The Wisconsin Week Wire — May 30, 2007
Top News
Freshman engineers seize the wind … and a new opportunity
Inspired to reinvigorate his teaching after a yearlong sabbatical, electrical and computer engineering professor Giri Venkataramanan decided to try an experiment — ultimately giving his students a powerful understanding of what it means to be an engineer.
Research may yield improved treatment for diseased lungs
A multi-institutional team of engineers, scientists and clinicians at UW–Madison will study large-artery biomechanics that could play a role in heart failure in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Research
Study explores effectiveness of rain gardens
An ongoing UW–Madison experiment has found that vegetation plays a lesser role than other factors in how well rain gardens trap stormwater runoff and coax it into the ground.
Research aims to make it easier to serve local produce in classrooms
Wisconsin Homegrown Lunch is working to find cost-effective ways for school food services to use locally grown produce.
Study to clarify safety, effectiveness of hormone therapy during menopause
A School of Medicine and Public Health study will address questions related to hormone therapy and menopause.
Mutant parasites, unable to infect hosts, highlight virulence genes
With a single approach, UW–Madison microbiologists have identified dozens of clues to how human parasites may infect their hosts.
Scientists to examine impact of culture on aging process
A team of researchers, led by a UW–Madison aging expert, will examine the consequences of cultural differences for people’s emotional and physical health as they get older.
On Campus
Events calendar
Workshop addresses policy innovation for environmental, economic gain
The Center for World Affairs and the Global Economy, the European Union Center of Excellence and the La Follette School of Public Affairs are sponsoring “Innovative Environmental Governance and Regulation in the European Union: Any Lessons for the U.S.?”
Symposium focuses on learning beyond the classroom
This month’s Teaching and Learning Symposium will give professors, instructors and teaching assistants a chance to share ideas for engaging students and enriching their college experience.
Association seeks nominations for young alumni awards
The Wisconsin Alumni Association is calling for nominations for new awards that will highlight the achievements of graduates under age 40.
Milestones
Alumni magazine honored by council
On Wisconsin, the alumni magazine produced by University Communications and the Wisconsin Alumni Association with support from the UW Foundation, has been selected to receive a grand gold medal in an annual competition sponsored by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. Judges evaluated 53 entries in the competition’s Periodical Staff Writing for External Audiences category, based on a magazine’s topics, writing and editing as represented by five published stories. A grand gold medal, according to the program’s coordinator, “is given when the judges feel that an entry is head and shoulders above any of the other entries received in a category.” On Wisconsin previously received two awards in this category: a silver award in 2002 and a gold award in 2004.
Student wins Google scholarship
A UW–Madison junior has been selected as a winner of a paid summer internship with Google Inc.
Virtual chemistry experiments snag major Internet award
A Journal of Chemical Education Web site produced at UW–Madison has won a major international award.
Community
Faculty, staff travel state in Wisconsin Idea Seminar
Several UW–Madison faculty and staff spent a week touring the state during this year’s Wisconsin Idea Seminar.