Under the plan, nearly two dozen smaller libraries would be eliminated and the collection would be reduced by three quarters in volume,.
Geography Library no longer on UW map under library consolidation plan
Badger Herald
Author: gbump
As AI programs proliferate, researchers investigate implications of machine-driven decisions
Badger Herald
At the University of Wisconsin alone, 38 researchers are working on AI-related projects.
No one should be surprised by journalism’s sexual harassment problem
The Washington Post
The news media — an industry in which, especially in Washington and New York City, the social and professional lives of powerful people are inseparable — has a storied history of men belittling women and excluding them from access to power. Well into the 1970s, women operated at a disadvantage, excluded from key events and spaces and condescended to by their peers. (Kathryn J. McGarr, a historian and assistant professor at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Wisconsin, is author of “The Whole Damn Deal: Robert Strauss and the Art of Politics.”)
Wisconsin Voters Aren’t Enthusiastic About Republican Tax Bill
NPR
WHITE: One of the people who might pay for those tax cuts for Komai’s business is Josephine Lukito. She’s a third-year Ph.D. student at the University of Wisconsin. In the House tax bill, there’s a provision to make grad students like Lukito pay taxes on the free tuition that’s part of their financial aid.
JOSEPHINE LUKITO: If I had to be taxed on that, my taxes would effectively triple.
Waze and Google Maps Create Traffic in Cities
New York Magazine
My favorite coalition of grumps have been the residents of Takoma Park, Maryland, who actually spent time falsifying accident reports to Waze in order to prompt the algorithm to shift the route elsewhere. But all of the actions, either infrastructure changes performed by the city or hacks by community groups, have the same intended purpose: “I will make driving through our neighborhoods more difficult, so you will not use the street,” says Jeff Ban, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Wisconsin.
Homelessness is an issue that’s close to home
The Massachusetts Daily Collegian
For those who are not poor, remember that poverty and homelessness are not issues afflicting faceless people in some far-away place, but friends and classmates who we see every day. As a study from the Wisconsin HOPE Lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison remarks, “Contrary to popular expectations, there appears to be very little geographic variation in hunger and homelessness among community college students. Basic needs insecurity does not seem to be restricted to community colleges in urban areas or to those with high proportions of Pell Grant recipients, and is prevalent in all regions of the country.”Homelessness is everywhere, and we as a community need better recognize the extent to which it affects students.
The Brokpa Yaks: A Dying Breed?
The Diplomat
Temperatures are rising in the Himalayan yak range, with a projected mean annual temperature increase of between 2.2 and 3.3 degrees C by 2050. A University of Wisconsin-Madison study in 2014 found that in the eastern Tibetan Plateau, daily low temperatures have increased in the past 24 years, and daily high temperatures have increased at a rate of 5 degrees C over a period of 100 years.
Opioid crisis strains foster system as kids pried from homes
San Francisco Chronicle
Anxiety can amass, academic performance can plunge, feelings of abandonment can run rampant, and the ability to trust can be strained. Says Maria Cancian, a social work professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison: “When people ask me, ’Is foster care good or bad?’ the first thing I say is, ’Compared to what?’
‘Jeff Sauer Award’ established to recognize community service
WISC-TV 3
The newly-formed Coach Sauer Foundation has announced plans for an annual award to encourage community service among girls and boys high school hockey players in the state of Wisconsin.
Emeritus professor brings Galileo to the stage
Madison Magazine
Sandor, a University of Wisconsin–Madison emeritus professor of engineering mechanics, and a novice playwright at 82, is tackling Galileo, a towering figure in the history of science.
Bill would create crime victims’ legal clinic at UW Law School
WISC-TV 3
A bill scheduled to be discussed at the Capitol on Tuesday would establish a legal clinic at the University of Wisconsin-Madison to help local crime victims.
Letter: From Gordons to federal government, policies making assumptions about consumer desires are unfair
Badger Herald
Mandating certain consumer behavior limits freedom, suppresses competition.
