UW-Madison Science Alliance Updater
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Sunday 5 February 2023
Hi Everyone,
Eight years ago yesterday, on the morning of Wednesday February 4, 2015, the tweets hit the streets that Governor Scott Walker’s budget proposal included stripping the Wisconsin Idea from the statutory mission of the University of Wisconsin System.
The reactions came swiftly.
By mid-morning UW System President Ray Cross had issued a news release stating, “The Wisconsin Idea is embedded in our DNA. It is so much more than words on a page. It is the reason the UW System exists. It defines us and forever will distinguish us as a great, public university. Wisconsin must not abandon this core principle and value. We will work to preserve the Wisconsin Idea in every form.”
Throughout the morning and mid-day social media feeds lit up with statements opposing the draft language and supporting the existing statutory text. By late in the afternoon the governor’s office had walked back the proposal, and said the original plan to strip the Wisconsin Idea was a “drafting error.”
For the following days the story reverberated across campus and around the country, for the governor was presidential timber at the time. In time, those aspirations were felled short.
As for the claim of a ‘drafting error’: fifteen months later Dane County judge Amy Smith ordered the release of emails from the governor’s office, and the newly-public public-records showed the “drafting error” claim was a stretcher, and not the kind that’s a litter.
As a biotech outreacher, I was heartened at first to hear the metaphor from the system president that the Wisconsin Idea was in the university’s DNA. This made it sound like the Idea is an adamantine commitment set in permanent text, like so many bronze letters on the Sifting & Winnowing plaque bolted to the wall of Bascom Hall.
But upon reflection I was reminded that DNA doesn’t work that way. DNA is more like Gutenberg’s moveable type: it can be edited, omitted, re-arranged, inactivated, mutated. In fact, the Wisconsin Idea still could be deleted or defiled by a few keystrokes to the statutes, or to the Regents’ policies, or to a campus’s statement of principles.
And so every year since 2015 I mark the dozen dates from February 4 through February 15 as ‘The 12 Days of the Wisconsin Idea.’ Why February 15? Well, that was the date that Charles Van Hise gave his speech in 1905 in the Red Gym which he ended with the statement, “I shall never be content until the beneficent influence of the university reaches every family of the state.” For many of us this phrase is the most aspirational & resounding of the many expressions of the ideal that has become the Idea.
These 12 days are a time to recall that for over a century every generation is called to reimagine, retool and refuel their definition of the Wisconsin Idea. Our generation is especially lucky in that we also had the opportunity to rise up in defense of it.
Thanks again!
Tom Zinnen
Coming Up This Week and This Coming Month
1. The UW-Madison Science Alliance meets Mondays at 10:00 am by Zoom. Our next meeting is Monday, February 6.
The Zoom link for the spring meetings of Science Alliance will continue to be: https://zoom.us/my/glbrc.weieducation.vmr?pwd=L2Q0L0g0S3lEd2gyazNscjA1d2JYZz09
The draft agenda for Feburary 6, 2023 at 10 am includes:• Welcome• Updates
• Science Immersion Day, Tuesday Feb 14, with 104 7th/8th grade students from Southern Lakes Advanced Learners Network, at UW-Madison.
• Planning the 21st Annual UW Science Expeditions April 14-16, 2023
Budget Report: Tom Zinnen
Communications: Lindsey DeCarlo, Wes Marner. Tom Zinnen
Publicity: Liz Jesse, Haddie McLean
Venues: Ana Garic, Drew Lakuta, Jennifer Mitchell, Tom Zinnen,
Presenters: Allison Bender, Val Blair, Liz Jesse:
• Other Business
• Meet next on Monday, Feb 13, 2023, 10 am, by zoom.
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.
• “Wonders of Physics Annual Show” Feb 11, 12, 18, 19.
Tickets are sold out.
• Saturday Science Workshops at UW Space Place nearly 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 for Badger Talks LIVE and In-Person Badger Talks at https://badgertalks.wisc.edu/events/. Badger Talks resumes Tuesday, February 14, 12:00 PM Central with The Arts for Everyone, Everywhere by Chris Walker, Professor of Dance and Director, Division of the Arts. Also, check out the current schedule of In-Person Badger Talks occurring in communities across Wisconsin.
• “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 February 8 John Hawks of Anthropology will provide a special “Darwin Days” talk on “Finding Other Ancient Minds Across the Human Evolutionary Tree.”
• Tour the UW Nuclear Reactor on Friday February 24
Space is limited. Sign up by noon on February 16 at https://go.wisc.edu/bu7wu0
3. Researchers & Outreachers: Sign Up Now to Participate in #UWScienceExpeditions Campus Open House April 14-16
On behalf of the UW–Madison Science Alliance, we are delighted to invite you to participate in the 21st Annual UW-Madison Science Expeditions on April 14-16, 2023.
UW Science Expeditions is UW-Madison’s annual campus-wide science open house: it’s an opportunity for all of us to welcome everyone to their public, land-grant research university, and it’s a splendid chance to share your research & outreach with visitors of all ages.
As a campus-wide open house, UW Science Expeditions features multiple options this year:
- Exploration Stations: hands-on exhibits where you share insights into your research;
- Science Spectaculars: presentations that engage a larger audience, usually in an auditorium; and
- Destinations for Exploration: tours or Open Houses of venues across campus.
