University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee School of Freshwater Sciences

Transcription

Some people have said that water is the oil of the 21st century; its a lot more fundamental than oil. We can do without oil; we cant do without water. Where we are really going to be is dramatic changes in weather, loss of existing water, changes in ecosystems and things we are only just beginning to appreciate and understand. This means that water managers have got find new science, new technology and theyve got to break the existing way of thinking. It has to change. And we have got to be providing those solutions. Its everything. Were the only university in the world that holds a patent on the auto-cycle spawning of North American yellow perch. These fish that are spawning in these off-cycle months like January and October, I dont even know what kind of dollar value you could put on something like that because nothing like that is available anywhere else. Our focus recently has been on urban aquaculture. Perhaps one of the most important things is youre putting the product at the center of consumer demand. I think with Growing Power and other entities like Sweet Water Organics, it gives us the opportunity to take our tools that we develop from our research and then test them at these commercial operations. Were here, were committed, and we intend to work and do whatever we can to make Milwaukee the urban aquaculture city in America. We enjoy our fish fries, yes. Where else can you eat your research? I do research on the impacts of emerging contaminants so things like pharmaceuticals, personal care products and nanomaterials that migrate through the sewage treatment facilities or through leaky pipes from sewage and out into the aquatic environment. If we see some sort of effect of these chemicals on fish, chances are that theyre probably having a very similar effect on humans. Our research will help inform which emerging contaminants will be the most important to pay attention to in the future, which ones need to be removed from our sewage treatment facilities or need to be considered when we consider regulations for pharmaceuticals or other types of chemicals we put into products. And, well be able to do this at a faster rate than weve ever been able to do this before. One of the things that have really impressed me about the direction that the School of Fresh Water Sciences is taking is the decision to have a staff person who is going to be responsible for building the bridge between what happens in the lab and what happens in the real world. The choice to consciously bring information to the policy world, its something that should be emulated by academic institutions around the region and it can only result in good information getting to the right people so they can make decisions to protect the Great Lakes and thats a great step. What weve built here in Milwaukee is a magnet for other water technology companies, for researchers, and for students who are interested in water technology. Because here in Milwaukee, we not only have the 150 water technology companies, but the entire community has a mindset around building a water generation. The School of Fresh Water Sciences provides, more than anything else to this city, a focus on water and the young talent, the creativity, the innovation, the entrepreneurship thats going to really drive this industry. And its the School of Freshwater Sciences at UWM that is going to drive that focus. The lake is one thing at the surface and a whole different world under the water. I get to be out on Lake Michigan. I get to learn about an environment that Im really passionate about. I study fresh water ecosystem dynamics. These are quagga muscles. Were looking at some large-scale bird die-offs in Lake Michigan from avian botulism poisoning. Being able to see what goes on under the lake and kind of watching changes take place over the last few years since weve been diving here, its really amazing. Were diving. Shallow. I think the Great Lakes provide a very unique environment that doesnt really compare to anywhere else in the world. We are about to get a $53.6 million extension, state of the art. Well be integrating engineering, policy, science and art into that building. This is not only just research; this is a demonstration center. I believe that the future of water lies in the hands of Milwaukee and it can show everybody else in the world that this is THE center of excellence.