Madison Reporter

"UW–Madison has long been a leader in responding to community-identified environmental challenges, and in developing solutions to problems that can be put immediately into action," stated Chancellor Jennifer L. Mnookin at the kick-off celebration for Earth Fest at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

The university has announced the next area of focus under the Wisconsin Research, Innovation and Scholarly Excellence (RISE) Initiative: RISE-EARTH. This initiative aims to strengthen the university's ability to address complex environmental problems and opportunities, with a focus on sustainability.

Paul Robbins, the dean of the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, expressed enthusiasm about the initiative, stating, “We are excited to build on our existing strengths to create new technologies and innovations that we can share with campus, all of Wisconsin and beyond.”

Provost Charles Isbell highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in tackling sustainability challenges, saying, “Challenges like those we face to achieve carbon neutrality, future-proof our economy and prepare tomorrow’s sustainability leaders are best tackled when people across multiple disciplines come together to create solutions."

The RISE-EARTH initiative will center on themes such as reimagining economic and environmental systems and building sustainable energy and technical systems. The university plans to hire 40 new faculty members over the next several years to support this initiative, with recruitment starting in the fall of 2024.

Through RISE-EARTH, UW–Madison aims to continue its legacy of high-impact research in sustainability and to make significant contributions to sustainability research, education, and problem-solving on a global scale.