Illuminating Discovery Hub

SoundWaves:
2024-04-19 19:30 - 21:00 (America/Chicago) | Hamel Music Center, 740 University Avenue, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
A Celebration of Time, pt 4

SoundWaves has been looking at and listening to time – join us for Celebrations of Time, Part 4, the final edition of this time-based series! Learn about how dating and relationships have changed over time from a psychologist, the way we know how to walk from a kinesiologist, why and how the stock market changes over time, and of course, enjoy a beautiful musical performance linked to the theme of time. The event is free but registration is requested. This gathering will take place at the HAMEL MUSIC CENTER, Collins Recital Hall. Register here!

Catalina Toma (Communication Science)
Andrea Mason (Kinesiology)
Sara Hotchkiss (Botany)
David Brown (Finance)
James Waldo (Cello)
Christopher Taylor (Piano)
Daniel Grabois (Host)

Event is free of charge but registration is requested as space is limited. This edition of SoundWaves will take place in Collins Hall within Hamel Music Center.
We value inclusion and access for all participants. If you would like to request reasonable accommodations to enhance your participation experience, please email info@wiscifest.org no later than 2 weeks prior to the event. This event is wheelchair accessible.

Indigenous Language Table
2024-04-24 13:00 - 14:00 | Discovery Building, 330 North Orchard Street, Madison, WI, 53715, United States
Open Language Table for Indigenous Languages. Most Wednesdays on the first floor of the Discovery Building and hosted by the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery ID Hub in Room 1145. An Indigenous Language Table is designed to enable language learners to develop spoken language skills outside of the classroom setting, build community, strengthen language purpose, and normalize indigenous language with representation. All learners are welcome to attend!
CONTACT: lredeagle@wisc.edu
URL: https://illuminatingdiscovery.wisc.edu/indigenous-language-table/

Crossroads of Ideas: Democratizing Data
2024-05-08 19:00 - 20:00 | Discovery Building, 330 North Orchard Street, Madison, WI, 53715, United States
Making Scientific Data FAIR

This last Crossroads of Ideas of the semester will feature presentations and a fireside chat all about the data life cycle and what it takes to make scientific data FAIR – Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reuseable. Panelists will journey through a day in the life of data from collection to interpretation, the ways scientific data is made available to both the scientific community and the world, and the importance of openness.

Panelists:
Brian Bockelman, Investigator, Research Computing, Morgridge Institute for Research
Margaret Thairu, Researcher, Handelsman Lab , Wisconsin Institute for Discovery
Cameron Cook, Data & Digital Scholarship Manager, UW–Madison Libraries

We value inclusion and access for all participants. If you would like to request reasonable accommodations to enhance your participation experience, please email info@wiscifest.org no later than 2 weeks prior to the event. This event is wheelchair accessible.

2024 Tiny Earth Summer Symposium
2024-06-12 09:00 - 2024-06-13 17:00 | Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, 330 North Orchard Street, Madison, WI, 53715, United States
Join students, instructors, and researchers from around the world for Tiny Earth’s 2024 Summer Symposium in Madison, Wisconsin.

The Tiny Earth Summer Symposium is a two-day event designed to showcase student research findings, delve into current advancements and challenges in antibiotic discovery, and engage instructors in sharing instructional innovations. Join us in person at the University of Wisconsin–Madison for an opportunity to network with Tiny Earth researchers from around the globe.
Tiny Earth Partner Instructors (TEPIs) will convene on June 12th to engage and share new innovations in teaching and learning. TEPI Day will feature Tapas Talks, a series of bite-sized, dynamic presentations, plus new updates and content from Tiny Earth Headquarters. June 13th will feature a student research poster session and plenary sessions from expert researchers in antibiotic discovery!
For event details and registration visit the 2024 Tiny Earth Summer Symposium webpage.
Be sure to request lodging and indicate your dietary restrictions using this form.

