Wisconsin Institute for Discovery

WID Seminar Series:
2026-01-16 10:00 - 11:15 (America/Chicago) | Orchard View Room 3280, Discovery Building (Also offered online)
Federico Rey.
CONTACT: media@wid.wisc.edu
URL: https://wid.wisc.edu/all-events/wid-seminar-series/
ONLINE: https://uwmadison.zoom.us/j/98293855424

Software Carpentry
2026-01-16 09:00 - 13:00, 2026-01-15 09:00 - 13:00, 2026-01-14 09:00 - 13:00, 2026-01-13 09:00 - 13:00, 2026-01-12 09:00 - 13:00
Researchers learning unix shell, git/GitHub, Python. Software Carpentry aims to help researchers get their work done in less time and with less pain by teaching them basic research computing skills. This hands-on workshop will cover basic concepts and tools, including program design, version control, data management, and task automation. This workshop teaches intro to the unix shell, git/GitHub, and python. Registration required.
CONTACT: 815-383-3279, sarah.stevens@wisc.edu
URL: https://uw-madison-datascience.github.io/2026-01-12-uwmadison-swc/

Exams End
2025-12-18
*Note: actual end time may vary.*
CONTACT: admin@secfac.wisc.edu

Indigenous Language Table
2025-12-17 13:00 - 14:15, 2025-12-10 13:00 - 14:15, 2025-12-03 13:00 - 14:15, 2025-11-20 13:00 - 14:15, 2025-11-19 13:00 - 14:15, 2025-11-13 13:00 - 14:15, 2025-11-12 13:00 - 14:15, 2025-11-06 13:00 - 14:15 | 1145 Discovery Building
A safe place to practice indigneous languages. An Indigenous Language Table supports learners in developing spoken skills beyond the classroom, building community, strengthening purpose, and normalizing Indigenous languages through representation. It welcomes former students and ongoing learners, community members from classes or self study, and anyone interested in Indigenous languages and people.
CONTACT: 316-4325, lredeagle@wisc.edu
URL: https://illuminatingdiscovery.wisc.edu/indigenous-language-table/

Understanding and Fixing a Broken Heart with Human Pluripotent Stem Cells
2025-12-16 13:00 - 14:00 | Discovery Building, 330 North Orchard Street, Orchard View Room, Madison, WI, 53715, United States
Featuring Dr. Tim Kamp and introduced by Lih-Sheng “Tom” Turng, Professor, Mechanical Engineering

Every month, WID labs and Discovery Fellows present their exploration of complex systems, focusing on resilience, robustness, and adaptability. A colleague in a different discipliine introduces each talk from their perspective. The talks take place int he Orchard View Room and are open to the public. There is also a virtual viewing options.

Commencement
2025-12-14 10:00 - 12:30
CONTACT: admin@secfac.wisc.edu

Exams Begin
2025-12-12

Study Day
2025-12-11

AI/ML Gift Exchange
2025-12-10 12:00 - 13:00 | Orchard View Room, Discovery Building (Also offered online)
Give the Gift of Knowledge on Dec 10!.
CONTACT: endemann@wisc.edu
URL: https://forms.gle/7kUdgFpAPzsLFTYh7
ONLINE: https://uwmadison.zoom.us/j/92639425571?pwd=[REDACTED]

Last Class Day
2025-12-10

Crossroads of Ideas:
2025-12-09 19:00 - 20:00 | 3rd Floor Orchard View Room, Discovery Building
Quantum Frontiers. 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.
URL: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/crossroads-of-ideas-quantum-frontiers-tickets-1797490003989

Crossroads of Ideas: Quantum Frontiers
2025-12-09 19:00 - 20:00 | Discovery Building, 330 North Orchard Street, Orchard View Room, Madison, WI, 53715, United States
Presented 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 its surprising role in shaping the present, and the future, we all share. Presented in celebration of 2025 as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology.

Thanksgiving Recess
2025-11-27
*Note: actual end time may vary.*
University offices closed.
CONTACT: admin@secfac.wisc.edu

WID Seminar Series:
2025-11-21 10:00 - 11:15 | Orchard View Room 3280, Discovery Building (Also offered online)
Bilge Mutlu. Designing for Integration: Bringing Embodied AI into the Real World
CONTACT: media@wid.wisc.edu
URL: https://wid.wisc.edu/all-events/wid-seminar-series/
ONLINE: https://uwmadison.zoom.us/j/98293855424

SoundWaves: Micro Scale
2025-11-14 19:30 - 21:00 | Hamel Music Center, 740 University Avenue, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
This academic year, SoundWaves is exploring scales. In this second edition, we will be zooming in on the micro scale!

Our second SoundWaves event of the season explores the Micro Scale, looking at things that are very small in size. What is a microbiome? What’s going on in the Earth’s water? What is microeconomics? What happens when you look at rhythm and pitch on a micro scale? Find out at SoundWaves.

SoundWaves
2025-11-14 | Collins Recital Hall, Hamel Music Center
*Note: actual end time may vary.*
The Micro Scale. SoundWaves combines scientific lectures about the world with live classical music performances. Each event revolves around a theme, exploring it first from many scientific angles and then through the lens of music. The program concludes with a live performance of music related to the evening’s theme.
The science lectures are delivered using language that the curious layman can understand, with a minimum of jargon and formulas.
CONTACT: media@wid.wisc.edu
URL: https://illuminatingdiscovery.wisc.edu/soundwaves/

Crossroads of Ideas: Living and Learning with Animals
2025-11-12 19:00 - 20:00 | Discovery Building, 330 North Orchard Street, Orchard View Room, Madison, WI, 53715, United States
From 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.

ML+Coffee: How Can I Apply ML/AI To My Data?
2025-11-05 09:00 - 11:00 | 1145 Discovery Building
ML+X Networking & Coworking.
CONTACT: endemann@wisc.edu
URL: https://forms.gle/Qrku5Dza6N3ZT3yAA

Efficient KV-Cache Compression for Long-Context and Reasoning Models
2025-11-04 13:00 - 14:00 | Orchard View Room, Discovery Building (Also offered online)
ML+X Forum.
CONTACT: endemann@wisc.edu
URL: https://forms.gle/LhYFVzZvykmRAUeh8
ONLINE: https://uwmadison.zoom.us/j/92639425571?pwd=[REDACTED]
