The Midwest Climate Adaptation Science Center (MW CASC) was launched in September 2021. Based at host institution University of Minnesota, we are a consortium of research-focused academic, Tribal, and non-profit partners working collaboratively with the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

The Midwest CASC is a partnership-driven program. We team scientists with natural and cultural resource managers to deliver science to help fish, wildlife, water, land, and people adapt to a changing climate.

Guided by a set of Science Priorities, we address regional climate issues, including: heavy rainfall and drought, loss of winter, altered hydrological regimes, novel terrestrial landscapes, and barriers and opportunities for adaptation.

The USGS Climate Adaptation Science Center network is made up of the National CASC, located in Reston, Va., and nine regional CASCs, covering the continental US, Alaska, Hawai’i, the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands, and the U.S. Caribbean.

Our Values

• We have respect for nature, for one another, and for different forms of knowledge. 
• We work in service to our region and all the beings that live here now and in the future. 
• We are optimistic about the future of natural and cultural resources in the Midwest. 
• We have the resolve necessary to solve the urgent challenge of climate change.
• We prioritize relevancy to ensure our science will inform adaptation action. 

Our Community

The Midwest CASC is made up of:

• Consortium Member Institutions:
  • University of Minnesota (Host)
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison
  • Michigan State University
  • University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
  • Indiana University
  • College of Menominee Nation
  • Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission
  • The Nature Conservancy
• USGS Staff and Scientists
• Tribal Resilience Liaisons
• An Advisory Committee