Category State & Global
UW–Madison watching for new variants of virus that causes COVID-19
UW–Madison is working closely with public health agencies to prepare for the arrival of the variants, and the university has close ties to laboratories conducting surveillance and genomic sequencing for these virus types.
Two vice presidents have Madison in common
Kamala Harris and Dick Cheney don’t have much in common, as they’re on different sides of the political spectrum. Except one thing: The new vice president and the former vice president both lived in Madison at the same time in the late 1960s, each with a close connection to the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Next group of vaccine eligibility begins March 1
UW–Madison will identify and notify faculty and staff who have direct contact with students of their eligibility and provide next steps for vaccination as this information becomes available.
Dark Energy Survey catalogs nearly 700 million astronomical objects
Astronomical researchers around the world can access these unprecedented data and mine them to make new discoveries about the universe.
ISS and IFSS to join the International Division
International Student Services and International Faculty and Staff Services will merge into a new unit as part of an effort to streamline and enhance immigration services offered to students, faculty and staff.
Collaborative effort will look at ways to enhance campus response to mental health crises
The primary goal is to further ensure the well-being and safety of students, de-escalate potentially high-stress situations, and promote a shared commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
Gov. Evers announces new public health emergency, issues new face coverings order
Gov. Tony Evers today signed Executive Order #104 and Emergency Order #1 establishing a new statewide public health emergency and face coverings requirement as the…
UW Health encourages patients 65 and older to visit uwhealth.org/vaccine
Following today's announcement from the state Department of Health Services that individuals age 65 and older are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, here is more information about the process for scheduling appointments.
‘Caste’ author Isabel Wilkerson to headline MLK Symposium
“Isabel Wilkerson is a distinguished author with writings that synthesize history and personal narratives to help our generation consider the implications of a system of oppression and racism,” says Cheryl Gittens, interim deputy vice chancellor for diversity and inclusion and chief diversity officer.
UW researchers develop tool to equitably distribute limited vaccines
The School of Medicine and Public Health and UW Health have developed a tool that incorporates age and socioeconomic status to prioritize vaccine distribution among people who otherwise share similar risks due to their jobs.
Population density and virus strains will affect how regions can resume normal life
“Vaccination programs should consider potential spread rate in different areas. The main driver that will be important is density,” says researcher Tony Ives.
Sociologist battles inequities in artificial intelligence
Alumna Alex Hanna is a research scientist on Google’s Ethical AI Team, which focuses on responsible artificial intelligence systems. “There’s a very strong chance that those data are exacerbating existing race, gender, and class inequalities,” she says.
First employees and students receive COVID-19 vaccine at University Health Services
The arrival of vaccine provides a lot of hope for students and employees that campus will ultimately return to normal, says Jake Baggott, executive director of UHS and associate vice chancellor for student affairs/health and wellbeing.
Subscriptions to satellite alerts linked to decreased deforestation in Africa
Launched in 2016, the Global Land Analysis and Discovery system provides frequent, high-resolution alerts when it detects a drop in forest cover.
University Health Services to vaccinate Phase 1a eligible individuals against COVID-19
“We know it could be many months before all of our students and employees can be vaccinated," says a UHS official, "but this is an important and hopeful first step.”
Statewide data shows four-fold increase in recent COVID-19 infections
The antibody study showed that 1.6% of survey participants had evidence of antibodies when tested in July and early August. Between October and December, the number was up to 6.8%.
Holocaust survivor, geneticist, patient advocate remembered for inspiring others
Renata Laxova focused on intellectual and developmental disabilities, prenatal diagnosis of birth defects, cancer genetics, and — above all — the relationships between medical professionals and patients.
Student to student: How professors are stepping up
With fewer in-person lectures, professors have had to find new ways of teaching and also have had to gain a new sense of understanding for their students. Meet a few who've really stepped up.
Celebrate with winter 2020 graduates during virtual commencement ceremony
The prerecorded ceremony will be released at 11 a.m. central time on Dec. 13 and will remain available on the web so people anywhere can watch it at a time most convenient to them.
Research provides tools for achieving the ‘how’ of well-being in daily life
A new framework introduced by UW–Madison's Center for Healthy Minds provides evidence that people can weather life’s ups and downs with resilience, and that the brain and body can change and adapt.