Joeres to lead environmental studies institute

Erhard Joeres (20K JPG)

Department Chairman Erhard Joeres will become interim director of the Gaylord Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies at UW-Madison when the current director, Thomas M. Yuill, retires Jan. 27. Joeres will continue to serve as chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Joeres, a professor of civil and environmental engineering and environmental studies, will serve from the time Yuill retires until a permanent replacement is chosen. A search and screen committee has begun a nationwide search.

"The Nelson Institute is a wonderful part of the UW-Madison campus," Joeres said. "I look forward to the challenge of leading the institute and continuing the hard work put forth for so many years by Tom Yuill."

Joeres joined the UW-Madison faculty in 1970, and has been associated with the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies for more than two decades. He most recently served as chair of the institute's academic programs, following earlier service as the chair of the institute's Water Resources Management, Land Resources and Air Resources Management programs. He is also on the faculty of the Energy Analysis and Policy Program.

The Institute for Environmental Studies was created in 1970 to promote and enhance interdisciplinary environmental instruction, research and outreach. The institute was renamed last spring in honor of former Wisconsin governor and U.S. senator Gaylord Nelson, a lifelong champion of environmental stewardship and the founder of Earth Day.

Approximately 150 professors from more than 50 UW-Madison departments are affiliated with the Nelson Institute, which administers several degree and certificate programs. The institute also houses three research centers and offers more than 100 courses in cooperation with the university's schools and colleges.