University of Wisconsin–Madison

University of Wisconsin–Madison

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So far lredeagle has created 78 blog entries.

Building Community Through Indigenous Languages

2026-09-08T11:18:04-05:00

The Indigenous Language Table begins its fifth year at WID on Sept. 9, continuing to create a space for Indigenous language speakers and learners to connect, practice and strengthen their languages together. Last April, members of the table brought that work to a sold-out audience at Madison’s Playhouse Theater before former U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo took the stage. In place of a land acknowledgment, participants shared original poems written and spoken entirely in Ho-Chunk about Teejop, or “four lakes,” the Ho-Chunk name for Madison. English translations appeared on a screen behind them, allowing the audience to hear the language as it has been spoken in this place for thousands of years.

Building Community Through Indigenous Languages2026-09-08T11:18:04-05:00

A Model for Building Belonging in STEM

2026-09-02T14:42:44-05:00

WID alumna Martel DenHartog, along with Sarah Miller and WID Director Jo Handelsman, recently published a Perspective in the Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education examining how the Tiny Earth Summer Research Course can expand access to research for students at two-year colleges. The article describes how the cohort-based program builds on the Tiny Earth curriculum to give students hands-on university research experience, strengthen scientific and workforce skills, and foster a greater sense of belonging in STEM. The authors also share lessons from the program and considerations for institutions interested in developing similar research experiences.

A Model for Building Belonging in STEM2026-09-02T14:42:44-05:00

Researchers Identify New Target in the Gut for Reducing Alzheimer’s risk

2026-08-17T16:31:02-05:00

Nearly 10 years ago, Federico Rey, a Wisconsin Institute for Discovery Fellow and UW–Madison professor, helped lead research showing that the communities of microbes living in the intestines of people with Alzheimer’s disease differ from those of healthy people. Now, new research builds on that work by examining imidazole propionate, a common compound produced by gut bacteria, and finding that higher levels may contribute to dementia-related changes in the brain.

Researchers Identify New Target in the Gut for Reducing Alzheimer’s risk2026-08-17T16:31:02-05:00

Undergraduate Researcher Explores How Viruses and Their Parasites Evolve Together

2026-07-31T08:13:55-05:00

Viruses evolve quickly, often finding ways to escape antiviral drugs. A new study led by WID undergraduate Shiv Muthupandiyan explores whether new antiviral therapies could evolve alongside them. The research focuses on defective interfering particles, or DIPs, mutant viral particles that act as parasites of viruses. DIPs cannot reproduce on their own, so they use a virus’s replication machinery and consume resources inside infected cells, slowing viral growth. By modeling how viruses and DIPs adapt to one another over time, the study offers a new way to think about antiviral therapies that may be better able to resist viral escape.

Undergraduate Researcher Explores How Viruses and Their Parasites Evolve Together2026-07-31T08:13:55-05:00

Mel Hammond Uses Science to Shape Her Stories

2026-07-06T15:13:34-05:00

WID’s new Writer in Residence, Mel Hammond, is passionate about capturing accurate scientific information and weaving it into YA books using language that feels credible and meaningful to young audiences. Her work shows how science can shape a story, deepen curiosity, and help young readers see the world in new ways.

Mel Hammond Uses Science to Shape Her Stories2026-07-06T15:13:34-05:00

How Simple Bubbles May Hold Clues to Life’s Beginnings

2026-06-22T15:56:32-05:00

One of humanity’s most enduring questions is also one of its biggest: how did life begin? Long before DNA, genes, or cells as we know them existed, how did life emerge from non-living chemical systems?  One possible explanation  lies in simple chemistry, which has the capacity to evolve and become more complex.  In a new study at the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery (WID), Tymofii Sokolskyi, a PhD candidate in Astrobiology & Evolution working in the David Baum Lab and the Department of Botany, takes a fresh look at that question.

