UW-Madison Science Alliance Updater
Monday 24 October 2022
Hi Everyone,
With the Wisconsin Science Festival successfully in the books, we look towards the coming months and the continuing cadence of annual science outreach events.
In the waning weeks of 2022, the 4-H Fall Forum runs on November 4-6 in Wisconsin Rapids. On Wednesday December 21 the inaugural Science Solstice Celebration will launch at Wednesday Nite @ The Lab.
Moving into 2023, in February comes Darwin Days from the Crow Institute, as well as The Wonders of Physics annual shows at Chamberlin Hall. April is packed with UW Science Expeditions, Engineering Expo, Earth Day, and the Undergraduate Symposium.
May brings Family Gardening Day, then the new 4-H/Community Youth Development “Pathways” conference arrives in June, and July flourishes with Wisconsin Farm Technology Days in Baraboo and Grandparents University on campus.
You may know of other annual events to share and promote, and if so, please let Liz Jesse or me know so we can add them to the happy listing at https://science.wisc.edu/outreach-events/.
Whatever the time of year, science outreach is always in season.
Thanks again!
Tom Zinnen
===Coming Up This Week and This Coming Month
1. The UW-Madison Science Alliance meets weekly Monday meetings at 10:00 am, including October 24, by Zoom.
The Zoom link for the fall meetings of Science Alliance will continue to be: https://zoom.us/my/glbrc.weieducation.vmr?pwd=L2Q0L0g0S3lEd2gyazNscjA1d2JYZz09
The draft agenda for October 24 at 10 am includes:• Welcome• Updates
• Reviews of Wisconsin Science Festival Oct 10-16 Statewide
• Planning Timeline and Budget for the 21st Annual UW Science Expeditions April 14-16, 2023
• Some upcoming UW-Madison Science Outreach Events seeking Presenters:
a. Cardinal After School on Tuesdays from 4pm to 5pm
b. Healing Labs + Science Alliance Coalition: “Letting Off STEAM” at Goodman Madison South Branch Library, Nov 15, 5-7pm
c. The Science Alliance will be seeking 4-5 life sciences venues on a December date TBD for a workshop at UW for six biology teachers organized by Jamie Lauer of Hartford Union High School
d. River Trail School (K-8) from Milwaukee planning an Ag Day on campus on November 1; DC Smith Greenhouse, Poultry Science, Meat Science & Animal Biologics, and the Biotech Center will be the round robin venues for 50 students in grades 3-5.
e. Science Solstice Celebration for December 21 Wednesday Nite @ The Lab
f. Southern Lakes Advanced Learner Network’s “Science Immersion Day” Slated for Tuesday February 14 at UW-Madison. About 80 students, 20 teachers. Theme: “For the Love of Science”
• Other Business
• Next Meeting: Monday, October 31, 10 am
As with the #Updater, the Science Alliance meeting notes are also archived on https://science.wisc.edu/science-alliance/.
2. Recurring Programming Events Coming This Week and Soon.
• Weekly Reminder: Please Post your science outreach events and Check for Other Science Events presented online and available to all at http://today.wisc.edu/events/tag/science
• Saturday Science Workshops at UW Space Place every Saturday, from 10 am to 11 am.
These family-friendly events are always free and open to the public every Saturday morning during the school year. This program is held in person only at UW Space Place, 2300 S. Park St, Madison. The workshop starts promptly at 10:00 and is typically over by 11:00.
• Badger Talks Live: Watch live and in archive at https://www.facebook.com/BadgerTalks/live_videos/ and check the schedule at https://badgertalks.wisc.edu/events/. On Friday November 4 at noon the talk will be “The Creative Destruction Lab” by Tom Erickson of the School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences; and Joan Schmit of the School of Business.
• “PLATO Frontiers in Life Sciences” continue its 10-week Fall Series of public talks held every Wednesday at 1pm at UW Space Place, 2300 South Park Street, Madison. Come listen in live or zoom to the room at go.wisc.edu/27448v. On October 26 Valerie Stull of Community & Environmental Sociology will speak on “Tiny Bits for Health? On Eating Insects and the Quest for Sustainable Protein.”
• “Wednesday Nite @ The Lab” series of public science talks 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. On October 26 Ramya Vinayak of Electrical & Computer Engineering speaks on “Learning from Societal Data.”
3. Wisconsin Society of Science Teachers Annual Convention Will Be in Madison on March 9-11, 2023.
See the schedule for submitting proposals for workshops at https://wsst.org/2023-conference.
4. Check Out the 2022-2023 “Family Science Nights” Opportunities:
https://gasch.genetics.wisc.edu/outreach/family-science-nights/.
Researchers & Outreachers, if you’d like to help with Family Science Nights over the coming months, please sign up here.
Parents & Teachers, if you’d like help in inviting UW researchers & outreachers to participate in your Family Science event, please sign up here.
