InCommonInCommon

A Newsletter for Alumni & Friends of the gaylord nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, UW–Madison

SPRING 2004

The University of Wisconsin–Madison has selected a new direc-tor for the Nelson Institute forEnvironmental Studies, ChancellorJohn Wiley has announced.Frances Westley, who will takeover the position in January 2005,currently is James McGill Chair ofStrategy, executive director of theMcGill-McConnell Program forVoluntary Sector Leaders and pro-fessor of strategy in the Faculty ofManagement at McGill Universityin Montreal.

“Frances Westley is a proventeam builder who will effectivelylead the Nelson Institute,” Wileysays. “She has a wonderful abilityto solve problems through inter-disciplinary collaboration, which iskey to identifying and overcomingbarriers to conservation and devel-oping environmentally sustainableways to meet human needs.”

In turn, Westley says she was attracted to UW–Madisonby its record of problem solving through collaboration.

“The University of Wisconsin has long led the way inenvironmental research as well as in developing creativeapproaches to working with communities of concerned prac-titioners to solve environmental problems,” Westley says.“On my early visits, the quality of the students and the facul-ty, the caliber of the programs, and the administration’s com-mitment to innovation and excellence proved irresistible.”

Westley, a sociologist by training, says she has long beenpassionately committed to conservation. After joiningMcGill, that interest became focused on interdisciplinaryand interorganizational collaboration.

“It seemed to me that humans already had much of thenecessary technology, knowledge and resources for solvingmany of the world’s environmental problems,” she says.“They just weren’t being used to that end. The greatest

challenge to conservation seemedto lie in understanding why this isso, and in addressing the cognitiveand social barriers to collaborationat all levels.”

In her recent book, Experimentsin Consilience, Westley argues thatwhile the dynamics of political andsocial systems can represent signifi-cant barriers to conservation, realprogress is being made in under-standing and overcoming discipli-nary barriers, as well as those sepa-rating theory from practice.

“What excites me about theGaylord Nelson Institute is that itis precisely focused on the impor-tant challenge of building interdis-ciplinary and cross-sectorial col-laboration in order to put goodscience to work. And it has a 30-year head start and a track recordof accomplishments to build on,”Westley says.

The Institute for Environmental Studies was created in1970 to promote and enhance interdisciplinary environmen-tal instruction, research and outreach. The institute wasrenamed in 2002 in honor of former Wisconsin governorand U.S. senator Gaylord Nelson, a lifelong champion ofenvironmental stewardship and the founder of Earth Day.

Approximately 150 professors from more than 50UW–Madison departments are affiliated with the institute,which administers several degree and certificate programs.The institute also houses three research centers and offersmore than 100 courses in cooperation with the university’sschools and colleges.

Erhard Joeres, professor of civil and environmentalengineering, professor of environmental studies, and chair ofthe Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering,has served as interim director of the Nelson Institute since

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Frances Westley to Lead Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies

Frances Westley

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January 2003 when former directorThomas Yuill retired.

“I am delighted that ProfessorWestley will become the new directorof the Gaylord Nelson Institute forEnvironmental Studies,” Joeres says.“We know that under her leadershipthe institute will flourish. She willbring an exciting new vision for ourfaculty, staff and students, which isneeded if we are to deal with the mul-tiplying complexity of environmentalproblems in our world.”

Westley has considerable experi-ence working across sectors and tryingout her ideas in practice. While atMcGill, she helped to developMcGill’s School for the Environment,

serving on the Executive of the Schoolfor five years and acting as a ThemeLeader for Sustainability and theGlobal Environment. She designedand taught a course for MBA studentsat McGill, titled Strategies forSustainability, and has consulted withprivate sector organizations about sus-tainability and innovation.

