Grant Recipients

Description: Embossing is the process of printing relief images and text on paper and other materials by providing three-dimensional effects. The campus community and visitors will be invited to create celebration cards using a custom embosser. The new 3D-printed embosser will be designed to celebrate the milestone of 175 years of excellence in discovery, culture, and history at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The 3D printed embosser uses the same idea as the ordinary embosser—however, it has a modified mechanical system like a cylinder seal and a roll press to produce the pressure efficiently and to keep it portable. Unlike today’s digital printing, the embossing process involves a rich tangible experience, which is more intuitive, fun, memorable, and participatory.

Examples of 3D-printed embossers:

• 3D printed embosser
• Toilet paper version

Project lead: Taekyeom Lee, Art Department

Description: The Wisconsin State Herbarium at UW–Madison celebrated 175 years of plant collecting across the Badger State with an anniversary botanical foray held in Marinette County in summer 2023. Citizen scientists, students, faculty, and staff from across the UW System gathered together over a long weekend to document the flora of this under-explored area of Wisconsin. More than 1,000 scientific plant specimens were collected, pressed, and dried; each will be mark with a commemorative stamp before being accessioned into the permanent collection of the State Herbarium. Natural history collections like these have been a part of the UW’s educational, research, and outreach efforts since its founding and remain at the center of its core mission in a rapidly changing world.

Project lead: Ken Cameron, the Wisconsin State Herbarium

Description: Funds from the 175th Anniversary Grant Allocation will be used to support an alumni exhibition titled Glass Madison: The Sixth Decade of UW Glass. This exhibition will span multiple galleries on campus and presents a survey of contemporary glass practice in a research-based, interdisciplinary arts environment. These exhibitions accompany an intercollegiate symposium and public programming (also under the name of Glass Madison). Collectively, these efforts diversify the narrative of glass at UW–Madison in exploring how this material serves research-based arts practices today, and bridging these practices back to historical precedents of the pivotal role glass has played in establishing UW–Madison as a research institution on the global stage.

Project lead: Helen Lee, UW Glass Lab – Art Department

Description: UW–Madison is known as the birthplace of limnology due to the groundbreaking research conducted by its faculty and students on the study of freshwater ecosystems. In the late 1800s, the university established the first limnology laboratory in the world, and through the work of scientists such as Edward Birge and Chancey Juday, advanced our understanding of freshwater biology, chemistry, and physics. This research has had significant implications for the management and conservation of freshwater resources. This 175th anniversary grant will support the design and fabrication of a public banner detailing the limnological research conducted at the university that will serve to educate and inspire both the campus and broader community about the history and importance of limnology at UW–Madison.

Project lead: Hilary Dugan, Center for Limnology

Description: The University of Wisconsin Madison Zoological Museum (UWZM), was established at the very first UW Board of Regents meeting in 1848. After the first Science Hall burned, Edward A. Birge (Professor of Zoology, later UW–Madison president) started purchasing specimens to replace the ones lost in the fire, which included a collection of glass invertebrate models created by German glassblowers Leopold and Rudolph Blaschka. The UWZM Blaschka models, purchased in 1890, were originally used for teaching, but are now considered works of art that cannot be exhibited and handled due to their delicate construction and weakened condition. 175th Anniversary funding will support Tim Drier, a professional scientific and artistic glassblower with 40-years of experience, to work at UW–Madison for one week to apply his glassblowing expertise to this project. Tim and UW colleagues will create glass models of species not currently represented in the UWZM collections that are stable enough for teaching and display.

Project lead: Laura Monahan, UW Zoological Museum & UW Department of Chemistry

Description: In the Fall of 2023, the Wisconsin Innocence Project will present a three-part speaker series that celebrates its 25th anniversary alongside the 175th anniversary of the University of Wisconsin–Madison. The speaker series will include conversations with lawyers and scholars working on issues related to wrongful convictions in Wisconsin and the nation. A highlight of the series will be a panel discussion with former and current Wisconsin Innocence Project attorneys and clients, reflecting how the Wisconsin Innocence Project has embraced the Wisconsin Idea for the last 25 years and an exciting look at the next 25 years.

Project lead: Rachel Burg, Wisconsin Innocence Project

Description: As a symbol of the 175th anniversary of the University of Wisconsin, few other sites can be more evocative of its history and accomplishments than our oldest research institution, which is also home to our oldest outreach program. Washburn Observatory, an active and distinguished research facility for its first 80 years, has been open to the public on the first and third Wednesdays of each month, weather permitting, since April 1881. This is the longest continuous program of public access at an observatory in the United States and quite possibly in the world. As a long-standing program of public engagement, the Washburn Observatory visitor policy predates and embodies the spirit of the Wisconsin Idea. More information about the public open nights at Washburn Observatory are available at http://go.wisc.edu/washobs.

