2026 UW Science Expeditions
Thanks for an amazing Science Expeditions 2026!
Save the date for next year – April 9-11, 2027
Schedule
9 AM
Babcock Dairy Observation Deck Tour
Babcock Dairy Store, Babcock Hall, 1605 Linden Dr. Map
9 AM, 10 AM & 2 PM
10 AM
Hospital Food: Historical Precedents of a Bad Reputation – Historical Exhibition
Ebling Library – Rm 3310
Health Sciences Learning Center, 750 Highland Ave. Map
10 AM – 3 PM
12 PM
Lakeshore Learning Lab
Hasler Lab – Center for Limnology, 680 N Park St. (Due to construction, the activities are located on the lakeshore path east of Hasler Lab)
12 – 4 PM
7 PM
How to Build a Habitable Planet (Wisconsin Center for Origins Research – WiCOR)
UW Biotechnology Center – Rm 1111, 425 Henry Mall Map
7 PM
Washburn Observatory Open House
1401 Observatory Dr. Map
7 PM – 10 PM
9 AM
UW Geology Museum Open House
Weeks Hall, 1215 W. Dayton St. Map
9 AM – 1 PM
UW MIA Recovery and Identification Project Plane Dig and Museum Tour
UW Biotechnology Center – Rm 3130, 425 Henry Mall Map
9 AM – 3 PM
10 AM
Botany Garden and Greenhouse Open House
Botany Greenhouse at Birge Hall, 430 Lincoln Dr. Map
10 AM – 2 PM
Department of Chemistry Open House
Chemistry Building (North Tower), 1101 University Ave. Map
10 AM – 2 PM
DC Smith Greenhouse Open House
DC Smith Greenhouse, 465 Babcock Dr. Map
10 AM – 2 PM
Exploration Stations at the Discovery Building
Discovery Building, 330 N Orchard St. Map
10 AM – 1 PM
Exploration Stations at the Wisconsin Energy Institute
Wisconsin Energy Institute, 1552 University Ave. Map
10 AM – 1 PM
Explore the Atmospheric Oceanic and Space Sciences Building
AOSS Building, 1225 W. Dayton St. Map
10 AM – 2 PM
Ingersoll Wonders of Physics Museum (with Docents)
Chamberlin Hall, Room 2130, 1150 University Ave. Map
10 AM – 3 PM
Morgridge Hall Open House (School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences)
Morgridge Hall, 1205 University Ave. Map
10 AM – 1 PM
Primate Playdate: Meet the Marmosets
Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, 1220 Capitol Ct. Map
10 AM – 2 PM
Wisconsin Science Museum
2300 South Park St. Atrium Lower Level, South Hall Map
10 AM – 4 PM
11 AM
Dream Detectives: Solving the Secrets of Sleep
Discovery Building, Room 1130, 330 N Orchard St. Map
11:20 AM, 11:50 AM and 12:20 PM
The Wonders of Physics Show
Chamberlin Hall, Room 2103, 1150 University Ave. Map
11 AM – 12 PM (No tickets – first-come, first-served)
12 PM
Chemistry with Mr Jim & Bucky
Chemistry Building (North Tower), Room S413, 1101 University Ave. Map
12:15 PM
Physics Department Open House (Exploration Stations and Lab Tours)
Chamberlin Hall Atrium, 1150 University Ave. Map
12 PM – 3 PM
The Life and Legacy of Aldo Leopold
Steenbock Library, Room 425, 550 Babcock Dr. Map
12 PM – 2 PM
(This event is not appropriate for small children due to the fragility of unique collection materials)
1 PM
Animals of the Arboretum
Arboretum Visitor Center, 2880 Longenecker Dr. Map
