The world faces unprecedented challenges, from climate change to global health crises. The university seeks to address many of these challenges through the Wisconsin Research, Innovation and Scholarly Excellence (RISE) Initiative, emphasizing faculty hiring, research infrastructure, interdisciplinary collaboration, and student opportunity across three focus areas: RISE-AI, RISE-EARTH, and RISE-THRIVE.
The International Division is supporting RISE through targeted events and initiatives to bolster research and create learning opportunities for students.
A key pillar of this support comes from the International Division’s Institute for Regional and International Studies (IRIS). IRIS, encompassing nine area studies centers, offers a wide range of activities, such as academic programs, community events, teacher training, research grants, and more. Upcoming IRIS programming and events have been developed to complement RISE themes and create opportunities for engagement in these critical areas.
IRIS is excited to announce the upcoming event, “RISE: Exploring Possibilities for Global Research on Climate Change and Health,” co-sponsored by IRIS NRC. This event will be held on February 25 at 8 a.m. in Sterling Hall. Presenters and topics include:
- Julie Ober Allen, assistant professor, Department of Kinesiology, on heat waves and cardiovascular risk in aging Black adults
- Claire Wendland, professor and chair, Department of Anthropology, on floods and women’s reproductive health in Malawi
- Roberto Abadie, assistant professor, Department of Kinesiology, on hurricanes and injection risk in rural Puerto Rico
Several other RISE-related events are under development by IRIS for the spring semester. These include a visit from a Pulitzer Prize-winning lecturer who will discuss AI, workshops for campus and community members, and speakers focusing on ecological and environmental systems.
“Programming offered by IRIS will address global challenges including pandemics, climate death, concerns about data privacy and security, and the need for coordinated governance to ensure responsible AI use.” said Lesley Bartlett, associate dean of regional, international, and language studies. “Regional and international studies are essential for understanding how history, culture, politics, economics, and social structures influence policy-making, cross-cultural communication, and effective responses to these issues.”
Beyond campus events, the International Division’s global focus for RISE includes immersive learning experiences. International Academic Programs (IAP), a unit of the International Division, recently developed study abroad programs connected to key RISE themes. One example is the Ceiba Coral Reef Ecology program, offered by the Ceiba Foundation, which provides hands-on learning in oceanography, marine biology, and conservation. IAP is also reviewing applicants for the Global Gateway Program that explores the island city-state of Singapore and how it approaches issues of land use, sustainable living, and resilience in the face of climate change.
New short-term, faculty-led programs will be offered in Winter 2025-2026, including UW Wellbeing and the Art of Forest Bathing in Japan and UW Cancer Care Across Cultures, which will take place in Copenhagen.
Information on these programs will be shared on the International Division RISE webpage. More events are currently being scheduled and will be posted as they become available.
Story by Kayla Daum