She has also served on manyboards of science-based environmentalorganizations including the IUCN-The World Conservation Union’s(formerly the International Unionfor the Conservation of Nature)Conservation Breeding SpecialistGroup, the Science Board of theResilience Alliance, the BedfordInstitute’s Centre for Marine Biology,the Canadian Biodiversity Instituteand Evergreen. She has also designed

workshop and training processes forenvironmental scientists and managersall over the world. Most recently,she designed and led the McGill-McConnell Program for VoluntarySector Leaders, a master’s degree pro-gram for leaders in the not-for-profitsector in Canada, including manyenvironmental NGOs and INGOs(non-governmental and internationalnon-governmental organizations).

“These experiences have con-vinced me that real collaboration,across disciplines, organizations andsectors, is possible,” she says. “If wecan build that — and couple it withgood science — real innovation andlasting solutions are within our grasp.It is a prize worth reaching for, andI can think of no better place to doit than at the Nelson Institute.” ■

In Common

In Common is published twice a yearby the Gaylord Nelson Institute forEnvironmental Studies at theUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison.Articles, story ideas, photos and lettersto the editor are always welcome.

Editor: Steve PomplunGaylord Nelson Institute forEnvironmental Studies15 Science Hall, 550 N. Park St.Madison, WI 53706–1491(608) 263–3063Incommon@mail.ies.wisc.eduhttp://www.ies.wisc.edu

Funding for the publication of InCommon is provided through thegenerosity of our alumni and friends.

Westley continued from page 1

Moving?Please keep us in mind when youfill out those postal change-of-addressforms. Better yet, you can email usabout recent or upcoming changes inyour location. Send information toIncommon@mail.ies.wisc.edu. Thanks!

In the News?Have you been featured in a newspaper or magazine article? Perhaps you’ve beenprofiled in a company or agency newsletter, or some other publication. Whateverits size or circulation, we’d like a copy for our files. Please send photocopied itemsabout yourself, or any projects with which you’ve been associated, to In Common,10 Science Hall, 550 N. Park St., Madison WI 53706–1491.

Four Nelson Institute graduate studentswill share Doris Duke ConservationFellowships in 2004–05. Julia Brauer,Kerrie Cunningham, Jill Leary, andAmy Martin will receive $3,750 eachfor internships this summer and begiven project assistantships for the com-ing academic year. Those who work fora nonprofit organization or a publicagency after graduate school also maybe eligible for financial assistance torepay student loans.

The fellowships are supported by agrant to the Nelson Institute from theDoris Duke Charitable Foundation,which chooses universities for conser-vation fellowship grants based on their“superior interdisciplinary environ-mental programs and commitment toeducating conservation practitioners.”Several Duke fellowships have beenawarded annually to Nelson Institutegraduate students since 2001–02.

Doris Duke Fellowships Awarded

spring 2004 3

Fifty independent land trusts operate inWisconsin, collectively protecting125,000 acres of privately owned land.They’re scattered around the state, pro-tecting wildlife habitat, scenic views andrural landscapes. But these disparateconservation efforts are becoming partsof a comprehensive vision, thanks to theGathering Waters Conservancy, anumbrella organization that supports,connects and guides the work ofWisconsin’s non-profit land trusts.

“These are primarily community-based organizations that specialize inland protection,” says GatheringWaters executive director Vicki Elkin.“Over the last five years, we’ve reallyseen dramatic growth both in thenumber we support and the amountof land they’re protecting.”

Elkin, who earned a master’sdegree in the Nelson Institute’s LandResources Program in 1998, says herorganization works at all levels, advis-ing individual landowners, acting as aland trust itself when necessary, pro-viding technical support to local trusts,coordinating their efforts, and lobby-ing the state legislature.

“We advocate for policies that sup-port land conservation,” she explains.“For example, last year we led the suc-cessful fight during the budget processto protect the Stewardship Fund, thestate’s land-acquisition account. It’sbeen at $60 million the last couple ofyears; the legislature wanted to cut itby 90 percent, but we were reallyinvolved in the effort to mobilize pub-lic support on behalf of stewardship.”

That campaign prompted newspa-pers around the state to publish edito-rials in favor of the Stewardship Fund,and the cuts were averted.

