UW-Madison Science Alliance Updater

16 November 2020

Hi Everyone,

The presidential transition is a rare occasion that brings to the fore the question of which people and which principles will guide executive branch departments in a new administration. This year there’s a special focus on science agencies. As usual, the possible people and their personalities will be in play, but this time around we’re also seeing the place of science and scientists, of evidence and expertise, under the spotlight of a pandemic.

Science outreach is foremost about the science & the scientists & the learners, but the next few months will also give us a chance to underscore the enterprise of science: how it is organized, staffed, funded, facilitated, and evaluated, especially at the federal level. And most pressing for many of us comes the question of the roles of science & scientists in making personal decisions and in forming public policies.

2020 has jarred our vision of those roles; let’s see what insights 2021 brings.

Thanks again!

Tom Zinnen

Note: please visit https://science.wisc.edu/science-alliance/ for the updater archive.

Notable This Week:

1. Science Alliance meets weekly by Webex at 10:00 am Mondays, including today, November 16. Email Liz Jesse at ejesse2@wisc.edu or Tom Zinnen at zinnen@biotech.wisc.edu to receive the link. The meeting notes are archived on https://science.wisc.edu/science-alliance/.

The draft agenda for November 16 at 10am includes:

-Welcome
-Updates from colleagues and their science outreach programs
-4-H Rocketry initiative
-UW Science Expeditions in April
Possible Outdoor Venues, on campus and off campus
Possible Indoor/Outdoor Venues, including Stock Pavilion
Possible Indoor Venues
Live tours by zoom or equivalent
Exploration Stations live or by zoom
Prototype Events in early/mid March—eg, Family Science Nights with Schools, such as Nov 13 BioCore event, Mineral Point
Budget: for Tents, tables, chairs, portajohns, signage, graphic design, promotions, web consultants/services,
Friday: East
Saturday: Central, Including Engineering Expo
Sunday: West
-Other announcements or topics

2. Please add your upcoming online programs or resources with learners of any ages to the list at http://science.wisc.edu/ and be sure to include program events in the calendar at http://today.wisc.edu and tag them with “Science” and any other appropriate tag.

3. Programming Events coming this week and soon:

Badger Talks Live: – https://www.facebook.com/UWConnects/live & https://badgertalks.wisc.edu/events/ Tuesday, November 17, Noon CST. “Wisconsin’s Connection to Alexander Hamilton: Meet William Hamilton” by Simone Munson, Collections Development Director, Wisconsin Historical Society

“PLATO Frontiers in Life Sciences” public seminar, by Zoom. Wednesdays at 1 pm CT. September 30 through December 9 (except Nov25). https://uwmadison.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUvcOmqqDMiEtDdb9mSYczXmivRVETlkeUp This week Nov 18: “Science & Policy in the Presidential Transition” by Tom Zinnen, former AAAS Congressional Science Fellow and former speechwriter for the Director of NSF.

“Wednesday Nite @ The Lab” public science seminar, by Zoom. Wednesdays at 7 pm CT. Every Wednesday night, 50 times a year. https://uwmadison.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUrce2vrDwtHNBMv0FxIcmw56npNOhu831_ This week Nov 18: Scott Lothes of the Center for Railroad Photography & Art on “Representations of Railroads from the 1820’s”

The UW Now Livestream. Tuesday Nov 17 at 7pm CST. Barry Burden — professor of political science, director of the Elections Research Center, and Lyons Family Chair in Electoral Politics; David Canon — professor of American politics, chair of the Department of Political Science, and editor of the Election Law Journal; Kenneth Mayer — professor of political science and expert on the American presidency, campaign finance, and election administration

Virtual Saturday Science Workshop with UW Space Place. Nov 14 at 10:00am. Check at http://www.spaceplace.wisc.edu/#satworkshops

About Every Two Weeks: Maritime Archeology Webinars. Tamara Thomsen and Caitlin Zant. Wisconsin Historical Society. Archive of past talks at https://wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS16271 Contact Amy Wyatt for dates and times.

Check for other research seminars presented online and available to all at http://today.wisc.edu/events/tag/science

4. UW Students speak out about Climate Change
Give a listen to these 12 “elevator speeches” from summer 2020.
https://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/education/AOS102/

5. From the Wisconsin Energy Institute:

Tomorrow, November 17 at 4:15 pm CST: Energy and Climate Justice Forward in Energy Forum

The negative economic and environmental impacts of our fossil fuel based energy system have concentrated effects on communities of color. Centuries of racial segregation, redlining, and unequal pay have left these marginalized groups on land where they face disproportionately high levels of pollution and are more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Communities of color also face systemic disadvantages in energy costs, higher energy burdens, and limited access to renewable energy benefits. Join us on November 17 from 4:15–5:45pm for a panel discussion on these issues and how we can address energy and climate justice with introductory remarks from Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes. Learn more and Register Here.

6. Upcoming Lineup for Wednesday Nite @ The Lab online by zoom starting at 7pm Central. Register at https://go.wisc.edu/240r59
Schedule and descriptions at https://science.wisc.edu/wednesday-nite-at-the-lab/

-Nov 18 Scott Lothes, Center for Railroad Photography & Art, “Representations of Railroads from 1820 to the Present”
-Nov 25 Dark
-Dec 2 Lennon Rodgers, Grainger Engineering Design Innovation Lab, “Innovation and Ingenuity in Response to Covid”
-Dec 9 Jeff Sindelar, Animal & Dairy Sciences, “Building a UW Building for the Future: Meat Science & Animal Biologics Discovery”

-Dec 16 Steffi Diem, Engineering Physics, Research in Plasma & Fusion
-Dec 23 Dark
-Dec 30 Dark
-Jan 6 Kerri Coon, Bacteriology, TBD

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