15 Badgers recognized among Wisconsin’s Most Influential Black Leaders for 2023
Current and former UW–Madison students and employees received recognition from Madison365 for their tremendous contributions to Wisconsin's Black community across their diverse fields, from public health and education, to finance, public service and law.
Land and campus community connect through new art installation
A new art installation preserves some of the wood from an elm tree fondly known as Elmer, which stood in the Biochemical Sciences Complex Plaza until it succumbed to Dutch elm disease in 2018. The hanging piece was installed in the Biochemistry Sciences Building atrium in October 2023.
Multitasking microbes: UW–Madison scientists engineer bacteria to make two valuable products from plant fiber
UW researchers have engineered bacteria that can produce two chemical products at the same time from underutilized plant fiber. The discovery could help make biofuels more sustainable and commercially viable.
Stem cell technology developed at UW–Madison leads to new understanding of autism risks
Ashton says researchers using technologies like the RosetteArray are finding that the risk factors for autism spectrum disorder are boiling down to a couple of core pathways, that seem to have roles very early in human brain development, which is helpful information as researchers work on treatments.
Moments in Time 2023
In 2023, University Communications photographers captured thousands of photos of Badgers living, learning and working at UW–Madison. Here's a small selection of some of their favorite moments.
UW–Madison to cover full cost of undergraduate degree for students from Wisconsin Indian tribes
The Wisconsin Tribal Educational Promise program is not based on financial need; financial support will be awarded regardless of family income. When it begins next fall, the program will cover those already on campus, not just those new to campus. Any currently enrolled students at that time who qualify — undergraduates, J.D. students and M.D. students — will receive the program’s financial support.
Mineral coatings could enable shelf-stable mRNA therapies
A protective mineral coating identified by University of Wisconsin–Madison biomedical engineering researchers could allow powerful messenger RNA therapeutics like COVID-19 vaccines to be stored at room temperature, making them more accessible to lower-resourced communities across the world.
Regents support legislative compromise resolution
The Board of Regents approved by an 11-6 vote an agreement between the Universities of Wisconsin and state legislative leadership that moves forward critical priorities of UW campuses across Wisconsin, including the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
New research offers insights into the biochemistry that makes grasses flower
The genetics of plant flowering have long been studied in model species of the mustard family. Now, scientists at UW–Madison have identified key genes responsible for flowering in a grass species.
Science stories that stood out on campus in 2023
From the floor of a lodgepole pine forest to the depths of the Milky Way, here are some of the stories that awed and inspired us this year.
2023 WARF Innovation Award winners tackle heart disease, diabetes
A protein that could regenerate heart tissue and a new treatment for diabetes and obesity have taken top honors from WARF.
Surprising contributions from UW–Madison’s overlooked scientists
While the scientists in this story aren’t household names, the research they did and the training they received from UW–Madison helped advance their fields of science and improve the world.
UW–Madison boasts 3 researchers among 2023 National Association of Inventors fellows
The National Academy of Inventors has announced that University of Wisconsin–Madison researchers David Beebe, Guang-Hong Chen and Yoshihiro Kawaoka have been named to its 2023 class of fellows. UW–Madison’s three new fellows bring the university’s total representation to 18.
Regents vote against legislative compromise resolution
On Dec. 9, the Board of Regents voted against a resolution that would have endorsed a compromise proposal between the Universities of Wisconsin, UW–Madison and legislative leadership.
UW–Madison alumnus wins prestigious Marshall Scholarship for graduate study in UK
Nils Peterson will pursue a master’s degree in Taiwan studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies and a master’s degree in politics and contemporary history at King’s College London. He plans a career in national security or the government advisory sphere, guiding U.S. East Asian policy.
Federal physics advisory panel recommends funding next generation IceCube observatory, other major experiments
A group of scientists tasked with advising the federal government's investments in particle physics research is recommending that the United States fund a planned expansion of the IceCube Neutrino Observatory, an international scientific collaboration operated by the University of Wisconsin–Madison at the South Pole.
Campus community invited to listening sessions on recruitment for vice chancellor for research
Formerly known as the vice chancellor for research and graduate education, the vice chancellor for research will have an enhanced focus on UW–Madison’s research enterprise. The campus community is invited to attend an upcoming virtual listening session as the search and screen committee begins the recruitment process.
Meet Jnae Thompson, student speaker for 2023 Winter Commencement
Winter commencement student speaker Jnae Thompson came to UW–Madison with a plan. But after two years, she realized her freshman-year goals no longer fit the person she was becoming. She took on the hard work of reimagining her future and herself, but she looks back with no regrets. Now, she believes her own story might help others.
Prohibition may have extended life for those born in dry counties
Using advanced analytical methods on data from the Prohibition Era, research findings provide important nuance to the assessment of Prohibition’s effects on public health and could have important implications for policies aimed at reducing maternal alcohol use.
University Relations leader to retire in 2024
Following a distinguished career leading the University of Wisconsin—Madison’s government and corporate relations, communications and marketing efforts, Vice Chancellor for University Relations Charles Hoslet will retire at the end of the 2023-24 academic year.