51ÁÔĆć

6 Freshwater courses to dive into this Fall

51ÁÔĆć School of Freshwater Sciences divers jumping into lake

As the spring semester winds down, it’s already time to start enrolling in fall classes! Looking to explore, experiment or expand your skills this fall? We’ve rounded up six standout Freshwater and Atmospheric Science courses to consider as you’re enrolling in classes in PAWS.

Spoiler: you don’t have to be a Freshwater Sciences major to take some of these courses! Some of them are Natural Science GER courses, open to anyone.

1. Ichthyology (FRSHWTR 511)

Get to know the fishes.

From tiny minnows to massive sturgeon, this course dives into the diverse biology of fishes focusing on behavioral, biomechanical, genetic, and physiological adaptions to diverse ecological systems. Whether you’re into research, conservation or just really love fish, this one’s for you.

  • 3 credits, Mondays 11:30am-2:20pm at the School of Freshwater Sciences (not on main campus)
  • Instructor: Brandon Gerig
  • Prerequisites: junior standing and BIO SCI 152, consent of instructor, or graduate standing

2. From Feed to Fish: Science and Innovation (Special Topics) [UG: FRSHWTR 300, G: FRSHWTR 650G]

Where aquaculture meets health, science, and sustainability.

Dive into the science behind what fish eat—and why it matters. This course connects fish nutrition, physiology, and health to big-picture issues like sustainable aquaculture, ecosystem monitoring, and even human medicine. You’ll explore how feed impacts fish growth, immune function, and seafood quality, while also learning how fish serve as environmental bioindicators and biomedical models. A perfect fit for students interested in food systems, conservation, and cutting-edge research.

  • 3 credits, Mondays 11:30am-2:20pm on main campus (one lab Saturday, October 4, 9am-5pm)
  • Instructor: Dong-Fang Deng
  • Prerequisites: BIO SCI 150 and CHEM 102, consent of instructor, or graduate standing

3. Elements of Water (FRSHWTR 101)

The science behind Earth’s most vital resource.

From drinking water to droughts, this course breaks down the role of freshwater in our world. You’ll explore how water supports life, shapes economies, and drives climate—plus what happens when the cycle is disrupted. No science background necessary—just curiosity and a desire to understand today’s most important resource. This is a core course within the Freshwater Sciences BS program. It’s also a Natural Science GER course! Fulfill your NS credit requirements with this unique course!

  • 3 credits, Tuesday/Thursdays 10-11:15am on main campus
  • Instructor: Sandra McLellan
  • No prerequisites!

4. Survey of Meteorology (ATM SCI 100)

Understand the science behind the skies.

From sunny days to severe storms, this course unpacks how weather works and why it matters. You’ll learn to read weather maps, decode forecasts, and explore phenomena like tornadoes, cyclones, and climate trends. Includes a hands-on lab—no science background needed, just an interest in the world around you. This is a Natural Science GER course that fulfills the lab requirement. Open to anyone!

  • 3 credits, Mondays/Wednesdays 10:30-11:20am in-person lecture on main campus OR asynchronous online lecture and in-person or online lab options
  • Instructor: George Duffy
  • No prerequisites!

5. Thunderstorms, Tornadoes and Hurricanes (ATM SCI 109)

Go inside the storm.

Explore how and why nature’s most extreme weather events form. From towering thunderstorms to devastating hurricanes, this course breaks down the atmospheric conditions that fuel them. Learn the science behind the storm systems that shape headlines (and history). This is a Natural Science GER course. Fulfill your NS credit requirements with this course!

  • 3 credits, Online course
  • Instructor: George Duffy
  • No prerequisites!

6. The Origin, Composition, and Structure of Planetary Atmospheres (ATM SCI 110)

What makes a planet… a planet?

Travel through our solar system to explore how planets—and their atmospheres—form and evolve. From Earth to Jupiter, you’ll compare the chemistry, structure, and origins of planetary atmospheres, and uncover what makes each world unique. No rocket science required—just curiosity.

  • 3 credits, Online course
  • Instructor: James Frederick

So, which courses will you dive into?

These just barely scratch the surface of all the great courses offered within Freshwater Sciences and Atmospheric Science. Check out our to see what else will be offered!

Fall enrollment appointments have already began and your appointments will differ depending on your grade. If you haven’t already spoken with your academic advisor, we highly encourage you to do so and sign up for classes as soon as you are able to. Classes will fill up! Happy class shopping!