"X Marks the Spot: Places of Great Discoveries at UW-Madison": In-Person Badger Talk in Sun Prairie, WI
2024-10-14 14:00 - 15:00 | 275 North City Station Drive, Sun Prairie, WI, United States
Presenter: Tom Zinnen. This is a free, in-person event hosted by Talamore Senior Living of Sun Prairie on October 14, 2024 at 2:00 PM as a part of the Wisconsin Science Festival. No registration is necessary to attend.
Explore the people and the places of great discoveries at UW-Madison that have changed how we look at life and how we lead our lives, including the discovery of vitamins, DNA breakthroughs that won four Nobel Prizes in Medicine, and the development of human embryonic stem cells.
CONTACT: 263-7793, badgertalks@uwmad.wisc.edu
URL: https://www.facebook.com/share/fCQ2ytDskbjiQfyv/

Badgers on Tap: Microbiology at Delta Beer Lab
2024-10-14 18:30 - 19:30 | 167 E Badger Rd, Madison, WI, United States
in collaboration with the Wisconsin Science Festival. Join for a pint and a night of learning, activities, and good cheer at Badger State Brewing on October 14 at 6:30 PM! Listen to engaging 15-minute flash talks, & participate in trivia & bingo! This event is in-person, and no registration is necessary.
Rob Striker: How the “game of T cells” influences your risk of infections and cancer
Holly Nichols: Gut Gladiators: Bacteria Battling to the Death in the Mosquito Gut
Heather Emery: Gut Feeling – How Microbes Shape your Health and Happiness
CONTACT: 263-7793, badgertalks@uwmad.wisc.edu
URL: https://badgertalks.wisc.edu/badgers-on-tap/

Crossroads of Ideas: Wisconsin's Role in Shaping the Future of Agriculture
2024-10-14 19:00 - 20:00 | Discovery Building, 330 North Orchard Street, Madison, WI, 53715, United States
Glenda Gillaspy (UW-Madison College of Agriculture and Life Sciences) moderates a lively panel discussion.

This engaging panel discussion will take a deeper look into the innovation and tradition of Wisconsin agriculture and the opportunities and challenges we face at the leading edge of sustainable systems. Moderated by Dr. Glenda Gillaspy, Dean of UW-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, and featuring researchers who are helping establish Wisconsin as the leader in agricultural advancement and innovation.
Panelists:

Dr. Julie Dawson – Professor in the UW-Madison Department of Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences and Extension Specialist for Regional Food Systems. Research and extension interests include plant breeding for organic systems and participatory research in regional food systems. She is an academic cooperator with the USDA on the Farmer Seed Liaison initiative, focused on promoting fair competition and innovation in the seed industry.
Dr. Randy Jackson – Joined the Department of Agronomy (now the Department of Plant & Agroecosystem Sciences) at UW-Madison in 2003. Jackson teaches Grassland Ecology and co-instructs Agroecology-An Introduction to the Ecology of Food and Agriculture. His grassland ecology group studies how carbon and nutrients flow into, within, and out of grassland ecosystems, including prairie, pasture, and row-crop communities.
Dr. Rebecca Smith – Assistant professor of plant and agroecosystem sciences at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a researcher with the Wisconsin Energy Institute and the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC). Smith’s research focuses on how to make alter the plant cell wall to improve plant digestibility, animal nutrition, and dairy sustainability.
Dr. Shawn Conley – Professor and the State Soybean and Small Grain Specialist at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Conley leads the UW Soybean Research Program “a.k.a. The UW BeanTeam” and actively collaborates across all disciplines to generate science-based solutions to address real world problems in soybean and small grain production systems.

Link to full presenter bios.
This is a free event – registration is requested to ensure adequate seating.

We value inclusion and access for all participants. If you would like to request reasonable accommodations to enhance your participation experience, please email idhub@wid.wisc.edu no later than 2 weeks prior to the event. This event is wheelchair accessible.

Badgers on Tap: Wisconsin Agriculture at Amorphic Beer
2024-10-15 19:00 - 20:00 | Amorphic Beer, 3700 N Fratney St, Milwaukee, WI, United States
in collaboration with the Wisconsin Science Festival. Join for a pint and a night of learning, activities, and good cheer at Amorphic Beer on October 15 at 7:00 PM! Listen to engaging 15-minute flash talks, and participate in trivia, bingo, and more! This event is in-person, and no registration is necessary.
Michaela Hoffelmeyer: LGBTQ+ Farmers
Shelby Ellison: Collecting Cannabis through Citizen Scientist Collaboration
Caitilyn Allen: Fruits of the Fore-mothers of Wisconsin Farming
CONTACT: 263-7793, badgertalks@uwmad.wisc.edu
URL: https://badgertalks.wisc.edu/badgers-on-tap

Big Ideas for Busy People: Fields of Wonder
2024-10-15 19:00 - 21:00 | Majestic Theatre, 115 King Street, Madison, WI, 53703, United States
A celebration at the intersection of art and science. Nerdy talks, performances, Adult Swim crafts, prizes, and more!

