Campus Connection

What will La Crosse have in common with Beijing, Berlin and St. Petersburg? It will be the fourth city to host the International Society for River Science Conference. “It’s a real testament to the region,” says Roger Haro, biology professor and assistant director of the UWL River Studies Center. “Both historically and currently this is an area researchers know and want to come to.” The August conference brings together a variety of international experts from 15 countries studying a wide range of river-related topics from the ecology, to hydrology, to social and cultural issues. These topics are interwoven throughout the meeting and reinforce this year’s theme: “River Connectivity.” Not only are organizers highlighting the connectedness of river systems, but also how connections among rivers and people brought early communities together and currently facilitate partnerships that aim to improve the river-based ecosystems through collaborative research projects and public outreach. “People are always interested in how the river is doing,” says Haro, “This is their chance to learn about part of their home.” Events for the community include tours of a working towboat, exhibits by local agencies and a keynote presentation by Chad Pregracke, an environmentalist who grew up yards away from the Mississippi River. Find more details on the public events and formal conference.