News

  • Beesly playing guitar at the WISciVariety show in 2025

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 portrait

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.

  • WSF 2026 Theme logo depicting a magnifying glass examining the genome with a human looking on from the side. The entire motif is set on a galaxy to depict the vastness of the human experience.

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.

  • John Greendeer at the language table

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.

Up Next!

News

  • Beesly playing guitar at the WISciVariety show in 2025

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 portrait

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.

  • WSF 2026 Theme logo depicting a magnifying glass examining the genome with a human looking on from the side. The entire motif is set on a galaxy to depict the vastness of the human experience.

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.

  • John Greendeer at the language table

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.

Ongoing Events

Stumble into Science Pub Crawl

October 18 @ 4:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Sci-prov: The Show

October 21 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

The WhySci Variety Show

October 22 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Crossroads of Ideas: Statistics

November 12 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

SoundWaves: Origins – The Spark of Life

November 20 @ 7:00 pm - 8:15 pm

Crossroads of Ideas: Science in Pop Culture

December 9 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Crossroads of Ideas: UW–RISE Initiatives Part II

February 23, 2027 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

SoundWaves: Origins – The First Word

March 5, 2027 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

SoundWaves: Origins – The First Us

April 16, 2027 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Crossroads of Ideas: Earth Day

April 22, 2027 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm