UW-Whitewater: UW-Whitewater, Milwaukee 7 Water Council to hold brainstorming event

Contact: William Dougan

(262) 472-1159

douganw@uww.edu

WHITEWATER ­ The Milwaukee 7 Water Council estimates the need for fresh water for drinking, recreational and industrial use doubles every 20 years. On Wednesday, Feb. 3, the Milwaukee 7 Water Council will combine efforts with the College of Business and Economics at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater to brainstorm ways to manage this valuable natural resource.

William Dougan, UW-Whitewater’s Irvin L. Young Professor of Entrepreneurship, said the event will be a valuable opportunity for members of the UW-Whitewater community to hear from people working on the state’s water initiative.

“One of the ultimate goals of the water initiative is to get university and industry to work together to create new businesses,” Dougan said. “We hope to accelerate the process and to do it publicly so students, faculty and staff members can watch.”

Ultimately, Dougan hopes the event will generate some viable new business ideas. “Even if we don’t, if others can learn from where the problems are, what kind of solutions are available and how new business ideas are generated and evaluated, we will be successful,” he said.

Rich Meeusen, president, chairman and CEO of Badger Meter, co-chair of the Milwaukee 7 Water Council and a UW-Whitewater business alumnus, will help facilitate the event, which begins at 5 p.m. in the Baker-Tilly Lecture Hall in the new Timothy J. Hyland Hall.

Other participants include Claus Dunkelberg of the Milwaukee 7 Water Council; UW-Whitewater faculty members Elisabeth Harrahy (biology), John Ejnik and Paul House (chemistry), Choton Basu (information technology and business education) and members of UW-Whitewater’s Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization.

There is no cost to attend the event. Students, faculty and staff members and members of the public are invited to attend.

Contact Dougan at 262-472-1159 or douganw@uww.edu for more information.