How Simple Bubbles May Hold Clues to Life’s Beginnings2026-06-22T15:56:32-05:00

Wisconsin Science Festival Explores What Makes Us Human

2026-04-27T16:16:05-05:00

The Wisconsin Science Festival has officially kicked off its 2026 season with the unveiling of this year’s theme, Us. Turning the focus inward, this year’s feature explores the science of who we are, what it means to be human, and what we are capable of. Event host registration is now open, and the festival will take place October 15–25, 2025.

Wisconsin Science Festival Explores What Makes Us Human2026-04-27T16:16:05-05:00

Reshaping Memory with Artist-in-Residence, Viviane Silvera

2026-04-16T16:33:45-05:00

Interdisciplinary artist Viviane Silvera illuminates the science of memory by turning it into an experience. Silvera will be at UW-Madison April 13-24 as the Division of the Arts Spring 2026 Interdisciplinary Artist-in-Residence, in partnership with the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery (WID), for a packed slate of appearances, workshops, discussions and screenings, including Crossroads of Ideas (April 22) at WID and a discussion with writer Dale Kushner and WID Writer-in-Residence Michelle Wildgen April 23 at 5 pm at the

Reshaping Memory with Artist-in-Residence, Viviane Silvera2026-04-16T16:33:45-05:00

Artist-in-Residence: Viviane Silvera with See Memory

2026-03-20T14:13:25-05:00

Viviane Silvera joins UW–Madison as the Division of the Arts’ Spring 2026 Interdisciplinary Artist-in-Residence from April 13–24, in partnership with the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery. Silvera is an interdisciplinary artist and filmmaker whose work bridges painting, neuroscience, and mental health. Working across film, animation, and visual art, she explores how memory is formed, altered, and healed, translating complex scientific ideas into deeply human stories. Her residency activates collaborations across the arts, sciences, and health fields through public events, classroom engagements, and community-centered workshops exploring memory, caregiving, perception, and creative resilience.

Artist-in-Residence: Viviane Silvera with See Memory2026-03-20T14:13:25-05:00

Research is for Everyone — A Tiny Earth Student’s Story on Being a Woman in STEM

2026-03-03T17:49:19-06:00

Diversity fuels innovation, yet women and girls continue to remain underrepresented in STEM. Tiny Earth is committed to supporting these future scientists. Undergraduate researcher Tasha Miller shares how curiosity and strong mentors helped shape her journey into a science field and encourages other women to be open to STEM fields.

Research is for Everyone — A Tiny Earth Student’s Story on Being a Woman in STEM2026-03-03T17:49:19-06:00

New Kohler Fellows: Advancing Discovery Through Creative Collaboration

2026-03-09T10:41:04-05:00

The Wisconsin Institute for Discovery introduces the newest Kohler Fellows, a prestigious program uniting science and art through interdisciplinary collaboration. Paired artist–scientist teams transform research into creative work that bridges disciplines, reveals new perspectives, and sparks transformative thinking.

New Kohler Fellows: Advancing Discovery Through Creative Collaboration2026-03-09T10:41:04-05:00

Deciphering the Regulatory Network of a Pathogenic Fungus

2026-02-09T15:18:55-06:00

In a new study, researchers from the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery (WID) have created a software tool that can help reveal biological pathways of a notorious pathogenic fungus. Aspergillus fumigatus, which is found worldwide, can infiltrate a human body and quickly overwhelm the immune system. In immunocompromised individuals, this fungus can cause major damage and has a high mortality rate. The new tool may eventually help researchers address the problems caused by A. fumigatus. 

Deciphering the Regulatory Network of a Pathogenic Fungus2026-02-09T15:18:55-06:00

Researchers at UW–Madison Receive Major Grant to Study the Link Between Mental Health and the Microbiome

2025-12-18T14:24:22-06:00

Long before science caught up, Vincent Van Gogh sensed a connection between melancholy and microbes. Now, 135 years later, the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, the Center for Healthy Minds, PRECISE, and MIT have launched a project that investigates the microbiome’s central role in human well-being and the power of interdisciplinary research. Combining genomics, data science, behavioral health, and international collaboration, the research project is advancing a global understanding of how microbes shape the mind.