Doors and bar open at 6:30pm, event takes place 7-9pm. Mark your calendars for a unique, interactive event!
Join the Wisconsin Science Festival and friends for an unforgettable night at the intersection of art and science. Hear flash talks from incredible scientists on an array of topics, enjoy dance performances supported by the UW-Madison Division of the Arts, take in the musical wonder of the fiddle, and get creative with crafts led by the Madison Children’s Museum Adult Swim team.
This event is free and in town for one-night-only. You won’t want to miss it!
Click here to view the full presenter information!

Emcee: Ben Rush, PhD, MPH
Science Presenters: Leah Elson, DJ LeClear, Ania Bialic, & Izzy Ross
Musical Interludes: Daithi Wolfe (fiddle)
Dance Performances: Guy Thorne and the MUKULA Indian Dance group

"Wisconsin's Busy Bees": Virtual Wisconsin Science Festival Badger Talk
2024-10-16 16:00 - 17:00 | (Online)
Presenter: PJ Liesch. This free, virtual event will take place on October 16, 2024 at 4:00 PM and is a part of the Wisconsin Science Festival. The Bloomer Public Library will be hosting an optional viewing of the Zoom in the community room. To register for the Zoom, visit here: https://bit.ly/4d5tEMJ
CONTACT: 263-7793, badgertalks@uwmad.wisc.edu
URL: https://badgertalks.wisc.edu
ONLINE: https://www.facebook.com/share/Ruawycx8TdNMjGUb/

MadPrompts
2024-10-16 18:00 - 19:30 | H.F. DeLuca Forum, Discovery Building
Creativity Unleashed. Join us for an exhilarating evening of wit, artistry and prompt engineering at MadPrompts, presented by WARF and the Data Science Institute! MadPrompts is not just an event; it's a mesmerizing game show-style competition where talented contestants race against the clock to craft captivating images inspired by a mysterious meta prompt. The fusion of art and technology promises to be nothing short of extraordinary.
CONTACT: anaas@warf.org
URL: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/madprompts-creativity-unleashed-tickets-993842538787

Science on the Square – Madison Night Market Fusion
2024-10-17 17:00 - 21:00 | State Street, Downtown Madison
Join us for one fantastic night that blends science with downtown Madison businesses!. Back for its seventh year, the ever-popular Science on the Square event is again fusing with the Madison Night Market to create a unique way to explore hands-on science activities while also supporting local businesses and vendors. In 2024, our focus is on agriculture, aiming to showcase its profound impact on our world.
CONTACT: 316-4390, info@wiscifest.org
URL: https://www.wisconsinsciencefest.org/event/science-on-the-square-madison-night-market-fusion-4/

Badgers on Tap: Wisconsin Agriculture at Delta Beer Lab
2024-10-18 19:00 - 20:00 | 167 E Badger Rd, Madison, WI, United States
in collaboration with the Wisconsin Science Festival. Join for a pint and a night of learning, activities, and good cheer at Delta Beer Lab on October 18 at 7:00 PM! Listen to engaging 15-minute flash talks, and participate in trivia, bingo, and more! This event is in-person, and no registration is necessary.
Adam Borger: Food Microbiology: The Good Microbes, The Bad Microbes and the Ugly Microbes
Jerry Clark: Malting Barley Research for the Craft Brewing Industry
Kevin Myers: A Wild Strain of Brewer's Yeast Engineered to Make Biofuel
CONTACT: 263-7793, badgertalks@uwmad.wisc.edu
URL: https://badgertalks.wisc.edu/badgers-on-tap/

SoundWaves: Developing Ideas, Part 1
2024-10-18 19:30 - 21:00 | Discovery Building, 330 North Orchard Street, Madison, WI, 53715, United States
Explore how trends, plans, viewpoints, projects, materials, and sounds develop. Where we are and where we might be headed in the future.

All year, SoundWaves will explore the concept of Development. In our first event, we ask: How did the development of monotheism affect human society? How do plants evolve, and how do we help them evolve? What is all this about AI? How does research and creativity give birth to a novel? And what does development mean in the context of music? Find out on October 18, at 7:30pm in the DeLuca Forum in the Discovery Building. This SoundWaves event is part of the Wisconsin Science Festival.
William Tracy, Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences
Michael Bell, Community and Environmental Sociology
Jerry Zhu, Computer Science
Michelle Wildgen, WID Writer-in-Residence
This event will take place in the DeLuca Forum in the Discovery Building. This is a free event, however registration is requested to ensure adequate seating.

We value inclusion and access for all participants. If you would like to request reasonable accommodations to enhance your participation experience, please email idhub@wid.wisc.edu no later than 2 weeks prior to the event. This event is wheelchair accessible.

SoundWaves combines scientific lectures about the world with live classical music performances. Each event revolves around a theme, exploring it first from many scientific angles and then through the lens of music. The program concludes with a live performance of music related to the evening’s theme.

Discovery Expo – Community Day
2024-10-19 10:00 - 13:00 | 1st Floor, Discovery Building
Presented by Morgridge Institute for Research. The Discovery Exp Community Day invites learners of all ages to the Discovery Building on UW-Madison’s campus to experience dozens of interactive, hands-on exploration stations that feature STEM activities ranging from virtual reality to health and medicine, chemistry, physics demonstrations and more! Explore the hands-on activities at your own pace and interact with scientists, STEM professionals and students from UW-Madison and beyond!
CONTACT: 316-4390, info@wiscifest.org
URL: https://www.wisconsinsciencefest.org/event/discovery-expo-community-day-presented-by-morgridge-institute-for-research/

Reclaiming Space, Reclaiming Stories
2024-11-01 18:30 - 20:00 | Hub Central, Discovery Building
Native November Indigenous Art Gallery Opening. As part of Native November, this gallery opening features 11 student-created art pieces that explore how Indigenous students across UW–Madison have found grounding and purpose through culturally informed art to enhance their mental health practices. By sharing their work, these students are indigenizing space on campus, celebrating their heritage, and inviting the larger UW and public community to engage with the powerful connection between culture and mental well-being.
CONTACT: lredeagle@wisc.edu
URL: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/indigenous-art-reclaiming-space-reclaiming-stories-opening-reception-tickets-1031338841237

Crossroads of Ideas: Growing Without Gravity
2024-11-21 19:00 - 20:00 | Discovery Building, 330 North Orchard Street, Madison, WI, 53715, United States
Can plants thrive amid the zero-gravity chaos of space? Could the stars themselves hold the recipe for life? Join Crossroads to find out!

Ready to leave Earthly bounds behind? Join us for an absolutely out-of-this-world Crossroads of Ideas, where astrobiology and astrochemistry come together in cosmic fashion! Plant biologist Dr. Simon Gilroy and astrochemist Dr. Susanna Widicus Weaver are your guides for an evening of star-studded discovery, diving into everything from the surprising resilience of plants in space to the chemistry that could hint at life beyond our planet. Moderated by Eric Wilcots, this event will tackle cosmic questions like: How do plants handle the zero-gravity chaos of space? Could the stars themselves hold the recipe for life? With Gilroy’s upcoming plant experiment on the International Space Station and Weaver’s quest to uncover the secrets of interstellar molecules, this is more than a talk—it’s an invitation to explore life’s mysteries among the stars!

Guest presenters Simon Gilroy, Susanna Widicus Weaver, and moderated by Eric Wilcots.
Dr. Simon Gilroy is a plant biologist whose research seeks to understand how plants and microbes respond to the alien world of spaceflight. He received his bachelor’s degree in botany from the university of Cambridge in England and a Ph.D. in plant biochemistry from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. He pursued postdoctoral research at the University of California at Berkeley before becoming a faculty member at PennState and then moving to his current position in the Department of Botany at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2007. He is a fellow of the American Society for the Advancement of Science and a recipient UW-Madison’s Bassam Shakashiri Public Science Engagement Award. He serves on NASA’s Biological and Physical Sciences Advisory Committee and is currently preparing to send his seventh plant experiment to the International Space Station in March 2025.

Susanna Widicus Weaver, Vozza Professor of Chemistry and Astronomy at the University of Wisconsin, is an expert in prebiotic astrochemistry. Her research, combining laboratory spectroscopy, observational astronomy, and chemical modeling, is aimed at understanding the mechanisms driving interstellar chemistry and the pathways for the formation of life. She received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry at Illinois Wesleyan University (2000) and her Ph.D. in chemistry at Caltech (2005). She was a postdoctoral fellow in Chemistry and Astronomy at the University of Illinois from 2005-2008. Before moving to Wisconsin in 2020, she was a Professor of Chemistry at Emory University. She is the Provisional Director of the Wisconsin Center for Origins Research at UW-Madison. She is also a member of the Chemical Sciences Roundtable at the National Academy of Sciences.

We value inclusion and access for all participants. If you would like to request reasonable accommodations to enhance your participation experience, please email idhub@wid.wisc.edu no later than 2 weeks prior to the event. This event is wheelchair accessible.

SoundWaves: Developing Ideas, Part 2
2024-11-22 19:30 - 21:00 | Discovery Building, 330 North Orchard Street, Madison, WI, 53715, United States
The Universe and Beyond!

How do babies develop language? How are new drugs developed? How did we go from no universe to the universe we know and love? And how does cancer develop in our bodies? How does a musician write a piece of music for himself to play? Find out as SoundWaves continues its yearlong exploration of Development: where are we now, how did we get here, and where might we go?
SoundWaves combines scientific lectures about the world with live classical music performances. Each event revolves around a theme, exploring it first from many scientific angles and then through the lens of music. The program concludes with a live performance of music related to the evening’s theme.
This episode, our musical guest is Tom Curry, Mead Witter School of Music Teaching Faculty, Tuba and Euphonium. Curry is currently the tubist in the Wisconsin Brass Quintet, a faculty ensemble-in-residence at the Mead Witter School of Music, and has performed with the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, the Madison Symphony Orchestra, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, the Joffrey Ballet, the Chicago Philharmonic and many other orchestras.
Join him and our scientific experts as we continue Developing Ideas, Part 2:
Jennifer Golden, pharmacy
Morgan Robertson, geography
Peter Timbie, physics
Jose Ayuso, dermatology
Daniel Grabois, music and host
This event will take place in the DeLuca Forum in the Discovery Building. This is a free event, however registration is requested to ensure adequate seating.

We value inclusion and access for all participants. If you would like to request reasonable accommodations to enhance your participation experience, please email https://mailto: idhub@wid.wisc.edu no later than 2 weeks prior to the event. This event is wheelchair accessible.

Crossroads of Ideas: Communicating through Creativity
2024-12-03 19:00 - 20:00 | Discovery Building, 330 North Orchard Street, Madison, WI, 53715, United States
Explore how art and science intersect as experts reveal creative ways to deepen our understanding of culture, justice, and science!

Join us for Crossroads of Ideas: Communicating through Creativity, a dynamic fireside chat that explores the intersection of art and science in shaping perspectives and values. Featuring Nan Li, an expert in science communication who leverages art to inform and influence public opinion; Casey Fletcher, who focuses on culture, justice, and diversity through creative expression; and mural artist Sonya Sankaran, who bridges the gap by using art as a medium to illuminate scientific concepts. Together, they’ll dive into how creative approaches can deepen our understanding and appreciation of the world around us.

We value inclusion and access for all participants. If you would like to request reasonable accommodations to enhance your participation experience, please email idhub@wid.wisc.edu no later than 2 weeks prior to the event. This event is wheelchair accessible.

Tiny Earth 2024 Virtual Winter Symposium
2024-12-06 10:00 - 12:00 | WI
(work in progress)

Crossroads of Ideas: Gut Instincts - Microbes, Addiction, and Immunity
2025-01-16 19:00 - 20:00 | Discovery Building, 330 North Orchard Street, Madison, WI, 53715, United States
Part 1 of the Microbiome Miniseries, with Margaret Alexander and Vanessa Sperandio

Kick off an exciting three-part mini-series on the gut-brain superhighway with UW-Madison researchers Vanessa Sperandio and Maggie Rose Alexander. In this thought-provoking conversation, they will unpack the complex interplay between gut microbes, addiction, and immunity, sharing cutting-edge research and visionary perspectives on how these connections shape the future of brain and gut health in society.

Margaret Alexander is an Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin Madison in the department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology. Dr. Alexander’s research is focused on understanding the mechanistic interactions between diet, the microbiota, and immune responses and the functional consequences of these interactions for autoimmune diseases. Dr. Alexander did her postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco in the laboratory of Dr. Peter Turnbaugh in the department of Microbiology and Immunology. She attended Carleton College for her undergraduate degree in Biology and the University of Utah for her PhD in the lab of Dr. Ryan O’Connell studying immune cell communication.
Vanessa Sperandio is the Chair of the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology in the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Robert Turell Professor. She was the Jane and Bud Smith Distinguished Chair in Medicine, and a Professor in the departments of Microbiology and Biochemistry at UT Southwestern Medical Center. She got her bachelors in biology, and her masters and PhD in Molecular Genetics in the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in Brazil.

