UW-Madison Science Alliance Updater
For 29 November 2021
Hi Everyone,
A week ago, I had not yet heard of the new covid variant dubbed “Omicron.” By Friday afternoon it was the leading story in the news.
On Friday evening my family happened to choose to re-watch “Darkest Hour.” Given the news of the day, I was struck by the passage at the 48:00 minute mark when King George VI phones Churchill with the advice: “The public need to be led, not misled, not left to work it out for themselves.”
In our time of information, misinformation, and disinformation, when early action (or inaction) will have long-term impacts, the work of folks in science communication in figuring out what to say and, when necessary, how to sway, continues to be a key part of what policies and practices will carry the day.
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 29.
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
- Rachael Lancor, Madison Country Day School
- Planning for the 20th Annual UW-Madison Science Expeditions 2022 on April 8-10
- Next Meeting: Dec 6 at 10am
Upcoming: December 6, Aphra Mednick, Office of Youth Protection & Compliance
2. The Wisconsin Energy Institute’S Blood Drive is Tuesday November 30. The Red Cross is currently facing an Emergency Blood Shortage where hospital demand continues to outpace donations. Your donation is vital. All donors who come to give blood during our drive will receive a $10 Amazon.com Gift Card by email from the Red Cross’s partners at Amazon.
Check out the details and make your appointment today!
Please help us spread the word around campus and the community.——Drive Details:Site: University of Wisconsin Energy InstituteAddress: 1552 University Ave, Madison, WI, 53726Room Name: 1115Date: Tue Nov 30, 2021Time: 08:00 AM – 12:30 PMClick here to make an appointmentThank you for embracing WEI’s values of giving back to our community and participating in the drive!
Allison Bender
WEI
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 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 (Dec 1): Jenyne Loarca of Horticulture speaks on genetic diversity of carrots.
- 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 December 1, Cody Wenthur of the School of Pharmacy speaks on “Psychedelics as Catalysts for Change.”
4. The Wonders of Physics Traveling Show Is Back!
Our show is a fast-paced, interactive presentation that can be customized for any age group for maximum comprehension and enjoyment. We want to share our love of physics with all children and inspire the next generation of scientists. We supply all of the equipment and come to you!
Email Haddie McLean at haddie@physics.wisc.edu or visit https://wonders.physics.wisc.edu/book-a-program/ to book a program.
Haddie McLeanOutreach Specialist-Wonders of PhysicsUW-Madison Physics Departmenthaddie@physics.wisc.edu608-262-2927
5. Updated: Memorandum of Understanding for Youth Group Visits to Campus
From Helena Manning, Campus Visit Specialist:
“Our office received an update to the insurance policy listed on the Campus Visit Agreement-MOU from Daniel Karamanski, Risk Mgmt, and Keri Robbins. I updated the CVA-MOU template in case other campus programs and departments want to use it for their youth visits. Feel free to share with others.”
6. Thanks to all who provided materials to be included in the Wisconsin Science Festival’s “Science in a Bag” Kits this year.
• “Thanks so much for putting this together! We had a tremendous community response – all of our bags were claimed within about 4 hours!”
• “Patrons were very excited about the kits. We had other giveaways at our booth and ran out of Science in a Bag kits first. We gave out all 50 kits in the first 2 hours or so of the event. We had several calls the day before the event from patrons asking if we would have Science in a Bag kits available, as other locations had already run out of kits.”
• “Please tell the people who put the bags together, thank you, we are going to have so much fun!” A little girl who was thrilled to get the bag and go home to have STEM fun.
Your materials were included in 1,950 “Science in a Bag” kits with other science activities. Your materials were distributed to libraries in the following WI cities: Walworth, Genoa City, Park Falls, Hammond, New Richmond, North Fond du Lac, Pine River, Kenosha, Salem, Richland Center, Holmen, Three Lakes, Wausau, Merrill, Edgerton, Evansville, Milton, Plainfield, Franklin, Oak Creek, and Cudahy, Oconto, Algoma, Hayward, Spooner, Superior, Manitowoc, Chilton, New Glarus, Monroe, Fitchburg, Lancaster, Blanchardville, Independence, Mauston Thank you again for your participation in making this pilot program a success. We couldn’t have pulled it together without you and we are deeply grateful for your efforts. THANK YOU! If you have any questions, please let me know!