Ten Years and CountingGathering Waters is celebrating itstenth anniversary this year, and Elkinhas been its director for the last six.She’s overseen its vigorous growth.

“When I started, I was the onlyemployee, and I soon hired anotherIES graduate part time, Travis Olson(M.S., CBSD 98), and we’ve grownever since. We have five full-timeemployees and a couple half-timenow,” she says.

Nelson Institute alumni and facultyalso played a major role in the organi-zation’s beginnings. ProfessorEmeritus Harold “Bud” Jordahl and1977 Water Resources Managementalumnus William O’Connor wereamong its founders. Elkin estimatesthat as many as 20 institute alumni andstudents have worked for or internedwith Gathering Waters.

The group has succeeded by find-ing a niche within the state’s privateconservation movement: serving as anumbrella organization for those 50trusts and their 45,000 members.

“We’re trying to help local landtrusts be more strategic and morefocused on priorities. If we’re goingto make a difference on the landscape,we need a coordinated strategy withclear goals. We don’t just want toprotect a patchwork; we need to workwith land trusts and their partners tofigure out the best places for them towork,” says Elkin.

One such effort has led to the cre-ation of a regional project called“Partners in Preservation,” whichoperates along Lake Michigan fromDoor County to Kenosha. Eight trustshave joined to protect lands with thehighest natural values.

“We brought all the land truststogether with key partners like theNature Conservancy, the stateDepartment of Natural Resources, theU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, anyonewho’s doing conservation in that area,and we overlaid all their maps andplans and talked about who was alreadydoing what where, where the gapswere, where land trusts should focustheir work. We produced something

called ‘Landscapes of Opportunity,’which all the land trusts are adopting.They’ve agreed to work on specificplaces in their local areas so that wecan have a much greater impact onthe basin as a whole,” Elkin says. “It’sreally exciting.”

Public or Private?Wisconsin has a reputation as a conser-vation-minded state, with programssuch as the Stewardship Fund, foundedby former Sen. Gaylord Nelson andformer Gov. Warren Knowles,designed to acquire fragile lands. Whyshould private groups carry the load?

“Because we’re losing some of ourmost precious places every day,” saysElkin. “People see the landscapesaround them changing. Places they’vealways loved are suddenly converted toresidential or commercial use. Theywant to take action, and land trustsallow citizens, working directly withprivate landowners, to permanentlyprotect some of these places.”

Elkin says many landowners don’twant to work with government agen-cies but are open to overtures from

Local Conservation Efforts Gather into Statewide Force

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Vicki Elkin

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By Tom Sinclair

A towering, sunlit atrium with anundulating webbed ceiling. A plant-covered roof with a tracking solararray. A lofty “rainfall stair” that catch-es storm water to irrigate the sur-rounding landscape. A Greek-styleamphitheater for outdoor events.

Ask a group of creative students toenvision your dream home, and they maysurprise you with features like these.

At the invitation of Nelson Instituteinterim director Erhard Joeres,UW–Milwaukee professor Jim Wasleychallenged each of the students in hisadvanced architecture studio last fall todesign a new, environmentally friendlybuilding at UW–Madison for the

Nelson Institute. By year’s end, theyhad produced ten conceptual designswith dramatically different personalities.

One reaches out from the shore ofLake Mendota in a narrow, graceful s-curve. Another recedes into a hillsidein a series of low, arcing terraces. Athird lies partially undergroundbeneath a grassy roof with protrudinghoods for natural light and ventilation.A fourth sports a row of cottages onstilts. All practice basic “green build-ing” design principles: use energy effi-ciently, promote good health, and con-serve natural resources.

Wasley’s students unveiled theirideas to an audience of about 75 peo-ple from the campus and communityin February at the Pyle Center. For

their presentation, the students creat-ed detailed posters for all of theirdesigns and an impressive scale modelof the heart of the UW–Madisoncampus with miniature, removableversions of each design.

