The University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute—which is dedicated to the sustainable use of Great Lakes resources through research, education and outreach—today announced the award of $2.8 million in research dollars for 2018-20. Sea Grant will fund 19 projects on eight Wisconsin campuses. Sea Grant is also funding work that will be conducted by other organizations such as the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Wisconsin Coastal Management Program, University of Wisconsin-Extension and Wisconsin Historical Society.
“The world’s largest freshwater system surrounds Wisconsin to the north and east. The lakes fuel our economy and enhance our quality of life,” said Jennifer Hauxwell, Sea Grant’s director of research. “We are fortunate that some of the best freshwater researchers are right here as well. Throughout the yearlong process that brought us to the point of kicking off this research, we drew on the expertise of scientific leaders from around the globe and nation who reviewed the proposals to ensure the projects were of a high caliber. We also relied on a council of external advisors from numerous Wisconsin sectors to ensure the inquiries would be relevant to our state’s needs.”
Researchers will look into the health of the waterways, better ways to grow tasty walleyes destined for people’s dinner plates, methods to prevent Great Lakes beach contamination, possible ways to lessen the destruction of high water, and more.
In all, nearly 100 researchers, staff and students will be engaged in this work, said Hauxwell. The campuses are Green Bay, Madison, Milwaukee, Northland, Oshkosh, Stevens Point, Superior and Whitewater.