Val Blair
Morgridge Institute for Research
and Wisconsin Science Festival
7. Getting Started in Outreach: Opportunities for Early-Career Trainees
December 6 @ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm CSTYou’re passionate about your work, so share your passion with others!
Please share this announcement widely with campus graduate students and postdocs!
To register, visit https://morgridge.org/event/getting-started-in-outreach/UW-Madison is rich with opportunities for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars to engage with the public. In this panel discussion, you’ll learn how to find opportunities to do outreach in rewarding ways and how to share your research most effectively with others. You’ll also hear from experts who lead public engagement programs and receive a list of outreach programs in the university community.This hybrid event is intended for early-career trainees, especially graduate students and postdoctoral scholars. Registration is requested and includes in-person and virtual options.This event is hosted by UW-Madison Postdoctoral Association and the Morgridge Institute for Research.Panelists Include:· Dr. Jeri Bryant, BioCommons Program Director, WISCIENCE· Mallory Conlon, Quantum Science Outreach Program Coordinator, UW-Madison Department of Physics· Dr. Anne Lynn Gillian-Daniel, Education Director, Materials Science and Engineering Research Center· Dr. Laura Heisler, Director of Outreach, Morgridge Institute for Research, Director of Programming, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation· Haddie McLean, Wonders of Physics Coordinator, UW-Madison Department of Physics
8. In preparation for our upcoming panel aimed at graduate student and postdoc participation in outreach (see above), we would like to collect information on as many programs as possible. Please share your program information via this form: https://morgridge.org/event/getting-started-in-outreach/
Your responses will be gathered into a single PDF that will be distributed to everyone who registered for the event. If you have questions, reach out to Wes Marner, wmarner@morgridge.org. Thank you!
Wesley D. Marner II, Ph.D.he/him/hisMorgridge Institute for ResearchEducational Programs Managermorgridge.org/community608.316.4716wmarner@morgridge.org
9. Fond du Lac County UW-Madison Extension Family Learning Day is Saturday, February 19, 2022.
Family Learning Day is an opportunity for 4-H members (grades 5K-12) and the community to learn a new skill. We are looking to have 2022 Family Learning Day back in person on the Fond du Lac campus of UW-Oshkosh
Please help make this day a success by volunteering to teach a session or two. Sessions 2 and 3 are 90 minutes, while sessions 1 and 4 are 60 minutes. Indicate the length and time of day that fits your needs. You may repeat your session if you wish.
Please consider this opportunity and pass along to anyone who would be interested as well. Here is a Google Form to sign up. Please complete the form by December 6.
Thanks for considering this invitation!
Tracy Keifenheim4-H Program EducatorUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension Fond du Lac County227 Administration/Extension Blg400 University DriveFond du Lac, WI 54935Office Phone: (920)-929-3177
10. Data Science Research Bazaar Coming in February
11. 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.
12. 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.January 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
13. 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/
14. Schedule of Events for Madison FUN Partners
15. 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
p: 920-726-6009 a: 7001 Gass Lake Road | Manitowoc, WI 54220
16. A Mid-Winter’s Day Garden Series Starts January 22 with Friends of Allen Centennial Gardens
Allen Centennial Garden, in partnership with the Friends of Allen Centennial Gardens, 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. There is a $10/session fee, but they are free for the Friends and volunteers. To register go to allencentenialgarden.wisc.edu.
Jane CramerFriends of Allen Centennial Gardens
17. 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
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Five Powerful Routes to Promote Your Events: The Updater newsletter (750 subscribers), the science.wisc.edu portal, the @sciencewiscedu Twitter feed (3.2K followers), the @UWMadisonScienceOutreach Facebook page, and the today.wisc.edu calendar.
* Add your news, requests and programming announcements to the #Updater by emailing them to ejesse2@wisc.edu and tag them with #updater.
* Check out www.science.wisc.edu for more science activities! We’re delighted to help you promote your upcoming science outreach events. Send a note to Liz Jesse at ejesse2@wisc.edu.
* Or post your events to the @sciencewiscedu Twitter feed and to the @UWMadisonScienceOutreach Facebook page.