For exemplary contributions, UWO's Spehar named Carl E. Gulbrandsen Innovator of the Year

WiSys has named University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Associate Professor of Anthropology Stephanie Spehar as a Carl E. Gulbrandsen Innovator of the Year.

The award is bestowed annually and presented during the WiSys SPARK Symposium.

Spehar, who has a Ph.D. in Anthropology from NYU, an M.A. from NYU, and a B.A. from California State University-Los Angeles, has previously participated in the 2023 WiSys SPARK Symposium at UW-Oshkosh as a member of the Steering Committee, helping to plan the event.

"Receiving the Innovator of the Year award is an honor and means a lot to me. It gives me renewed motivation to keep doing research and engagement to support social innovations that can address some of society's biggest challenges-from creating more sustainable food systems, to improving water quality, to preserving biodiversity," Spehar said.

One of Spehar's many accomplishments is an Ignite Grant from WiSys dedicated to her research, titled "Assessing Public Risk Perception of Harmful Algal Blooms in Lake Winnebago to Improve Policy and Outreach." This grant enabled her to advance her research and eventually receive a grant for $1.58 million regarding her NSF DISES (Dynamics of Social Integrated Social Ecological Systems) and RUI (Research at Undergraduate Institutions) Program, titled "Emplacing Algal Blooms to Advance Sustainability Theory and Praxis."

Additionally, Spehar is currently working with WiSys on protecting an idea regarding the analysis of nutritional content in food items, is a Co-PI of the WiSys-led Forward Agriculture (Forward Ag) NSF Engine application that is still pending at the semi-final stage, and is a sub-awardee leading UW-Oshkosh's contribution to translation activities connected to Forward Ag.

"Dr. Spehar is truly deserving of this award. She has been an inventor and innovator with extraordinary impact," said WiSys President Arjun Sanga. "In addition to being a co-inventor on a patent, she took a WiSys Ignite grant and used the results of her work to get a major grant from the National Science Foundation to address the problem of algal blooms that disrupt ecosystems in Wisconsin lakes. Her leadership as Co-PI and Director of the Translation Group has been critical to the success of Wisconsin Forward Agriculture in Wisconsin lakes that disrupt ecosystems and negatively impact recreation."

"I am so grateful to WiSys for recognizing the important role that interdisciplinary, community-based, and collaborative approaches play in promoting innovation. I'm also deeply grateful to the many collaborators and partners that have been essential to me being able to do my work," Spehar added.

The award recognizes the achievements of Universities of Wisconsin faculty, staff, students, or community members who make exemplary contributions as a WiSys innovator and is named in honor of Carl E. Guldbrandsen, the former managing director of the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, who supported WiSys throughout his tenure.

Stephanie Spehar received her Innovator of the Year award during the WiSys SPARK Symposium in July, the annual event where research, innovation and entrepreneurship collide. The SPARK Symposium brings together the best and brightest faculty, staff, students, and alumni from across the Universities of Wisconsin to network, collaborate, and celebrate great ideas. You'll find networking and collaboration opportunities, hear about impactful faculty research projects, and see students present research posters & innovative projects.

Learn more about the event and view pictures here.

This story was supplied and written by Kate Reuscher, a WiSys marketing and communications intern who will begin her senior year at UW-Madison.