Researchers at UW–Madison Receive Major Grant to Study the Link Between Mental Health and the Microbiome2025-12-18T14:24:22-06:00

Wisconsin Science Festival makes curiosity to go with “Science in a Bag”

2025-10-14T13:31:42-05:00

The Wisconsin Science Festival (WSF), now in its 15th year, returns Oct. 16-26 with more than 600 events across 56 counties—breaking its previous record of 52 counties. What began in 2011 as a three-day, Madison-only gathering has grown into a 10-day, statewide celebration of science, technology, engineering, art and math for people of all ages, backgrounds, and interests. A centerpiece of this festival is Science in a Bag — an initiative that will deliver 3,000 drawstring backpacks, each filled with ten to twelve hands-on experiments and activities designed to spark curiosity, plus access to an online portal for more ways to engage with STEAM.

Wisconsin Science Festival makes curiosity to go with “Science in a Bag”2025-10-14T13:31:42-05:00

NIH Selects Wisconsin for Nathan Shock Center in Aging Biology; John Denu Co-directs

2026-05-19T11:35:05-05:00

At UW–Madison, the new center will support collaborative projects across campus and build connections that accelerate discovery in this fast-growing research area that has significant implications for health span and longevity.

NIH Selects Wisconsin for Nathan Shock Center in Aging Biology; John Denu Co-directs2026-05-19T11:35:05-05:00

LEAP Forward Internship Gives Madison High Schoolers an Inside Look Into Tiny Earth

2025-08-20T16:04:58-05:00

Headquartered at UW–Madison’s Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, Tiny Earth combines undergraduate research with antibiotic discovery. This summer, three Madison-area high school students joined the Tiny Earth team through the six-week LEAP Forward Internship Program. Gyselle, Natania, and Neshia contributed to Tiny Earth databases, supported instructor trainings, and explored diverse research pathways. Since 2019, Tiny Earth has welcomed interns to learn about antibiotic discovery, science communication, and research administration. As one student shared, “Working with Tiny Earth was especially eye opening. Learning about how antibiotics are developed and how they affect bacterial growth was scientifically enriching.”

LEAP Forward Internship Gives Madison High Schoolers an Inside Look Into Tiny Earth2025-08-20T16:04:58-05:00

Tiny Earth Abroad: Citizen Science in Spain and Portugal

2025-08-19T14:47:54-05:00

The MicroMundo Project in Spain and Portugal is taking an innovative approach to addressing the global antimicrobial resistance (AMR) crisis through education and hands-on discovery. Adapted from Tiny Earth, the global antibiotic discovery initiative launched at the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery (WID), MicroMundo has become one of the most extensive international branches of the network. What makes this program unique is its community-centered model. University students partner with local secondary schools, serving as peer mentors who guide younger students through real scientific inquiry: collecting soil samples, culturing bacteria, and testing for antibiotic activity. Along the way, participants gain confidence in research while contributing to the worldwide fight against AMR. As Jo Handelsman’s vision for Tiny Earth continues to grow across hundreds of institutions worldwide, MicroMundo stands out as a vibrant example of how science education and discovery can work hand in hand to inspire the next generation.

Tiny Earth Abroad: Citizen Science in Spain and Portugal2025-08-19T14:47:54-05:00

A New Computational Tool Maps Genome Change, Helping Researchers See DNA in 3D

2026-05-19T11:37:07-05:00

How do genomes fit into the tiny confines of a cell nucleus? Genomes can be massive and making it more difficult, is that the genome may be repackaged across different biological dimensions and contexts such as cell types, developmental stages, disease states or points in time. Furthermore, it is not well understood which pieces of the genome control gene expression. Intrigued by this puzzle, researchers Sushmita Roy and recently graduated student, Da-Inn Lee introduce a powerful new computational tool in their latest study that could help systematically examine how DNA is arranged and how it changes across different dimensions.

