Midwest Climate Adaptation Science Center

What Midwest Climate Adaptation Science Center does

The Midwest Climate Adaptation Science Center (MW CASC) is a federally-anchored research consortium launched in September 2021 and hosted by the University of Minnesota's Institute on the Environment. It operates as one of nine regional centers within the U.S. Geological Survey's Climate Adaptation Science Centers network, alongside a National CASC. MW CASC delivers climate adaptation science for the Midwest region, addressing heavy precipitation and drought, loss of winter conditions, altered hydrological regimes, novel terrestrial landscapes, and barriers to adaptation across fish, wildlife, water, land, and people.

Its core offerings span research projects (45+ funded projects, exceeding 50 by 2026), synthesis research with national-scale replicability, a monthly Science Seminar series, an Innovation in Adaptation Speaker Series, publications and fact sheets, a Community of Practice launched in August 2024, State Wildlife Action Plan support (including seven comprehensive ecosystem habitat reports), graduate assistantships, and a Tribal Research Experience for Undergraduates program. Underlying methodological assets include a 5-Year Science Agenda, an Adaptation Cycle Framework (diagnose, plan, act and evaluate), and decision-support tools such as the Midwest Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment Tool.

MW CASC's business model is grant-funded rather than commercial: revenue streams comprise USGS federal funding through the national CASC network and institutional support from eight consortium member universities and partners (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, and The Nature Conservancy). It does not sell products or services. End users include state wildlife agencies (Minnesota, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois DNRs), federal resource management agencies (USFWS, NPS, USFS), Tribal nations, and academic researchers and students. The organization is led by Consortium Director Jessica Hellmann (AAAS Fellow) and Regional Administrator Olivia LeDee, with approximately 14 staff and a 15-person Consortium Leadership Team.

Name

Midwest Climate Adaptation Science Center

Legal name

Midwest Climate Adaptation Science Center

Website

https://mwcasc.umn.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Midwest Climate Adaptation Science Center is a federally-anchored research consortium launched in September 2021 and hosted at the University of Minnesota, delivering climate adaptation science for the Midwest as one of nine regional centers in the USGS network. It serves state wildlife agencies, federal resource agencies, Tribal nations, and researchers through funded projects, decision-support tools, and educational programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Climate Adaptation Research

NAICS

Administration of Conservation Programs (924120), Environmental Consulting Services (541620), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation (BPAGAGAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Climate Adaptation & Resilience Programs (BPADALAD), Climate Change Mitigation, Adaptation & Resilience Programs (BPAIAMAD)

Keywords

• Climate adaptation research
• Wildlife conservation science
• Natural resource management
• Ecosystem vulnerability assessment
• State wildlife action plans

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. USGS Federal Funding: Operates as a USGS and Department of Interior-based organization receiving federal funding through the Climate Adaptation Science Center network. Funding supports research projects across consortium member institutions.
2. Consortium Institution Support: Host institution University of Minnesota and consortium member institutions provide institutional support including faculty time, facilities, and administrative resources.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

MW CASC funds and conducts climate adaptation research and delivers actionable science products (publications, tools, vulnerability assessments, training, and workshops) to help fish, wildlife, water, land, and people in the Midwest adapt to changing climate. It operates as a USGS-supported consortium hosted by the University of Minnesota with eight academic, Tribal, and non-profit partners.

Product overview

The Midwest Climate Adaptation Science Center (MW CASC) is a research consortium, not a product company. It does not offer commercial products or services in the traditional sense. Instead, it delivers climate adaptation science through a portfolio of interconnected programs and resources: research projects and synthesis studies addressing regional climate challenges; science seminars and an Innovation in Adaptation speaker series for knowledge sharing; publications and fact sheets translating research for practitioners; a Community of Practice facilitating peer learning; State Wildlife Action Plan support providing habitat reports and climate tools for state agencies; and educational programs including graduate assistantships and a Tribal REU program. These offerings collectively serve resource managers, scientists, tribal nations, and students working on Midwest climate adaptation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Climate Adaptation Research Projects A portfolio of funded research projects addressing Midwest regional climate priorities including heavy precipitation, drought, loss of winter, altered hydrology, and landscape changes; delivered to federal, state, Tribal, and academic stakeholders.
• Synthesis Research Collaborative synthesis projects that address emerging climate adaptation topics with potential for national-scale replicability, guided by working groups and postdoctoral scholars.
• Monthly Science Seminars Virtual seminars held on the fourth Monday of every month featuring research presentations and expert discussions on climate adaptation for the MW CASC community.
• Innovation in Adaptation Speaker Series A speaker series highlighting new voices, tools, and expert perspectives that push the boundaries of climate adaptation science, often developed in partnership with other organizations.
• Research Publications and Fact Sheets Research publications, annual reports, fact sheets, and other materials translating climate science findings for resource managers and practitioners, available free of charge.
• Community of Practice

