The Wisconsin Week Wire — August 9, 2006
Top News
Seltzer named interim director of Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery
Marsha Mailick Seltzer, director of the Waisman Center and an internationally recognized scholar of developmental disabilities, has been named interim director of the new Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery.
Groups encourage students to donate unneeded items to charity
UW–Madison and a coalition of local partners, including the city of Madison, Goodwill Industries and St. Vincent de Paul, are working together on the Moving Days campaign to encourage students to donate usable items to local charities.
Research
Autonomous lenses may bring microworld into focus
UW–Madison researchers have found a way to make a tiny lens that can adapt its focal length from minus infinity to plus infinity — without external control.
Studies challenge national asthma guidelines
Two new School of Medicine and Public Health studies will help determine if use of antibiotics can improve asthma symptoms.
Stem cell research targets birth defects, cancer
A stem cell researcher who earned her Ph.D. at UW–Madison has returned to the university to focus on birth defect and cancer studies.
Sociologists dissect doctor-patient dialogue
An international group of conversation analysts, including one from UW–Madison, has put together a new anthology of studies that explore communication between primary-care doctors and their patients.
On Campus
Events calendar
Urban Horticultural Field Day planned for Aug. 19
A bit of food prehistory will come back to life at this year’s Urban Horticultural Field Day, to be held from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 19, at the West Madison Agricultural Research Station. The event is free and open to the public.
Lebanese aid event set for today
UW–Madison student groups and several area businesses and organizations will host “Celebrating Lebanese Culture,” an event that will feature Lebanese music, food, folk dance and personal accounts of Lebanese life away from home. The event begins at 7 p.m. today (Aug. 9) in the On Wisconsin room of the Red Gym on the UW–Madison campus; admission is $10, with opportunities for additional donations.
Housing plans Newell Smith Hall open house
University Housing will host an open house for the campus community to tour Newell J. Smith Hall, UW–Madison’s new residence hall. The open house, which will be held from 2–4 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 15, will be the only opportunity this fall for faculty and staff members to tour the building’s living areas. Smith Hall is located at 35 N. Park St., near the corner of Regent and Park streets. The first residents of the 425-bed building will move in on Wednesday–Thursday, Aug. 30–31. The hall is named for Newell J. Smith, 87, who served as Housing director between 1955–83. Smith served the Division of Housing continuously throughout his entire career, with the exception of military service in World War II. He developed a national reputation as an excellent administrator and advocate for students. The project, including utility work, land, construction and pedestrian mall development, cost $37.5 million. The residence hall includes numerous innovations and desirable features, including classrooms and study areas throughout the building.
Milestones
CALS names associate dean for student affairs
Robert O. Ray, a professor of forest ecology and management, has been named associate dean of academic student affairs at the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences.
Community
UW–Madison programming available to Charter Digital Cable subscribers
Subscribers to Charter Digital Cable now have access to UW–Madison programming on ResearchChannel as video on demand.
MATC, UW collaborate on biodiesel fuel reactor
Madison Area Technical College recently dedicated its new biodiesel reactor, built in partnership with UW–Madison, to produce motor fuel blended from waste vegetable oil and methanol.