Keeping up with UW science outreach is a little like following the clues in a strand of DNA. Outreach efforts are complex, integrated, far-reaching ' yet surprisingly easy to miss. Though Science Alliance serves as the umbrella unit and tries to keep the public informed, activities multiply quicker than dividing cells.
Information:
Although there's not a complete central calendar for upcoming events, a good place to start is at the UW-Madison Science on Campus page at science.wisc.edu.
From there you can find addresses, maps and event schedules for every science venue on campus, from the Arboretum to Nuclear Engineering Outreach (all venues at science.wisc.edu/venues.php).
Continuing Education and Outreach,
www.dcs.wisc.edu/outreach/science.htm
More UW Science outreach links.
Bottle Biology
www.bottlebiology.org
And more at www.fastplants.org (click on Paul's Sandbox, then the Gardens of Lilliput link)
Dr. Shakhashiri's Initiative for Science Literacy and Science is Fun
www.scifun.org
BioTrek
www.biotech.wisc.edu/outreach
Insect Ambassadors
www.entomology.wisc.edu/insectam
Insect Ambassadors are mostly graduate students from the Entomology Club who haul harmless bugs into classrooms for kids to observe and handle. (Tarantulas, harmless? If you say so!) They're linked
with a program called Adult Role Models in Science, www.wisc.edu/cbe/arms.
Places:
Allen Centennial Gardens
620 Babcock Dr.
262-8406
Babcock Hall Dairy Observatory
1605 Linden Dr.
265-2726
D.C. Smith Greenhouse
1575 Linden Dr.
262-3844
Science House
1645 Linden Dr.
www.fastplants.org/science_house.php
No organized tours, but drop-in visitors are welcome.
L.R. Ingersoll Physics Museum
2130 Chamberlin Hall
1150 University Ave.
262-2356
Wisconsin State Herbarium
Birge Hall
430 Lincoln Dr.
262-2792
Insect Research Collection
346 Russell Laboratories
1630 Linden Dr.
262-0056
Fun Stuff (ongoing):
Story Hour at the Geology Museum
10:30 a.m., every other Thursday
1215 W. Dayton St.
www.geology.wisc.edu
Stories linked to dinosaurs and rocks, for the pre-school set.
Family Workshops at UW Space Place
10 a.m., 2nd and 4th Saturdays
2300 S. Park St.
www.spaceplace.wisc.edu
Free program for kids ages 6-10 and their parents.
Bottle Biology at Olbrich Gardens
Free Saturday family program, plus school field trips.
3330 Atwood Ave.
Call 246-4550 for more times and information.
Wednesday Nights at the Lab
Wednesdays 7'8 p.m.
Room 1360 Biotechnology Center,
425 Henry Mall
www.science.wisc.edu
Lectures and demonstrations appropriate for teens and adults, offered 50 nights a year in the Genetics/Biotechnology Center on Henry Mall.
Future Events:
Science Expeditions 2007
March 24, 2007
Engineering Centers Building Annual campus science open house, featuring 40 hands-on Exploration Stations and four Science Spectaculars, with free parking next door in Lot 17. See www.science.wisc.edu/sciex2006 to get an idea of what's in store.
Family Science Night
Madison Children's Museum
May 2007
www.madisonchildrensmuseum.org
Family Horticulture Day
Saturday, April 28, 2007
West Madison Agricultural Research Station
8502 Mineral Point Rd.
Call 262-2257 for more information
Once Upon a Christmas Cheery in the Lab of Shakashiri
Longest-running 'science spectacular' on campus, held the first weekend in December. Free, but ticketed (this year's tickets have already been mailed). See www.scifun.org for similar shows by Shakashiri at other Madison venues, such as the Waisman Center.
Wonders of Physics
Popular live demo show featuring Dr. Clint Sprott's fast-paced, highly entertaining physics demonstrations. Three are scheduled for Chamberlin Hall in February 2007; advance tickets available after Jan. 1 at 262-2927 or through an online form at sprott.physics.wisc.edu/wop.htm.