Quantifiable outcome

• 45 research projects funded addressing regional climate challenges
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• University of MinnesotacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost institution of MW CASC. Provides institutional infrastructure through the Institute on the Environment. Houses the Consortium Director and administrative functions.
• University of Wisconsin-MadisoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium member institution contributing researchers and leadership to MW CASC projects including climate adaptation science and wildlife research.
• Michigan State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium member institution contributing to MW CASC climate adaptation research and synthesis projects.
• University of Illinois, Urbana-ChampaigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium member institution contributing researchers to MW CASC projects on fisheries, wildlife, and ecosystem adaptation.
• Indiana UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium member institution contributing to MW CASC synthesis research including urban systems and green infrastructure projects.
• College of Menominee NationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium member and Tribal partner hosting the Tribal REU program. Provides Indigenous perspectives and hosts the Sustainable Development Institute and Indigenous Climate Resilience Network.
• Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium member representing Tribal natural resource interests. Provides Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Indigenous climate adaptation expertise.
• The Nature ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium member contributing conservation science expertise and partnership network to MW CASC climate adaptation efforts.
• U.S. Geological SurveycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal agency partner providing USGS staff, scientists, and infrastructure. Part of the national CASC network with National CASC in Reston, VA and 9 regional CASCs.
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServicemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partner receiving climate science to support species conservation and habitat management decisions.
• National Park ServicemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partner collaborating on climate adaptation research and using MW CASC science for park resource management.
• U.S. Forest ServicemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partner engaged with MW CASC research on forest adaptation and management strategies.
• USDA Midwest Climate HubsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional climate partner participating in Midwest Climate Partners network for climate science coordination.
• Great Lakes Integrated Sciences and AssessmentssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional climate partner meeting regularly with MW CASC to exchange ideas and support collaboration on mutual climate challenges.
• Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change ImpactssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional climate partner network supporting climate science activities and collaboration in the Midwest.
• Northern Institute of Applied Climate SciencessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partner providing climate science and adaptation resources for natural resource management.
• Indigenous Climate Resilience NetworkmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork hosted by College of Menominee Nation convening Indigenous peoples to identify climate threats and formulate adaptation strategies. MW CASC participates and contributes science.
• Minnesota Climate Adaptation PartnershipsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional climate partner at University of Minnesota focused on climate adaptation for Minnesota.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Climate Central: Nonprofit climate science communications organization producing visualizations, research, and journalistic content for the public and policymakers. Overlaps with MW CASC's outreach mission (seminars, fact sheets, decision-support tools) but is a non-academic, narrative-driven entity rather than a research consortium.

Direct peers

• Great Lakes Integrated Sciences and Assessments (GLISA): NOAA-funded climate assessments program at the University of Michigan focused on the Great Lakes region. Comparable to MW CASC because it likewise delivers climate science and decision-support tools to Midwest practitioners, with significant overlap in geography and stakeholder base.
• Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center: One of the other eight USGS-funded regional CASCs, hosted at a consortium of universities including UMass Amherst. Closely comparable to MW CASC in scope, governance, products, and relationship with federal agencies and tribes within the Northeast region.
• National Climate Adaptation Science Center (USGS): The central hub of the USGS CASC network based in Reston, Virginia. Directly comparable to MW CASC because it coordinates and funds the same regional consortium model (9 regional CASCs) and produces national-scale climate adaptation science.
• Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center: Another regional USGS CASC hosted at North Carolina State University. Comparable to MW CASC because it operates the same consortium-based adaptation-science delivery model, supporting resource managers with co-produced climate research across its region.
• Northern Institute of Applied Climate Sciences (NIACS): USDA Forest Service–supported climate adaptation hub delivering applied climate science to forest and natural-resource managers. Comparable to MW CASC in mission, audience (resource managers), and collaborative research model across the Midwest and Northeast.
• Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts (WICCI): University of Wisconsin–led science and policy partnership assessing climate impacts and adaptation for Wisconsin. Comparable to MW CASC as a state/university-based climate consortium delivering peer-reviewed science to state agencies, tribes, and the public.

Others

• The Nature Conservancy: Global conservation nonprofit and a member of MW CASC's consortium. Connected to MW CASC via formal partnership and overlap in mission (climate-resilient conservation of lands and waters) but does not itself run a regional academic climate-adaptation research program.

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Climate Programs: The parent federal science agency that hosts MW CASC and the entire CASC network. Comparable because it sets the science agenda, distributes funding, and produces climate-related natural-resource research at national scale, but operates far more broadly than a single regional CASC.
• NOAA Climate Program Office: Federal climate research funding entity within NOAA spanning atmospheric, oceanic, and societal dimensions. Broader than MW CASC in scope, but a key federal counterpart that funds regional programs like GLISA and shares the mandate of translating climate science for decision-makers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mw_casc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mwcasc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Midwest Climate Adaptation Science Center