Earth Day, held each year on April 22, is a global event with local roots. In 1970, Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson envisioned an event that would galvanize energy on college campuses, raising public awareness of air and water pollution. 55 years later, Earth Day events across the globe are calling for innovative solutions to environmental challenges. Data science can play an important role in understanding these challenges and finding these solutions. Here are a few examples of data science research, tools, and learning opportunities at UW–Madison that help realize the vision of Earth Day.
UN Sustainable Development Goals in Action
In 2022, Lori DiPrete Brown, School of Human Ecology, presented her SDG360 Thinking model at a Data Science Institute symposium focused on sustainability. Following up on her presentation, DSI Director Kyle Cranmer proposed building a tool that would create customized visualizations based on her model, allowing people to understand sustainability challenges and develop plans using the UN Sustainable Development Goals as a framework. The SDG360 Thinking app has been used in a range of settings — from addressing global health challenges, to aiding policy developing in local government, to exploring science-based optimization in agriculture and green energy systems.
Data-Driven Decisions for Agricultural Sustainability
By the time a farmer spies a fungal disease in a corn or soybean field, it’s too late to treat it. As a result, farmers preemptively spray fungicides to protect their crops. DSI and Dr. Damon Smith, Plant Pathology, used machine learning and traditional statistical techniques to create the Corn Fungicide ROI Calculator. This tool helps farmers make data-informed farm management decisions, with the potential to help them grow corn more profitably and sustainably.
Community Engagement in Climate and Health Research
The new Health-First Climate Action Research Center will lead innovative, community-driven research to understand the health and equity impacts of energy choices in the US’s transition to low-carbon energy. The center brings together experts in air quality, human health, clean energy, and artificial intelligence from UW–Madison, UW–Milwaukee, and the Medical College of Wisconsin. Researchers will engage communities and citizen scientists with AI, web-based mapping, and crowdsourcing. Key innovations will include participatory web-based technologies, utilization of low-cost air pollution monitors, and an evaluation of tradeoffs between energy production and health risks.
Data Skills and Tools for Environmental Research
Data Science Hub workshops, in collaboration with the UW–Madison Carpentries community, teach the skills and tools needed for researchers to reproducibly analyze, model, and gain insights from data. These skills and tools can support research on environmental and earth science. Past workshops have focused on ecological and geospatial data. Watch for a Geospatial Data Carpentry workshop in June.
Data Science for Every Major
The Data Science certificate adds depth to any degree, including majors focused on ecology, agroecology, and the environment. There are no prerequisites required to declare the Data Science certificate, and it is open to any UW-Madison undergraduate student interested in programming, data analysis, and cutting-edge scientific tools.
Learn more
- Read about research and tools supported by the Data Science Institute, workshops at the Data Science Hub, and data science educational opportunities through the School of Computer, Data, & Information Science.
- Celebrate Earth Fest at UW-Madison with the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies and the Office of Sustainability, April 21-29, 2025.