UW medical school funds eight organizations dedicated to improving public health
Badger Herald
New grant program invests nearly $400,000 in innovative community health solutions.
Professor argues language of corporations may negatively impact economics
Badger Herald
UW history professor explains shift in viewing corporations from public to private, believes entrepreneurs’ success dictated by corporations.
Opinion: How the STEM “pipeline” has historically led women to less than nowhere
Daily Cardinal
Although this new STEM “pipeline” appears to be contemporary, it actually uses outmoded and ineffective methods to deal with the problems facing women.
If we shrink national monuments, science will suffer
Popular Science
Allison Stegner, a researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, studies packrat middens in the Bear’s Ears national monument. That might sound cute, but the research involves anything but fuzzy rodent gloves. These small mammals collect carnivore bones, coyote poop, and the regurgitations of raptors and owls. “It’s really charming,” says Stegner.
Stegner says that oil and gas mining pose a threat to the rare fossil beds in Bear’s Ears, which shed light on how different species once interacted. “I have no problem with multi-use land in any way, but I do have a problem with giving over this incredible place, that is so important culturally and scientifically, to [serve] the interests of a few people,” she says.
How big oil is tightening its grip on Donald Trump’s White House
The Guardian
Since April 2014, 35 of OIRA’s 712 meetings on proposed EPA regulations have been with API representatives – including a 2015 conference call with the institute’s president, Gerard, over ozone. The institute, along with the American Chemistry Council and ExxonMobil, ranked among the top 10 groups that met with OIRA from 2001 to 2011. Such encounters wield influence: a 2015 study by University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers found the agency was more likely to edit rules when lobbied by industry than by public interest groups. Rao’s office did not respond to requests for comment, but on its website OIRA notes it will meet with “any party interested in discussing issues on a rule under review”.
Sexual Harassment, the Open Secret of the Scientific Community
To the Best of Our Knowledge, Public Radio International
Erika Marin-Spiotta wants to understand and perhaps prevent that sense of helplessness Willenbring felt. The University of Wisconsin – Madison professor is leading a $1.1 million grant project from the National Science Foundation to investigate how and why harassment happens within the sciences, particularly within the geosciences — not because they’re the only science facing harassment as a systemic problem, but because of the high likelihood of many, many more students facing the circumstances that Willenbring and Lewis faced.”90 percent or more of geology undergraduate degree programs require a field course. So students have to go to the field,” says Marin-Spiotta. “If something happens, you’re not on campus. You don’t have your support network. It’s unclear. The supervisors in that case might be the people who are harassing you. They control your access to food. They control your access to communication. They control your access to a doctor or healthcare.”
Rohweder, Emeritus Professor Dr. Dwayne A.
Madison.com
In 1963, he joined the University of Wisconsin Extension Service as Extension Agronomist—Forages, a position he held until his retirement in 1988, except for 2 ½ years (1967-1969) when he served as Agronomist and Chief of Party for the UW—USAID University Development Contract Team at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul in Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Why One University Wants to Close Lots of Small Libraries and Create ‘Hubs’
Chronicle of Higher Education
The University of Wisconsin at Madison plans to close 22 libraries and create six “hubs” designed to facilitate how students and scholars work today, the Wisconsin State Journal reports.
College ‘Acceptances’ Roll In for Rapper Lil B, the Based God Who Wants to Study Neuroscience
Newsweek
It all started Thursday afternoon, when Lil B tweeted, “WHAT UNIVERSITY WHATS TO LET LIL B COME LEARN AT YOUR INSTITUTION? IM VERY INTERESTED IN SCIENCE AND BIO AND ALSO NUERO SCIENCE I WANT TO OFFER MORE TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND GLOBALLY AS WELL AS ANIMALS WHAT UNIVERSITY WILL ACCEPT ME? I DID NOT FINISH HIGH SCHOOL!!!” In true Lil B fashion, his all-caps message spread quickly. Schools like Pennsylvania State University, the University of Oregon, Butler University, the University of South Carolina, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the University of Texas at Arlington and Brandeis University threw their metaphorical hats into the ring, linking him to their applications and boasting about their academic programs.
