University of Wisconsin-Madison

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Aug. 27, 2008

Great ideas sought for WID competition

To chart the direction of the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery (WID), the committee and campus leaders charged with formulating the vision for the new interdisciplinary institute have issued a call for research theme proposals from UW–Madison faculty.

Martin anticipates challenges as chancellor

The values that Carolyn “Biddy” Martin carries into her job as the next chancellor will help define the university as it faces the challenges of the 21st century.

Collaboration key to WIMR researchers

The east tower of the new Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research is about to celebrate its grand opening, and already the building is working to foster collaboration among scientists working on similar problems — including the scourge of cancer — from different angles.

Professor tracks mosquitoes for the sake of public health

Under a cloud of mosquitoes on a muggy June morning, Susan Paskewitz sits down in the grass, rolls up her pant leg and extends her calf as bait.

University reminds campus staff of policy on political candidate activities

The upcoming general election will undoubtedly generate a flurry of political activity on the campus, particularly as the Nov. 4 vote gets closer

Patterns in changing ecological landscapes inspire professor

Thirty years after visiting Yellowstone National Park for the first time, Monica Turner has established herself as a leader in the field of ecology and made Yellowstone one of the most well-studied ecological landscapes in the country.

Airless tire project may prove a lifesaver in military combat

An ambitious startup company in Wausau is working on a project to develop tires that can withstand extreme punishment, even those meted out in military combat zones.

Ice creamier: ‘Edible antifreeze’ puts the smooth in smoothie

It's Friday night, and the movie's already spinning in the DVD player. You run to the kitchen to grab a gallon of ice cream and a spoon, but you find the tub nearly empty.

Manes, trains and antlers explained

A team of Wisconsin scientists has worked out the molecular details of how a simple genetic switch controls decorative traits in male fruit flies and how that switch evolved.

New ‘urban research park’ offers jolt of electricity to Madison high-tech startups

After three decades of almost exponential commercial growth on Madison's west side, the University Research Park (URP) will pursue an opportunity to sink roots downtown with an innovative "urban research park" targeting high-technology entrepreneurs.

Researcher finds that women are speaking up

There's a whole industry of books and seminars that hinge on the premise that women somehow need to be "fixed" when it comes to communication and must change the way they talk and behave to advance their career.

Soil scientist's fascination with mineral yields plan for battling it

A UW-Madison soil scientist may have found a solution to a pesky mineral that plagues wastewater engineers all over the country.

Study uncovers how Ritalin works in brain to boost cognition, focus attention

In a paper publishing online this week in Biological Psychiatry, UW-Madison psychology researchers report that Ritalin fine-tunes the functioning of neurons in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) - a brain region involved in attention, decision-making and impulse control - while having few effects outside it.

Study: No gender differences in math performance

A team of scientists says that there aren't gender differences in math performance any longer.

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