Distinguished Professor Emeritus Paul Roebber spoke with W51ÁÔĆć on the funding cuts made with the current administration and how it impacts the National Weather Service.
Bootsma lab’s invasive mussel work featured on WISN12
The Bootsma lab’s work testing methods of fighting invasive mussels has gained continuous attention. visited the lab to gain further insight.
Scientists are trying new strategies to manage invasive mussels in Lake Michigan after decades of ecological disruption caused by the fast-spreading species.
“You could walk from here to Michigan across the lake bottom of Lake Michigan, and you’d be walking on mussels all the way,” said Harvey Bootsma, a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s School of Freshwater Sciences.
Zebra and quagga mussels, which arrived in the Great Lakes through ballast water from overseas ships, now cover much of the lakebed. Researchers say the mussels are damaging the ecosystem by filtering out phytoplankton, a critical food source for young fish.
Former grad student featured on shark Netflix competition series
Christopher Malinowski, PhD, a former grad student, is one of the contestants on the new Netflix competition series “All the Sharks.” Christopher now serves as the Director of Research and Conservation at the . Previously, he’s studied fish ecology with School of Freshwater Sciences Professor Emeritus John Janssen. Christopher is joined by his friend and colleague, Dr. Brendan Talwar – his teammate in the show – from Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Together, they are the Shark Docs. Through the show, they’re hoping to make the most of the opportunity to share a new perspective on sharks.
All the Sharks is a thrilling new competition series where four teams of passionate shark experts embark on the ultimate adventure to find and photograph the most sharks. Racing against time – and each other – teams dive deep into the world’s most spectacular shark habitats, all in hopes of winning a $50,000 prize for their chosen marine charity. Over six action-packed episodes, they’ll travel from the crystal-clear Caribbean waters to the mysterious depths of the Pacific where they’ll come face to toothy face with incredible species like the critically endangered Great Hammerhead and the remarkable walking Epaulette Shark. Blending breath-taking visuals, “fin-tastic’ shark facts, and stunning underwater encounters, it’s a fun, fast-paced journey into the misunderstood world of sharks – showcasing why these incredible creatures are more vital to our planet now more than ever.
Christopher and Brendan will also be sharing all kinds of behind the scenes and science & conservation material through their and . Check out the show on Netflix, which is out now!
Buoys featured in GLOS’s first “Buoys of Summer” write-up
51ÁÔĆć School of Freshwater Sciences buoys are featured in Great Lakes Observing Systems’ first “Buoys of Summer” feature in their monthly newsletter. Research specialist Jessie Grow was interviewed and shared more about the operations.
°Őłó±đĚýUniversity of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Freshwater Sciences is home to certified freshwater superstars. And their buoy program? May simply be the best in the land (and lakes). Led by buoy wrangler extraordinaire Jessie Grow, this fleet of smart, solar-powered stalwarts peppers the nearshore region across Lake Michigan, quietly collecting some of the most important environmental data for a wide array of users. From tracking water temperature and weather to monitoring waves, water quality and more, these buoys support everything from public safety and beach forecasts to the shipping industry and climate research. Used by boaters, anglers, swimmers, surfers, scientists, and policy-makers alike, these platforms are the real heroes – keeping a finger on the pulse of Lake Michigan and contributing to a smarter, more robust understanding of the Great Lakes overall.
Rebecca Klaper coauthors report on importance of Great Lakes science and research
Federal investment in Great Lakes research doesn’t just protect the waters’ ecosystems, it bolsters safety and prosperity for the people who call the region home, according to a new peer-reviewed publication.
The report titled “Investing in Great Lakes science is critical for safety and prosperity” was published by the and was written by experts from institutions around the Great Lakes region, including 51ÁÔĆć School of Freshwater Sciences dean, Rebecca Klaper. Authors and IAGLR members are available for interviews about the wide-ranging benefits of this science supported by the public, for the public.
“Our freshwater systems, including the Great Lakes, are the most important resources we have,” Klaper said. “The federal investment in research, cleanup and protection of these resources has led to safer drinking water, protection of fisheries, better predictions of weather, cleaner beaches, economic growth and healthier human populations. Support for these activities should continue to be a national priority.”
Freshwater grad students featured on NPR for flood resilience work
Graduate students from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Freshwater Sciences — Joe McCormack, Evelyn Grimm, and Cami Armendariz — were recently featured on W51ÁÔĆć 89.7 FM – Milwaukee’s NPR for their work addressing flood risks and resilience in Milwaukee.
As part of Melissa Scanlan’s Water Consulting course, these students, along with Stephanie Gruenloh and Franco Ferrante partnered with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to produce “Rising Waters, Rising Costs,” a report examining the human and environmental impact of urban flooding, including historically underserved neighborhoods like Metcalfe Park.
Their research highlights:
- Climate-driven flood risks
- Inequities in FEMA mapping
- The importance of green infrastructure
- The financial toll of inaction
We’re proud to see SFS students applying science to real-world applications — and getting recognized on a national platform for it!
Deploying data buoys for public use in Lake Michigan
Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary has been busy installing the 16 mooring buoys for the 2025 season. Next up, the NOAA sanctuary staff is preparing to assist with the deployment of data buoys off the coast near Two Rivers, Sheboygan, and Port Washington. In partnership with Michigan Technological University, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Freshwater Sciences, and NOAA’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, these buoys collect real-time wind, wave, and temperature data in Lake Michigan. The data is publicly available through the Great Lakes Observing System at.
Freshwater faculty receive IAGLR Awards
Last week, 51ÁÔĆć School of Freshwater Sciences hosted the last week in Milwaukee. During the conference, the International Association for Great Lakes Research (IAGLR) honored several professionals for their contributions to large lake science and IAGLR. They also recognized several scientists for notable papers published in last year’s Journal of Great Lakes Research, as well as for outstanding support of the journal.
Brandon Gerig received the . The Editor’s Awards are given by the journal editor for outstanding support of the review process for the Journal of Great Lakes Research.
Dean Rebecca Klaper and associate dean Harvey Bootsma both received the for serving as Conference Site Chair and IAGLR 2025 Program Chair, respectively.
IAGLR conference gathers scientists in Milwaukee to confront Great Lakes resilience challenges
51ÁÔĆć School of Freshwater Sciences is the host for this year’s IAGLR conference (International Association for Great Lakes Research) at Baird Center. Great Lakes scientists gathered in Milwaukee with programming around the theme “Creating Great Lakes Resilence.” Topics include algae blooms, climate change and Indigenous knowledge.
Dean Rebecca Klaper and associate dean Harvey Bootsma have served as site and program chairs on the committee. Both were interviewed by Milwaukee Journal Sentinel at the conference, discussing resilience not only in the lakes, but the science itself.
Freshwater researchers finding promising ways to fight back against invasive mussels
Scientists are removing the Great Lakes’ worst invasive species. How? The first-of-its-kind project is happening in Lake Michigan near Milwaukee, and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and Muskegon, Michigan.
Associate dean and professor Harvey Bootsma and his lab research team’s work to remove invasive mussels in Lake Michigan is featured in a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article. Along with Bootsma’s lab, there are other scientists experimenting with other methods to remove invasive zebra and quagga mussels from Lake Michigan.
Early evidence suggests the round goby, another invasive species, may be helping control mussel recolonization in areas where they’ve been removed.
The project faces funding challenges due to federal cuts and reduced university funding.