A New Computational Tool Maps Genome Change, Helping Researchers See DNA in 3D2026-05-19T11:37:07-05:00

Student Profile: Meet Nan Jiang

2026-04-14T16:21:05-05:00

This summer, graduate student Nan Jiang of the Yin Lab will complete her PhD from UW–Madison’s Biophysics program. In her time at the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery she has built a strong foundation of innovation and interdisciplinary excellence for her future research. "This collaborative environment inspired me to integrate computational and experimental methods in my own work and strengthened my belief in the power of interdisciplinary science to drive discovery,” says Nan.

Student Profile: Meet Nan Jiang2026-04-14T16:21:05-05:00

Tiny Earth In Action

2025-06-19T14:30:12-05:00

The Tiny Earth Summer Symposium 2025, held June 11 and 12, brought together a record-breaking group of student researchers and instructors for two days of science, storytelling, and community. This year’s symposium featured 96 students and 26 instructors from 27 institutions across 11 U.S. states and 2 countries, reflecting the growing reach of the Tiny Earth network.

Tiny Earth In Action2025-06-19T14:30:12-05:00

Sustainability Study in Italy Makes Impact on Rising Senior

2025-06-19T13:21:13-05:00

Even a short trip can make a big impact. UW–Madison senior Morgan Ramsey, a communications intern at the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, spent two weeks studying abroad in Italy and calls it one of her most immersive experiences. The jam-packed program, UW Sustainable Food Systems in Italy and the World, is a 2-credit field experience through CALS and IAP. Open to all students who complete a 1-credit prep course, it draws majors from global health to psychology.

Sustainability Study in Italy Makes Impact on Rising Senior2025-06-19T13:21:13-05:00

UW Tech Exploration Lab Student Projects Highlight Innovation, Emerging Technologies

2025-07-02T15:36:03-05:00

At a recent open house for the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Tech Exploration Lab at the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery (WID) a partnership between the Wisconsin School of Business  bold ideas and community impact come to life through the Tech Exploration Lab. Kevin Ponto and Jon Eckhardt, brought deep expertise in design thinking and entrepreneurship to support students in turning innovative ideas into real-world solutions.

UW Tech Exploration Lab Student Projects Highlight Innovation, Emerging Technologies2025-07-02T15:36:03-05:00

UW Researchers Developing App to Easily Assess Home for Accessibility Improvements

2025-05-15T10:43:11-05:00

Wisconsin Institute for Discovery researcher Kevin Ponto was featured on Channel3000 to discuss the development of an app designed to easily assess homes for accessibility improvements. Along with Professor Jung-Hye Shin, chair of UW’s Design Studies Department, they developed the Augmented Reality Home Assessment Tool, or ARHAT. The app aims to make it easier to identify accessibility enhancements using mobile devices.

UW Researchers Developing App to Easily Assess Home for Accessibility Improvements2025-05-15T10:43:11-05:00

Wisconsin Science Festival Rolls Out 2025 Feature: “Rock and Roll”

2025-05-05T10:59:58-05:00

The 15th annual Wisconsin Science Festival, set to take place October 16–26, 2025, has announced its theme: Rock and Roll. “It’s a play on words—not just about sound and music, but also the geology that shapes Wisconsin, the physics of motion, and the creative energy that drives discovery,” says Sam Mulrooney, Director of the Wisconsin Science Festival. Host registration is now open for those interested in submitting an event for this year’s festival.

Wisconsin Science Festival Rolls Out 2025 Feature: “Rock and Roll”2025-05-05T10:59:58-05:00

App under development at UW could make it easier, more affordable to ‘age in place’

2025-04-30T11:19:17-05:00

Researchers are using augmented reality to help make homes safer for older adults through a tool called ARHAT—the Augmented Reality Home Assessment Tool. ARHAT guides users through a process to measure key features of a living space and suggests accessibility improvements. By streamlining what can be a clunky and expensive process, the tool supports a more affordable, community-based approach to home safety. The project is led by Jung-hye Shin and Kevin Ponto from the Department of Design Studies and the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, alongside occupational therapist and kinesiology professor Beth Fields.

App under development at UW could make it easier, more affordable to ‘age in place’2025-04-30T11:19:17-05:00

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