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This special issue of Wisconsin Ideas is focused on making. From engineering solutions to creating art to inventing life-saving technology—Badgers are making an impact across the state and beyond.
Engineering Solutions
Photo by Jeff Miller / UW–Madison
From developing technology for smart farms of the future to creating new materials for safer helmets and protective gear, UW–Madison engineering faculty, students and graduates play a critical role in solving everyday challenges. They’re also vital to the state’s economic development.
The university, in partnership with business leaders and allies across Wisconsin, is urging legislators to advance a new College of Engineering building in a new campaign. The building will boost engineering enrollment, which is essential for addressing Wisconsin’s critical workforce needs, and expand UW–Madison's ability to focus on what it does best: making Wisconsin—and the world—a better place.
UW for You
Turning paper mill waste to plant-based plastics
A team led by UW–Madison scholars is tapping into one of Wisconsin’s core industries to turn paper mill waste into plant-based plastics, slashing greenhouse gas emissions and other pollution and creating economic opportunities benefitting communities across the state.
The smell of success
A former middle school science teacher runs a thriving personal care products company in Blue Mounds, WI, creating a responsible, sustainable, and profitable small business with some guidance from the Small Business Development Center at UW–Madison—a free service to help Wisconsin businesses from startup through growth.
Keeping cows cool
Using an innovative electrical device that monitors individual cow temperatures, UW–Madison researchers are making plans to create a smart system that can automatically identify heat-stressed animals and deploy cooling measures.
Were U Wondering?
How the "Seed by Seed" banners hanging on Bascom Hall came to be?
Video by Stephen Hilyard
In celebration of the University of Wisconsin's 175th anniversary, banners created by Molli Pauliot, Marianne Fairbanks and Stephen Hilyard were hung on Bascom this month. Pauliot, Fairbanks and Hilyard merged traditional Ho-Chunk handcrafts with cutting edge animation software to create a design that honors Ho-Chunk heritage and the technical skill of the handmade.
Can't Stop a Badger
Professor of Political Science Kathy Cramer is exploring how to make an American economy that works for the people.
Using a stunningly detailed 3D blueprint of RNA virus components, a UW–Madison research team is uncovering information that might serve as the basis for developing more powerful, broad-spectrum antiviral strategies.
A new system developed by a UW–Madison engineer could help in a centuries-long effort to bring order to the works of a Renaissance genius.
The Cheat Sheet
Babcock Dairy creates s'more anniversary flavor. ● Researchers tweak antifungal drug to turn “Ampho-terrible” into “Ampho-terrific.” ● Atmospheric scientist uses supercomputing to simulate tornadoes. ● Engineers create eye-inspired sensor to boost autonomous vehicle reaction time. ● A math professor teaches students how to make words count. ● Powering the computers of the future. ● Making gooey cheese products. ● Microorganisms turn the useless into useful. ● Engineers design bendy technology to revolutionize human health.
Coming Up
Distinguished Entrepreneurs Lunch: Toni Sikes, Co-Founder and CEO, CODAworx
Grainger Hall, Madison, WI | November 29, 2023 | 12:15 p.m.
Meet Toni Sikes, co-founder and CEO of CODAworx, a global online community that showcases and celebrates design projects featuring commissioned artwork in interior and architectural spaces.
MadPrompts Generative AI Battle
Discovery Building, Madison, WI | November 29, 2023 | 6 p.m.
MadPrompts is not just an event; it’s a mesmerizing game show-style competition where contestants engage in a creative showdown to craft the most captivating image inspired by a mysterious meta prompt, engineered by artificial intelligence (AI).
Picture This
Visitors got to tour art studios, meet student artists and get a behind-the-scenes look at how art is created during UW–Madison’s annual Open Studio Day on Nov. 4. In this photo, Lucas Fitzpatrick, a student in the UW–Madison Glass Department, demonstrates the glassblowing process. Photo by MK Denton / UW–Madison.