**To Sign Up to lead an Exploration Station, a Science Spectacular, or a Destination for Exploration, please register by March 24 at: https://forms.gle/bgyr6ATNXyLnLhU39
If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Tom Zinnen (zinnen@biotech.wisc.edu or 608-265-2420).
Please help us spread the word: if you know others on campus who may be interested in sharing their research or outreach at UW Science Expeditions, please forward this information to them.
Thank you for considering this invitation to participate in the 2023 UW-Madison Science Expeditions!
-The 2023 Science Expeditions Planning Team
4. The Badger Precollege K-12 Program for DCS is recruiting instructors for 2023 summer programs.
We hire UW Madison instructors, staff and graduate students to teach in our program and provide stipends according to the Badger Precollege compensation rates. Please find a list of roles and links to apply here. There are separate links for graduate students (student jobs) and staff/instructors (wisc.jobs); however, the student jobs postings have additional course details. Do let me know if you have any questions, and thanks for passing this information along to your contacts.
Best wishes,
Chris
Christopher Pevey Harry
Assistant Dean
Director of Precollege Services
Badger Precollege
Division of Continuing Studies
21 N. Park Street
7th Floor
University of Wisconsin-Madison
608-265-1045
Christopher.peveyharry@wisc.edu
5. Wisconsin Society of Science Teachers Annual Convention Will Be in Madison on March 9-11, 2023.
The UW Science Alliance will have a double booth in the Exhibitors Hall at the Monona Terrace on March 9 and 10. This is a great chance to promote your science outreach program to the 400-500 teachers from all across Wisconsin. If you’d like to help staff the booth on the afternoon of Thursday March 9 or on Friday March 10, or if you’d like to have brochures on hand to distribute, please email Tom Zinnen.
6. #MakeClimateAClass Initiative Coming in April for Earth Month
#MakeClimateAClass is part of a larger event the Wisconsin Energy Institute hosts called the Worldwide Teach-In on Climate Justice. #MakeClimateAClass encourages engagement with climate-related issues by having instructional faculty speak on how climate is integrated into their discipline for 10-30 minutes during a class sometime in April.
If you are interested in taking part in this initiative, please provide your contact information and details about your Spring 2023 courses in this Google Form. For more information and resources, visit the UW–Madison Teach-In landing page.
Sent by Marina Kerekes of WEI.
7. Grant Opportunity for Users of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve
The Lakeshore Nature Preserve Committee, an oversight committee for UW-Madison’s 300-acre Lakeshore Nature Preserve, is pleased to announce a small grant opportunity (up to $1000) for undergraduates and faculty, staff and graduate students working with undergraduates to facilitate the use of the Preserve for educational purposes.
Go to our website to view the Request for Proposals and to see past grant awards. Please feel free to distribute widely! If your department, program, or organization maintains a list serve or list of funding opportunities we kindly ask you to include this opportunity.
The application deadline is March 1, 2023. Funds should be expended by October 31, 2023 when a final report is due.
Questions may be directed to Preserve Assistant Director Laura Wyatt (laura.wyatt@wisc.edu).
Bryn Scriver
Volunteer & Outreach Coordinator
UW-Madison Lakeshore Nature Preserve
21 N Park St, Suite 6101
Madison, WI 53715
Cell: 608-220-5560
she/her/hers
8. 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.
The calendar of upcoming science outreach at schools is at https://teamup.com/ks37f37f6a8028e6d0
9. “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.
10. Call for Artists: “Technical to Beautiful: Data as Art”
For more information and to submit project proposals: https://forms.gle/xXMbdeHhwwMihUKV6
11. Wisconsin Science Olympiad State Tournament Runs April 1 at UW-Milwaukee
Watch here for more updates.
12. UW Arboretum Winter 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/
13. Events from Madison Friends of Urban Nature
Thank You for helping to publicize Madison FUN Bird and Nature Adventures, now entering our 10th Year!
Your support for these volunteer-led year-round weekly outings helps make Madison a welcoming, vibrant and healthy place for both people and nature.
WHAT ARE BIRD AND NATURE ADVENTURES?
* Join the FUN with Friends of Urban Nature on Parks and Partners co-sponsored outings!
* Free Naturalist Guided outings are offered in local parks and natural areas year round
* Outings are fun, welcoming, diverse, accessible and family and kid friendly
* Enjoy healthy nature recreation with a bit of fascinating nature education
HOW CAN WE JOIN THE FUN?
* Just show up, no registration unless noted
* Dress for an outdoor walk, outings are rain or shine unless weather is dangerous
* See monthly outing publicity at http://CityofMadison.com/Parks/Events/Bird-Nature.cfm and co-sponsor social media
* Find trail maps, fun facts and activities at http://Tinyurl.com/MadisonFUNAdventures
* Connect with parks, environmental and friends groups for more great activities
* Support natural areas in every yard, park and neighborhood for kids, birds, bees, and wildlife!
THANKS EVERYBODY!
Thanks for helping connect Madison area Communities and Kids with Nearby Nature!
Paul Noeldner
Volunteer Madison FUN Coordinator
Wisconsin Master Naturalist Instructor
136 Kensington Maple Bluff
For more events, see https://cityofmadison.com/parks/events/bird-nature.cfm