The Wisconsin Week Wire — July 2, 2008
Top News
Airless tire project may prove a lifesaver in military combat
UW–Madison and the U.S. Department of Defense are working with a Wausau company to research and develop a non-pneumatic tire for use on heavy-grade military vehicles, such as Humvees.
‘Edible antifreeze’ puts the smooth in smoothie
A UW–Madison food science professor has discovered an edible antifreeze that can preserve ice cream’s smooth, silky texture.
Research
Scientists uncover how Ritalin works to boost cognition, focus attention
UW–Madison psychology researchers recently reported that Ritalin fine-tunes the functioning of neurons in the prefrontal cortex — a brain region involved in attention, decision-making and impulse control — while having few effects outside it.
Collections of microorganisms make their own waves
How populations of bacteria and other microorganisms swim is more than just a matter of style, according to a professor of chemical and biological engineering.
New study shows persistence of anxiety
Research by the HealthEmotions Research Institute and the Department of Psychiatry indicates that the brains of those suffering from anxiety and severe shyness in social situations consistently respond more strongly to stress and show signs of being anxious even in situations that others find safe.
On Campus
Events calendar
Researchers partner to improve Wisconsin elections
UW–Madison political science researchers are taking a key role in a federally funded project to improve the state’s ability to collect accurate election returns.
Summer Choir concert spotlights American poets
The UW–Madison Summer Choir will focus on the choral settings of American poets in a concert on Friday, July 11.
Lignin expert chooses to pursue biofuels research at UW–Madison
A biochemistry professor will remain at UW–Madison to pursue work in biofuels at the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center.
Graduate School catalog goes online
The Graduate School Catalog for 2008–10 went online in June. Published by University Communications, the new edition marks a major change in the academic catalog program: For the first time, the catalog will be available only online. The first edition of the catalog, published in 1994, had a print run of 25,000. Demand for printed copies has dropped substantially, to slightly more than 1,000 books per year. This change to an online-only catalog coincides with the arrival on campus of a new Web content management system (CMS). University Communications plans to house content from both the Graduate School Catalog and the Undergraduate Catalog in the CMS to facilitate updates and sharing of academic information across campus.
Campus invited to participate in ‘Strategic Planning Mondays’
Ron Kraemer, CIO and vice provost for information technology, invites faculty and staff to participate in “Strategic Planning Mondays” to help shape the first-ever UW–Madison information technology strategic plan. This plan will serve as the foundation for delivering on the broader goals of the master campus strategic plan. The CIO office has set aside nearly every Monday afternoon this summer to meet with representative campus groups and interested individuals to discuss different aspects of the plan. Key areas to be covered include teaching and learning; research; outreach and public service; enterprise administrative applications; core and enabling infrastructure; and information technology services. For a full list of events, visit UW-Madison IT Strategic Plan Schedule Kraemer hopes to complete the plan in October. For more details, visit UW–Madison Strategic Plan for Information Technology.
Amiri Baraka to kick off spoken word education institute
Amiri Baraka, the award-winning poet, playwright and founder of the Black Arts Movement, will give a special reading on Monday, July 7, to open the third annual Spoken Word & Hip-Hop Educator’s Institute.
ISIS begins final phase of upgrade
Between 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 1, and 8 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 11, the Integrated Student Information System (ISIS) will be unavailable to campus as it enters the final implementation phase of a major upgrade, which started in late 2007.
Milestones
Wiley to tackle interim role leading new institute
John Wiley, who will step down as UW–Madison’s chancellor Sept. 1, has been named the interim director of the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery.
Studies of cell traits net big award for researcher
UW–Madison biochemist Doug Weibel may not be able to bend or shape cells any way he wants to — yet.
Community
Public events slated at research stations
Many events are planned for this summer at the university’s research stations.
Inventive county government program wins Gladfelter Award
An innovative program for collecting and disposing of unused medication was chosen as this year’s winner of the Lloyd D. Gladfelter Award for government efficiency and effectiveness.