Noted: Research for the project was done in partnership with the California-based Human Impact Partners and with UW-Madison professors Geoffrey Swain and Marah Curtis.
February 21, 2020
Research
This new device seems to pull electricity out of thin air
Popular Science
“I think it is very interesting work,” says Xudong Wang, a University of Wisconsin Madison engineer who works with other kinds of non-organic nanowires to harvest energy. “It is always exciting to see new materials and new concepts emerge to provide renewable energy solutions.”
Soil microbiology – Knowing how plants and microbes work together can boost crop yields
The Economist
Quoted: Previous investigators have known this, but have taken simplification too far, by isolating and studying single microbes. That, Jo Handelsman of the University of Wisconsin–Madison told the meeting, is where they have gone wrong
Higher Education/System
The Rise In Racism On College Campuses
Essence
Noted: Enjoyiana Nururdin, a junior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, was upset that there weren’t any people of color on the university’s Homecoming committee, this year and the lack thereof showed. The committee released a promotional video for Homecoming with no black students featured. Members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. – an African-American organization, were interviewed and tagged in the video, but their clip was not shown.
“We apologize that the video gave only a partial representation of the UW-Madison student body,” said Tod Pritchard, Director, Media and Public Relations for the Wisconsin Foundation & Alumni Association, who currently sponsors the UW’s student Homecoming Committee. “We established new review and oversight protocols for marketing and communication pieces of student-sponsored work and we are committed to creating a workforce and culture in which all perspectives are reflected.”
UW-River Falls threatened with lawsuit for allegations of prohibiting free speech
Daily Cardinal
Alliance Defending Freedom, a Christian law firm, sent UW-River Falls a letter on Feb. 10, notifying the university freshman Sofie Salmon had obtained the legal counsel of the firm due to an incident on campus in fall 2019.
In These States, College Students Say Republicans Have Made It Harder for Them to Vote
The Chronicle of Higher Education
Most Wisconsin colleges do not provide student IDs that are in compliance. The University of Wisconsin at Madison began issuing voter IDs to students in 2018, which they can obtain on campus throughout the year, including on Election Day. While this helps many students on the state’s largest public campus, it does not solve the problem.
Campus life
UW to support Hmong students, staff, faculty after US government begins deportation negotiations
Badger Herald
University officials said UWPD does not engage in immigration enforcement.
WUD Cuisine hosts talk about refugee food culture
Badger Herald
Will Hofkamp of WUD Cuisine discusses food culture adaptation refugees are forced to incorporate.
UW-Madison expresses support for Hmong, Laotian community members
Daily Cardinal
“We support and value all members of our community, especially our Hmong members during this period,” said UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank.
Arts & Humanities
Headlands Center for the Arts director leaving to lead Texas museum
San Francisco Chronicle
Maidenberg, 42, grew up in Israel until age 7, when her family moved to New Jersey. She came to San Francisco in 2000, shortly after graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she focused on “African and Diasporic studies with focus on contemporary African Art,”
Health
Is Psychedelic Therapy The Medicine Of The Future?
Wisconsin Public Radio
Quoted: “Depression is arguably the major health problem in the world,” said Charles Raison, a psychiatrist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Usona Institute, a medical research group in Madison studying psychedelic therapies.
UW Health expands nurse residency program amid national, state shortage
Daily Cardinal
“We’ve really tried to be proactive, so that we don’t feel the shortages as much as some other sites have felt,” said program manager Kim McPhee.
Athletics
‘Miracle On Ice’ Turns 40: Wisconsin Coach Who Scored 2 Goals Will Attend Team Reunion
Wisconsin Public Radio
Mark Johnson has led the University of Wisconsin-Madison to five national championships as head coach of its women’s hockey team. As a player, he holds the record for career goals by a Badger. Though he went on to play 11 seasons in the NHL, Johnson’s most famous achievement came as an amateur in Lake Placid, New York.
Business/Technology
After a turbulent end to 2019, Wisconsin manufacturers are optimistic. Cautiously optimistic.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Noted: Noah Williams is the founding director of the Center for Research on the Wisconsin Economy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He expects automation to have a more prominent role in Wisconsin manufacturing as companies continue to face worker shortages.
UW Experts in the News
Bloomberg News Wrestles With Coverage of Candidate Bloomberg
The New York Times
Quoted: Kathleen Culver, director of the Center for Journalism Ethics at the University of Wisconsin, said she fears less that reporters are being held back internally than externally, where some readers feel the name of their organization speaks more about their independence than the work they do.
UW-Madison Related
Dane County expands mentoring program for youth involved with crime
Noted: The late Cheryl Rosen Weston, a law professor at UW-Madison, made a significant donation to support the program, but the United Way did not disclose the amount.