September 9, 2014
Two Nelson Institute undergraduate students have been recognized with Sustainability Innovation in Research and Education-Research Experience for Undergraduates (SIRE-REU) awards. Presented by the UW-Madison Office of Sustainability, the awards support undergraduate contributions to established research projects supported by external grants.
The program is intended to enhance research expertise in undergraduate students and to develop recruiting pipelines for undergraduates to pursue graduate degrees at UW–Madison in sustainability-related fields.
The two award-winning projects that are led by environmental studies students, who are both advised by members of the Nelson Institute faculty, are:
Use of aircraft campaign data to examine ozone production in a coastal city
This project will evaluate near-ground and aloft measurements of nitrogen oxides (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and ozone (O3) to better characterize ozone production over the Baltimore-Washington D.C. area during summer 2011. The research will examine ozone production variability due to different altitudes, temperatures and location to support improved air quality management and protection of public health.
Student: Sarah Benish, biology and environmental studies
Faculty advisor: Tracey Holloway, Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment
Extramural funding agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Creating successful and sustainable farmers’ markets in Wisconsin
This study seeks to strengthen the reliability of measurement tools for understanding farmers’ market impacts on sustainability through estimating greenhouse gas emissions produced by vendors and consumers and by examining production practices and how distinct practices, e.g. organic production, relate to sustainability. An existing study of marketplace impacts is being conducted in three regions: Northern Appalachia, the Gulf Coast, and the Chesapeake Bay. The research outlined in this proposal seeks to expand upon this study by testing measurement techniques at markets in Wisconsin, with a goal of helping create more sustainable and successful farmers’ markets in Wisconsin.
Student: Nadia Carlson, geography and environmental studies
Faculty advisor: Alfonso Morales, urban and regional planning
Extramural funding agency: Department of Agriculture
View the full list of fall 2014 SIRE-REU projects on the Office of Sustainability website.