The institute is a campuswide unit of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Senator Gaylord Nelson, the founder of Earth Day. His legacy is our inspiration.
🌎 The front door to the environment and sustainability at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
📚 Offering an undergrad major, undergrad and graduate certificates, MS/PhD programs
🔬 Home to four research centers
Learn more at nelson.wisc.edu A pioneer in interdisciplinary environmental studies, the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies has been an incubator, laboratory and model of collaborativ
18/05/2026
Calling all 🐦 nerds! Did you know we’ve got a Nelson alum at ? Meet ‘15, MS’17, who leads the lab’s acclaimed citizen-science program, Project FeederWatch.
🔗 in bio for the full story from The Commons, ’s quarterly environmental magazine
15/05/2026
Wildfires, pollen, pollution … when we think about , we’re often thinking about what’s outside. But what about the about the air quality in your home?
Here are 7️⃣ tips to improve your indoor air quality from The Commons, ’s quarterly environmental magazine.
🔗 in bio to read the full story!
13/05/2026
Congrats to all the undergrad majors, certificate students, master’s and doctoral candidates who officially entered alumnihood this weekend!
We’re gonna miss you (😭), so make sure you stay in touch! Drop where you’re headed next* in the comments👇
*note: “no idea” is a perfectly valid answer, and we’ve got you. Check out our next-step resources! https://nelson.wisc.edu/alumni/
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04/05/2026
🧘♂️ Sign-up closes TOMORROW! 🌺
Join the Nelson Ambassadors at the for a mindful summer send-off this Wednesday from 11am-2pm!
16/04/2026
📌Your guide to the next seven days
Earth Fest starts tomorrow! Be part of our biggest 👏year 👏yet👏
Nearly 60 events
→65 event hosts across
→8 schools and colleges with
→25+ student groups and community orgs
Where will we see you at Earth Fest 2026?
Schedule subject to change, check earthfest.wisc.edu for current info!
17/03/2026
Get excited ... Earth Fest is one month away! 🌎
Dozens of events are already in the lineup, and more are coming in daily. Mark your calendars for April 17–23 and join us at as we unite over the one resource we all share: our world.
What to expect?
🧠EDUCATE: Panels, lectures, and roundtable discussions
⭐️INSPIRE: Live music, film screenings, and art demonstrations
💪MOTIVATE: Nature clean-ups, games, and walking tours
See the growing lineup at earthfest.wisc.edu!
15/12/2025
New issue drop 🌎
The Commons: The Earth Issue is here. Our cover story digs into a question with massive implications: What are the environmental impacts of AI data centers?
The truth? We’re still learning.
➡️ Swipe for the questions our experts are chasing, then dive into the full issue at nelson.wisc.edu/the-commons.
In this issue:
⛏️ Where minerals meet democracy
🪱 Surprising facts about dirt
🌳 Mapping and deforestation
🌆 Building stronger communities
.. and more!
🐓 chicken was a paid actor
From AI algorithms to biodiversity conservation to , hear from some of our faculty on why you should enroll in their classes next spring.
See all of our featured courses at the link in bio!
03/11/2025
Did you know that there are three types of springs in Wisconsin? ➡️ Swipe to find out what they are!
🔗 Then head to nelson.wisc.edu/the-commons or link in bio for 4️⃣ more things you didn’t know about springs.
29/09/2025
🍂Today kicks off National ! 🍁
Did you know that the colors you see — green, yellow, orange, red, or dull brown — can be storytellers of water? Leaf hues can signal rainfall, drought, and the water cycle at work in our trees.
Swipe through to learn how to spot water in the leaves this season.
🔗 Read the full story in The Commons: https://nelson.wisc.edu/the-commons/how-to-see-the-water-in-the-leaves/