Sen. Kathleen Vinehout: Free tuition for two-year and tech colleges means freedom to learn
Capital Times
“Every Wisconsinite should have access to education or training past high school … to be pursued at whatever point and pace makes sense for individual workers and industries,” wrote researchers at the Center on Wisconsin Strategy (COWS) eight years ago.
U Wisconsin Regents Pass Policy to Track Faculty Teaching Loads
Inside Higher Education
The University of Wisconsin System’s Board of Regents last week adopted a policy calling for institutions to track faculty teaching loads, based on a Republican-backed state budget measure linking funding to instructional time. The controversial legislation, first proposed by Republican Governor Scott Walker, also requires institutions to reward those who teach more than a standard academic load. Regent Tony Evers, a Democrat who is running against Walker for governor next year, cast the only dissenting vote, according to the Associated Press.
Chapman, Loren James, Ph.D.
Madison.com
Loren retired in 1993 after a long and distinguished career as a professor and researcher of Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Analiese Eicher: Tax plan would drive up student debt
Wisconsin State Journal
Several provisions in the tax bill being advanced by congressional Republicans target student loan borrowers, students and the schools they attend. The impacts will be hurtful.
Eating Yogurt May Help Reduce Chronic Inflammation in Women, New Clinical Trial Reveals
New Brunswick Herald
Eating yogurt on a regular basis may help reduce measures of chronic inflammation in women and support a healthy digestive system, researchers from University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (UW-Madison) report in the British Journal of Nutrition.A new clinical study conducted independently by UW-Madison and funded by National Dairy Council (NDC) showed that eating 12 ounces of low-fat yogurt a day reduced several biomarkers of inflammation in both normal-weight and obese premenopausal women.
Vedejs, Edwin “Ed”
Madison.com
He returned to become a professor of organic chemistry at UW-Madison for 30 years and UM-Ann Arbor for 15 years. He was an internationally known scholar and prolific author publishing and editing hundreds of papers and books. He was the recipient of the Moses Gomberg Collegiate Professor of Chemistry Chair and in turn the Edwin Vedejs Collegiate Professor of Chemistry Chair was established in his honor.
Gray, Elaine Evelyn
Madison.com
Elaine formerly worked at Badger Ordinance Ammunition Plant, Grabers, and University of Wisconsin Physical Plant, and retired from U.W. Hospital.
Badgers football: Wisconsin begins process to hire 10th assistant coach
Wisconsin State Journal
The University of Wisconsin began its search for a 10th assistant coach last week after the NCAA passed legislation earlier this year that allowed FBS football programs to add an extra coach to their payroll.
The First Women in Tech Didn’t Leave—Men Pushed Them Out
Wall Street Journal
Women were systematically pushed out of the field, says technology historian Marie Hicks, assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, who wrote about it in her recent book, “Programmed Inequality.” But replacing experienced women with male novices didn’t go as government bureaucrats planned, according to Dr. Hicks.
UW, VA study looks at fish oil to prevent Alzheimer’s disease
Wisconsin State Journal
Now, a study at UW Health and the Madison’s Veterans Hospital is seeing if veterans with a parental history of Alzheimer’s might be helped by a high-dose, prescription variety of a common supplement: fish oil.
Stressed Out Kids Are More Likely to Become Bad Decision Makers
Tonic
Around 15 years ago, University of Wisconsin-Madison psychologist Seth Pollak recruited a couple hundred children to study the relationship between childhood stress and certain immune system markers. “We had a whole range [of participants], from kids with really boring, stable, average lives all the way up to kids with severe child abuse, and neglect, and poverty, and really extreme childhood stressors,” Pollak says. He published his research in the esteemed journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
Thousands of surveillance cameras keep watch over Madison’s public spaces
Wisconsin State Journal
The city has more than 850 stationary cameras at points east, west, north and south, with an especially heavy concentration of police cameras in the State Street and Downtown areas.
