Bright futures in freshwater: New course will expose students to water careers, tackling contamination issues with hands-on field and lab experience

Wisconsin is fortunate to be rich in water resources, from the shores of the Great Lakes in the east to the mighty Mississippi River in the west. This abundance of rivers, lakes and streams supports a way of life centered around fishing, hunting and outdoor recreation — industries that contribute billions of dollars annually to the state’s economy.

But these natural treasures face growing threats.

“We want to protect these water resources from things like invasive species and environmental contaminants,” says Tisha King-Heiden, professor of biology at UW-La Crosse. “Sustaining wild fish populations means understanding the impacts that pollutants have on fish, aquatic invertebrates and plants — because plants feed invertebrates, and invertebrates feed fish. It’s all connected.”

To address these challenges and prepare the next generation of scientists, King-Heiden has received grant funding from the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin.