The SustainUW Podcast

What does climate change look like in Madison, and how do the impacts alter our shared experience of this place we call home? Perhaps the best venue to answer this question is on the (less frequently these days) frozen shores of Lake Mendota, which by some metrics is the most researched lake on the planet. Join Office of Sustainability interns Giann Abang, Aiden Culver, and Jordyn Czyzewski as they interview Professor Emeritus and renowned limnologist John J. Magnuson about ice records on Lake Mendota. Later, Giann and Jordyn join fellow interns Audrey Davies and Kate Scroggins to venture out onto the ice and speak with winter recreation enthusiasts attending the annual Winter Carnival in Madison.

Related resources:

John J. Magnuson profile -- UW—Madison Center for Limnology

Lake Mendota ice records -- Wisconsin State Climatology Office

Winter Carnival -- Wisconsin Union

A lot has been happening to sustainability initiatives in the U.S. these past few months, and you probably have plenty of questions, concerns, and ideas. Join Office of Sustainability interns Aiden, Audrey, Brynne, and Giann as they parse through some of the current events happening in sustainability at the national level and provide a student's perspective.

References discussed and related resources:

Trump rescinded a half-century of environmental rules. Here’s what that could mean. -- Vox

Trump’s Return Gives China a Second Chance at Climate Leadership -- Bloomberg

Big Oil in no rush to 'drill baby drill' this year despite Trump agenda -- Reuters

Trump’s "Drill, Baby, Drill" Pledge Will Not Save Oil -- Forbes

2.2 billion gallons of water flowed out of California reservoirs because of Trump’s order to open dams -- CNN

Trump targets Alaska’s oil and other resources as environmentalists gear up for a fight -- AP

5 surprising facts about renewable energy growth in Texas -- Environment Texas

Climate Stories From The Times: 13 Must-Reads -- New York Times

Trump’s First Two Weeks Have Thrown U.S. Climate Spending Into Chaos -- New York Times

E.P.A. Tells More Than 1,000 They Could Be Fired ‘Immediately’ -- New York Times

Trump’s Halt on Climate Spending Freezes Jobs and Stalls Projects -- New York Times

Office of Sustainability interns Aiden Culver, Audrey Davies, and Giann Abang are excited to bring you an episode in which they learn about the growing interest in agrivoltaics at UW–Madison. Aiden and Giann leave the podcast studio to visit the new solar installation site at the UW–Madison Kegonsa Research Campus. After that, Aiden and Audrey have conversations with two local experts: Will Fulwider, a UW Extension employee, and Victoria Salerno, a graduate student and Office of Sustainability employee.

Join us as we sit down with the EPA Chief of Staff, Dan Utech, to discuss climate optimism as it relates to the past, present, and future of environmental policy in the United States. Hosted by Brynne Hill, Audrey Davies, and Aiden Culver, this Q&A conversation will leave you with a deeper understanding of the Environmental Protection Agency as well as recent climate action by the federal government.

Dive into conservation stewardship in Wisconsin with hosts Kylie Schedler and Rory Tevlin, as they sit down with John Sinclair, a dedicated Conservation Warden for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. In this episode, we explore the profound connection between humans and wildlife through John's experiences of protection and preservation. Tune in for an inspiring discussion that celebrates the beauty of nature and the tireless efforts of those who defend it.

For more information about the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, please click here.

Join host Kylie Schedler as she talks with UW–Madison professor and Grassland 2.0 member Randy Jackson, and graduate student Jessica Mehre, to break down the intricacies of grassland ecology and Wisconsin’s history of raising cattle. Grassland 2.0 is “a collaborative group of producers, researchers, and public and private sector folks working to develop pathways for producers to achieve increased profitability, production stability, and nutrient and water efficiency, while improving water quality, soil health, biodiversity, and climate resiliency through grassland-based agriculture.”

Students, if this episode piqued your interest, consider taking Dr. Jackson’s class, Agronomy 370: Grassland Ecology.

In the face of climate change, the future for our planet can look bleak. But Project Drawdown Executive Director Jon Foley stays hopeful by focusing on tangible, science-backed solutions that will actually work. Join hosts Britta Wellenstein and Brynne Hill as they talk to Foley about Project Drawdown, the climate solutions roadmap, and the bright future that might just be within reach.

Foley visited Madison as a part of Earth Fest. You can learn more about Project Drawdown here.

The 2008 film Wall-E explores the connection between technology, artificial intelligence, and sustainability. With the continued rise of AI, we wanted to understand the intersections between sustainability and technology--and whether we are heading to a Wall-E future.

Hosts Britta Wellenstein and Rory Tevlin talk to Data Science Institute Director Kyle Cramner about how AI can be used to enhance the UW–Madison sustainability goals. We then turn to Kaiping Chen, assistant professor in the department of Life Sciences Communications, to discuss humans' relationship with technology and her recent research into chat bots.

Learn more about the RISE-AI.

Learn more about Dr. Chen’s research paper.

Curious about what defines organic food and how it impacts our planet, nutrition, and well-being? In this episode of the SustainUW Podcast, host Rory Tevlin and her classmates, Tess Wadsworth and Maya Herzog, explore the intricacies of organic agriculture. From health benefits and access to equity and sustainability, tune in to discover compelling reasons why organic produce should grace your plate and how to get involved with organic agriculture on the UW–Madison campus!

To learn more about the organizations mentioned in this episode, click the links below: 

SlowFood UW

The People’s Farm

OGRAIN

Today, sandhill cranes are a common sight–and sound!–in Madison and throughout the state of Wisconsin. This wasn’t always the case: by the 1930s, they had nearly disappeared from the state, and their return since is a famous conservation success story. In November 2023, hosts Britta Wellenstein and Brynne Hill headed to the Great Midwest Crane Festival to learn about cranes’ journey–both their migration and how their populations have rebounded so spectacularly. The Great Midwest Crane Festival is hosted by the Aldo Leopold Foundation and the International Crane Foundation. Listen in as we explore the festival, talk to experts about crane conservation, and see some cranes ourselves.