Science Outreach on Campus
Sharing Science With Wisconsin

UW-Madison Science Alliance Updater: Week of March 4th, 2024

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UW-Madison Science Alliance Updater

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For the week of March 4, 2024

  • The UW-Madison Science Alliance meets Mondays at 10:00 am by Zoom. We also meet both by Zoom and in person at the Wisconsin Energy Institute, Room 1120, first floor (1552 University Avenue) on the first meeting of the month. Our next meeting is March 4; we will meet both by Zoom and in person at the Wisconsin Energy Institute, Room 1120, first floor (1552 University Avenue)

The Zoom link for the 2023-2024 meetings of Science Alliance will continue to be: https://zoom.us/my/glbrc.weieducation.vmr?pwd=L2Q0L0g0S3lEd2gyazNscjA1d2JYZz09

The draft agenda for March 4th at 10 am includes:

    • Welcome
    • Updates
    • Planning for the 22nd Annual UW Science Expeditions April 5, 6 & 7, 2024.
    • Other Business
    • Meet next on Monday, March 11, 10 am; we will meet virtually.

As with the #Updater, the Science Alliance meeting notes are also archived on https://science.wisc.edu/science-alliance/.

Dear Science Researchers & Outreachers,

On behalf of the UW–Madison Science Alliance, we are delighted to invite you to participate in the 22nd Annual UW-Madison Science Expeditions on April 5-7, 2024.

UW Science Expeditions is our annual campus-wide science open house: it’s an opportunity for all of us to welcome everyone to their public university, and it’s a splendid chance to share your research & outreach with visitors of all ages. This year we have the special opportunity to co-host Science Expeditions with UW’s 175 Open House event.

As a campus-wide open house, UW Science Expeditions features multiple options for involvement:

    • 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, please register by March 24 at: https://forms.gle/iYWzDJfbRdkaWUGMA . All are welcome and encouraged to participate. If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Val Blair (vblair@morgridge.org).

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 2024 UW-Madison Science Expeditions!

-Science Expeditions Planning Team

  • STEM Outreach Specialist Position at the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering (CBE)

https://jobs.wisc.edu/jobs/stem-outreach-specialist-madison-wisconsin-united-states

  • Messier Marathon Open House

Come join us at Yerkes Observatory for a Messier Marathon and our first open house of 2024! We’ll be gathering under hopefully clear skies on March 9th from 6pm to 8pm to observe as many Messier objects as we can. We’ll also have activities for all ages, engaging astronomy talks, refreshments for purchase, and more inside the observatory! Make your reservations on our website today!

  • Marquette Elementary School Science Night on 3/12

The Parent Teacher Group at Marquette Elementary School is hosting their annual Science Night on Tuesday, 3/12. It is located at the Marquette Elementary Field House behind the school and there is ample parking on the street right by the field. The sign up Google form is here:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/10O-z9jp9LPp6eeWKXee-hy7_fG1mDITKfnlPBYZtDtc/edit

  • Interested in Being a LEAP Forward 2024 Internship Site?

LEAP Forward is short on internship spaces. Are you interested in hosting interns for the summer?

LEAP Forward is part of UW’s commitment as an anchor partner to the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) Personalized Pathways Initiative based within the Health Sciences. Now in its 5th year, LEAP has been developed as a way to engage MMSD rising Sophomores and Juniors within the Pathway in a multitude of Health Science experiences across UW-Madison’s campus. As a part of the internship, students are engaged for 16 hours a week, 12 of which take place Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday at various internship sites across our campus.

Here are the dates for the program, please see below.

    • Orientation Date: June 13th at 6:00 PM
    • Start Date: Monday, June 17th
    • Break: July 1st– July 5th
    • End Date: Friday, August 2nd

Please note, projects do NOT have to be research driven or in labs – administrative projects where the high school students learn about health sciences are welcomed! If you are interested in hosting a student and/or have questions, email Kristina and Kasie directly at leapforward@em.wic.edu

  • Super Science Saturday on March 9th

Super Science Saturday is an event aimed at getting K-5th graders engaged and excited about science and technology with fun demonstrations and hands-on experiences. The event will take place at Randall elementary at 1802 Regent St. from 9AM-1 PM on Saturday 3/9/2024. Set-up can occur as early as 8 AM.  Tables can be provided if needed as well as basic supplies such as water and paper towels and if there are questions about other supplies please contact samipkothari@gmail.com. Children and their families will walk through in an open-house style format but we can accommodate larger demonstrations if more space is needed. Please contact Samip Kothari at samipkothari@gmail.com if you would like to participate.

  • The Necedah Virtual Cardinal After-School Program

The after school program is currently meeting via Google Meet on Tuesday afternoons (2x a month) this year. The 4:00-4:30 session is for middle/high school students and the 4:30-5:00 session is for 3rd-5th graders. Feel free to claim an entire hour and adapt your activity for the two different age groups. The Necedah students LOVE engineering/design challenges, so we have dedicated one session a month to that type of workshop. Here is a list of websites to get your creativity flowing: Paper Engineering, Design Challenges using Recyclables, 50+ Engineering Projects. Linda Lowery has created a STEM activity planning guide to help you design and implement your activity. The program coordinator, Linda Lowery (llowery@necedahschools.org), can help provide required materials. Sign up using the spreadsheet here.

  • Check Out the 2023-2024 “Family Science Nights” Opportunities:

https://gasch.genetics.wisc.edu/outreach/family-science-nights/

The Calendar of upcoming science outreach at schools is at https://teamup.com/ks37f37f6a8028e6d0

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.

  • UW Arboretum Winter Events

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/

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.

See Arboretum events calendar for details and registration: https://arboretum.wisc.edu/visit/events/

  • “Madison FUN/Friends of Urban Nature” Announcements

APRIL 28 BIRD AND NATURE FESTIVAL

Sunday April 28, 2024 12-4pm is the 11th Annual Madison FUN Bird and Nature Festival at Warner Park featuring an ongoing Live Raptor Show and exhibits and activities.

This is a lot like Science Expeditions with free table space. Bring info about your group, show your educational exhibits, and provide fun hands-on kids science and nature activities!  Share your enthusiasm  and network with other groups!

Contact paul_noeldner@hotmail.com for more info and a table space.

Please send upcoming science outreach events and activities to Liz Jesse: ejesse2@wisc.edu.