The Wisconsin Week Wire — March 5, 2008
Top News
Faculty will pitch in to increase need-based scholarships
The Faculty Senate approved a resolution on March 3 that will encourage faculty to be frontline contributors to the goal of expanding access to low-income students.
UW–Madison prepares emergency text-messaging service
The university is preparing an emergency text-messaging service that will be able to send warnings directly to the cell phones of students, faculty and staff members in the event of a campus emergency.
Research
Earlier plantings underlie yield gains in northern Corn Belt
A new study has found that earlier corn plantings could account for up to half of the yield gains seen in some parts of the northern Corn Belt since the late 1970s.
Lowly Icelandic midges reveal ecosystem’s tipping points
A UW–Madison zoologist describes in the journal Nature an ecosystem population dynamics model built on the flies of Iceland’s Lake Myvatn, showing how even slight human-induced changes can irreversibly alter the balance of nature.
Features
Students help El Salvadoran towns build wastewater system
Members of UW–Madison’s chapter of Engineers Without Borders spent their winter break in El Salvador, beginning construction on a mostly gravity-based wastewater system that will link two nearby communities to the sewer systems in the larger city of Nejapa.
On Campus
Events calendar
Gilson event highlights conflicts of interest in clinical trials
Paul DeLuca, associate dean for research and graduate studies, will speak on conflicts of interest in clinical trials at 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 6.
Musicologist to visit Madison
A Prague-based musicologist, composer and film collaborator will visit the university in April.
Olbrich Rhapsody in Bloom event to feature Thai Pavilion
This year’s Rhapsody in Bloom event at Olbrich Botanical Garden will feature the Thai Pavilion and Garden, which was a gift to UW–Madison from the Thai government and the Thai chapter of the Wisconsin Alumni Association. There is a long history of Thai students at the university, with approximately 700 graduates and one of the largest Thai student populations of any U.S. college or university. Olbrich was chosen as the site for the pavilion because of its garden setting near water. There will be food and entertainment in the gardens, and attendees also can bid on plants in a silent auction. The event will be co-chaired by Chancellor John Wiley and his wife, Georgia. Tickets for the general public go on sale on Tuesday, April 1; tickets for members of the Olbrich Botanical Society became available March 3. For more information, contact Beth Swanson at 246-5616 or bswanson@cityofmadison.com. Proceeds benefit the Olbrich Botanical Garden.
Milestones
Professor named first scientific director of national nuclear research facility
Idaho National Laboratory has selected UW–Madison nuclear fuels and materials expert Todd Allen to lead its newly created Advanced Test Reactor National Scientific User Facility.
‘Forward Under 40’ awards honor outstanding alumni
The Wisconsin Alumni Association has honored 23 graduates with the new Forward Under 40 Award.