1. Research collaboration tackles phosphorus pollution and educates youth

    Photo of two UWGB undergraduate students conducting freshwater research

    If you’ve seen blue-green algae on local lakes and rivers, you’ve seen the effects of agricultural runoff — particularly phosphorus pollution. This nutrient contaminates Wisconsin’s freshwater lakes and negatively impacts water quality and safety for human consumption and aquatic life. A Freshwater Collaborative–funded project led by researchers at UW-Green Bay and UW-Madison is tackling phosphorus […]

  2. UW–Madison researchers and Wisconsin farmers work together to produce healthy potato harvests

    Photo of Andy Diercks, a fourth-generation potato farmer from the small village of Coloma in central Wisconsin, and Amanda Gevens, a UW–Madison Extension specialist and the department chair of plant pathology, who knows all too well the high stakes for Wisconsin farms.

    Andy Diercks, a fourth-generation potato farmer from the small village of Coloma in central Wisconsin, is blunt about the difficult realities facing family-owned farms today. “There are days when the choices aren’t always good, and you’re making the least bad choice,” he says. “But we’ve survived well. I’m proud of what we do here.” The […]

  3. Research to treat placenta could improve human pregnancies

    Image of placenta research

    A gene therapy approach to boosting the placenta is safe in monkeys, according to a new short-term study, bringing the potential treatment closer to improving birthweights of human babies and sparing them the complications of an early birth and developmental difficulties later in life. In humans, placental insufficiency restricts the growth of developing fetuses and […]

  4. UW–Madison 6th in national research ranking, surpasses $1.7 billion in research expenditures

    Photo of wild rice research (UW-Madison)

    The University of Wisconsin–Madison has moved up two places to sixth out of 920 public and private universities in the United States in university research expenditures, according to the National Science Foundation’s annual rankings. For the first time, the university has topped $1.7 billion in research expenditures, according to the NSF Higher Education Research and Development (HERD), […]

  5. Small Business Development Center offers trusted, transformational support

    Photo of Michelle Somes-Booher, director of the UW–Madison Small Business Development Center. which provides free, localized support to start and grow Wisconsin businesses.

    There’s nearly a thousand small business development centers across the country, but ask anyone who has worked with the one at UW–Madison, and they’ll tell you that it’s something truly special. Located within the Wisconsin School of Business, the UW–Madison Small Business Development Center (SBDC) provides no-cost consulting and dozens of noncredit courses to help […]

  6. An ancient animal is helping scientists improve modern technology

    Photo of a microscropic image of a tardigrade, or water bear, from Shenipsit State Forest in Somers, Connecticut. Photo by Holcy/iStock

    Water bears, an ancient group of microscopic animals known for their pudgy, ursine appearance and their uncanny ability to survive under extreme conditions, are helping researchers uncover the basic forms and functions of life’s molecular building blocks using modern technology. Also known as tardigrades, these aquatic microorganisms can endure blistering heat and severe cold thanks […]

  7. In helping students find housing, ‘Mama Erin’ brings the TLC and hard-won street smarts

    At a recent campus forum for UW–Madison students about housing options in the city, panelist Erin Warner paused the proceedings early on to secure more chairs for the overflow crowd and to make sure everyone knew about the free lunch buffet. “I’m a mother,” she told the students. “I want everyone to be fed and […]

  8. Portage attracts residents, businesses, and workers after UniverCity partnership

    Photo of downtown Portage

    When it comes to community planning, Steve Sobiek, the director of business development and planning for the City of Portage, is always thinking ahead. “What do we want Portage to look like in 10 to 20 years?” Sobiek said. As part of a partnership between UniverCity Alliance and Columbia County from 2021-24, Sobiek worked with University of Wisconsin–Madison students, […]

  9. UW–Madison unveils strategic vision to boost entrepreneurship

      The University of Wisconsin–Madison is positioning itself to strengthen entrepreneurial pathways, experiences and outcomes, drawing on the findings and recommendations of a study commissioned by Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin. The comprehensive plan outlined in the study aims to create a thriving entrepreneurial environment, leveraging the university’s existing strengths and capabilities along with its ongoing commitment to fostering […]

  10. Go Big Read author reflects on disability, kindness, independence

    Photo of Taussig answering questions from the audience during UW-Madison's Go Big Read keynote conversation. (Photo by Althea Dotzour)

      It was a simple, everyday interaction, but it was significant to Rebekah Taussig. The author couldn’t reach the paper towels she needed from her wheelchair, and a woman nearby spoke up: “They didn’t put these paper towels where you can reach them. Want me to grab one for you?” The woman’s framing recognized the […]