Science Outreach on Campus
Sharing Science With Wisconsin

UW-Madison Science Alliance Updater: April 12, 2021

Posted on
 
 
12 April 2021  
 
Hi Everyone,
 
Congratulations to all the presenters and organizers who welcomed the public to explore science at UW-Madison through online or outdoor events this past weekend as part of the 19th Annual UW-Madison Science Expeditions campus open house.  You all helped keep bright the light of hospitality in the waning night of our time of living covidly.  You helped connect learners of all ages to the research and outreach resources in science across Wisconsin’s land-grant university. 
 
We’ll meet today at 10am to review how everything went and to share insights and suggestions.  
 
Then as we have done in every year since 2003, we’ll set the dates for next year’s UW Science Expeditions, in full hope that we will be able to welcome visitors to experience science on campus by connecting with researchers & outreachers not only online but also once again in person. 
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 April 12. 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 Monday, April 12 at 10am includes:
 
  • Welcome
  • Updates
    • Outlook for public programs for adults and for children in Spring 2021 and in Summer 2021
  • Science Expeditions Campus-wide Open House April 9-11:  
    • Review of each component:
    • Online Events Team
    • Outdoor Activities on Campus & Other UW-Madison Sites  
    • Communications & Promotions Team
      • News release
      • Social Media campaign
      • Banners over Campus Drive and Park Street and on Genetics/Biotech
      • Wisconsin Public Radio ads
      • Print Ads
    • Engineering Expo April 9:  https://engineeringexpo.wisc.edu 
  • Other announcements or topics  
 
2.  Now in Archive: Please invite your colleagues in research & outreach to check out the archives of presentations from
2021 UW Science Expeditions Open House on April 9, 10 and 11.
3.  Programming Events coming this week and soon:
  • The UW Now Livestream.  April 13 at 7 pm: “Economic Stimulus and the Impact on Our Future” with  Dana Peterson, chief economist at The Conference Board;  Kim Ruhl,  associate professor of economics and associate director of the Center for Research on the Wisconsin Economy (CROWE)  

4.  Upcoming Lineup for Wednesday Nite @ The Lab online by zoom starting at 7pm Central. 

Register at go.wisc.edu/240r59    Schedule and descriptions at https://science.wisc.edu/wednesday-nite-at-the-lab

April 15  “Insights into the Development of Covid Vaccines”   Mary Hayney, School of Pharmacy
 
April 22  “What’s a Portrait Doing on this Map? Reinterpreting Captain John Smith and His Map of New England” Matthew Edney, History of Cartography Project and the University of Southern Maine.
5.  “Nature, Your Partner in Wellness” with Jane Hawley Stevens, Friday April 23, 4:00 pm CDT.  Register at www.go.wisc.edu/N0Q53X
 


Join Jane Hawley Stevens, 2020 Organic Farmer of the Year and founder of Four Elements Herbals, for a virtual afternoon teatime conversation. 
 
Conversation is open to all online.  However, tea will be available ONLY for residents of these UW Housing Learning Communities: GreenHouse, Women in Science and Engineering, BioHouse, Multicultural, International, and Chadbourne Residential College. Learning Community residents may go to their Housing portal (www.go.wisc.edu/my-housing) to register to get a FREE ! box of Four Elements Herbal Tea delivered to their front desk before the event!
 
For questions or accommodations please contact Sam Wood at sjwood2@wisc.edu

6.  Wonders of Physics Goes Online for 2021

After 37 years of physics presentations to the public, The University of Wisconsin – Madison is this year sponsoring a physics video competition for teachers and students.

We invite you to submit a 2-minute video demonstrating a physics concept. Awards will be given for the best videos, and winners will be posted on our website and edited into a longer video to be shown on public television.

We encourage submissions from students and teams, but for legal reasons, anyone under the age of 18 must work under the supervision of a parent, guardian, or teacher who will submit the video on their behalf. This could be a fun educational project for families or for physics classes during this period of social distancing.

The deadline for submissions is June 30, 2021. You can find more information at https://wonders.physics.wisc.edu/contest/.

7.  The Holtz Center for Science and Technology Studies is excited to invite you and your STS colleagues to four virtual events that we are co-hosting this spring – “Science and Technology in the Hispanic World” – a special seminar series prepared in collaboration between the Holtz Center and Latin American, Caribbean and Iberian Studies Program. 


How does global science and technology affect Hispanic societies and ecosystems? How does cultural inheritance of hispanic societies inform citizens’ attitudes towards science driven technological projects? How do science and technology from the North mobilize indigenous science to resist undesired transformations? What are the culturally specific debates and conflicts that emerge in various local contexts where science and technology bring changes? This series features renown scholars and activists to introduce us to science and technology driven social debates in Spain, Mexico, Paraguay and Nicaragua.

More information and access details will be provided as each event approaches.

Tuesday, April 20, 12-1 pm, via Zoom

Nicaragua:   Birgit Muller “Facing the Environmental Mission: Small Farmers in Nicaragua and the Agro-Ecological Challenges of the Neoliberal Food Regime”
8.  The 9th Annual Madison FUN Partners Co-sponsored Bird & Nature Festival is Sunday April 25 from noon to 4pm
Now is the time to reserve your table at the April 25 Bird and Nature Festival!   
Contact Paul Noeldner (paul_noeldner@hotmail.com) if your group is coming and provide as much info as you can.

 

• Help Celebrate Earth Week with an Amazing Gathering of Nature Groups!
• Open Door Bird Sanctuary will offer ongoing Live Raptor Exhibits inside the Rainbow Shelter.
• People will enjoy visiting our Nature Group Tables and Exhibits, Kids Chalk Art, Kite Flying, Food Carts, Music and more!
• We will be in an outdoor area with face masks and social distancing required
• The Public will come any time between Noon and 4pm and take turns at tables and activities, no large groups

FREE TABLE SPACE PROVIDED!

• Fold-Out Tables will be available in the Rainbow Shelter Patio area with hand sanitizer provided!
• Nearby Picnic Tables will be available for the public to relax and do activities with social distancing.
• A few indoor tables will be reserved where needed such as the Herp Society and Butterfly exhibits, no rain date

FEATURE YOUR GROUP AND ACTIVITIES!

• Groups can have Table Displays and Educational Exhibits and Activities with hand sanitizer for table visitors
• Groups can offer take home handouts, native seed packets, and kids activity sheets like Bird Bingo
• Volunteers can lead short nature themed walks or activities for people visiting the table, like Find a Frog
• Volunteers can also help with the event in general by helping host Chalk Art, Kite Flying and other activities
• Volunteers can come for whatever part of the afternoon you can do, and it is ok to leave early if necessary

PLEASE REPLY WITH –

• Your group name, who is volunteering from your group and their contact info
• Your group table theme or activity topic for example “Meet Friends of Pheasant Branch”, “Skins and Bones” or TBD to be determined
• NOTE: The total number of tables may need to be limited for social distancing, so reply as soon as possible to reserve your spot!
 
9.  Tune in to the following University Place program premiering on the Wisconsin Channel in April:

 4/26 at 8:00 am and and 9:00 pm CDT            

Hybrid Future: Electric vs. Electrified Powertrains 
Andrea Strzelec, Program Director
Masters of Engineering in Engine Systems, UW-Madison
 
Professor Strzelec compares vehicles with internal combustion engines, battery electrics, and hybrid systems (with both an engine and electric motor) and shows that there is no such thing as a zero emissions vehicle.
 
This program may also be viewed on or before the broadcast date at  pbswisconsin.org/uplace .