Research

Our faculty are internationally known for their work in areas such as freshwater contaminants, biological pollutants, fisheries, invasive species, aquaculture, observation technology, climate variability, weather prediction, and water policy.

Our research teams include scientists, economists and legal experts who are advancing fundamental and strategic science and training the next generation of freshwater, climate, and weather professionals. Their work informs policy, improves management, and promotes the health and sustainability of the Earth and its ecosystems worldwide.

Investment in our research includes funding from the National Science Foundation, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Energy, state of Wisconsin and local government, as well as corporate partners, foundations and private donors.

Our researchers and students collaborate with on-site partners, and our building houses offices for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Geological Survey, Wisconsin Sea Grant, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Milwaukee Riverkeeper, Southeast Wisconsin Watershed Trust, Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin and Milwaukee’s Harbor District.

Rebecca Klaper in labSustainable Nanotechnology
9On-site governmental and nonprofit collaborators
Student at desk looking at radarWeather and Climate

Research Impact

  • McLellan Lab Featured in Journal Sentinel Article on Covid Uptick
    UWM School of Freshwater Sciences Professor Sandra McLellan was interviewed for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article on the summer uptick of Covid-19 cases around the country. The McLellan Lab works with the state on wastewater testing to help track diseases. Read Full Article
  • Grewal, Scanlan and Guo Discuss Lead Water Pipes Replacement with Plastic
    Water Policy Specialist Rajpreet Grewal, Center for Water Policy Director Melissa Scanlan, and UWM-SFS Professor Laodong Guo authored an article for The Conversation. The article is titled Lead water pipes created a health disaster in Flint, but replacing them with cheaper plastic – as some cities are doing – carries hidden costs. Read Full Article …
  • Cuhel, Aguilar-Diaz and Students Featured in Article on Dredging
    UWM School of Freshwater Sciences Drs. Cuhel and Aguilar-Diaz, as well as students DeTuncq and Larson, were interviewed by alumni Michael Timm in the Urban Milwaukee article on dredging in Milwaukee. Their research related to dredging is looking at many things, including harbor food web impacts and may inform the upcoming work done by the …

We’re committed to advancing key research priorities

Explore freshwater systems and develop methods for their preservation and management. Study the impacts of climate change, human activity, and invasive species on the Great Lakes and Earth’s ecosystems worldwide. Improve water safety through cutting-edge research. Track the presence and sources of pathogens and determine the impacts of contaminants on human and ecosystem health. Form collaborations among scientists, engineers, and industry.

Predict weather and climate and their impacts to society. Manage, replace and restore the Great Lakes’ commercial and recreational fisheries. Drive new technologies in water research and management and fisheries management and urban aquaculture. Advance understanding of atmospheric processes on local to global scales. Link science to action and generate transformational policies from great science.