In September, an AAE delegation from the environmental and resource economics group attended the Social Cost of Water Pollution Workshop in Washington, D.C. The workshop brings together economists and other scientists interested in water and water quality—including government researchers and policy analysts—to discuss research that contributes to solving complex water quality challenges.
AAE was well represented at the workshop. Dan Phaneuf, Henry C. Taylor Professor of Agricultural and Applied Economics, and a co-host of the event, presented his research and moderated the keynote interview with Wisconsin native and environmental journalist Dan Egan. A two-time Pulitzer Prize nominee, Egan authored Life and Death of the Great Lakes (a UW Go Big Read selection) and more recently The Devil’s Element, which explores phosphorus as both a water pollutant and an essential agricultural nutrient.
Other members of the delegation included five AAE graduate students, with three contributing research to the program. For graduate students, the opportunity to attend topical workshops that align with their research interests is a prime example of the department’s efforts to expand professional development opportunities beyond travel funding and conference attendance fees.
Lorin Rudin-Rush, an AAE graduate student, reflected on the experience:
“Presenting my work on crop rotation and surface water quality and receiving feedback from top government and academic researchers was invaluable,” Rudin-Rush said. “The chance to speak one-on-one with experts for career and research advice—and to connect with other early-career researchers—made this an incredibly rewarding experience.”
These experiences reflect AAE’s ongoing investment in the professional growth and leadership development of our graduate students. They not only deepen students’ research expertise but also build their professional networks and skills essential for future careers in academia, government, and industry.