Student NewsLink
Student Newslink — Dec. 9, 2009
Snowstorm
Classes were canceled at UW-Madison on Wednesday and non-essential university employees were advised to stay home as a major December snowstorm paralyzed the Madison area. Stay informed with the latest campus updates on weather related issues at www.wisc.edu
News
UW–Madison, Beloit partnership produces water-run scooter
A class of freshman engineering students and officials from Beloit, Wis., are making progress toward technologies that eventually could run a variety of vehicles on nothing but water. The class, with the help of civil and professor Marc Anderson and Beloit public works fleet manager Dan Lutz, has demonstrated a new hydrogen-assisted system that runs a Vespa on a hydrogen-gasoline fuel mix.
Graduate of UW–Madison wins Marshall Scholarship
Alumna Erin Conrad has been named one of 35 Marshall Scholars selected from across the country to act as ambassadors for U.S.-British relations during graduate study in the United Kingdom. The awards, on par with the Rhodes Scholarships, provide talented American students with up to three years of study at a British university of their choice.
Soil science professor receives national teaching award
Teresa Balser, associate professor of soil science, has received the 2009 National Teaching Award from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities.
Living & Learning
Study ties lower hormone use to fewer breast cancer cases
Decreased use of post-menopausal hormones likely accounts for more than 40 percent of a dramatic one-year decline in breast cancer incidence, according to a new analysis by UW–Madison cancer researchers.
Giant collider back in gear, sets record for collision intensity
On Nov. 30, the world’s largest scientific instrument, the Large Hadron Collider, set a record when it smashed one stream of protons against another and then accelerated the beams to 1.18 trillion electron volts. The restart is welcome news to a large team of UW–Madison physics professors, scientists and students that has been developing the collider’s technology and is ready to start a broad range of scientific experiments.
Project helps seniors put lives on paper
How would you tell the story of your life? That’s what Mark Lounibos hopes to help his students — all over the age of 65 — figure out. Lounibos, a graduate student in English and an instructor at the Writing Center, leads a free weekly workshop — called Life/Stories — at the Madison Senior Center, just blocks from campus.
TechShop students help nonprofits boost social-networking profiles, interactivity
College students have a reputation for spending countless hours updating their Facebook status, tweeting with friends on Twitter and watching online videos. But students who work as consultants through TechShop, a student-based technology assistance program for Madison-area nonprofits, are finding a way to put all those hours at the keyboard to use.
Around Campus
Campus events calendar
Cinematheque hosts Communication Arts Showcase
Highlighting works produced in media production courses in the communication arts department, this 90-minute program is curated by the instructors of film, video and animation courses and gives new filmmakers the opportunity to present their films on screen for the first time. 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 18, Cinematheque, 4070 Vilas Hall.
40th Christmas chemistry lecture to air on public TV stations
This holiday season brings the 40th incarnation of chemistry professor Bassam Shakhashiri’s wildly popular Christmas lecture, “Once Upon a Christmas Cheery in the Lab of Shakhashiri.” All tickets for the show, a chemistry demonstration show that has attracted nationwide attention and is televised across the country, were spoken for within days of the release in early November. However, the 40th anniversary Christmas lecture will be broadcast by Wisconsin Public Television at 1 p.m. on Dec. 21; 1:30 p.m. on Dec. 24; and 1 p.m. on Dec. 28.
Group invites students to experience ‘slow food’
Slow Food UW and University Housing Dining Services team up to host a dinner at Rheta’s in Chadbourne Hall, with food cooked according to ‘slow food’ values. 5–6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 11, Rheta’s Dining Room, Chadbourne. Cost: a la carte pricing.
Badger Ballroom Dance Team presents Fall Showcase
Members of the team perform in a number of different dance styles. 9 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 11, Tripp Commons, Memorial Union.
Notable
Campus braces for winter
December has arrived with a snowy punch, a reminder of the university’s need to tame inclement weather by keeping sidewalks, bus shelters and parking lots clear and safe.
Classes end, exams begin
Tuesday, Dec. 15, is the last day of classes, and Wednesday, Dec. 16, is a dedicated Study Day. Final exams begin on Thursday, Dec. 17, and end on Wednesday, Dec. 23.
Outstanding alumni chapters award scholarships to UW–Madison students
Chapters of the Wisconsin Alumni Association have awarded $617,000 in scholarships to UW–Madison students this year.
New WiscMail launched to campus
The university launched its new WiscMail Web mail client this week. The updated version offers much of the functionality of Thunderbird, Outlook or Apple Mail — without having to install or configure anything on your computer. Currently, the new mail client is available by accessing the WiscMail section at the MyUW portal and clicking “Try the New Web Client”; eventually, it will be available automatically through the WiscMail web site.
Opportunities
CFYE hosts open house to showcase job opportunities
The Center for the First-Year Experience (CFYE) is offering two open houses to showcase student employment positions. CFYE is currently hiring new student leaders in positions that play a critical role in the success of the university’s First Year Experience, including SOAR, Wisconsin Welcome and first-year seminars. The first open house is today, Dec. 9, at 6 p.m. in the Welcome Center at 21 N. Park St., and the second open house will occur in late January.
ASSC offers adult student scholarships
Madison-area adult students who are currently enrolled at or were recently admitted to UW–Madison can apply for several scholarships supported by generous donors. The two main categories of awards administered by the Adult and Student Services Center are returning adult students and single-parent students. The application for these awards is online and the deadline is March 1.