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UW-Platteville professor manufactures hand sanitizer for Wisconsin communities
Impact of COVID-19 provides opportunity for research, connections
Written by Megan Hinderman | Campus & Community Environment
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As organizations drop in emissions large and small would need to be struggle to adapt repeated multiple to the COVIDyears in a row to 19 pandemic, make a difference the effects on in global warmthe University ing,” Underwood of Wisconsinsaid. Platteville and UW-Platteville its surrounding communities are Amy Seeboth-Wilson, sustainability coordinator took a significant step in reducing far-reaching. Students are continuing their its carbon emissions by eliminating the use studies from remote locations, where they of coal from its campus earlier this year. face new personal and academic challengThe institution has also made sustainabiles. Faculty are adapting to delivering their ity a priority in its 2019-24 strategic plan. courses in a new way and providing support Much of this was driven by student interest, to their students from afar. Yet, even as their research and support prior to COVID-19. For own lives are disrupted, university students Underwood and others, this presents new and staff have contributed to the greater good possibilities for action. by sharing their skills and resources whenever possible. While environmental shifts are seen on a global scale, economic impacts are also Now, new opportunities for research and hitting close to home. The food industry in community-building have started to arise. For particular has seen a great deal of disruption example, Dr. Chris Underwood, geography with supply chain shifts, restaurant and bar professor and program coordinator of the closures, and limited access to goods. This new environmental science and conservation is particularly damaging to the dairy industry major believes COVID-19 could present an and family farms in Wisconsin, which have intriguing case study for students interested already suffered hundreds of jobs lost in in the environment. recent years. However, these farms and the “The majority of scientists agree that human communities they call home are also known actions are causing our planet to warm, with for their resiliency, and some believe the devastating consequences to life as we know response to COVID-19 could strengthen that it. COVID-19 however, is, at least temporarily, relationship. slowing global carbon emissions. As daily traf“We are seeing a pandemic-driven shift in fic has slowed, scientists are estimating that consumer mentality among our Southwest global carbon dioxide emissions may drop by Wisconsin communities,” Amy Seebothmore than 5% in 2020 – in what would be Wilson, the Sustainability Coordinator for the largest ever annual drop of carbon dioxUW-Platteville, said. “Many local farmers who ide emissions. This is significant, but such a source directly to restaurants and consumers 2020 College Guide - Page 16 Grant, Iowa, Lafayette Shopping News
were rightfully nervous when Governor Evers’ “Never before in our lives have we had the Safer at Home order was announced. Yet, as opportunity to so clearly see our relationships locals seek greater safety and reliability in our in action. From our direct neighbors, to the food delivery system, many of our local farms grocery cashier, to strangers overseas, COVIDand CSAs are working 19 has changed the overtime to keep up with demand. We “We are seeing a pandemicway we think about and interact with others. also get the sense of driven shift in consumer Even our relationship a greater appreciation of local businesses in mentality among our to our planet has been impacted,” Seebothgeneral.” Southwest Wisconsin Wilson said. “This Seeboth-Wilson also stressed that the pandemic has brought to light disparities in communities,” Amy Seeboth-Wilson, the Sustainability Coordinator for UW-Platteville moment in time gives us pause to ponder the world we live in and, perhaps more healthcare, income, especially, the world and other areas. She said that much of we want to create. We know life will never her work as sustainability coordinator goes be the same after COVID-19, but dare we beyond renewable energy initiatives and into imagine a future that can be better because these areas of social justice. In a time of of this experience?” global crisis response, it makes her work and To learn more about the research and the work of so many at UW-Platteville all the initiatives taking place at UW-Platteville, more critical. check out uwplatt.edu/news.
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