While the architecture groupgrappled with visions of buildings, alandscape architecture class taught byUW–Madison professor James LaGroconducted a thorough inventory andanalysis of the prospective site, now alarge parking lot west of ElizabethWaters Hall between ObservatoryHill and the Lakeshore Path.

Joeres described the student proj-ects as a valuable step in the process of“educating ourselves and others aboutgreen buildings.”

Student Designs Give Life to ‘Green Building’ Vision

spring 2004 5

Thirty-four years after its estab-lishment in 1970, the Nelson Institutestill has no real home of its own. Itsoffices, laboratories, and classroomsare scattered across the campus infacilities built for other purposes andoften shared with unrelated units. Itsallotted space, already tight, allows noroom for growth.

Joeres obtained necessary approvalfrom the Campus Planning Com-mittee last year to begin planning andpursuing funds for a new building thatwould bring all of the institute’s academic, research, and outreach programs and administrative officesunder one roof for the first time.

As currently conceived, the facilityalso would house several related units inneed of better space, including theDepartment of Urban and RegionalPlanning, the Department of LandscapeArchitecture, and the Land Informationand Computer Graphics Facility. Itmight even offer a modest number ofcooperative residential units for students.

“The university administrationagrees that we ought to have a build-ing, which is a great affirmation forus,” says Joeres. “But they’re also quiteexcited about moving in the greenbuilding direction and having theNelson Institute be in the vanguard.”

He adds that the institute has twoobjectives in seeking a green buildingfor its future home: “One is to have abuilding that can serve as an exampleof minimal environmental impact. Thesecond, especially appropriate to whowe are, is to integrate this buildingprogrammatically as a teaching device.”

At costs comparable to those of aconventional structure, the buildingand grounds themselves would serve asa practical model of environmentallysustainable design and as a laboratoryfor environmental teaching, research,and outreach. Rough estimates placethe price of such a building at about$30 million, most of which, because oftoday’s economic realities, would haveto come from private sources.

“We have gotten approval for agreen building in the future,” saysJoeres. “That gives us the go-ahead toseek out folks who would be interestedin seeing this happen and helping thisalong with a signature gift.”

Meanwhile, Wasley expects to beback in Madison this fall with a fresh

group of architecture students toexplore other possible building designsfor the Nelson Institute.

“This is an ongoing collaboration,”he says. “In the future, we will be look-ing at what might be done at additionalsites on the UW–Madison campus.” ■

Above: A UW–Milwaukee architecture student describes his green building concept forthe Nelson Institute at a February presentation at UW–Madison. Ten separate designswere displayed on descriptive panels, and miniatures of each were inserted into a scalemodel of the campus.

At left: An illustration of one of the student designs shows an S-shaped building snakinginto Lake Mendota. Each concept included features such as passive heating, cooling andair circulation.

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The Nelson Institute’s flagship gradu-ate degree program drew high praisefrom the leader of UW–Madison’sGraduate School recently followingthe first comprehensive review of theprogram since the mid–1980s.

Dean Martin Cadwallader citedthe Land Resources Program, in a letterto program chair Steve Ventura, for its“enviable level of excellence.”

Cadwallader noted that it attracts“first-rate” students and displays an“impressive commitment” from a widerange of faculty members across thecampus.

An independent faculty committeethat convened last year to evaluate theLand Resources Program also hadmany good things to say.

“The greatest strength of theprogram is its truly interdisciplinarynature, preparing students to bringnatural and social science perspectivesto bear on environmental problems,”according to the committee’s report.“In our estimation Land Resourcesprovides a model of how such interdis-ciplinary training can be achieved.”

The five member committee, co-chaired by professors Jane Collins(rural sociology/women’s studies/envi-ronmental studies) and Shiela Reaves(life sciences communication), laudedthe land resources curriculum andrequirements for “giving studentstremendous flexibility in designingprograms that meet their own needs.”

