Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison Email Format
Higher EducationWisconsin, United States51-200 Employees
The Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison is a higher education program dedicated to interdisciplinary environmental scholarship, education, and community engagement. Founded in 1970 and renamed in 2002 to honor former Wisconsin senator Gaylord Nelson, it organizes its work around four research centers and offers graduate degree programs, certificates, and an undergraduate major and certificate in environmental studies, the latter being the largest undergraduate certificate program at UW–Madison. The institute draws on a diverse base of faculty from more than 40 departments across natural and social sciences, engineering, and humanities to address local concerns and global environmental challenges. It functions within the university as a collaborative hub that integrates research, teaching, and public involvement to advance understanding of environmental change. Located in Madison, Wisconsin, the institute operates with a mix of budgeted and affiliated faculty and engages in a broad range of interdisciplinary activities through its centers—the Center for Climatic Research, the Center for Culture, History and Environment, the Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment, and the Land Tenure Center. Its leadership emphasizes the institute’s role as a world leader in addressing environmental change, overseen by a director who coordinates research, education, and outreach. The organization serves students, academics, and community partners seeking cross-cutting perspectives on environmental issues.