1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
The Wonders of Physics Show
Chamberlin Hall, Room 2103, 1150 University Ave. Map
1 PM – 2 PM (No tickets – first-come, first-served)
2 PM
Babcock Dairy Observation Deck Tour
Babcock Dairy Store, Babcock Hall, 1605 Linden Dr. Map
2 PM, 3 PM
7 PM
Washburn Observatory Open House
1401 Observatory Dr. Map
7 PM – 10 PM
12 PM
Carbone Cancer Center Research and Science Lab Tours
Health Sciences Learning Center, 750 Highland Ave. Map
12:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Exploration Stations at the Health Sciences Learning Center
Health Sciences Learning Center, 750 Highland Ave. Map
12 PM – 4 PM
Exploration Stations at the Pharmacy Building
Rennebohm Hall, 777 Highland Ave. Map
12 PM – 4 PM
Dream Detectives: Solving the Secrets of Sleep
Health Sciences Learning Center, Room 1220, 750 Highland Ave. Map
12:30, 1:30 and 2:30 PM
“History of a Life of Good Luck” – Film Premiere and Q&A with the Filmmaker
Health Sciences Learning Center, Room 1325, 750 Highland Ave. Map
12:30 – 2:00 PM and 2:30 – 4:00 PM
Mega Lung Exhibit with Genentech
Health Sciences Learning Center, 750 Highland Ave. Map
12 PM – 4 PM
Neuroscience Laboratory Tours
Inside the Monkey Brain: Seeing and Acting in 3D (12:30, 1:15 and 2:00 PM)
The Protein Machinery That Powers Brain Communication (1:00 and 1:30 PM)
Building the Central Nervous System (2:00 and 2:30 PM)
Health Sciences Learning Center, 750 Highland Ave.
(Sign up for tours at the Welcome desk at HSLC)
Map
12:30 – 2:30 PM
1 PM
UW Lakeshore Nature Preserve: A Destination for Exploration
Picnic Point entrance, 2000 University Bay Dr. Map
1 PM – 3 PM
2 PM
Babcock Dairy Observation Deck Tour
Babcock Dairy Store, Babcock Hall, 1605 Linden Dr. Map
2 PM, 3 PM
New for 2026: Come tour Morgridge Hall, the new home of the Computer Sciences, Statistics, and the Information School (and future home of the College of Computing & Artificial Intelligence). Explore the public art, student spaces, and some hands-on activities. Student guided and self-guided tours available.
Science Expeditions is possible thanks to financial support from UW–Madison!
The UW Madison Science Alliance is committed to creating an inclusive and accessible event. If you need a reasonable accommodation, please contact Liz Jesse (ejesse2@wisc.edu).
Connect with us!
Connect with us on social media for more science, technology, engineering, and mathematics content, and to stay up to date with the latest Science Expeditions news.
How to Get Around Campus
Use promo code SCIENCEISCOOL for $10 off a monthly pass.
Trolley Route:
A trolley will run periodically in a loop on Saturday from 9:30am – 3:30pm. Note: we do not have a live tracking method, so we are unable to give you a schedule.
Free Campus Bus Routes:
- 80, 81, 82 & 84
- Find the nearest stop on the interactive campus map. All buses are kneeling buses and are capable of transporting wheelchairs and other mobility equipment.
