Crossroads
Crossroads of Ideas: Threading the Story of Earth’s Oldest Rocks
Discovery Building 330 North Orchard Street, Orchard View Room, Madison, WI, United StatesAncient geology meets modern creativity! Scientists studying the Earth’s oldest rocks collab with a textile artist to bring them to life!Join us for a very special Wisconsin Science Festival edition of Crossroads of Ideas, where ancient geology meets modern creativity. This engaging evening features scientists Tyler Blum, Annie Bauer, and Emily Mixon, who have been studying the Earth’s oldest rocks - Acasta Gneiss (that’s pronounced “nice”) - and collaborating with local textile artist, Leah Evans, to bring 4-billion-year-old stories to life.In conversation with UW-Madison Geology Museum Associate Director, Brooke Norsted, learn how these researchers and artist have explored deep time, planetary [...]
Crossroads of Ideas: Living and Learning with Animals
Discovery Building 330 North Orchard Street, Orchard View Room, Madison, WI, United StatesFrom the mellowest Labrador to the wiliest coyote, experts in animal behavior & wildlife management discuss human interactions with canines.Join UW–Madison’s Dr. David Drake and Carroll University’s Dr. Mindy Waite for an engaging Crossroads of Ideas conversation exploring the dynamic relationship between humans and animals, both wild and domestic. From what we can teach animals to what they can teach us, how retrofitting animals into the human world has changed our relationships, and discovering new insights into behavior, adaptation, and the possibilities for living together in a changing world. Hosted by Director of the WID – Illuminating Discovery Hub.
Crossroads of Ideas: Quantum Frontiers
Discovery Building 330 North Orchard Street, Orchard View Room, Madison, WI, United StatesPresented in celebration of 2025 as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology.Quantum science might sound like it belongs in the lab or a science fiction novel, but its impact is already woven into our daily lives—from the technology in our phones to the future of computing and medicine. Join the Wisconsin Quantum Institute’s Aws Albarghouthi (Computer Science) and Matthew Otten (Physics) for a moderated discussion with Katerina Moloni, exploring the fascinating science of the quantum world and why understanding it matters for all of us. This Crossroads of Ideas conversation will pull back the curtain on quantum science, revealing [...]
Crossroads of Ideas: How Failure Fuels Innovation
Discovery Building 330 North Orchard Street, Orchard View Room, Madison, WI, United StatesPart I in our Productive Failure Mini-Series
Crossroads of Ideas: The Upside of AI Failure
Discovery Building 330 North Orchard Street, Orchard View Room, Madison, WI, United StatesWhat failure in AI can teach us, and how it can inspire innovation, critical thinking, and resilience.Failure is part of progress, especially in the fast-moving field of artificial intelligence. This Crossroads of Ideas event, part of our three-part mini-series on “productive failure,” brings together David Fields (UW-Madison Department of East Asian Studies) and Rob Nowak (UW-Madison Computer, Data & Information Sciences) to explore what happens when AI technology falls short. From real-world research that didn’t go as planned to the broader implications for society, this conversation highlights how failures can deepen our understanding, shape future innovation, and help us navigate technology’s [...]
Crossroads of Ideas: When Antibiotics Fail
Discovery Building 330 North Orchard Street, Orchard View Room, Madison, WI, United StatesHow do we manage when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial medicines? What are our options?