Our project will produce a set of educational posters for Washburn Observatory to share and raise awareness of the important history of astronomical accomplishments of UW astronomers and also highlight some more recent research. The eight posters, which will be designed by Astronomy Department staff and students, will be permanently mounted at the observatory. Four will hang in the dome, where visitors await their turns at the eyepiece. These posters will have special illumination by clip-on, battery-powered red lights, because the dome is typically kept dark during observing activities. The other four posters will be mounted inside the hallway display case in the observatory.

Our project will also print 1,000 trifold flyers designed by Astronomy Department staff and students. The flyers (which will complement the posters) will give visitors something they can take away from their visit that can lead them to additional information and other programs. Of the six panels available in a trifold, four will be devoted to brief information about the history and research of Washburn Observatory and to answers to the most common questions about the observatory. The remaining two panels will provide information about other UW astronomical outreach programs, including UW Space Place, Universe in the Park, and Astronomy on Tap.

Project lead: James Lattis, Department of Astronomy

Description: In celebration of the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s 175th anniversary and inspired by the work of the new Center for Campus History, the English Department archival project will investigate our program’s longstanding involvement on campus and in the broader Madison community. Led by English major interns, our team will conduct research in the UW Archives to trace historical narratives about student experiences, participation in local political organizing, curriculum debates, equity and inclusion in the department, faculty and staff projects, and more. Additionally, we aim to establish an ongoing record of distinguished English alumni whose impact on campus or beyond is particularly notable. In an effort to embody the Wisconsin Idea, our undergraduate researchers will curate materials and share their analyses through public written engagements and an exhibition hosted by the English department. We are deeply grateful to the Office of the Chancellor and the 175th Anniversary Grant for making this important archival research and memorialization possible.

Project lead: Caroline Hensley, English Department

Description: The Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (AOS) has a rich assortment of historical photographs dating back its founding in 1948. To modernize and showcase this collection, we will work with the UW Digital Collections to digitize the print photographs to create an online repository of AOS history. Doing so will ensure their long-term preservation and accessibility and allow students, alumni, and the public to explore the evolution of the department. Since its inception, AOS has always been a leader in its field, producing innovative weather and climate science of local and global significance: this is the Wisconsin Idea in action. And as AOS celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, we’re proud it coincides with and is part of the university’s 175th anniversary and enduring legacy.

Project lead: Scott Dyke, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences

Description: Allen Centennial Garden and campus collaborators will create a Well Cultivated Bucky. The larger-than-life statue will be installed in the spring on May 1, 2024 as part of the ongoing celebration of the university’s 175th year. The statue will highlight the role of former Agricultural Deans in promoting the Wisconsin Idea and the connectedness of art and science. Bucky will be over ten feet tall and decorated by flowers and other plant parts grown in Allen Centennial Garden, the newly formed Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences Department, the Center for Upper Midwestern Studies, and others campus organizations. Plan to visit the Garden during Family Gardening Day a free public opportunity for young people and families to learn about gardening on May 4 or make a Graduation pitstop on May 11. Otherwise, drop by during the day since the garden is open from dawn to dusk. Plan to visit early since Bucky, being made of plants and chicken wire, won’t last forever.

Project lead: Ryan Dostal, Allen Centennial Garden and the Department of Plant & Agroecosystem Sciences

Description: Almost 140 years after the construction of the Washburn Observatory, the completion of the IceCube Neutrino Observatory at the South Pole cemented the foundational role astronomy played in establishing UW–Madison as a premier research university. In celebration of 20 years since IceCube’s construction began, the Wisconsin IceCube Particle Astrophysics Center will host Mann and Sánchez Scholars, underrepresented students who show potential for academic achievement but face significant economic and personal challenges, for a one-day event that honors IceCube’s major milestones and inspires the future generation of scientists. The event will include a live webcast from the South Pole, a career panel, lunch with current graduate students, and field trips to the Physical Sciences Lab and the Space Science and Engineering Center where equipment used at the South Pole is fabricated. This project will embody the Wisconsin Idea by giving back to our local communities and exposing first-generation Latinx students and students of color to career opportunities in physics.

Project lead: Alisa King-Klemperer, Wisconsin IceCube Particle Astrophysics Center

Description: PBS Wisconsin and the UW–Madison – Extension Horticulture Program will celebrate UW-Madison’s 175th anniversary at this year’s 31st Annual Garden & Landscape Expo, Feb. 9-11 at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison. Through a horticulture- and media-focused exhibit, the event partners will reflect on the impact of our work across the state — and beyond. Together, we will recognize the reach and impact of The Wisconsin Idea, both in our past and in our future.

Project lead: Kristin Korevec, PBS Wisconsin and UW–Madison Extension Horticulture

Description: Honoring the Wisconsin Idea, the Research Bazaar is a place to build community and technical know-how around data science to inspire new research directions and innovation, strengthen communities and public institutions, and improve overall quality of life for all Wisconsinites. This year’s closing panel is themed, “Data Science Research at UW–Madison: Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going.” Data has taken many shapes and forms in scientific research throughout history. The panel will contextualize current data science research at UW–Madison and beyond, with both historical and modern perspectives to set the foundation for future possibilities.