Donna Shalala can build on UW’s strengths — State Journal editorial from 30 years ago
Wisconsin State Journal
A few months after Donna Shalala was named UW-Madison’s chancellor designate, she began a brief speech to the Wisconsin Alumni Association board by saying, “I’ve actually spent seven days of my entire life in Wisconsin, so you’ll forgive me if I do not offer you a detailed agenda on the future of the university.”
In federal tax debate, advocates fear harm to universities, including UW-Madison
Wisconsin State Journal
Jeff Tischauser’s dream of a university teaching career seemed within reach in 2013, when he was accepted into UW-Madison’s doctoral program in journalism and mass communication.
UW-Madison faculty: Who will decide if ‘hate speech’ protest warrants discipline?
Capital Times
A group of faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is pressing campus officials for clarity on students’ free speech rights under a new policy adopted by the UW System Board of Regents.
Loren James Chapman, 90, professor emeritus of psychology
WISC-TV 3
In addition to being a well-regarded mentor to many students, he contributed alongside his wife and research partner, Jean, significantly to the field of schizophrenia research.
UW System schools to be rewarded for performance under new Regent-created metrics
Daily Cardinal
UW System schools now know the 16 metrics they will be graded on as the state looks to dish out $26.25 million in new state funding after a Board of Regents meeting Thursday.
‘Spitfire Grill’ brings song and story to a Wisconsin town
Wisconsin State Journal
“My mom’s a nurse. My dad’s an engineer,” she said. Nimmer enrolled at UW-Madison “because it’s a good science school” with a plan to study biology. But while taking a couple of theater electives she found her true calling. Soon, Nimmer won the role of female lead Janet in a stage version of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” and more roles followed.
Badgers football: Four Wisconsin players earn 2nd-team All-American honors by Walter Camp
Wisconsin State Journal
Running back Jonathan Taylor, inside linebacker T.J. Edwards, tight end Troy Fumagalli and right tackle David Edwards were all recognized with the prestigious distinction.
Regents Vote To Avoid Accreditation Problems For Online Degree Programs
Wisconsin Public Radio
The University of Wisconsin Board of Regents has tweaked a plan to restructure the UW System in order to maintain accreditation of online and competency-based degree programs. The plan to merge the system’s two-year colleges with its four-year universities would have put UW System Administration in charge of UW’s online associates degree program and its competency-based UW Flexible Option degree program. But UW System President Ray Cross says the Higher Learning Commission, which provides accreditation for UW said the online programs must be overseen by a four-year campus.
Campnell, Edwina Mary “Eddie” (Farrell)
Madison.com
Edwina also was an instructor in the vocational technical system and worked in the Dairy Science Department at the University of Wisconsin.
UW regents approve new online degree oversight
Madison.com
University of Wisconsin System leaders have approved President Ray Cross’ proposal to bring an associate degree program under control of a four-year institution rather than system administration.
Cross: 2-year schools’ teams will survive merger
Madison.com
University of Wisconsin System President Ray Cross says two-year schools’ sports teams will continue after the institutions merge with four-year campuses.
Farrow quits UW Board of Regents
Madison.com
Former Lt. Gov. Margaret Farrow says she’s resigning her position on the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents.
Making Fuel out of Thick Air
Lab Manager Magazine
In a commentary in Nature, based on the study, Ive Hermans, chemistry professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, noted that the research “links homogeneous organometallic chemistry … with solid-phase (heterogeneous) catalysis, and illustrates the importance of understanding catalysts at the atomic scale.”In the study, the research team suggested that further research and testing will illuminate the mechanism and reaction pathways that will guide new methane conversion catalyst design.
Former state health officer to run UW’s Population Health Institute
Wisconsin State Journal
A leading advocate for health equity who once served as the state’s health officer has been chosen as the new director of the Population Health Institute at UW-Madison.
