Exploring Change in Complex Systems

The world’s greatest scientific challenges can’t be met by individual scientists, laboratories, or departments.

The world is changing rapidly due to alterations in our planet and new technology. Climate change and pandemics present existential challenges and new opportunities. How can we learn to respond to a changing world in a manner that amplifies benefits and minimizes harm? Are there lessons in biological and engineered systems that inform one another and facilitate higher levels of performance? If we fail to understand change and learn to anticipate and adapt to it, will our species have a future?
 
The Wisconsin Institute for Discovery is an experiment in interdisciplinarity, combining the best minds in new teams with powerful tools that transcend the boundaries of departments and fields to study change in complex systems. Learn more about WID >

Stories of Discovery

Research, outreach, and initiatives at WID embody the Wisconsin Idea — reaching beyond the walls of the institute and the UW campus and into the lives of citizens across the state, country, and world.


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Melissa Schoenlein recognized for excellence with 2023-24 Teaching Assistant Awards

The Capstone Teaching Award recognizes dissertators at the end of their graduate program with an outstanding teaching record over the course of their UW–Madison tenure, WID is proud to have our own Melissa Schoenlein be one of the honored recipients.
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Welcome New Discovery Fellow Emile Gluck-Thaler

Emile Gluck-Thaler joined the UW–Madison faculty in September 2023 as an assistant professor in the Department of Plant Pathology.
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Expertise at WID

WID researchers make fundamental discoveries at the intersections of disciplines to solve problems that require an interdisciplinary approach.

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Discovery Hubs

Resilience, Robustness, Adaptability – WID Seminar Series

Every month, WID labs present their exploration of change in complex systems focusing on resilience, robustness, and adaptability. A colleague in a different discipline will introduce each talk from their perspective. The talk will take place in the Orchard View Room with light refreshments. There is also a virtual viewing option.