5. “The Physics of Climate Change” Invites STEM Teachers to Collaborate
Are you a STEM teacher interested in incorporating climate science concepts into your curriculum but don’t know where to start?
The Physics of Climate Change project, a collaboration between the UW–Madison Department of Physics and Wisconsin’s 4-H program sponsored by the Wisconsin Idea Collaboration Grant, has you covered! Adding climate science concepts into your curriculum this school year is made easy with an engaging activity, easy-to-use teacher materials, and in-class support from the project team.
If you are interested in having the project team join your class for a session during the 2022-23 school year, or if you’re simply interested in receiving the activity instructions, please fill out this form. Please reach out to Mallory Conlon (mallory.conlon@wisc.edu) with any questions.
6. UW Science Alliance is continuing its collaboration with the Healing Labs Consortium to present in the underserved communities throughout Madison.
The newest opportunities have been set up in the Madison Public Library – Goodman South Madison located at 2222 S Park St, Madison, WI 53713 from 5pm – 7pm.
The idea is to have smaller science hands-on events on different dates this fall. We are looking for 3-4 science hands-on stations on each of these dates in this part of the city and to reach out to this side of Madison’s underserved communities:
•Thursday, November 15 from 5-7pm Cool
•Thursday, December 1 from 5-7pm
To sign up for one or more events to participate with a hands-on station or to volunteer, please contact Ana Garic (ana.garic@wisc.edu)
7. UW Arboretum Fall Events
Saturday work parties, Sunday walks, and night walksSaturday 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/
Taking a self-guided stroll is one way to explore the Arboretum on your own terms. Some of the most popular routes include the Grady Tract Loop, the Curtis Prairie, or a five mile loop through the whole arboretum. Always remember to stay on the paths to preserve wild plants + wear appropriate shoes.
You can also take one of the free guided nature walks offered for different skill levels and ages on a weekly basis. Most meet at the Visitor’s Center, located right in the heart of the arboretum.
- Nature Walks — Every Sunday at 1 p.m., learn about the land, plants, and animals from local naturalists.
- Nature Hikes — On the first and third Sundays of the month, adults are invited on these longer walks.
- Family Nature Walks — On the second Sunday of the month, families can explore the arboretum with a guide.
- Garden Strolls — On the fourth Sunday of the month, gently-paced strolls are offered with wheelchair-accessible routes.
And the fun doesn’t stop there. Check out the calendar for monthly night walks, seasonal birding hikes + more family-friendly events.
The arboretum is open daily from 4 a.m.-10 p.m. and is always free.
UW Arboretum Events
See Arboretum events calendar for details and registration: https://arboretum.wisc.edu/visit/events/
October
– Tuesday, October 25, 7–8:30 p.m. Fall Lecture: Dream of Wild Health
– Sunday, October 30, 1–3 p.m. Touring the Lost City (free, registration required)
November
– Saturday, November 5, 9 a.m.–12 p.m. Ecological Restoration Work Party: Wingra Oak Savanna
– Saturday, November 5, 1–3 p.m. Class: All About Owls ($, registration required)
– Saturday, November 5, 7–8:30 p.m. Full Moon Night Walk
– Sunday, November 6, 1–3 p.m. Touring the Lost City (free, registration required)
– Saturday, November 12, 9 a.m.–12 p.m. Ecological Restoration Work Party: Core Area and Curtis Prairie
– Sunday, November 13, 1–3 p.m. Nature Hike in the Grady Tract
– Sunday, November 13, 1–3 p.m. Family Nature Program: Loving Nature
– Saturday, November 19, 9 a.m.–12 p.m. Ecological Restoration Work Party: Grady Tract
– Saturday, November 19, 1–3 p.m. Class: History of the Arboretum’s Lost City ($, registration required)
– Sunday, November 20, 1–2:30 p.m. Nature Hike
– Saturday, November 26, 9 a.m.–12 p.m. Ecological Restoration Work Party: Core Area and Curtis Prairie
– Sunday, November 27, 1–2 p.m. Garden Stroll
8. Events from Madison Friends of Urban Nature
For more events, see https://cityofmadison.com/parks/events/bird-nature.cfm
HOW CAN I JOIN THE Friends of Urban Nature?
* Join the FUN with Friends of Urban Nature Parks and Partner Groups co-sponsored nature outings!
* Outings are FREE, healthy, welcoming, diverse and family and kid friendly
* Just show up, no registration required unless noted, rain or shine unless weather is dangerous; no pets
* See guided outing details below and at http://CityofMadison.com/Parks/Events/Bird-Nature.cfm
* Find maps, fun facts and activities for self-guided walks at http://Tinyurl.com/MadisonFUNAdventures
* Connect with outing co-sponsor parks, environmental and friends groups for more great nature activities!