madison,” a new video produced by Wisconsin Sea Grant’s Bonnie Willison.

After fish are caught or harvested, the skins are often discarded. But in class, students explored how the material can be repurposed into fashion and design pieces while reducing waste and avoiding plastic-based materials. Using skins donated by northern Wisconsin commercial fishers, students learned the surprisingly simple process of making fish leather. Along the way, Wisconsin Sea Grant outreach specialists Sharon Moen and Titus Seilheimer also introduced students to Wisconsin’s commercial fishing industry and topics related to Great Lakes sustainability.

Moen and Seilheimer first learned fish leather tanning at a 2025 workshop and have since been teaching others across Wisconsin. Ginny Carlton, Sea Grant’s education outreach specialist, helped forge a partnership with UW-Madison’s Design Studies department to bring fish leather tanning to UW-Madison. Students were encouraged by instructors Mary Hark and Anika Kozlowski to experiment creatively with the material, with project ideas ranging from fitted tops, to book covers, to bracelets. “I’m excited about the future, seeing the enthusiasm these students had,” said Moen.

This project was made possible by the Brittingham Wisconsin Trust.

The post New video: From fish waste to fashion first appeared on Wisconsin Sea Grant.

Original Article

News Releases | Wisconsin Sea Grant

News Releases | Wisconsin Sea Grant

https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/news/fishleather/

Bonnie Willison

On:
In: David Koser, Jennifer Hauxwell, Jim Hurley, UW-Madison, water

Now in its fifth year, the annual Water@UW-Madison symposium has become a vital event that gives attendees a chance to hear about a broad swath of cutting-edge water research and outreach. With many short sessions, it’s one of the fastest and most informative ways to learn about the state of Wisconsin’s water and what’s being done to protect this critical resource.

The online symposium will be held Tuesday, May 5. (Photo illustration: Water@UW-Madison)

This year, like most other conferences in the era of COVID-19, Water@UW-Madison is going virtual. The online event will take place Tuesday, May 5, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. This year’s theme is “Working Together to Address Water Challenges: UW-Madison and State Government.”

Attendees can participate via Zoom or, if they prefer, by watching the Water@UW-Madison YouTube channel. One need not be affiliated with the university to participate. Currently, over 250 people have registered for the Zoom sessions.

Said David Koser, a project assistant at the UW-Madison Aquatic Sciences Center (home to Wisconsin Sea Grant and the Water Resources Institute), “The symposium is going to be informative and a lot of fun. UW-Madison’s partnerships and collaborations with state government are key to the health and well-being of the people of Wisconsin. Our speakers will have great material to share, and we hope that this event will show the strength of our existing relationships as well as help build new ones.” Koser helps coordinate this signature event.

Numerous Aquatic Sciences Center staff are involved in this year’s event. Director Jim Hurley and Associate Director Jen Hauxwell will both present sessions, and Hauxwell is chair-elect for the Water@UW-Madison group. During intermissions, virtual attendees will see water-related artwork chosen by Anne Moser, senior special librarian for the Wisconsin Water Library.

UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank will welcome attendees, and Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes has provided a video introduction. There will be an in-depth presentation by Rep. Todd Novak and Rep. Katrina Shankland of the Wisconsin State Assembly. These two legislators lead the Speaker’s Water Quality Task Force.

For complete information, including an agenda, visit https://water.wisc.edu/2020springsymposium/.

Original Article

News Releases – Wisconsin Sea Grant

News Releases – Wisconsin Sea Grant

https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/news/aquatic-sciences-center-plays-key-role-in-wateruw-madison-symposium/

Jennifer Smith