The committee based its findingson a self-study of the program com-pleted in 2001 as well as on interviewswith students, faculty and staff mem-bers, a survey of recent alumni, studentdata, and the program’s handbook.

Land Resources is easily the largestof the Nelson Institute’s graduateprograms. Annual enrollment averages

roughly 100, split about evenlybetween master’s-degree and doctoralstudents. (Enrollment peaked at morethan 160 before admission standardswere tightened a decade ago.) Wellover 500 students have earned degreesin land resources since the program’sintroduction in 1976.

While applauding the program’sstrengths, both the self-study groupand the review committee called forimprovements in faculty advising.

“Some students have difficultyfinding an advisor whose areas ofinterest match their own, or inconvincing such faculty (members)—once identified—to take on additionalstudents,” noted the review committee.“Some students identified the taskof finding an advisor and puttingtogether a committee as the biggestchallenge they faced.”

The committee attributed theproblem to the fact that most profes-sors involved in the program are vol-unteers from other academic depart-ments, where they already have full-time commitments.

A shortage of university financialsupport for land resources graduatestudents is another persistent concern.

The establishment of new, privatelyfunded graduate fellowships forNelson Institute students in recentyears has helped. Still, nearly half ofall land resources students receive notuition-remitting fellowships or assist-antships and must find other ways tofinance their education.

Nevertheless, “by all of the meas-ures and indicators we looked at, theLand Resources Program appears toattract an extremely strong group ofstudents,” said the review committee.“These students are not only competi-tive in measures such as standardizedexams and grade point averages, butbring a wealth of experience and cleargoals to their programs.”

Furthermore, the committeeadded, “the overwhelming majority ofalumni appear to be finding jobs relat-ed to their degree, with a good mix ofpositions in public service, universityteaching, not-for-profit agencies, andthe private sector.” And according tothe self-study, more than 80 percentof those who responded to a survey ofrecent alumni said the program met orexceeded their expectations. ■

Reviewers Give Enthusiastic ‘Thumbs Up’ to Land Resources Program

Former U.S. Sen. Gaylord Nelson was among four eminent UW–Madison alumnito receive this year’s Wisconsin Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Awards.

Nelson received his UW–Madison law degree in 1942. In 1958, he was electedgovernor of Wisconsin. He served two terms, then spent 18 years in the U.S. Senate.One of his best-known achievements is the founding of Earth Day on April 22, 1970.On that first Earth Day, nearly 20 million Americans took to the streets in support ofcreating a sustainable society. In 1995, Nelson was awarded the Presidential Medal ofFreedom, the highest honor given to civilians in the United States.

Others receiving the award were “Malcolm in the Middle” actress JaneKaczmarek; Toshiba President Tadashi Okamura; and philanthropist JoanEdelman Spero, president of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. ■

Nelson Honored as “Distinguished Alumnus”

spring 2004 7

Alumni NewsElena Bennett (M.S., LR 99) hasbeen selected by the Soil EcologySection of the Ecological Society ofAmerica as the recipient of the Awardfor Best Presentation by a GraduateStudent. Bennett is a doctoral studentin the Limnology and Marine SciencesGraduate Program at UW–Madisonand will complete her degree this year.

Her presentation of work, done inconjunction with Prof. StephenCarpenter, was titled “Human andNatural Impact on Soil PhosphorusAccumulation in an UrbanizingAgricultural Watershed.”

“This is the first time a limnolo-gist’s research as been so honored bythe Soil Ecology Section,” accordingto James Kitchell, director of theUW–Madison Center for Limnology.“That represents a uniquely importantlinkage between land use and waterquality for the Madison lakes. We’reproud that one of our students is lead-ing the way in this important effort.”

Bennett’s ESA recognition includ-ed a cash award.

Jeff Gersh (M.S., LR 88) has writ-ten and directed a series of programsfor Home and Garden TV (HGTV)called “Dream House,” shown Mondayevenings on the cable network. Eachepisode chronicles the experiences ofpeople seeking to build the ideal homefrom foundation to finish.

