UW-Madison Science Alliance Updater
For 15 November 2021
Hi Everyone,
We are but 10 days away from Thanksgiving. Snow flurries are beginning to slow our daily hurries—and inject uncertainties into our plans for going over the river and through the wood. After we return from Grandfather’s house, it’ll be but three weeks til the end of the semester at the U, and also til winter break at many public schools.
What the spring semester will bring us, starting as it does in the rockbottom of winter, is up in the air. The perennial variables, plus a resurgent delta/covid thrown in the mix, are keeping programming plans tentative: we write with pencils rather than with pens.
Like corn, nearly all our programs are now hybrid. If we were grain farmers, we might be drying our harvest, tallying our yields, plotting our strategy for selling and shipping, and making plans & decisions for the coming year of fieldwork that is but a March away.
Likewise, as we in science outreach approach the end-of-the-year holiday season, we can also look back at what we have learned, and what we have earned, in the 11 months since covid vaccines came into play. And now we also start to anticipate what we’ll be sowing and growing in the coming year.
Thanks!
Tom Zinnen
Coming Up This Week and This Month
Word of mouth is golden: please share the #Updater with your friends and colleagues!
1. During the fall, Science Alliance meets at 10:00 am Mondays, including today, Monday November 15.
Please note the location for our fall meetings of Science Alliance:
Room 1120 Wisconsin Energy Institute, 1552 University Avenue
Please note the Zoom link for the fall:
The draft agenda includes:
- Welcome
- Updates
- Confirming the Date for Science Immersion Day at UW-Madison with SLALN: Feb 15
- Planning for the 20th Annual UW-Madison Science Expeditions 2022 on April 8-10
- Next Meeting: November 22 at 10am
Upcoming: November 29, Rachael Lancor, Madison Country Day School
Upcoming: December 6, Aphra Mednick, Office of Youth Protection & Compliance
As with the #Updater, the meeting notes are also archived on https://science.wisc.edu/science-alliance/.
2. Neuroscience Training Program Speaker on November 18 at 3:00 PM:
Robert Nickells, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, UW-Madison speaks on “Control of Neuronal Death by BCL2 Gene Family Proteins during Optic Nerve Neurodegeneration”
When: Thursday, Nov 18th from 3-4 pm.Where: Online via Zoom. Click the link here to join.
3. Recurring Programming Events coming this week and soon.
- Remember to Post your science outreach events and to Check for other events presented online and available to all at http://today.wisc.edu/events/tag/science
- Badger Talks Live: – https://www.facebook.com/UWConnects/live & https://badgertalks.wisc.edu/events/
- November Focus: UniverCity Alliance
- Tuesday, November 16, noon. “Improving Health Outcomes in Adams County through Evidence-Based Decision-Making” featuring Barb Duerst, Masters of Public Health Programs
- Tuesday, November 30, noon. “Waunakee’s Ho Chunk History Project” featuring Jessie Conaway, Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies
- PLATO Frontiers in Life Sciences Public Science Series Wednesdays at 1pm CT at UW Space Place, 2300 S. Park St, Madison, WI. This week (Nov 17): Rebecca Larson of Biological Systems Engineering on ‘Managing Manure to Reduce Environmental Impacts.’
- Wednesday Nite @ The Lab Public Science Series every Wednesday night, 50 times a year, at 7pm CT by zoom (go.wisc.edu/240r59) or in person in Room 1111 Genetics Biotech Center, 425 Henry Mall, Madison WI. On November 17 John Ralph of the Wisconsin Energy Institute and the Department of Biochemistry speaks on the intrigues of lignin, the super stuff of woody plants.
4. Madison FUN (Friends of Urban Nature) Bird and Nature Adventure Supporters, Topic Leaders, Co-Sponsors and Publicity Contacts
Thank you for helping Madison area neighborhoods, families and kids enjoy this fantastic fall outdoors in nearby parks!
Our trustworthy team of naturalist volunteers will help them feel welcome, have fun, and learn about migrating birds, prairie seeds, oak masting, Ice Age geology and more!
