The SustainUW Podcast UW-Madison Office of Sustainability

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. 

In this episode of the SustainUW Podcast, host Kylie Schedler speaks with the three winners of the second annual UW–Madison Sustainability Writing Awards: Hailey Sewell, who reflected on a memorable snowfall as a child and pondered the future of our climate; Scott Hershberger, who painted the scene of a conversation between himself, an Eastern Wood-Pewee, and a honey locust tree; and Madelyn Anderson, who celebrated the discovery of a Rusty Patched Bumble Bee hive and highlighted the importance of recognizing small wins.

The ⁠UW–Madison Sustainability Writing Awards⁠ are intended to inspire conversations about how writing can bring together people with different experiences to reflect and act within the context of the global climate crisis. Thanks to the generosity of donors, the Office of Sustainability offered three scholarships in the fall of 2023 to undergraduate, graduate, and professional students who submitted essays on the topic of resolution. The topic encouraged writers to ponder the past, analyze the present, and imagine the future of our planet.

The Wisconsin Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy (OSCE) was founded in 2019 by Executive Order 38. The OSCE focuses on implementing and promoting renewable energy projects in Wisconsin as well as allocating federal and state funds dedicated to solving various environmental issues. In this episode, Kylie Schedler and Thomas Hadcock are joined by Technical Coordinator and Analyst Caity Carmody, and Outreach and Engagement Specialist Katelynn Samuelson. We discuss the applicability of the Inflation Reduction Act in Wisconsin, their State Lead by Example program and Clean Energy Plan, the EPA’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grants, Focus on Energy, and their outlook for the future of renewable energy in Wisconsin. Note: this episode was recorded shortly before Thanksgiving of 2023, so the dates referenced will reflect this timing.

RENEW Wisconsin is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering a resilient, thriving Wisconsin by championing the progress of renewable energy through impactful policy and program work. In this episode of the SustainUW Podcast, hosts Rory Tevlin and Bailey Tomsich chat with RENEW Wisconsin’s Communications Manager, Alex Beld, and Emerging Technology Director, Francisco Sayu. Join them as they discuss the EPA Clean Bus Program, an exciting initiative that allows school districts in all 50 states to replace old diesel buses with new electric buses, often at no cost. From reducing emissions to cultivating cleaner and more efficient transportation, tune in to discover how RENEW is driving change and creating a more sustainable future for all Wisconsinites!

To learn more about the application process of the EPA Clean Bus Program, click here.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, better known as PFAS, are a growing area of concern for waterways in Madison and across the nation. These chemicals, which are used to make everyday products like nonstick pans and water resistant materials, have been found in drinking water and are linked to serious health effects. In this episode of the SustainUW Podcast, host Britta Wellenstein talks to PFAS researcher Onur Apul about the impact of PFAS on the environment and what technologies might allow us to remove it from our drinking water. Dr. Apul, who is an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Maine, presented his research at UW–Madison’s Weston Roundtable this fall.