Project lead: Heather Shimon, Wisconsin Institute for Discovery

Description: Chadbourne Residential College is the largest living-learning community on UW–Madison’s campus, where residents begin a lifelong journey of curiosity, leadership, and service. To celebrate the 175th anniversary of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, CRC Residents will have the opportunity to participate in a week of events themed around the Wisconsin Experience: Empathy & Humility, Relentless Curiosity, Intellectual Confidence, and Purposeful Action. Residents will go on a scavenger hunt around campus, establish a CRC time capsule for the campus’ 200th anniversary, participate in learning workshops, and bring campus’ anniversary into the building.

Project leads: Sofia More, Sophie Small, and Kim Lowe, CRC Student Peer Mentor Team

Description: The Creative Arts Awards Ceremony, presented on May 2, 2024 by the Division of the Arts, is a celebration of diverse and groundbreaking creative arts research that spans disciplines and departments across UW–Madison. As an official 175th anniversary celebration event, the evening honors the rich history of innovation and significant contributions to the fields of art and design, and imbues curiosity to explore, question and shape our world through the arts. By elevating creative arts research, we deepen the impact of the Wisconsin Idea through arts engagement and education that influences lives across the state and beyond, by providing funding for research projects that touch on local, regional and global investigations. In what has evolved into an extraordinary program of live performance and recognition of world-class creative arts research at UW–Madison, the evening reflects the spirit of interdisciplinary collaboration that is embedded in the university’s research principles and celebrates the enduring impact of the arts at UW–Madison.

Project lead: Chris Walker and Samara Frame, Division of the Arts

Description: The Chican@ and Latin@ Studies Program and the Latine Student Union present “Being Latine at UW–Madison”, an overview of the impact that the Chicane & Latine students, faculty, and staff community has had at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. We will discuss the impact of Latine student activism, memorable moments of Latine history on campus, and its challenges in advancing a historically marginalized community. The project will highlight the Wisconsin Idea and 175th anniversary, celebrating the many achievements of the Latine campus community at UW–Madison, the greater state, and beyond. It will be a celebratory evening of reflection, networking, and community building.

Project leads: Rachelle Eilers and Cuauhtemoc Guizar, Latine Student Union

Description: Students will create their own LED light using a LED diode and a coin battery and then use it to light up a “175” sign. They will also interact with a candy-dispensing robot! They will need to communicate with the robot by replicating their age in binary using LEDs and switches. Throughout the activity, students will learn about electronic and robotics research at UW–Madison throughout its history, and how it continues to create a better future!

Project leads: Ellie Steger and Juile Rae, Engineering EXPO Executive Team

Description: The Department of Marketing of Wisconsin School of Business is organizing a Marketing Research Camp on May 13-14, 2024. The 175th anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate the research achievements of the department, the alumni of its doctoral program, and their contributions to the Wisconsin Idea. The world class research emanating from this department has had a tremendous impact, most significantly through its doctoral program. Several alumni from our doctoral program will be in attendance to discuss how UW–Madison has made a difference in their careers. Many of our doctoral alumni are Wisconsin natives, others teach at universities in Wisconsin, several have their research ideas inspired by challenges faced by Wisconsin businesses, and all have made an impact on changing the world. The research gathering will help us further ideate on the role of marketing research at solving issues faced by consumers, managers, entrepreneurs, and policy makers in our society.

Project lead: Tarun Kushwaha, Department of Marketing – Wisconsin School of Business

Description: “Exist, Resist, Persist: 35 Years of the MSC” commemorates the remarkable 35-year legacy of the Multicultural Student Center (MSC) at UW–Madison (established 1988). This captivating multimedia exhibition amplifies the voices, stories, and journeys of students, staff, faculty and alumni who have contributed to the MSC’s enduring success. On display at the Class of 1973 Art Gallery (Red Gym 2nd floor) from March 11 through April 5, the exhibit will include historical information and archival materials alongside original artworks that depict the meaning and impact of the MSC. Join us to celebrate the MSC’s transformative presence at UW–Madison! An opening reception will be held on Thursday, March 14, 2024, at the Multicultural Student Center Lounge.

Project lead: Claudia E. Guzmán, Multicultural Student Center

Description: The University of Wisconsin–Madison has been a global university from its earliest days when a student from Canada was enrolled as part of the inaugural class. Since those first days, the university has welcomed students, faculty, and staff from around the world, while also ensuring that Wisconsinites have their own opportunity in turn to build a global dimension into their experience. This project will allow us to identify many “international first milestones” and contrast them to our growth as of present day. This project will include hiring a student worker to conduct archival research to identify these milestones. The findings will then be presented through a 3-5 minute video that celebrates our expansion across the world stage.

Project lead: Kate McCleary, International Division