University officials announced the appointment of UW-Madison historian Gregg Mitman as the new interim director of the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies Wednesday.
Provost Patrick Farrell said in a statement Mitman will help lead the articulation of the Nelson Institute's vision and mission to meet the goals of a new university-wide strategic plan.
Mitman said The Nelson Institute is a tradition the UW-Madison community should be proud of.
The [institute] has been an incubator, laboratory and model of interdisciplinary research, teaching and service across the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities at the University of Wisconsin,"" Mitman said in a statement.
The former UW-Madison alumnus is currently the William Coleman Professor of History of Science and is also a professor of medical history, science and technology and environmental studies.
During his time as a professor, Mitman initiated the founding of the institute's Center for Culture, History and Environment and organized last year's ""Tales from Plant Earth"" film festival in downtown Madison.