Parking is Also Available:
Friday
- Lot 6, 17, 20, 36, 76
Saturday
- Lot 6, 17, 20, 27, 36, 41, 45, 46, 54, 56, 67, 80
- Arboretum Visitor Center
Sunday
- Lot 36, 60, 67, 76, 130
Presenters
Arboretum
Babcock Dairy
Biocore
Carbone Cancer Center
Catalysts for Science Policy
Center for Limnology
Clinical Trials Institute
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
Conservation Biology Major
Dept. of Animal and Dairy Sciences
Dept. of Astronomy
Dept. of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
Dept. of Bacteriology
Dept. of Biochemistry
Dept. of Biomedical Engineering
Dept. of Biostatistics & Medical Informatics
Dept. of Botany
Dept. of Chemistry
Dept. of Communication Sciences and Disorders
Dept. of Educational Psychology
Dept. of Entomology
Dept. of Food Science
Dept. of Genetics
Dept. of Human Development & Family Studies
Dept. of Integrative Biology
Dept. of Medical Microbiology and Immunology
Dept. of Medical Physics
Dept. of Neurological Surgery
Dept. of Pediatrics
Dept. of Physics
Dept. of Plant Pathology
Dept. of Psychiatry
Dept. of Psychology
Dept. of Soil and Environmental Sciences
Ebling Library
Edgewood University & American Family Children’s Hospital
Genentech
Geology Museum
Graduate Women in Science
Lakeshore Nature Preserve
Madison West Rocket Club
McPherson Eye Research Institute
MIA Recovery and Identification Project
Microbiology Doctoral Training Program
Molecular and Environmental Toxicology
MRSEC – Materials Research Science and Engineering Center
National Student Speech Language Hearing Association
Neuroscience Training Program
Plant Cellular and Molecular Biology (PlantCMB) supergroup
Rock River Coalition
School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences
School of Medicine and Public Health
School of Pharmacy
Sector67
Space Science and Engineering Center
University Archives
Upper Sugar River Watershed Association
UW Health
Waisman Center
What’s Eating My Plants?
Wisconsin Center for Origins Research
Wisconsin DNR
Wisconsin Energy Institute
Wisconsin Evolution
Wisconsin IceCube Particle Astrophysics Center (WIPAC)
Wisconsin Institute for Discovery
Wisconsin National Primate Research Center
Wisconsin Science Festival
Wisconsin Science Museum
Wisconsin Sea Grant
Organizers
Science Expeditions would not be possible without the dedicated effort of our organizers!
Alex Spicer, School of Medicine and Public Health
Allison Bender, Wisconsin Energy Institute
Ana Garic, Graduate Studies Neuroscience Training Program
Andrew Lokuta, School of Education, Kinesiology
Cierra Atkinson, Department of Physics
Felipe Gomez, Morgridge Institute for Research
Francesca Long, Wisconsin Science Festival
Haddie McLean, Department of Physics
Jeff Whitman, (Emeritus) UW–Madison Purchasing Services
Jerrod Buckner, Morgridge Institute for Research
Kaitlin Ripley, Wisconsin Energy Institute
Kara Henderlight, College of Agricultural & Life Sciences
Liz Jesse, UW Biotechnology Center
Nikki Messick, School of Medicine and Public Health
Peter Jaeger, Department of Chemistry
Tom Zinnen, Friends of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve
Val Blair, Morgridge Institute for Research
Vanessa Orr, Wisconsin Center for Origins Research
Victoria Rubinetti, Life Sciences Communication
Visitor Kirana Bahls, 11, samples optical devices during a McPherson Eye Research Institute-sponsored activity at Science Expeditions in the Health Science Learning Center at the University of Wisconsin–Madison on April 7, 2019. This was the third day of Science Expeditions, a three-day-long education-outreach event involving multiple disciplines and held at a number of host locations throughout campus. (Photo by Jeff Miller / UW–Madison)
Friends Fury Townsel, at left, 10, and Rio Heidenreich, 11, use a microscope to look at various organisms during a Science Expeditions activity in the Health Science Learning Center at the University of Wisconsin–Madison on April 7, 2019. This was the third day of Science Expeditions, a three-day-long education-outreach event involving multiple disciplines and held at a number of host locations throughout campus. (Photo by Jeff Miller / UW–Madison)
A volunteer displays a bear skull during a Science Expeditions activity in the Discovery Building at the University of Wisconsin–Madison on April 6, 2019. This was the second day of Science Expeditions, a three-day-long education-outreach event involving multiple disciplines and held at a number of host locations throughout campus. (Photo by Jeff Miller / UW–Madison)
Graduate student Elease McLaurin shapes a sample of scientific glassware during a glassblowing demonstration at Science Expeditions in the Discovery Building at the University of Wisconsin–Madison on April 6, 2019. This was the second day of Science Expeditions, a three-day-long education-outreach event involving multiple disciplines and held at a number of host locations throughout campus. (Photo by Jeff Miller / UW–Madison)