Syndicated to: Wisc.edu
How do lawyers matter? Study explores the question for low-income litigants
For every 6,415 people in the United States who qualify for legal aid (income at or below 125 percent of the poverty line), there is one legal aid attorney, leaving about three-quarters of low-income civil litigants in the United States unrepresented and creating an increasingly prevalent situation that some call a "justice gap." Read More
In memoriam: Ray D. Owen discovered immune tolerance, paved the way for organ transplantation
Ray D. Owen, who died on Sept. 21 in Pasadena, California, at the age of 98, discovered the phenomenon of immune tolerance, fueling a revolution in immunology and laying the foundation for the successful transplantation of human organs. Owen left Madison in 1947 to join the faculty at Caltech, where he remained for the rest of his long, distinguished career. His later work included studies on human antibodies, blood-group antigens, and the evolution of immune systems. Read More
Environmental historian William Cronon awarded Wilderness Society’s highest honor
Environmental historian and University of Wisconsin–Madison professor William Cronon has been presented with The Wilderness Society’s Robert Marshall Award — the organization’s highest civilian honor — for his contributions to the protection of America’s wild places. The award, named for wilderness visionary Robert Marshall, is given to a private citizen who has made outstanding, long-term contributions to conservation and fostering an American land ethic. Read More
Bascom Hill staircase to open in October; mall to follow soon
After four months of construction, the State Street Mall and related Bascom Hill staircase projects are finally nearing the finish line. Read More
UW-Madison team developing ‘tissue chip’ to screen neurological toxins
A multidisciplinary team at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the Morgridge Institute for Research is creating a faster, more affordable way to screen for neural toxins, helping flag chemicals that may harm human development. Read More
Wisconsin residents well-represented in freshman class
The freshman class at the University of Wisconsin–Madison is the third largest in school history, with 6,264 students, and features the second largest number of Wisconsin residents in the past 13 years. Read More
Actions on climate change bring better health, study says
The number of extremely hot days in Eastern and Midwestern U.S. cities is projected to triple by mid-century, according to a new study led by University of Wisconsin–Madison researchers and published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Read More
Ultrasound enhancement provides clarity to damaged tendons, ligaments
Ultrasound is a safe, affordable and noninvasive way to see internal structures, including the developing fetus. Ultrasound can also “see” other soft tissue — including tendons, which attach muscles to bone, and ligaments, which attach bone to bone. Ray Vanderby, a professor of biomedical engineering and orthopedics and rehabilitation at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, is commercializing an ultrasound method to analyze the condition of soft tissue. Read More
Badger duo experiences an amazing summer on ‘The Amazing Race’
Amy DeJong and Maya Warren had a truly epic summer, but they can't tell you about it. Read More
Researchers study vital ‘on/off switches’ that control when bacteria turn deadly
No matter how many times it’s demonstrated, it’s still hard to envision bacteria as social, communicating creatures. But by using a signaling system called “quorum sensing,” these single-celled organisms radically alter their behavior to suit their population. Helen Blackwell, a professor of chemistry at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, has been making artificial compounds that mimic the natural quorum-sensing signals, including some that block a natural signal from binding to its protein target. Read More
Down syndrome helps researchers understand Alzheimer’s disease
The link between a protein typically associated with Alzheimer's disease and its impact on memory and cognition may not be as clear as once thought, according to a new study from the University of Wisconsin–Madison's Waisman Center. The findings are revealing more information about the earliest stages of the neurodegenerative disease. Read More
Focus on festivals: School of Music’s new approach invites more interaction
Breaking with tradition, the UW–Madison School of Music will present an array of music festivals this year, rather than individual guest artists scattered throughout the fall and spring semesters. Festivals include one devoted entirely to brass music, scheduled for Oct. 8-13; a jazz festival in early December; and two featuring music of contemporary composers: Cecilia McDowall (Feb. 19-23) and George Crumb (March 22-23). Read More
Women’s Philanthropy Council marks 25th anniversary at UW–Madison
For a quarter century, Wisconsin women have played a leading role in the women's philanthropy movement. These pioneering women will be joined by national leaders and faculty experts in Madison this week to mark the 25th anniversary of the Women's Philanthropy Council, supported by the University of Wisconsin Foundation. Read More
Campus botany gardener: transplant master
To hear master gardener Mo Fayyaz tell it, raising plants is straightforward: Get the right light, temperature, soil and water. Keep your eyes open. If one thing doesn’t work, try something else. And if everything fails, choose another plant. “You cannot just plant a rose in the shade and expect much,” he says. In 1984, Fayyaz secured his present job, director of UW–Madison’s Botany Garden and Greenhouse, and he began a long campaign to nurture and expand a garden that supports teaching and research in the biological sciences. Read More
Parents’ Weekend to bring campus to life for Badger parents
Friday afternoon lectures, Friday evening activities, Saturday morning pregame tailgates, Sunday strolls around campus. What may sound like a standard fall weekend for UW–Madison students will soon be experienced by their parents. From Friday through Sunday, Sept. 19-21, campus will host the annual Parents’ Weekend, formally introducing parents to the staples of campus life. Read More
Journal Sentinel’s Mark Johnson to be Science Writer in Residence
Pulitzer-prize winning journalist Mark Johnson will bring his experience and expertise to campus as the fall 2014 University of Wisconsin–Madison Science Writer in Residence. Read More