We value inclusion and access for all participants. If you would like to request reasonable accommodations to enhance your participation experience, please email idhub@wid.wisc.edu no later than 2 weeks prior to the event. This event is wheelchair accessible.

Crossroads of Ideas: Alzheimer's and the Gut-Brain Superhighway
2025-02-04 19:00 - 20:00 | Discovery Building, 330 North Orchard Street, Madison, WI, 53715, United States
Part 2 of the Microbiome Miniseries, with Barbara Bendlin and Federico ReyIn this second installment of the Microbiome Miniseries, researchers Barbara Bendlin and Federico Rey will discuss the many factors that can impact brain aging, with a special focus on the gut-brain superhighway and the role that the gut microbiome can have on brain health.
Barbara Bendlin
Barbara Bendlin is a faculty member in the Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology within the Department of Medicine. She is a member of the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute’s Executive Committee and the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center Executive Committee, leads the Research Education Component in the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, and directs the UW-Madison Neuroscience and Public Policy Program. Dr. Bendlin is a recipient of a 2019 Distinguished Honors Faculty Award and is an associate editor of the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.
Federico Rey
Federico Rey started his independent research program in bacteriology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2013. A major focus of his group is to understand how variations in the gut microbiome composition modulate the effects of diet and the host’s susceptibility to cardiometabolic and cognitive diseases. To address these issues, his team uses a combination of hypothesis-generating, sequencing-centered analyses of microbiomes from humans and mice, followed by proof-of-principle/proof-of-mechanism studies in gnotobiotic mouse models of disease and classical bacteriology experiments. The contributions from his team are helping move the field from associations to causal relationships and shedding light on the mechanisms by which gut microbes modulate health.

We value inclusion and access for all participants. If you would like to request reasonable accommodations to enhance your participation experience, please email idhub@wid.wisc.edu no later than 2 weeks prior to the event. This event is wheelchair accessible.

SoundWaves: Developing Ideas, Part 3
2025-02-21 19:30 - 21:00 | Discovery Building, 330 North Orchard Street, Madison, WI, 53715, United States
This year, SoundWaves is exploring how ideas, trends, plans, viewpoints, projects, materials, and sounds develop. Join us for a new four-part series as we dive into how we got to where we are now and where we might be headed in the future.
SoundWaves combines scientific lectures about the world with live classical music performances. Each event revolves around a theme, exploring it first from many scientific angles and then through the lens of music. The program concludes with a live performance of music related to the evening’s theme.
What can archeology tell us about the development of our forebears?
How can we develop better conditions for dairy animals?
How do babies develop language?
How do computer scientists develop operating systems?
What is musical development, and how did Franz Schubert master it in the beautiful string quartet Death and the Maiden?
Find out at SoundWaves’ third event in our Development series, with special guests the Pro Arte Quartet.
The Pro Arte Quartet
Speakers:
Sarah Clayton, anthropology
Jennifer van Os, dairy science
Mike Swift, comp sci
Jenny Saffran, psych
Curator: Daniel Grabois
This event will take place in the DeLuca Forum in the Discovery Building. This is a free event, however registration is requested to ensure adequate seating.

We value inclusion and access for all participants. If you would like to request reasonable accommodations to enhance your participation experience, please email https://mailto: idhub@wid.wisc.edu no later than 2 weeks prior to the event. This event is wheelchair accessible.

Crossroads of Ideas: Mindfulness and the Microbiome
2025-03-04 19:00 - 20:00 | Discovery Building, 330 North Orchard Street, Madison, WI, 53715, United States
Part 3 of the Microbiome Miniseries with panelists Richie Davidson and Jo Handelsman

Join Dr. Richie Davidson and Dr. Jo Handelsman as they explore the intricate connection between the microbiome and mindfulness, and the immense impact they both have on our wellbeing. This is the third and final part of our three-part microbiome miniseries!

Dr. Richard Davidson
Dr. Richard Davidson is the founder and director of the Center for Healthy Minds at UW-Madison. Davidson is best known for his groundbreaking work studying emotion and the brain. A friend and confidante of the Dalai Lama, he is a highly sought after expert and speaker, leading conversations on well-being on international stages such as the World Economic Forum, where he served on the Global Council on Mental Health. Time Magazine named Davidson one of “The 100 Most Influential People in the World” in 2006. He was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2017.

