Our Mission and Vision
The mission of the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies is to promote understanding of the environment and to define and solve environmental problems and issues through leadership in
interdisciplinary instruction, research, and outreach at all levels, from campus to global.
Our vision is that the Nelson Institute will help protect and enhance the environment for future generations by seeking environmentally sustainable ways to meet human needs in the
twenty-first century. Specifically, the institute will
- promote environmental literacy among all UW-Madison students, faculty, and staff
- maintain and nurture academic excellence in a broad range of courses and in
interdisciplinary degree and certificate programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels
- foster the development of integrated systems of thought and analysis involving concepts and methodologies in the humanities and the social and natural sciences
- define, analyze, solve, and prevent environmentally important problems through
interdisciplinary research and scholarship
- help meet local, national, and international needs for environmental expertise by preparing managers, policy makers, scientists, and scholars to work in interdisciplinary teams
- promote comprehensive understanding of environmental issues, problems, and their solutions through a proactive
interdisciplinary outreach program for individuals and groups in the private and public sectors.
