Rebecca Larson

Rebecca Larson is a Professor of Environmental Studies at the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin–Madison. She serves as the Faculty Director of the Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) Learning Community and teaches courses such as Envir St 126: Principles of Environmental Science. Her research focuses on sustainable agricultural practices, nutrient management, and environmental impacts of dairy systems. She holds a PhD, MS, and BS in Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering from Michigan State University.

Dr. Larson’s research interests include greenhouse gas emissions from manure, anaerobic digestion technologies, and innovative solutions for nutrient recovery from livestock waste. She has pioneered studies on ammonia mitigation strategies, cyanobacteria-based biofertilizers, and techno-economic analyses of manure processing systems.

Her publications highlight advancements in manure nutrient sensing, bioelectrochemical ammonia recovery, and spatial targeting of agricultural support measures. She collaborates on initiatives like the Virtual Farm website to disseminate dairy sustainability information. Recent work addresses phosphorus recovery via cyanobacteria and the environmental implications of organic dairy farming across U.S. regions.

Dr. Larson’s contributions span interdisciplinary projects, including risk assessments for manure irrigation and biogas use in Uganda. She advocates for integrated approaches to balance economic and environmental goals in livestock waste management.