The Water@UW-Madison’s annual Spring Symposium was an extra-special one this year. Nearly 150 people attended the 10th anniversary celebration, and several commented on what turned out to be an interesting and balanced program. Highlights included William “Nąąwącekǧize” Quackenbush’s keynote speech, 12 lightning talks displaying an incredible range of water research happening in Madison, and the Flow art-science gallery show.
Attendees learned the history of Teejop through the story of a project led by Quackenbush, the Ho-Chunk historic preservation officer. Quackenbush worked with other tribal members to build a dugout canoe from a large, locally harvested cottonwood tree, rediscovering traditional technologies. Quackenbush engaged the audience with an interactive demonstration of deep time complexed by the regrettable erasure of vast swaths of history, cultural knowledge, and practice. Attendees are shown below gathered around the canoe, which became a focal point in 2022 on its first journey through our watershed.
Folks remarked on the lightning talks that followed – which displayed the incredible range of water-related study occurring on the UW-Madison campus and provided opportunities for scholars and external partners to connect over their work.
This year, we ended the Water@UW-Madison Spring Symposium with a 10 year anniversary celebration and Flow 2024 cohort gallery showing. The Flow Project explores and celebrates how water shapes and connects our lives, inspiring us to bridge disciplines, identities, and geographies.
33 undergraduate artists from across the UW System were paired with Wisconsin-based water professionals. The artists were prompted to create an art piece inspired by their conversations with their water professionals about their water work. Works were on display during the celebration, prompting conversation, questions, and interactions during the event.
While each piece is unique, several themes arose, including: invasive species, indigenous peoples, native species, pollution and more.
In one attendee’s words:
“This spring, it was a notably nice balance of depth (keynote), intrigue (speed talks), networking/community-building (posters, breaks, food, artwork)… as someone who is not affiliated with the university formally besides being an alum, I find this is a wonderful operationalization of the ‘Wisconsin Idea.’ It’s such a great opportunity to connect, and I hope it continues. Thank you!”
