Wisconsin Science Festival
to
courtesy Wisconsin Science Festival
Attendees at the 2023 Wisconsin Science Festival Expo.
Attendees at the 2023 Wisconsin Science Festival Expo.
Science is everywhere, always — but especially in Wisconsin during this week-long fest, with demos, performances, films and more to engage everyone’s curiosity and deepen their knowledge of the physical world. This year’s theme is agriculture and its connection with the state’s economy and society, with more than 200 events. Here in Madison, look for “The Physics of Bowling,” Oct. 14 at Spare Time Entertainment; “Big Ideas for Busy People: Fields of Wonder,” Oct. 15 at the Majestic; the return of "Science on the Square" during the final Madison Night Market on Oct. 17; and, both happening from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Oct. 19, the Wisconsin Weather Festival at the Wisconsin Energy Institute and Discovery Expo at the Discovery Building on the UW campus. For a searchable guide of all the events, see wisconsinsciencefest.org.
media release: The weeklong Wisconsin Science Festival features events throughout Wisconsin for people of all ages, October 14-20, 2024. Activities include hands-on science experiments, live Q&A sessions and interviews with scientists, demonstrations, performances, behind-the-scenes tours and more.
Explore nature at our BioBlitz. Take in a book talk with an award-winning author. Cultivate your curiosity about this year’s feature, agriculture. And snap a selfie with Beesly – our buzzy mascot!
Official festival feature: AGRICULTURE
The Wisconsin Science Festival welcomes all disciplines utilizing science, technology, or art to explore and nurture curiosity. Each year, we spotlight a specific topic to emphasize its significance and value to the state and its people.
In 2024, our focus is on agriculture, aiming to showcase its profound impact on our world. Our mission is to illustrate the interconnectedness of agriculture within our state’s economy, society, well-being, and the overall future of humanity through the lens of science, art, and technology. Events related to the festival feature are not required for participation!
Most events are free but please confer with our map for specific events
Some event highlights:
Weaving Tradition: Menominee Basketry and the Legacy of Ash, October 14, 2024 from 5:45 pm - 6:30 pm. Discovery Building, Room 1145
Join us for an immersive workshop on traditional Menominee basket weaving led by Sherri LaChapelle-Corn (Pitapanukiw), where you’ll learn time-honored techniques passed down through generations. This hands-on experience delves into the cultural significance of basketry, highlighting its role in preserving Menominee heritage. Additionally, gain insight into the ecological challenges posed by the emerald ash borer insect, which threatens the very materials essential to this craft. Discover the importance of sustaining these practices and the efforts to protect and rejuvenate the resources vital to Menominee culture.
Before and after the workshop, stop by the interactive gallery at the Discovery Building featuring intricate woven works of art created by workshop host Sherri LaChapelle-Corn (Pitapanukiw). REGISTRATION REQUIRED Capacity is limited so please contact event host to notify of any registration cancellations.
Big Ideas for Busy People: Fields of Wonder, October 15, 2024 from 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm, Majestic Theatre | 115 King St, Madison
Join the Wisconsin Science Festival and friends for a celebration at the intersection of art and science. Flash talks, performances, hands-on activities, prizes, and more! Doors and bar open at 6:30pm, event takes place 7-9pm. Mark your calendars for a unique, interactive event!
https://www.
Science on the Square – Madison Night Market Fusion, October 17, 2024 from 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm, Downtown Madison, State Street
Join us for one fantastic night that blends science with downtown Madison businesses!Back for its seventh year, the ever-popular Science on the Square event is again fusing with the Madison Night Market to create a unique way to explore hands-on science activities while also supporting local businesses and vendors. In 2024, our focus is on agriculture, aiming to showcase its profound impact on our world. Our mission is to illustrate the interconnectedness of agriculture within our state’s economy, society, well-being, and the overall future of humanity through the lens of science, art, and technology.
At Science on the Square, outdoor STEM-themed activities will mix with Madison Night Market vendor tents throughout State Street. Indoor locations will showcase interesting exhibits, talks, or menu/product specials for you to check out as well. Learn more about the science that surrounds us every day while exploring downtown Madison. Be sure to stop by the top of State Street (near the capitol) to see physics demonstrations and more!
The Wisconsin Science Festival and Madison’s Central Business Improvement District are proud to bring you an event you won’t want to miss. Join us in downtown Madison between 5 and 9 p.m. on Thursday, October 17, for fun for all ages! For more information about participating businesses and science experiences, visit our Science on the Square event page!
https://www.
SoundWaves: Developing Ideas – Part 1, October 18, 2024 from 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm, Discovery Building | 330 N Orchard St, Madison
This year, SoundWaves is exploring how ideas, trends, plans, viewpoints, projects, materials, and sounds develop. Join us for a new four-part series as we dive into how we got to where we are now and where we might be headed in the future. SoundWaves combines scientific lectures about the world with live classical music performances. Each event revolves around a theme, exploring it first from many scientific angles and then through the lens of music. The program concludes with a live performance of music related to the evening’s theme.
This is a free event, however registration is requested to ensure adequate seating: https://www.
Discovery Expo – Community Day, Presented by Morgridge Institute for Research, October 19, 2024, from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm, Discovery Building | 330 N. Orchard St. Madison, WI 53715 United States
The Discovery Expo – Community Day invites learners of all ages to the Discovery Building on UW-Madison’s campus to experience dozens of interactive, hands-on exploration stations that feature STEM activities ranging from virtual reality to health and medicine, chemistry, physics demonstrations and more! Explore the hands-on activities at your own pace and interact with scientists, STEM professionals and students from UW-Madison and beyond! The Discovery Expo in the Discovery Building is a great opportunity for families to discover something new and exciting about science!
The Expo event will conclude with a special Science is Fun Extravaganza with Bassam Shakhashiri at 1pm in the Discovery Building Forum.
Be sure to check out our additional opportunities to explore during your visit to UW-Madison’s campus.
Expo presented by the Morgridge Institute for Research Community Engagement Team.
Nature Explorers: Join the Wisconsin BioBlitz! October 14-20, 2024, statewide in Wisconsin
Have you ever wondered how many species exist in our environment? From the shores of Lake Michigan to the forests of the Northwoods or the soil in your backyard, Wisconsin is teeming with life – and the Wisconsin Science Festival is launching a statewide BioBlitz project to learn more!
What is a BioBlitz?
A BioBlitz activity tries to measure as much life as possible within a defined space and time. Interested in bugs? Spend an afternoon counting all the insects at a local park. Teaching a unit on plants? Take your class to count all the flowering species you can find in a nearby meadow. Feeling ambitious? Organize your community to count every species you can find during the Wisconsin Science Festival. A BioBlitz can take place in a park, a school, an urban lot or your backyard. The possibilities are endless! BioBlitzes are a way to bring the community together to celebrate biodiversity while experiencing the wonder of nature in all of its fabulous niches.
Your Mission
During the Wisconsin Science Festival Bioblitz, join with people from all across the state from sunrise on the first day of the Festival until sunset on the last day. Download the iNaturalist app on your device (optional but encouraged), find at least 10 species in the environment around you and add your observations to the Wisconsin Science Festival Bioblitz project on iNaturalist.
Google
Yahoo
Outlook
ical