Gersh is a documentary film makerwhose productions include “Subdivideand Conquer,” a film about suburbansprawl in the American West (visitwww.bullfrogfilms.com for informa-tion). “Dream House” is his first televi-sion production. See www.hgtv.com forlocal air times. ■

New AlumniDoctorate: Glen Barry, YazonGnoumou and Milford Muskett, all in land resources.

Master’s Degrees: Emily Kathol,Sarah Kinney, April Sansom, RachelSohmer and Andrea Young, conservationbiology and sustainable development;Cassandra Garcia, Victor Waldron andYeon Yeu, environmental monitoring;Andrea Lasker, Erin O’Brien and DavidReiley, land resources; and NeilDerkowski and Ezra Meyer, waterresources management.

Undergraduate Certificates:Chad Abel, Joshua Amata, Amy Baier,Cara Burke, Adam Duchesneau,Joseph Farris, Katie Jo Greene, SarahGrzelak, Patrick Harrigan, BrianHeikenen, Philipp Hoechst, BruceKiesling, Matthew Koppenhaver,Charu Kukreja, Daniel Mrotek,Matthew Nolan, Sujata Patel, StevePenn, Robert Potter Jr., Lucy Rahn,Brian Schreier, Katherine Sharrow,Eric Sherman, Susan Tierney, JessicaTurner, Trisha Vanatta, Lara Vojnov,Kame Westerman, Michél Weston,Danielle Wood and Amanda Zellmer.

private groups, often led by peoplethey’ve known for years.

Local trusts use a variety of legalinstruments to protect land, rangingfrom conservation easements—usuallydeed restrictions on development—tooutright ownership.

“Most of our easements are donat-ed,” says Elkin. “We really rely on thegenerosity of individuals to get ourwork done. And even the lands that webuy, it’s often at a price below fair-market value, where the landowner isgiving something back.”

Such gifts do bring tax benefitsto the donor, she explains, “but thereality is, what motivates them is alove for their land and a desire to saveit for the future. I get dozens of callsfrom older folks who wonder what’sgoing to happen when they’re gone,what their kids are going to do withthe land. It’s often part of the estateplanning, maybe thinking, ‘I don’twant my son-in-law to sell this offand build condos.’”

While land and easement dona-tions are a key to successful conserva-tion, purchases are also part of thescheme. Gathering Waters is fundedby grants, donations, membership fees

and income from workshops and otherprograms. But there’s never enoughmoney to keep up with needs.

“A lot of the lands that we protect,we buy,” says Elkin. “We do qualifyfor grants under the state StewardshipFund, which helps pay for them. Butlong-term maintenance can be a chal-lenge, and management, things likeposting the land and controlling exoticspecies, takes a lot of work. We allhave to do a lot of fundraising.”

For more information aboutGathering Waters and its memberland trusts, visit its Web site:www.gatheringwaters.org. ■

Local Conservation continued from page 3

Your turn . . .to let us know what’s new in yourcareers and lives. Drop us a line at In Common, 10 Science Hall, 550 N.Park St., Madison, WI 53706–1491; fax us at 608/262–2273; or emailto Incommon@mail.ies.wisc.edu

Your gift . . . is needed and appreciated by the Gaylord Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies. Please con-sider a tax-deductible contribution to support special lectures, programs, travel and scholarship. You can contribute to the generalNelson Institute Fund or to one of the special funds listed below.

____ Gaylord Nelson Faculty Chair ____ Center for Climatic Research

____ Environmental Monitoring Program/Remote Sensing Center Fund ____ Water Resources Management Program

____ Conservation Biology & Sustainable Development Program ____ Climate, People and Environment Program

____ Center for Sustainability and Global Environment

Enclosed is my (our) contribution of $ __________ to support the Gaylord Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Name _________________________________________________________________

Address ________________________________________________________________

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Home phone ______________________ Business phone _______________________

____ My company will match this gift. Company form enclosed.

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