McLellan talks about improving water quality at South Shore Beach

Frequent closures at Milwaukee’s South Shore Beach led Sandra McLellan and her lab team to discover a localized pollution problem. McLellan speaks with WISN12 in an interview.

1979 breakthrough by Binkowski was a key component of sturgeon rehabilitation in Milwaukee

51ÁÔĆć School of Freshwater Sciences Fred Binkowski, Senior Scientist Emeritus, and his work with the Wisconsin DNR has been cited in a about the next phase of sturgeon rehabilitation. Binkowski’s work with the DNR successfully raising sturgeon in a hatchery has been critical to sturgeon propagation breakthrough for decades. In 2002, the DNR submitted the first sturgeon stocking request for the Milwaukee River. It was filled in 2003 when 64,000 sturgeon larvae produced at 51ÁÔĆć’s Great Lakes Research Institute were stocked into the river, according to the DNR.

414 for 51ÁÔĆć Giving Days 2025 – Challenge Announcement

We are excited to announce the Freshwater Ship Time Challenge as part of 414 for 51ÁÔĆć Giving Days! 51ÁÔĆć alumna Beth Partleton ’79 has once again generously committed to donating $15,000 to scholarships and field experiences in the School of Freshwater Sciences if at least 40 donors during the event! Early donations count towards the challenge!

Here is a breakdown of which funds the $15,000 would support, if we reach our goal:

  • $5k to the Beth A. Partleton ’79 SFS Scholarship Fund for undergraduate students.
  • $5k to the Vernon C. Vice Fellowship Fund for graduate students.
  • $5k to the Freshwater “Ship Time” Fund that supports field experiences for students in freshwater sciences or atmospheric science programs.

The Ship Time Fund was created three years ago to support getting students out on the water and into the field. Specifically, it helps to underwrite costs associated with class activities on the Research Vessel Neeskay or small craft, or to cover travel to various field experiences. Despite the name, both Freshwater and Atmospheric Science Program students can potentially benefit from this support.

What is the best way to help? You can  to support School of Freshwater Sciences students!

414 for 51ÁÔĆć Giving Days will run from Monday, April 14 through Tuesday, April 15, 2025.

Follow our progress on .

Did you know? 414 Day or Milwaukee Day has been celebrated on April 14 (4/14) since 2010 since 414 is a telephone area code used in and around Milwaukee, WI. #414for51ÁÔĆć

“Great Lakes Offshore Wind: An Analysis of Coastal Management Planning Tools” published in Notre Dame Law School’s Journal on Emerging Technologies

From Center for Water Policy:

Clean Energy

In 2023, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory identified extensive potential offshore wind resource in the Great Lakes. All eight Great Lakes states have some type of clean, renewable, or alternative energy goal, and five of the eight Great Lakes states have a commitment to reach 100% clean or renewable energy by 2040 or 2050. Offshore wind energy is one resource to achieve these goals. The offshore wind industry expanded quickly off the ocean coasts during the Biden-Harris Administration. In the early days of the Trump Administration, the federal government announced a reversal in federal support for offshore wind, which will reverberate along the ocean coastal states.    

Context of the Great Lakes

The Great Lakes region presents a different context. The Great Lakes states have not been as influenced by federal offshore wind policy; they were neither spurred to action nor should they be thwarted by changes at the federal level. This is due in part to the federal leasing agency not having the same jurisdiction and authority in the Great Lakes as it has in the oceans. The onus for offshore wind in the Great Lakes rests upon Great Lakes states because they are trustees of the public lakebed and have exclusive jurisdiction over lakebed leasing. 

Thorough planning must precede any development to ensure environmental, social, and financial factors are considered and to determine whether a site is suitable for development. Building on the recommendations for a legal framework we described in a , this article emphasizes the need for thorough planning and identifies existing coastal management tools available to states in that effort. We compare two state-based offshore wind projects as case studies and identify key differences that suggest why one project successfully reached operation while the other stalled out after years of delays. Finally, we explore several options and benefits of regional planning for offshore wind in the Great Lakes. 

This law review article: 

  • Identifies Special Area Management Plans (SAMPs) under the Coastal Zone Management Act as existing legal authority states may use to assess feasibility and suitability of offshore wind development in their waters; 
  • Highlights opportunities and benefits of regional collaboration and planning; and 
  • Recommends that Great Lakes states position themselves for future opportunities arising with the next pendulum swing of attitude at the federal level towards offshore wind. 

Freshwater Colloquium Series – Spring 2025

The School of Freshwater Sciences’ Freshwater Colloquium creates a platform for students, faculty and scientists to discuss their research and emergent issues related to freshwater resources. Presentations are open to the public.

