From every possible angle, researchers across the College of Letters & Science are focused on critical topics that will change the way the world looks at medicine, health policy and personal wellness.
From a small up-north Wisconsin town, these Badgers are running a global corporation that plays an impactful role in building transportation infrastructure and supporting their local community.
Water. Fire. Air. When it comes to today’s biggest environmental challenges, these are the elements at the heart of the issues. Meet three L&S experts who are at the top of their field in finding sustainable solutions.
Just before sunset, the rain clouds cleared, and the last rays of light created this picturesque rainbow over Science Hall. Housing a handful of L&S units, including the Department of Geography, the red brick building at the bottom of Bascom Hill is one of the most beloved spots on campus. Over the years, it has served as a hub for the sciences, with the Departments of Geology, Zoology, Botany, Physics, Meteorology and more all calling it home at one point in their histories. The current Science Hall was constructed in 1887 to replace the original, which burned down in a tragic fire. The structure holds a notable superlative: It’s the oldest still-standing building that uses structural steel, which was relatively new technology at the time it was built. The College of Letters & Science is working on restoration plans for this historic building. Althea Dotzour / UW–Madison
May 30, 2025
The strongest solar storm in decades lit up the Madison sky on May 10 and 11 after a wind of charged particles from the sun crashed into Earth’s magnetic field. Collisions between the particles and molecules of oxygen and nitrogen produced the characteristic colors of the aurora borealis, seen here in a panorama of four combined images taken in rural Columbia County. This photo was taken by astronomy and physics undergraduate student Samuel L. Warfel, and it was picked as a winner of UW–Madison’s annual Cool Science Image Contest. You can see all of the winners at the McPherson Eye Research Institute’s Mandelbaum & Albert Family Vision Gallery on the ninth floor of the Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research through the end of the year. Photo: Samuel L. Warfel
November 19, 2024
Lakeshore Nature Preserve — home to the beloved Picnic Point — is about to get a new, world-class visitor and education center. Department of Economics alumnus Jerry Frautschi (’56) made a $14.3 million gift to support the new building, which is planned for the area outside the stone wall at the Picnic Point entrance. The Lakeshore Nature Preserve Frautschi Center will showcase UW–Madison’s commitment to sustainability and support hands-on experiential learning and research for more than 25 academic programs. The plan is to have it certified as the state’s first Living Building, meaning it will produce more energy than it consumes. Photo: Jeff Miller
April 25, 2024
The Badger Pride Wall is especially spectacular at night, when the 80-foot-long artwork is backlit to show shadows of quintessentially UW–Madison symbols. Local artist Nate Koehler created the intricate design, which stands six feet tall at Alumni Park. In the wall, you’ll spot a flock of Bascom Hill flamingos, canes being flung into the Camp Randall endzone and, of course, Babcock Ice Cream, among many other Badger symbols. See the full wall and learn the histories of its many symbols at alumnipark.com. There’s an interactive map that allows you to click on each individual design to learn its story and significance. Photo: Taylor Wolfram
November 3, 2023
A tranquil walk awaits along Lakeshore Path, as the flowers are in full bloom and the trees provide cool shade. Photo: Colton Mansavage