Dr. Jo Handelsman
Dr. Jo Handelsman is the Director of the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery at UW-Madison, a Vilas Research Professor, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professor. She previously served as a science advisor to President Barack Obama as the Associate Director for Science at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) where she served for three years until January 2017, and was on the faculty at the University of Wisconsin and Yale University before that. She received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring from President Obama in 2011 and was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2019.

We value inclusion and access for all participants. If you would like to request reasonable accommodations to enhance your participation experience, please email idhub@wid.wisc.edu no later than 2 weeks prior to the event. This event is wheelchair accessible.

SoundWaves: Developing Ideas, Part 4
2025-04-11 19:30 - 21:00 | Hamel Music Center, 740 University Avenue, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
Explore how trends, plans, viewpoints, projects, materials, and sounds develop. Where we are and where we might be headed in the future.

This year, SoundWaves is exploring how ideas, trends, plans, viewpoints, projects, materials, and sounds develop. Join us for a new four-part series as we dive into how we got to where we are now and where we might be headed in the future.
SoundWaves combines scientific lectures about the world with live classical music performances. Each event revolves around a theme, exploring it first from many scientific angles and then through the lens of music. The program concludes with a live performance of music related to the evening’s theme.
This event will take place in the HAMEL MUSIC CENTER, Mead Witter Foundation Concert Hall (740 University Ave). This is a free event, however registration is requested to ensure adequate seating.

We value inclusion and access for all participants. If you would like to request reasonable accommodations to enhance your participation experience, please email https://mailto: idhub@wid.wisc.edu no later than 2 weeks prior to the event. This event is wheelchair accessible.

Crossroads of Ideas: Toxins at the Tap
2025-04-22 19:00 - 20:00 | Discovery Building, 330 North Orchard Street, Madison, WI, 53715, United States
Navigating the Future of PFAS and Our Water Supply

Join us on Earth Day 2025 for a thought-provoking fireside chat featuring experts Hilary Dugan, Manny Teodoro, and Christy Remucal. Delve into the world of PFAS—per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances—often referred to as “forever chemicals.” Our distinguished panel will explore the complex challenges these contaminants pose to our environment and public health, their impact on water systems, and the urgent policy changes needed to safeguard our future. This conversation will shed light on the critical decisions and innovations required to address one of today’s most pressing environmental issues.
Dr. Remucal’s Aquatic Chemistry research group works in two major areas. First, they investigate the transformation of polar organic contaminants in both natural and engineering aquatic systems. Contaminants of interests include aquatic pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). They are interested in photochemical reaction mechanisms, oxidative transformation at mineral surfaces, and fate in conventional and advanced drinking water treatment systems. Second, they study the molecular composition and reactivity of dissolved organic matter (DOM). They couple optical properties and analysis by high resolution mass spectrometry to assess the reactivity of DOM in lakes and engineered treatment systems. By studying fundamental reaction mechanisms, the Aquatic Chemistry group aims to develop models and real-world applications that can be used to improve water quality.

Manuel (Manny) Teodoro is a Professor of Public Affairs.
Teodoro works at the intersection of politics, public policy, and public management. His research focuses on U.S. environmental policy and implementation, including empirical analyses of environmental justice. His latest book, “The Profits of Distrust” (2022, Cambridge), argues that basic services are the bedrock of government legitimacy, and links the meteoric rise of the bottled water industry to declining trust in American democracy.
In addition, Teodoro pursues a line of applied research on utility management, policy, and finance. He has developed novel methods for analyzing utility rate equity and affordability, and he works directly with governments and water sector leaders across the United States to address policy problems.
Dr. Hilary Dugan’s research broadly focuses on how terrestrial and atmospheric changes alter biogeochemical fluxes and aquatic processes in inland waters. Her MCM research interests focus on lakes (physics, biogeochemistry, long term changes) and climate change.
We value inclusion and access for all participants. If you would like to request reasonable accommodations to enhance your participation experience, please email idhub@wid.wisc.edu no later than 2 weeks prior to the event. This event is wheelchair accessible.

All Crossroads of Ideas sessions are recorded and shared post-event.