All events will take place on Mondays from 3:00 – 3:50 p.m. in-person in the GLRF Ballroom, except where noted.

The School of Freshwater Sciences Great Lakes Research Facility, is located at 600 E. Greenfield Ave.

Spring 2025

Most talks scheduled for the Spring 2025 Freshwater Colloquium Series will involve the theme of Emerging Contaminants in Aquatic Environments. No sign up required. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early and enjoy provided refreshments.

February 10PFAS in surface water in WI
Dr. Patrick Gorski, Wisconsin DNR
February 17Oceanography for limnologists and vice-versa
Dr. John Janssen, Emeritus Professor, 51ÁÔĆć School of Freshwater Sciences
February 24Data-Efficient Stream Nutrient Modeling: An Application of Data-driven Sparse Sensing
Wasif Bin Mamoon, Marquette University
March 3Nanoparticulate iron from deep sea hydrothermal vents
Dr. Sarick Matzen, UI-Chicago
March 10Ecogenomics of freshwater lake bacteria
Dr. Trina McMahon, UW-Madison
March 24Anthropogenic impacts in large-lake carbon cycling
Dr. Liz Minor, UMN-Duluth
April 7Novel mechanistic insights into nanoplastics release in natural environment
Dr. Boya Xiong, UMN-Twin Cities
April 14Groundwater management in Northeast Wisconsin: Potential for geogenic metals mobilization
Dr. Erin Berns-Herrboldt, UW-Green Bay
April 28Occurrence of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Surface Waters of the Chicago Area Waterway System
Dr. Gordon Getzinger, Loyola University
Spring 2025 Colloquium Schedule.

SeaPerch competition showcases student underwater engineering skills

In partnership with the Wisconsin Navy League and SFRobotics, UW-Milwaukee and the School of Freshwater Sciences hosted the 7th Annual SeaPerch Competition on March 16. CBS58 checked out the underwater robotics competition and interviewed organizers and students competing.

McLellan Lab Helps New South Shore Park Beach Take Shape

UrbanMilwaukee shares a photo gallery of construction and design progress of the new South Shore Park beach. The McLellan Lab worked with Milwaukee County Parks to study the beach and local water conditions.

Center for Water Policy: New Publication on ESG Reporting

Data center interior

Water Policy Specialist Peyton McCauley, Director Melissa Scanlan, and 51ÁÔĆć-SFS Master’s student Dan McLennon recently explored private environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting to assess water consumption of AI and data centers and discuss the limitations.

Article Summary:

  • Companies are using ESG reporting to provide transparency regarding sustainability to
    stakeholders.
  • ESG reporting is part of private environmental governance, driven by NGOs rather than
    governments.
  • They used used ESG reports to shed light on the environmental impacts of AI and data centers.
  • The nature of ESG reporting being implemented by private governance limits
    transparency and access.

Peyton McCauley, Dan McLennon & Melissa K. Scanlan, Inside ESG Reporting: Thirsty Data Centers Reveal Limits to Transparency, American Bar Association, (Mar. 5, 2025). 

Read the full article here:  â€” American Bar Association

Read the Article

Laurie Parsons receives 2025 Honorary Alumni Award from 51ÁÔĆć Alumni Association

Laurie Parsons holds her award given by the Alumni Association.

Laurie Parsons received the 2025 Honorary Alumni Award from the 51ÁÔĆć Alumni Association. She received the award during the Alumni Awards Evening on February 21, 2025, at The Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee.

Laurie is an engineer, scientist and corporate leader with a passion for sustainable water and environmental solutions. She began her career as a water resources planning analyst with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources after earning her bachelor’s degree in environmental sciences from UW-Green Bay. Parsons went on to earn a master’s degree in civil and environmental engineering from UW-Madison. She served as technical manager and engineer for Warzyn Engineering, CEO and principal partner at Natural Resource Technology, market and strategy director for Ramboll for their Water Americas business, and is now transitioning to her retirement.

A longtime supporter of STEM education initiatives, Laurie was instrumental in establishing Natural Resource Technology’s endowed scholarship in 51ÁÔĆć’s School of Freshwater Sciences. She is chair of the Alumni Visiting Board for UW-Madison Civil and Environmental Engineering, and also serves on other boards, including the River Revitalization Foundation, Ozaukee Washington County Land Trust and Enspired Solutions, a woman-owned water treatment technology company. She is a recipient of the STEM Forward Engineer of the Year Award and distinguished alumni awards from her degree colleges at UW-Green Bay and UW-Madison.Â