By james art Last week, University of Wisconsin-Madison students and researchers and members of the greater Madison community heard firsthand the importance of local journalism, especially when it comes to climate coverage.
From October 14-16, Great Lakes Climate Solutions reporter Isabel “Izzy” Ross took journalism classes, met with clean energy experts and learned about Madison’s (and perhaps the world’s) most studied lake, Lake Mendota. As the Sharon Dunwoody Science Journalist this semester, Ross shared insight into his work as a reporter for both Northern Michigan radio station Interlochen Public Radio and Grist, as well as a digital climate solutions magazine with a national audience.
On October 15, during the Wisconsin Science Festival, she gave a public talk at a flash talk-art fusion event, Big Ideas for Busy People: Fields of Wonder. Whether she was on stage at the Majestic Theater in the middle of Lake Mendota or fielding questions in a room full of public affairs and journalism students, Ross shared the importance and value of building trust with the community in and about which you report.
Isabelle “Izzy” Ross speaks to an attendee at a flash talk and art celebration, Big Ideas for Busy People: Fields of Wonder, where she speaks to the public about her approach to covering climate solutions and the importance of local journalism.
Photo by ArrowStar Photography
At left, doctoral student Tyler Butts describes an overview of limnology research at UW–Madison, while Ross takes notes as he tours research facilities in the Water Sciences and Engineering Laboratory. Butts, who studies invasive species such as zebra mussels, explains how they use the large tanks around them for a variety of research.
Photo: Jeff Miller
Butts, who also captains the pontoon boat, shared with Ross that Lake Mendota is one of the most explored lakes in the world. Hilary Duggan (right), associate professor of integrative biology, also shares some of her recent research that looks at the environmental and societal implications of lake ice loss.
Photo: Jeff Miller
Ross even meets the “David Bouy,” a moored weather buoy operated by the UW–Madison Department of Limnology and affectionately named after the musician and singer David Bowie. The buoy floats over a deeper part of Lake Mendota and includes a 22-meter array of water temperature sensors spaced every meter.
Photo: Jeff Miller
With the Wisconsin state capitol rising from the Madison skyline behind her, Ross learns that limnology research doesn’t stop when the lakes freeze over. As Butts and Duggan explain, the David Buoy will eventually be replaced with other equipment that can continue to measure any data from the lake during the winter months.
Photo: Jeff Miller
Left, Ross listens to Samantha Summerfield, a PhD student in environmental chemistry and technology, talk about their research on PFAS (polyfluoroalkyl substances) in Christy Remukal’s water chemistry lab.
Photo: Jeff Miller
During the Big Ideas for Busy People: Fields of Wonder event at the Wisconsin Science Festival, Ross took the stage with several scientists and communicators to give a fun yet informative series of lightning talks to the Madison audience. Science-focused talks were interspersed with artistic performances such as dancing and violin music. Ross focused on the importance of local climate reporting and building relationships with communities to learn about the climate issues they face – and care about – in their everyday lives.
Photo by ArrowStar Photography
During a lively question-and-answer session, Ross (center) answered an attendee’s question about the importance of local journalism at a time when people are also faced with a constant stream of information from social media platforms.
Photo by ArrowStar Photography
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