Sci-prov
2025-04-30 19:00 - 21:00 | Discovery Building, 330 North Orchard Street, Madison, WI, 53715, United States
Science Meets Improv Comedy

Join the Illuminating Discovery Hub and Amalgam Improv for an evening fusing science and spontaneous improv comedy like no other at Sci-Prov!
Sci-prov combines science and improv in creative, funny, and never before seen ways. Scientists present their work in short, digestible presentations followed by brief Q&A, all of which can become fodder for the improv scenes. The improv scenes are created on the fly & unique to each show.
Light refreshments and cash bar available. Tickets are free and registration is requested to ensure adequate seating.

Parking: The closest parking ramps to the Discovery building are Lot 80 (Union South), lot 20 (Medical Science Center), and Lot 17 (Engineering/Camp Randall). Additional surface lots are also available. Please see the campus parking and transportation map for complete options.

Bus: The closest bus stop westbound is University & North Orchard (A, C, D, F, J, O, R), and eastbound is Campus at Babcock (A, C, F J, R). Free campus route 80 also stops at University & North Orchard

We value inclusion and access for all participants. If you would like to request reasonable accommodations to enhance your participation experience, please email idhub@wid.wisc.edu no later than 2 weeks prior to the event. This event is wheelchair accessible.

Sci-prov
2025-10-17 19:00 - 21:00 | Discovery Building, 330 North Orchard Street, Madison, WI, 53715, United States
Science Meets Improv Comedy in this special Wisconsin Science Festival edition! Presented in partnership with Amalgam Improv.

Join the Wisconsin Science Festival and Amalgam Improv for an evening fusing science and spontaneous improv comedy like no other at Sci-prov!
Sci-prov combines science and improv in creative, funny, and never before seen ways. In this special, fusion event, scientists Rachael Shields and Amy Koike will present their work in short, digestible presentations followed by brief Q&A, all of which will become fodder for the improv scenes. The improv scenes are created on the fly, unique to each show, and performed by a troupe of phenomenal improvisers!
Rachael Shields is a landscape architect and graduate student in the School of Human Ecology Design Studies program, while Amy Koike is a PhD student in the People and Robots Lab at UW-Madison.
Light refreshments and cash bar available. Tickets are free and registration is requested to ensure adequate seating.
RSVP for your Free Tickets

We value inclusion and access for all participants. If you would like to request reasonable accommodations to enhance your participation experience, please email idhub@wid.wisc.edu no later than 2 weeks prior to the event. This event is wheelchair accessible.

The WhySci Variety Show
2025-10-21 19:00 - 21:00 | Majestic Theatre, 115 King Street, Madison, WI, 53703, United States
The most science-inspired variety show in town! Produced by the Wisconsin Science Festival and the UW-Madison Division of the Arts.

Get ready to rock your curiosity at the Why Sci Variety Show—a high-energy mashup of science talks, artful performances, and live music! This year’s theme is Rock and Roll, so expect brainy beats, geology jokes, and scientific showmanship that will have you thinking and tapping your toes.
Hosted by the always-entertaining Ben Rush and featuring tunes from our live house band: David Hecht & The Who Dat, this is edu-tainment at its finest. From ancient rocks to musical molecules, science and art collide in unexpected ways during this one-of-a-kind show.
Doors and bar open at 6:30pm – show starts at 7pm.
Get Free Tickets
Produced in partnership with the UW-Madison Division of the Arts and with support from The Anonymous Fund.

Threading the Story of Earth's Oldest Rocks
2025-10-22 19:00 - 20:00 | Discovery Building, 330 North Orchard Street, Madison, WI, 53715, United States
Ancient geology meets modern creativity! Scientists studying the Earth’s oldest rocks collab with a textile artist to bring them to life!

Join us for a very special Wisconsin Science Festival edition of Crossroads of Ideas, where ancient geology meets modern creativity. This engaging evening features scientists Tyler Blum, Annie Bauer, and Emily Mixon, who have been studying the Earth’s oldest rocks – Acasta Gneiss (that’s pronounced “nice”) – and collaborating with local textile artist, Leah Evans, to bring 4-billion-year-old stories to life.
In conversation with UW-Madison Geology Museum Associate Director, Brooke Norsted, learn how these researchers and artist have explored deep time, planetary processes, and creative interpretation. Be among the first to experience the unveiling of Leah’s final artwork – an awe-inspiring textile piece created for the Geology Museum. Learn how curiosity, conversation, and collaboration turned billion-year-old rocks into an artistic and scientific celebration of deep time and deeper connections.
This event will take place in the DeLuca Forum in the UW-Madison Discovery Building.
Registration requested
