About WICCI
The Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts was formed in response to questions raised by a bipartisan committee of state legislators who wanted to know how climate change could impact their districts and constituents. More than 40 scientists from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and other agencies and institutions met in June 2007 to explore ways to identify and measure the impacts of climate change and variability at local and regional scales. The group also discussed the development of adaptation strategies for Wisconsin ecosystem and natural resource management, agriculture, business, human health and other vital components of our quality of life. WICCI represents the outgrowth of those efforts.
Organization
WICCI Organizational Chart
WICCI is governed by a Science Council whose members are chosen from an array of disciplines within the University of Wisconsin System, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and other state and federal agencies, universities and institutions. The primary function of the Science Council is to organize and coordinate Working Groups that have the scientific expertise to assess climate change impacts pertinent to specific issues or areas of concern. An Operations and Outreach Unit in the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies at UW-Madison facilitates the operations of the Science Council and be responsible for the outreach mission of WICCI. It also coordinates the activities of an Advisory Committee.
Science Council
Listing of Science Council Members.
Members of the Science Council represent disciplines including natural resource, ecological and engineering sciences; climate science; social sciences; public health; and the agricultural sciences. The primary functions of the Science Council are to:
- Identify critical or emerging scientific questions related to the mission of WICCI.
- Organize and coordinate Working Groups created to assess climate change impacts of specific topics or areas of concern relevant to WICCI.
- Identify potential funding sources for WICCI activities.
- Communicate and coordinate with the Operations and Outreach Unit.
- Meet regularly to carry out the above functions, analyze the status of WICCI relative to its mission, and provide leadership on climate change impact issues in Wisconsin.
Working Groups
View pdf of Working Group Assessment Chart.
Working Groups are created by the Science Council to conduct science-based assessments of climate change impacts pertaining to specific topics or areas of concern (e.g., northern forest ecosystem; agriculture) and to make recommendations on adaptation strategies.
Operations and Outreach UnitAn Operations and Outreach Unit provides logistical support to the Science Council and perform outreach functions related to the mission of WICCI.
Advisory CommitteeRepresentatives of agencies, business interests, non-governmental organizations and other stakeholders are asked to serve on an advisory committee to provide information, resources and knowledge to assist WICCI in fulfilling its mission.
