The Wisconsin Week Wire — March 7, 2007
Top News
Gene-sequencing advance bolsters biofuels potential
A collaborative research project between the U.S. Forest Service Forest Products Laboratory and the Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute has advanced the quest for efficient conversion of plant biomass to fuels and chemicals.
Kaplan letter offers context on controversial remarks
Law School Professor Leonard Kaplan provided a letter to Law School Dean Kenneth Davis with further context and clarification of his controversial comments about Hmong culture in his Feb. 15 law course.
Initiative connects students with entrepreneurs
The university has launched the Kauffman Campus II initiative to connect students with successful young entrepreneurs.
On Campus
Events calendar
Forum planned on domestic-partner benefits
Members of the campus community are invited to a forum designed to provide updates and information on the status of domestic-partner health insurance benefits. The session will be held from 3:30–5 p.m. Tuesday, March 13, in the Main Lounge of the Memorial Union. Laurie Beth Clark, vice provost for faculty and staff programs and campus coordinator for the benefits issue, along with Dean of Students Lori Berquam, are expected to attend.
Nelson Institute director announces resignation
Frances Westly, director of the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, has announced her resignation, effective June 30.
First UW Women’s Leadership Conference to take place on March 16
The first-ever student-organized Women’s Leadership Conference, titled “Modern Women’s Bootcamp: From Backpack to Briefcase,” will take place from 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. on Friday, March 16, at Grainger Hall.
CALS to celebrate National Historic Landmark status of old dairy barn
The public is invited to a program at 7:15 p.m. on Wednesday, March 28, to celebrate the designation of UW–Madison’s 109-year-old dairy barn as a National Historic Landmark.
Speaker series kicks off with track athlete
Olympic athlete and UW–Madison track star Suzy Favor Hamilton will be the featured speaker at the “Perspectives for Success” breakfast series on Wednesday, March 14, at the Memorial Union.
Milestones
Researcher, spinoff company receive MIT technology awards
The MIT Club of Wisconsin, a state association for alumni of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, will recognize a UW–Madison influenza researcher and a bioscience spinoff company on Friday, March 9, at its annual banquet.
UW–Madison engineer to head DOE fusion energy office
The U.S. Department of Energy has named a UW–Madison engineering professor to lead its office of Fusion Energy Science, located within its Office of Science.