Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Herb Kohl and Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-Milwaukee) today lauded $135,000 in National Science Foundation (NSF) grants headed to Milwaukee for University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) and Marquette University to establish a water technology center that will help further Milwaukee’s work to become a leader in water research and related industries. 

A total of $675,000 is expected to be award to the two institutions over the next five years.  UWM will receive $400,000, $80,000 of which was awarded today, and Marquette will receive $275,000, $55,000 of which was awarded today. 

“Milwaukee is perfectly suited for the Water Equipment and Policy Industry/University Cooperative Research Center.  The city is home to the UWM Great Lakes Water Institute and by establishing this research center, UWM will be able to more effectively collaborate its shared water related strengths with Marquette University and ultimately produce stronger research results,” Kohl said.

Congresswoman Moore said, “Milwaukee knows water.  I am thrilled that this funding will help us build on what we know so well.  These grants are recognition of our hard work to help make Milwaukee the hub of water research.” 

"I believe that the NSF grant is another indication that Milwaukee is becoming recognized as an international leader in advanced water technology.  The grant also demonstrates the unprecedented success that can be obtained through strategic partnerships between our regional universities, industries, and government agencies and by taking advantages of our regions natural resources," said Michael Lovell, Dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Science at UWM.

Southeastern Wisconsin is home to over more than 120 water-related businesses and five of the largest 11 water technology companies have significant presence in the area.  UWM is home to the Great Lakes Water Institute, which is the largest research center of its kind on the Great Lakes. 

UWM and Marquette are collaborating to create a new water technology center that will help boost economic growth and development by studying water equipment, policy and technology.  This will not only improve water quality, but it will also advance understanding of water technologies and help water equipment manufacturers increase competitiveness by adopting new technologies.

Last year, Senator Kohl sent a letter to the National Science Foundation supporting this grant application and secured $550,000 in federal funding to support other aspects of this partnership as part of the Great Lakes WATER Institute.   

Additionally, the institutions will work with the Society of Women Engineers and the National Society of Black Engineers to attract and hire underrepresented, qualified students to work on these projects.

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