Climate Change Symposium
The UW–Madison Climate Change Symposium was held on October 7, 2025, cohosted by CCR, the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, and the Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts. With a focus on climate solutions for building resilient communities — both in the sciences and society — the event featured a keynote presentation by Anna Michalak from the Carnegie Institute for Science, as well as a panel discussion with Emmy Swift from American Family Insurance, Vijay Limnaye from the Natural Resources Defense Council, and Brian Potts from Husch Blackwell, which was moderated by Alyson Fleming.
Read a recap of the event in The Badger Herald.
Earth Signals
As a classically trained pianist, Professor Elizabeth Maroon (AOS, Nelson Institute) teamed up with Professor Johannes Wallmann and students from the Mead Witter School of Music to develop the “Earth Signals: El Niño” concert for Earth Fest, drawing a connection between an ensemble weather forecast and an ensemble of musicians.
The transdisciplinary work was funded by Professor Maroon’s National Science Foundation CAREER award, “Signals from the Deep.” In Professor Maroon’s own words, “Scientific literacy matters, and if we can use music to reach folks who don’t usually think about scientific topics, that’s a win. A better-informed populace is going to be able to understand the scientific premise of things that matter to society.”
Read more about the science behind the sound, and save the date for the next concert on April 20, 2026, during Earth Fest.
Reid Bryson Scholarship Poster Competition
CCR held its 13th annual Reid Bryson Scholarship poster competition on February 10, 2025, as part of the Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Space Sciences Community Poster Reception. Three undergraduates and four graduate students were awarded scholarships out of 52 participants across 21 departments and centers.
CPEP Seminars
The Climate, People, and Environment Program (CPEP) seminar series is a weekly seminar featuring lectures by visiting speakers as well as presentations by UW faculty, scientists, and students. Topics of the CPEP seminars during Spring 2025 included avian migration, climate data quality, arsenic in reservoirs, and more. Topics of the CPEP seminars during Fall 2025 included flood risk, subseasonal precipitation prediction, Ice Age pottery, and more. Sign up for the CPEP seminar email list to join upcoming seminars.
STEM Camps
CCR codirects three STEM camps for autistic middle and high school students, namely The Sky’s The Limit STEM Camp in Beloit, Wisconsin, in partnership with the Welty Environmental Center; Nature’s Navigators STEM Camp in the Wisconsin Dells in partnership with Upham Woods Outdoor Learning Center; and Zoo Explorers Sensory-Friendly Camp in Madison in partnership with the Henry Vilas Zoo.
The camps celebrate neurodiversity and encourage the pursuit of STEM degrees and careers. Approximately 60 kids participated in the 2025 camps. CCR is pursuing funding for the continuation of these camps due to the termination of the National Science Foundation support.