Syndicated to: Wisc.edu
UW-Madison student represents state as Miss Wisconsin USA
At first glance, UW–Madison junior Haley Laundrie may seem like your typical college student. The 20-year-old from Lake Mills, Wisconsin, studies communication arts and legal studies, works with the Wisconsin Business World, a summer business camp for high school students, and volunteers for UW–Madison’s chapter of Best Buddies, which connects students with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Outside of the classroom, however, Laundrie represents the state as Miss Wisconsin USA. Read More
Registrar educates students about personal information privacy
From time to time, students may notice that third parties can email wisc.edu addresses with various offers. This happens because campus email addresses are considered public information under state law, and UW–Madison is required to provide that information to third parties upon request. Students who would like to stop receiving emails have a couple of options, says Greta Petersen, the associate registrar for student services. However, there are consequences for opting out. Read More
New nonprofit supports women in science
Tracey Holloway was a postdoctoral researcher at Columbia University in 2002, Ph.D. from Princeton University freshly in hand, when she and five colleagues teamed up to create an informal support network for other women in their field. Read More
Influenza researcher Yoshihiro Kawaoka wins Breakthrough Award
The University of Wisconsin–Madison's Yoshihiro Kawaoka has been recognized as a 2014 Popular Mechanics Breakthrough Award recipient for his efforts to understand and prevent pandemic influenza. Read More
‘Bigger is better,’ Blank says in State of the University speech
After a year on campus, Chancellor Rebecca Blank says she has come to appreciate that the scope and breadth of the University of Wisconsin–Madison is what makes it a world-class university. Read More
‘Fill the Hill’ helps Annual Campaign fly high
What began as a prank has become part of University of Wisconsin–Madison lore. And now, this quirky campus classic is set to come alive once again when pink flamingos return to roost this week on Bascom Hill. This time, they’ll be flocking to their grassy home as part of the UW’s Annual Campaign. For the second year, alumni and friends are encouraged to “Fill the Hill” by making a gift to the university via the Annual Campaign’s website, sharethewonderful.org. Read More
Animal research ethics discussion to focus on UW anxiety study
Bioethicist Jeffrey Kahn and veterinary pathologist Eric Sandgren will meet on the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus Thursday evening for a discussion of animal research ethics focusing on a particular program employing monkeys in the study of anxiety and depression. The event, which is free and open to the public, begins 7 p.m. Thursday in Room 1111 of the Genetics-Biotechnology Center Building, 425 Henry Mall. Read More
With NIH New Innovator Award, engineer to study how ovarian cancer spreads
With approximately 22,000 diagnoses annually in the United States, ovarian cancer isn't among the most commonly occurring cancers. Yet, the mortality rate for women who have ovarian cancer hovers above 60 percent. Read More
The power of a story: Hundreds expected for Oral History Association conference
Wisconsin, and Madison in particular, will be front and center during the Oral History Association’s 48th annual meeting. The meeting will take place at the Madison Concourse Hotel from Oct. 8-12. This year’s theme, “Oral History in Motion: Movements, Transformations, and the Power of Story,” speaks to the rich history of Wisconsin, and Madison, says Ed Van Gemert, University of Wisconsin–Madison vice provost for libraries and university librarian. Read More
Two UW student teams named finalists in national inventors competition
Two University of Wisconsin–Madison undergraduate teams are among only seven finalists for the 2014 National Collegiate Inventors Competition, which honors the latest in student creativity and innovation. Read More
Lubar gift innovates to diversify Law School research
A $3 million gift will allow the University of Wisconsin Law School to support top legal scholars in a new and creative way, Dean Margaret Raymond announced today. Read More
CIMSS Tropical Cyclones Group to receive AMS Special Award
The Tropical Cyclones Group at the University of Wisconsin–Madison Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) has been selected for an American Meteorological Society (AMS) Special Award. Read More
Bipartisan Issues Group strives to find solutions
While Congressional gridlock in Washington continues to attract public ire and media attention, a UW–Madison student organization is working to promote bipartisanship across campus. The Bipartisan Issues Group, or BIG, has entered its third year on campus. According to the group’s mission statement, its goal is to “prove that realistic solutions to America’s . . . toughest problems do indeed exist.” Read More
Phi Beta Kappa Society recognizes Wisconsin Science Festival
The Phi Beta Kappa Society’s National Arts & Sciences Initiative will recognize the Wisconsin Science Festival with a Key of Excellence Award at a… Read More
UW employee benefits enrollment starts Oct. 6
The Annual Benefits Enrollment period for University of Wisconsin–Madison employees, when an employee may enroll or make changes to existing benefit plans, is Oct. 6-31. Any changes become effective Jan 1, 2015. Read More
Winning climate change solutions range from meat processing to mindfulness
The Climate Quest competition to spur innovative climate change solutions is down to a field of five. At the Climate Quest Concept Pitch on Sept. 19, 18 teams presented their ideas to a panel of investors and entrepreneurs, who rated the ideas on many factors including creativity, scalability and potential impact. The panel selected five teams to advance to the next round of the competition. Read More
Mountain pine beetles get a bad rap for wildfires, study says
Mountain pine beetles get a bad rap, and understandably so. The grain-of-rice-sized insects are responsible for killing pine trees over tens of millions of acres in the Western U.S. and Canada over the last decade. But contrary to popular belief, these pests may not be to blame for more severe wildfires like those that have recently swept through the region. Instead, according to a new study by UW–Madison zoology professor Monica Turner, weather and topography play a greater role in the ecological severity of fires than these bark-boring beetles. Read More