Talk about ideas, experiments, procedures, human interest. Much longer “shelf-life”

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

2025-05-19T16:51:21-05:00

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. One project, Ember AI, developed by computer science students Kathan Reddy and Shobhin Basu, created an algorithm using computer vision, a type of AI, to identify and track stray embers. Reddy says working with co-director Kevin Ponto helped them fast-track development: “Every time we talked to Kevin, we instantly made like two weeks’ worth of progress.” Alzheimer’s app creator Aarya Deshpande credits Eckhardt for helping him connect with senior dementia researchers to refine the app, which combines health tools with memory preservation features such as photos of family members and details of their relationship to the user. Deshpande says he considers the app to be “interdisciplinary,” with both a “health side and a research side.” Through his own research, Deshpande created the initial prototype for the app and connected Eckhardt who encouraged him and putt him in touch with four UW–Madison senior dementia scientists who offered guidance and feedback.

UW Tech Exploration Lab Student Projects Highlight Innovation, Emerging Technologies2025-05-19T16:51:21-05:00

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

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

Science is Global: Building Bridges with Dr. Kris Saha

2025-03-12T12:35:24-05:00

Speaking to the Global Health Institute at UW–Madison, Saha notes, "Both locally and abroad, my sense is there are unknown questions we’re asking, and there’s a mutual interest in being able to solve them for advancing healthcare. The role of a public university is to try to answer those questions for public benefit and, yes, to help make a company that can produce it in a sustainable and safe way – to get that impact and employ people in the process."

Science is Global: Building Bridges with Dr. Kris Saha2025-03-12T12:35:24-05:00

Co-Zorbing: The New Frontier in Bacterial Cooperation

2025-03-11T14:50:45-05:00

In a recent study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), researchers discovered that biofilms made of a specific type of bacterium, Flavobacterium johnsoniae, can form 3-D structures called Zorbs that are capable of moving. Not only do these structures move, but researcher, Shruthi Magesh, from the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery have also found that they can transport other species of bacteria by forming tri-zorbs.

Co-Zorbing: The New Frontier in Bacterial Cooperation2025-03-11T14:50:45-05:00

Exploring the Wonders of Science with Leah Elson at the Wisconsin Science Festival

2025-03-11T14:50:00-05:00

The Wisconsin Science Festival welcomes renowned science influencer and author Leah Elson to engage with audiences of all ages. “I got to take the stage with colleagues from drastically different areas of science and community outreach, joining forces to educate (and entertain) an adult audience–interdisciplinary collaboration at its finest (and most impactful!)," says Elson.

Exploring the Wonders of Science with Leah Elson at the Wisconsin Science Festival2025-03-11T14:50:00-05:00

Guest column: “The war on discovery” is antithesis of campaign pledge to make America great again

2025-02-17T15:46:52-06:00

"Make America Great Again. Make America Healthy Again. These were promises made by candidate Trump in his campaign to be president of the United States of America. What in this campaign platform should have prepared us for a war on discovery?" Read WID director, Dr. Jo Handelsman's Wisconsin Technology Council's guest column.

Guest column: “The war on discovery” is antithesis of campaign pledge to make America great again2025-02-17T15:46:52-06:00

New Insights Into Self-replicating Molecules

2025-01-27T08:59:06-06:00

New research from the David Baum Lab at the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery sheds light on how autocatalysis, a key process, played a role in the origins and evolution of life on Earth. The study introduces a new mathematical tool that makes it easier to identify Minimal Autocatalytic Sets (MASs) in Chemical Reaction Networks (CRNs), representing a big step forward in understanding this complex process.

New Insights Into Self-replicating Molecules2025-01-27T08:59:06-06:00

Postdoc Highlight: Combining computation and gene therapy for Alzheimer’s treatments

2024-11-25T12:40:08-06:00

Postdoc Highlight: Kirstan Gimse has taken her passion for investigating neurodegenerative diseases and pushed it into a new area by working as a Genomic Sciences Training Program (GSTP) Postdoctoral trainee with Drs. Sushmita Roy and Krishanu Saha.

Postdoc Highlight: Combining computation and gene therapy for Alzheimer’s treatments2024-11-25T12:40:08-06:00

Serendipity reveals new method to fight cancer with T cells

2024-11-22T14:40:55-06:00

A promising therapy that treats blood cancers by harnessing the power of the immune system to target and destroy cancer cells could now treat solid tumors more efficiently. Thanks to a recent study from Dan Cappabianca and Krishanu Saha at the Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery published in Molecular Therapy – Methods & Clinical Development, Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy can be improved by altering the conditions the T cells are grown in. And it was all discovered by chance.

Serendipity reveals new method to fight cancer with T cells2024-11-22T14:40:55-06:00

Researchers Develop Advanced Gene Editing Techniques to Boost T Cells in Cancer Treatment 

2024-11-14T20:38:46-06:00

A new study from the Krishanu Saha lab suggests using CRISPR technology to optimize natural immune responses by bioengineering and remodeling T cells. Using a multiplexing technique, the team addresses key challenges in current cancer therapies that could significantly improve treatment outcomes. "We have developed a new way to engineer immune cells to fight cancer more safely and effectively. Think of it as reprogramming the body’s own soldiers (T cells) to recognize and attack cancer cells," says Cappabianca.

Researchers Develop Advanced Gene Editing Techniques to Boost T Cells in Cancer Treatment 2024-11-14T20:38:46-06:00

Through undergraduate research, engineer predicts the path, impact of viral mutations

2024-11-14T20:44:58-06:00

Schwab joined the lab of John Yin, a professor of chemical and biological engineering at the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery. That decision led Schwab to a three-year research career that has culminated in the publication of a new paper in the journal Virus Evolution.

Through undergraduate research, engineer predicts the path, impact of viral mutations2024-11-14T20:44:58-06:00

Stem cell technology developed at UW–Madison leads to new understanding of Autism risks

2024-11-14T20:45:31-06:00

Technology developed at the University of Wisconsin–Madison to grow “rosettes” of brain and spinal tissue gives scientists new ways to study the growing human brain, including a recent study of how genetic mutations linked to autism affect early stages of human brain development. “This technology gives us access to an embryonic model of human central nervous system development that we would otherwise not have access to,” says Randolph Ashton, WID researcher.

Stem cell technology developed at UW–Madison leads to new understanding of Autism risks2024-11-14T20:45:31-06:00

Tiny Earth Winter Symposium at Lambeau Field offers giant perspective on antibiotic discovery

2024-11-14T20:45:48-06:00

Students from areas across the state and nation will present their findings at the Tiny Earth in Titletown research symposium in the Lambeau Field Atrium on Monday, December 11, 2023. The event will showcase the collaborative and innovative efforts of students across the state, working together to mitigate the global public health crisis of antibiotic resistance. "“It’s a great opportunity to showcase the value of partnerships to mitigate large problems to a wide audience," says UW-Green Bay Biology Prof. Brian Merkel, teacher of the course at UW-Green Bay and chair of the event.

Tiny Earth Winter Symposium at Lambeau Field offers giant perspective on antibiotic discovery2024-11-14T20:45:48-06:00

Artificial Imagination: Exploring the Convergence of Arts and AI

2024-11-22T13:45:59-06:00

Division of the Arts Director Chris Walker helms this year’s installment of the popular “Big Ideas for Busy People” event “Am AI Art Too? – How AI is Transforming the Creative Process.” Walker will explore how rapid technological advancements have propelled art and creative expression into new territory on Tuesday night, October 17.

Artificial Imagination: Exploring the Convergence of Arts and AI2024-11-22T13:45:59-06:00
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