How can folks participate?*Check out the Quick Calendar below and online at http://CityofMadison.com/Parks/Events/Bird-Nature.cfm
*Learn about Fascinating Monthly Nature Topics with Maps, Fun Facts and Activities at http://Tinyurl.com/MadisonFUNAdventures
Here is a calendar of upcoming Volunteer Naturalist Guided Outings:
“Ready for Winter” Wed Nov 17, 1:30pm Senior Bird and Nature Adventure with School Naturalist Nancy Fonzen, register 608-222-3415
“Thanksgiving Birds” Sat Nov 20, 10am at Starkweather Creek with Master Naturalist Paul Noeldner“Prairie Seed Collecting” Sun Nov 21, 1:30pm at Warner Park Rainbow Shelter with Master Naturalist Alex Singer“Fall Trees and Oak Masting” Sat Nov 27, 10am at Edna Taylor/Aldo Leopold Nature Center with Master Naturalist Alex Singer“Creekside Nature Hike” Sat Nov 27, 1:30pm at Pheasant Branch Creek Corridor with Master Naturalist Paul Noeldner“Fun Fall Birding” Sun Nov 28, 1:30pm at UW Lakeshore Nature Preserve with Chuck Henrikson and Paul Noeldner See you outdoors! 🙂Paul NoeldnerMaster Naturalist InstructorVolunteer Coordinator, Madison FUN Friends of Urban Nature608-698-0104paul_noeldner@hotmail.comethicalguidebook.com
5. Data Science Research Bazaar Coming in February
6. Opportunities to Share Your Science with Necedah’s “Cardinal After School” by Zoom on Tuesdays throughout the fall. 4:00-4:30pm for grades 3-5. 4:30 to 5:00 for middle school and high school. It’s a good way to share existing activities, as well as to invite the students to help you prototype & hone new activities you’re developing. Contact Liz Jesse (ejesse2@wisc.edu) or Tom Zinnen (zinnen@biotech.wisc.edu) for questions or suggestions. Sign up at the spreadsheet here.
7. Events from the Wisconsin Energy Institute
For Educators:
KidWind Coaches’ Happy HoursPreparing for the 2022 KidWind Challenge or looking to learn more? Join us for a happy hour to chat with other coaches and share ideas. KidWind advisors and organizers will be on hand to answer your questions – from engineering and design tips and tricks, to FAQ about the registration process and what to expect on Challenge Day. Come for the whole hour or just a portion and BYO beverage of choice.November 18, 2021, 4:00 – 5:00 pm Central. REGISTER HEREJanuary 13, 2022, 4:00 – 5:00 pm Central. REGISTER HERE
Allison Bender Outreach CoordinatorWisconsin Energy Institute | Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center608.890.0946 agbender@wisc.edu1552 University Ave, Madison WI, Room 2160University of Wisconsin–MadisonPronouns: she, her, hers
8. UW Arboretum Fall Events, provided by Susan Day
Virtual and in-person classes:
Ecopoetry – Following W.S. Merwin (in-person)
Wednesdays, December 1 and 8, 10:30 a.m.–12 p.m.
Information, registration, and more classes: https://arboretum.wisc.edu/learn/adult-education/classes/
Saturday work parties, Sunday walks, and night walks
Saturday restoration work parties, 9 a.m.–12 p.m.: https://arboretum.wisc.edu/get-involved/volunteer/work-parties/
See the full list of Sunday walks (nature hikes, family walks, and garden strolls), plus monthly night walks, on the Arboretum events calendar:https://arboretum.wisc.edu/visit/events/
9. Schedule of Events for Madison FUN Partners
10. STEM Week at Farm Wisconsin December 28-30, 2021
We invite you to participate in our annual event: STEM Week at Farm Wisconsin, this December 28-30, 2021.
STEM Week at Farm Wisconsin is designed to engage visitors of all ages with hands-on activities in the areas of agriculture science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. This year’s event will run for three days – Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday – while students are on winter break.
At this time, we are seeking businesses, organizations, community groups, and individuals to coordinate an interactive station highlighting STEM in agriculture. Stations may include a demonstration, experiment, craft or activity – the more hands-on, the better!
Potential station ideas to get your creative juices flowing:
- Using Virtual Reality goggles to explore an agriculture industry
- Dissecting a fruit, vegetable, or animal organ
- Demonstrating how to make sausage, jam/jelly, or the perfect loaf of bread
- Using a water testing kit to analyze water samples
- Showcasing how a goat is milked
- Fixing a gear on a piece of agriculture equipment
Participants will be expected to staff their station for the whole day (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.) and may plan to attend one, two, or all three days.
Please let me know if you would be interested in participating in our event and/or if you would like to brainstorm possible ideas for a station. Feel free to also spread the word to others you think may be interested in joining us this winter. I have attached a PDF with event details to this email for easy distribution.
Thank you,
Abigail Martin | Program Manager
11. A Mid-Winter’s Day Garden Series Starts January 22
Allen Centennial Garden, in partnership with the Friends of Allen Centennial Garden, offers an annual Saturday morning winter program series during January and February on garden-related topics for ACG Friends and volunteers as well as the general public. Last year’s programs were virtual, and we will be using that format again in early 2022. They are free for the Friends and volunteers but there is a fee for other attendees. Hold the date: the first session will be held January 22, 2022. More information on registering is forthcoming.
Jane CramerFriends of Allen Centennial Garden
12. Beaver Dam Arts & Peony Festival on June 4, 10am to 5pm is looking for youth activities.
Location: Ovan’s Peony Farm, Beaver DamPartners include Mill House Quilts, New Sewing with Nancy StoreThey expect/hope for about 500 people to come through.
If interested in providing an Exploration Station in science or the arts, please reach out to Fran Puleo fpuleo@wisc.eduFran Puleo Moyer (she,her)Assistant Director of Outreach Programs UW Connects University of Wisconsin-Madisonfran.puleo@wisc.edu | 920.296.05461308 W. Dayton St. Madison, WI 53715uwconnects.wisc.edu