Alli Watters
For more stories by staff editor Alli Watters, visit the college’s website.
How did these mushrooms escape?
Call it a prison break, because golden oyster mushrooms have managed to wiggle their way out of cultivation captivity and into Midwestern ecosystems. While the escapees are thriving in their new home, the invasion is pushing out native fungal communities.
Spring 2026
Penny for Her Thoughts
Liz Dennett is tackling the copper crisis using nature’s oldest miners: microbes.
Fall 2025
Why is she green?
Depictions of the Wicked Witch of the West have evolved over the years. The most notable change: She wasn’t always green.
Fall 2025
What’s the forecast?
Even with the best tools and knowledge, forecasting can miss key pieces of the puzzle. The research happening in Mayra Oyola-Merced’s lab can help explain why and lead to a future with more accurate forecasting.
Spring 2025
Cautionary Tales
Six life lessons distilled from the fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen
Fall 2025
By Design
Frank Lloyd Wright and Marshall Erdman were the visionaries who laid the groundwork for Dan Erdman’s career. Now he’s cementing their legacy with a professorship that will support teaching and learning for the next generation of students.
Spring 2026
A Long Line of Badgers
For the Hollands, going to UW–Madison has become a beloved family tradition. And they believe the Wisconsin Experience is meant to be shared, which is why they support scholarships for students in the College of Letters & Science.
Spring 2024
Paying It Forward
Paul Martin Wolff and Rhea S. Schwartz generously gift Badgers with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel the world.
Fall 2023
Catching the Baton
Corey Pompey reflects on his five years of heading the University of Wisconsin Marching Band.
Fall 2024
Pay Attention
Imagine a winding maze full of twists and turns. To complete it will take focus and an ability to resist the shiny distractions designed to draw you off course. This labyrinth represents the attention economy, and L&S researchers, students and alumni are here to serve as your tour guide. They’ll walk you through the tangled ethics of the attention economy, the science behind your ability to focus
Spring 2026