News

Science is for all of us

It’s not every day somebody gets to snap on some gloves and examine a preserved human brain, but this and plenty of equally fascinating discoveries are a common sight at the Wisconsin Science Festival. The festival, October 15 to 25 throughout the state this year, is a dizzying array of performances, demonstrations, projects, and events that stimulate and celebrate curiosity.

Mel Hammond Uses Science to Shape Her Stories

WID’s new Writer in Residence, Mel Hammond, is passionate about capturing accurate scientific information and weaving it into YA books using language that feels credible and meaningful to young audiences. Her work shows how science can shape a story, deepen curiosity, and help young readers see the world in new ways.

Wisconsin Science Festival Explores What Makes Us Human

The Wisconsin Science Festival has officially kicked off its 2026 season with the unveiling of this year’s theme, Us. Turning the focus inward, this year’s feature explores the science of who we are, what it means to be human, and what we are capable of. Event host registration is now open, and the festival will take place October 15–25, 2026.

Table talk with a multilingual twist

At UW’s Language Tables, students practice dozens of languages in a welcoming community outside of class. This video features WID's Laura Red Eagle from the Illuminating Discovery Hub's Indigenous Language table.

Rock and roll and unleashed curiosity with Science on the Square

There's still time to unleash your curiosity! Wisconsin Science Festival runs through 10/26 with venues all over the state! Go to wiscifest.org to find out more.

Wisconsin Science Festival makes curiosity to go with “Science in a Bag”

Science in a Bag is an initiative that will deliver 3,000 drawstring backpacks to libraries across Wisconsin. Each bag is filled with ten to twelve hands-on experiments and activities designed to spark curiosity, plus access to an online portal for more ways to engage with STEAM.

Wisconsin Science Festival Rolls Out 2025 Feature: “Rock and Roll”

The 15th annual Wisconsin Science Festival, set to take place October 16–26, 2025, has announced its theme: Rock and Roll. “It’s a play on words—not just about sound and music, but also the geology that shapes Wisconsin, the physics of motion, and the creative energy that drives discovery,” says Sam Mulrooney, Director of the Wisconsin Science Festival. Host registration is now open for those interested in submitting an event for this year’s festival.

NIH funding cuts are a travesty for biomedical research at UW–Madison

Jo Handelsman speaks to Wisconsin Public Radio's Wisconsin Today about proposed cuts to the National Institutes of Health's overhead rate.

Exploring the Wonders of Science with Leah Elson at the Wisconsin Science Festival

The Wisconsin Science Festival welcomes renowned science influencer and author Leah Elson to engage with audiences of all ages. “I got to take the stage with colleagues from drastically different areas of science and community outreach, joining forces to educate (and entertain) an adult audience–interdisciplinary collaboration at its finest (and most impactful!)," says Elson.