Regents proposal: UW will track professors’ teaching hours starting in January
Capital Times
The teaching workload of University of Wisconsin faculty and other instructional staff will be monitored starting in January, but no other parts of their jobs will see the same scrutiny, according to a proposal before the Board of Regents for approval Thursday.
Facebook Messenger Kids probably won’t ruin your children
Popular Science
“Giving parents control is likely to create contention,” says Heather Kirkorian, an associate professor of human development and family studies at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. “But, parental oversight is an important part of a healthy introduction to this kind of communication. Prohibiting social media can sometimes motivate kids to find unregulated channels which open them up to more risk. ”For many kids who have already usurped the COPPA restrictions and signed up for unrestricted apps, Facebook Messenger Kids will likely feel restrictive. But, as a first experience, the scaled down nature can be a boon. Kirkorian likened it to social media training wheels.
UW-Madison library plan would create six ‘hubs,’ close 22 libraries and reduce collection space
Wisconsin State Journal
UW-Madison officials unveiled a plan Thursday to create six major library “hubs,” while eliminating nearly two dozen smaller libraries and reducing collection space by nearly two-thirds, in what they say is an effort to adapt to changing ways students and faculty members use libraries.
Video: UW students create Curb Magazine with theme of ‘kinetic’ movement in Wisconsin
WISC-TV 3
The 16th edition of Curb Magazine is available now. The magazine is written and produced each year by students in the UW-Madison School of Journalism. The theme of this year’s magazine is “Kinetic.”
UW Madison students collect black dolls to instill confidence in local youth
WISC-TV 3
A University of Wisconsin-Madison student organization is working to make sure local youth obtain self-esteem and confidence by collecting black dolls to be given as Christmas presents.
UW System Regent Farrow resigns
Daily Cardinal
UW System Regent Margaret Farrow announced this afternoon she will be retiring early from her position on the Board of Regents.
Letter: Mandatory dining hall plan far too simple, disregards nuance of dining needs
Badger Herald
Prioritizing profits over individual needs hurts religious, economically disadvantaged students.
UW researcher innovates biofuel production by reworking bacteria behavior
Badger Herald
WARF Accelerator Program acts as “catalyst” for research entrepreneurs to develop products.
After heated debate, SSFC approves Wunk Sheek budget
Badger Herald
After a heated debate between committee members, the Student Services Finance Committee approved the $33,724 budget for an organization that serves students of indigenous identity.
Transcript: The Badger Herald sits down with Chancellor Rebecca Blank
Badger Herald
Blank discusses free speech, campus safety, campus climate, religious diversity, Foxconn.
Trump’s Decision to Shrink Utah’s Monuments Really Pissed Off Paleontologists
Earther
According to Allison Stegner, a Quaternary paleoecologist at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, the loss of monument status could make it harder for researchers to acquire funding from outside sources, too.“When I write a grant, to say I’m working in Bears Ears is helpful,” she told Earther. “The scientific and cultural value of the site makes it easier to demonstrate the value of my work.”
Mo’ money, mo’ problems
The Daily (University of Washington)
Several higher-ranked universities, however, including the University of Texas at Austin, Purdue University, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Ohio State University, and the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill have all managed to keep lower tuition rates. Tuition at the University of Florida, ranked number nine on the U.S. News 2018 Top Public Colleges and Universities list, charged $6,381 for resident undergraduate tuition this year. The UW, ranked number 18 on that list, charged $10,974. According to the OPB, the UW’s sticker price doesn’t nearly cover all of the costs associated with educating students either.
Number of Genetic Markers Linked to Lifespan Triples
Science Blog
A new large-scale international study expands the number of genetic markers now known to be associated with exceptional longevity. Researchers at the University of Connecticut, University of Exeter, University of Wisconsin and University of Iowa undertook a genome-wide search for variants influencing how long participants’ parents lived. Their findings indicated genes that could one day be targeted to help prolong human life.